Wil isn't known for his ability to pay attention. You can tell him to do two things, like put his dirty clothes in the hamper and put his shoes in his closet. I'm thrilled if the shoes are in the hamper and the dirty clothes are put in the closet. Wade gets extremely impatient sometimes if he doesn't get things done in a timely manner. There have been many learning experiences out at the barn taking care of the animals, if you know what I mean. Wil tends to do things sort of half way, but after the conversation he and Mollie had today, maybe he's actually growing up and taking some of our guidance to heart.
I ask both of them to go pick up the playroom. I wanted them to do it together without fighting. (right!) Mollie was rushing around and I believe she was throwing things into the closet and this was the conversation I overheard.
Wil: Mollie do it right!
Mollie: I'm in a hurry to it get done, WIL. (with just a hit of sarcasm in her voice)
W: The quickest way is not always the right way or the best way.
M: Who have you heard that from? I know you didn't come up with that on your own.
W: Dad.
M: Finally...you listen to something daddy says.
There was more to the conversation, but it went down hill from there. It had to do with name calling, agitation, and the general attitude those two usually have towards one another. The room was picked up and they did a great job together.
So, Wade, just so you know, he's listening! He's really listening! Now if only I could find all his dirty clothes!
Sandy C
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
She's becoming a fashion critic
Last night, we had dinner out with some friends to celebrate my birthday. Nothing big, just a visit to Jalapeno Tree! I LOVE the green sauce. I think I'm going to stop ordering off the menu and just start eating my weight in chips and green sauce. (That may eventually cause my arteries to clog and I may not make it to my next birthday!)
Anyway, we got there before our friends. We were waiting to be seated and Mollie looked at what Wade was wearing. He had on jeans and a red striped T-shirt. It was nothing she hadn't seen him in before. She looked at him very seriously and said..."Dad you could have worn something decent." Since when is she the fashion expert? She's the one who refuses to wear anything but flip flops or camo CROCS. It doesn't matter where we are going. The flip flops are either camo or have the Texas A&M symbol on them. We also have finally gotten her to stop wearing mess shorts and T-shirts everywhere we go. Now she's wearing knee length shorts and baby doll tops. I've also heard her make comments recently about what I'm wearing. She's only 10 and we have already become a fashion embarrassment to her.
I'm sorry to say to Mollie Cat that just wait until she's 14 or 15 and Wade drops her off somewhere with his shorts and work boots on and kisses her goodbye. She will be wishing for jeans and a red striped t-shirt!
Sandy C
Monday, June 11, 2007
The grass is not always greener
First of all, I will lay it all out on the line...I HATE TO SWEAT!
Especially, when I'm sweating underneath my knees...that drives me nuts.
This distaste I have for sweating is one of the reasons I don't exercise much, the reason I prefer my hair short(which it's not right now!), the reason I would rather stay inside for lunchtime cafeteria duty with 40 Kindergartners than have recess duty during the beginning and the end of the year when it's 100 degrees outside, and the reason that I'm inside the house in the air conditioning right now instead of outside doing absolutely anything that might even make me sweat. Call me a wimp!!! I'm fine with that label.
I say all this to let you know what Mollie and I just had to endure. She has a show heifer. Tammy Wynette is her name! Don't ask!!!! She's a little crazy and has had to be drugged with a human psychotic drug on more than one occasion. She may be crazy, but she's smart!! She can figure out how to get out of the fence and out of the round metal corral! Wade and Wil have done everything they can do to keep her in the barbed wire out in the pasture. We finally put her back into the metal corral and she managed to break the panel apart and get out this morning. When Mollie and I got home she was in the field next door. You know the saying the grass is greener...well that's not the case here. She is much better off at home. Anyway, I walked down to her with a piece of pvc pipe and a bucket of feed. By the time I reached her the sweat problems had started. It's only because its 95 degrees and the humidity is about 400%! I tried to trick her into following me with the food. She wasn't having it. I then got behind her and walked her down the fence and turned her into our yard. She took off running and ended up at the gate. Good sign..I thought! Mollie poured out feed while I tried to fix the corral so I could put her into the stall with a door. That didn't happen. She came into the pasture and took off running. Picture this...I have on my denim city shorts, a cool sequined tank top, my turquoise and red necklace and Justin work boots. A might fine picture, if I say so myself. I thought at one point I had her cornered and on the way back to the corral. She thought otherwise and ran down the fence into the other side of the fence with the other cows. That's when I gave up. I did put my hair up before I came out, but I had sweat pouring down my neck, behind my KNEES, and on my forehead. Tammy Wynette is not worth me losing that much sweat. I just let her go. I'm sure right now she is over again checking if the grass is greener on the other side. Remember Tammy, it's not!!!
Sandy C
Especially, when I'm sweating underneath my knees...that drives me nuts.
This distaste I have for sweating is one of the reasons I don't exercise much, the reason I prefer my hair short(which it's not right now!), the reason I would rather stay inside for lunchtime cafeteria duty with 40 Kindergartners than have recess duty during the beginning and the end of the year when it's 100 degrees outside, and the reason that I'm inside the house in the air conditioning right now instead of outside doing absolutely anything that might even make me sweat. Call me a wimp!!! I'm fine with that label.
I say all this to let you know what Mollie and I just had to endure. She has a show heifer. Tammy Wynette is her name! Don't ask!!!! She's a little crazy and has had to be drugged with a human psychotic drug on more than one occasion. She may be crazy, but she's smart!! She can figure out how to get out of the fence and out of the round metal corral! Wade and Wil have done everything they can do to keep her in the barbed wire out in the pasture. We finally put her back into the metal corral and she managed to break the panel apart and get out this morning. When Mollie and I got home she was in the field next door. You know the saying the grass is greener...well that's not the case here. She is much better off at home. Anyway, I walked down to her with a piece of pvc pipe and a bucket of feed. By the time I reached her the sweat problems had started. It's only because its 95 degrees and the humidity is about 400%! I tried to trick her into following me with the food. She wasn't having it. I then got behind her and walked her down the fence and turned her into our yard. She took off running and ended up at the gate. Good sign..I thought! Mollie poured out feed while I tried to fix the corral so I could put her into the stall with a door. That didn't happen. She came into the pasture and took off running. Picture this...I have on my denim city shorts, a cool sequined tank top, my turquoise and red necklace and Justin work boots. A might fine picture, if I say so myself. I thought at one point I had her cornered and on the way back to the corral. She thought otherwise and ran down the fence into the other side of the fence with the other cows. That's when I gave up. I did put my hair up before I came out, but I had sweat pouring down my neck, behind my KNEES, and on my forehead. Tammy Wynette is not worth me losing that much sweat. I just let her go. I'm sure right now she is over again checking if the grass is greener on the other side. Remember Tammy, it's not!!!
Sandy C
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Home again
This morning around 12:30 we rolled in from Mexico. We left Aldama, Mexico at 7:45 am our time. The hardest part of these mission trips is the driving. As Wil said, we spent 75% of our time in the trucks. I'm going to give you a daily synopsis of what all we did while we were gone.
Friday, May 25
We left Athens around 7:30 am and drove into Alpine, Texas. We got there about 7:00pm. We stayed at a Baptist Camp and we had mattress and showers!! At dark, we drove several miles down the road and viewed the mysterious Marfa lights. Some people find it very intriguing. I personally think it's some wise guy with flood lights in the distance. A massive thunderstorm was moving into the area and the lightning was something to see out in West Texas.
Saturday, May 26
We got up early and left for the second day of travel. We drove to Presidio and crossed into Mexico. We had some trouble with paperwork and we ended up waiting for about 3 1/2 hours before that was resolved. Afterwards, we drove several more hours into Aldama. There we stayed at a placed called Gloria al Padre. It's a medical clinic and dormitory. The dormitory was built specifically for groups like ours going into Mexico on mission trips. We also met up with a group of 8 people from our church who flew into Mexico. We had dinner and our last hot shower until Thursday!
Sunday, May 27 and Monday May 28
Up early again and more driving! We drove into Guatamec to buy commodities for the Tarahumaran people we would encounter. We bought rice, oil, mesca(used like flour), salt, and fruits and vegetables. We then drove into Creel for lunch. This restaurant brings out fire grilled chicken, tortillas, hot sauce and onions. I'm very leary of eating food in Mexico. I chose to stick with the tortillas and a small piece of chicken. We then went another 50 or 60 miles into the mountains, off the main road for about 5 miles and into our first village, Yepo. The village center consisted of a small building that was the church. You can see from the picture that it was indeed small.
I only have a picture after we had arrived and attached tarps to the side for our cooking equipment. We were in the village for a day and a half. While we were there we fed the Indians, cut hair, held a vision and medical clinic and had a Vacation Bible School. The kids from the village school were brought to the church for all the afternoon and evening.
Wil had a lot of fun playing ball and Frisbee with some of the kids. We also took several kites. One boy played with a kite for hours and hours. It's amazing how something so insignificant can make such a difference.
I'm going to stop now and address our bathroom issue. In this village there was no real place to "privately" go to the bathroom. Therefore our bathroom for a day and a half consisted of a tarp stretched between trees with a hole dug in the ground with a fold out toilet seat above the hole. As we would find out later, this would be the best "facility" we would have in the days to come.
At this village, I also had my first experience with sleeping outside. Picture this....my cot, sleeping bag, two blankets and 35 degree weather and I'm still alive.
After the last meal, we showed "The Jesus Movie". It's the only known movie translated into the Tarhumaran language. It was cold and windy, but the people sat there in awe. God was really evident that night. I'm not sure if the people understood the Gospel, but the seeds were planted and work will continue in that village.
Tuesday May 29
We moved on to the next village. It was actually right off the main road and most of the people spoke Spanish. We did basically the same kinds of ministries at this village. I learned to build glasses and did this and cut hair most of the day. Some of the men in our group also built a wall and help pour a concrete floor in the building next to the church. This will be used for education rooms in the the future.
We were able to sleep inside for our time at this village. Bathrooms.....they had a his and hers outdoor facility. However, they can't seem to get the idea of hitting the hole, if you know what I mean. It's hard to go to the restroom while holding your breath and keeping your feet out of all kinds of nastiness.
We showed "The Jesus Movie" in Spanish and had the same result. There were lots of people very still and quiet hearing about Jesus!
Wednesday, May 30
We left our gear at the village from the day before and drove about 30 minutes off the road into our final village. We stationed ourselves at a school. What was interesting was that the building we used was a secondary school. The students received their education mainly via satellite and internet. It was amazing to see that kind of technology in the middle of nothingness. We set up our vision and medical clinic and saw patients on and off all day. Our kitchen was set up outside and we served two meals. We cut hair out back, held VBS and again showed "The Jesus Movie." It was the same results as before, total quiet and attentiveness.
One of my favorite things that happened in this village had to do with Wil. I looked out and I saw all these kids surrounding him. I walked out there and he had a bag of those balloons you blow up and add the rubber band to the end and you pop it back and forth. He had about 10 of them and there were about 20 kids. He was blowing them up as fast as he could and trying to get them to understand that they had to share. I found another girl to go out and help him. It was great to see him giving those kids so much happiness.
Bathrooms...another train wreck. Oh, how we wished for our hole in the ground and the blue tarp.
Thursday and Friday May 31 and June 1
We drove back to Aldama on Thursday and got our first shower since the previous Saturday. It was the best shower I have ever had. I had no water pressure, but I had clean water!!! We rested and left early Friday morning for the trip home. We had no trouble getting back across the border and were back in Texas by noon. It was home from there. We stayed ahead of all the storms moving down I-20 and got to Athens around 12:30.
I enjoy these trips so much. Of course I miss all the modern conveniences, especially a flushing toilet and my hot shower, but I can do it for a week knowing I have the hope of home. The Indians don't have that hope of a better life. They have a look of hopelessness. The woman in particular show little emotion. The only chance they have of knowing Jesus is when we are there to share Him. That comes in the form of food, haircuts, medical and vision care, VBS, a movie in their language that tells them who Jesus is and Wil blowing up balloons. It's as simple as a smile from one of us. It's an amazing opportunity to share Jesus and the blessings we get in return far outweigh the hardships we encounter along the way. Thanks for your prayers while we were gone. God was with us and went before us!
Sandy C
Friday, May 25
We left Athens around 7:30 am and drove into Alpine, Texas. We got there about 7:00pm. We stayed at a Baptist Camp and we had mattress and showers!! At dark, we drove several miles down the road and viewed the mysterious Marfa lights. Some people find it very intriguing. I personally think it's some wise guy with flood lights in the distance. A massive thunderstorm was moving into the area and the lightning was something to see out in West Texas.
Saturday, May 26
We got up early and left for the second day of travel. We drove to Presidio and crossed into Mexico. We had some trouble with paperwork and we ended up waiting for about 3 1/2 hours before that was resolved. Afterwards, we drove several more hours into Aldama. There we stayed at a placed called Gloria al Padre. It's a medical clinic and dormitory. The dormitory was built specifically for groups like ours going into Mexico on mission trips. We also met up with a group of 8 people from our church who flew into Mexico. We had dinner and our last hot shower until Thursday!
Sunday, May 27 and Monday May 28
Up early again and more driving! We drove into Guatamec to buy commodities for the Tarahumaran people we would encounter. We bought rice, oil, mesca(used like flour), salt, and fruits and vegetables. We then drove into Creel for lunch. This restaurant brings out fire grilled chicken, tortillas, hot sauce and onions. I'm very leary of eating food in Mexico. I chose to stick with the tortillas and a small piece of chicken. We then went another 50 or 60 miles into the mountains, off the main road for about 5 miles and into our first village, Yepo. The village center consisted of a small building that was the church. You can see from the picture that it was indeed small.
I only have a picture after we had arrived and attached tarps to the side for our cooking equipment. We were in the village for a day and a half. While we were there we fed the Indians, cut hair, held a vision and medical clinic and had a Vacation Bible School. The kids from the village school were brought to the church for all the afternoon and evening.
Wil had a lot of fun playing ball and Frisbee with some of the kids. We also took several kites. One boy played with a kite for hours and hours. It's amazing how something so insignificant can make such a difference.
I'm going to stop now and address our bathroom issue. In this village there was no real place to "privately" go to the bathroom. Therefore our bathroom for a day and a half consisted of a tarp stretched between trees with a hole dug in the ground with a fold out toilet seat above the hole. As we would find out later, this would be the best "facility" we would have in the days to come.
At this village, I also had my first experience with sleeping outside. Picture this....my cot, sleeping bag, two blankets and 35 degree weather and I'm still alive.
After the last meal, we showed "The Jesus Movie". It's the only known movie translated into the Tarhumaran language. It was cold and windy, but the people sat there in awe. God was really evident that night. I'm not sure if the people understood the Gospel, but the seeds were planted and work will continue in that village.
Tuesday May 29
We moved on to the next village. It was actually right off the main road and most of the people spoke Spanish. We did basically the same kinds of ministries at this village. I learned to build glasses and did this and cut hair most of the day. Some of the men in our group also built a wall and help pour a concrete floor in the building next to the church. This will be used for education rooms in the the future.
We were able to sleep inside for our time at this village. Bathrooms.....they had a his and hers outdoor facility. However, they can't seem to get the idea of hitting the hole, if you know what I mean. It's hard to go to the restroom while holding your breath and keeping your feet out of all kinds of nastiness.
We showed "The Jesus Movie" in Spanish and had the same result. There were lots of people very still and quiet hearing about Jesus!
Wednesday, May 30
We left our gear at the village from the day before and drove about 30 minutes off the road into our final village. We stationed ourselves at a school. What was interesting was that the building we used was a secondary school. The students received their education mainly via satellite and internet. It was amazing to see that kind of technology in the middle of nothingness. We set up our vision and medical clinic and saw patients on and off all day. Our kitchen was set up outside and we served two meals. We cut hair out back, held VBS and again showed "The Jesus Movie." It was the same results as before, total quiet and attentiveness.
One of my favorite things that happened in this village had to do with Wil. I looked out and I saw all these kids surrounding him. I walked out there and he had a bag of those balloons you blow up and add the rubber band to the end and you pop it back and forth. He had about 10 of them and there were about 20 kids. He was blowing them up as fast as he could and trying to get them to understand that they had to share. I found another girl to go out and help him. It was great to see him giving those kids so much happiness.
Bathrooms...another train wreck. Oh, how we wished for our hole in the ground and the blue tarp.
Thursday and Friday May 31 and June 1
We drove back to Aldama on Thursday and got our first shower since the previous Saturday. It was the best shower I have ever had. I had no water pressure, but I had clean water!!! We rested and left early Friday morning for the trip home. We had no trouble getting back across the border and were back in Texas by noon. It was home from there. We stayed ahead of all the storms moving down I-20 and got to Athens around 12:30.
I enjoy these trips so much. Of course I miss all the modern conveniences, especially a flushing toilet and my hot shower, but I can do it for a week knowing I have the hope of home. The Indians don't have that hope of a better life. They have a look of hopelessness. The woman in particular show little emotion. The only chance they have of knowing Jesus is when we are there to share Him. That comes in the form of food, haircuts, medical and vision care, VBS, a movie in their language that tells them who Jesus is and Wil blowing up balloons. It's as simple as a smile from one of us. It's an amazing opportunity to share Jesus and the blessings we get in return far outweigh the hardships we encounter along the way. Thanks for your prayers while we were gone. God was with us and went before us!
Sandy C
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