Monday, October 25, 2010

Happy 10th Birthday Faith!

 My second born daughter turned 10 yesterday and as all you mothers wound tend to agree, it came way too soon.

 We celebrated with a party at our home on Saturday.  Her request was for a few kids from school to come over and enjoy a banana pudding....easy to please.  Which I will consider my #1 top 10 things I love about Faith.

 #2 - I love that she's always eager to laugh or make someone else to laugh.



#3 - I love that the only present she asked for was a slingshot.
#4 - I love that she knows my every move in the kitchen and can guess what I need next.  We're a great team.
#5 - I love that she likes to be different. (Even when it causes me great stress on school mornings!)
#6 - I love how independent she's become since moving to Portugal.
#7 - I love that she gave her heart to Jesus this summer!
#8 - I love that she's a great big sister to her younger siblings.  And a pretty good little sister to Brooklyn.
#9 - I love that she's very tenderhearted towards all animals, big and small.
#10 - I love that SHE'S MINE!  Thank you Lord!


"Happy Birthday you sweet knucklehead!  We love you so much and we're very proud of you!"
     Love,
       Mom and Dad


Saturday, October 23, 2010

A Little of What We've Been up to....

Fundamentals of the Faith Conference hosted by Igreja Baptista Esperança, Pastor Mark Pereira.
Working out to relieve stress
Drying clothes indoors....again.

Raising a son....but they're weird little creatures

Reading by the fire

Meeting with others to draw encouragement.  We're not in this alone.  Praise His Name!
Trinity trying to remember people....

Faith and Liberty picking figs

Trinity enjoying the fall weather while on her lunch break

Trinity's first misplaced tooth

My clumsiest child is on this ladder....

Clean shoes...for everyone.  A rarity.

Gas prices...for regular gasoline is works out to be right at $7.50/gallon

I guess there is a first time for everything!  Dr.Pepper!!! ($1.53 per can!)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Bound For More Than I Realized

When Portugal Bound began, I used it as a way to keep my family and friends in America updated as to the happenings of our family.  A place to post pictures of the kids as they grow, and of us as we gray.  A way to say, "I don't email pics anymore....go look at my blog."  It took the blame off of me when not every grandparent received the same picture as the next in their in-boxes.  I'm all about equality, I guess.

Over time, my blog morphed into my online community of newly met friends all across the globe.  I've met other Christan women, pastors wives, missionary wives, moms with more kids than I have and folks with problems much bigger than my 'drying clothes in the winter' and 'language difficulties'. 

When I reflect on my childhood/adolescent years, I remember thinking that there had to be more to life than what I was experiencing at the time.  School/peer influence/bullies/bad grades...etc.  I remember thinking that I was bound for much more than life in 'Hickville' AL. (I always called it.)

As I matured, barely graduating high school and began working to support myself and a long distance relationship with my future husband,  I developed a twinkle in my eye.  With the promise of his hand in marriage I was guaranteed to go places!  I had it all planned out.  We'd get married after he graduated from The Academy, we'd be shipped off to some snowy capped region of Colorado.  Maybe eventually spend some time overseas.  Just long enough for him to serve out his indebtedness for his West Point degree.

"This is it!"  I'm getting out of here!  Finally!

Then it happened.  Michael called me one evening from New York.  He'd had an accident at school during football practice.  He'd torn his acl.  After a few surgeries and entering his Senior year, it was determined that he would not be fit for duties as an officer in our United States Army.  Therefore upon graduation he would be released of his obligation to serve his 5 year commitment.

There went the snowy capped mountains and life in some exotic, far away country.

"That's okay."  I tried to encourage myself.  "As long as I have him.  I'll be just fine."

And so today.....I not only have him, my extremely handsome husband, but I have HIM.  The Creator of the universe and the Savior of my soul! 

I was bound after all, for something bigger than I had imagined.

I get to spend my life working alongside my husband, raising an incredible group of kids and serving my Lord....ALL at the same time.

I no longer have a clue what my blog is all about.  I'm finding it more and more difficult to come up with worthy posts....but this one thing I do know......My LORD is worthy of all praise and glory for my life and the ministry HE has trusted us with here in Portugal.

May HE bless and may we see souls saved and lives changed.