Just plain tuckered out!

Hey everyone!! I am finally back from my trip!
I can't believe how long it's been since I have written. Sorry, it really couldn't be helped. I have tried to find places that had computers in order to be able to update my blog and write to my friends, but it always worked out so that any time that I actually had free time I didn't have a computer and visa-versa. So, it might be a little bit before I can get myself enough recovered from the hecticness of our journey to actually tell you how it went. Right now am a just WAY too wiped to even think about summing up or telling you how it went!
So, give me a day and I will try and get on here with pictures and some info!
Blessings to all of my faithful friends and readers (and reader-friends :P) and may the Lord guide you in all that you do!

Pro-life Action Alert: get involved

Dear friends,
I have recently been involved in an effort called "Cry Action". We are now working on a way to get the attention of the government. This is an idea that the group came up with. If you can participate then please do. It's a worthy cause and a way to get the message out to the world. Take some time, you won't regret it!
Here is the letter that was sent out to the group members:

Hey everyone! I thought this sounded like a great idea -- it's simple, it's
inexpensive, it's easy. The idea is to send a pro-life valentine to President
Barack Obama. The original challenge was to send one or two, but I'm going to
encourage you all to "Do Hard Things" and each send ten -- and then to spread
the word and ask everyone you know to do the same. Between the people on
this email list alone, without spreading the word, that would equal more than
2,300 envelopes sent! The goal is that Obama would receive 50 million to
represent the 50 million lives lost in legal abortions since Roe v. Wade was
passed. Here are the instructions: Purchase some red envelopes at an office
supply or party supply store -- or make some out of red construction paper. On
the front, address the envelope to: President Barack Obama The White House 1600
Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 Don't put anything inside, seal it, and
on the back of it write the following message:

"This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception." Put a stamp on it and mail it!

Ideas for spreading the word:
* Post this in a Facebook note and tag people.
* Send this out in an email blast to your friends.
* Invite people over and make some valentines together.

On the road AGAIN!!!

If I had one word that would describe this past week it would be... hmm... let's see... crazy? ... inconsistant? ... insane? Yep, that's it. Insane!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't even quite catch up with what has happened. Honestly, I think that today all of the late nights and early mornings caught up with me. I feel like I stayed up all night. I am going to bed as early as possible tonight (that means sometime before ten. Somehow I can never manage anything earlier, and it isn't because of me).
So, with this in mind, you must excuse me if this sounds hurried or thrown-together, because it is! ( :P )

These past two weeks have been interesting. I haven't been in the States so long and I always forget what life here is like. I am so unused to the fast-paced way of life that even a "normal" day seems to tax my energy and forbearance. Life in Mexico is so relaxed... I can't help but miss it; still, I love being able to see all of my friends!

Speaking of seeing friends, I had a particular treat while I was in CA. I got to see my blogger friends Nastya and Felecia. I really enjoyed meeting them and I praise God that in person they were everything and more than they were online (you know, sometimes people seem a lot different online than they truly are in person)! Thanks so much guys!

On Thursday we arrived in Chico at my Grandparents' house. (Just as a side note: one of our friends in Sacramento let us use their motorhome for our trip North. Sweet!!!) My parents stayed in the camper and the rest of us spread out around the house. As a special, I even got to sleep in a real bed!
We did many things with my Grammy. We went shopping (at the thrift store, of course. No use wasting money getting something at an actual store when you can get something almost new and never worn for half the price!), rented several movies (among those the movie Fireproof, which I LOVED and recomened for anyone looking for a good movie to watch, though not really for little kids), played cards (Killer Bunnies, YES!!!), went to the library (my newest book to recomend is Darcy's story. It's Pride and Prejudice from a whole new perspective) and just hung out.
On Wednesday we went to Calvalry Chapel Chico and I got to see all of my friends there for the first time in... wow... almost 2 years! I think that they were pretty surprised since I hadn't given them any advanced warning. :D

We did quite a few other things while in Chico, but for the sake of time I won't mention any more. Today we departed and are now in Oregon. God blessed up immensely in our traveling. We had a peaceful, fun and uneventful trip (the best kind, I think). My Grandma got a ride up with us so she could go and help my Aunt in Portland (she broke her ankle very badly in a skiiing accident about a month ago, and she is struggling with a lot of pain. Pray for her if you think about it, thanks!). I enjoyed being able to spend time with her without anything going on (I admit that it was a crazy week).
The scenery was beautiful! I was so excited by all the snow. You'd've thought we'd seen some sort of wonder by the exclamations and ejaculations in the car (*ahem* motor home)!

So, we are in Oregon at long last! I am excited by the things we have planned for the week, but I know that the most important thing is that I keep God first. I find that sometimes, in all of the stress and busyness of the trip, God gets pushed to the back. I know that this is not how it should be and am determined to KEEP HIM FIRST, and let the rest follow. I have learned from experience that when I don't prayer or spend time in the Word I become cranky and short-tempered, not to mention don't have peace in my own life. Through God's strength I shall be faithful! Though I am weak, in Him I am strong!

My Verse of the week:
James 2:18

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have
deeds."

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

As a note: I am planning on getting on here and writing a "thinker-post" very soon. Just bear with me a little longer!
Blessings!!!

Our next destination

Hey all!! We are slowly but surely moving our way up the coast!!!
God is so good to us! Thanks to His grace and provision we are right now in Woodland, CA. Time is passing so quickly; I couldn't believe it when I realized that we had already been State-side a week, WOW!

Our visit with Great Grandma was wonderful. She is such a neat lady. She is one of the very few 83 year olds I know of whom I can say that she is living her life as servant to others. Way to go, Grandma!!! I love you!
We did some projects around her house while we were there. I realized that I actaully enjoy yardwork. I mean, I suppose that I knew deep down but in the heat of Mexico nothing looks like fun! Working in the cold of CA, however, is a different story. I love the feeling of accomplishment you get when you have just finished raking the lawn and trimming the bushes... sigh. [Now that I have written this I had better watch out. My Mom will see this as a definite plea for more work. Yikes! lol]
Today early we left Grandma's to search out our next location in Woodland. 9 hours and numerous stops later we arrived.

So, here I am!! But now I have to get off because there is a line for the computer!
Goodnight everyone, pleasant dreams!
--

The BIG RED BUTTON

Put The Big Red Button on your site

Our Schedule

I so lied!! I couldn't resist just finishing up tonight!!

Here is our "penciled-in" schedule for our time in the US (note -- this is where we'll be physically, not a list of speaking engagements! If you're in the area, consider this your official invitation to come and see us!) :

*Sunday, January 18 -- Saguaro Canyon EFC, Tucson AZ
*Sunday, January 25 -- Woodland Bible Church, Woodland CA
*Wednesday, January 28 -- somewhere in Chico CA
*Sunday, February 1 -- Restoration Life Church, Sacramento CA
*Sunday, February 8 -- New Hope EFC, Winston OR -- New Hope is planning a "Mexican Food Potluck" for that Sunday after church. If you're one of our friends in the Roseburg area, please stop by the church about 12:30pm. Bring a covered dish to share and plan to spend some time fellowshipping. Our time in Oregon is limited and this may be the only "social event" we get to attend!
*Monday, February 9 -- Portland OR
*(tentatively) Saturday, February 14 -- Centralia WA.
*After that, it gets a little sketchy, so if you're farther north, sorry we can't be more specific! Get in touch with us via email so we can make more definite plans!