My son, the world traveler...

Travis, our oldest, is headed back to Russia for a trip to help our good friend Erik to finish up his work in Russia. After 5 years the work they have started will now stand the test of losing its missionaries. I pray that this small group will continue to grow in faith and in number.

Travis feels quite honored to have this opportunity to go again to visit and encourage the wonderful people he met while he and his sister visited this past year. He and Erik leave this next Monday and will return mid-Feb. Please keep them both in your prayers, not only for a safe journey, but for this small church to continue what has been started.

Wednesday's Word ~ Fooled by the bait????

Oh, don't worry no one will bother to notice..... just this once you can get away with it..... come on live a little..... don't you deserve a bit of fun???? Satan's temptation tools sound so good at times, don't they? As far back as Eve in the Garden, Satan has been telling people the same old things.... and all of them are lies. But the bait he uses sounds and looks so good...... we are like fish swimming around that fish-hooked worm until sometimes we just have to take a bite! Then we are caught up in sin! Is there a way out?!?!?

Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Is that wonderful or what? God gives a way of escape to the bait! We have the choice to say yes, or we can say no and build faith and choose obedience to God and His Word. Thinking of temptation as a faith-builder can turn one of Satan's most used tools into an opportunity to glorify God!

Lord, help me at each temptation to see it as a chance to glorify You in my life. Help me to choose to always follow Your will for my life and to remember that You always provide a means of escaping the bait laid out by the evil one. Thank You for verses in Your Word that remind me that You are faithful and hold me in the palm of Your hand. Lord, remind me that each of my choices are noticed by the One that sees all and that the only thing I am deserving of without Your Grace is death. Help me daily Lord, to make the right choices. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Wednesday's Word ~ Servants for Christ

1Pe 4:10-11 (NIV) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (11) If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.


We have tried to teach our children to be servants. Knowing that God will be glorified in all that we do. With the floods from the last couple of weeks in the area, our congregation has decided that instead of going somewhere for the mission trip this year we will be meeting daily that week and working in our own area... there were parts of our county and the next county over that were hit very hard by flooding and tornadoes. We have started gathering supplies to distribute to those in need. Yesterday, Travis traveled with others to pick up soaps, detergents and such to give out to anyone in need .... this afternoon there are several of our teens that will gather and sort through the different products and get them ready to hand out. There is so much to do and so many things that can be done to help out. We are so blessed to have children that are willing to be servants for the cause of Christ.

Please add our work in your prayers.

Wednesday's Word ~ Missions

Mat 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."


We had a meeting last night with our friends Erik and Adrianne about the kids going back with them to Russia and working with them over there for some weeks. The initial thought was for them to be there with them for an entire 3 months.... however, with this being the first time that Travis and Mia will have traveled outside the US and taking into account the work schedule for Erik and Adrianne it has been decided that for this first trip they would only stay for 6 weeks. (I know several of our family members are going to like this much better than the 3 months..lol)

There is a partial list of things they are going to be helping Erik and Adrianne with while they are in Russia....

Work with the Church will include:

Helping with services (Travis)
Help with women's bible classes (Mia)
Help with children's classes (both)
Visit shut-in and the sick
Visiting a foster home in a nearby town.

Evangelism work will include:

Working in the public schools (teaching Bible lessons in English)
Help with handing out biblical materials
English conversation classes at the American Library
Visit a children's home in a nearby town
Benevolence work
English lessons on Thanksgiving & Christmas in America

Also they will be continuing their own education with Erik and Adrianne doing foreign studies, learning the Russian language, visiting some museums, going to the opera and other learning experiences.

We are praying that this is an eye opening trip for them and that they are blessed and become a blessing to those they meet in Russia and that they are a help to the work of the Church in Russia. Please keep us all in your prayers.

To Russia...

Hello all, I just have to tell you about this!!! We have some good friends that are missionaries in Russia... and they have asked that Travis and Mia join them for 3 months! The kids would learn about mission work, all about a new culture and so much more! The kids are excited and nervous too! But the excitement and the sheer greatness of such an opportunity are outweighing the nervousness a bit.... they really want to do this. Please join us in prayer that this is in God's will for them.

Mission Trip Update...

Well, I got to talk with Mia last night and she said that they are having a good time .... they did not get to start on the painting of the church building yesterday because it drizzled all day but they are going to work on that today. The group did go out to Cane Ridge yesterday and she said it was great and that most of the guys lead singing from the huge pulpit there... I wish I could have seen Travis do that!! I was also told by 2 different adults that Travis and Mia are doing a wonderful job and that they are good examples. Mia said the services last night consisted of about 15 or so of the regular members and then our group of nearly 40... she said the teenager class was filled only with our bunch because they don't really have any families with teens that attend. She is hoping that what they are doing this week will interest some of the teens in the area and that some will show up for tonight.

I'll get to speak with Travis some time today.... I am looking forward to it... I miss them but I know that this was so important for them! I am one proud momma!

Please keep out Mission Trip in your prayers!

Interview Update...

Well, I have to say I think the interview went very well... I am now awaiting (and praying) for the right answer....

Full Swing

Well, we are now in full swing with the Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes program at our congregation. All the kids (except Jed) are very involved. Travis is participating in speech, song leading, audio speech, art, group scrap booking, and Good Samaritan. Mia is participating in speech, songs of praise (girls song leading), audio speech, storyline, art, group scrap booking, Gifts (a girls study group) and Good Samaritan. Amaris is participating in speech, audio speech, art and Good Samaritan.

This program has been such a blessing to our family. To watch our children grown in faith and in leadership abilities is so humbling. We have such great leaders of this program at our congregation, Trent and Lori. They are always working hard to make sure the kids are encouraged and help them to gain the confidence to try a new event to participate in. And they always emphasize that what the kids are doing is for the Lord... not just for a medal or trophy at convention. (Trent and Lori, you are such a blessing to us and to all the participants of LLL.)

This year's theme come from Joshua :

Jos 1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying: We will do all that you command us, and wherever you send us we will go.

Please be in prayer for our kids (and everyone involved) that are participating in the program this year.

Travis Update

Well, I just got a phone call from the doctor's office.... Travis has a bad case of bronchitis. The doctor is not sure why it did not show on the x-ray. So, Travis is on strict rest... lots of fluids, a round of antibiotics to begin with.... if he is no better by next Monday we will be sent to a Pulmonologist (sp?). We already know that Travis is more prone to lung infections so this is not really a big surprise.... and now that we know what it is can watch so that it does not become something more serious (like pneumonia). Thank you all for all the thoughts, well wishes and prayers.

Travis........ and my mother

We are still playing the waiting game to know what the tests will show for Travis.... we went yesterday to the CT scan ..... it went well... but the results will be a few days...

Wednesday I got a phone call mid-afternoon from my mother.... as she was on her way to see a cardiologist .... ughh.... she's been having some chest pains and problems too for the last week.... BUT did not want to worry any of us kids..... I asked her if she wanted to give me a STROKE ...... ughhh..... so today she is in Nashville getting an angiogram ........ I cannot be there, so my sister and my nephew are going.... if they find anything they will go ahead and take care of the problem while she is at the hospital and so she may have to stay overnight.....

So, I will update with all news as soon as I hear...... Please keep us in prayers.

Prayers for John's family...

Please everyone pray for John's family..... John gained entrance to those pearly gates yesterday just before 12:30PM ..... he will be missed by so many. Judy, his mother, will post on the website after arrangements have been made. Thank you for all the prayers.

Prayers Please

John has had some major set backs in the past few weeks.... and now he is on a vent and his kidney function is not doing well. His mom, Judy, let me know that the meeting with the doctors was not as good as she had hoped and they told her that if he does not get well enough in the next days he may not make it. Please pray for John and the Smith family as they are in this time of need. You can read John's story here or just click on his name in my side bar.

Please Help Me Pray for John...

John has Fanconi Anemia, a rare genetic blood disorder that leads to bone marrow failure and possible to many cancers.... he had a bone marrow transplant over a year ago and has been battling some set backs.... he has some spinal fractures due to the large amount of steroids he now takes and has now been battling a digestive problem for many weeks now.... he is being treated at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville ..... here is John's story.