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 ~ 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.

Its Youth Rally time!

This Friday and Saturday will be our 14th annual Lomax Youth Rally! We have been so very blessed to be a part of this work. This year's theme is Transform to Royalty. We are hoping for a good crowd of around 700 this year!

I am looking forward to be a part of this ministry once again this year. Our children look forward to this event each year! It is such a blessing to see so many youth gather to hear God's word. Travis will be taking on new responsibility this year as he has been asked to help with the men that oversee the parking lot. I think its great that he is stepping into responsible roles. Mia and Amaris will help with greeting everyone. I have also been blessed with being able to be off work for the Youth Rally.... its my weekend off and my boss let me off the second half of the day on Friday to help prepare for it!

This is a big rally... we start feeding everyone at 6PM on Friday then after supper and fellowship we have a wonderful time of singing and a devotional. Several congregations stay overnight (we have a campground that we use close by.) Then Saturday morning we feed everyone a big breakfast (yes, including Chocolate Gravy!) and then have classes, singings, and devotionals throughout the day... we feed them a good lunch and an afternoon snack before the final session and send everyone off hoping they have been blessed. I know I get a blessing from it!

Please pray for our Youth Rally ... that souls will be reached, touched and that we are a blessing to all that come!

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!

just a quick hello...

Hello.

Haha!

Really, I just wanted to drop by and let everyone know I am still around.... tomorrow we send off our oldest 2 children (Travis and Mia) on their first Mission Trip. It will be here in the U.S. at a church that our congregation supports in the Appalachian Mt. area of Kentucky. They will be doing some painting of the Church's building and community service projects during the day and then at night help with a sort of VBS type service at night. They are very excited about going and are working hard to get things done here at home to help Mom and Dad out while they are gone.

Please pray that everyone going on the Mission Trip will be safe and that the Lord will bless the work done in His name!

Today is the day....

..... I start work. I will be working at the same pharmacy that I worked at before and I am hoping it all comes back to me. I am also studying to re-take my pharmacy tech certification test again... cause I let it lapse. So, I will be taking the test shortly after we come back from Lads to Leaders Convention next month.

Please pray for us during this time of great transition for us... me at work, Eric now taking over the homeschooling of the children and the running of the house.... along with studying for his own exams and the start-up of a new business....

Thanks to all of you wonderful friends that have said/sent words of encouragement over the last few weeks, it really has meant so much to us.

Going in for an interview....

Hello everyone. Just wanted to share that I got a call from that job this morning... going in for an interview this afternoon. Please keep me in prayer today! Thanks for all the kind words and prayers from so many of our friends!

Its hard not to worry.....

about how we are going to make it .... no income, little job prospects.... Faith that God is going to see us through is the only thing keeping us going. Please pray for us.

..... a Resume???

Do you know how long its been since I've had a Resume??? So long that Eric has never seen one...LOL! Well, I am working on one! Please pray that work .... any work.... comes my way soon!

A quiet day.....

here today, the kids are doing school work, I'm tidying and catching up a bit on some sewing repairs... and Eric is cleaning his office. We are praying on what to do next..... please keep us in your prayers as well today. Thanks.

Hard Times ....

Well, Eric has been let go from his job. The position was a created position... so it was the first to go to save the company money.

Now, we are facing hard times. Please pray that Eric finds work soon.

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.

A bump in the schedule....

Well, I did not get the cleaning and such done today that was planning this morning.... shortly after my last post this morning I got a call from our preacher..... they had a bit of an emergency at their house this morning... their oldest daughter fell and broke her arm this morning.... so off I rushed to babysit for them today while they took her to the hospital. And I am going back in the morning to sit for them again tomorrow while she has surgery.Please keep them in prayer. She is 4 and a brave little girl!

(Don't you worry David and Heather.... I am glad that I can help.)

Prayer Request

Dear Friends the son of our dear friends is having back surgery today at Vanderbilt Children's hospital in Nashville. His name is Travis. He in only 14 and very nervous and scared about the surgery. Please keep him and his family in prayer today.

Okay, Confession Time.....

I have been throwing myself a big o'l pity party. There I said it. I have become sister pout! Like a tantrum throwing toddler I have been BAD.



See, Eric has been dealing with some health issues.... for a few years now..... and he finally decided he needed to see a doctor about it. So, over the last couple of months he has been seeing a physician and had several tests run. His blood-work showed up Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever..... not like he has it now mind... but that in the last few years he has had it (we think we remember when too) and now it shows up in his blood-work..... but that is just a side issue at this point. See, the doctor is treating Eric for Fibromyalgia. Yes, men can get it too. Its a bit rarer to see a man with it, but it does happen. Now, Eric is taking meds to help with the pain he has just been dealing with for the last few years. He has only been on them a very short while, but already he says he is seeing a small difference. (Thank You, Lord!) So, we are hoping that with ongoing treatment he will be able to live more comfortably that he has in the last few years.

Now, the part about me being BAD......... see, with this all going on with Eric and not knowing how it may all turn out..... we had to discuss the thought of me going back into the work force. ( Now, see, I was our main support for the first few years of our marriage.... while Eric was tossed about from job loss to job loss then in school after the Levi's plant closed and he got a severence package to do so that the company paid for.) I worked long hard hours for several years in a high stress job that although I was well suited for and overall I did like..... well, lets just say I got a bad burnout. ..........................................................................................................................................................
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....................................................................... so, after having the whole "we might have to look at you going back to work" talk that we had ...... I have been a very bad girl. Like a kid throwing a bit of a tantrum..... I have been taking out my fears, frustrations, and bad attitude out on those around me that I love best. (Sorry, Eric, Kids and many friends) I let Satan get a hold of me and bring me down and it has taken a few good kicks in the rear over the last few days to make me realize that God has been patiently waiting for me to take all that to HIM. To ask that He take all my worries, fears and frustrations and hold me close and tell me that He is working it all out for the best. I don't know what the future may hold for us..... but, I do know that whatever direction we find our family going in will be because we are following HIS will for our lives.


Please keep our family in prayer.

Another Travis Update...

Well, since Travis was not feeling any better after a week of antibiotics we went back in to see the doc this morning as his nurse had advised us to do. Well, it looks that after a closer look at the EKG there is a blip on one of the lines ... suggesting the computer may have caught something.... so we are now off to see a cardiologist at Vanderbilt in Nashville. Just to rule things out..... so if ya'll can keep us in prayer we would greatly appreciate it.

Update on Mother...

Well, mother is fine... no heart problems found.... all her cholesterol levels are where they should be and no plaque built up at all in the vessels. The doctor said he believed that she was having bad acid reflux and that it was causing a panic attack ..... he said he understood why it would cause a panic attack too with all of the family history of heart disease.

She cannot drive for a couple of days and has to take it kinda easy for a few days..... the only other thing the doctor said was she needed to loose some weight.

whew, at least that is one worry off of me..... now to wait on news for Travis.....

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.