Drew and Brenda

Saturday night was the big event.  As long as I can remember, G'mommy would say, "Now, we just need to find a good husband for Brenda!"  Finally, Dr. Drew walked into Brenda's life and swept her off her feet.  On Saturday, they had the most God-honoring celebration of marriage.

Brenda with her sister and cousin

                                                     the kiss

Madison, Gary, Karen and Thomas with cousin Meredith

Family photo

the Bride

my brother Rick, his wife Beverly and their 3 cute grandsons, along with the bride

The reception was a party.  A celebration party.  We left before the bride and groom took stage.

The Rehearsal

This is the wedding weekend.  Brenda and Drew are getting married.

On Friday night, we drove G'mommy and G'daddy to the Rehearsal followed by the rehearsal dinner.

At the rehearsal dinner, there were laughs, jokes, and tears as we celebrated their lives.  In summary, Drew is a loyal friend and Brenda loves to celebrate and honor friends.  What a great combination.

Practicing the words, "Her Mother and I"

to be continued.....

Holiday Plans Iced - Dec 2013

Proverbs 16:9

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

I flew up early so I could spend some good quality time with my mom.  I had tickets for the LH Tour of Homes and a luncheon on Friday, followed by a Ladies' Christmas luncheon on Saturday at Northwest Bible Church.

All events were cancelled! Ice and cold weather!!  Schools were closed, programs were cancelled and even the famous Dallas Marathon was cancelled.  Hardly anyone was traveling on the solid sheets of think ice that blanketed the Metroplex.  Many homes lost power, but thankfully we did not.  There were broken tree limbs that fell throughout the night. 

I made Taco Soup to warm up our bones.  We watched the news and on Saturday Dad, mom and I watched non-stop College Football.

I'm glad I could still spend time with my mom, even though we did not get everything done that was on my calendar.

San Kris Mall

There is a brand new mall that "went up over night".  Ask the Tarwater family if they've heard construction or a generator throughout the night.

The 2 anchor shops are your local Cemaco store (True Value Hardware store) and La Torre Grocery Store (much like a Safeway).

 The Christmas Tree is already up and is huge.

 There is even an iPhone store, a Barrista coffee shop (similar to Starbucks) and then there are other specialty stores.

The Messiah

It was 6:50pm.  Dark.  Glenn was out paying bills.  The phone rang.  Paul on the line asked "Are y'all going to the production of the Messiah in Antigua tonight?"  "No", I replied.  "Merry Christmas! would you like to go? We have tickets for you.  It starts in 1 1/2 hours".

I have always wanted to go to this majestic location at Hotel Santo Domingo in Antigua to enjoy the musical production of the Messiah.  It was on my Wish List.

Here is a Youtube production from last year.

A big thank you to Ruth and Paul for blessing us with these tickets!

 I can now "check" this off of my Wish List.

~J

Christmas Program

Tuesday we attended the Christmas program at CAG.  It was the production of  "A Christmas Carol".  Fine job!  It caused me to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
~J

Thanksgiving Celebration

During the Thanksgiving week, we had a pretty packed schedule.  Although we were not with family, we were with friends.

On Wednesday night, we gathered together with our other TLC Team members.  The Herringtons drove in from Rio Hondo and joined us at the Makidon's house along with the Tarwater "clan."

Everyone pitched in to make and bring some part/s of the meal. I made my delicious corn casserole which I've been using for 30+ years.  Thank you, Cheryl E. for the recipe.

On Thanksgiving day, we ventured over to Gary and Esperanza's house to join 50+ other folks.  The food was delicious, and the special music/worship service brought everything together.

Happy Thanksgiving Season!

McInternet

 

 On our recent trip to Puerto Barrios with the Herringtons, we stopped at the local McDonalds.  I hadn't noticed this symbol before.

 They had wifi!  McInternet!!

Blessings and Losses

The reality is that life is fragile.  It can be taken away.  Quickly.  

Ever since Glenn's heart attack scare, I am breathing every moment with him as an extra gift of life.  I know the Lord could have taken him home.  But He didn't.  I am looking at life differently.  I have realized several things.

Blessings

Family is important.  Thinking immediately of my mom, I see the Alzheimer's  disease slowly eating away at her mind.  She can't remember her grand children's names, she forgets where I live and work, and she doesn't know what happened yesterday. However I must focus on the fact that I love her. I have memories.  Delicious memories of her fried chicken, okra, biscuits and gravy, and Mexican pile up dinners.   I love her even when she might not remember my name.  I love her because she is my mom.  My desire is for my children to appreciate and love me as much as I love my mom.

Losses 

I have experienced losses in the past several weeks and months.  Losses hurt.  It is painful.  I have lost a dear friend.  I have lost the things of "how they use to be".  I can't go back to retrieve them.  I could have lost Glenn.  Praise the Lord I didn't.  It is what it is. I have an empty feeling of disconnect with family over the many miles. There are losses of being a mother far from my children (although now I am enjoying being a Grammie). ....But now I am gradually losing my mother.

In conclusion, I am thankful to God my Savior.  Thankful for life.  Extra life.  Thankful for family.  And thankful for God's grace. 

...And I am trying to be thankful for the losses in my life.
 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 ~J

Michael from Mexico

You never know who is going to call you.  Michael called us to let us know he was doing a sports camp in Guatemala and around the city.

We shared together.  We were able to give him a "loaner cell phone" while he's in the country and will get it back before he returns home this next week.  

We shared some laughs and appreciated his friendship even though its been 4+ years since we visited together last at the Mexico Field Conference.

Glenn's Diet and Progress

Glenn has had a flurry of doctor appointments recently.  He has met with his nutritionist and they have discussed his plans for eating the right food and monitoring his weight.   

Have you ever gone to a dietician and they recommend tortillas, black beans and papaya juice as part of your diet?  I guess we live in Guatemala.  Glenn has substituted the tortillas with whole wheat toast but has enjoyed his fresh papaya.

Since Glenn's heart attack on Sept 17, he has cut way back on his excesive activity levels, cutting his work load back to just 40 hours a week instead of the 65-80 hours he was doing. For someone who loves to "help" folks it has been a difficult change of life style.

Glenn and I are walking every morning and sometimes in the evenings - 50 minutes. 

Glenn will have a stress test on Thursday morning (THANKSGIVING DAY!). I think he will be thankful when the test is over.  So, instead of watching the Macy's Day Parade, Glenn will be marching to the beat of a different drum.

Again, we are thankful for the excellent care we've received through the Cardio Care office.

Gotta Belize it

Glenn and I drove 5 hours to the NE port town of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala with the intention of taking a boat across to Punta Gorda to help the Herringtons renew their 90 day visa.  

Upon arriving, meeting with the Immigration officials, discovering the unexpected cost of passage on the 12 passenger vessel and realizing that it was going to take us longer than expected, we decided not to go across the bay.

 

It was an ALL Day adventure, a good adventure.  We were able to visit with the Herringtons while we traveled in their "new" Isuzu Trooper.  We talked about their ministry, their challenges, their hopes and their dreams.

When I think about it, our original plans were to have lunch in Belize and then come right back.  Those plans were changed.  But I don't believe it was a failed trip. It just was not what we had originally planned.

Proverbs 16:9

The mind of man plans his way,
            But the LORD directs his steps.

In Christ Alone

 
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Let's Talk about Jesus

Let's talk about Jesus,
The King of kings is He.
The Lord of Lords supreme
thru all eternity.
The great I am the way,
the Truth, the Life, the Door;
Let's talk about Jesus more 
and more.

(unknown)

Psalm 63

Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalms 63:3 & 4

A Man with A Big Heart

 Last week Glenn and I shared the day with many others who gave tribute to Ron Baker.

It was a great reunion from "Camers" who have served and worked together on the field and in the states.  It was a bit like a little "home-coming".  It was a little "slice of heaven", a small snapshot of when we'll all be together again.

Earlier in the week we had taken Marcia over to the Camino office so friends could see and visit with her.  We took her to Mardel's and she picked out a special Guest book.  I had folks sign it.  And then that same guest book as placed at the back of the church for folks to sign as they were arriving for the Memorial Service.

Continue to pray for my dear friend, Marcia.  I look forward to our next time together when we can continue making memories.
~J