A uniquely American phenomenon (Airwalker)

For the last 3 months we have been making regular weekend pilgramages to Orlando and Tampa to faithfully watch Dawn and her club volleyball team play in tournaments. She was given a special gift to attend the club and it's been great at keeping her in shape as well as improving her skills. It is run by her high school coach, but isn't a function of the school. The practices are held at her school, so all in all, she is in good hands. We have attended all of the tournaments but one. It has been interesting to see these huge venues (Orlando Convention Center, Tampa Convention Center) set up with 25-36 volleyball courts and hundreds of girls playing volleyball games. And most of these with parents in tow! So Dan had to buy the Dad volleyball t-shirt ("Dedicated Dad, he pays, he drives, he practices, he waits, he watches, he cheers") and I had to buy the Mom t-shirt ("I used to have a life but now I am a Volleyball Mom"). We've toted our chairs and blankets (they keep those places freezing cold), reading material and camera everywhere with us. In the Orlando area we stayed with Dan's brother, Doug, to help save on hotel expenses. Thanks so much Doug & Cindy!!

These things are a unique phenomenon of America. It is a whole subculture with it's own activities, language, code of ethics, and dresscode! We've found it very interesting but have had fun. The team is a different makeup than the school team Dawn was on. They have fun playing together, but haven't been as successful as the school team. Here are some photos of Dawn at work. Yes, she really can jump that high! She walks on air!

A Birthday and an anniversary

Ok, we won't mention much about the birthday! We gals have to keep some mystery alive! Suffice it to say that I had a birthday on March 24.

Now, the more notable event. Our 25th wedding anniversary on March 26. How can it be? Where did the time go!? Things sure have changed since 1983!! God has been good to us...2 great kids, the years of ministry in Haiti and now here in the US. There's been sickness, there's been health, challenges, good times, hard times, accidents, times apart due to ministry requirements, political coups, the list could go on. But we know without any doubt that God knew who was best for each of us. Thanks for taking such good care of me and being a fantastic husband, Dan!! It's been a great 25 and I am looking forward to the next 25. :)

I love you, Deb

Good Xray report

The xray of Dan's shoulder showed no damage to the tendons. The muscles are torn, which will be a shorter recovery time than tendons, so we are pleased about that. He has a number of movements that he can't do, so he has to be careful. Thanks for your prayers for him!

A Stupid Fat Cat and Frozen Peas!

Stupid Cat! Well, at least I want to blame the cat. At 6:45 a.m. this morning, I lifted our cat (ONE FAT CAT at 17 lbs.), Smudge, off my high dresser with my right hand. As I let go of the cat, I felt a sharp pain and heard a rrrrrriiiiipppp in my shoulder, then felt a searing pain. My morning and part of the afternoon then was spent in the doctor's office, at the pharmacy and in radiology getting an xray. The Dr. feels that at the least I have torn rotator cuff muscles and possibly tendons.

Do you know how much you use your right arm/shoulder when you are right handed?! It's been less than 12 hours and I already feel so handicapped. The doc. says that I can do some things, but she gave me a list of "don't do's" for the next 2 weeks. So don't call and ask me to help you move some furniture!

The doctor did tell me that frozen peas would do wonders for it. ON the shoulder, not cooked and in my stomach! I knew those peas were in the freezer for some reason.

Pray for quick healing. I didn't need this. I have several meetings and upcoming travels to make. With all that is going in the ministry, I don't need this distraction. I am thankful that it wasn't worse than it was, though! Stupid Cat!

Dan

A Slam Dunk in March!

Sorry guys, this is not about basketball.  But I did get a "Slam Dunk" with Dunkin' Donuts!  On Thursday, March 20, they had a deal where the first 50 people through the door when it opened at 5:00 AM got 52 free cups of coffee, Coollatas, free coffee for a year,etc. It was only for our 3 county area.  Since I have a Dunkin Donuts very near me that I probably frequent a bit too much, this sounded too good to be true! I was the first one there, getting there quite a bit before 4am.  I was surprised as I expected more people.  (Other DK's had hundreds of people show up.)  So about 4 am with only about 10 people there, I called Deb to come over as well.  She was about 15th.  So we now have 104 free cups of various beverages from DK, good for the next year.  Very cool, or hot, as the case may be! 

This is the first time I have ever done anything like this.  (Sorry Rob you weren't here!  I know you would have been right there with me!)  It was an interesting time interacting with the various types of folks that showed up.  There were all types.  A boyfriend with his pregnant girlfriend, the retired couple, several construction workers, the housewife, a family with their 12 year old son, etc.  It was interesting how so many people, over 75 by 5 am would come out for free coffee, including these crazy missionaries!  Since Deb doesn't drink coffee, she said I owe her BIG time!

I thought later of how God has offered Eternal Life and a personal relationship with Him free for the taking, every day, all day, not just once a year.  How few take advantage of that offer, at their leisure, not having to get out of bed at 3:30 in the morning and waiting until the door to open at 5:00 to say a certain thing or prayer.  No, God is always ready and waiting to demonstrate His love for us by enabling us to enter into His presence just by asking His Son to be Lord of our life! Now THAT is a slam-dunk!

I ate my way through Chicago!

One of the joys of traveling is being able to taste the food of the different areas you past through. Since I have spent quite a bit of time in Chicago area in the past, (I lived there for 10 years during high school and my college years) and many visits since, I know there are several things you have to have on a visit.

There is nothing like a good Chicago Hotdog with all the fixin's. Yep, I had one! Actually I had at 4 or 5, but who's counting! They were great!

Another thing I had to have was an italian beef sandwich, dipped, with green peppers. Ahhh. So good! I do miss those! And yes, I had at least 2 of those as well. Portillo's Hot Dogs and Beef sandwiches are to die for! What a great place. Wish we had one here! http://www.portillos.com/portillos/

No, I haven't forgotten about the pizza. I also love Chicago Pizza! We had all you could eat at one of the gatherings at Arlington E. Free Church. I waddled out of there very satisfied!

And of course a good gyros is hard to beat with lots of sauce dripping out of it. Oh my! Yummy! Unfortunately I finally ran out of eating time! I only had one of them.

Actually I am glad I left when I did, my pants were starting to get tight! I came home fat and sassy!

To Chicago and back!

I am finally back in balmy Florida! Sunshine, 80 degrees, low humidity.....Ahhhh! I think I am still thawing out though! Being down here, you do forget how cold it can get "up there"! But even if the weather was cold, the fellowship was very warm! My time with the folks at Arlington Heights E. Free Church and Village Church of Bartlett couldn't have gone any better. Both missions conferences were a blessing to me. The many different speakers were interesting and challenging. I was able to make some good contacts for RMI for the future. There were several good contacts for potential new sister churches. There were also a couple of invites to conferences where there will be opportunities to share the Sister Church Program with many new churches.

I also presented (for the first time) our new RMI Impact Partners program encouraging those who have been impacted by RMI and their Sister Church to become more involved with RMI financially through pledged giving. So far there has been good response. Pray for many more to get involved with us through this initiative.

Thanks Dave and Kirk for all you did to make my time with your churches a great blessing! Love you guys!