STL/KC 2012!

So, here we are nearing the end of two weeks of missions that we have planned and worked for since the projects ended last year at this time.


First week was spent in St. Louis.  Registration was on Friday with 14 youth groups from churches in Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, and Kansas.  With churches and staff we had close to 300 missionaries on the field in inner city St. Louis, MO and East St. Louis, IL.


Our lodging was, as last year, at First Baptist Church, Arnold, MO.  I took Gavin with me because his birthday is August 1 and he will be 11 years old.  I thought it would be a great chance to get mema time with him.  Mallory Schmitz also went with us to take pictures of the sites and events of the week.

Here's Mallory, so happy that we got our beds set up.

And here I am in my office suite, pouring over the books.

Gavin made a tent over his bed so he could watch a movie on my tablet.

The weekend was spent in training for the youth groups with great speakers and band and worship with FBC, Arnold congregation on Sunday.  Monday morning started VBS at the 6 ministry sites around the cities.  Here's Mallory on the job at one of the sites.

On Tuesday, our midweek break, we went to Gavin's favorite, the City Museum and another day we ate at Crown Candy.  Gavin said besides City Museum, he really enjoyed visiting the sites.

We left St. Louis on Thursday afternoon, so we could stop by Springfield and have a night at home to wash our clothes, sleep in a real bed, pick up the mail, etc. before heading to Kansas City on Friday morning.  Registration is at 1:00 pm, so we needed to get there in time to get ready for the 160 youth and leaders from 9 churches in Missouri and Arkansas who would be moving in for the week.  It's always somewhat of a reunion to see youth pastors and wives that I haven't seen for a year and meet new ones whom I have talked to on the phone in preparation for the trip.

Gavin stayed home this time as Mallory and I met up with Todd, Heather and their kids.  Todd is Lodging site Coordinator for the week and Heather has worked with me in the preparations.  Gary & Lynette Hirsch and their family were there as well and Gary shared LSC duties with Todd.

One of the biggest jobs of the Project is held by our cooks.  We have incredible Head Cooks, Cindy Hunter in St. Louis and Randy & Rosie Bumgarner in Kansas City.  Then each youth group brings a kitchen helper.  It really takes a lot of hard work and long hours to feed these crews and we appreciate each one who volunteers for this job.

We were also able to visit all the sites and see the students ministering to the children.  Mallory again took pictures for us.  On our free day, we went with Todd and Heather & kids and the Hirsch's to the Crown Center. 

It was an amazing two weeks and I thank God for the 108 people who came to know Christ during this time and pray for the students who will go back to their most difficult mission field....their schools.

Praying to be on mission every day,

4th of July

We had a great fourth of July week.  And I say week, because it lasted all week.  We had a celebration at church on Sunday night, July 1st.  They cooked hamburgers and hotdogs and we brought sides.  Then our youth pastor and some of the youth set off a great fireworks display. Cael is loving it.  Ava is watching from daddy's shoulder.

Cael decided to go sit with his friends, so he picked up his lawn chair and moved over by Ian, Jack, and Ella (our future youth group).

Then on Wednesday, July 4th we had Heather's birthday dinner.  We usually do it on her actual birthday, July 3rd and then shoot fireworks in the evening, but with no rain and hay in the field and several other things going on, we decided to do the cookout on Wednesday.  I tried cooking chicken on the grill and it wasn't too bad.  We had Heather's signature flag cake (with blueberries and strawberries)  and homemade ice cream.  The kids lit their smoke bombs and snakes and had a good time.

Then on Saturday, we were invited to Cozy's to celebrate Charles Dixon's 80th birthday.  We had grilled burgers and the fixin's and enjoyed a fireworks display put together by Matt.

What a great, fun week!

So thankful to live in this great country!

Donna

Happy Pappy's Day!!

Heather told their kids to say "Happy Pappy's Day" to Pappy as they left today, so that's the title of this post.

Sunday dinner was one of Gary's favorite's, Swiss Steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed corn, lettuce/cucumber salad, with apple pie and German Chocolate cupcakes for dessert.

We honor the three dads who were present today and the one in Houston,Texas who is married to our daughter and remembered our dads who have gone on.

Here are the three most important men in my life.  I am so proud of the husbands and fathers that our sons have become.  They work hard to provide for their family but more importantly, they model how to lead a family in loving and serving God.  But then, they have a father who modeled that for them.

Just happened to get a picture of the boys with their daughters.

Where's Ava?

There she is!

Each of these sons has two sons of their own, who will grow up watching their dad be the kind of dad they want to be.

I'm feeling especially blessed today!

Wife and mother to these three incredible men!

Random June Pics

Here's some cute shots of Ava in Nursery during church.  This was mine and Lindsay's Sunday to stay in the nursery.  Ava and Liam had a lovely time playing together. 

In case you didn't notice Ava's shoes, here's a close-up.   Sooooo cute!

Haven's dreams came true.  Meet Rosie, the newest member of their family.  She is the sweetest little thing and loved by all.

Another trip to the zoo, but this time with Gavin.  Cael would ride that train over and over and over...............  We were counting the number of turtles that were sunning on the logs.

Couldn't pass the elephant with getting a picture of the three of them.

Looks like we wore Ava out!  She is ready for her bed!

We are making memories every day!!

Mema











Amazing God, Awesome Power!

Thank you to Jamie, Kerry, Mickie, Sarah and all the planners for the 2012 Springhill Vacation Bible School! The title of this post was the theme for the week.  Our grandkids had a wonderful time!

I got to be a "mom" and my duty was to take the K-1st kids around to each of their classes, so I got to have Haven in my group.  But we were able to see the others occasionally and here are some pictures:

 Jude and Cael had their opening in a different area than the older kids.

Our theme had to do with Aviation and I just loved these little airplane hats they made and wore.  Their snacks each time had to do with our theme and were so clever and tasty!

The youth helped with recreation and here's Haven waiting to get picked to play "Duck, Duck, Goose"

I loved their craft time this year.  Each day they made something to give away.  One day it was a bag of goodies.....toothbrush, toothpaste, granola bars, a little New Testament...I can't remember what all was in it, but they wrote a note to include in the bag and had a lesson on Jesus first, others second and ourselves last.  They were to give this bag to someone who needed to know that God loves them.  The next day, here is Jadon is picking out decorations for a notebook they will send with our mission team that is going to India to minister to teachers there.  Again they wrote a note to the teacher who will receive this notebook.  What great lessons in giving!

Their last recreation was spent on this homemade water slide.  All of the older children were together at this time.  They had so much fun!!  Cael and Jude's classes played in the water  with squirt bottles, but I bet they would have loved this slide, too!

What do you think about VBS, Jude?  Is that a whoo-hoo?

I so enjoyed watching these precious little ones learning more about Jesus and having fun with the others.

Amazing God, awesome power!!!

Donna

Happy Birthday to Haven!

Haven Elizabeth Wallace is 6 years old today!!! Happy Birthday to Haven!!  On Saturday afternoon, Aunt Karla and I took Haven birthday shopping and guess where she wanted to go?  That's right, Build-A-Bear.  She has had her eye on a dog that can be the mother to a puppy she already has.  Of course, she informed me this will be her 9th Build-a-bear animal.

So we got to the store and she found her dog, which she immediately named Rose.  Here are some pictures of the adventure.

Then, that evening we attended her birthday celebration party at her house.  Here we are enjoying grilled burgers and hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, etc. 

Lovely Hello Kitty dress, Haven.

And now, the presents.

And....a new bike!!

Haven's very own "pupcakes" and homemade ice cream!  (Two cupcakes decorated to look like a dog.)
    

Haven, you are certainly a lovely 6 year old girl.  I love how sensitive you are to others and how much you love to help.  You seem to already have a servant heart.  I am blessed to be your Mema.

I love you,

Mema

Memorial Day!

I decided kind of at the last minute that grilled burgers sounded good for Monday, Memorial Day.  So I started calling family members to see if anyone had any plans.  Turned out the kids didn't have plans, so Gary and I started setting up the little pool for the kids to swim in  and the fire pit for smores. Poor Gary, when I get an idea, he's usually the one who works the hardest to implement my idea.  I did tell him I appreciated all his hard work, since he won't read this and know how I am praising him.

I fixed some ice cream for Gary to churn.  He is an expert at that!  He made sure the grill was ready so I could cook some burgers, brats, hot dogs, salmon burgers and corn in the husk.  He put together the new fire pit for smores (which nobody wanted after burgers and brownies and ice cream).  Oh well, we'll use it sometime.

B.J. and Donna joined us and brought Erica and Jackson.  Steve had to go to work, but Cozy came. Matt and Lindsay and kids, Todd and Heather and kids all were able to come.  Missed Karla, the Bischoffs and John and Beverly who all couldn't be here.   I love this family so much and the more time I get to spend with them, the better!

Enough Food?

Jackson and Ava

I bought this little pool last summer, but when I got it out this year, the ring around the top won't stay inflated and I cannot find the leak.  Grrrrr.  The kids didn't seem to mind very much.  They just enjoyed the water!

Most of all, on this holiday, I want to remember those who have served and given their lives for our freedoms.  My daddy and father-in-law were in World War II and I am honored to remember them this day.  Our nephew, Eric, is serving in Afghanistan now and we appreciate him so much and pray for his safety!

Salute...

Donna