Missionaries are a.....different breed....

Chuck and Terry are in the 'missionary loop' now and some of their friends and co-missionaries are very interesting people....
Take 'Bro Eddie' for instance....going on the missionary field at 29 was quite an adventure...being one of Chuck's 'best friends' , Chuck took him along to a nursing home visit when he was back from Africa on 'break' . There was one patient which they visited that was 'terminal serious' so Bro. Eddie and Chuck prayed fervently for her...
The next week Chuck went back alone for his normal visit and went into....an empty room.
Thinking she had 'gone to Heaven', he went to the next room and lo and behold, there his 'terminal patient' was....sitting with her friend and watching The Jerry Springer Show!
Yep, these boys know that 'Higher Power'...
Below is a link to a You Tube video from such a young missinary family...
The young Taylor Family has 4 children........
View their humerous video to see 'normal-abnormal' life of this Family with a ....Mission.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00HwrirLw3Q
James Taylor + East Kenya Missions

Another one....which has a song you will sing again and again..."Oh, Lord, please don't send me to Africa!" Wonderful people.....these Missionaries!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWgkqciy0n0

Also, see Bro. Eddie's site where he explains who the Turkana people are:
http://turkanamissions.org/about_us.html

Chuck & Terry's Missionary Day at 60th St. Baptist Church, Pasadena Baptist, Hillsboro Christian Academy....

Proud Dad with son, Chuck, Terry in back by Missionary board ...
Chuck with his Turkana, Kenya Missinary display
(date error on pic)

Lunch at La Teresita with Chuck,Terry and family.
Sister Lynn, takes picture and prayed special
blessings for missionary future.

Chuck's missionary page is: http://missionaries2turkana.org/index.html
Pasadena Baptist Church....Dade City...
Chuck wrote the following about the blessing of the young people...
"The invitation was incredible as there where so many coming to be saved that we had to look for alter workers to lead them to Christ. I ask the Choir director if he was a soulwinner, he said 'yes', I said I would rather you lead someone to Christ than lead the music. Before it was over there were 15 young folks who were saved, old folks crying and praying. To God be the Glory! It was one of those nights when the fog of God moved in and your just not sure what all happened other than people coming to the Lord. "
What a blessing, America!

Carla, Kason & Chuckie/aka 'Pipo'

Sister, Brother, Nephew......Aunt, Uncle, Cousin..... Family.....
What is the 'worth' of family?
What is the 'cost' of family?
What is the 'joy' of family?
What is the 'pain' of family?
We all have different answers to these questions...
The picture above....of our family members....is....PRICELESS!
So it is with.....Family!

Joshua's 'Fun' Day off from school ....Guess who had the most 'fun'?

Neena and 'her 4 Eva date'.....

"Guys, be serious, now!" says JJ

"This is how it is done!" says Mr. Cool

"Guess who were the winners!"

Celebrating Life and all its Blessings....

to Hope and Danny....

Life Is Short....

Plans for a 11 day 'Southern Exotic Caribbean Cruise' on February 11 is in the works....
Going three days early to San Juan, Puerto Rico with friends Pat & Walker, and Sally & Sam means that we have to pack lots and lots of clothes for this trip. Pat has most of her clothes chosen and part of them packed, Sally and I are saying, 'Help!' .....
Pat has clothes....everywhere....this the the way
to 'Get r Done'.....

Pat is 1/2 ready....where is Walker's clothes?

Charlie is very excited about this cruise as we will be stopping at 8 different islands.....
Living a 'dream-come-true' is thrilling.
Having a list of goals, dreams and 'things I want to do' before I die was brought home to me as Charlie and I went to see the movie called 'Bucket List'....
The Bucket List was a list made by two men who had been given a 'terminal diagnosis' and as a result decided to make a list of the things they would like to do before they 'kicked the bucket'!
It was hilarious...and sad....and thought provoking....
It also presented a 'wake up call' at any age, to enjoy the ordinary, the simple, the profound experiences of every day life to its fullest.....NOT just the 'exotic cruises', the mountain top experiences, the 'getting what you want' kind of dreams.....
Life is short....unpredictable....temporary.....
Love is .....Forever!
Enjoying moments of life with those whom we love....AND THOSE WHO LOVE US BACK is the most thrilling emotion of life.....or it is for me....
Once upon a time Skydiving was on my bucket list .....it has been crossed off as 'done'...
Horseback riding on the beach another.....done in Costa Rica....
What is on your 'Bucket List'?

Bill & Susan...God Bless YOU!

Our dear friends, Susan & Bill, were involved in a traffic accident last week.
When Melissa called us with the news, our hearts surrounded them in love and prayer.
Immediately the calls and e-mails went out to my family, my prayer partners, boating friends etc.
Prayer was requested and received...Heaven heard!
Susan was bruised and shook up considerably but Bill required surgery from head stitches to metal inserts in knee, ankle and toe!
Yesterday I spoke with him on the phone after he was home from the hospital..
Despite everything he had been through....he still sounded like BILL!
Bill is certainly a 'Get r Done' kind of guy so being told that he had to stay off of his leg/knee for 3 months
didn't make him happy a bit but he will 'bite the bullet' for sure and.....get r done!
Now all of us who are praying for you, dear Bill, pray that you heal quickly and 'listen to your home nurse' for once in your life! Please!

Having FUN with our 'Turkey'

Lil Chuck, aka: Turkey,
Launching his SWAT team dinghy in Pops pool...

Going with Mommy MJ, and MaMa to
Chuck E Cheese was fun....

"Boats are my thing!" says Turkey

"Racing is in my blood,
see I am outrunning the Chuck E Cheese cops!"

Lil Chuck is always there for the hugs....

Forgiveness MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE!

I do not usually quote newspaper articles but this one is so good that I recommend you read it for yourself!
Forgiveness is a decision....that you give yourself....in order to be free and healthy, mentally, emotionally and spiritually....
yet I would like to add that just because you really and truly forgive someone it does not necessarily mean that you continue to have that person in your life if it is not a healthy relationship for you....
True Forgiveness means you can be free to walk on in peace, with or without the other person involved....
Go to:
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/10/Life/Forgiveness_may_save_.shtml

To see Lynn's Birthday photo show click below

http://www.photoshow.net/iwg/birthday_s

Celebrating Lynn's Birthday...Family style

Birthday Girl...and Cindy as a 'special' guest...

Family Dinner at Maggianos...

Hope & Danny, daughter Ash & Matt,

Joshua, Birthday Girl, Cindy, Dylan, Britt, Samantha, Vinnie, Faith & Charlie

Dylan listens to iPod and he is not hearing lullaby's...

Joshua shares music with Uncle Matt while 'Tia' looks on...

Cindy & Britt (with mouth full of food) share in a 'private' joke...

Moments In Life

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real!

When the door of happiness closes, another opens;

but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one, which has been opened for us.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.

Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

From The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams...

“When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful...

”When you are REAL you don’t mind being hurt.”

Happy Birthday, Neena, Lynn...

Joshua and Chuck E Cheese wishes you a
wonderful and FUN Birthday....

Joshua knows how to have fun....
YOU have taught him well!

Birthday Girl with her favorite 'date'....
they hang out together all the time!

Happy 'Special' Day our Dear Lynn....God Bless You and
the works of your hand....

The 'JOY' of.....Forgiveness....

"I Forgive You"

This is among the greatest phrases in ANY language.

After long separation or disagreement between family, friends, or lovers, to forgive is....God-like.

To be forgiven is to begin life all over with renewed hope that life will be beautiful again.

Forgiveness is not an emotion.

It is a decision.

When we choose to forgive someone, God will see to it that the feelings of forgiveness follow the decision.

God always stands ready to forgive you.....and me!

Your sorrow, or guilt, may be.....unbearable.

Only God knows your deep, hearts NEED of forgiveness.

Just ask, you will find God's 'welcome home' when you do...

Psalm 32 1-2 (Promise Bible)says it best.....

"Our God, You bless everyone whose sins You forgive and wipe away.

You bless them by saying,

'You told me your sins, without trying to hide them,

and now I forgive you."