Mindy’s Place

Sunday morning we enjoyed worshiping at our sister church , Grace Church Frisco! We got to meet Craig Cabaniss (the senior pastor) and the people were so attentive and friendly offering to help us with our children, welcoming us, engaging us in conversation, etc. Craig actually came to us after the service to welcome us. The kids enjoyed their children’s ministry classes after the worship part of the service. We really liked the older class where the children have homework that their parents must sign and participate in. They use John Piper’s Children Desiring God curriculum.

After church we headed back to Ft. Worth to enjoy a yummy brisket lunch with Papa Dean and Granny Sue. Then, we headed to Plainview…the 7 hour drive across Texas! We had to be on the watch as we drove because it has been so dry in West Texas. The only water or green grass possible is near the roadside…hence we saw 37 deer, 1 wild hog and ran over a rabbit. Last time we drove to Plainview a deer ran into the side of our rental van. Needless to say, we were very cautious this time through. We praise God for protecting us and made a decision to arrange our trips in the future so that they are during the daylight hours.

We enjoyed a very special time with Jer’s family. Mimi had to work so we spent alot of time at Nanny and Papa’s. It was so good to spend time enjoying the weather. First we walked over to the neighborhood playground that was build when Jer was about 8 yrs old. Jeremy was reminiscing about how much smaller things look now than they did back then. He also took some special pictures of the kids on top of a mulberry tree stump that had been cut down since our last trip to Plainview. He got a cross section of it and we counted the rings to see that the tree was 43 yrs old. He plans to put the cross-section on his desk at work. The next day the kids spent about 6 hours outside in the yard and then finally on Wednesday they ventured out to Kidsville (the big park in town). C.J. and I stayed home because I wasn’t feeling well. Mimi got to get off work early so she was able to enjoy some time with the grandkids (which she thoroughly enjoyed). We had all our dinner meals enjoying Nanny’s wonderful homemade cooking…boy, can she cook!!!

After taking half a memory stick full of pictures we headed back to Dallas. We went to Sonya and T.J.’s to unload and drop of the kiddos (except C.J.). Aunt Sonya kept Lela and Justin and Uncle T.J. took Nate camping. Aunt Sonya took them to Wendy’s and to the park to play. Then, they went to Marble Slab where she got Justin a chocolate covered sprinkle waffle cone full of chocolate ice cream with M&M’s and sprinkles in it. Everyone was commenting on how that was too much for him and she said, “Oh well, I’ll throw away whatever he doesn’t eat”. Needless to say, he ate the whole thing!! And, when she licked the side where it was dripping he said, “You licked too much.” He was still awake at almost 11 o’clock!

Nate enjoyed camping so much that they stayed an extra night. They cooked hamburgers (after driving back into town to get matches). Then, T.J. realized he may not have enough gas to get back to town so he had to have the campground manager bring him so gas for his car. After finishing up dinner around 10:30p.m. they got ready for bed. They got up at 5 to go fishing. No fish were caught, but Nate still had a blast. They spent the rest of the day hiking and attending to errands in town.

Jeremy and I had dinner with Kris and Julie Pate and their kids at Pappasitos. This was a great time of fellowship and we were so glad to get to spend the evening with them since we weren’t able to see Kris when we spent the night at their house. It was so nice to see how they work together to care for Anna, David and Thomas and how glad the kids were to see their daddy after he was gone for a week on business.

Saturday Jeremy’s dad and two uncles came to get him to spend the day with them before heading back to Maryland. They enjoyed a very exciting triple overtime basketball game where Gruver won their way to State. They had a great time making a memory together. I’m so glad it worked out where Jer was able to do this. C.J. and I ventured on over to Tamra’s to spend the night and go to church with them on Sunday morning. That morning C.J. had thrown up at Sonya’s house so I was hoping he hadn’t gotten the stomach virus that we’d been exposed to in Plainview. Tamra said to come on anyway….so we had a wonderful time of fellowship and late nights! I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations as we spurred one another on to love and good deeds within the contexts of our marriages, parenting and local churches.

Sunday morning I had a wonderful time in church as C.J. slept through the sermon in the nursery…this was my first uninterrupted sermon since I had him and the Lord had some specific things He wanted to say to me. I pray that He will continue to cultivate my heart and grow the fruit of the Spirit in my life. The law of sowing and reaping was expounded on and I was convicted as I thought about my life and what I’m sowing each moment.

Sunday afternoon I went back to Sonya’s to pick up the others and head to my friend, Koni’s. I had a wonderful time of fellowship catching up on the past year and a half while the kids played with Ryley, Kyrsie and Bailey (who was 4 days old last time we were together). She mentioned that they might come to visit us in Maryland..we would love for any of you to visit anytime!!! :o) The kids enjoyed time playing ball and riding scoooters in the yard. Grady was there to help us entertain them kids so Koni and I could get in some good talk time.

After this we headed back to Tamra’s to spend the night. We stayed up late talking once again and then the kids had some playtime Monday morning. The boys were playing star wars while the girls were in Cait’s room playing dolls and house. I just LOVE seeing the difference between boys and girls lived out in my children! :o) Then, we had some outside time in the driveway while we loaded up to leave.

The rest of the day was spent at the Coe’s before heading back to East Texas to close out our trip with Nana, Pop, JeJe, Paw and Uncle Thomas…and of course, Uncle John, Kellie, Annie and Thomas! Our day at the Coe’s was a blast! Diane and I had a wonderful time catching up and I was so provoked to live a life pleasing to God by just listening to her. She was my mentor for a few years before moving to Maryland and I’m so thankful for the Lord’s provision of her in my life. We talked about living our daily lives in the fear of the Lord (in the reality that He is always watching what I’m doing). We talked about self control and how a man without self control is like a city without walls. She shared how she’s put up some walls to help train herself to have self control in certain areas. This was very helpful for me and I’m now asking the Lord to help me to put up some walls of my own. She also copied a booklet that she put together to deal with conflict in relationships. I can’t wait to study it myself. I always feel so encouraged and like I’ve been drinking from a water hose when I leave her.

Monday night we got back to Nana and Pop’s and Tuesday John’s kids came. That morning I noticed that Justin had thrown up a little in his sleep and he’d been coughing alot at night. About midday he fell asleep and had a fever. He spent the rest of day just laying around. That afternoon Lela started feeling bad and was laying around. She fell asleep on the couch about 8 and about 10:30 got up because she’d thrown up. She threw up again about 11:45 and then slept the rest of the night. So, I guess we were affected by the bug we were exposed to in Plainview. I’m praying now that my friends and family won’t pick it up from us…if you read this I’d appreciate your prayers as well.

The kids had a wonderful time playing with their cousins even though we had the bug. The weather was nice so they were able to play outside. Now, we’re here and my mom’s (JeJe) and Kellie, Annie and Thomas are here too. The kids enjoyed the morning watching cartoons and now they are playing outside, playing school, and who knows what else the rest of the day will hold. We had a great breakfast (sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits, jelly and gravy). JeJe’s a good cook too! For lunch we’ll be having Chicken and Dumplings (or maybe that’s for dinner).

Well, that’s the update so far.
Thanks for reading,
Mindy