Rio Hondo Guatemala...My home away from home

We only go for one week every year, and we have only gone twice but I love these people almost as much as I love my family. I feel like they are my family. My brother and sister in law introduced us to these wonderful people. They began going to Rio Hondo back in 2005 with Northwest Bible church. The next year we signed up to go. I have never loved a trip more. I would say that its the best vacation I have ever gone on. We go to this little farming village in Guatemala and set up a backyard Bible study kind of thing. At night, we have dinner for the families and Bible studies for the men and women. I was put in charge of the 5&6 year olds during backyard Bible study, which means, I was in charge of 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 year olds. I had all of these ages because they dont really follow the rules, but it doesnt even matter, because the chaos is a blast. I love these little kids like they were my own children, and each year, I cry like a baby when I have to leave. They are amazing. They have nothing, and they are so happy! The church has been going now for about 9 or 10 years. Every year these people have changed. It is clear that God's love is shining in them. Before when the church used to go, it was all about them. They wanted to get whatever they could. It was all me me me. That has really changed, and we believe it is because God is really working in their lives. I think He is showing them what His love is all about. The last two years I have gone almost all of my kids have given me gifts. They have NOTHING, but they love to give their prize possessions to us. It is wonderful!!!! They love us and we love them! We are going this year again in July. If anyone would be interested in going, we have an informational meeting at Northwest Bible church on January 27th and 12:00. It will change your life. Im not even kidding.

Jon and Kate + 8...LOVE IT

TLC

Am I a dork for blogging about this show? Maybe, but have you all seen it? This is such a great show. I cannot even begin to imagine raising 8 children all around the same age! I went to their web site today (which is not well done to be honest) and I read their story. They really wanted another baby after their two twin girls (Maddie and Cara) so they tried again. When their doctor told them that they were pregnant with 6, they started freaking out. The doctor then told them that they could do a reduction. For those of you that don't know what they mean, they are saying that they could basically get rid of a few of the babies (abort the number of children they don't want) Kate makes it clear on the web site that they would never have even considered this. They put their faith and God and decided to trust Him and what He had planned for them. They knew that it was not their right to destroy any lives. Well, all the babies were born and now they are raising 2 seven year olds and 6 three year olds! The show is hilarious! Kate and Jon have a very interesting banter between themselves, but if I was trying to raise 8 kids, I'm sure John and I would be at each other's throats all of the time! I would highly suggest watching this show if you like fun lighthearted entertainment. It ROCKS! It is on Monday nights at 8:00.

Paris: The City of Lights. Everyone wants to visit Paris sometime in their life. Its a beautiful place to be. Who would pass up the opportunity? I think I might. I have a friend who lives in Chalon-sur-Saone, France. She has the best job in the world! She works 12 hours a week teaching little 10 years olds english. She lives in a little village above an antique bookstore. Next to the bookstore is a flower shop and on the other side is a cafe. Picture perfect right? I have the opportunity to fly into Paris with my friend, Crista, spend a day and a half there, and then take a train to my friend's village and stay with her for a week (for free). She lives in the wine country. There are vineyards all around her village. We could take an hour train ride to Geneva Switzerland. It would be a perfect 10 days, but im just not sure I want to go. I have to earn the money for the plane ride and some money for food. About $1300. I have to do this by taking a side job.... For those of you that dont know me, I dont like to work. So, my question is: Is it worth working on my days off to take this once in a lifetime trip? Also, just a side note, Im terrified that I will get kidnapped. Crista and I are strong girls, but I just feel like two girls staying by themselves in Paris is not super safe. I dont know. Anyone have thoughts?

Beyonce and Poco

Our daughter has a new boyfriend. Thank goodness he is a friend of the family! Poco is the son of Angela and Helmut and the brother of Samson. So far we think he is a great boyfriend. They have nose kissed, but thats all we have seen them do so far. We are happy to know that Poco has been raised in a family that loves Jesus. Poco and Beyonce met at the Addison dog park. I believe that it was love at first sight. She smelled his butt. He chased her around the dog park. I hope that they last. While I love this new relationship, It is driving John crazy that Beyonce keeps talking about Poco this and Poco that. I think he wants to be the only man in her life. oh well.

Our Princess

This is our little angel. Beyonce is three years old which in little dog years is 20. So, she is about to start dating. We are not excited about it but we have decided that we have held her back long enough. Its time to take her to the dog park to meet some boys. She is the perfect daughter and we hope she can find the perfect boyfriend. John is ready to interview all dogs who are willing to ask her out.

Here are some fun pictures from our honeymoon! I am so becoming a blogger! One day and Im already doing slide shows!

So, I have no children of my own, but I do have the most beautiful niece in the entire world. This is Ryann Cate. This is her 9 months picture and I have to say, she is perfect in every way. When I found out Mark and Erin were going to have a baby, I was not happy. Selfish, I know, but I loved hanging out with Mark and Erin all of the time. When they told John and I at Chuy's that they were going to be having her (we didn't know it was a her at the time) I had to pretend to be happy. So the day comes when she is born. April 4th 2007. I am in love! It is now 9 months later and I joke that she is my favorite in the family (including John) Its almost true. The way she looks at me when I walk into the room makes my day. Her smile is perfect. Now, John has a good smile, and if I could get him to look at me that way EVERY time I walked in the room, it wouldn't be a close tie. So, back to Ryann. She is sweet as can be. Unless she is hungry, she is never crying. (Her mom will disagree with me here, but I haven't seen any grumpy moods) When I finish baby sitting Ryann for a few hours, I go home and think, "I don't want to have any children for at least 5 years." Don't get upset. I have made it clear that I love her to death. But, I have discovered that no matter how perfect the baby, taking care of them is HARD. I am so tired when I leave their house. It is an exhausting job, and until Ryann Cate turns about 5, I wont need any children of my own. I say all of this to inform you that for the next 5 years (God willing) we will not be posting any pictures of our own children on here. That is with the exception of our dog Beyonce.

We are now a blogging family

I have not been sure about this blogging thing because I don't have any kids to show off. Sure, we have our daughter (Beyonce) but she is a dog, and doesn't really change appearances often. I might put her in a dress or a sweater every now and then, but thats not often. So, why start blogging? Well, my sister in law, Erin, has a great friend named Annie. Annie is married to a lovely man named Jeremy but they dont have any children yet. When I saw they had a blog, I wondered what it would be about. I honestly did not think it would be interesting. I was wrong. She is hilarious and they live with her 91 year old grandmother in Highland Park. Why would I be interested in reading about her grandmother? I dont know, but I am. SO....this is why I'm starting a blog for our family. Only 1 or 2 people might read it, but that is 1 or 2 people that might be entertained for a few minutes during their boring work day. We will see how this works out...forgive me if it stinks.