Lubbock, TX

What a blessing to have our first meeting in Texas!  We have seen God work in a great way among the staff here at Bethany Baptist Church.  First of all, they were already on the same ‘page’, but through the revival the Lord, I believe, has knit their hearts together for revival! They began reading some books together that will help them on this pilgrimage .  We sure thank the Lord for this meeting with Pastor Aaron Denson.  We know that we will have a friend in this Pastor and we are thankful for men who will stand firm on ‘old-fashioned’ standards and truths.  What a blessing!

2 week meeting update

We are coming to the close of our 2 week meeting in Clovis, NM at Westbrook Baptist Church.  God has and is doing great things.  I have seen the Lord change Billy’s direction in the last 2 weeks.  It has not been a normal progression of Revival truths that are ‘typical’ to a meeting, but rather the Lord has directed specifically each evening to meet the need of the people.  Very interesting.  I am so glad it’s been unconventional.  We had a testimony/question time on Sunday evening which, in my opinion, was the pivitol point in the meeting.  To hear the testimonies given and the questions that were asked sealed the fact that the people were ‘getting’ it.  Sometimes it is fun to sit back and seemingly feel like things aren’t ‘happening’ the way it conventionally happens, but rather watch the Holy Spirit move and work in a deep, unique way.  It will be fun to watch (as we have even this last year) God stretch and grow the people at Westbrook!

trailer update

Billy spoke to the trailer repair place this week and it is possible that our trailer will be finished the end of next week.  That is really unbelievable!  So far the damage was:  The rear slide, all motors to slides, both air conditioners, washer and dryer, most electrical ‘boxes’ and these are the things that they could ‘reach’.  Once the slides are out and repaired they will test the other things……..keep praying

we have babies in Heaven

It has taken awhile for me to type about this, but I believe the Lord has given liberty to do so.  In March, Billy and I found out we were expecting our first baby.  What a thrilling day it was for me, but Billy was in denial.  So much so that he made me go to the Dr. that day to really make sure the home test(s) were correct! So, that afternoon we verified that truly we were expecting.  Wow the thrill.  They did however make sure to let us know that we needed to return for our first ultrasound visit to ‘verify’ the pregnancy.  The next 4 weeks went by extremely slow…extremely slow!  We had no idea what to expect at the first visit, but quickly learned that it was very simple.  During the ultrasound we saw a yolk sak, but no fetal pole (which would be the heartbeat).  So, we all thought it might be a little early to see the heartbeat.  We returned a week later for another ultrasound.  This time we saw 2 yolk saks….that’s right…TWINS!  but still no fetal poles.  Still thinking we were early, we waited 2 weeks to check things out again.  The next ultrasound was simliar…no fetal poles, but the yolk saks had grown.  (It was possible that the twins were hiding).  So another 2 weeks was recommended.  In the meantime we had blood drawn for toxin levels, but those came back normal.  A week later I miscarried both babies.  I was alone, Billy was washing Mesa and my Daddy kept calling me on the phone…it was a whirlwind experience and very scary.  Through the night I passed several clots of blood (the first though actually looked like 2 matching saks).  So, I believe those were the babies.  The babies officially were in Heaven 12 weeks into the pregnancy.  The tests didn’t tell us how long they lived and due to no toxins in the blood it is possible they lived close to the time frame (of course, no real way to tell).  Many of you already knew of this trying time in our lives, but I tell you, this has been the darkest trial of my life.  For several days I could not think straight…sure, hormonally I was ‘off’, but I was Spiritually as well.  I never doubted God’s goodness or His plan for my life, but I did wonder what He was trying to teach me by taking these babies home.   A couple of weeks prior a dear friend’s baby went home to be with the Lord and the comforting thought of the twins and Emma playing together was such a sweet thought…also the thought of them knowing my nephew, Wilson was super sweet to me.  However the sadness has been overwhelming.  We have received several sweet notes and cards from many of you and I want to thank you so much.  I have not had the words to reply, but my gratefulness is large.  I have been in awe at those who have written that I haven’t had the privilege of meeting yet, but thank you, thank you…each time I opened your cards, I cried.  For you to write someone you didn’t know was the most thoughtful thing ever to me.  Keep praying…I have stayed in Georgia to recouperate until this week.  I am thankful to Westbrook Baptist, Clovis, NM (Pastor Furgus Tunnell) for being so thoughtful and understanding…I have felt no pressure and have felt quite at home.  What a great week to jump back into my duties next to Billy.  In further posts, I’ll share what the Lord has been and is teaching me.  I may never know what the Lord’s full desire is through this, but I know I want to learn all He has to teach me!

NEW updates

Just posted some pics and new updates if you’d like to go back a little and read…June 7-present.  Keep watching for older updates to come.

4 Saved in AM

We saw 4 saved in the Sun AM service today!  Praise the Lord…we know He wants to do great things this week! (Westbrook Baptist Church, Clovis, NM, Pastor Furgus Tunnell)

Trailer pictures

Struck by Lightning

On Wednesday night, 6/9/10 at 4:00am our trailer was struck by lightening (technically, it hit beside our trailer and we incurred the concussion from the strike) Neighbors reported seeing the ball of flame and knew we had been hit.  Yes, we were in it asleep (as asleep as you can be during a tremendous storm). The local paper alluded to the fact that there were about 1000 strikes each 15 minute period that lasted through the evening til about 10:00am.  There was approximately 12 inches of rainfall in our area that caused the local river to rise approximately 3′ every 15 minutes.  There was a local RV place near the river that was washed away and the trailers that didn’t move were washed down the river as well.  We would have been at that park, but they didn’t allow Mesa to stay.  We were blessed. 

However, the storm that hit us has caused us to leave our trailer behind….here’s what happened.  When the lightening hit, Billy and I sat erect in bed while Mesa jumped upon the bed to protect us.  We all thought someone was storming into the trailer.  When Billy went to check it out, the slide ‘out’s were doing odd things….the middle slide was coming in at record speed crushing everything in it’s path.   Still the noise was tremendous and I went to check out the back bedroom only to find that the slide had been ripped from the frame and was tilted forward barely hangin’ on. I thought I was physically going to throw up.  It was amazing to see the slide tilted toward me.   As the noise from the slide continued the rest of the trailer went silent as the air conditioner turned off…the heat turned on (both run off different power sources).  We could not get the heat to turn off and it was quickly getting hotter and hotter (the temp outside was already in the 80’s).  He quickly got Mesa to the truck…I was a little reluctant to step out into the storm.  I am quite fearful of lightning…especially when you have to dodge it : )  However, Billy made me go. Smelling a burning smell caused Billy to call 911.  The operator told us to get out of the trailer quickly and wait for the fire department who arrived within minutes. They were concerned about further damage if another strike were to hit close and unplugged all sources of electricity including propane. We waited out the remainder of the storm in the truck and prayed for it to stop.  We also prayed and thanked the Lord for His safety and for the trial He has sent our way.  Surely He will show Himself strong! 

At this point, we have driven to Clovis, NM (for a 2 week meeting) and left the trailer at a repair shop in San Antonio, TX.  We are waiting for an estimate and insurance approval.  Please pray with us as this will be a long recovery time.  Both ‘trailer’ wise and emotionally….every noise seems to make me a little jumpy.

Anniversary week pictures

13th Anniversary – San Antonio, TX

Each year we try to go to a new town in America that we haven’t been before.  This year we chose San Antonio, TX.  Our trip was quite eventful.  It started out by crossing the Georgia/Alabama line and having a tire blow out. Can you believe it??  We’ve been waiting for weeks to get our home back from having repairs due to 2 previous blow outs.  So, here we go again…at this point though, we realize it is a tire issue (thought it might be just the 2 back tires that had weakened)  But this was one the front, right tire that blew.  Minimal damage (praise the Lord) but damage nonetheless.  So, we spent the day at the Alabama Welcome Center waiting for some direction as to where to get 4 new tires.  We heard back from some friends of ours who own a tire business and they found and directed us to Gadson, AL (home of a Goodyear factory).  An appointment was made for us the following morning.  After the tires were put on we headed out (another 14 hours) to New Braunfels, TX (just north of San Antonio).  Visited a nice church on Sunday and spent Monday walking the River Walk and seeing the Alamo and other neat sites there.  We saw the IMAX of The Alamo prior to walking through the ‘Mission’.  What a sad story and at the same time realizing what a sad state we are in today…much like the battle at the Alamo….We looked everywhere for something that said “Remember the Alamo” but found nothing.  Wish our government would do the same!  Those men fought a lot for Texas and for America.  On Tuesday we decided to take Mesa to the river in New Braunfels to swim.  She LOVED it.  We thought it would help exercise her leg and back too and we are pretty sure it did.  I don’t swim well, so Billy got out into the river and I sat on the steps…Mesa swam back and forth over and over again to each of us…she really enjoyed herself.  That night there was a HUGE lightening/rain storm that you’ll read about in the next post.  That river was completely demolished so we are thankful that we went when we did.