To Pack...or Not to Pack

We are at a lovely phase of moving: the Uruguay pile, the Venezuela pile, the giveaway pile, the throwaway pile, the carry-on pile, make sure you take things out of your purse that you don't want taken away... It's sure an encouraging time~NOT! Next comes an even more encouraging phase: "Beth, are you sure you want to take this...we are going to have pay millions in overweight...yadayadayada...you get my drift... It's an awesome time for family unity....um, maybe not! Have a great evening! We're headed to a Royals baseball game, hoping they'll break their LONG losing streak...

Sonnet to Wint'ry Supplications

Awak'ning my soul one ice-bitten night,
(The wint'ry ghosts whipping with icy shards,)
Sleep eludes and taunts my groping sight~
And at the frosty doom I shrink~Coward!~
I rise to see the tempest thunder,
Terror is writ in my trembling ears~
But by the stair I hear a whisper,
A voice of satin, smoothed with prayer's tears,
To Christ in heav'n the weeping saint doth plead
For (O love undying,) for me; Her gist
Doth ask for peace, the King my life to lead,
And toil of her stricken years be kissed.
That dream (Tho' no dream it was) ne'er mine ears
Will forget~that spectral saint's love-show'red tears.

Dedicated to Beth Sanders by her firstborn son on Mothers' Day, 2008 *Do not copy*

Unalterable Typo

Evidently, you are not supposed to use the word "adult" on the web. I could not, however hard I tried, get 3 s to become 3 "adult"s. Sorry!

Worlds of Fun

This past weekend, we had a visit from college friends and their family. On Monday, we went to Worlds of Fun, a local amusement park. Boy, did Shell and I have fun~woo hoo, did we laugh! Of course, at our *ripe old age*, we didn't ride the scary coasters, but I'm fairly sure that noone laughed as hard as we did ALL.DAY.LONG! At one point, we crammed our *not-college-bodies* (all 4 of us s) into one log car for the log ride. It was hilarious! I'm sure that the next time I go to that ride it will say "LIMIT 3 S PER CAR". HEEHEE! Our children had a great time together also. Most of them were born within months of each other~that is, 3 of their children were born in the same year that ours were. As Seth put it, "We go together with them like peanut butter and jelly." Quite accurate.

Copyright Question

My son, the poet, dedicated a poem to me for Mother's Day. I would love to share it, but how do I keep some unscrupulous person from stealing it?

My Front Door~Cute!

What Your Front Door Says

You are intriguing and charming. People are naturally drawn to you, even if they don't know you. You are calm and wise. You are a true leader. You never feel isolated in a group. Somehow, you always belong.

The Front Door Test

Story of Faith, Part 2

God be praised! I know that you "faith"ful people will believe this, but God provided the passage money ALL THE WAY to Uruguay! We found out yesterday, and I was in tears at how great our God is! It looks like now we will all go to Venezuela first *pais de mis amores* and then Matt and 1 or 2 children will travel on to Uruguay the next week. I told you in my last post that Matt had found temporary housing for us...it seems that the owner is a leetle anxious about having a WHOLE FAMILY OF 7 stay there for a month as its use is mainly to sleep. Matt will find us a house, by the grace of God, and we will join them when that is found. So...that means I get to spend more time in Caracas! I always love my Caracas, and always will... Anyhoose, join me in praise to God "Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, I know that He will care for me!"

Story of Faith, Part 1

This title is really a misnomer...because I have had many stories of faith, and God has been performing miracles ALWAYS, but that's what it's called nevertheless. On June 3 or 10, we plan to fly to Venezuela on our way to Uruguay, our new place of ministry. There are some major obstacles, but we won't mention them because, after all, the title of this post is Story of FAITH! As a step of faith, Matt has found a possible, temporary while looking for a permanent house, house in Salto, Uruguay. It reminds me of a house we've often stayed in in Colonia Tovar, Venezuela. Being a missionary is definitely NOT boring, if you have ever thought so. I believe that in the coming days in our family you will see God do some awesome things that only He can do, and we will give Him all the glory, for He is a God Who made the Heaven and Earth, "is there anything impossible with Him?" Stay tuned...

Not a Pistachio...a Peanut!

You Are A Peanut

You are popular, even with people who tend to have picky taste. Kids love you, as do dogs. From rednecks to snobs, most people have a place for you in their hearts. As popular as you are, there are some people who can't be near you. Don't take it too personally. There's just a few people you rub the wrong way.

What Nut Are You?

Music to Enjoy

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

Morgan doing the long jump~she got 2nd place!

Aaron's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's with some great friends of his (and my helpers in the back!)

Our basketball player and cheerleader (aren't they adorable?!)

Ethan and I celebrating his 16th birthday at the KU-K State game~Rock Chalk JayHawk!

The Final Four winners~The Kansas Jayhawks! Oh yeah!

Sophie and Mommy with the "poochy lip disease"

At a basketball game~where else?

Sophie and Laurel at their sisters' soccer game

Seth and friends with Chuck E. Cheese on Seth's 12th birthday

E.J. in Bible Quiz stance (ready to hear the question read)

Aaron on his first day of T-ball...Aaron is awesome at baseball!

Sophie and Nana

Morgan playing soccer

Seth at the track meet~his 4x200 placed 3rd...Go Seth!

Our handsome baseball player

Stateside Time Coming to an End!

A friend of mine commented lately that my blog isn't updated (to say the least!!), and that she had previously enjoyed staying up with my life with it. Well, in a nutshell, my life has been such a blur that it would've been difficult (and boring for you) for me to recount it. My kids have had such a nice year at the school they've attended...they hate it to end. And end it will~in two weeks. Then there will be packing (actually, the packing and sorting will start before THAT) and on to visit Venezuela and on to set up residence in Uruguay. All of this depends on a God Who has never failed ever before~we trust in Him! Also, in these months that I was absent, Ethan won 1st place in nationals in Poetry Writing. Seth won regionals in Bible Sword Drill (the younger kids don't go on to nationals). Morgan played JV soccer~she really enjoyed it, and Ethan is at a baseball tournament right now. We had an awful storm last night~there is an uprooted TREE in our neighbor's yard. The kids are off to school, and I'm off to my day...have a good one!

**Next post: scenes from this year!