a few random pictures

 "love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you.”

...and they said I wouldn't make it in a long dress and barefoot...guess I showed them ;) We hiked down to Seven Sister's Falls in the rain, the mud, the long dress, the mud, the barefeet, the mud. You get the picture, but it was the most fun I had in a long time. Just me and him. Time to talk, think, & dream.

nothing hits the spot quite like a cold ting :)

We hiked out through some tall wet grass....did i mention that it was raining again? to get to this beautiful spot. Ate our eggrolls, drank our ting, and watched the sun set over the ocean. Pure Bliss

What a Mighty God we Serve!!!!!!!!!

I was reminded of this song as I stood at the edge of the ocean and watched as the waves beat mercilessly upon the rocks! Sometimes it feels like the cares of life or the temptations of Satan beat upon us just like that trying to wear down our resolve, trying to make us crumble under pressure, but if we have our feet on the solid rock of God we will stand in victory! I've been feeling the battle in my own life here lately. Satan is trying to discourage me, to steal my joy, to keep me from the living well. He knows that if he can get me from within I will not stand. I will not be light for Christ that I so, so desire to be. No, being a missionary certainly doesn't make life any easier. It doesn't just come natural to do all the right things now. All the pieces don't just suddenly fall into place. I feel the battle raging. i sense the urgency of this fight. And I am so grateful to be on the winning side. At times it feels like there is no ground gained, but I know, I truly know that in the end those who have been faithful to fight the good fight will wear the crown of life. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who persevers under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

We went to Ft. Judy Sunday evening to watch the sunset. I love it there. It leaves me in awe. There is such a beautiful breeze, well maybe wind would be more like it, but it is so refreshing. I love to feel the ocean spray as the waves crash against the rocks. Oh and sunsets....love them too.

Finished painting #2 to hang beside painting # 1

I also scored this map for a great deal. was tickled pink. Ben made a frame for me out of an old crate (of course). I painted it white, but thought it looked too bright so I applied some dark stain on top of that and then did some sanding to give it some character.

I also finished my chicken wire picture holder thingy this week. Cheap! Cheap! chicken wire is very inexpensive and we all know that frames are too. :) Now I have room to put up all the pictures that you guys send down here :) Excuse the nasty green wall....i am kinda tired of looking at green walls, but of course the pink and purple bedroom walls break it up a little :) Oh well, it could be worse. :)







been awhile

Hello again...it has been way too long since I updated this blog. Things have settled into normal & Laborie , Grenada is becoming our home. We have been pretty busy lately...with Ben working at the church/school, helping teach woodshop, other misc. maintenance work and of course studying & all that. This past week the poured concrete at the school, making a small pad out front and some steps going down the other side of the church. We also planted a small garden w/ watermelon, carrots, & lettuce. The watermelon seems to be thriving but no sign of carrots or lettuce. I think maybe they were planted to deep, so we might just have to give it another shot. Our clubs in Peterfield have been going much much better and we are working on getting all the names down pat. Been visiting some of the elderly & shut ins in the community. Makes me appreciate my health & my youth. It is amazing how a short visit can brighten someone day though too. We stopped by a dear lady who we thought was someone else. She was basically deaf, & had to carry most of the conversation which included repeating the same thing at least five times, but she kept saying she was so happy that we stopped by :) We also have quite a few children & youth that make their way by our place for a glass of water, some attention, or to play games.

"D" & Ben playing a game of Mancala...it was a hot game around here, but has now been put away due to the fact that Ben wins 99% of the games....and, really....it is not fun for anyone to win (or lose) that much



"Black Eye" & "Fuffy" playing a game of Fishing

  One of the projects that I tackled this week. Got my inspiration here  http://familyofcrums.blogspot.com/2010/09/artsy-fartsy.html  Well, yeah, I actually almost copied her, but I loved it so much & my mind doesn't work that creatively. I have to steal all my ideas from other people. ;) Either way I had fun experimenting with this project & since I had no experience what so ever with painting it was a good learning experience & a good simple project. I have another plaque with a couple layers of paint & I am trying to decide what to paint on that one. I am planning on hanging them side by side so I don't want to do anything too matchy matchy.. maybe a saying or a verse, but painting words scares me a little cuz I really don't know what I am doing. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. :)

my "I've been painting too long" face

After several coats of washed paints, lots of sanding, & the first leaves painted on

close up...

after all the painting was completed

my dear husband kindly did the last bit of sanding for me after I developed a blister on my thumb

...and the final pice of art :)...after i rubbed a dark stain on it to give it more of a weathered look...not sure if it did that or
just made it look dirty, but I am mighty pleased.

I forgot to mention that all this wood came from a pile of junk crates that our neighbor man kindly allowed us to use :)

making this house our home

i've been working on some things here and there to dress this place up a little & so far this is what i've got...
 made another sign out of my uppercase living words....

baler twine & twigs can go a long way.... 

....and a twig wreath

as you can see i've gotten a little carried away with the whole twig thing, but hey, they are free and i really haven't got a whole lot of other resources........so for now my house shall be adorned with a bunch of dead branches...or if you want to be more tasteful about it...twigs :)


a couple of our Bible Club kiddos...don't let that cuteness fool you... actually this here is a great group of kiddos and we surely do have a wonderful time together

Belisha, Selina, Donnell, Javel, Terina & Joshim

passion fruit ......yumm.....makes some real good juice

Faces of Labori....don't let this one fool you either. Oh, he can be as nice as he is cute, but he also has an attitude the size of Texas, but when I look into those eyes...I see a boy that is longing for love & acceptance. So many of these dear children come from broken families & sad, sad homes. Oh, that we would be able to show the love of Jesus to these hurting souls...

I Made Her Because I Love Her

I made her - she is different, She is unique,
With love I formed her in her mother's womb.
I fashioned her with great joy.
I remember, with great pleasure, the day I created her.
(Psalm 139:13-16)




I love her smile, I love her ways, I love to hear her laugh,
And the silly things she says and does.
She brings Me great pleasure. This is how I made her.
(Psalm 139:17)




I made her pretty and not beautiful,
because I knew her heart, and knew she would be vain...
I wanted her to search out My heart,
And to learn that it would be Me in her that would draw friends to her.
(1 Peter 3:3-5)




I made her in such a way, that she would need Me.
I made her a little more lonesome than she would like to be...
Only because I need for her to lean and depend on Me...
I know her heart, I know if I had not made her like this,
She would go her own chosen way and forget Me
...her Creator. (Psalm 62:5-8)


I have given her many good and happy things because I love her. (Psalm 62:5-8, Romans 8:23)




Because I love her, I have seen her broken heart...And the tears she cried alone.I have cried with her, and had a broken heart, too.
(Psalm 56:8)


Many times she has stumbled and fallen alone, only because she would not hold my hand,
So many lessons she's learned the hard way. Because she would not listen to My voice...
(Isaiah 53:6)




So many times I have sat back and sadly watched her go her merry way alone.
Only to watch her return to my arms, sad and broken.
(Isaiah 62:2)


And now she is Mine again...I made her, and then I bought her...because I love her.
(Romans 5:8)




I have to reshape her and remold her...
To renew her to what I had planned for her to be.
It has not been easy for her, or for Me.
(Jeremiah 29:11)




I want her to be conformed to My image...
this is the high goal I have set for her,
Because I love her.
(2 Corinthians 2:14)


--author unknown

...love me some white sand..blue water..bright sunshine

Hubby & I spent a few hours at the beach yesterday morning. It was blissful!!! I don't think I will ever tire of the beauty of this island. We had a perfect sunshiny day, which is quite rare for when i go to the beach. I seem to carry a rain cloud over my head, but this time we had sunshine :) and the best part about it all was that this particular beach was secluded, meaning it was just him & I, well and this dog that seemed to think that we were best friends...

*just in case you are wondering. No. This is not all we do down here..it is just that it is more fun to take pics of the fun stuff :)

Some fresh, squeezed limeade please....
8-10 limes
water to make one gallon
2 cups sugar (Grenadians like their juice very sweet)