Sunday, August 31, 2008

The last 16 years....

Check out Rene's blog. He made a cool video with some pictures of us over the past 16 years. Wow, I can't believe we've been together that long.



I love you Rene and thank you for a great 16 years!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Sometimes God puts you where you don't want to be...

...until you get there.

Earlier today Rene got a call from a guy he used to work with (and had to fire). Albert told Rene that he had been shot twice in the legs on Friday and just got out of the hospital. He's going to be on bed rest for two months. He wanted Rene to come and pray for him. Rene told him that he would come by tonight.

Rene and I had planned on going to Calvery Chapel Downey to hear a speaker. The service was at 7:00 and the plan was for Rene to take us home and head out to see Albert. We got to the church a little early and went to check out their bookstore. Rene got Albert a card and he also found a book on finding Jesus.

The service lasted a lot longer than we had planned (9:00) and when Rene looked up Albert's address he realized that we were only a couple of miles away. We decided that we would swing by, the boys and I would stay in the car, and Rene would run in and use us as an excuse to not stay long.

Once I realized the neighborhood we were going into I told Rene that I was not going to stay in the car with the boys. We pull up to the house and see some people hanging out front. We walk up to them and introduce ourselves. Rene sees Gilbert (another guy Rene worked with and had to fire). Rene starts to talk to him and I meet Albert's mom. She tells us that Albert is getting his bandages changed. The boys and I start talking to her. Matthew and Justin are telling her that their "goal in life is to stay up until midnight". She's getting a kick out of them and I'm shocked that my normally shy boys are talking to her. She invites us in to play video games with Albert's daughter. And they walk right in.

Albert is ready for visitors and Gilbert takes Rene in and locks the door so they will not be disturbed. I'm sitting in a livingroom that smells like cigarettes, watching my boys play a video game (with a girl) where they are stealing cars and beating up on people, I'm listening out the window to a group of young people who are smoking, drinking, and dropping the f bomb more than I would like to remember, and I realized that this is exactly where God wants us to be. I knew that my husband was in the other room sharing God's love with these two young men and God wanted me there to support him.

I've been struggling with where God wanted me lately. I even sent out an email today to a couple of friends asking them to join me in prayer for me to seek God and where I should be. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be at the Rescue Mission with a whole bunch of homeless men or reaching out to other woman. I was feeling torn and confused. I didn't think I would be of much use at the Rescue Mission.

Tonight I saw where God wants me. He wants me to be right along side my husband. He wants me to love, support, care for, and build up my husband. I don't have to be the one up on stage sharing God's word or hanging out with the men after and connecting with them. He wants me to be slightly in the background taking care of Rene. God has transformed Rene into a man with a huge heart for the homeless and "untouchables". I know God is using Rene in so many ways and I'm excited to be a part of the journey.

So, that's where I'm going to be; along side my husband wherever God takes him. And there is no other place that I would rather be.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Yuck!!

I just got off the phone with my mom. Tests have found three spots on her liver. Please pray!

Yuck!

Friday, August 15, 2008

10 years ago today....

...Rene and I said "I do".








Thursday, August 14, 2008

Three years ago today....

...Rene and I got baptized.





Ten years ago.....(to be continued)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Pictures from the beach

Here are some pictures that Michelle and Regan took at the beach today.


Matthew and Justin caught a spider and played with it the whole day. They even built a little village for it. Matthew wanted to take it home but I convinced him that we have enough at home.

A group of us have been hanging out at the beach on Wednesdays. The kids have fun and the moms get a chance to semi-relax and talk.

Summer is almost over for us; school starts on August 25th. We might have to plan a ditch day and play a little longer. Is it really ditching if the teacher is there too?

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Saying goodbye....

We had our final Life Group tonight.

Last week Rene and I made the decision to no longer be Life Group leaders. We have been feeling the nudge from God to make some changes in our lives. Once we were on the streets in Bellflower passing out lunches to the homeless we knew what we were called to do.

I'm sad. Life Group has had a huge impact on my life. It's always been there, until now. It was comforting to know that every Tuesday we would be together. We accepted Jesus through our Life Group and eventually went on to lead it. It's been a crazy four years.

We have shared a lot of highs and a lot of lows. We have always been there for each other and I know we still will be there for each other.

So, to all of you that have been a part of our lives through Life Group, THANK YOU! You have walked beside us in our times of need and celebrated our triumphs with us. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. We love you!