Where O' where have we've been..Part 1

Well- it has been quite a while and I do apologize for my delay in blogging. But I'm back and ready to blog.

Let me first start in chronological order

I'm terribly saddened by The Office reruns. I say...just pay the writers their just reward for making your show the most popular on television and lets get on with our fictional lives as usual! I don't think it is too much to ask.

Then there was Thanksgiving...fun and lots of food. We saw the movie August Rush and we both thought is was wonderful.

Next we took a family vacation to Disney World. That's right an official vacation with my parents and all of us kids and spouses. Which comes to a grand total of 10 including Marcie's Fiance' Zach. That's right if you haven't already heard Zach arrived at Disney a boyfriend and left as a fiance'. He popped the question while we were at Disney! Very good, way to go Zach.

This is a replay picture of the actual popping of the question.

The vacation was a lot of fun. We went in celebration of my parents 30th anniversary and Christmas wrapped in one.

I am going to post more later. Including many pictures. At this time; however, I must be getting a move 'on because tonight our family is going out to dinner with Zach's parents who flew in to meet and greet all of us. Very fun.

Ran-dom-ness

70's Halloween party we had for the youth group. Thank you to whoever brought the Afro I desperately needed it to complete my outfit.

I finished the book (on disc) Rich Dad Poor Dad- what the rich teach their kids about money- that the poor and middle class don't. By Robert T. Kiyosaki
It was very good.
Most eye opening line in the whole book "the difference between the wealthy and the middle class is - the wealthy buy luxuries last and the middle class buy luxuries first" very good!
I plan on listening to it over and over and over as I sleep at night so that I can subconsciously learn how to become wealthy and then I will just start making great investment decisions with little to no effort.

I am officially addicted to Dave Ramsey's podcast, website, and basically anything he says about how I should be handling money. I look forward to reading one of his books soon.

Huge kick right now - Books on disc. Great time saver!

Just started listening to The 360 degree leader by John Maxwell I know it will be good.

Currently working on a youth group project called "Katrina Beach - The Real Gulf Coast" This is a lot of fun. I will have to see if Aaron (director, producer and basically my boss for this project) can post some video of it once we have an episode completed.

The Office on NBC still takes the cake for best over-all entertainment!

Go see "Dan in Real Life" at the theatre...wonderful, heart warming, funny, funny, funny...need I say more.

check ya later.

Good Read...

So there is a bit of tradition in our little city Long Beach within the high school during the week of homecoming. It never fails that some of the Middle school kids try and get in on the tradition. This "tradition" is the act of toilet papering "rolling" people's houses. (You might be familiar with this type of shenanigans) For this 1 week out of every year the police will not make arrest or try to intervene while youth roll people's homes. Usually it is a sign of appreciation and great love if your home is rolled. So...after working all day 2 weekends ago preparing for our cattle sale we came home to this -

This tree -----------^ has a HUGE bee hive in it so the rollers are lucking they did not get stung.

I'm not gonna lie...it was a good roll job; however, it could have been better had they used the whole roll of toilet paper.

I found this whole roll! You might be wondering how I could look sooo good at 1 AM, especially after working all day and evening at the farm...it's all natural.

The left overs. These people had so much potential, but fell short of what could have been even better! No good underachievers.

How do you get toilet paper out of the tops of your trees??? You set the paper on fire! WARNING: Do not try this unless it has rained recently!

So who were these underachievers...well at first we assumed it was my mother and all my siblings. Come to find out it was Lulu and James (my youngest sister and brother). Evidently my mom would not allow James to go rolling seeing as how he is only 13. Lulu; however, felt it was vitally important for James' development as a child to participate even though he is not in High school. So my mom suggested for him to roll "the middle school youth leaders house" i.e. my house.

Even though the idea was my mom's Lulu was indeed the ring leader and most at fault. So revenge was in order. This may not be funny to all those reading this blog unless you know a few things about my sister Lulu: 1) she is VERY concerned with the care and condition of her car 2) she is not happy with her current single status and the lack-age of a male relationship in her life 3) she would not appreciate the Vaseline under her door handles.

Notice the front passenger door window.

All is well that ends well. =)

Great Success

Praise the Lord it was a success! And thank the God for all our farm employees and those who came to help! I have never seen people work so hard!

Here is a picture of our family in the cattle ring the night before the sale.


Can you find the difference between the two pictures. Look really hard.

That's right we took some pictures with Zach and some without. You really have to plan for the future BOTH ways. Our family picture will likely be published in our 2008 sale catalog and with no ring on Marcie's finger we have to plan ahead appropriately. Although I would say we look better as a family with Zach...he does a great job of balancing the picture out.

For everyone who feels sorry for Zach right now...he completely understood. I don't know, however; if he understood why my lovely crazy one-armed uncle Joe kept going around at our pre-sale dinner Sunday night telling everyone "Marcie and Zach are just waiting for the preacher to get here so they can get married since everybody is already here eating". I'm so glad Zach got to meet uncle Joe.

Come'own yall...

Strap on your boots, tighten your belt buckle and get ready for the cattle sale!

Our first cattle sale takes place Monday and we are rip-roarin ready to go. We are expecting a good turn out and lots of food. So this weekend I will be a cowgirl and set aside all my city girl ways.

Don't get too excited I will NOT be cleaning the stalls! I'm going to be shaking hands, smiling and saying things like "Yall come'own and getcha some dinner", "My daddy raised some rite fine cattle." and my favorite "Yall come back now, ya' hear!"

Strap on your boots!

Please Pray

Please pray for our dear friend Mia. Her mom unexpectedly passed away.
My prayer for you Mia is that salvation will spring up throughout the lives of your family members because of this. As conversation will be on life and death may the Holy Spirit move within peoples hearts to want to know more about Jesus. I pray that you will be comforted by the Great Comforter Himself and that you will rest in the peace of knowing our God is just and righteous.
Love you Mia.

We took a little Holiday

Johnathon and I took a nice holiday to Atlanta, GA. We were invited by our church pastors to attend the Catalyst conference being held in Atlanta 10/3 -10/5 so we took a few extra days off and headed up there early to enjoy some time together.

So here are some pictures of what we did before the conference.




Doing what I do best when we hit the links.



Johnathon doing what he does best when we hit the links.

An amazing restaurant we had dinner at called The Sundial on top of the Westin Hotel in Downtown. 723 feet above the city. It has a revolving dining area so in the course of an hour you make a full revolution. It was so neat. This is a picture of the sun setting from our table. You really can't find places like this in Mississippi.

My love and I as the sun was setting in the observation area of the restaurant.

We ate at great restaurants, stayed at great places, experienced great shopping, beautiful golf courses and to end it attended one of the best leadership conferences I have ever been to.

Thank You Jesus for little get-a-ways!

Season 4...

Season 4 is going to be amazing! The office did not let us down. The Sprinkles' scandal is only beginning, Jim and Pam are blooming into a wonderful couple, Michael and Jan...well...ugh...so much uncertainty there.

My prediction for this season:
Angela gets pregnant with Dwight's baby and it is the only thing that will reunite them after Dwight's cat murdering spree!! Oh yes that's right! Don't put the office in a box...think big.

So are you ready for the premier pictures.


From the left: We have Pam as "Pam", Audri as "Diversity day participate", Corey as "Prison Mike", Dan as "Jim", Myself as "Angela" and Johnathon as "Dwight" and Aaron was "the temp" but unfortunately I did not get that picture on my camera.


Take note of the Knee socks please. Johnathon refused to wear a suit!



Every one's favorite couple Jim and Pam. The great thing is Pam is her real name and her husband Dan let's us call him "Jim"! Oh the joy!!

Thank you cast of the Office we are anticipating a great season!

The Aints!

I was really hoping to get my blog picture up before Corey but he beat me.

So here we are at the 'Aints game. It was so sad. Although, I must say, it was very kind of the Saints defense to let Vince Young have some time to write letters home and pay his bills online via his blackberry while looking for an open receiver! You just can't beat southern hospitality!

You might be wondering why we look so good with no make-up and limp hair...well it was raining and I confess it was my idea to walk about 2 miles to the mall and back before the game started. Needless to say as soon as we left the mall it started to rain. Just goes to show you what men will go through for their wives.

Inspired...

Corey of audri and corey has inspired me to tell you about the books I have been reading and talk about an addiction we (Johnathon and I) currently have.

Books:

I recently finished Unashamed by Francine Rivers. This is the second book in her lineage of grace series. The Series spotlights the women named in the lineage of Jesus found in the Gospel of Matthew. Unashamed spotlights Rahab, It was very good.

Currently reading- A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. So far so good.

Addiction:
The Office 3rd Season DVD set.

If you have never watched The Office you really should ... especially if you work in a corporate office. It will bring nothing but pure enjoyment to your life... and maybe some conviction too.

I used different font colors because I realise this is not a very exciting post...I'm doing everything I can to spice it up.

Thank you

Disclaimer...

For all of you who may be concerned...I did not fire Lulu. Although, it was fun pretending.

That's all for now.

ps. she is a good employee and sister =)

JLB...No Compromise!

Here at JLB we believe in hard work and dedication. Those who lack these qualities...regardless of work experience and even family relations will NOT be tolerated.

What you are about to see is based on a true story, real people, real situations, real feelings, real emotions and real hair color.

(Created by C. Neyland)

Curse of the Digital Camera

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

I take pictures with my digital camera thinking "Yeah! I'm a good person...look at me taking all these wonderful family photos...capturing the Kodak moments as they happen" then what??

The camera FOOLS me!

Once I load them to the computer I experience a strong sense of accomplishment and think to myself "it is finished". Oh, but it is far from finished!! I look around my house at the bare walls and empty picture frames (which I keep out on display to mock me) hoping such a sight would stir me to print the pictures...but no...it doesn't...all because of the curse!

The curse says: "you don't have time, you don't know which wall to put them on so you shouldn't even try" or my favorite "you took those pictures last year and you don't even have the same hair color!!" That one ends with a mocking evil laugh "ha ha ha ha!"

Well TODAY I will break the curse! I am going to print off some Damiens' family photos we took last November...that's right- almost 10 months ago. My hair has changed colors at least 4 times since then...but I'm not going to let that stop me!!

Next time any of you come to visit I will be able to show you ALL the members of our family.

However, if all else fails, I can always throw the camera away and save myself from guilt.

Pictures from TX

me and J in beautiful blue

Do you think we look alike? There

have been mixed reviews...your opinion please?

Thoughts of an expectant father:

"If my baby looks half as good as I do he or she will certainly be a model"

Congrats Lulu!

Lulu graduated from the Honor Academy!

We are very happy for you Lulu!

Now she is back home and within days of being home the whole family impromptu got together and we watched old home videos....oh the fun!

If only I knew how to post a video?!

Love you Lulu glad you are home!

Marcie is also home but only for a few weeks then back to school ... it is great fun having everyone home!

Happy Birthday Johnathon!

Happy Birthday my love!!

Today you turn 27 and I have been blessed beyond measure to have spent the last 4+ years with you. Johnathon, you have made my life full of love, lots and lots of laughter, adventure, and a companionship that could not be replaced with another!

You are my true love. I am constantly in awe of you and the man you are. You have become unwavering in your pursuit of Jesus, you are a rock and stronghold when I need it most, and a loving and gentle spirit at just the right times.

Everyday you confirm the love that Christ has towards His church through the way you cherish and love me "Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church..." and you make it look so easy!

Johnathon, I love you more than words could possibly explain! God gave me a double portion when He gave me you and I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams a man as good as you. I can't wait to see what He does next through you...Happy Birthday...I love you.

Fortune Cookie...

Fact:
a good Chinese Buffet can "hit the spot" and quench your hunger in a way no other buffet or fine food establishment can.

Question:
is it because of the food, the freedom to eat as much as you like for one low price, dirty as many plates as you possibly can or is it the anticipation that at the end of the meal you will receive a cookie which contains your fortune??

I believe it is the fortune...as of yesterday I received the greatest one of all:

"You are the master of every situation."

What better fortune or better yet- destiny! can you possibly desire?! And yes, of course, I licked it and stuck it on my forehead to proudly display and gloat to my husband... and many others who passed by us.

I bought a FAT maker...

(Yes, I'm having a bit of a blog identity crisis...but I'm overcoming it. I have been less than satisfied with my backgrounds lately so I'm changing...again. I think I like what I have right now...I'm sure some of you do also. The previous pink was a little too much!)

So you are thinking "what does she mean by 'FAT maker'?" Since we live in America and better yet the great state of Mississippi it could mean many different things like: Stock in McDonald's, broken exercise equipment, or a baking cook book with lots of pictures. In actuality it means I bought a "Bread Maker"!!

That's right, now your saying to yourself as your mouth waters "ohhh, yup I hid mine and told my husband I lost it after our first year of marriage and 10 extra pounds later." We are expecting a slight weight gain. We feel the savory aroma and taste of hot fresh bread is worth the price of larger love handles! So far I have been rather successful with the loaves (thanks to my friend Amy) only one bad loaf out of about 7.

I think I may post some before and after pictures of Johnathon and I in about a month or two and we can compare what level of damage the Fat maker has caused.

Chow for now!

Its official we are.....

....the anticipation of those 4 little words.....

We Are Cable Free!!

You can get off the edge of your seat and scoot back now. I know what all you readers were thinking...those 4 words that end in BABY! For your benefit; however, maybe now that we don't have cable and we are spending more time with each other, staring into one another's eyes over dinner rather than the TV you just might get what you wish...

Anyways, I'll keep it PG...No cable has been wonderful...did I mention no internet too!! That's right, other than our cell phones at home we are cut off from society and the rest of the world. We have discussed branching out and getting the news paper...we shall see.

Now for those of you who are concerned about season 7 of American Idol I'll have you know I have thought long and hard about this...I will just have to go to my mom's to watch it or if you live near by you can invite me over and I will bring food.

We are reading more, praying more, actually doing the laundry and mopping the floors! Amazing, I know! Our toilet has never shined so bright!

So good-bye giant magnet of time wasting...you no longer have a hold on us!!

"For Better or for Worse..."

Famous last words! It seems like this phrase should be in the "Top 10."

If you are married you know you have said it. You either said it right out or made it sound real flowery like to try and make it easier on the ears and conscience, but when it all comes down to it: "through the mountains and valleys of life", "through the laughter and pain" it doesn't make it any easier.

I wish there was a campaign to change all marriage vows to:

"I know you are going to screw up, I know you are far from perfect, but I'm convinced otherwise right now because you are wearing a pretty white dress/tight fitting black tux and I can't seem to take my eyes off you; however, one day I'll wake up and tell you how bad your morning breath really is and you will probably be offended. I'm expecting great things out of you, mostly super human qualities that you are likely incapable of until you are no longer of this world and are in heaven; but that's too bad because I've had these expectations for years and don't plan on giving them up. So enclosing I'll do the best I can, but I suggest you remember I'm human."

I love being married- obviously the "For better..." is my favorite part of marriage, but "...for worse" always seems to find its way into our lives somehow or another. No matter how much you try to tell yourself "this is not what I signed up for"...it is! If your foundation is strong and your faith alive in the power of the Holy Spirit you will get through...Amen!

Because the Lord is faithful "For Better..." usually quickly follows the "...For Worse".

So for a reminder to any couple who might be in a "...For Worse" moment - you did sign up for it - you just called it pretty words hoping it might soften the reality...too bad that just doesn't work!

Titled: "...For Worse"




Titled: "For Better..."




Titled: "...For Worse"




Titled: "For Better..."

Happy Birthday Chasity!

On June 15th I flew out to LA, California to surprise one of my best friends for her birthday. For her sake I will not say what birthday but I can tell you its not as old as she makes it out to be!

We had a great time. I got to experience a real CA day spa. Mud "bathing" and all! (It was more like mud lathering really) yes, we took pictures; however, I am not at liberty to disclose them.

All in all it was fun to see the sights, do a little shopping, eat "chick" food (as Johnathon would call it) all weekend and catch up with each other. I was also very grateful I was able to attend her church commissioning service sending her and her roommate out onto the mission field.

HOWEVER-

The best part of the whole trip was the moment I saw this in Hollywood:

I think we should all take a moment of silence to remember the incarcerated celebrity...

Well...

To all you faithful readers...I have not posted anything lately due to the fact that I have nothing to say or talk about that is interesting.

Unless you consider the following interesting:

1) fighting a sinus infection

2) trying to convince your mortgage company that indeed you do have wind coverage, but it is taking the Mississippi wind pool association 12 weeks to mail out the policies

3) biting my nails over American Idol

4) Working

5) Praying about American Idol

6) Trying to come up with reasons why Johnathon should take me out to eat ice cream at marble slab every night of the week

7) TIVO'ing and re-watching American Idol

8) Not cooking dinner for like a straight 14 days (We seriously got down to only liquids and condiments in the fridge)

9) Going to my little Brother's "Bad news bears" baseball games (Let me just insert this little comment: His team is made up of 10-12 year old boys and in all my younger years of GIRLS softball I can count on one hand seeing girls crying in the dug-out and usually because we lost some championship game! NOT SO with little league boys they cry about everything! if they strike-out, get out, or if the coach looks at them funny! I mean COOMMMEEE ON! What ever happened to the good ole saying "THERE IS NO CRYING IN BASEBALL"!?) I can't handle those games.

10) Umm...well...I can't think of anything which is another indication of the lack of excitement in our lives right now, but I couldn't stop at 9 because a list should always end on 10.

"Seacrest-out"

What does the black Angus Cow Say?..."Cha-Ching"

What do you get when you combine the above picture with this picture?

A four day weekend with your parents flying on a private Eurocopter to 4 Angus Cattle Auction sales throughout the state of Georgia.

And your thoughts are "What??"

Let me explain...My father owns/raises Black Angus Cattle for the purpose of improving the breed. During certain times of the year you travel to other Angus breeders auction sales and buy some of their cattle so you can breed yours with theirs and make even better cows. That is the "Angus for Dummies" explanation.

So you know how you can go to a "steak house" restaurant that is more or less a glorified buffet and get a "knock-off-steak" for like $2.50 and then you can go to a real Steak House restaurant and get a "designer steak" for like $40.00, that is not including side dishes, well there is a reason for that. It all goes back to the cow.

Certified Black Angus beef is some of the best beef you can get (i.e. designer, couture). The cattle sales we went to are like a designers runway show for their product. The cattle you are seeing will never see the likes of a slaughter house (just like actual runway clothes will never see a store room rack of clothes). What these designer cows are capable of producing is what will end up on your plate one day after forking out designer prices for that luscious slab-o-beef!

Just ONE cow at one of these sales went for $170,000.00!

Its like a whole other world out there you didn't even know about. So next time you go to an expensive restaurant and order the filet mignon enjoy the guilty pleasure and know you are eating in-style!

Over zealous, maybe?...you tell me.

Have you ever been at a sporting event for children, say under the age of 13, and there is that ONE family that coaches from the bleachers. In the case of little league baseball from behind the fence next to the dug-out in their traveling folding chairs.

You know the kind I'm talking' about the really obnoxious parents/relatives...screaming "come on blue!" every time there is a bad call. Yelling at the players to "get it together!" or "tighten up out there!" or screaming at their own child/relative to get their head in the game, run faster, or every one's favorite...when nothing else works they start threatening their own child/relative. "You better straighten up out there or you're gonna' be sittin' the bench" or "Son, you better get a better attitude and shake it off or I'll pull you outta' the game!" They can even be educated people yet they suddenly lose all grammer skills!

It is no lie that there seems to be ONE family like that for every little league team. In the case of my little brother's 12 and under baseball team that family would be mine!
I don't know what comes over us. It's like this baseball obsessive spirit just possesses us and we can do nothing to control it!

You may be thinking "those poor kids" when actually, you should be thinking "those poor parents of the other players". It's amazing the character flaws you see in yourself when you are screaming and hollering at a bunch of 10-12 year old little boys, and every grown-up in the surrounding area just sits and stares at you. Every once in a while the other parents might say things like "Good try Billy...maybe next time". While you are screaming "Billy, don't swing at that trash...come on get your head in the game!"

So...as you might be thinking you need to pray for us...I would encourage you to rather pray for the other parents considering the season has only begun and this is just league ball its not even all-stars yet!

One word...Busy.

With Lots of white roses, sore feet and many smiling faces they got hitched. I was so busy with other things I never once took my camera out of my purse to even take one picture. I am relying on Kevin and Judy from RI to email me some when they get a chance...please??!

Monday was back to the grind at work and indeed there was some grinding. Wearing big girl panties is sometimes not an easy task, but you have to do it. So to a little hard work and extra hours I say bring it on I'm ready... I'll take a vacation later.

So unfortunately my blogging may not be more than once a week and probably short and sweet until something worth talking about happens other than just work.

Wedding Bells!

Johnathon's brother Jeremy will be wed this weekend to his fiance' Heather. Cute couple, don't you think? So due to the fact that I have been coordinating this grand event my post have been few. Johnathon is also participating in the wedding as "best man" which by-the-way is a wonderful title for him and should be permanent because he is just that wonderful! Our 4 year anniversary is on Thursday so I'm getting a little sweet on him. =)

Anyways...I think everything will go well and this will be a grand event to be remembered.

You know you have arrived when...

Ladies and Gentlemen we are big timers now. How do you know you are moving up in the world as a business?? You have matching office furniture! J. Levens Builders, Inc. has just undergone a major milestone. In October we started building a new office building that would triple our size and we moved in on Monday! This was no easy task; but we did it and we were only down for about 10 hours. Here is my office before (old office):

So you might be thinking "Wow, Ali you must really be at the bottom of the food chain" sad thing is all the offices looked like that. Now for the after picture (New office):

It is a glorious day! Yes, that is a pink hard hat on top of the overhead storage. I may work in the construction industry; but mind you I work it in-style. he he he.

Internet Filter...

My Internet filter decided last night that it no longer was going to allow me to post on my blog. However, I could view it. Go figure!

As promised, but delayed, here are some pics of our trip to Pixabaj, Guatemala. The purpose of our trip was to aid in building Phase 2 of a private, sponsor funded, Christian school. This school is part of a ministry called Outpost Ministry http://www.theoutpostministry.com/




The kids attending this school are unable to afford an education so through sponsorships these kids are able to attend school and not only receive a good education, but also learn about Jesus Christ.

The first pic is of J and I with 8 of the 10 kids my parents sponsor at the school. We had a great team of people who went from our church and some other gentlemen who met up with us in Houston that joined our church team. I happen to be the only female on the team of 13. I was responsible for feeding everyone and making sure they did not contract some horrible parasite from using unclean water. I'll have you know by day 2 I had the whole "boil the water to wash the dishes in" to a perfect science and how to use the water twice to conserve what little we had. It was a lot of hard work and manual labor but it was worth it.

The hardest part of the whole trip was certainly the challenge of drying my hair. Forget the language barrier and parasite invested water. I consider myself a rather resourceful kinda gal when the "going-gets-tough" as can be seen here, I was able to adjust quite nicely.
You might be wondering "From the looks of your surroundings in the last picture you surely had an electrical outlet to plug-in a hair dryer...why the oven?" Well it's simple...you can not take a hair dryer on mission trip to a 3rd world environment and expect the Lord to move in your life fully...and I was trying to impress my husband with my false sense of humility by packing the least amount possible. That's it in a nut shell. I would like to write more to inform you about Zach formerly known as "the boy"; however, I must leave to go have my nails done.

Pictures and Stories to follow...

I am well aware there are 2 very important updates I need to give: 1. being Zach formally known as "the boy", yes we were officially introduced. 2. our trip to Pixabaj, Guatemala. Do not fret my faithful readers...yeah- I know there are only 2 or 3 of you, but it sounds good to say that...I will be blogging tonight during the American Idol commercials and bring our life up-to-date in the blogging world.
Chow

The Boy...

There will be a boy visiting us this weekend. We don't know very much about him. Mostly just the facts: tall, blond/dark blond (I think), nice (other's have said), lives in TX, graduates in May with his Masters (I think), and the main fact...he has managed to capture the attention of one of my beautiful, younger sisters- Marcie.
Many may have considered it an impossible feat due to high standards (You go girl!), focus and drive concerning other matters within the world other than having a boyfriend; but, as we all know there is a season for everything.
So, Marcie Levens, I am anxious to meet "the boy" (who will be referred to as "the boy" until I have been introduced). I am Excited about the "changing of seasons" that you are in, and that we have all gone through.

They are arriving by plane in New Orleans around 2:30 so let the GRILLING begin! Did I mention he is staying at our house in our spare bedroom?? I'll play nice...I promise.

To Guatemala We will go...

Johnathon and I will be leaving early Sunday morning for a mission trip to Guatemala...I don't know how to spell the city's name. We will be working on building projects for an orphanage. It will be lots-o-fun! I think I am more excited about this trip than our vacation to the Bahama's last year. It will be a short trip (7 days).
This will be J's first mission trip and I keep trying to psych him out with mission trip factoids that I have stored up from my previous trips. Like: bring a hanger to fish out the toilet paper because you can't flush it, NEVER go to an under developed country without Duct tape and Baby wipes. Other things like...he was cutting the sleeves off an old shirt to bring for painting and I told him a true missionary would not waste the sleeves but recycle them for a different use i.e. a bandanna, wash rag, napkin, you name it. I'm pretty sure he is very impressed with my knowledge and wisdom about such things-as you can see in the picture above.

First Post...

I am realising that the world is passing me by...via Internet blogging! So to keep up I have started a blog for Johnathon and I. Yes, yes, yes...I know, I said I would not do it because it was, well...LAME. So was having a Zach Morris cell phone back in 1993. Now look around cell phones everywhere.

Hence, here we are in the blogging world!