Grants, NM: the kids.

The reason why I go...The ministry...The joy I get everyday...The reason I love going and anticipate it every year...one easy answer for all of that THE KIDS. Those kids are everything, they just bring me so much joy and love. One of the reasons we go is to share God's light with them and teach them...they teach me MORE than what I teach them. Every year it amazes me that I still have so much to learn from them, every year I learn so much from them. This is what one of the kids said to me..."If you have God in your heart you are strong in strength and the heart." That just about melted my heart when he told me that. They amaze me...from what they come from they are so faithful and there aren't any words for me to explain them. They are indescribable.

My first buddy, T! He is forever in my heart!

The second year with my buddy T, Won't ever forget him.

P, T, and Z.

S. and D.

So glad he came back this year! What a blessing!

Craft time!

My buddies this year, M and S. Love them, they have forever a special place in my heart!

Craft time!

S! I will always carry him with me in my heart!

M, brought so much joy to my heart!

Such a cutie pie!

Won't ever forget the special times we had!

My passion!

Mt. Calvary VBS 2012! WOOT WOOT!

...And more kids VBS 2012! forever with me!

LOVE!

such a blessing and precious child! T!

J! Such a great girl of God!

T! Forever in my heart and with me alwasy!

T...2011~ won't ever forget!

The kids at Mt. Calvary are forever with me and in my heart! I have a special place for each and every one of them! Their fire to learn more about the love of God, their open arms and love, the trust they give so freely to you! They are just all amazing kids of God! So much still to learn from them! Won't forget Grants, NM 2012...and until next year! I still carry the memories and joy that this trip brought me! I am forever changed!

~Praise Moments~
Comfort for God's People
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
-Isaiah 40:29-31-

Grants, NM: the place.

Unfortunatly I came home...against my will!
Grants, NM is one of the biggest blessings that will ever be put in my life!
My mission trip consisted of many different activites like...

• putting on a VBS for the church down there we work with Mt. Calvary
• going and putting on a play, singing and coloring with the residents at the Mosaic. Which is a day care for special needs adults.
• putting on a play, singing and doing yard work at the Good Samaritan. A old folks home.
• going and doing odds and ends jobs at Roberta's Place. Which is a safe house for abused men and women.
• painting the fence at New End's (The Halfway House). Which is where woman from the prison there can go and get their life on track after getting out and before they go into the real world.
• working and gardening at their local Community Garden. (Go see their page on facebook: Cibola County Community Garden).

Saying Grants is just a missions trip is insulting to the trip itself. We don't just go to serve and do servant work, we go to see what God has in store for us through the journey. We see what God truly has planned. It changes your life. This has been my fourth year going and I am still amazed every year at what God has in store for me and my faith. The kids, the place, and the people all change my life and its something that you can't get just from doing servant work. You have to be open to what God has in store, sometimes its not our plan or what we think should happen but you just have to say "Here am I. Send Me". God has three answers, yes, wait, and I have a better idea. I think God's better ieda is what we need to start listening for, thinks may not go our way all the time (like many times on this trip) but God's better idea was always what was best!
More to come about my trip to Grants later.

Mt. Calvary Grants, NM. The amazing church we work with.

Such a cool church!

The AMAZING group i served with this week! Grants, NM servants 2012! :)

~Praise Moments~
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve...
-Mark 10:45-

Differences

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen (I'm not sure if any gentlemen follow regularly, but I want to cover all my bases),

This is Tate Elizabeth here.  I am the proud sister of Sloane.  Only one more day until my "Sophie" returns!!  Although, I received a text from her this morning stating she "is NEVER coming home- I'm staying forever and ever!!"  Personally, I would be awfully crushed if my best friend never came home, but my sadness didn't appear to phase her too much.  That is my Sophie.  I am the worrier.  She is the free-spirit.  

Sophie gave me instructions to select a topic and guest blog while she was gone.  Since today is Thursday and she is scheduled to arrive home tomorrow, I decided I better post at least once.  After much consideration, I've decided to post about the differences between my Sophie and I.

By the way, I should probably explain who "Sophie" refers to.  My family has this thing with nicknames.  Unfortunately, we can never seem to remember where these names stemmed from (although, my mom can't remember a lot of details these days:)).  My dad and mom are "Freddy" and "Freddie."  My sister and I are "Sophee" and "Sophie."  It's not nice to judge.

Okay, back to my original topic:

1. I use numbers and Sophie uses bullets.  Numbers are more orderly and organized.

2. I rock Ralph Lauren.  The other night, my "friend" invited me to go golfing with him (well, I was assigned to drive the cart.  I got the privilege of making one putt: "Chill out turbo."  Apparently I hit the ball too hard.)  Anyway, I was decked out head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren.  Sophie wasn't impressed.  And she rocks whatever is under $10 and "flowy."  She doesn't show "pudge."

3. I mainstream- top 40 and country music.  She has eclectic music tastes. 

4. I am into human touch and reassuring words.  She is "ice-girl."  No hugs.  No "I love you."  No expressed feelings.

5. I go to school to "be a nerd"- learn, study, "take care of business."  She prefers to socialize and "just get by."

Please note on the above picture that Sophie is wearing an "un sweatre" in the middle of August!  I think most certainly not. 

Oh, look at the time.  I'm meeting a friend for an afternoon workout in the heat of the day.  Speaking of differences: I workout at 4:00 p.m. while Sophie prefers the air-conditioned house and a good book.  

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139: 14  

From the Mom...

From the mom.

While Sloane is away "serving the Lord with gladness,"
she asked me to do a guest blog or two.

  I am Sloane's mom, Tonya.  

My heart overflows with gratitude that God CHOSE ME  
to be this sweet girl's mom. 

 I could do a whole post on that, but pretty sure that would get a "really??? are you serious?  you blogged about that?" from the girl, so I won't.

Rather, here's some SLOANE TRIVIA for you.

We call this little miss our FREE SPIRIT. Always has been.  Always will be (pretty sure of it!)

Her "free nature" was proven as she took her first earthly breath
 ...three weeks early!

Instead of our planned New Year's baby, she became the best Christmas gift ever!

Our FREE FLYIN' girl has had more accidents, injuries and illnesses (serious) 

than all the rest of our family combined. 

 SHE'S ONE TOUGH COOKIE

 because of it, too!

 

...just to share a few!

Sloane has an amazing wide-open HEART FOR MISSION

 ~ serving others ~

 doing things others would never do, in places many would never consider going.

Hence, the reason for her absence now.

I CAN'T WAIT for her to tell us all about 

the adventures and blessings from the week.

{by the way ~ in a brief message to her sister yesterday, Sloane said,

   "I'm not coming home!"} 

Told you...she's a FREE SPIRIT!

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 

'Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?' 

And I said, 'Here I am.  Send me!"

Isaiah 6: 8

Packing.

"Here I am. Send me!"
That is the theme for the missions trip I am so excited about going on! Today has consisted of running errands, doctors appointments, and packing packing packing! 8 days is a real long time to pack for! While I am gone of my servant trip I am going to plan on having guest bloggers, who will come and blog for me! They will talk about random topics, whats on their mind, or about their day! I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful rest of the week and great start to the next! :)

Grants, NM last year...can't wait for 2012!

...our fabulous group from 2011!

...I have a project up my sleeve!

...journals for the girls!

Getting the toe nails ready!

don't be frightened...just packing! :)

~Praise Moments~
Isaiah's Commission
...Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am. Send me!"
-Isaiah 6:8-

Summer...Summer...Summertime.

Summer is definatly in the air around here! Its getting hotter and we're definatly not lacking in the humidity part, flowers are blooming, reading lists are getting done, journaling...check, and laughs aren't lacking either! My summer day today consists of...

• Botanica
• Time with some of the best friends
• New decorations and furniture
• Some good laughs
• Relaxing with a VERY good book
• Dodging sprinklers
• Climbing
• Acting like a child again
• Daddy daughter date watching nothing other than So You Think You Can Dance
• Beautiful flowers

A good day is all of the above according to my standards! Now unwinding with some of my favorite summer songs and journaling! Successful day...check! Can't wait to see what is in store for me in the days that come! Great things I know!



Such a blessing!

Butteryfly House!

So pretty...

love...love...love

lovely...

love the uniquesness...

Bacon and Me! Love him!

Children's Garden...kind of misleading, us bigger kids enjoyed it too! :)

You are NEVER to old to act like a child!

Barb! Such a blessing to have her in my life!

Such a trooper, he is!

So cute...

Such a neat place!

:)

Acting like a kid...whats new?!

Music section of the Children's Garden

Love this!

Climbing!

Look...there I am!

Mi Madre!

Love the lily pads!

GREAT book!

yay...for new book shelves!

LOVE my new IPhone app! Having so much fun!

So You Think You Can Dance with mi papa!

~Praise Moments~
The Little Children And Jesus
...He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
-Mark 10:13-16-