Good Bye, Texas.

I've been blessed!  Physically, the past few days were some of the most demanding, but spiritually, I've been fed.  Broken again over my own sin.  Filled with the sweet love that only comes from Jesus Christ.

So thankful for the hope we have in Him!

Thursday and Friday were spent in the home of the Benevides family.  What a wonderful family!  I think if we lived here, Kim would be one of my dearest friends.  They spoiled us, loved us, and we just had such a refreshing time at their home.  

We stayed up each night until 1 am talking about the Lord, His Word, and sharing our hearts.

We drank lots of coffee! :)

We laughed.  We talked about hurts and our hearts.  What I appreciated so much about this family was their humble, sweet spirit and desire to simply submit to and follow our Lord.

Sweet friendships.  Thank you, Lord.  

I have soooooooo loved Texas!  Texas is where they bottle Dr. Pepper.  I knew there was something special about this place.  :) I'm sad that today is our last day here. :(  But looking forward to continuing to go where the Lord takes us and asking Him to use us where ever we go.  Can you believe that?  God uses us!  We are nothing and have nothing to give but our weak, broken lives and He uses us.  When we are weak, then He is strong.  

Pastor Vail took our family out to supper Saturday night at a buffet. I don't think most of our children have ever been to a place where there are so many choices and you can have all you want of any of them! :) 

I was excited to show them one of my most useful talents....how to take those little bowls they give you for the soft serve icecream and create a tower of sweet deliciousness that rivals the empire state building. :)

My husband just looks at me and says, "Only my wife. "  :)

Saturday night, Samuel was sick.  And grumpy.  And kept me up most of the night.  Extra time to pray which was sweet.

The next day, he was still not 100%.  Nehemiah was having tummy problems and we had to change his clothes once right before we were leaving the hotel to head to church.  And then right before we were getting up to sing in the church.  Thankfully, he felt okay and so while Daniel was preaching, Abi and I took the 3 youngest ones out to the van/trailer to rest.

Samuel slept almost the entire 3 hour drive to Houston that afternoon where Daniel preached that evening and woke up happy and feeling much better!  We stopped at a gas station a couple miles from the church and the girls ran inside to comb their hair, Daniel changed and dressed Samuel and Eliseo, and I got all the other boys into their shirts, ties, and suits which we'd taken off before lunch so they wouldn't get dirty.  

We jumped back into the van and arrived at the church with 1 minute to spare.  Nothing like getting there early.  The Spanish and English churches were together that night and Daniel preached his message in 2 languages.  It's only the second time he's done that.  He preaches a thought in English and then preaches it again in Spanish.  Then back to English and then to Spanish.  I don't think I could ever do that!  The Lord has sure equipped him for the job he's called him to do.  After the service, a man commented how he preaches so differently in each language.  In English he is more mellow and still and in Spanish he is very animated and uses his hands.  

The church let us stay in their lovely missions house here and brought over 8 pizzas for dinner.  We finished off almost 6 of them.  Yum!  Two were dessert pizzas.  I'd never heard of a dessert pizza before, but what a sweet idea! :)

We are heading to Oklahoma today and then to Arkansas later this week.  We'll be seeing some very special friends and are so excited!  We just love people so much!

Well, today is Susannah's 6th birthday.  She's been up with me all morning, bless her heart!  My baby girl is 6.  I love her so much!  Thanking the Lord for so many blessings this morning.

I thought it was cute how we took up most of the shoe holder at the play place :)

Thank you so much for having us, Benevides!  We love and miss you all!

The Benevides and Lockwood Families.  Four adults.  Twenty children. :)  Wonderful!