Furlough was not too long

For about a month or two, I'd been thinking, "Furlough is just too long."  But as I've spent the past week reflecting over our time away and just soaking up being back home, I had to ask the Lord to forgive me for thinking that way.  I know He planned our furlough just as we asked Him to and it wasn't too long.  It was just right.  Just what we needed. Just the right amount of time.  Just where we needed to go.   I learned so much.  He opened my eyes and heart and helped me see how much I lack. And how much it is only Him.  And I just feel so blessed.

It is soooooooo good to be home.

I was talking to my mom in law on the phone today.  She asked if we did anything special for Thanksgiving.  For the first time in our 16+ years of marriage, we didn't.  Yet I don't know if I have ever had a Thanksgiving where I've felt so blessed.  

I love holidays.  After day after day of just "everyday" life, I've always looked forward to those special days.  Something different.  A break from the normal.  Waking up to a special morning with great anticipation and excitement.

But this past week, I woke up to an entire week of special mornings.  Those little everyday things have been the things for which I am most thankful.  The things I look forward to.   Things I've missed to much.

Waking up in my own bed.

With my husband right beside me.

And sometimes one, two or three little ones snuggled up all around.

The sound of my alarm clock.

My closet and dresser drawers.

My favorite spot to read my Bible and pray.

Hot coffee.   Bringing a hot drink to my hubby.

Waving to my neighbor.  Children waking up finding me in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

My own kitchen.  My pots.  My pans.  My spatula with the melted handle.

Family Breakfast/Bible Time with Daddy around our own table.

Our church.  Our friends.  Knocks at my door.  Welcoming others into our home.

Chores.  Laundry.  My clothes line full.

Washing my own dishes while watching little ones play out the window.

Hanging up pictures colored on my fridge.  

School. Teaching. Learning.

Story before nap time.  Walking barefoot down to the store.

Puppet shows.  Children reading on the couch.  Cars and Lincoln logs.  

Laughter.  Cries.  Kisses.  Hugs.

Pushing a child on the swing.  Jumping on the trampoline.

The smell of pine-sol.  The taste of homemade cookies.

Wiping a dirty face.  A runny nose.  Tying a shoe.  Or 10.  

Fixin' supper that I know my family will love.  Ironing Daniel's shirts fresh off the line.

Giggles in the bath.  Mopping water off the floor.

Picking up toys.  Family Devotions in our family room.

Tucking my children in their own beds.  With their own special song.

Hearing the girls giggle and watching the older ones read by their lamps.

Sitting at my own desk.  Working on our schedule.

Hearing Daniel get home.  Having him brush my hair.

Going to bed without 12 other people in the room. :)

It is so good to be home.

I am so blessed!  I love the life God has give me.  I love being home!  It is all these everyday little things that bring me so much happiness.  I love to serve the Lord by serving my family.  I don't deserve any of this, but the Lord is so good and I am so very thankful.

It is sooooooooooooo good to be home!!!!

We are at the border...

Going home!!! :)  Sorry to not have updated sooner.  I wanted to leave the Christmas box post up to make sure nobody who wanted to participate missed hearing about it.

We picked up the boxes last night!  Thank you so much for those who gave!  We'll be giving the boxes to the children before Christmas and share pictures of those precious smiles here.

We are getting ready to cross the border!!  We delayed our departure date by a couple days because our little Samuel needed to have tubes put in his ears just like his big brother.  

Home sweet home!  I can't wait!  It's been a wonderful furlough but we are all homesick for there truly is no place like home.  God is so faithful and so good!!!!!

Christmas Box Time!!

Every year, for the past 4 years, we have been able through the generosity of so many to give a Christmas gift to many of the children in our town and some surrounding villages/ranchos.  And it is that time again!  Well, actually, time's almost over!  Normally, we begin much earlier sharing about the Christmas Box program and giving a mailing address to send the boxes, but with all our travels and not being exactly sure about our departure date back to Mexico, we haven't posted it for this year until now!  And there isn't much time at all!  We apologize for not being able to post sooner, but for those of you who would still like to participate and can work quickly, we have the details! :)  And for all those who work well under pressure, this might be perfect for you!   Whether we get just a few boxes or many, each and every one will be placed into the hands of a Mexican boy or girl in our area and oh, the smiles and those precious faces that light up when they see their gift!!

We will be heading back across the border, Lord willing, in just under 2 weeks!  So in order to ship your Christmas box(es) to a USA address, they need to arrive at the address for pick up by

November 14th.

The USA address is:

Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood

108000 Woodside Ave. Space 91

Santee, CA  92071

That means they have to be sent by this week or maybe by early next week.  We will be leaving our home town on the 12th and plan on crossing the border into Mexico on the 14th.   Our home is 800 miles south of the border, so we won't be able to return for any boxes that arrive late.  

Anyone is always welcome to send a Christmas box at any time to our Mexico PO box.  The postage is much more expensive that way, but there would be no time limit.  It takes about 2 weeks for mail to get from the USA to Mexico.  Even if a box arrived later than Christmas to our Mexico address, we'd be happy to give it to a child. :)

Our Mexico address is:

Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood

APDO 8

Col. Centro

Cd. Insurgentes, BCS

CP23700 MEXICO

Again, we are sorry there is so little notice this year.  But we wanted to be sure to give an opportunity to all who are wanting and able to take part, to do so!

For those of you are are new here or do not know what the Christmas box program is all about, here are the details-

For the past four Christmas seasons, we have been able to bless a number of children in our town and the surrounding ranches with a special gift from many of you. What a joy it has been to not only give these children a shoe box or bag filled with wonderful treats, but by being a blessing in this way to their families, have an open door to share with them about the One who gave us the greatest gift of all!  

This Christmas, we would again like to reach out to the families of our town by giving their children a Christmas Box. We want to not only show them the love of the Saviour through this tangible way, but go back and tell them the wonderous gospel that so many have still never heard.

Each time we have done this, it has been a tremendous blessing to the people. We've been able to hand out between 50 and 200 boxes each year!  Every box that we receive is placed into the hands of a Mexican boy or girl. For many of them, it will be the only Christmas gift they will receive.

 We will pass out whatever boxes we receive and the more the better! And we would love to have your help! It is truly more blessed to give than receive! If this is something in which you would like to have a part, here are some guidelines:

*Boxes should be shoebox size (you could either send a real shoebox or send a plastic container with a lid that is approximately the same size; the advantage of the plastic container is that the child/family can use it for something later)

*For Shipping Purposes, some people prefer to send a bag. Each year we handed out backpacks, paper gift bags (which were protected by being wrapped in plastic wrap so they wouldn't break open in shipping), and cloth hand bags as well. When we were up north, our girls were given some cloth hand bags for their birthdays that were purchased at the dollar store.

*Some years we had  people send a large quantity of an item(s) to be handed out with or in addition to the boxes (we've received Spanish New Testaments, Spanish Christmas Coloring Books, Stuffed Animals, Blankets/quilts, hats). If you are interested in sending something like that, just email us and let us know! :)

*If you would like to specify "Christmas Box for a Boy" or "Christmas Box for a Girl", please mark that somewhere on the package.  We will be handing them out to children of all ages, so variety is welcome!

Now for the fun part! Ideas of what to include in the boxes!If you are on a tight budget and would like to give, please know that anything will be appreciated.  The children here do not have much at all and even small treats mean so much.  If you have a dollar store or the like in your area, that would be a great place to go!

*Toys: a small stuffed animal, a ball, a yo-yo, whistle, picture book, a puzzle, a game, play dough, coloring book etc...

*School Supplies: pencils, pencil box, crayons, felt markers, stickers, notebook, erasers, pencil sharpener, glue etc...

*Toiletries:  soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb or brush, wash cloth, floss, etc...

*Other: American Candy, scarf, a personal letter* or picture drawn for the child, comb or brush, toothbrush, craft, stickers, etc..

Here are things to NOT include:

*Chocolate or any other food that could melt, make a mess or spoil

*Medicine

*Items that could easily break

*Books or music (other than a note book or coloring book)

*Anything liquid that could spill (bubbles, shampoo, ect...)

*Anything that could be dangerous for a small child (marbles, sharp items ect...)

*Clothing other than maybe a scarf or hat as you don’t know what size the child is that will receive your box

If you have any further questions, feel free to email us (email address at the very bottom of the right side bar). Of course, we plan on taking lots of pictures of the children opening their boxes and will post some on the blog. Wouldn’t it be fun to see a picture of a child opening the box that YOU sent? :)

*Spanish phrases that you could include in a personal note if you would like:

Dios le bendiga– God Bless you

Jesus te ama– Jesus loves you

Feliz Navidad– Merry Christmas

Dios te ama– God loves you

Estoy orando por ti– I am praying for you

Con amor de - With love from