How do you spell relief????

Two letters --- A....C...


We have two small items to square away before we head to the awards ceremony next week. Ok, maybe they're not that small:

We now have to find a good place to board Cooper since his vets office said they no longer offer that service, and get our A/C fixed -- it's literally 90 degrees in my house right now according to my thermostat!!!

Repair guy came out today and told Tim the actual inside unit was installed backwards!!! SO he cant even get to the mechanics of the unit until he repairs that -- the guy who owned this house before us seriously messed up a bunch of stuff by doing it himself. I know we may have to rip up the tile floors bc he didnt use the right grout and mold could be growing, he laid a tile patio over top the access to the septic tank (yeah, that's illegal for those of you scoring at home), and he used wire coat hangers in unimaginable ways as a means of repair around this place (to hold the AC filter in place for example!)

Pray we get some relief -- it's been 3 nights of me sleeping with no covers and it only gets down to about 83 in the house at night. It's sad when you have to crack a window to let in a breeze and it's a Florida summer night!!!

He's so cool (now don't tell him I said so)

Wow, Tim did it again -- 2 national awards in 2 years. His agency will be recognizing him (along with the small team he works with) with the Core Value for Courage-Valor award next week. And the best part is the award ceremony takes place in the Capitol.

No, wait, the BEST part is I get to go with him to watch him receive this award.

Well, ok maybe the best part is the FREE airfare for us both and the accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton five-star hotel!!!

This is one of the highest honors his agency bestows and I'm so proud to be going with him to pat him on the back and celebrate. I promise to take lots of pics and post when I get back.

I'm so glad my boss is letting me go. It might complicate my vacation days that remain for Christmas - but this is once in a lifetime! I need to figure out what I'm doing with the dog but someone will surely watch him since he's such an angel!

The ceremony is in the middle of the week so we'll take direct flight the day before, attend the ceremony, and then we have all the way through the weekend in the city to meet up with friends up there, see some monuments and basically do whatever we want while staying in the lap of luxury!

If you get a chance, be sure to drop Tim an email and congratulate him!

Letter from "our child"

I think I mentioned that since the end of last year we've partnered with an organization called Compassion International and we sponsor a child in Thailand -- each time I see a letter in the mailbox it's similar to the excitement of Christmas morning, so I thought I would start posting the text of his letters. And the Thai language is such a beautiful thing to see, it's like art. Thank goodness there are translators.


Our "child" is named Porch and he's 6. He shares his birthday with our anniversary and he'll be 7 this year. So far the letters have been written on his behalf by family and church workers... here is the most recent one that arrived last week (dated June 7th since it takes a while to translate and get to Colorado to Compassion and then to us)... here's the letter verbatim:


Dear T&H,

I am the mother of Porch. Thank you for your photo and the bookmark that Porch is taking good care of. With the bookmark Porch drew pictures and colored it and he sent it already. It might not be beautiful but he did his best. This week the weather is very hot. Porch likes his class teacher very much because she is kind. Sometimes she might have beaten Poprch because he he's so naughty. Porch was happy when he got your letter and he's wondering when you're coming to visit him? This is the song that Porch likes to sing "the soft heart" by Kevalin. Last Sunday Porch went to Samui Beach and he had a great time there. It's a beautiful island. Have you ever been there before? Porch and I hope to see your letter again. Porch would like to know if you're tired in your work? May you take care of your health. He's so worry about you. He sends his greetings to Kubor [she means Cooper, our dog] too. May you pray for our family. Love and regards, Watcharaporn Phanit.

Here's the beach the letter made reference to, it's amazingly beautiful:

All of this is to say maybe you'd think about supporting a child too? It's a real connection with a family across the globe and it's freaky how God works -- I had not even mentioned work being tiring, or that my health is poor every now and again and yet this family of practical strangers just senses things about us and what we need prayer for... God is good!

I've felt recently like God has been sending me messages about something I'm supposed to do for him - but I'm still formulating how I'm going to do it, so I'm not ready to debut it but let this be an inspirational word to your spirit as it was to mine when I read it this morning and I will tell you more about this new "mission" at a later date (I'm such a teaser, guess you have to keep reading regularly!)

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you."
Psalm 37:5 (NLT)

Sigh of Relief

I can proudly say I hosted a great shower and thankfully my plumber hooked me up with a new toilet at the 11th hour. He came back Friday morning to install the new one... got it installed (after having to clear a clog in my main drain line YUCK!) and sure enough the new toilet tank had a hairline crack in it that wasnt visible until water was in it, and water was leaking from it. What a mess. And I was freaking out! But this guy was such a stand-up gentleman that he came back that evening *on his own time* and installed the new tank and got it all working, and he didnt charge me the $200 extra that he could have charged for snaking my main drain. Of course, the new commode didnt come with a seat so Tim gracious went to Lowe's 20 mins before it closed to get the seat I wanted (yes, it closes itself without slamming!!! every lady living with a man needs this invention!!!)

So, fast forward now to Saturday where the frenzy of the day probably made me into a fire breathing dragon - Tim was preparing to leave for a week so I helped him pack, all the while trying to get my house presentable for the 30 guests I was expecting. The other lady who was supposed to show up and assist with the shower preparations arrived 20 mins after the first guests and the guest of honor... so I was left to do everything alone and I didnt get my flower arrangements done, drinks werent ready when people arrived, but somehow it always comes together and no one seemed to miss the flowers, and most helped themselves to beverages anyhow.

Here's a short recap in photos of the nice atmosphere, and my lovely food and the Cookie Buffet party favors:

This is the entry way table with photos of Melinda and Brent as children


The cookie buffet and the little bags with the label I designed




Party shots and presents



The cookie buffet was a hit!

And there was quite a mess to pick up, but such a great time!

Sitting Pretty

Guess who’s getting a new toilet the day before throwing a huge baby shower… yes, sadly the old throne needs to be retired… but yeah the day before a party with numerous ladies I don’t know and I have a plumber coming to install a new potty --- think of all the things that could go wrong, because I sure am!

I’m imagining my guests having to use the neighbors’ bath – or worse! Dig a hole in the yard? Is there etiquette against that Miss Manners? And the sparkling white throne will surely make the rest of the bathroom's white surfaces look kinda nasty...

In any case, I do feel blessed to at least be able to call someone and have one put in so quickly, but I pray everything installs smoothly tomorrow. I cannot take another stressful situation right now.

In other news - my health is still up and down. The last few weeks the numbness is back in my body from the ribs down and the last week I've added back pain to the mix and therapy doesn't seem to be helping long-term. The immediate affects of therapy are great but it's hard (impossible) to find anything lasting right now. And obviously stress has something to do with it too - so I've started to say no to things more often (sorry friends) and I'm in a difficult position of maybe not doing the church Christmas Pageant if my condition isnt improved by the next choir retreat in September. So, your prayers are always appreciated. Everyone who reads this are such great prayer warriors and I find comfort knowing how much you all care.

Love Letter

My Child,

Not only can I hear you, but I know everything about you. (Psalm139:1) I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3) Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-31) For you were made in My image. (Genesis 1:27) In Me, you live and move and have your being. (Acts 17:27-28)

For you are My offspring. (Acts 17:28) I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) I chose you, when I planned creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12) You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in My book. (Psalm 139:15-16) I determined the exact time of your birth, and where you would live. (Acts 17:26) You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) I knit you together in your mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13) And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6) I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me. (John 8:41, 42, 44) I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. (1 John 4:16) And it is My desire to lavish My love on you. Simply because you are My child, and I am your Father. (1 John 3:1) I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11) For I am the perfect Father. (Matthew 5:48)

Every good gift that you receive, comes from My hand. (James 1:17) For I am your provider, and I Meet all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33) My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18) And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40) For you are My treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5) I desire to establish you with all My heart, and all My soul. (Jeremiah 32:41) And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3) If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. (Deuteronomy 4:29) Delight in Me, and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) For it is I, who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13) I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20-21) For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) And nothing will ever separate you from My love again. (Romans 8:38-39) I have always been your Father, and will always be your Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15)

Love,
Your Heavenly Father

Last weekend's update

We had a nice long weekend last week when we took off Friday and went up to Tim's old neighborhood to hang out with his family and the friends he has kept in touch with since high school. There are siz guys that have stayed super close and by now all have wives and almost all of them have added kids to their families as well so it was very nice to be able to see them all again. The last time all six were together was our wedding, and even this trip we were missing one who is a military man...

None the less we had a blast, the guys got to play golf and we had great opportunities to hang out with Tim's brothers and the nephews and I got great time with sis-in-law Aimee as well.

Here's a few snapshots... another one with the guys and their kids will be forthcoming:

Tim and Jacob:
Making friends with Cooper
Tyler snuggling with Coop
Outside "Doubles" sub shop