Sickness Strikes

Hello All,
We are all super sick. Cough and the yuck.
The kids and I are traveling to Corpus Christi this Sunday
with the team from Real Life Fellowship,
My Dad's church.
My Dad is actually on the team!!
They have gone 12 hours up the Coco River
in a canoe,
to build a church in Klisnak.
SO--Granddad will be on our flights back to the US of A.
Jeremy will stay with Clint and assist Jim in his crazy busy visit.
Allison will be assisting the boys in their travels too.
Pray for us this week as we pack.
Pray for us the next two weeks as we are without Daddy.
Pray for Daddy and the boys (and Allison) as they travel to Honduras and back.
November 2006

Another animal update

huge iguana
5 1/2 foot long snake
tiny frog
2 quarter size crabs
1 rat
Monday morning:
4 guys tried to get the snake out of the generator shed.
Instead they caught the 1 1/2 foot iguana.
Not poisonous
Monday lunch:
Jeremy, with a shot gun, blew the snake off the roof of
the generator shed, when it came out to sun.
Monday night:
Jeremy rescued Summer from the dime size frog in the shower.
Tuesday early morning:
Jeremy rescued Summer and Mackenzie from 2 quarter size crabs.
These crabs where IN THE HOUSE crawling around my hall and bath room.
Tuesday mid morning:
2 guys moved an old fridge out of the house...
(we knew the rat was in the house!)
they rolled over his foot,
stunned, he waited for me to scream,
Clint ran in to rescue me and scared the rat into limping off,
Valdi came and stomped the rat to death and carried him outside.
Praise the Lord for animals of all kinds.
The iguana was eaten by some of our guys.
November 2006

Gorgeous Granny

New Publicity Photo
What a babe!
October 2006

School Days

Mackenzie is doing better at school.
She was "not nice" the other day when her dad,
Uncle Clint AND Miss Allison left for Rosita.
The next day she skipped and jumped ahead of me to the car.
She wrote her first letter (on purpose),
She drew an "M" and said "Look this is Mackenzie!"
And her teacher said she calls her "Profe" just like the other kids.
She is speaking Spanish more and more.
She even talks to her brother in Spanish.
She answers in Spanish too.
October 2006

My Sweet Tooth

Luke brought me an empty cup.
I followed him into the kitchen.
He grunted and signed at the box on the floor.
HE WANTED A COKE.
He wanted Uncle Clint's coke this morning.
We knew he had a sweet tooth but...
Luke asked for a Coke.
Oh, Dear.
October 2006

Luke's Eye week after

Purple is a pretty color!
Just not on my baby!
Sept 2006

Cousin Alex

Alex is Sitting up
We hope you can wear the clothes we sent.
Mackenzie packed them up.
October 2006

Cousin Coralyn Hunting

Coralyn is ready to hunt.
6 months old
Look at those ruffles!
October 2006

Birthday Boy

Or should I say "Old Man"!
Jeremy turned 30 yesterday!
He asked permission to have his midlife crisis NOW.
I told him that only makes him 60 in the end.
My Granddad had 30 years on top of those 60!
Maybe they should not call it "midlife" crisis,
Maybe they should call it "one-third life" crisis.
I asked if we were getting a sports car.
He said "NO".
October 2006

Power Problems

MY COMPUTER DIED.
I inherited Granny's computer when she left.
I really needed my own.
The power went out the other day.
The computer is dead.
Jeremy is trying to but things from other places together.
All the mission information is on Granny/my computer.
Jeremy put a new "Beta" program on his computer so
I am having trouble using it and finding my old information.
Of course my new information is on the dead computer.

I have already, today, had to fight Jeremy off his computer

so I can use it.

Fatima said her TV died when the power went out too.

A Computer and a TV....

Those are not just things you go out and buy!

The power here is horrible.

At least we have power some times!

September 2006

New Law

This region of Nicaragua has a new law.

NO one is allowed to cut lumber with anything except

one of those really long hand saws.

No saw mill, no chain saw.

They say it is for the next 10 years.

This will help the trees and the environment but...

The price of lumber is going up.

The people will not be able to afford lumber for their homes.

The people cannot afford cement.

Please Pray for the people of

RAAN, Nicaragua.

September 2006

Broken Tooth

Broken tooth.
Sept 2006

Better Shot

This is a "right after" picture.
His forehead is red and his eye is puffy.
You can also see his chipped front tooth.
September 2006

More First of Many!!!!!

Luke fell off the bed!
No, not really.
Luke stood wobbly on the bed,
Mackenzie stood on the bed and
JUMPED.
Luke BOUNCED right off.
I was right there...
with my back turned!
We thought he hurt his forehead,
that is where the red spot was.

We checked his eyes,

we put ice on it, even with the screaming.

We called Granny the Nurse,

we emailed her a picture of Luke's eyes.

We gave him Ibuprofen.

He acted like...

"guys, enough already,

I am fine"

To make matters worse,

1 week before the eye...

he chipped his front tooth.

Crawling near the pool on cement.

He only fell those few inches from crawling to ground.

Daddy did not even notice the broken tooth.

Of Course... Mommy returned and noticed right away!
Boys will be Boys...

May God protect them.

September 2006

Monkey see! Monkey do!

Mackenzie's new favorite words:

"Just a minute please"

She also calls me (her momma):

"honey"

September 2006

Luke, the doctor in training

Luke is wearing "Doctor in training" clothes

The same ones Mackenzie wore just a few short years ago.

Sept 2006

The Baptist Mission Puerto Cabezas

Jim Reid said:
I AM KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU
GO TO GOOGLE EARTH

YOU CAN FOLLOW THE ROAD ALL THE WAY

TO THE BRIDGE AND SEE IT IN PRETTY GOOD DETAIL.

Animal Update

Hello everyone.

I have been "out of it"

While I was away,

Our faithful friend, Clint,

saw our "rat friend" and

stuned him with the toss of a screwdriver!!

A boy grabbed him and took him to his death.

Praise the LORD>

I can sleep a little better at night!

AND
We had 10 piggies born yesterday

to one big fat momma pig.

That is 10 more pastors that will get

there own pig in about 3 months.

Praise the LORD for piggies.

September 2006

Prayer Request

Summer's Right Shoulder Surgery
Is Sept 5th at 7am
Thank you for your prayers
She is really nervous
Her mother, Jane, will be here.
Praise the Lord.

First of Many!

Why do all titles end in "!" ?

Mackenzie had her first encounter with the principle!

I don't know if we should call her "Jeremy" or "Corey".

She was throwing chairs and toys at school.

She asked the other children to move from their chairs

so she could throw their chair.

The language barrier did not help.

The teacher called the principle.

I guess they worked it out.

They told Jeremy when he went to pick her up.

He made her say sorry in two languages.

August 2006

3rd week of school

The Coco River

Ready to cross!

Honduras Here We Come!

June 2006

Swim Buddies

Love you guys.

Two Thumb Suckers

My two happy health

Thumb Suckers

Luke with Taco

Taco had to go to Cat Heaven

at a very young age.

The 5 german shepherds got a hold of him.

May 2006

Dora is cool

Mackenzie was watching Dora.

Mackenzie just told me a story

(the whole Dora show from today!)

She interchanged the word

"grandma" and "abuela"

during the story.

It sounded more like "a wey la"

but how cute and smart!

August 2006

Mackenzie is 4, More

Pleasure in the finer things.

She picked it!

Mackenzie's buddy, Clint
Pink Cake with pink/purple icing

All girl!

Ready to party!

Presents!!!!

July 12th, 2006

To Baby Alex:

MJ--"what is that box for?"

Me--"well, those clothes don't fit Luke anymore and

I thought to send them to baby Alex"

MJ--"Well, hum, well, I think we should just go

visit him instead?!"

Me--"that is a great idea."

This really happened last night.

Miss you guys.

August 2006

To Aunt Becky:

Mackenzie said:

"No, it is Becky (on the phone).

'Hi, Becky, what are you doing. I will come visit you.

How is our baby? Growing? Really? I speck so.
Well, I will talk to you later. Ok, I love you. Bye bye. '
That was Becky on the Phone.

She said come visit baby Coralyn. I said ok. "

"When we are flying to Corpus Christi,

Granny better be putting up her Christmas Tree.
So we can see it when we go to her house."
August 2006

To Aunt Brittney:

Mackenzie said:

"On the next school day.

We can fly to Isaiah’s school.

I could go to school there!
We could live there and go to school with my Isaiah.
We never lived in Isaiah’s house. We could live in Isaiah’s house!
Isaiah’s school is a church/school. You go there for church and school. But in different rooms.

* *
There they have a play-set you can see from the place where you park the cars.
They have a gate right at the end, so if a big girl wants to go to the little toys she can and if then she wants to go back to the big toys she can just walk through the gate. That is why there is gates and doors to keep children out of the play set when you are not supposed to be in there and when you can—they will let you in with the gate. "

More Clint is 25!

Clint and his buddy, Mackenzie
Licken' candles?

Luke, don't bite it!!

Like this!?

Clint and his buddy, Luke

I WANT CAKE,

not candle!

Happy Birthday, Clint.

Bookshelf Babies

What is that on the Bookshelf?

Clint turns 25!!!!!!

The Been Working look.

But what a great smile!

Steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans

and chocolate cake!

"Cars" cups!

Nemo banner

and Pooh hats.

What a party!

OH, Yeah, I forgot the Frozen Coke!

The deal breaker for a workin' Clint!

A Cake full of Candles.

25 years!

August 10th, 2006

Mackenzie is in True Uniform

August 10th, 2006

Improvised Uniform

baby boy white shirt

navy mini skirt

green flower short under that peak out the bottom

white socks

black church shoes.

Pretty good for what we already had!

August 9th 2006

My baby is going to Preschool.

Luke Lovin' on Baby Daisy

Tiger has grown attached to

Mackenzie's baby Daisy.

He feeds her.

He loves on her.

He carries her around.

August 2006

Luke's new shoes

No clothes, but I got shoes!

Princess Mackenzie

Princess Mackenzie

and her royal jewels

April 2006

(Or whenever it was that Aunt Brittney gave them to her)

She loves them!

Grampa at his finest!

This is how Grampa "recuperates" when he is out in the jungle.

He can sleep anywhere anytime!

Mackenzie went to school!!!!

I took Mackenzie to Verbo Private School

and dropped her off.

We visited yesterday.

She has on an improvised uniform

(white blouse and a blue skirt)

(with shorts under it, that stick out because the skirt is too short.)

until the one we ordered to have made will be ready.

(thursday)

I have not cried yet but I am well on my way!

My baby went to school.

August 2006

Fun Facts

*Tiger says thank you every time you hand him something.

He says "da-ah"

and he expects you to say "your welcome".

*Tiger also raises his hands to the sky for "amen".

He reaches out his hands when we say "let's pray"

He expects to hold hands.

He keeps handing us the "prayer bear"

(the bear that talks a good-night prayer) and

raising up his hands during the "amen" part!

He is so cute!

Luke 16 months

August 2006

The Man in the Green Jeep

A modern-day David-versus-Goliath story took place in Denver, CO, on July 10-14 when Hannibal Books, a small Texas-based company with a unique philosophy, set up its display alongside Christian publishing-field giants such as Thomas Nelson and Tyndale.
The staff of Hannibal Books was pleased when its eye-catching exhibit, which featured a full-sized, green 2007 Jeep Wrangler promoting one of its newest releases, attracted just as much attention as did the well-funded, glitzy displays of major publishers at the 2006 International Christian Retail Show, the largest and most prestigious gathering for Christian bookstores and publishers in the world.
The July show at the Colorado Convention Center annually attracts publishers, book-store buyers, authors, printers, and a whole host of others interested in Christian book publishing and related products.
Hannibal’s featured release, The Man in the Green Jeep, is typical of the niche market that the Garland, TX, publisher tries to fill. The children's book by Viola Palmer is about a Christian missionary in Honduras who uses a green Jeep to cross rugged terrain to take food and other necessities to impoverished flood victims who lost their homes and crops in a torrential downpour. Hannibal specializes in books by and about missionaries.
“Using a green Jeep, which was loaned to us by a local Denver dealership, illustrates the title of the book quite well, but it also shows the creativity that we have to go to sometimes to compete with the 'big guys,'" said Louis Moore, publisher of Hannibal Books. “We are not a million-dollar company yet, so every advertising dollar needs to be effective and productive.”
Besides promoting The Man in the Green Jeep, Hannibal hosted seven other current authors’ books at the trade show. These authors traveled from as far away as Japan and Honduras as well as South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas. These authors included Christy Brawner, Steve Hunter. Kelly Malone, Gene and Jean Phillips, Carol Weishampel and Viola Palmer.
July 2006
The book is available at www.amazon.com and www.hannibalbooks.com

Mackenzie is 4!

Let's get ready to party!

A festive family foto!

Why is someone always without a shirt on in our pictures?

Pink Cake

Pink Icing

New "Princess, Birthday, Church Dress"

Mackenzie's 4th birthday

July 12, 2006

Saddest Moment Ever!

Tiger kept pointing at a collage of pictures on the wall.

Every time he sat in his high chair,

He pointed emphatically at that picture!

I kept saying: "oh, da baby, look at dat baby Kenzie!"

Tiger kept pointing, almost angrily.

Today I took him over for a closer look.

He reached out...

deliberately....

and gently placed his tiny hand...

on the beautiful smiling face...

of his Granny!!!!!!

I was (and am) fighting tears.

I thought about calling but I just knew I would cry!

Luke is 16 months.

He knows something is missing...

and He knows what is missing.

We miss you.

Love,

Tiger, Kenzie and da momma.

Dinner Conversation

Mackenzie’s random comment had us all speechless.

She just wanted to be a part of the dinner conversation.
M—“There is only one true God
He lives in our hearts and in heaven at the same time.
That’s it. Only One True God.
That’s all”.

We read the kid Bible at night for story time.

We were in the Old Testament

Reading about Daniel and his friends,

and Idols.

Mackenzie 4 years old

August 2006

Luke and His New Shoes

When Tiger can’t find his shoes,
He brings Mackenzie’s shoes over
and demands that they be put on him.
Luke— 16 months
August 2006

To Grampa 2:

Yesterday we were playing at the fort.
Mackenzie was rambling on about everything.
Mackenzie was talking about all the improvements you will make on her fort.
Adult swings right here
Adult swings right there
A roof
Extend the fort all the way to the goat barn.
Just a short tiny slide with boards on the side where the slide goes.
And when she goes to Isaiah’s house she is going to
take it with her so she can share with Isaiah!
She was having a great time dreaming up modifications.
Creativity in bloom!
(You guys have been talking about building things lately.
Grampa’s garage/apartment.
Jeremy’s chicken house.
Clint’s trucks. The list goes on.
She was just taking her cue from you!)

August 2006

Agua?

Luke just walked into the room

and said: "Agua?"

I got him some water,

He threw his toy down and

grabbed the water,

drinking fast.

I guess that was pretty clear.

Water? Agua?

To Donna:

Mackenzie started calling "Uncle Clint"

Clinton Kelley

Everytime she uses his name.

How cute!

He just laughs.

Last night--in Her words

Me--"The internet is not working"

Kenzie—"One day, before this day,

That was close to this day.

The internet was working."

(meaning—Last Night)!!!

Finally another tooth!

Tiger is getting one more tooth.
It has been months and he only has a few.
Bottom left second tooth
(for those of you who care!)
Still no real words.
No mama.
No dada.
Just "NO" with different entonations.
He sort of says more than that.
He attempts to say "all done" when he wants out of his highchair.
Boys and Girls are different but they both can learn to be obedient.
Luke is definitly more stubborn.
I am more stubborn than that.
(mostly)
Discipline is tough on both me and him.
A necessary pain.
We see the results already.
He is sweet.
Mackenzie and Luke play together more.
It is SO sweet to see.
Luke can also "chase" better when she "runs away"!
They attack each other equally!
Mackenzie taught Luke to "dance".
They are great siblings.
I pray they grow up close.
July 2006

Come to me like children

Mackenzie was playing and said:
"Why is this cross here on the wall?"
Pause shortly (no answer)
"Thank you, God for dying on this cross"
The End …she moved on to another task,
Just like that.
I almost cried.
Children say it best.
Jesus said "come to me like children"
Mackenzie, 4 years old
July 2006

Parenting 101

Make them choose to obey.
Tiger had a noisy toy.
He was making noise in his sister's face
While she was watching TV.
I went over, squatted down and said:
"Luke, no, put the toy in my hand"
Luke hit is sister with the toy.
I repeated: "Luke, no, put the toy in my hand"
Luke threw the toy on the floor
I picked up the toy and put it back on the chair in front of him.
I repeated: "Luke, no, put the toy in my hand"
Luke took the toy,
Pushed it towards my outstretched hand.
I repeated: "Luke, no, put the toy in my hand"
Luke grabbed the toy and smashed it in my hand.
He was furious, but not crying and
He choose to obey.
He quickly moved on to another task.

To Grampa:

I was making cookies.
Me—"I have a surprise. I don't think you will like it"
MJ—"why?"
Me—"cuz it has chocolate in it!"
MJ—"I love Chocolate!
Good thing we didn't make it when Grampa was here.
He doesn't like chocolate!"

MJ—"we could make brownies!? Cuz Grampa isn't here!
He does not like chocolate!"
Sorry, At least you don't eat all my chocolate!
We miss you.

To Aunt Becky:

This might be long.
Me—"do you think Granny will come here first

or will we go see her at her house in Texas ?"
MJ—"I think we should go to Texas"
Me—"do you think she will have a tree?"
MJ—"yeah"
Me—"do you think she will have presents?"
MJ—(light starts to shine in her eyes!)

"do you know what? Do you know what we should get?

Do you know what? (starts to whisper)
The girl that has Uncle Chris. The girl that has Uncle Chris

(note the word order).
We should get the girl that has Uncle Chris a….
We should get the girl that has Uncle Chris a Mirror…This big …

(hands show about 12 inches)."
Me—"which girl do you mean? The momma or the baby?"
MJ—"(duh look on her face) Da momma.

But when baby Coralyn gets big we can buy her a mirror too!"

(so proud of herself!)
(how did we get from Granny's house in Texas to buying a mirror for Aunt Becky?!)
Children have their logic.
We may never understand.
I guess Aunt Becky HAS Uncle Chris.
God Bless the Children.
Mackenzie, 4 years old.
July 2006

Tractor Days

This is the best seat in the house

For Both Of Them!!!!!

Grampa and Tiger

February Family Photo

A little old but hey,

We are together.

Family Photo

February 2006

Proud of You Bro

Your first official name plate.

How does that feel?

Ah, the rolling hills of Georgia.
How do they compare to the flatness of Texas?

What a great rainy day!

Toccoa Falls College, Georgia

Dr. Corey's new office

We are so excited for the Gilbert's.

This is a HUGE transition for them but

we know this is the beginning of a Great experiences.

Praise the Lord for His unfailing love.

Praise the Lord that our future is

just as well thought out as our present.

Praise the Lord for the challenges in our lives

that Make Us Grow.

July 2006