Life Updates

Thank you to all our family and friends back in Alabama who are still reading this after 2 years of us being here. Yesterday was the 2 year anniversary of us pulling up into this church yard and starting a new adventure for Jesus. While we've gotten to do so many new things while here, it is still incredibly hard to be this far away from the people we love. It's so hard that our kids' grandparents are missing watching them perform in their passion of choice. It's so hard that we are missing watching our nephews and nieces perform in their passions of choice. It's hard to miss weddings of people we love and 20 year homecoming reunions. It's hard to miss being there for family who is having surgery. It's hard sitting at home on the weekends and wishing you could be doing stuff with your best friends back home. It's hard being in a church with no youth group knowing that your teen could really use some Christian support. OK....enough of the blah, blah, blah. Now you know how to pray for us!

MASON- Today is Monday and Mason is home with us today because it is parent/teacher conferences at the Middle School. Landon will be home on Thurs and Friday for that reason and it's so strange that they don't line these days up so that they can be at home together. Middle School Football ended earlier this month and one of the coaches who has a son on the team, decides to take the boys back down to Albuquerque to play in the 7th grade YAFL State Championship in November. YAFL is the league that we played last year, not this year so I can't believe they are letting us enter the tournament. So while we got a break for one week, we are back at practicing football. We actually had a practice game on Saturday against Aztec, and Mason made 2 touchdowns and sacked the quarterback 4 times and I couldn't even keep up with the tackles he made. This was by far his best game ever! Because he will play 13-14 league baseball in the spring, coaches form their own teams (instead of doing drafts) so the same coach he has for YAFL asked him to be on his team and they have started practicing some as well before the snow comes. I often get frustrated at their enthusiasum of sports and how it seems they never want to give the boys a break BUT maybe in the long run, this will help Mason achieve his dream of becoming a professional athlete. It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't live 25 minutes from town. Middle School basketball does not start until after Christmas here. Mason has an 8th grade girlfriend who is as tall as him and her name is Haley Richardson! I asked him when he was going to tell her they were cousins! (My maiden name is Richardson) I always hoped Mason would be the quiet, shy type who would be too bashful to ask out girls or so focused on sports that he didn't have "time" for girls----WRONG! He's Mr. Loverboy and I'm going to be praying more than I've ever prayed before when this kid gets to actually date!

LANDON- Landon seems much happier this school year and is feeling more a part of things here. He ran for Student Council Representative in his classroom against 3 other kids and got elected and was so excited about it. The Student Council will meet after school (not every week) and he still goes to Science Club on Tuesdays after school. Rec league basketball starts tonight and he wasn't going to play this year because he didn't like his coach last year which made it un-enjoyable. SO Mike signed up to coach and Lan is SOOOOO excited now! We will practice on Monday nights and play every Saturday for 6 weeks. Landon still takes drum lessons at Stillwater Foundation in Durango on Wednesdays but that will change to Fridays starting next month. After a wonderful job on room rearrangement by moi, we can now search for a "real" drum set for him for his birthday. Also, Landon has lost 17 lbs since last Spring! He has done so well on cutting back on his meals, cutting out snacks and sweets, and exercising more. It has been his choice and he has done awesome. He is also getting taller and that is helping him as well. He is still very lovable and I am soaking it up as much as I can!

HAVEN- Miss Haven will turn 5 on November 3rd!! So we are in the process of planning her a party. While we debated on putting her in preschool, we have decided against it because she is a smart little girl and she'll be fine without it (besides, she'll be in school the next 13+ years without a choice!). She has 4 friends that will start school with her that live here in the valley that she plays with some during the week. She spent the night with her best friend Maddie Friday night for the first time and did great! But I was sure ready to see her! I know I am telling on myself when I write this, but for the past 2 weeks, she has started sleeping in her room with Landon and is officially out of our bed!!! (Yes, I had an attachment problem!) In gymnastics, "teacher" has moved her up into the 5-8 year old homeschool group because she was a lot more mature than the others in her first class. She still loves it but is only going once weekly but a longer session. She has told me 3 or 4 times in the last 2 days that her chest was hurting her, so please pray for her and wisdom for us. She doesn't cry with it, she just casually tells us her chest hurts and it is very temporary.

ME (LORI)- We have had an awesome (and warm) October but now it is getting colder and snow is probably not too far off. Most of you know how I feel about snow. So I am going to fight depression away and hopefully have the best winter ever! "They" say this winter will not have as much snow but it will be colder. We'll see. I have participated in 2 children's consignment sales recently so that has been fun. I will be done with cleaning cabins at the end of the month and it has drastically reduced this month. Sure enjoyed the paychecks while they lasted! I'm still trying to exercise but am losing my motivation. I'm contemplating joining Weight Watchers and the Sun Ute Rec Center for the winter, but am trying to save every penny for a Spring Break trip to the Bahamas!! Yes, I do have that to look forward to....Cathy and Earl have a time share there and want to take us with them to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island! We will fly there and spend 7 nights and I am so excited!!! Maybe this will motivate me to loose weight as well!

MIKE- Mike has had pain in his foot for a while now that seems to inflame at times and go away at times. We're thinking it may be gout since there are some of his family members that has it also. When he adds more water and coffee to his diet, it helps so we need to try some cherry juice next. Please pray this gout away with us! Mike continues to play golf weekly and is obsessed with Alabama football (it brings out the worst in him, especially when it comes to Auburn fans on Facebook- ha, ha!). He is doing an awesome job pastoring this church and people here absolutely love him! He is in the process of adding elders to the church which could bring some controversy so pray God's will for this process. They do not have deacons here either and have been a church that thrives off of business meetings. Pray that the congregation will continue to trust their Shepherd in this reorganizing process. Remember, we have people from all different denominational backgrounds which can present many different opinions on how things are done. I'm so proud of Mike and how he has learned to handle people and church situations. While he's always been an awesome speaker, he has grown so much as a Pastor.

VALLECITO CHURCH- We got our official Certificate of Occupancy for the new building this last Thursday. This means we can "legally" use the building and move things in. Most of the summer members have left and we are getting back to just our winter crew. Children's church has grown and we have been having 6 to 13 kids every week. One of our older members spent the summer with her daughter in Virginia and was exposed to the Awana program while there. She really wants our church to start this but many of you already know, it takes a lot of support and commitment from the adults. The same 3 children's workers can't do Awana's and sunday school and children's church and summer VBS. So while it is exciting to see someone who doesn't work with kids passionate about this, please pray that the other adults will commit to be a part of this wonderful outreach. We still have no one to work with our youth and Mike and I just don't feel adequate. It's hard when Mason hears us every night at Bible time, during children's church, and as youth leaders. It's parental OVERLOAD! He needs to hear someone else for a change. He has a friend that comes to preaching but he is still the only youth in Sunday School. So we are letting him attend at another church on Wednesday nights. Anyway, after 2 years of being here, I had hoped that the pews would be full in winter of people we have reached in this community. I wish I had stories of life-changing surrenders to Christ but I don't. While that makes me sad, I need to remember that there has been life changes and just because they may not be drastic, they are equally important. Mike has led this congregation to a closer relationship to each other but especially to the Lord. The church has grown and there are changes within people that I'll probably never know about. The unchurched people in this valley are so liberal and set on life without God. But God is bigger than the spirit of liberalism, and new ageism and we'll trust Him for His timing. When God calls you to spread His word, our job is to just be obedient and not worry about the results. So that's what I am going to do!

Thanks for your prayers! We love you!