New Update

Well it's probably pretty obvious to those of you who still follow my blog that I'm not updating like I once was. In fact, I think it's been over 6 months since my last post. For those of you that want to still follow me, I update my facebook quite regularly and I also signed up for Twitter recently. I don't know if I really fully understand Twitter yet, I only signed up because it has a better app on my cell phone than facebook does. Anyway, you can follow me on Twitter at LisaJoyD. I'm going to leave this blog open because I still read a lot of the blogs on my sidebar and who knows, maybe I'll get motivated to start updating again!

Tired!

Since all is quiet in my house right now, I thought I'd take the time before I head up to bed, to write a quick post. Kelby is in Topeka all weekend for a tennis tournament. He's a pretty incredible player, so I'm anxious to hear how his matches go tomorrow. I'm slightly jealous that his hotel is right across the street from ...

I'm hoping he might bring me back an original chicken sandwhich and some sweet tea! Yeah, it doesn't take much to make me happy!

I am extremely tired tonight! I've been working out A LOT the past few weeks and on top of that I've really been cutting back on calories. I've already lost 7 pounds, so I know I'm doing something right! I've been going to a spin class at the gym 2-3 times a week and then running the other 2 days. Let me tell you, if you've never been to a spin class, they are tough work but also a lot of fun! I met a friend for the 6am class this morning, which is why I'm practically asleep writing this.

I'm not even sure if anyone even reads this blog anymore, except my brother (Hi Bob!), but there's a little update into my oh so exciting life! I'll try and post some pictures of my sweet girls soon! They are growing too fast!!!!

Missions Trip to Costa Rica

Well, I've been back from Costa for almost 4 months now and I still haven't posted about my trip. I guess I've been a little side tracked with life! I had an amazing experience, one that I will never forget. I still can't get those precious children's faces out of my mind. I would have loved to bring a few home with me. Here are some pictures from my trip ...

There were 4 homes on the Hogar de Vida property that the children lived in, this is one of the homes

I loved the hammocks and rocking chairs

I probably ate at least 5 mandarine oranges a day, straight from the tree, while I was there. They were SO good!

My first day meeting the kids
My first Costa Rican meal. All of the meals that were prepared for us were really good!
Our walk into town

Sadie w/one of the boys

Me and Anya

Raschel

The kids loved looking at the picture of my "tres hijas".

On one of our last days there we drove a few hours to Jaco and enjoyed a day at the beach!

Here is a picture of the beautiful sunset

Sadie and Susie

Me and the twins, Anya and Tanya

Chillin' after our morning devotional
Me and sweet Genesis
Me and Lindsay

Me and Susie

Several of the locals and a few women from our team were baptized. It was such a moving experience!

Update

Well, I'm back again. Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. Life has just been really busy. I'm getting ready to leave for my missions trip to Costa Rica the day after Thanksgiving. I can't believe it's finally here! I'm so excited but I also feel a little nervous too. I'm NOT going to have any communication with my family for 10 days. I've been away from them before, but we've always been in constant communication. Even when my hubby was thousands of miles away in Pakistan for 6 months, we still talked or emailed almost everyday. So, that aspect is going to be hard. Then again, I'm probably going to be so busy with the children, maybe I won't have time to miss my family. I'll be sure to give you an update, complete with lots of pictures, when I get back. I return on December 7. Please pray for our team while we are gone. Pray for good health, safety, turbulent free flights :), and most of all for God to use us in the lives of these children.

Trinity Church Costa Rica Mission Team - November 28 - December 7

As you've probably already noticed, I've added some new pictures of the girls to my header and sidebar. We had some professional family pictures taken a few weeks ago. I think they turned out pretty well. Here are a few more ...

This was most definitely not spontaneous!

Abby's model pose :)

It was hard to get Olivia to give a natural smile

Kevin (Kelby's brother), Heather, Adalee and baby Joah
Daddy and his girls
Kisses for mommy
The Deese Family
I know that was a lot more than a few. I kinda got carried away. I used a few of these pictures for our Chrismtas card this year. It turned out so well! Now I just have to finish writing my annual Christmas letter, finish packing, do laundry, freeze some meals for the family, clean house, and work some hours for my part-time job - all before I leave on Friday! Okay, I'm exhausted already! Adios mi amigos!

I'm Alive!

I know I haven't posted in awhile! I'm still alive, I've just been really busy. My part-time job has been very demanding the past few weeks. I've been updating Pastor Ray's website and learning a tun about HTML code. My hubby is very impressed that I know more about HTML than him! The girls are getting older which means they are getting more homework, so my afternoons are spent helping them with that. I've also been busy preparing my letters to raise support for my missions trip in Nov/Dec. I had a moment of panic last week when I realized that my passport expired, so I had to rush and get my renewal paperwork in the mail! We can't forget my sweet Olivia. She's loving preschool but missing the girls when they are at school so I'm hearing almost everyday, "Mommy, play with me!".

Anyway, that's what's been going on with me. Here are a few random pics from the past few weeks. I can't seem to post without any pictures! :)

Olivia with her 2nd cousin Serah, visiting from Turkey. Dark hair, dark brown eyes. Red hair, light blue eyes. Quite a contrast but both beautiful! Serah. Look at those BIG beautiful brown eyes!

All the girls

Olivia having lunch w/her cousin Adalee. She stayed w/us while her mommy was in labor!

We headed to the zoo the next morning. The girls had a blast!

Adalee loved the Butterfly Pavillion!

Liv patiently trying to catch a butterfly

Sweet cousins

I discovered that Adalee was petrified of gorillas, both real and fake. She screamed when I tried to get a pic of her on this with Olivia

Adalee wasn't too fond of the goats either!

You sure can get a workout at our zoo ... lots of hills!

We then headed over to the hospital so Adalee could meet her new baby brother. I think she was more interested in the Cheerios though!

The new family of 4!

Welcome to the world Joah James! The Deese name will live on ... I gave it 3 tries :)

Yep! Another redhead. I guess it's just in the genes!

He is so cute! I just love babies!

Olivia holding her new cousin Joah

The following pics were taken when we went to deliver a meal to Kevin and Heather. We were a little early and they weren't home so while we waited the girls and I had fun taking pictures!

I just love this girl!

Olivia and Dodger

Julia relaxing on the hammock

Jules holding Joah

Abby with her new baby BOY cousin! She keeps telling me I need to bring her home a baby brother when I go to Costa Rica!

Well, I think that was more than just a few pictures. I guess that's what happens when you don't blog for almost a month. Olivia is playing upstairs so I think I'm going take advantage of the peace and quiet and go watch the debate from last night. Why didn't I watch last night? Well there were more important things on to watch!

I know, I know. Shame on me! :)

Missions Trip

I want to share with you a ministry opportunity that the Lord has presented to me. In a couple of months I will be going to Costa Rica with a team of 15 women from my church. We will be working at a children's home. It is a Bible based, Christian, faith ministry which provides temporary homes for 'at-risk' children, ages birth to 7 years old. The heart beat of the home is to meet each child's physical needs, to share the eternal gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and to provide a stable environment in which the healing process Jesus Christ may begin in the hearts of these broken children.

Since prayer support is so important to the success of this mission, I would like to know if I can count on you in that area? Would you be willing to to pray regularly for me (at least once a week) during my preparation and training, and daily during the actual outreach? If I can count on you as a prayer partner, please post a comment or email me. I'm excited about the oppotunity and experience that lies ahead and I covet your prayers most of all. I will keep you updated in the coming months.

Escape of the puppies

Today hasn't been a very good day for me. It started out pretty good. I was up at 6:30 ... showered, dressed, with my make-up and hair done. This is a pretty big accomplishment for me because I normally take the girls to school in my pajamas! I know, I know. I'm not sure what I would do if I got in an accident. At least they're cute pajamas! My women's bible study started this morning so I had to have all three girls dressed, fed and out the door by 8:00. I made it to bible study, with a few minutes to spare, and had a great time of fellowship and digging into God's Word. I'm glad His Word was fresh in my heart because I was going to need lots of grace later that morning!

You may or may not remember that we got a new puppy a couple months ago. My mother-in-law also got one at the same time. The dogs are actually sisters. Well, she had errands to run so she asked if it would be okay if she dropped off her puppy at my house so the two could play together. I keep them gated up in my laundry room because they cannot be trusted yet! For good reason.
Well when I got home, I walked in through the garage door and this is what I found ...
The puppies had knocked over the gate. I later found out that when my mother-in-law came over to drop off Greta, she had let the dogs outside and when she put them back in the laundry room she didn't put up the gate securely! (GRACE, GRACE, GRACE!) I knew I was about to behold a disaster! There were accidents all throughout the house, chewed up flip-flops, paper, and toys. But the worst of all was there were scratch marks all over the bottom of my beautiful coffee table!

I know the culprits were Maggie and Greta. My sweet Mitzi probably took a nap while they reeked havoc throughout my house!

But it's hard to stay mad when you have a little face looking at you like this. I didn't get a picture of her co-conspirator. I had already banished her back to her home. I'm very thankful today that one of the messages in my bible study was not to become too attached to things that are temporal. I'm guessing that includes my scratched up coffee table.

Since we're on the subject of my dogs, I'm pretty sure this time around we didn't get a Miniature Schnauzer. They are supposed to weigh around 10-15 lbs. full grown. Well, my little pup was weighed the other day and she is already 13lbs at 4 months old... Mitzi's full grown weight.

I'm thinking this little Mini Schnauz of ours is turning out to be not quite so miniature!!! Enough talk of dogs, I have 3 girls that need some of my attention tonight.

Prayers for Nie Nie

So, I've added a new past-time to my life ... blog surfing. I know, I know, like I'm not busy enough already! You can hop from one blog to the next and read about the most interesting and uninteresting things. It's really quite addictive. It's quite easy to get caught up in their lives, these people I don't even know. Well, the other night as I was blog surfing, I ran across this blog. Stephenie (or Nie Nie as she calls herself) blogs about her life as a wife and mother. Her love for her family spills out over every entry.

The Nielsen Family

Well a couple weeks ago, Stephenie and her husband Christian (or Mr. Nielsen as she so romantically refers to him) were in a tragic plane crash. You can read more about it here. She was burned over 80% of her body and Christian was burned over 30%. They are both in critical condition. They have been on my mind constantly since reading their story and her blog. The other night I was tossing and turning all night so I just began to pray for them. They are currently recovering in a Phoenix burn unit. Her sister has begun a blog to keep all of her readers informed of their progress. Keep them in your prayers too!

First Day of Preschool

My sweet little Olivia had her very first day of preschool today! She has been so excited, talking about it nonstop! "Mommy is it Tuesday or Fursday yet?" We drive by her school everytime we take her big sisters to and from school and she ALWAYS yells "There's my school." Well the day FINALLY arrived. I started out the morning by making blueberry waffles.

But she wanted chocolate cereal instead ... crazy girl

At least it was organic ... so I didn't feel like too bad of a mom

Jules was so excited for Olivia. Abby was too but she was still busy getting ready for school

All ready to go

This was Julia's backback that she had in Kindergarten. It's still in pretty good condition. She thinks it's cool to have her big sister's backpack. I'll take it while I can!

I look happy here but I'm really crying insideReady to go in!
Such a big girl

About this time she got really quiet! But my brave girl didn't shed a tear!
Playing with puzzles
I just couldn't make myself walk away. When I did, my tears started to flow
So ... what did I do with my first 2 1/2 hours of alone time. Vacuum? Clean my house? Workout? No. I got my haircut. Nothing's better than fresh highlights and cutting away a few inches.
Well except maybe for this. Maybe next Tuesday I'll head to The Cheesecake Factory for my favorite White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake.
Nah ... I really need to be doing this.
Well I have 3 little girls that have been playing outside all evening. It's been so beautiful here the past few days. Fall is in the air. I better go round them up and wash away the grime before John McCain's speech tonight at the RNC. I still get goosebumps when I think of Sarah Palin's speech last night. It was electrifying, passionate, and inspiring. Until next time my friends ...

Campout Dinner and Movie Night

I know I've been missing in action the past 2 weeks. Between Abby and Julia starting school, Julia and Liv getting sick, pre-school meetings, work meetings, Kelby working LONG hours, I just haven't had the time or energy to blog.

Yesterday evening we went over my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's house for a Campout/Movie Night. The weather was hot but once the sun went down it turned into a really nice evening.

Abby with Kevin and Heather's dog Dodger

Julia and Dodger Julia loves "mommying" her little cousin Adalee Adalee
Uncle Kelby with his niece
Awesome homemade salsa that Kevin made
Abby playing on Unlce Kev's iPhone ... as usual Adalee and Livvy having fun outside

Hobo dinner Kevin and Heather made. They cooked it over the firepit outside. Steak, chicken, potatoes, carrots, green peppers, red peppers, onions and green beans. Mmmmmm, so good! Well except for maybe the green beans. I'm not a fan of green beans
Oliva relaxing in the hammock
Julia eating a yummy smore Getting ready to watch the movie on the projecter and screen Kev and Kelby setup
We all laughed and had a great time watching "Happy Feet"
Well maybe except for Abby, she fell asleep at the end