More celebration

As we continued our busy week before our granddaughter's graduation, we (the girls) decided to take a trip to Terra Studios (a very unique artsy place in Fayetteville where the Bluebirds of Happiness are made). It is such a fun place to visit - the grounds are sort of surreal feeling because there are tons of gnomes and elves all over - all created by the resident and visiting artists. We strolled around for awhile, then went to watch the Bluebirds being fired and created, each one different and unique in it's own way. It was a fun day and a great time for us ladies to just be together (mother, daughters, granddaughters).

beautiful landscaping at Terra 

Casey entered the little door

forming hot glass

finished bluebird

one of the many cool booths in the coffee shop

there were many of these guys all over the grounds - made by various artists

Chandra writing on the wall - we all left our messages

Katie was attacked by this troll - as she sat down she bumped him and he made her bleed a bit!

entrance to the labyrinth

finding our way through

one of many ugly Arkansas spiders who was in the wishing well

Friday was a pretty special day, as our daughter Christine made a great biscuits and gravy breakfast, followed by the celebration of our daughters Brenda and Chandra's birthdays (Chandra's milestone 50th birthday) and Christine's in-laws and our anniversaries. Again, our son-in-law Scott out did himself by smoking great hamburgers, brats, boudain, and hot dogs. The day before, the men spent the time making and smoking homemade sausage, which we also sampled.

biscuits and gravy - yum

Chandra's 50th over the hill hat

Oh no - a Yankee decorated Casey's car

son-in-law Scott preparing sausage meat

sausages ready for smoking

Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful as we all prepared for Casey's graduation day - an end of her school days and a entering into a world of adulthood and reality! We met at Battlefield Park in Prairie Grove for family pictures, then proceeded to Tiger Field for the graduation ceremonies. Casey has been accepted int Arkansas Community College and received an Arkansas Academic scholarship. We are sooooooooooo proud of her.

picture time - proud grandparents and Casey

Casey and big brother Seth

Casey and parents

she decorated her hat

ready to walk

Prairie Grove, AR Class of 2012

success!!!!!

Sunday we attended our home church services and Sunday School classes, and prepared for Casey's party. Son-in-law Scott was busy smoking beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and venison ham. Granddaughter Katie, who claimed to not like deer meat actually devoured the ham and smoked sausage from the day before. It was another beautiful day in NW Arkansas and a time to reflect Casey's growth and maturing in adulthood. We pray for her continued Christian values, not letting false prophets or false teachers interfere in her beliefs.

chickens ready to cook

a feast of grilled and smoked meat, compliments of Scott

Purple - per Casey's request

this says it all

Casey with her new computer

Monday and Tuesday started a great Exodus of relatives back to Wisconsin as well as our preparations to travel to Wisconsin to visit friends and relatives. We love this down time to be able to see our family, but still keep in our hearts the CRM Sanctuary Outpost activities to which we are committed. The CRM admin team is developing a Sanctuary Outpost Newsletter that you can access from the crmintl web page (www.crmintl.org) in order to follow the current 3 sanctuary outpost ministries in which CRM is involved  (ours being the Mexico ministry of CHI).

Arkansas time

We are back in NW Arkansas, after a short side track trip home. We left S Texas and traveled on through Louisiana, which is perhaps my very favorite state of all (great food, and wonderful people). Our youngest daughter wanted some good boudain and andouille sausage, which gave us an opportunity to enjoy a bit of the Cajun food, too. After stopping at the best meat market in Louisiana we continued on our way to Memphis, Tennessee after spending the night in Louisiana.

roads around Houston



on the left side of the picture you will see a huge bridge on the San Houston Expressway, just before entering Louisiana

starting up the bridge

one of many oil refineries in Houston

We drove into Memphis on a truly gorgeous day, and arrived at my brother Bob and Steve's home - they recently moved to East Memphis after living out in Rosemark for a few years. A beautiful elegant home of a few decades ago, right across from the synagogue (Steve is Jewish and attends faithfully)  They also keep a Kosher kitchen which is way to complex for me!! We had a very relaxing two days, just visiting and laughing over growing up years. Steve is a very accomplished pianist ( check him out at  stevekatzpiano.com)  and graced us with a impromptu concert one evening, We did discuss differences in our religious beliefs and and enjoyed a tour of  the very beautiful synagogue.

my brother, Bob, can grow anything

the tabernacle of the synagogue

an interesting concept - the name lights up on the birthday of a person who has passed away - you can pray for them on that day

After leaving Memphis, we traveled to our daughter's home in Arkansas. Our youngest granddaughter, Casey is graduating from high school so many of the family are gathering together for the event. At this point, 10 of us are residing with Christine and her husband!!! She has graciously opened to house to all of us. We attended a concert where Casey has been in Honor Choir the past two years. It was a Senior farewell  and thank you to parents. Please pray for Casey as she begins her journey in adult life - ask God to guide her and keep her close to Him, regardless of outside influences.

Prairie Grove High School



Casey, second from left in first row

Casey's garden - looking great

  Our oldest daughter Chandra and granddaughter Katie arrived on a plane Thursday from Wisconsin, Christine's in-laws also from Wisconsin, drove in last Sunday and more relatives arrive today. We are busy with graduation preparations for Casey, dentist and doctor appointments for us, and just bonding time for us girls!

daughter Chandra and granddaughter Katie arriving from Wisconsin

Grandpa and Katie chillin out

We felt comfortable again  attending out home church, Prairie Grove Christian Church and Sunday School Class (JOY), as well as our Wednesday night small group Bible study (we are studying
I John) and felt so much at home among our Christian friends. It is always a blessing to study God's word with fellow believers - I always receive a new insight on the Word that I have read many times. We just give God all the praise and glory for our safe travels as we take this family time, while still allowing us to minister to those around us.

Dia Del Nino

Two weeks ago we traveled to Reynosa, taking everything that was needed for the Dia Del Nino ( Day of the Child) the following Thursday. As many items were probably  going to befrowned upon by border guards,  we concentrated on getting safely to Reynosa  with no problems. But as usual, God was with us and we received a green light (no need for insprection) as we drove into into Reynosa. We arrived at RIN in time for a quick lunch with the kids, unloaded everything and prepared to head back across the border. Things are very quiet now and we do not have a long wait in line ot re-enter the US - perhaps 10-15 minutes.

"our" girls, Lupe and Paty, and their Tia (housemother)

the children all have duties after lunch - sweeping time

even  Winter Texan volunteer, Larry, helped out

kp duty

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brightly colored Mexican homes on the way back to the US

 Thursday arrived early (way too early), and 6 of us, along with Director Betsy Chacon, headed back to Reynosa with all the necessary items to make this Dia Del Nino special for all of the children. The theme was Hawaiian, focused on water games and fun. All of the children were divided into 4 teams of all ages: red (rojo), blue (azul), yellow, (amarillo), and green (verde). They had visors to indicate their team color, as well as were issued plastic baskets in their team color to carry all their "treasures" in.

Director Betsy giving the team leaders (RIN teachers) instructions

here come the kids from school

happy day of the child

my namesake, Leila

Melana giving directions and passing out baskets to match visors

green team getting baskets

There were 4 different team games, each one earning individual and team points. Halfway through the team participation, was snack time - cookies (baked by CHI volunteers) and Tang.

first game, water balloon toss - each person earned points for themselves plus team points

Dan with his water gun - the hit of the day for the kids

even the puppies were interested in what was happening

the second game was to try to find the balls while blindfolded and crawling through a soaker hose. All the time friends were trying to give them direction - so much fun to watch

some children just did not want to get wet

After this game, the children  looked cold, so we toweled them off and warmed them up with snacks of cookies and Tang - their favorite drink.

snack time - everyone got waterbottles full of Tang or water, and cookies.

After a break and time to chase each other with squirt guns, filled by willing volunteers, it was on to the last two games.

Jesse filling some water guns - I think he was having way too much fun

the third game was to try to pick up as many marbles as possible with your toes - some smaller children got into the tub

and some bigger ones just straddled the tub - the most marbles icked up - 64!!!!!

The final game was in two parts - one was to see how many grande (LARGE) bubbles a person could blow, and then another turn to see how long the bubbles were visable - 43 seconds was the longest time recorded. After all the games were done, the children were gathered up and had supper - wonderful chicken salad sandwiches (with carrots and potatoes) potato chips, with hot sauce, cole slaw, ad topped off with fruit with hot sauce (chamoy) for dessert. We did buy a bottle of chamoy in Mexico so we could keep the memories alive after we retuned to Arkansas. It really is very good - a wonderful blend of sweet and a bit spicy.The team leaders were tallying up the scores while the chldren enjoyed thier meal on a beautiful day in Reynosa. 

 Paty trying to see how grande her bubbles get

 Lupe trying to make her bubbles last the longest

and the winning team was --- the green team

a unique birdhiuse at RIN made by a volunteer

 the food is ready

 the children were allowed 10 seconds to choose a prize as a result of overall individual scores - everyone got a prize

                                             even toenails were decorated for the occassion

two very tired directors at the end of the day

This was our very last trip to Reynosa for the spring. We left with promises to write to the children and telling them we would return in the fall, if that is God's plan for us.

We left Texas this morning, after a week of babysitting for Chaplain Dennis and Sally Maloney's cat at our house,  Sam was very, very good, only objecting when I tried to keep him from wandering too far from our house.

Sam Maloney

As we left S Texas this morning (very early) I reflected on how God has blessed us by allowing us to participate and even help initiate different mission outreaches this year. We give Him all the praise and glory in this, and ask that He continues to grow these programs. As we travel back to Arkansas, by way of Louisiana and Memphis, TN our lives will be filled with church, volunteer, and family events. I will continue to update our activities every week through this blog as we are amazed at what God can do.  We thank each and every one of you who has taken the time to follow our "Preussless Pathways" as we continue to do His bidding.