Catching Up

Well, as you can see from our last post, it's been a long time since I've blogged!! A year and a half! A lot has happened since then...let me catch you up. :)

First of all, we added another member to our family! Caleb Ryan LaRovere was born on December 8, 2011!! Sweet precious boy! He'll be ONE in a few days!!

This little guy has changed our little family in so many wonderful ways. We can't really remember much before him.  We needed a third little boy...we can see that now. He is the sweetest little brother and Jacob and Isaac are obsessed with him! :)

In other news, we have moved across the ocean to Luanda, Angola, AFRICA!! We moved here in July of this year.  Jacob was almost 5 years old, Isaac was close to 4 years old and Caleb was 8 months old. 

I haven't really sat down and blogged, FB'd, emailed, journaled, whatever you want to call it since we've been here because it's so hard to describe.  We've really had an amazing first couple of months here. We've met some wonderful people at the boy's school and at church. Our neighbors are really nice too. We live in a small compound with about 30 houses.  All the families in our compound work at Mark's company. Life inside of the compound is very similar to life back home.

But, outside of the compound is a different story. 

It's very difficult to put into words what you see when you are out around town. I've never seen such poverty in my life. It's really a beautiful city situated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. But, because of several different factors, including 30 years of civil war, the city is basically in ruins. Most of the city doesn't have access to running water or electricity.  Many people are unemployed or selling goods on the side of the road.

I don't feel scared when I'm out in the city...there is some crime here don't get me wrong. But, I don't live in fear and we're cautious when we're out...just as we would be at home.  The local people here in Luanda are, for the most, warm and welcoming towards us. 

Here are a some pictures from our first few months:

Jacob and Isaac at their school

A small group of houses at the top of a hill...trash all along the side the hill.

A church that we attend in the city

People selling things on the side of the road

These women are amazing, they can balance pretty much anything on their heads! 

Driving to a beach south of Luanda...gorgeous

Beautiful baby at the beach! :) 

More posts to come soon!  Lots of love from Luanda!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from Jacob and Isaac!!

We were able to spend almost an entire week in Fort Worth visiting family at Easter. We loved every single minute of it! We were able to see my parents, brother, sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

What a blessing our time there was. We love that we were also there to celebrate my mom's birthday on Easter Sunday. Such a special day!! :)

We hope you were able to spend time with family and friends and reflect on what the holiday is really about. There really aren't any words to truly express how thankful I am that Christ died for me.  It's overwhelming...it's almost like I want to thank him in person. I know he hears me and someday I'll be with him. :)

Happy Easter!

Some recent pictures :)

The boys have discovered the Photo Booth on our computer. They LOVE it! These pictures crack me up. We take the computer on some of our airplane flights and it's actually good entertainment for them for at least a little while. :)

Our Sweet, Sweet Boys:

To Love as Christ Did

I want to love as Christ did.


I want to be Christ's hands and feet on earth.


I want to be humble.


So whether or not I should post this entry has been on my mind some...but I decided that this is a place for me to journal my thoughts and feelings and I feel strongly about this subject.


Houston is filled with so many homeless people and people deep in poverty. I live out in the suburbs so I don't see it all around me. But, homeless people are all still on my mind much of the time. It's something I can't ignore any more.


When we lived in Houston before (2005-2007ish) we lived closer in to the city and regularly saw homeless/poverty stricken people. I was very good at ignoring them. For safety reasons, I justified. I didn't want to get hurt or thrown in my car by someone at a gas station as they were asking for money. So, needless to say, I wasn't really rude to them, basically just didn't pay them much attention.


Well, now we're back in Houston and Mark and I both feel quite differently about a number of things since we lived here before. We both read the book Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. To say that it changed our hearts and attitudes is an understatement.  After reading the book, we have a whole new perspective on homeless people. How they got there, why they are still there, how they are treated, etc.


God has been working on our hearts for years now in a number of areas...this is one that I can see his hand in immensely.


As Christians, we can not act like homeless people aren't God's Children.  "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:15-16


Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think I should give every homeless person I see a $20 bill. But, I do think that I can try and make them feel a little more human. Numerous times now, I've pulled over to the side of the road and prayed with several homeless people.  Asked them their name.  Listened to their story. I've tried to bless a few of them with a little cash...one man named Brian wouldn't accept it. He was the first homeless man in Houston I prayed with. He said that money wasn't what he was about...he was just making his way across the US and asked if I would pray with him. We held hands and prayed for each other. He said that we should ask God once a month(on the first of the month) to bless the other person. WOW. I was speechless. I drove away from him thanking God for letting me meet Brian and for his boldness to ask ME to pray with him...


Another woman that I prayed with a few days ago...really struck a cord with me. Her name was Honey and she had her two sons with her...Roger and Isaac. I don't know if we connected b/c we both have 2 boys and both of our youngest sons are named Isaac...but she seemed so sweet to me. We talked about how Isaac means "laughter" in the bible.


Just because someone is homeless doesn't mean we shouldn't treat them just like everyone else. "As Believers, in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism." James 2:1


I want to be Christ's hands and feet on Earth...


I made the mistake before and was afraid of homeless people...I'm not saying to not be cautious. Of course, we should all exercise caution in our everyday lives. But, we shouldn't use that as an excuse to ignore another one of God's children.


I want to love as Christ did...

Scripture Memory

Wanted to catch up with my scripture memory challenge:


Feb. 15 "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." James 1:26


March 1 "Religion that God Our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from becoming polluted by the world." James 1:27


March 15 "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11


April 1 "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer to everyone." Colossians 4:6


Each of these verses speaks to me in different ways. I'm so thankful the Lord put it on my heart to really dive into this scripture memory challenge head first. Having God's word readily available in my mind and heart has proven to be a blessing time and time again.


Every two weeks I pick a new verse to memorize...if anyone would like to share their favorite verse...I'd love to read it!


Blessings!

A Beautiful Day!

Do you ever have those days where you feel God all around you and experience how awesome He is all day long?? Today was one of those days for me. The weather was so wonderful in Houston, absolutely beautiful!  So the boys and I spent most of the day outside. We stayed in our pajamas for the better part of the day. Ate lunch outside, played in front of the house, in the backyard, played with playdoe outside. Such a good day!

I don't usually read when the boys are awake...but it was just so gorgeous outside and the boys were having fun playing with each other, so I started reading the book Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I highly recommend this book. He touches on so many aspects of the Holy Spirit that I have never even considered before. I was able to finish the book tonight after the boys went to bed...and really can't stop thinking about the Holy Spirit and how I want him to permeate every inch of my being and my life.  Powerful, powerful stuff. If you have time, you should check out this book.

I mentioned a while ago that I'm doing a scripture memory challenge through Living Proof Ministries. Today is the 15th of the month, so it was time to choose another verse today. I was really searching the bible for the perfect verse for me and I came across this one:

Feb. 15: If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26 

I want to keep up with my verses here on the blog...so I'll fill in the verses I've memorized since Jan. 1.

Jan. 1: Be kind an compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ, God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Jan. 15: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? and Who will go for us?" and I said, "Here am I! Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

Feb. 1:  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Ok, I think I'm caught up now. I keep playing these verses over and over in my head and I know that they were chosen for a reason. It's amazing how memorizing a few verses can have such an impact on me already. I find myself saying them out loud in front of my boys....they probably think I'm crazy! :) I keep saying "Be Kind and Compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ, God forgave you." ha! I guess it doesn't hurt! Maybe that's better than "Stop fighting!!!" lol 


Have a Blessed Day Sweet Friends...

A Christmas Miracle

On the night of December 23, 2010, we were involved in a scary incident. Mark and I were held at gunpoint in a nice neighborhood here in Houston. It's taken me a little over a month to write about it, for two reasons. One, we've been very busy and two, it's taken me a little time to put the experience into words.


The night before Christmas Eve, Mark, the boys and I had gone to College Station to look at Christmas lights. We decided to try a new route home and go through Magnolia. Our closest friends, Wendi and Nick, were in town visiting from Doha. They were staying at Nick's mom's house in Tomball. We had a little Christmas outfit for their daughter, Georgia, that we wanted to give her before Christmas. It was late, but I just decided that we would just drop the gift off on the front porch. 


I called Wendi and she said that she and her sister-in-law, Amanda, were almost home from the mall. So we waited out in front of the house for them. They pulled into the driveway and we said hi and Wendi ran inside to get Nick. (We couldn't go inside because Jacob and Isaac were sleeping in the car) As soon as Wendi was inside, five men wearing masks and holding guns ran towards us from behind the neighbor's car.


We thought they were teenagers playing a prank at first...but we quickly realized it wasn't a joke. Amanda was on her way inside when they came running and luckily she made it in the house. The men had Mark and I on the ground and were yelling for us to give them our money. Needless to say, I was hysterical...screaming saying that I didn't have any money...and to please not hurt my kids, who were in the car(and the windows were down and the car was running!) Mark ended up giving them his wallet(that didn't have any cash in it or personal credit cards...only his work credit card, a few health cards,etc)


But, come to find out they weren't after our money, while three men were holding us on the ground with guns, one other guy was looking for Apple computers that were in Wendi's car. They had followed Wendi and Amanda home from Willowbrook mall where they had seen them with Apple Computer bags. One other man was watching the front door of the house with a gun. When Nick opened the door to come see what was going on, the man pointed the gun at him and yelled at him to get back and get down.


They all five ran off to their car with Mark's wallet and Wendi's computer...which was actually a used computer that she had had repaired. 


With ALL that to say, we are so thankful that no one was hurt. Wendi said that it was complete chaos inside the house. As soon as she found out what was going on, she hit her knees and started praying. I know for a fact that there were angels all around us and our boys...because of her prayers. God protected everyone involved that night.


Of course, when we got home that night, we didn't sleep at all.  Mark and I got on our knees and prayed to God thanking him for his protection and asking him to give us peace and help us to not be fearful everywhere we go and in our new home. We love our new home, neighborhood and city...we don't want to live in constant fear. 


Well, God has answered our prayers because we have slept beautifully every night since then(well, except for a few nights when Mr. Isaac didn't feel well and wanted some 3am mommy and daddy time!)


We are a little more jumpy than we used to be, but that's expected. The first time we heard firecrackers in our neighborhood around the holidays, we almost hit the ground!


We are also more cautious than we used to be. We look behind us when we're driving home, which is good. We try not to go out to the stores at night as much as we used to. But, the good thing is that we AREN'T scared, we're just more cautious.


Mark and I both believe we witnessed a Christmas miracle that night...our children were sleeping in the car, with the windows down and the car running and were unharmed. We were both safe and all of the people in the house were unharmed. Thank you Jesus.


It's also miracle that all of us are doing ok now. We are all giving it to Jesus and trusting that he'll provide the peace that we need. I'm so thankful that I have him and that he has me.


My prayer is that anyone that reads this post will be a little more careful and cautious. And please take time to pray over your families for their protection. Prayer is powerful!


Wendi posted about this night on her blog also:
www.junodfamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/be-smart-and-safe.html


Thank you for taking time to read this LONG post...we're just so overwhelmed by the power of prayer and are in awe of the fact that God really does perform miracles. 


"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock."  Isaiah 26 3-4 NLT

Caring Bridge Website for Ryleigh

We've decided to use Ryleigh's Caring Bridge Website for future updates:


http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ryleighking


Thank you for all of your prayers...please continue to lift Ryleigh up to the Lord.

My Sweet Niece Ryleigh

My four year old niece, Ryleigh, has been at Texas Children's Hospital since last Thursday night. She's been having multiple seizures and wasn't able to come out of them on her own. Her pediatric neurologist is here in Houston and everyone decided this was the best place for her. 

She's been having seizures for quite a while now, but just over a week ago, they increased in number significantly and again wasn't able to come out of them on her own.  

I wanted to send out a prayer request...although there seem to be fewer seizures the past few days, please pray that the doctors are able to figure out which medicines will help Ryleigh to be completely seizure free. Please pray for Ryleigh during this time...she is having to stay in the hospital bed most of the time and isn't able to get out much...please pray that her sweet spirit shines through and she is able to be as comfortable as possible.

Please also pray for my sister Janet and her husband Bernie.  They are very tired right now, and doing such an amazing job with Ryleigh. They are such wonderful parents and of course, excellent advocates for Ryleigh. Please pray that they are able to feel peace at this time...knowing that God has everything under control during such a scary time. Please pray that they are able to get some rest. They are taking turns spending the night at the hospital...the other person stays at our house the nights they aren't at the hospital. 

Ryleigh has a spinal tap scheduled for Monday and an EEG this weekend. Please pray for answers to so many questions.

Morgan was here the first few days and now she's back in Shreveport with my mom so she can attend school....she is such a strong seven year old. Please pray for her to have peace while her parents are in Houston with Ryleigh...and to try not to worry about her sister...

Thank you so much to for lifting The King Family in prayer...

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Scripture Memory

One of my goals that I've had for a long time is to memorize scripture from the bible. I'm always in situations where I wish I could quote a verse word for word, but can only repeat the basic idea of it. I follow the Living Proof Ministries Blog occasionally and they are having a scripture memory challenge for 2011:


http://blog.lproof.org/


My first memory verse for the year is:


"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32


Every two weeks we are supposed to pick a new verse to memorize...for a total of 24 this year. We are supposed to choose one that pertains to our current life experiences.  I have this one memorized now and am so glad that I do. I need to focus on this daily. I can be so unforgiving sometimes...of others and myself. I need to forgive daily just as Christ forgives me daily. I need to forgive others...daily. 


I'm excited about the challenge to memorize 24 scriptures this year. And I pray that God will reveal verses to me that hit close to home. I pray that I will be still and quiet long enough and immerse my self in his Word long enough to hear his voice. 

An Audience of ONE

Each day I receive a daily devotional email from the Purpose Driven Connection by Rick Warren: 


http://profile.purposedriven.com/managesubscriptionssimple.aspx


On Christmas day the devotional included a prayer of thanksgiving to God...here is part of that prayer:

**I feel like celebrating right now, knowing that I am now on your side, instead of being at war with you. I know that with you I will never again be lost and alone. I am a new person today, and I recognize what I have just been given. I pray that, as I continue to grow spiritually every day, I will come to understand everything you have just accomplished in my life. By faith, I know I can trust you to be in my life today - and every day. I know I can count on you when things get tough, and knowing I will spend eternity in your presence gives me such hope!

Thank you, Jesus, for the peace you have given me. I pray you will use me as an instrument of that peace so I can help my family, friends, and the world in which I live. I feel so different right now, knowing that you and I are now OK, knowing I am on the road to a deeper understanding of what it means to live for an audience of one. I ask you to help me pray when I become upset so that I will have your peace in any situation I face - good or bad. Help me to get ready to help other people as others have already helped me. I want to make a difference in this world, and I want to help everyone I meet have the same hope I now have. I can't do this alone, so I ask you to make me a peacemaker.**

This prayer really spoke to my heart, especially the part about living for an audience of ONE. Wow. I've never heard it put quite that way before. But, we really are living for only Jesus and what HE thinks. This is a difficult concept in our world today when so many of us are trying to impress one another...friends and strangers alike. Jesus and his opinion of me if the only thing that matters. 

I want to ask God to help me with this daily...I am definitely "of this world" in this area...I care so much about what people think even though I say that I don't and sometimes I truly think that I don't, if I'm really honest with myself and God, I do. Please Lord, help me with this and help me to live for an audience of ONE.

Prayer Warriors

    I need prayers from any and all prayer warriors. Today a 20 year old boy named Brandon died on Hwy 290 near my house. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I know he crashed his motorcycle in some way while exiting the freeway. I can't begin to explain in words, how I felt when I saw his family hugging and crying on the side of the road. I felt like I couldn't get to them fast enough. I have never done anything like this before, but I asked them if I could pray for them. I think most people might not have wanted a stranger around at a time like this, but this sweet family seemed to want the prayers. We hugged, cried and talked about Brandon. I told this family that I would continue to pray for them and that I would ask others to do the same...


   PLEASE lift this family up...I can NOT imagine what they are going through. Like this sweet mother said, "you are supposed to go before your children." Dear Lord, Please hold Brandon's family tightly tonight and help them to breathe. We are all children of God and we need to lift each other up in these times of need.

A long time coming...

I've been thinking about starting a blog for a long time...years actually. I'm just now getting around to it.  I am a Christian...have been since I was 10 years old. But, the past few years have been powerful and different for me in my walk with Christ. I am no where close to where I want to be, but everyday I'm learning new and exciting things about Christ that I want to really start to live and share with others. Maybe this will be a place for me to keep track of all the things i'm learning! :) Or maybe to interact with others who can teach me more...Or maybe just a place to share a little about my sweet family that God has blessed me with. My husband, Mark, and our two little boys, Jacob and Isaac, really are gifts from God. And to think that I used to truly believe that I didn't want to ever get married or have children. Thank you God for changing my heart on this one!


Well, it's late, (2:17am!actually! what?!) time for bed...I'll play around a little more on the blog another time and try and figure out how to post pictures...many blessings.