Choose the best place for you to shine!

 

Gardening...

 

My lettuce is looking good!  It was touch and go there for a while when it was so hot outside.  I didn't know if it would survive.  Thankfully, in this cooler weather it has really perked up.  I'm looking forward to being able to step outside and pick lettuce for a salad!

Thank you...

To all who serve or have served in the US military...we are indeed grateful!

You know you're in Belize when...

I know I've posted this photo on Facebook but I haven't shared it here on the blog.  This rat snake was looking for a way into Belize Bible Center one Saturday during class.  Tom just moved the white board in front of the window and class kept on going!

Grief...

 

What an emotionally intense week this has been.  In our office and around the world grief is a very real and present factor.  May all who are grieving find the safe people and safe places necessary to be able to mourn their losses and heal their hearts.  

Never underestimate the power of prayer!

Today has been a day of prayer.

Prayer for the people of  Oklahoma.  Prayer for a friend whose mother was killed in a car accident.  Prayer for our clients at the Child Development Foundation.  And prayer for a little one who had open heart surgery today.

Prayer is not the least we can do.  Prayer is a powerful thing to do.

Never underestimate the power of prayer!

Global Day of Prayer

It is always a blessing to gather with the body of believers.  

And to come together for prayer...priceless!

Yesterday, Tom and I joined in with around 300 believers for the Global Day of Prayer. It was a powerful time of worship and intercession as local worship leaders, pastors, church and community leaders led us through the prayer points for the night. This year, for our area, it was held at the National Showgrounds in Belmopan.

                                       Mayor Simeon Lopez welcoming everyone to the event...

Worship...

 

 

The overflow...some people had to stand...

Pastor Wade was the emcee for the evening...

Looking forward to next year!

CDF at work and play...

Here are a few shots from our time in Dream Valley this morning.  CDF was asked to do a training on Child Abuse for a group of preschool teachers as part of their Teacher's Day retreat.  

 

Shelly started off by explaining who CDF is and what we do...

 

There were close to 50 for the training...

 
Tom teaching...

And then it was time for a break before lunch.  There was so much to see and do there.  Some of the teachers went for a boat ride, some visited the butterfly farm, others enjoyed the pool, while others just soaked up the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grounds were beautiful, birds were singing, various flowers are in bloom, oh what a wonderful day!

Where do you find your joy?

 

I'm finding it today among the simple things...

What's for dinner?

Baked Spicy Mango Chicken Wings...yum!

Memories from Mother's Day...

Mother's Day gifts from church...

praying together...

Chinese Torches from Lem and Vivet's farm...

all the moms who were in attendance...

along with Pastor Han and Pastor Dan!

enjoying a meal together after the service...

one year ago this little one was being dedicated...

 sisters sharing dessert!

You know you're in Belize when...

Woodpeckers hang around the plantain trees in the yard...

One of these days I will get a better picture of this guy...He's a fast one!

Thought for Today...

If we can surrender to God's guidance,  it will cost us our self-will, so precious to us who have always thought we could dominate.  It is up to us to decide whether freedom from our despair is worth all this.
~One Day At A Time in Al-Anon

Mangoes and bluggos and plums...oh my!

Mangoes

Bluggos (tastes like a cross between a banana and a plantain)

Plums

All the fruit bearing trees in the yard have green fruit right now...

and we are not so patiently waiting!

Memories from the National Agriculture & Trade Show

 

Thousands of people came out to the showgrounds this year.  And there was a greater security presence than we've ever seen before. We had lunch, made a few purchases and toured the grounds.  It took a few hours to make our way through it all.

One of the things that stood out for me this year was the behind the scenes action.  The trash, the clotheslines hanging from the trucks, the police, security guards, and Defense force personnel walking the grounds.

In spite of the long  line of cars waiting to park and enter the showgrounds, the throng of people we had to navigate through to get from one end of the grounds to the other,and the horse droppings we had to be careful of,  it was exciting to experience and we're glad that we took the time to enjoy this slice of Belize culture!