Baseball

 

I love baseball.  I think I surprise Rob all the time with what I know about baseball.  So nothing thrills me more than to see that the Cubs clinched the National League Central title tonight!  Post season playoffs, here we come! 

What's even more exciting is all the teams in the race for a playoff spot in the National League.  It just makes for great baseball.  And after the way the Cubs began the season, the fact that they are going to the playoffs is even more exciting.  And just to quiet those Red Sox fans out there reading this blog (congrats on clinching the AL East tonight), the Cubs have the 2nd best record in baseball since June 23rd-- those hated Yankees are the only team with a better record.

But tonight I am missing my Dad.  You see, his beloved Phillies have come from far behind, winning 12 of the last 15 games to take the lead in the NL East for the first  time all year, with only 2 games left. He would have been so excited.  Baseball was one of those loves that we had in common.  Of course, growing up, I decided I was going to be  a Mets fan, not a Phillies fan!  Moving to Chicago changed that.  How could you ever go to Wrigley field and not be a Cubs fan for life?  My Dad didn't care-- he just loved baseball.  Our last game together was a Cubs/ Phillies game a few years ago.  It was just after he was diagnosed with cancer and it is a memory I will cherish forever.

Dad, I miss just talking baseball with you!  Can you believe my Cubbies won the NL Central after the way the season started out?  I'm psyched that the Phillies are in first place!  Can you believe how the Mets have imploded on themselves in the last few weeks?  What an exciting end to the baseball season!  Wish you were here to see it.  I miss you.

 

Becky

Reach out and touch someone...

When was the last time you touched someone?  I don't mean physically (although that is an interesting question), I mean...really touched them.  Touched who they are.  Touched their soul.  Connected.  Experienced life together.  Talked about something meaningful.  Give it a try.  AT&T was right.

I am a self proclaimed people person, or am I?...

Being the Body...

Rob

Miracles do happen, and I am going to prison...

Miracles...You know my computer that I dropped off on Tuesday at UPS?  Well, guess what just showed up back at my office? Yep, my laptop just arrived (Thursday at 12pm) all fixed.  I have no idea how it got there, was fixed, and shipped back all within 48 hours.  Unbelievable.  God, did you have something to do with this?  Finally, my love is in my arms again...

Jail Time...This morning, I was changing Tessa, and she decided to jump off of her changing table.  I was standing right there, reaching for the wipes, and she took a dive, head first all the way to the floor.  On her way down, she hit the wall, just after she hit the shelf.  :-(  She has the nastiest bumps on her head.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  Why am I going to jail?  Well, Tessa has her 1 year appointment tomorrow at the doctors, so Becky will just have to say, she fell, really, that is how it happen...

Rob

Today is a sad day...

Today, after much procrastination, my laptop is being sent in again to be fixed.  Join me in wearing black.  Mourn with me.  It is a sad day indeed... I will be without my best friend, my bonnie, my accountability partner, my life, my heart,  my crutch for 7 - 10 days.  boohoo...

Rob

Quote of the Day

Today's quote is from Drew:

"Daddy, can you put down the camera and come play with me?"

 

 

web 2.0?

I have been working on  RMI's new website for quite some time.  It is finished...well, websites are never finished...one of the goals, one of the many, is to have a constant flow of new information.  In my opinion, static websites don't cut it...

So, I think we have created a place that allows for that constant flow.  I have incorporated into the sites pages that will constantly be updated.  This is not earth shattering, but it is new for RMI.  I have incorporated blogs from each field (INTL Office in FL, Haiti, Guatemala) and from each missionary.  It may not be uber web 2.0, but it is a step toward social networking.  I wanted to create a way to link RMI's family.  If RMI were a wheel, there are many people groups that would be the spokes, holding the wheel together. (family, friends, supporters, potential supporters, team members, missionaries, board members, churches, potential all of the above, etc etc).  The goal is to have a place that serves each and every one of these.

So, we have a ways to go, and I have some ideas floating around that would add to what I have completed, but the new site has finally been rolled out.

Not in addition to, but very much apart of, is is our new logo and color scheme.  After much work, and I mean MUCH, our new logo and color scheme is rolling out.  We are pretty excited.  Remember the old burgundy or maroon logo with swishes?  It is gone.

You will begin to see newly enhanced receipts, new publications, new brochures, new...

RMI is moving forward...

Rob

Tessa's Birthday Party...

We had a delayed 1st birthday party for Tessa.  Her birthday was actually August 22, but Becky was in Guatemala.  So, we had some friends over to celebrate a few days ago.  Here is a video of her eating her cake and some pictures from the evening...

 

 

For our Chicago Friends...

Rob

Capturing Memories...

Since Tessa's birth, Drew has sort of gotten the short end of the stick photographically (probably some other ways as well)...  So, here are a few pics of Drew that I caught recently...

Rob

Guatemala Pictures: Part 2

   If you didn't see the first post, scroll down!  You can also see all the pictures at www.robandbecky.com/family/pictures.htm (you will need to scroll down to find the Guatemala pictures).

 

Carrie and Susan setting up the army cots in the church.

Julie helped me organize the pharmacy the first day.  The drugs were organized on 2 army cots.  We had more than what you see, I just only put out a few bottles of each thing.

Chrissy, RMI missionary and a nurse, and Carol at the first station of medical clinic doing triage: Checking vital signs and getting the patients chief complaint.

Dr's Susan and Trevor seeing patients.

We made sure to pray or present the gospel to each patient that came thru before they got their medications.  Here Julie and RMI missionary, Brandon, are sharing.

  Here's me counseling a patient on how to take their medications.  I had a Spanish translator, Alexis, but the pastor of our sister church, Javier, was often translating the Spanish into Mam.  many of the people are illiterate, so we had pictures to remind them how to take their medications.  It was important to make sure they understood before they left.

   

Carrie Jumped right in the kitchen as helped some of the ladies prepare meals.  Julia is on the left and Delphina on the right.

All the babies are carried like this on backs!  The ladies just go about their work.  Older siblings often carried their younger siblings like this on their backs as well.

 

There is going to have to be a Part 3!

Becky

I am so disappointed and frustrated...

Remember my laptop had to be sent in to be fixed?  Well, I thought it was fixed, but no luck.  I have to send it back.  

Basically, the fixed some of the issues, where it is now usable, but only if it is plugged in.  The second I unplug it, it turns off.  It is like there is no battery even in it.  I have a brand new battery from a recall Sony did, and a brand new ac adapter. 

Another 7-10 days without my laptop.  Oh my goodness, what an obstacle to progress!

Rob

Guatemala Pictures: Part 1

I have been busy since I got back from my trip to Guatemala!  Sorry I haven't posted pictures sooner!  You can see all the pictures I took here www.robandbecky.com/family/pictures.htm and go to the Guatemala album.  Here are a few from the first few days of the trip:

Below is a view from the roof balcony of the RMI guesthouse in Xela, about a 5 hours drive from Guatemala City. 

We were relieved to get to such a comfortable place after such a long day of travel.

Saturday we spent at the RMI guesthouse reorganizing our supplies for the trip out to the aldea (village) the next day.  In the afternoon we went to the market in Xela to get some last minute supplies.  We also went to purchase a new skirt and top as a gift for our sister church pastors wife. 

Below is just one picture of the colorful market.

Julie and I had to get a picture taken with the vegetables at market-- look at that head of cauliflower!  Huge! 

All the vegetables in the regions were monstrous! (And all sold in the open air market or off the side of the road)  The large produce is due to the volcanic soil prevalent in the region.

On our way to the Aldea we stopped at a lookout by the side of the road and snapped a group picture!  This over looks Comitancillo and was about 30 minutes from out sister church.

 

Check out this chicken bus! 

The roads from Xela to our sister church in Chipel were steep and mostly dirt roads.

 

We've arrived at our sister church!  The van can't drive the road that leads to the church, so we walk there, about a 1/2 mile?.  A group from the church-- lots of kids-- meets us at the bottom of the road and walks up with us.

A picture of our sister church.  So much ministry happened in that building that week!

Need I say more?

I'll send another batch in the next few days of the rest of the trip!

Becky

I am done seeking Him...

Now, lest you think I have recanted my faith, Seeking Him is the devotional I have been doing each day for the past 3 months.  I have now started "downpour".  This new study is another call to revival.  Continue to breathe passion, joy, life and love into me Lord...

CBD says... " Hosea 6 declares, "Come, let us return to the LORD ... let us press on to know the LORD ... And He will come to us like the rain." This Scripture captures the essence of Downpour, a clarion call by Pastor James MacDonald to personal revival. Using the examples of revival both in the Bible as well as in history, this book offers a clear and simple road map back to God. If you're unhappy with your spiritual life, if your love for God has grown cold, or if your desire to put Him first needs rekindling, Downpour can help you experience an absolute soaking of God's Spirit and bring about a biblical, joyful, and radical revival in your life!" 

Sounds good.

This new study is by Pastor James MacDonald, pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, a huge church in the neighborhood of where we used to live in Chicago. 

Want to join me?  Pick it up.  I found it in our church bookstore, but I can't find it on Amazon and CBD??  There is a hardcover book, but I am using a workbook.  Hmmm...Sorry I can't help more.

Rob

My home life, my work life...

Rob

Fellow Bloggers...

I am so excited.  I have been waiting for this day for a very long time...

Windows Live Writer now supports image upload to blogger!  No more ftping images to my own servers. 

Now, without a doubt, some of you are like, woohoo, and some of you are like woopdeedoo.  Either way, I thought I would let you know in case you were also holding your breath.

Rob

Sweat and Tears...

Kingdom work.  It is why we are here. 

When kingdom work gets tough, my first response is to internalize, stomp my foot and get frustrated.  It is easy for me to forget that we are constantly being refined (as long as we are walking with him).  It is so easy for things to get out of perspective.  Refiner's Fire.  You know the song.  My heart's one desire?  Yes or No.  In the midst of it all, I am being refined to be a purer more able servant.  It is easy to get discouraged.  We are here to see Jesus glorified and his kingdom further established, not ourselves or our own.

God is at work friends.  Are you involved in kingdom work?

Rob

My Car...

My car has been giving us a lot of problems lately.  Well, mostly the same problem and we've been putting off getting it checked out.  Usually after it sits over night or for a long period of time, it's very hard to start it.  It just doesn't want to turn over and you have to gun the gas pedal a few times.  Rob is very good at getting it started by hitting the gas.  He just has that "touch."  Me, not so much.  I'm deathly afraid to flood the engine.  Anyway, Tuesday morning I could not get it started.  Rob had gone out about a half hour before when he left for work and started it just to make sure I would have no problems.  Of course, when I went to start it, it wouldn't work.  I was on my way to women's Bible study at church and had been pumping up Drew all morning about going to church (they do preschool stuff with the kids and he loves it.)  So of course he's sobbing in the back seat because the car won't start and I'm telling him we have to get out of the car (I'm sweating at this point because there's no air conditioning when you can't start the car.)  I just prayed to stay calm and that I'd be able to get to Bible study, even if I was late.

Rob to the rescue.  He came home from work, was able to get the car started (it wasn't easy) and we drove it straight to the repair shop.  We were able to get to church about 45 minutes late, but Drew had a blast (Tessa, too) and I enjoyed some grown-up Bible study time.

Can I tell you how happy I am that we've found a great place to get our car fixed?  It's a hole in the wall, but it's close and reasonably priced.  Turns out it was just the battery and terminals.  We were afraid it would be the starter or alternator (which means a lot more $).  We are so thankful it wasn't some major problem.  Thank You, Lord!  I was also thanking Him for a great husband who left work to get me the car so I could go to my Bible study.   If you live in Lehigh Acres and need a good repairman,  we have a good recommendation!

Becky

Fantasy Football...

My fantasy league just went through the draft.  I got a good bit of my pre-draft ranked picks.  I think my team is stacked.  I think I am giddy.  What do you think? 

Rob

Happy Labor Day!

Becky and I are both Laboring today.  Becky is working at Walgreens today, so I have the kids at home.  Tessa is getting over croop (hopefully) and she is a whiny mess.  It is really sad, the crocodile tears won't stop flowing.  I just can't seem to keep her happy.  Drew wants me to play with him every second.  I am just slightly overwhelmed.  But I will make it!  Can't be that bad if I have time to blog this, right?

Rob