almost time

Only 25 hours before we board the plane headed to Uganda!!

Well, if we're being technical, the first plane we're boarding will be headed to London. But after our layover there, we'll be headed to Uganda!

Chris will be helping out with Parental Care's blog while we are there. If you want to know what's going on, you can sign up on the website. Just scroll all the way down and enter your email address. 

Here are a few pictures of children that need sponsors. A $35/month or an annual donation of $420 can provide your child with school supplies, teacher's salary, uniform, security and food. 

I just can't wait to love on them and hug their necks.

And will get Chris to constantly remind me that we can't sponsor all of them! 

date night

Chris and I had a date night tonight!

Dinner was at a new place tonight. We tried out Shipwreck Grill and it was delicious!

 And then we went and saw Kung Fu Panda 2. It was so cute!! We both loved the first one too. Our favorite quote? "Skadoosh!!!"

We ran a few errands and got some new gum at the checkout at Hobby Lobby. It was really yummy! (Darn those checkout candy/gum displays. They always know just what I need want.)

And we got to come home to this adorable puppy! 

He's almost two, so I guess he's not a true puppy any more. 

But I think he still has far too much energy to be graduated to a "dog."

Uganda

Only 18 more days until we leave for Uganda and I get to love on these kids!!!

This is Abia. I know you've already met her. But I thought she deserved to be seen again. :)

She is wearing the movie star sunglasses we sent her. I love the first picture of her and the kids she shared her glasses with! (She's on the far left.)

And below is the most recent picture we got from the team that is on the ground in Uganda now. I can't wait to hug her!

We have raised about 95% of what we need for the trip. We have been very blessed by people giving, buying shirts and signs and thank each of you so much! BUT, we still have $400 more to raise. So if you would like to give, please leave me a comment! It can be tax-deductible if you would like.

We got a very brief itinerary of what we'll be doing while we are in Uganda. (I know most of you don't care about our schedule, but I know our moms will!)

June 22 Fly out of Texas

June 23 arrive in London/ layover/ leave London

June 24 arrive in Entebbe/ drive to Mbarara/ visit churches on the way

June 25 time at school/ go to new land/ building projects

June 26 church/ time with kids/ church fellowship

June 27 drive to Rwemikoma/ building projects

June 28 drive to Ibanda/ building projects

June 29 time at school/ building projects/ Texas night

June 30 wildlife reserve/ drive to Entebbe/ spend the night in Entebbe

July 1 leave Uganda

ITEMS NEEDED

Here are the items we are collecting for our team to take with us:

• tooth brush holders
• bar soap and plastic soap holders
• black shoe polish
• snacks - single serving; individually wrapped (animal crackers, cheez-its, goldfish, etc.)
• 1 liter plastic water containers for Rwemikoma
• travel size Bibles (OT/NT; NKJV or NIV)

Items we are able to collect by June 16th will go on our June trip. Items received after that date will be kept for future PCM trips. You can email me or comment for more information on donating!

Only 18 more days! I pray that God will continue to prepare our hearts for what he is going to do while we are there. Honestly I'm kind of nervous. Mostly because I like to think I know what to expect, but I have a feeling it's going to be very different than my experience in Kenya.

Nervous because I am terrified of speaking in front of large groups of people. (such a contrast from my public-speaking-teaching-communication-degree husband!) I have no idea if we will have to or not.

Nervous that the Lord is going to stretch me. Far. [Just being real]

Nervous that I'm not going to come home the same person.

(Also nervous that I might kidnap an African child!)

Chris and I are going to lead worship at least one night with the children. And Chris will be doing the blog the majority of the time we are there. And my parents have graciously offered their camera for me to use, so I'll be taking pictures. That is, if Chris gives it up long enough for me to use it!

I'm very excited though. If you would, please pray for us. Pray that the Lord will be very real to us in Uganda and that we will be willing to hear what He has to say and see what He has to show us.

weekend in Nashville

Two weekends ago Megan and I made a trip to Nashville to visit our super good friend from high school, Alyssa.

Me and Megan in the Austin airport

Our girl weekend was made complete by lots of baking....

Lots of chocolate...

Knock You Naked Brownies. Didn't do exactly that, but WOW, were they AMAZING.

Brownie Chunk and Chocolate Chip Cookies. They were DELICIOUS too!

Pedicures...

Lots of delicious food...

And of course a guitar-shaped fly swatter....

Hahahaha.... don't you love it?

I got it when we went to the Grand Ole Opry. We didn't get to see inside because there was a high school graduation going on. But we still visited the gift shop.

(Btw, how stinkin' cool would it be to graduate high school on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. I mean, really?!)

The streets of downtown Nashville

Taylor Swift was in town.

Oh, and her 628 18 wheelers.

Alright, maybe only 8. But there were a LOT of them!

She was having a open dress rehearsal to raise money for the tornado victims the Saturday we were in town. We didn't go though. Bummer.

At the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

A dress that Carrie Underwood wore once!

Reba McEntire was being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame the day after we went. But her plaque thing was already up.

Where is her big hair?

My cute silly friend. :)

At the Grand Ole Opry

I leave my computer unoccupied for maybe 30 minutes.

And this is what I come back to as my computer desktop picture! I have such gorgeous thoughtful friends. ;)

Softball super regionals

Last week/weekend Chris got to travel with the A&M Softball team to Tempe, AZ to Softball Super Regionals.

He flew out on Tuesday morning and was there until Saturday afternoon.

The team didn't play until Thursday and Friday, so he got to help out at practice by shagging foul balls.

He even got to WORK for ESPN while he was there! Tough trip, right?

For the first game he was the Talent Stats guy for Michele Smith and Pam Ward.

So cool.

His view for the game.

It was a best of 3 series. They lost the first game on a 7th inning, 2 outs, 2 strikes, AWFUL call. Then they lost the 2nd game on Friday.

This picture was towards the end of the 2nd game. Chris got to sit with the other Sugar Daddies that made the drive all the way to Arizona.

Seniors left their cleats on home base to symbolize the end of their college softball career.