Life Update...

So today is Sept 11, 2009. What's the latest. the down low, the happenins'?

1. College. Gabe is doing well at CSU. He's adjusting and meeting new people. So far so good. Becca is at PPCC and doing well. She is taking three classes this semester and three next. I am taking 5 this semester and have a finish date of December 2010 with my credential in hand. Whoo Hoo.

2. Church. Still love it! Awana started this week and I am leading again. I am also helping with a high school girls base camp. We have met so many wonderful families and now feel connected. T is co-chairing the Men's Retreat.

3.Work. T is still waiting to hear about the layoffs with his job. Round four in one year. I feel okay really. No worries on my part. He is working like a crazy person lately.

4. Home. Still love it. Finished painting most of the main level. Did not get the laundry room done yet. I just don't have it in me to do it. We put up some more lights. Buying them a little at a time. No rush really... I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. yeah stability!

5. Marriage. Almost 20 years... one more month!!! We're going away for a fun relaxing look at each other talk alone eat scrumptious food weekend together. Can't wait. Still a hopeless romantic after all these years.

6. Dog. Still have Charley Girl. She's well but misses Gabe.

7. Homeschool. Oh we have met some great homeschool families and now have fun things to do as well as educational. The older two are in a Precepts Bible class taught by a wonderful women with her M Div. I am teaching a Home Ec course this year too. Boo is no longer at PR for any of her classes but doing it all at home. It's good, real good. God is in this one too. Lina is still at MA for now. I am praying about having her home too. I love homeschooling!!

8. Snow. Can't wait!!! I know some of you think I'm insane but the winters here are amazing!! You don't know what you're missing til you move here.

9. God. My walk with Jesus is good. I hear him, love him, feel him daily. Not always in the Word as I should be or want to be but know He's there. No turning back, no way.. no how.

10. Friends. Love the friends we have now. It takes a while to seek and listen to the direction God is moving. Now that it's been awhile I feel connected, cared for, noticed when absent. Love digging deeper with them and investing in their lives too.

11.Kiddos. They are all good too. Busy busy busy describes life with four children. Boo is on the worship team, Lina is playing flute, Bec is riding again thanks to friends with horses, and my girls bring me great joy and laughs. Not having Gabe here is odd. We miss his antics and funny stories. We miss his presence really. We miss not seeing him come in with a loud "I'm here " and there is a spot missing at the table for dinner but he is ready to fly so fly he must.


Well.. there you go. Life is sweet. Not always easy for sure but wouldn't trade the growth and challenges for what we now have. I pray we continue to walk where God places us and not in our own strength but His alone. For now.. that walk is here.

Just a Splishin and a Splashin!

I'm here to say... I'm gonna have me some clean smellin' quick washin' clothes from now on! Our washer and dryer were giving me some serious days of rebellion and today..no more! Off they went to appliance purgatory. No more re spinning. No more hoping the clothes will be dry. No more water wasting! I am excited....Can you tell? There is something amazing about having the right tools for your home or garage in T's case. This is our very first matching set in our (almost) 20 years of marriage. Whoo Hoo!

All Church Service and Picnic

Today was a great day of worship with our church. We met about two miles from our home at the Ponderosa retreat center. And best of all.. the WHOLE family was here! Gabe came in for the weekend from CSU.

This young man had us all in tears before his baptism. He came out of a life of drugs and crime only four months ago and gave his heart to Jesus. We were all cheering for him after his big dunk in the tank!

This is our amazing worship pastor. He is going through chemo and radiation right now. Please whisper a prayer for him. We want to see God do a miracle in his life!

After service and our picnic lunch, the games began. Terrell was out there still rockin' the courts with his kids.

Gabe got his serve goin' on!

Yummy Chicken!

Garage Sink Take 2

The Thruston's are bargain shoppers. We like sales and if at all possible will wait until what we want is on sale. Now the Duggars.. you know 18 kids and counting... their motto is Buy used, Pocket the rest. They have no debt and live quite nice. So.. this is the Thruston's buy used garage sink pocket the rest. It was 5 bucks! Terrell had some major scrubbing to get it to look this good. It is functional and ready to go. Next step, working out the plumbing. The water lines are in the garage ready to go, now he has to figure out the How Too since it gets so cold here and all.

The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

This poem is my life story, my favorite poem. My mom gave me his book of poems many years back not really knowing it was God's plan for me to find this one poem. I know it is probably one of his most popular poems but for me it's personal. There are times I reflect on the words of Robert Frost and see my life.

sold out for Christ
married to a black man
homeschool my children
move far from home
risk taker
simplify for life

All roads that most never even trod upon. God is so good to lead me down each path, each new road without any hesitation. Never regretting the decision; only embracing it more. His vision and purpose is embedded in each one of these roads. I find myself walking down a dusty country road and there nailed to an occasional tree is a note straight form God telling me, "Oh yeah.. now do this... I'm here, in this too." And each step, each new road, He is.

I'm so glad that I know and serve a living God who walks with me down The Road Not Taken. His path is so much better than any one I could have chosen. Can't always see it in the thick brush that smacks you up side the face every now and again but after I move past that and into the clearing, I can see God's purpose and His plan. And boy was it worth the adverture.

Reality Check:
How about you? What is your purpose? Got any new plans? Have you asked Jesus lately... does He have something new for you? Is it time to go down a new road that isn't always an easy one? What's stopping you?

Thanks for listening,
Tina
aka:Tuna Jones