Israel Bound!!!

Well, the bags are packed, sitting at the door. Everything I could do for the wedding ahead of time is done. Food is prepared and in the freezer for family when we get home. Spike got a bath. Instructions are written for the girls. Medical releases ready and notarized. House cleaned, laundry done. The only problem is emotional. I'm leaving my boy and his girl and going to the ends of the earth and their wedding is just a few days away! This whole journey has been so sweet, I just hate to miss the last few days of it all. I had only one stressful weekend, and other than that, things went very smoothly! Jen's motto has been "NO STRESS" and she has done a great job of reminding me of that! I think she did better than I did! As always, God saw the whole picture and guided us through. Kaylee and Carissa will be at the house with the two dogs and holding down the fort! I'll check in when I get home, but it will be a crazy time, so hang on and give me a minute to catch my breath! Pray for all my little chicks while I'm away.

Goodbye, Daniel

I told you we had two Red Sox players in our lives. Well, yesterday, Daniel got word that he was being sent to Lancaster, CA today. It was what he had hoped for, but it was a sad day for us around here. Daniel came into the Robinson family only a month ago. When he found out he was coming to Ft Myers, his dad sent out two emails, asking for a place for Daniel to stay. Somehow, we ended up hearing from someone we didn't know, and Daniel's dad didn't even know, and we ended up with Daniel. It just was a God thing. He wanted our lives to cross and He made it happen. When I picked Daniel up at the airport, I had talked to him twice on the phone, and knew pretty much nothing about him. I asked what he was wearing so I would have some way to possibly identify this stranger I was letting into my car, home, and very shortly, my heart. Daniel has simply been a blessing to our family. We LOVED having him around, and probably laughed more than we have in years! He has got a good dose of personality! Mostly, he is a Godly young man, seeking God's best for his life. Our prayer is that he stays with the team and comes back to us next year. But for right now, God has sent him to Lancaster. You probably don't remember, but Lancaster is where I grew up, my home. We wish him all of God's greatest blessings, and look forward to his return!

My Son

Today I had lunch with Joshua. I have marked two big things off my list of things to do before Israel. I needed to have lunch with Jen, and with Joshua. I know, it's not like we'll never have lunch again! It was just important to me, I wanted that alone time with each of them. I have to say that in the business of my schedule right now, somehow, my mother's heart is at peace. All is well, and in those moments when I allow myself to not think about the to do list, I am in constant praise. God has been so good. He's made a way where there seemed there was none. Faithful. He has been faithful. The journey has brought us to the place where we will have the honor of seeing these two lives become one, and watching the two go on from here. Wow. I could never have dreamed the thoughts and feelings that I would have at this point. In a few short days we will be sitting at a wedding! Amazing thought! God. Simply God. I just know that when I looked into those beautiful blue eyes today, I saw a young man that I cannot take any credit for. We gave Him to Jesus 22 years ago, and we have depended on Him through it all. He has created a masterpiece.

Believe

Several years ago, Cary and I did a Beth Moore Bible study together. It was called "Believing God" and I'm pretty sure that nothing has changed my life as drastically as that one Bible study. I've done it twice since then, and I will probably do it again someday. It rocked my world and brought about permanent change in my life. The basis of the study was that God has made promises to us, but unless we take them, claim them as our own, we don't reap the benefits of them. We were encouraged to wear a blue cord around our wrist, to remind us of His promises to us. I did that, and it soon became something bigger than I could ever have imagined. During that time we were going through a really rough time with Joshua and it just seemed that everything I was learning became a promise I started to claim for his life. The cord became a reminder to abide in prayer for Joshua. Before long I added a green cord for Carissa, and a purple for Kaylee. I wore the cords for over two years before I found a way that I could give them up. They were pretty nasty. Even had paint on them from where I had painted the house. I knew they had to go, but they meant so much to me! Because they were different weights, I could tell by feeling each one which child it represented. I cut them off, then cut the knot off each of them and put them in prayer boxes that I now wear as a bracelet. Over that period of time I had learned to stay in constant prayer for my kids. It was a lesson that had really sunk in, become a way of life for me. Things changed, Joshua came out of the difficult time and all for the better, but I will always give God the praise and thanks for the young man my son has become. God looked out for him, never took His eyes off him, and He heard ALL the prayers I prayed. Today was a HUGE day for me. I did probably the most emotional thing I have ever done. Jen and I had lunch-probably the last time before the wedding, and probably one of the most important things that has been on my "to do" list before leaving for Israel. I had the bracelet framed with the simple word "believe" written under it and I gave it to Jen. To most, it would seem like trash, but to me, I felt like I was giving away a limb. I am pretty sure Jen got it, and it will probably mean more as the years pass and the children come. We exchanged a few tears, and she heard my heart. There will always be difficult times in our lives, but through this I learned that I could believe what God has said. It represents a time in my life that I would never choose to relive, but also, a time that made me who I am today. Moses told his people to tell their descendants of the great things their God had done, Joshua told the Israelites to make memorials that would cause their children to ask and give them the opportunity to tell what the Lord had done. I asked Jen to hang it in their home and I pray that it is passed down through the generations to come with the story of our God that heard and answered. Believe. One small word that has come to mean so much to me.

Happy Easter!

We had a great day on Easter. We had a packed out service at church, then I came home to get lunch ready. We had about 20 people here for lunch, and many stayed through the whole day! I have not shown you the grandpuppy in a while, so I will add a picture so you can see how big he has gotten! Carissa and Kaylee still got Easter baskets-Josh and Jen did not. Joshua was fishing in the Keys, and Jen went to see Mel for the weekend. Daniel's parents were in town this weekend, so we got to meet them and spend some time together. Daniel decided to try to teach me a "secret" handshake, and Cary thought that was picture worthy! We had a wonderful day!

Stress

All I can say is that we are totally into the wedding mode and Israel preparations too. We are very busy, somewhat stressed, and yes, I know we will make it and all will be well! Thanks for checking in.

We're Back!

We had a wonderful time with 13 of our college and career kids. Only one of those 13 did we give birth to, and it was her first cruise! It was fun having Carissa along and getting to experience the cruise with her. We were in the Bahamas, Key West, and a private island. We took a tour of Atlantis while we were in the Bahamas, and of course, visited the straw market and bought purses! We had instructions to bring Kaylee a purse! The private island was a lot of fun. The kids found plenty to do, and I think all of us could have stayed even longer there. They had a huge slide, para sailing, snorkeling, FOOD, and shops. We stayed together for the most part, and did a lot of playing games and cards. We had our time in the sun, but also spent a lot of time in the pizza area, just playing. Since it was spring break, security was around a lot, always passing through to check on things, and pretty well knew us by the end of the week. The last night I was very proud of our group when the officers passed through and commented on how they wished other kids could have as much fun playing together as we did...instead of getting drunk and causing trouble. I don't know how we could have had any more fun than we did, and we also left a great impression without trying to impress anyone. We saw a bird at the feeder as soon as we got home, and there was a lot of food gone, so I think we are in the bird business! We are home again, for a few days, just in time to get ready for the Holy Land and the wedding!

Cruising Again

Tomorrow morning Cary and I will leave for a four day cruise with 13 of our college kids. It's spring break and we got a great deal and a good group of kids to go. While we are gone, we are all going to work through the book "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day". We are looking forward to a good time together! I'll be checking in next weekend!

Red Cardinal Alert!

I woke up this morning to find a red Cardinal in my bird feeder!!! Yes, that little sparrow did his job! I ran for the camera, but I wasn't quick enough, so there is no proof. Well, there are eye witnesses! Cary and Spike saw it too!

The Bird Feeder

I asked for a bird feeder for Christmas. Didn't get one. Cary said he couldn't find one, wrong time of year. The reason I wanted one was because when I go visit Frank, he has one and we just love sitting and watching the birds. Frank knew I wanted one for Christmas, and when he found out I didn't get one, he wasn't happy. Now, let me remind you, Frank is 95 years old. He called me one day and told me he needed me to come by when I could. A few days later I made it by and he had gotten someone to take him shopping-yes, he still gets out and does anything he wants to, and he had gotten me a bird feeder. We got it put up last week, and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see a bird. Today was the day! I first saw one, then he left to tell his friends and came back soon with one friend. I grabbed my camera, and I know you can't really SEE the two birds, so just trust me, they ARE there! I think they were just sparrows, but I think they will get the word out for me!

Red Sox Boys

Last week, I picked up Daniel at the airport. We had never met, but through connections, he came to stay with us for a couple of weeks before spring training starts for the Red Sox. We have loved having him around, and he just seems to fit right in. He is from California and hopes to make the team! We have another friend, Caleb who is with the Red Sox. Caleb has been around for a while and active in our ministry. Caleb has just found out that he had to be out of his apartment, so we are giving him Daniel's room-when Daniel leaves! Until then...the couch! We love having the guys around and Kaylee loves the extra big brothers!

MOG (Mother of the Groom)

I had my first Mother of the Groom moment today. I woke up to find an email from a very dear friend, Marcia. I shared Joshua with Marcia for a while till her first born came along. She loved Joshua like he was hers and made him mind like I did. She made him say "please" and "thank you". She probably kept me from suicide lots of days! She has done her share of praying for my boy. She has given and invested for many years. In my heart, I thought that if anyone, other than family, would make the sacrifice to come for the wedding, it would be Marcia and her family. Well, Marcia is flying in, just for the weekend and leaving her husband and three children behind. Somehow, the reality that she is coming just made everything real to me. I love my boy like I can't even describe, but he is the man he is because a lot of people did a lot of investing and praying, and God heard those prayers. I have a young man to be proud of because of the work God has done, and is doing in his life. Today was probably not my last MOG moment!

What Have I Been Doing?

Where does the time go? I THINK about getting to this, but somehow I just haven't! Jen and I have been very busy working on things for the wedding. We are really trying to stay focused here! Yesterday I spent the day organizing pictures so Jen can go through them for the wedding DVD she is making. Well, yes, it WAS a job, but it was also a sweet trip down memory lane! And, in the end, it feels so good to get organized!

I never even wrote about our mission conference. That was a couple of weeks ago...going on during the Holy Land decision! We were BLESSED to have a college friend of Cary's, Scott, to stay with us for the week. He and his wife, and three children are in the states for a couple more months before returning to Southeast Asia. We had the BEST week ever and SO enjoyed having Scott in our home. He was completely at our mercy...we asked a LOT of questions about what life on the field is really like. They are staying in Orlando while in the states, so we were even able to have dinner with Scott and Ellen on Valentines Day. Cary and I got away for a couple of days and just did nothing. Missions week is my favorite thing we do around McGregor and it was a wonderful week. I was taken back to when I surrendered to missions at age 12. Mom always said when I married Cary and moved to Florida that I might as well have been serving God in Africa, because I was just as far away! (She was in California!) A couple of years ago Cary and I were talking about when we gave up youth and moved into working with the college age. I asked what we would do next...Cary said we'd work with the senior adults-which I do now. I asked what we'd do after that and he said we'd probably go on the mission field somewhere. Well, you just never know what God is planning, only that He has the plan and THAT'S where we want to be.

On Sunday Cary left for Ecuador to plan the summer mission trip. I went to our first Holy Land meeting. WOW. I just wasn't expecting it. The room was so full of emotion, people that are going and have spent their lives dreaming about the possibility. We had a wonderful time together and look forward to ten days together in the Holy Land! I need to do a little shopping if I can find some spare time!

Jen's Shower

Saturday was Jen's shower. There was a great turn out and we had a good time. She got lots of things off of her registry. I have to tell you about my favorite gift. Kathy has always looked out for Joshua, and this was no different. This is the SAME Kathy that introduced my son to sugar cereal-against my will. She said it wouldn't hurt him... I think that's probably the root of any problems he might have. Jen unwrapped a gift from Kathy that was a Bass Pro gift card and chocolate bar! It IS nice for the groom to feel blessed too! I gave Jen a recipe book that I had been working on with Joshua's favorites recipes and family traditional recipes. After the shower we stopped by the craft fair that was in town. No big thrill there-we didn't buy anything!

The Holy Land

I have wanted to go to the Holy Land since I started doing Beth Moore Bible studies about 10 years ago. It just seems the more that I learn, the more I want to know and understand. Last year, for the first time our church offered a trip and I really wanted to go. Cary had some reservations, so we didn't go, but we've heard so much about the trip ever since. Well, on Monday, we were asked to go on the trip this year-which will be just a few days before Joshua's wedding! I was just minding my own business, trying to recover from the Super Bowl party we had at the house, when the call came. The trip is from March 31-April 9, and the wedding is April 12! Of course, NOTHING is more important than this wedding, so first I called Joshua, then Jen. Of course, Kaylee's opinion mattered too! Carissa has been planning to go on a trip in the summer, and has been saving her money to get there, so we had to tell her that we might be going before she had the chance to! I waited till the next day to call my sister and get her input. After getting all the details, within a 48 hour period, the decision was made. WE ARE GOING! We know it is the chance of a lifetime, and have a real peace about going. The attitudes from the people that mattered made the decision much easier! Everyone seemed to be thrilled and wonder why we were even having to think about it! My sister, Donna already has her ticket to come for the wedding, and she actually will arrive about 12 hours BEFORE we do! The girls seem to think they can entertain her for that long! It means I have to be very disciplined with my time and stay on task, so I have things in order for the wedding before we leave. I am very thankful for the opportunity to go-it was my grandmother's and mother's dream to go, but they never got to. Well, I have things to get done, so I better get busy!

Olanda Update

Recently, I got a "report card" on Olanda, including a new picture. She is the little girl I support through World Vision. She is now five, and passed to the next grade in school, and remains healthy! She drew a picture for me and thanked me for all the gifts I sent for Christmas. I started supporting her a year ago, in memory of my mom. Mom had been supporting the same little girl for quite some time, and when mom died, Bob took over supporting her. Bob told me last week that she had "moved out of the area" and they had assigned them a new little girl. It kind of made me sad that we have lost contact with someone that was so special to mom, but there's nothing we can do about it! It is such a blessing to be making a difference in their lives!

Bringing HIM Fame

I am reading my fourth book since Christmas! I am proud of myself, because if I had my way, I'd read non stop. I finished reading a book a couple of weeks ago called, "God Knows My Size". Kathlyn gave it to me for my birthday, and I absolutely loved it and have been digesting it ever since. It was about a young Romanian girl, being raised during Communist rule. It has given me so much to think about. The title came from the fact that as an 8 year old girl she had prayed that God would prove His existence by giving her a pair of shoes, a sweater, and a coat-all things that she did not have. She recognized the God of her parents, but asked Him to allow her to see Him personally. Within a few days, a box came with those three things in the box, all her size. Now, 50+ years later, that moment is the moment that sealed her faith in our God. It caused me to think that when things get rough-and they do, I always go back to that moment in my life when I called out to God and He wanted me to know Him so desperately that He proved Himself to me. The moment that sealed my faith. Personal. He wanted to give me a moment all my own that would be big enough that I would base the rest of my life on Him. As I was walking this morning I heard the words of a song that I suppose I just had not really listened to before. Part of it was this: Nothing brings Him greater fame, than when broken people call His name. That seemed to sum it up for me. Broken and calling out to Him, He proves Himself and lives are changed forever...to bring HIM fame. THAT is the cry of my heart, the reason I live!

Sunday Afternoon Entertainment

Carissa provided our entertainment yesterday. All of the family, except Carissa, were sitting at a table at Friday's, right by a window where we could see people coming in. She came in with her friends, we all saw them enter. Then, Carissa went back outside and was talking to this elderly lady and her husband. I could not IMAGINE what she was doing, Carissa is the shy and quiet one and I was pretty sure they were strangers. Suddenly, the man reached behind the lady and tore off about a three foot stream of toilet paper and wadded it up in his hand. Carissa walked away. I almost fell in the floor-I could NOT believe that she had told the lady! Of course as she and her friends entered the restaurant they were making a bit of a scene too! I was glad that she told the lady, but stunned, none the less!

Homecoming 2008

Yesterday was Kaylee's homecoming. We went to court and the homecoming game on Friday night, then the dinner and dance was last night. I picked the picture that best shows all of her dress, rather than a close up. She and a few other girls all got ready at a friend's house and then the parents came for pictures. Actually, it wasn't just family...she had quite a fan club that showed up to see her off!

Tucker's Visit

Tucker has been here for a visit. Carissa went to Gainsville for a game, so we got (or begged for) puppy duty. We picked him up yesterday from the groomer-his first visit with the groomer. He was supposed to be ready to pick up when we got there, however, they were a bit behind and we ended up watching most of the procedure. He was not thrilled, to say the least. He did not like the sound of the clippers and he cried. He did not like having the clippers so close to his eyes and he yelped. He did not like having any part of his nail cut off and he whined. Poor little thing. However, when the job was done, he looked real cute and we could actually see his eyes! He has chased Spike all weekend-as usual. And, he even found a shoe to chew on for a moment before he got caught-as usual. The dear little ball of fur is nothing short of a handful. Cute, but a handful!