Mama's packin'

The well-dressed lady walks with her head held high.
Despite the heat, her hair is done up in an {elegant} bun.  Heels and hose...she presents the perfect picture of a "proper turned out lady" on Sunday morning.

What is the destination of such a lady?  Well, let's see by the object in her hand.  Can it be?  Is she carrying the unmentionable....toilet paper?  The before-mentioned lady is thus seen with a squished roll of toilet paper in one hand and quickly leading a little person wearing nothing but a borrowed lady's t'shirt and her pink cowboy boots.  Let's just say, "it's a good thing....Mama was packing'!"

Hi-ho hi-ho...off to the concrete bathroom we go.  Thankfully there is partially running water today.

Poor little Eden.  She woke up this morning, much later then usual.  She was complaining of a headache in her head and a "headache in her tummy".  Staying home is just not an option when your mommy is the only children's Sunday School teacher and the Christmas program is next week.  Sorry Lil' one, only way I'll keep you home is if you throw up and prove you're sick.

About an hour and half later, after partially filling up the bus with people.....she proved it.  And boy did she ever!  One of my ladies volunteered to give us a towel and some clothes.  So we picked up a few more people on the way back to my friends home.  I'm so very grateful for my friend helping me out.

Poor little Eden.  She was quite a trooper sitting quietly in her chair during Sunday School and then falling asleep in mama's arms during the morning service.  Mama kept her home Sunday night.  A warm bath and Bugs Bunny cartoons is the perfect medicine.

count your blessing

#106 wet wipes and hand sanitizer

#107 friends who understand

#108 a little girl who wants me to hold her

'Tis the old time religion..and it's good enough for me

Just a word to all you mamas out there.  If you spend {all} morning fixing up your little darling so they looks pressed and {sweet smelling} clean for Sunday Service.....take a picture.  Don't even let the thought float around in your head that you'll get a picture after church.  That never happens.  If the kid doesn't have mud, grass stain, or kool-aid on them.....then they're asleep.  True Story.  Happened a hundred times.  Take the 3 minutes before you leave and just take a picture.

Wesley Family

Heritage Sunday

I don't have the picture to prove my point.....slight traces of koolaid, curry chicken, grass stain....etc...etc were present.  Just trust me.

This was an amazing Sunday.  Jamaica celebrated national Heroes day about 2 weeks ago.  We have been promoting having a Heritage Sunday for several weeks.  The wonderful people of our church decided that they wanted this meal to be {very authentic} Jamaican dishes and they started making plans.  When we mentioned the idea of dressing up "old-fashioned" they literally jumped at the idea!  They became very excited.

A few weeks ago, we voted to change the name of the church to 

Valley Baptist Church.

 I love it. Simple and easy to say.  One of the ladies surprised us with this handmade banner.

some of the kids waiting around while Pastor was still out on bus route

In Sunday School, we've been learning the song 

"Stop and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me"

so they have little "stop and go" signs and they sang it for the morning service.

These little bundles were the joke of the day.

They are called Blue Drawers.  The joke kept being passed around, 

"Have you seen Marsha's Blue Drawers?"  Then lots of {good-hearted} laughter.

I think they're beautiful.

A little sweetness all wrapped up in the banana leaf.

Best jerk pork ever!  This is my plate and it has jerk pork, jerk chicken, curry chicken,

 "Rundun" (salt fish), vegetables, and festival (fried sweet bread)

Finger-lickin' good!

 not matter what country you're in...kids love to be goofy for the camera

 what was I saying about being "goofy"?

There were many desserts.  

I didn't get pictures of them but I wouldn't have remembered their names, anyways.

Corn meal pudding, anyone?

 Two of our very faithful ladies

These beautiful ladies are hard workers.  

After serving everyone's meal to them and washing up every dish 

I was able to {finally} get them together for a picture.  

There were more ladies that attended the service, but they'd already headed home 

by the time we took this picture.

someone little needed attention from "teacher'

Pastor was taking the last bus load home,

so only three little kids were left besides mine.  

I took this opportunity to snuggle and love on her.

Moriah sweetly took a few pictures.

this little girl wasn't sure what to think of Brynlee at first.  She leaned close and looked at her. Then she leaned over to me and whispered, "Does he bite?"  

I tried to hide my smile and honestly replied, "sometimes."

Deciding to take her chances, they became fast friends.  

Clapping their hands together, playing peek-a-boo, and she even "fed him a bottle."

The church ladies kept telling me {over-and over}, "It's such a great day."

count your blessings

#52 someone else doing the dishes

#53 the feeling when you get to take your high heels off after a long day

#54 laughter between friends

finishing touches

well, I've just been busier then a woodpecker in a lumberyard!

Saturday morning, some of our church ladies decided they wanted to meet to clean up the room, where we meet for church.  Sounds nice, huh?  Well, they decided to meet at 7....{dry voice}in the morning.  I tried to get the kids ready and go too....I really did.  It just didn't happen.

Prince went and they all did an amazing job.  When these ladies clean....they mean serious business.  They washed the curtains out by hand and laid them on the bushes to dry.  They wiped the walls, the window slates, the church chairs, and thoroughly mopped the floor.  They are amazing.

Prince came back around 11 and picked the princesses and me up.  We went out visiting, inviting people for our Heritage Celebration tomorrow.  The rain made us have to come home earlier then we wanted but I had baking to do for tomorrow and some more finishing touches for the costumes.  The girls are so excited for church.

Tomorrow's going to be a good day!

count your blessings

#49 reusable mop heads

#50 running water

#51 an umbrella in the vehicle

just deal, Sister

Let me just say....it's a 2 pots of coffee day.

The first "ugh" came when the princesses and I just finished carrying {and dragging, if you're 3 years old} 23 metal chairs out in the schoolyard for our kid's Sunday School class.  Alexis said, "Mommy, I just felt a raindrop."  I looked up at the wispy clouds above us and said, "no, you didn't."  A second later she said, "I just did again, mom."

Then I did....and again I did.  We quickly scrambled and re-moved all the chairs up under the sidewalk awning.  We had a lonnnng skinny Sunday School room today.  Sometimes you just got to deal, sister.

During our class I noticed one of my "always has to have a talk after class with Pastor 'cause he's naughty" boys.  Strangely he was being really good.  Sitting in his chair, not pestering anyone.  Humm.  Then I realized that he had a really yucky cough now and then, which he shared with the class.  By Service time he'd grown warm, sleepy, and continued with the rugged cough.  Poor little guy.  His sister tried to hold him when he feel asleep, but he was to big for her.  So Pastor's wife ended up with him sleeping in her arms, along with his rag to cough into.  Just deal, sister.

A little girl was holding and snuggling Princess Brynlee.  She never lacks for attention.  Always being passed from arm to arm.  One of the ladies came and said, "Take your baby from her, that girl's brother is sick."  I quickly took up my baby, then found the little boy who was sick.  He was covered in tiny little rash dots.  It didn't show up on his dark skin unless you looked for it.  Help me, Lord to deal with it.

During the preaching, my mind was drifting.  (I'm only human, sometimes my mind chases rabbits.)  I was getting frustrated with the amount of parents that just send their kids to church because they know it's good for them to be there, but they don't want to make the effort to come themselves.  Or the parents that are just looking for a free babysitter.

I looked down at the little girl sitting beside me.  I've never even talked to her mommy, she's always working, but she makes sure her kids are ready every Sunday morning.  Months ago, I had gave the girl and her brother one of the little colored New Testaments.  The little girl was flipping through the pages and I saw something in the back of the Bible that caught my attention.  I asked her for her Bible and turned to the back page.  There was the Romans Road clearly printed and a space for you to write your name if you accepted Christ and put your faith in Him.  The little girl's mom had wrote her own name in that spot and wrote the date in May of this year.

Thank you, Lord.

count your blessing

#4 toast and nutella

#5 internet

#6 fresh fruit juice

with a special love note from Pastor

Papa and Memaw Wesley are visiting here  {yippee!}

Prince's parents flew in on Friday to spoil the grand babies.

I'm just gushing with thankfulness at suitcases 

overflowing with such treasures that were packed specially for me {!!!}

Lindt chocolate Truffles, little tins of International Coffee flavors, Double Stuffed Oreos 

and Reeses Eggs (from Easter)

I seriously feel loved by my m-i-l, sis-in-laws, and my friend Hannah.

Your sacrifice to be a blessing to me is so very humbling.  

want a little peek at our church in Spot Valley?

we're having so much fun

elbow deep in serving the Lord

Saturday, Memaw watched the princesses.

I went to the valley with Prince and his dad.

We made some visits to some of our members and then walked several roads

talking with people and passing out information on our church.

I haven't walked the roads for a few weeks because the heat has been very harsh.

When you are walking up and down the hills in the bright sun 

with a baby on your hip (and dragging a few more behind you) it takes it out of you!

August is supposed to be our hottest month. {wipe glistening brow}

I'm waiting for the Island to figure out it's September now.

Sidenote:

Some don't think about it but mamas need a break sometimes.

So "sometimes" the best gift you can give that mama is to love on her babies 

so she can have a minute to herself!

Thank you, Memaw.

On with the Church....  

Last Week was "Back to School" Sunday

I made kettle corn all in bright colors

gave all the kids a box of crayons

with a special {love} note from Pastor and Mrs. Wesley taped on the front.

"Fellowship Sunday" today!

we had our people bring in sides and juice.

Prince's parents wanted to do something special for the Church 

they bought 2 big pans of fried chicken.

I had 23 busy little kids in my class today...yes, I had my hands full!

Princess Brynlee (though she came home to Jamaica at 2 months,)

she has fallen in love with her Papa Tot....and the feeling in mutual.

The Cleansing Wave

The Cleansing Wave 

Hymn by Phoebe Palmer 1871

1) Oh! now I see the crimson wave. The fountain deep and wide;

Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save, Points to His wounded side.

Refrain: The cleansing stream, I see, I see! 

I plunge, and oh, it cleanseth me!

Oh! praise the Lord, it cleanseth me. It cleanseth me, yes, cleanseth me.

2) I see the new creation rise, I hear the speaking blood;

It speaks! polluted nature dies! Sink 'neath the cleansing flood.

refrain

3)I rise to walk in heav'n's own light Above the world and sin.

With heart made pure, and garments white, And Christ enthroned within.

refrain

(picture taken outside Port Maria, Jamaica)

There's just something {tingly-in-your-tummy} exciting how an old hymn can speak words so clearly applicable to your life today.  Isn't that amazing?

Cupcakes and Koolaid

 I LOVE making kids happy.

One of our faithful little girls at church, just turned 10 and we were able to put the spotlight on her for a few minutes.

 Cupcakes + Koolaid + "Happy Birthday to You" = Happiness

It feels so good to do something for others.
 

VBS Spot Valley, Jamaica

Warning: this a picture post!

Our 2nd Vacation Bible School at Spot Valley Baptist Church

 eating "bag juice" kinda like a frozen popsicle in a bag

ok...who gave my baby some sweetie?

 musical chairs

 relay race with spoons and a copper coin

 "Simon Says....squawk like a chicken"

 so exhausting being everyone's baby doll

 they would catch mangoes out of the tree each day

 and almonds

this little 9 year old girl put her faith in Jesus Christ on Thursday afternoon

Thanks you, Lord, for using us.