home sweet home and some yummy cake batter frozen yogurt

Well, gee-peers. I feel like it has been far too long. And is has. Let me explain why. 

I was gone for 9 days on the mission trip I mentioned a little while back. But you already knew that.

What I didn't tell you was that when I got back we only had three days at home to get unpacked and do laundry (including folding and putting away) only to have to pack our bags right back up again. I didn't want to let the whole world know I was going to be MIA from my precious home for one more week. So I just didn't really say anything at all. Maybe I should have, but I'm weird like that. Although, now, if I ever don't post for a month you will probably know that I am not at home, which defeats the whole purpose of my not saying anything. Or maybe not. I suppose it depends on my location. 

In the Dominican Republic I really couldn't do a thing about it. No internet. No computer. No tv. No phones (not that I have a fancy phone anyway). No nothing. It was wonderful. Only, it was a little tricky to get back into having all of those nice things once again. kind of. I suppose it wouldn't have been too difficult to get back into a regular blogging grove had I not been on the move yet again from the Dominican Republic . . . 

to visit these three little loves of my life . . . 

[though, I soon discovered they were not all quite so little any more : ]

yes, yes. I got to take a nice short long drive way up north to Minnesota and spend a delightful week with my oldest sister and her little munchkins. 

But, now I am back home. And I have pictures loading onto my computer for picture stories to come later in the week (for real this time). I am excited about this. 

I am not excited about the fact that today I am as old as I have ever been in my life. I suppose you could say that every day of your life, but for some reason birthdays make that point stick out a little bit more. o bother. 

On the bright side . . . today is my birthday! And I get to go out to a yummy dinner with The Hubs. And I made some cake batter frozen yogurt! it is De-lish. I will have to post some pictures in the morning, if I remember to take any before devouring what is left of it, that is :D 

cheers for now!

far far away.

I have been gone for the past week or so. Maybe you noticed.

I knew I would be away for nine days but I didn't really want to announce it to the world. Though, prayers from you all would have been wonderful, I am just a little paranoid leaving my house. Maybe that's silly. But I am. So I just didn't say anything at all.

But I was gone. For nine days I was in the Dominican Republic. Two couples from The Hubs' and mine small group went on a mission trip to the D.R. Unfortunately the other couples couldn't come along. But that's okay, one stayed and watched Puppy, he needed a home for a week and they were so very gracious and wonderful to watch him and keep him for us while we were away. The other couples were behind us in prayer and support while we were away. We could not have done it without them.

It was an incredible trip. We left early Tuesday morning (can you say 2 o'clock in the morning? cause yes, that is when we left) and got in to Santiago, Dominican Republic around 2ish or 3ish that afternoon. The Lord was gracious and wonderful and we all arrived safely and soundly with no delays or troubles. As did our luggage. We spent the afternoon and evening with the missionaries we would be working with that week and seeing the neighborhood we were staying in. [I took pictures but I haven't uploaded them yet, that will have to wait for tomorrow].

Wednesday morning bright and early we woke and got ready for a full day ahead. We were going to The Hole. The lowest place in Santiago. A former dump. People, families, children, and babies live and play down there. It is where we spent the next three days.

A few years back a pastor felt a call to start a church down there, so he started going and just playing with the kids and giving them candies. Drug Lords rule The Hole. But for some reason [can you say God?] the Drug Lords allowed the pastor to start a church and have not touched or harmed him, the church, or any of the people helping at the church. They guard it. They watch it and keep it safe. So a church building was built. Behind the church is a river. A nasty dirty dump of a river, but a river no less. This river has been eroding the land next to it, which is where the church happens to sit.

Because of the erosion that happens we helped build a retaining wall sort of thing. We carried rocks and filled cages so that they [the cages] would keep the water away from the church.

That is pretty much what we did. One day we played with some children. And between carrying rocks we would play with the kids in The Hole. It was a great way to spend the week.

I just wanted to share real quick like [well, kind of quick] about where I have been and why I haven't been posting. But don't you worry. I have stories to tell from the trip. And pictures. I will share those, I just wanted to give a little summary like thing : )

So get excited and be expecting oodles of stories and photos over the next few days.

I will leave you with this little video clip that G.O. Ministries [the mission organization we went to Santiago with] put together for us.

I am so glad to be back! I can't wait to catch up on all of your blogs! : )