1st World Missionaries- update

We have now lived in Longview, TX for three months.  We have been praying, seeking, and watching for opportunities for God to open our eyes to what we are suppose to do here.

In that time, I have started a bible study with two other mothers.  We are studying the TK Primer, which sets out to teach people how to live in community with one another.  It is unfortunate that this has to be taught, but I am starting to see the positive effects of our lessons.  My neighbor and I recently hosted a block party, which six families on our street attended.



We had a great evening, sharing stories, making s'mores around the fire, and trading recipes on food items brought.

Many of the people knew each other faces or maybe even the neighbor name, but knew little else about the person.  After this evening we are all a little bit closer to one another and that is what God wants from his children.  We need to be involved with the people living around us.  We need to build relationships with them, so that we can serve them and teach them how to serve others.

Take your kids to play in the front yard today, prayer walk your neighborhood, or have a family over to your house for dinner.  Build up the saints living around you with your prayers, presence, gifts, and services.  In short, be the church everyday to all you come in contact with.

Thank God for beautiful weather

This was my point of view at 2:00pm today while I laid out on the pallet below and read a book while Malia napped....

And this was my view this afternoon.

I am loving this early fall weather!

My Preschooler

Andrew had his first homework project.  He completed 95% of it by himself!! 

I was super proud of my little preschooler.

He comes home exhausted everyday telling me of all his adventures.  Playdoh, recess, bullies,  his school has it all-- I have already learned to believe only about half of what he says.

A few examples:

"They made us stay outside all day today, for like 24 hours"

"I really wanted Lucky Charms for Breakfast, but they told us we are not allowed to talk to the cafeteria ladies"

"A bully pushed me down and punched me in the face today." "Where were the teachers, did you tell someone?"  "No, they were in California."

While the kids are in school, I have started a few projects of my own.  Here is my first completed one.  I spray painted some old chairs, and then added a little duct tape for pizzazz.  

 

Sorry the picture is so dark....when I used the flash they looked bleached out.

First World Missionaries

Moving to a new place is scary...especially when you are leaving behind good family, good friends, and a good home.

We moved to Longview, TX as first world missionaries.  In this move we left what was comfortable for the unknown.  We purposely reduced our income and simplified our life.  We are here to be an example of a disciple of Christ to the community around us.

So how did we start.....

First we did a lot of praying and reading and listening.

Then we hit the ground running.  We reached out to our neighbors by baking them all cookies, then inviting them over for dinner and play dates.  We joined a gym and have worked hard to connect with people there.  We talked to the people in the church and have tried to start teaching them the language of discipleship.

We have only been at it three weeks and we are starting to see a softening of the heart in a few.  We have met some "people of peace" and we are engaging with them.  I am starting a small group at our home to go through the TK Primer (a book that really helped us along the way), while Ryan goes through it with the church staff.

These are baby steps, we know, but hopefully they will lead to leaps of faith for us and the community around us.



Please keep us in your prayers.

First Day of School, 2013

Zachary Kai Roberts, age 8

Favorite TV show: Slug Terra

Favorite Toy: Legos

Favorite Food: pizza

Favorite color: black

Favorite animal: white tiger

Favorite outside activity: playing with Theo

Favorite person: Lukas

What he wants to be when he grow up: Scientist

Kai was ready to start school, but he was not ready to go to bed last night.  I caught him at 11:00pm with his colored pencils and paper out drawing pictures of mythological creatures he saw in the new Percy Jackson movie.

Andrew Scott Roberts, age 4

Favorite TV show: Slug Terra

Favorite Toy: Legos

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite animal: zebras, and my cat, Crash

Favorite outside activity: jumping on the trampoline

Favorite person: my brother, Kai

What he wants to be when he grow up: veterinarian

Here is Andrew walking into school for his first day of Pre-K, totally fearless and probably talking this lady's ear off.

Malia Nicole Roberts, Age 2

Favorite TV show: Dora and Diego

Favorite Toy: baby dolls

Favorite Food: Peanut Butter

Favorite color: Pink and purple

Favorite Animal: Leopards, zebras, cheetah, and leapards, and seals

Favorite outside activity: blowing bubbles

Favorite person: Daddy

What she wants to be when she grows up: an explorer

And here they all are on the first day of school being silly in front yard.

This is the only semi serious picture I got of them.

I love watching these kids grow.

Moving

So, we have moved....

We are now living in Longview, TX, a town of 90,000.  The number one question I get asked now that we live here (and I get asked it almost everyday) is "how are you adjusting to the slower pace of life in a small town?"  My Answer:  "Life is only slow if you make it slow."

I am the mother of three amazing kids.

I have a husband that goes a mile a minute.

I own three cats, and one really annoying dog.

We are trying to start up new ministries in our new church.

We are trying to meet people and learn everyone's name.

And I have joined a gym....

I am not a slow pace of life kind of girl and I am not going to let living in a "small town" make feel like I need to be.

So look out Longview.... The Roberts are in town!!

Seaworld

 Seaworld is so much cooler than when I was a little kid.

They still have all the cool shows and the animals are amazing, but now they have water slides and roller coasters and Sesame Street!!

I bravely took the kids to experience this amazing place by myself this week, and we had an awesome adventure.

We saw a walrus and seals, dolphins and whales.  We saw stingrays, turtles, and alligators. We also saw a show where they trained domestic animals like dogs, birds, rats, pigs and cats.... I have never seen a cat be so obedient!

And of course, there was Shamu.... and her baby....Shamu jr!!

There is something about that whale that just make you want to take 100 pictures!!

In between all the shows we hung out at Bay of Play. 

It has kid shows, splashpads, playgrounds and carnival like rides.

We went on all the rides and then we played in the splashpad.

Then we went on all the rides again, and again, and again!!

We went on a Monday and Tuesday, so there were no lines and plenty of seats at all the shows.

The next day we checked out Aquatica, the water park side of park.  I did not take in my camera, so you will just have to imagine the fun.  They have one ride that has a tube that goes through the stingray tank.  Malia and I could have ridden that one all day.  

We are going back in August to celebrate my birthday and introduce Ryan, who was out of town, to all the fun.

The kids and I are already planning out our schedule for next time.