Playa Del Carmen

Mike and I spent a few days in Mexico last week!

It was wonderful!!!

bunk bed forts

OK...it's unanimous! The music is gone! I might bring it back again on occasion for Mike but I'll make it where it doesn't come on automatically!

I caught the boys making a fort out of their bunk beds today and it made me think of our old home. We moved their furniture here into mom and dad's house so they are still using it while we are in the states. (a little consistency for them is nice)

Anyway...I was so happy to see them making a fort again. I had to take a picture of their creation so I would remember it when they are old. The boys aren't in the picture because I wasn't allowed into the fort. I snuck in while they were in the shower to take the pictures.

the waves are crashing...BUT

But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Matthew 14:24-33

Waves can come in the form of sick family members, ticks, mice, 70 mph winds, scary situations with our children, watching friends self-destruct, vomiting, bruises, staircases, death of a child with cancer...it goes on and on!

I SEE the waves and I ask NOT that you'd pray for them to subside but for me to keep my eyes on Jesus! Pray that we as HIS children, can realize WHO wins this battle!

For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12

A fUn WeEkEnD wItH cOuSiNs!!!

This weekend we spent some time with our cousins from Florida and Texas! We swam and played til we were exhausted but we had a blast!!!

Jackson walking through the garden with Maelynn

Fire pit time!!!

Angela with Abigail & Danielle with Maelynn

Parker, Logan, Jackson & Jayden snapping green beans

Parker and Jayden playing with the pirate ship

Pictured above: JohnMark, Jackson, Logan, Jayden, Parker, Hunter, Maelynn, Ana & Abigail

Listen to THIS....

The only 2 things we have left to get rid of before we leave are our vehicles! Mike planned on trying to aggressively sell his after he finished driving back and forth to Georgetown for work. His last day is tomorrow (Thursday) but had already listed the car online. We have been getting a few calls every now and then.

We hadn't been stressing about it because we REALLY knew that God would take care of it just like He has everything else!

ANYWAY...

Mike decided to leave his car with me this week and take the Sienna with him because it gets better gas mileage. This is the first time he has done this. He had no clue he'd be getting a call that very next day from someone in Illinois that wanted to see his car. They were able to drive over on Monday and see and test drive the car because it was with me in W. KY.

So of course, they are coming over on Thursday (MIKE'S LAST DAY OF WORK) to hand us a check and take off with Mike's Pathfinder. God's timing is quite remarkable, wouldn't you say!?!

A Really GOOD Week

Last Friday, I drove up to Lexington to spend some time with Michael and all of our dearest friends. Two of these dear friends opened their homes to us. Thank you Robert and Cheri and thank you Jim and Jennifer. The boys love you all so much and had a blast with your pool tables, basketball games, and ping pong! You both were so gracious to us in every possible way!

I cannot believe all that we accomplished in a week.

We woke up Saturday morning and drove to Cincinnati so we could spend the day at King's Island. The kids had a blast but most importantly Mike and I got to ride the Diamondback Roller Coaster!

2 Words...

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!

Then after spending Sunday morning with the BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD at Center Point Church, we went to Natural Bridge State ParkWe had so much fun fishing, hiking and riding the sky lift!

We were wiped out by the end of the day!

On Monday, we spent the day at Jacobson Park with the Millers! We had a picnic and the boys fished and enjoyed the playground. They had a great time while Melissa, Lexi and I got caught up with lots of "talking time!"

And then, Monday night, I had an amazing Girl's Night Out with Dana B, Dana F, and Melissa! We enjoyed our favorite Thai restaurant and then spent a few hours over coffee catching up! Amy J...you were GREATLY missed! The Fab Five just isn't the same without ya!

Tuesday, after getting some much needed time at the salon and running lots of errands, Mike and I met our dearest friends, Peter and Susan for dinner. They took us to their favorite Korean restaurant. It was good! I was scared at first but Susan reassured me before the food arrived that I would love it and she was right!

On Wednesday, I was able to take the kids by our old house. They knocked on neighbor's doors, said hello, and gave out some hugs to their friends! AND Wednesday night, I got some Brandy time!!! WOO HOO! I miss you so much Miss Brandy! We ate at Abuelo's and then had Starbucks afterwards!

Needless to say, I've eaten out A LOT this week! I guess it's diet TIME!!! ha!

We're back at mom and dad's house now and even though it's good to be here, I'm missing my friends and hometown already! I realize now that Central Kentucky will probably always feel like home to the Powells.

livin' in the country

Living back home with the parents is an adjustment for sure!!! They live in the country and I'm quite the suburb girl! This showed itself to be REALLY true moments ago!

I just returned from a jog where I ran into 3 pit bulls. Okay...actually, I was running and they caught up with me REALLY quickly in a CHARGING SORTA WAY!!!

It's true what they say about holding your ground with MEAN dogs! These 3 were in attack mode and I actually stepped towards them yelling, "NO!!" and they eventually yielded!
YIKES!!!!

A bit down the road a SNAKE splashed into a drainage creek!

I think next time, I'll drive into a subdivision

(which I'm a bit more used to)

and start from there.

Might be a little safer! HA!!!

Funny thing is, I'm not even in BRAZIL yet!

Imagine the animals along the roadside there!?!

A Hard Day

I have had several people ask me to be MORE specific in prayer requests! I'm gonna get pretty specific with you today!

We arrived back from Denver on top of a mountain. Literally, I guess! ha! Friday was sorta catch-up day from all the craziness of the week. I had heaping LOADS of laundry to do and was evidently much more tired than I knew.

Let me start by saying living with your parents is such a blessing! My mom and dad took my family of five in after we sold our house without even a thought. They have been overly kind to us and even drove 15 hours to Denver with our children to see us be appointed. (The IMB flew us out there.) So, saying all that please don't hear the rest of this and think we're not WHOLE-HEARTEDLY grateful for all they are doing! CAUSE I AM!!!

BUT...I really began feeling depressed as the day and the laundry drug on! I knew I was tying up the washing machine with ALL of our families' laundry when my mom and dad's suitcases were sitting there full of their dirty laundry. Of course they let us do ours first because that is just how they are. (That doesn't mean I didn't begin to lay TONS of false guilt on myself!)

I began to LONG for my home, you know, the one I gave to God a few weeks ago. The one that has MY (I mean God's) washing machine and dryer in it! ;) I began to long for our closets to hang stuff back into. I'll just be completely transparent and tell you I just missed it all! You know that feeling you get when you come home from a trip and you feel like, I'm FINALLY home. You REALLY relax and breathe for the first time in awhile! I LONGED for that!!!

I guess all of the stress and tension led me straight into one of my INFAMOUS migraines that I haven't had in awhile. This one was a REALLY good one! If you get migraines, you know what I'm talking about! If you don't, you are a VERY blessed individual! Anyway, migraine led into vomiting and vomiting led into me sleeping for a couple of hours.

I REALLY do know all of this is an attack by the enemy!!! I ask that all of you that read this would pray for strength for me as we are just beginning this journey. IT IS JUST BEGINNING and we are so excited because we know that we are COMPLETELY in HIS will! Does that mean it will be easy?!? On the contrary! It will be hard...VERY hard. I hate being vulnerable. It isn't a trait that comes natural for me...but I know the power of prayer! I know that so many of you who read this WILL pray!

ǝpısdn uʍop

In honor of keeping things REAL, this is how my life sorta feels right now....

Everything is a little ǝpısdn uʍop. No wait, everything is A LOT upside down!!

BUT....God is still God and He hasn't changed a bit!! No matter what my circumstances are He remains steadfast in HIS promises. I can't wait to get busy telling people about His great big, never-ending, completely sufficient LOVE!!!

Happy Birthday Emily

I'm breaking a blog rule and posting this after the date but these pictures were so good and I wanted them to show up on May 10 even though they didn't get posted until May 18! SORRY but it is MY blog and I'm doing it anyway!!! lol

We celebrated my niece Emily's 15th birthday on Mother's Day! I cannot believe she is 15!

It just blows my mind. It also blows my mind that JohnMark is as tall as she is in these pictures! I'm going to have to have a talk with him about this growing thing! It has to slow down a bit!This is sweet cousin Kylie! She is absolutely BEAUTIFUL...Dontcha think?!?