Finally Home!!!!!

Well, we made it. Our 24 hours of travel ended yesterday!!!!!! I slept in my own bed last night, and I slept really hard. I had some crazy dreams, too. Anyway, our trip was pretty uneventful (comparing it to our journey home two years ago). Our plane from Aracaju to Rio was crazy with turbulence, but we landed just fine. Our plane from Rio to Miami was about 1 1/2 hours delayed because the flight crew was stuck in traffic on the way to the airport. That irritated me (imagine that). So...that caused some issues in Miami. We had it set up to where we would have just enough time in Miami do get off the plan, go through the entry into the U.S. process, get our bags, go through customs, re-check our bags, go through security, and board our next flight. Needless to say, this takes a while, and we were 1 1/2 hours late, ugh! Once we went through customs, our plane was scheduled to leave about 15 minutes later. We begged them to hold the plane for us, and they did. We left our luggage (trusting that they would take care of it), ran to the front of the security line (all sorts of people were thrilled that 30 people were cutting in front of them), and ran to our gate. I cannot even begin to describe to nasty looks that we were getting from the flight crew and the other passengers. IT WASN'T OUR FAULT - that is what I wanted to say, but I just took my seat! Anyway, we made it back to DFW, but none of our luggage came with that flight. We had to wait around for about 1 1/2 hours for our bags to come in on the next flight from Miami. But...we did get our bags! And...we did get home on the day we were supposed to. I guess we had enough of that "getting stuck in Brazil" on our last trip to last a lifetime! For now, I am editing pictures, and I will post in spurts as I get them edited. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for our trip.

Headed Home!

We have just checked out of the hotel, and we are going to eat lunch and head to the airport.  Unfortunately, the journey will last for nearly 24 hours, so we won't be home until tomorrow.  Please pray for our safe journey.

Retreat Re-cap

We are not home from Brazil - just from the retreat. We got in yesterday afternoon and had time to rest and shower before we went out for a nice dinner last night. Today is our last full day here. We are having a tourism day so that we can see the sights and shop! We get to sleep in tomorrow before we have to check out of our hotel, eat lunch, and head to the airport.

The retreat was great. We got to see a lot of friends we had made on our trip here two years ago, and we got to meet a bunch of new friends. We had approx. 50 kids for our classes. We had five classes, and I cannot even begin to tell you how glad I am to be done with that stuff. A huge weight lifted off of us :) I love the kids, but they sure can wear you out! Let´s just say that I rested very well last night! The rest of the retreat was just a great time to sing, pray, and worship together with the Brazilians. What a joy that is - even though we don´t speak the same language, we have a great bond! I am so thankful for our translators!!!!!!

Last week, during VBS, a teacher brought her kids. Her son attends church in Aracaju, and she heard about our VBS and wanted her kids to come. Well, she came to the retreat with her son, and she was baptized on Saturday. What a blessing! A man that works at the hotel asked Everett if he would study with him because he really wants to know what we´re about. They have studied once and are going to study again today. He is also planning on attending the classes at the School of the Bible. Will, one of our translators (he was an exchange student to Decatur last year), has been asking a lot of questions and has also been studying with Everett. Both of these guys will continue their studying with Everett today, so please pray specifically for these things today! Will is amazing - a 16 year old who is helping us in more ways than I can say. We are excited that he has been able to hear many lessons about God as well during the retreat.

Bela and Victor are my new BFF´s! They are a couple here in Aracaju that moved here shortly after our last trip. They both speak English quite well and have been so helpful during this trip. Bela gave me a New Testament Bible last night (in Port.) as a thank you gift. They are the most amazing couple - we need them in Decatur - I sure wish they wanted to move there, but they don´t! They are a tremendous blessing to the church here, and have helped it so very much.

We are about to head out here in a little to be tourists! I was feeling really homesick last night, but I feel better now. I was just lonely for Mark and my kids. They got to go see Morgan at CDR on Saturday, and I was missing that. I really miss having someone to sleep with and snuggle up with. I can´t wait to do that (Mark and Jacob). I miss Haleigh´s laugh and seeing Morgan read 24 hours a day in her room! We had a great time at dinner last night - I needed a little pick me up because my heart is starting to ache for home. We are having a lot of fun though, so don´t worry about me! I can always manage to have a good time. I was wanting to rebel last night and sneak out, but no one would do it with me - such rule followers! I was wanting to take Amy Oxford out to get a tattoo, but we don´t really trust the tattoo places here! I guess I´ll have to take her in Texas :) I will write some more tonight after our day of tourism (in the rain)!

A Great Retreat

Just a quick note to say that we are back from the retreat - we had a great time - I will write more later. Right now I need to take a shower!

Brazil - Day 3

We had our second (and final) day of vbs today. We had approx. 120 kids this morning and only 35 this afternoon. It would´ve been nice to have them a little more evenly spread out, but it was great anyway! The kids were really excited and eager to learn, so that was good. We will be leaving tomorrow for our retreat over the weekend. I will be away from the computer, so I will write again when I come back. We get to sleep in tomorrow - yeah! The calm before the storm :) We will be waking up very early during the retreat. I cannot wait to sleep in tomorrow though! I am looking forward to the time at the retreat with the other christians from nearby. It is a great time of encouragement and renewal. Things are going really well so far, so thanks for all the prayers.

Brazil - Day 2

We had our first day of VBS and had two sessions today. I wish I could post some pictures - the kids were great. We had a good turn out, but not as many kids as we thought. Tomorrow morning we could have 125, so that will be interesting. The School of the Bible is not a big building, so it makes for a tight/hot environment. We had about 35 kids in the first session and 60 in the second session. I think a good time was had by all! We are all having a great time though. The rest of the group went on a singing campaign downtown and passed out flyers and made contacts. We are all doing well - just got back from dinner (not the best food, but we are managing)! We are about to have our nightly devo. and hopefully head off for some much needed rest.

I miss you Mark and wish you could be here to do this with me. I know you would love it. Haleigh, I hope you had a great time at volleyball camp. Hopefully you are becoming a master server! Jacob, I actually miss having you to sleep with. I didn´t think I would miss having you all in my space, but I do! Keep my spot warm for me. I hope you are having a lot of fun with Sarah. I miss you all a lot. When you go see Morgan this weekend, tell her I love and miss her too. Be good. I love you guys.

Brazil Day 1

We have spent our first full day in Aracaju. We had a day of prayer today and stopped at several different locations to pray for very specific things. We went to a children´s home, and that was the highlight of my day because we got to see a bunch of kids that are 0-5 years old. Tomorrow will be our first day of VBS. We will be having 2 sessions of that each day (for two days). Planning VBS was my main role for this trip, so I will be anxious to see if all goes well the next two days. We had an amazing day today, and I am so glad to be here. I miss my family dearly, but I have been able to talk to them everyday thanks to Tim Brumfield (teacher in Lubbock). He has a program on his computer that allows us to talk for 2 cents a minute!!!! Erica - you can email Morgan - just go to www.campdeerrun.com and send an email but put attn. Morgan Taylor. Love all you guys. Mel

I can´t figure out if I can put pictures up from here, but I will try...more to come tomorrow (hopefully). Sometimes I can do blogger, but sometimes I can´t. Until next time...so long.

Brazil

We are in Brazil. We are in Rio de Janeiro right now waiting to get on our plane to Aracaju. More to come later. I am tired! It has been a very long trip.

More Pocahontas and headed to Brazil!

Things went well at Pocahontas Friday night. I don't have time to post any pictures right now. Last night, however, she got sick. When she left with my parents for the program, she said her stomach hurt. I thought she was just nervous. But, she threw up when she got there. She still wanted to dance, so she did. She started feeling bad again, so they went and got my parents (we weren't there). She threw up again in the parking lot. I feel so bad for her. At least she got to dance for Nanny and Papa. She did great at both performances. She is doing better now, so I don't really know what happened. The back stage moms said that 4 girls threw up last night, so I guess it was a stomach bug.

We are leaving today for Brazil - please pray for our trip! Take care. Remember to visit the Aracjau, Brazil 2008 blog I have under "Blogs I Read" for info. from our trip.

Dress Rehearsal - Thursday night

Maybe it's just me, but I think I have the best looking kids ever! Haleigh is just so stinking cute; I just can't stand it. She was so excited for dress rehearsal last night. She was just so giddy with excitement on the way to the rehearsal. Here are a few pictures in full make up and costume. Isn't she so pretty?!



Getting her nose and whiskers - which I don't understand since you can't see them at all. But you can't see her make up either, so go figure.
Okay, we can't record at all tonight during the performance or take flash photography, so here is the best I can give you....dress rehearsal. My camera, when I zoomed on Haleigh, got really choppy, so sorry for that. Again, in the first video, she is in the 2nd group of girls that comes in and she is in the back row. After the move a little she is in the front on the far left. The second video is them practicing the "finale". I didn't record the whole finale, just Haleigh's part. In this video she is the 4th dancer from the left. Enjoy! Can't wait for tonight!

Happy Father's Day and Pocahontas

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers in my life!

Mark is the best daddy ever. He is such a better parent than I am. He has such a big heart and is so patient and understanding. Our children just adore him, and I don't think that I could have picked a better man to be the father of my children! So, Happy Father's Day to the best dad in the world. I feel really bad that I will be leaving him on Father's Day for Brazil and Morgan will be going to camp. I guess we will just have to celebrate on Saturday! We really appreciate all he does for us from leading us spiritually to providing for us and taking care of us. He's just the best! Here's a picture of daddy's favorite thing to do - fishing :)

Here is a picture of me and my dad that I love from when I was little. He doesn't have even half of that hair these days (I still have that mop of hair), but he is still a lot of fun. He is a great father too, and I wish him a happy Father's day as well. And, I will get to spend it with him! Him and my mom are coming down to see Haleigh's ballet debut in Pocahontas this weekend. I can't wait to see them and spend some time with them before I set out for Brazil.

Now, to Pocahontas! This week is the week Haleigh has been working so hard for in ballet since January. Haleigh wanted ballet lessons for her birthday, so that is what she got!! She is going to be a rabbit. They had tech rehearsal Tues. night and they will have a full dress rehearsal Thurs. night. Their performances are Friday and Saturday night. Here is a clip from Tech rehearsal on Tues. night (which lasted forever). Haleigh is in the 2nd group of girls to enter the stage. She is in the back with the black leotard and pink skirt. You just kind of have to follow her from there.

I will try to take another clip from dress rehearsal so that you can see her in full costume/makeup. I wish everyone could come and see her. She has worked so hard, and she is doing really well. She really loves it. The whole production is supposed to last 2 hours. So, we are in for a long couple of nights on Thurs., Fri., and Saturday. Hopefully she will still love it after all of this!

Catching Up...Part 2!

A couple of weeks ago, we went to CDR for the 50th anniversary celebration. Here are some pictures from the big event....

The following pictures are our kids taking a swing on the rope. (Morgan)

Haleigh's first attempt!

And her second!

And, finally, Jacob.

Group picture time. This is a picture of people that were campers from 1988-1998. Mark is in the back row.

Campers from 1998-2008. Morgan is in the second row (pink tank top).

Group Leaders throughout the years. Again, Mark is in the back.

Staff in the 90's silly picture - Mark and I are in there somewhere!

CDR weddings - all of these people met at CDR and got married - pretty special. Mark and I are on the far right side.

Our painting from the rec hall. Mark painted this a long time ago before we got married. It has been fun to add to it over the years.

Ty Ford, Mark, and Russell Smith - a remake of an old picture when Ty and Russell were campers.

Time for bed - Haleigh was out first. She was the only one that slept on the bottom bunk. It was too hot for the rest of us, so we moved our bunks together in the center of the cabin so that we could be under the fans.

Mark didn't get a great nights sleep because he ended up sharing his (small) bed with Jacob.
In case you ever wonder why Jacob never takes a serious picture...the apple doesn't fall far from the "Tree".

Well, here's a cute one of him!

Our brick on the wall outside the mess hall.

Here's a picture of what Don Neal called the "Summer of Love Reunion". We all worked together during the summer of 94, and we all go married in 95. Grant and Donna Davis (left), Don and Jane Neal (center), Mark and Melissa Taylor (right).

On June 7, 1999, we lost Mark's mom. It has been a hard 9 years. These next pictures are from "Nana's Pavilion" at Camp Deer Run. The sweet church in Sulphur Springs (where Mark grew up) donated money to build this pavilion in honor of Kay. Here is a picture of Mark, Morgan, Haleigh, Jacob, Popop (Mark's dad), Mandy (Mark's sister), and Lauren (Mandy's daughter) in the pavilion.

These are the bricks that are on the ground in the center of the pavilion. In case you can't read them, the 1st one says - In loving memory of Kay Taylor. The 2nd one says - Be still and know that I am God.

It was a great weekend. We had fun seeing old friends and campers. Jacob had a blast. He was mad when it was time to go to bed because he wanted to play more night games! I can't wait until he gets to go as a camper. Speaking of that, Morgan will be leaving in 5 days for 2nd session! Next year will be Haleigh's first year. It's amazing how time flies! Hail dear ol' Deer Run!

Catching Up...!! (Part 1)

I am going to catch up over the next couple of days on blogging. I still have the CDR 50th reunion to talk about and post pictures from. Anyway...this first picture shows Jacob's new hair cut. I told Mark and Jacob it was time to cut their hair the other night, and Jacob informed me that he wanted a bald head. I told him I would cut it short first and see if he liked it - hoping that he would like it and not want to go bald. Well, I buzzed it with a size "1", he hopped up to look at it in the mirror and said "nope, don't like it - shave it". So, I decided to put on the "blender" attachment which made it a little bit shorter than a size 1. He hopped up to look in the mirror and said "nope, don't like it - shave it"! Well, I didn't shave it because I didn't want him to look too goofy, so after a long argument, I won and it didn't get shorter. He still wants a bald head though!

Haleigh finds monarch caterpillars in the big field behind our house and "raises" them. She brings in milkweed every couple of days and watches their growth process carefully. Here is the one she found this year...

...and the end result a few weeks later!

We had "Battle of the Books" at school last Friday. Haleigh was on the lime green team. Her team didn't do real well. They missed 6 questions, so they didn't place. Haleigh's age did real well and only missed one question, but the "intermediate" level kids missed 5. She had a lot of fun though, and it makes reading all of those books fun! Here is her team coming in to the gym.

Haleigh and her friend were on the same team this year.

Haleigh's team and coach (Deena). She was excited to be on Deena's team this year.

Yesterday was the last day of school for the kids. Haleigh's teacher handed out a variety of awards. Haleigh got perfect attendance (for the 6th 6 weeks), A honor roll (6th 6 weeks and all year), Rigorous Writer award, Brain Buster award, and Most Valuable Classmate award. This last one was sweet because the class got to vote on who they thought deserved it. Isn't that nice? We were really proud of her.

Haleigh, Miss Renfro, and one of Haleigh's best friends and classmate.

Some more classmates...


Morgan got invited to a birthday party last weekend in which they got to ride in a limo to Joe's Crab Shack. Here is a picture of the girls in front of the limo.

Getting in the limo...Morgan is so swift her hair is blowing...she was too excited!
A shot from inside.
I guess that's enough for today. School is out now, so I should be able to post more often. At least until I leave for Brazil! I will get the CDR pictures up soon.

a million things to do...

I haven't posted in so long, but like my title says, I have a million things to do!  I have a million pictures too of things that have been going on.  I will post them really soon.  We are 13 days away from leaving for Aracaju, Brazil.  I am getting excited and anxious.  I am sad to leave my husband and my kids for that long, but I am really excited about going back to Brazil.  Morgan will be at camp anyway, and I won't even see her until 2 days after I get back :(  A few things have happened lately, we are losing one day of VBS - and it was our "big day" of 240 possible kids.  The school wasn't wanting us to transport their students but they wouldn't let us use their building either.  So, we lose that (bummer).  However, Randy (missionary) said that another class of 28 students wants to come.  I hate to lose the 240, but I am thankful to add the 28!  We are dealing with some luggage issues too - we can take 70 lbs. per bag on American Airlines, but we can only have a TOTAL of 50 lbs. for our flights in Brazil (from Rio to Aracaju).  This presents a little bit of a problem since we are carrying a number of supplies for VBS and our retreat.  Hopefully everyone can take a few extra baggies worth of goodies/supplies in their suitcase to make it work!

Jeff Jones (one of the missions deacons and fellow member of the trip) set up a blog to keep our friends and families informed while we are gone.  I am really excited about this because it will mean that everyone can check our daily work and progress (except for the few days that we are away from the internet)!  Look on the left side of my blog titled "Blogs I Read" - the very first one is the link to the blog.  Check it frequently while we are gone, and continue to pray for our trip.

I will post personal blog stuff in a couple of days once SCHOOL GETS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!