july 2023 Update
It’s time to catch up on my news! The months just go by so fast that I forget to write an update. June was an easy month with little travel. We celebrated three anniversaries: Paul and Melanie (34), Demetri and Kaleigh (5) and Cody and Shelby (4). Anniversaries and birthdays come too fast….so many birthdays and anniversaries, but praise God for them.
We drove up to Waxahachie for Kadie’s graduation from high school. She was the president of the Honor Society, so she gave a challenging speech and honored the Lord. We are so proud of her. Gretchen, Meagan, Malory, Josh, and their children came down for the graduation. We had a wonderful time at a beautiful VRBO.
We flew to Reno, NV and drove to Lake Tahoe for the Puryear Moving Up and Family Reunion. We stayed at the Olympic Village. What a beautiful place. We had such a wonderful time with Jim and Bobbi’s organization. They always treat us like royalty. We are blessed.
We had a week before the Duncan FR, so we flew home to rest and take care of the property and get some things done. There’s always something to do, plus to were able to celebrate the 4th just sitting at home listening to the fireworks going off till all hours of the night!!
Gretchen and Megs drove down to visit with us. Paul flew to Tacoma for the Duncan Moving Up, but I stayed home a few more days to visit with Gretchen and Megs. Thom and I flew out for family reunion. Our grandson, Jake, Thom’s son, picked us up since he lives in Buckley, WA. Always so wonderful to see our grandchildren and greats in Washington state.
Duncan Family Reunion is always a great celebration. Brad and Julie are so accommodating and encouraging. I wish everyone could hear the stories of these precious couples who have dreams and are fighting for them. The Sunday morning service in every organization is a time to hear God’s Word and see His sheep come forward for salvation.
There are so many hurting people! They need hope, and Christ is our hope. He changes lives! He never gives up on us. No one is ever beyond his reach! Like the old hymn, “Just as I am,”….you come to Jesus just like you are and He will do the changing.
We flew to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for the Rice Moving Up. Saturday night we drove to Red Fir on Lake Pend Oreille
(Pronounced Ponderay) to Matthew and Andrea Duncan’s surprise wedding. What a beautiful setting for a wedding. We drove back to Coeur d’Alene the same night.
Sunday morning services are always the best part of the weekends. Paul always preaches an anointed message, and the response is amazing. God is faithful to call His sheep…and the voice of another they will not follow! Hallelujah
We flew back to Tacoma to spend a few days with Jake, Kait and the children. Kelley and Kadie flew in, and we all drove to Mercer Island to spend a few hours with Jeff and Leslie. Jeff took us around the island on their yacht. It was a wonderful afternoon.
We all flew to Las Vegas after our time in Tacoma. We meet Glen and Joya Baker for dinner along with our dear friends, Aleksandra Kumaraku, her two daughters and Christina’s husband, Alex and their son, Lucas. Theo couldn’t join us as he was working.
The Baker Family Reunion was absolutely amazing. We love these precious people. The Sunday morning service was such a blessing as God called His people together for worship and praise. Hundreds were at the altar for salvation and restoration. After the service, Paul, Kelley and I signed books and chatted and prayed with so many hurting people. Thom and Kadie were busy checking people out as they purchased books.
We are so thankful that we can get so much Christian literature in the hands of so many people. There are so many hungry hearts.
We ended the family reunions and moving ups at Lake Las Vegas with Glen and Joya Baker and their people. What a great group! We listened to so many wonderful stories. So many have overcome terrible situations, yet they have a dream to do something with their lives.
Mikey and Lizett hosted us in Las Vegas. I remember the first time I heard Mikey speak in Boise, Idaho when he first got in the business. He and Lizett are from Bakersfield, Ca., and the dream he had was to get his parents out of the fields. He said his parents have been free from the fields for 8 years and haven’t made one house payment, as he and Lizett are taking care of them. How precious is that!
We are on the plane headed back home as I write this. We have had a wonderful 5 weeks on the road, but we are ready to get home for a while. Blessings to you and thank you for your prayers and support of Restoration Ranch.
Three new books coming out in October! Excited!!