We have this awesome homeschool family that lives near us. They and their extended family have decided to help us with our trip to Guatemala. Instead of buying each other gifts on Christmas, they come together as a family and do some "project". I think it is usually missionary related, but I am not sure. Anyway, they are going to help us this year! Isn't that awesome?!
We have this vision of setting up a "computer lab" at the Children's Home where we will serve two days a week. (It is the Home that we have stayed at for all of our previous trips - see earlier posts). The kids have little to no access to computers, but when they leave the Home, computer skills would greatly increase their chance of getting a job. We have been given 2 used desktops and 2 used laptops (we are praying for one more) that we want to take with us. We need to have them "cleaned", networked together and Spanish software loaded for the kids. This awesome family is going to help us with this. Isn't that amazing?! We have to have them all ready to go with Don when he leaves for Mexico the week after Labor Day. We realize that this is a little early for Christmas but we promised to put pictures on our blog when we get them set-up at the Home and the kids are using them!
Also, this family is apparently a family of bloggers! I found one (I am sure that there are many more) that I really liked. The link is down below to the left and is called "Excellent Wife". Go take a look - your mouth will water at the pictures!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
I Quit!
After 10 years of working at the Nebraska Medical Center, I handed in my resignation on Friday. Oh, man! We are standing at the edge of the cliff ready to free-fall. In fact, we may have jumped already! Part of me is scared to death. I now don't have a job to support my wife and four kids and we are getting ready to take a trip that is not fully funded! As I am falling over the edge, I am yelling, "Lord catch us!" This seems a little crazy even to us.
Seriously, the trip is feeling more real than ever as the day of departure gets closer. My manager asked for a resignation letter so that she could post the job opening. I asked a few questions and did a little research and decided that my last day would be August 31st. I gave her my resignation letter which she then refused to take. . . at least initially. There is a true feeling of "what have we done?" but the overwhelming feeling is excitment. We are about to embark on an adventure trusting in the Lord for all of our needs. It is a huge step but it is also one filled with peace and joy. Thanks for joining us in this adventure! And thanks for reading!
Seriously, the trip is feeling more real than ever as the day of departure gets closer. My manager asked for a resignation letter so that she could post the job opening. I asked a few questions and did a little research and decided that my last day would be August 31st. I gave her my resignation letter which she then refused to take. . . at least initially. There is a true feeling of "what have we done?" but the overwhelming feeling is excitment. We are about to embark on an adventure trusting in the Lord for all of our needs. It is a huge step but it is also one filled with peace and joy. Thanks for joining us in this adventure! And thanks for reading!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Carnival Details
Despite a rainy start, the day turned out to be perfect! As we neared 2 pm, it was a little humbling to see our volunteers setting up their games in the cold drizzle. Everyone perservered and the people started to arrive. The cloud covered remained until the last hour or so but the rain stopped just after 2 pm. The Lord's timing is perfect!
We have no idea the count of people but we do know that everyone we talked to had so much fun! Which means success to us. We asked one teenage boy if he had fun. His response was that he had attended three carnivals but this one was by far the best! We also had one family who was so blessed that they felt they received more than we did. Which by the way, is not possible!
We had so many donations and prizes that I don't think anyone left empty-handed. Thank you so much to our sponsors and to our neighbors for all their hard work.
All of that measures success to us but to top that all off, the carnival made $5,000! That is incredible! We will be using a little over $3,000 to cover our health insurance while we are there. The remainder will go towards living expenses and activites/gifts for the Children's Home. The whole experience was very overwhelming and humbling! We met lots of wonderful people, the kids all had a great time and we pray that everyone who came was blessed!
Here are a few pictures from the day:
Our neighbor Laurie did "Crazy Hair" ALL day long!
Our neighbor Curt cooked the entire day!
Here is one of the many games that went on. Our friends the Rothfuss' are manning this one!
A Fort Calhoun fire truck and a Washington County Deputy Sherriff showed up!
Caleb's friend Andrew made snow cones all day!
We have no idea the count of people but we do know that everyone we talked to had so much fun! Which means success to us. We asked one teenage boy if he had fun. His response was that he had attended three carnivals but this one was by far the best! We also had one family who was so blessed that they felt they received more than we did. Which by the way, is not possible!
We had so many donations and prizes that I don't think anyone left empty-handed. Thank you so much to our sponsors and to our neighbors for all their hard work.
All of that measures success to us but to top that all off, the carnival made $5,000! That is incredible! We will be using a little over $3,000 to cover our health insurance while we are there. The remainder will go towards living expenses and activites/gifts for the Children's Home. The whole experience was very overwhelming and humbling! We met lots of wonderful people, the kids all had a great time and we pray that everyone who came was blessed!
Here are a few pictures from the day:
Our neighbor Laurie did "Crazy Hair" ALL day long!
Our neighbor Curt cooked the entire day!
Here is one of the many games that went on. Our friends the Rothfuss' are manning this one!
A Fort Calhoun fire truck and a Washington County Deputy Sherriff showed up!
Caleb's friend Andrew made snow cones all day!
Carnival Photos
Here are so more photos of the carnival:
Jacob Begg in the dunk tank!
Wheelbarrow Race - notice all the cars on the road in the background!
The "Jousting" inflatable
"Crazy Hair" dude on the drum trap set - one of the silent auction items
Our daughters, Bethany and Hannah, trying to do the wheelbarrow race!
Jacob Begg in the dunk tank!
Wheelbarrow Race - notice all the cars on the road in the background!
The "Jousting" inflatable
"Crazy Hair" dude on the drum trap set - one of the silent auction items
Our daughters, Bethany and Hannah, trying to do the wheelbarrow race!
A few more pictures
Lori's sister's husband and mother-in-law, Lori's Mom and Dad and their friends, Roger and Rose Mary Morrow all came to help!
Our daughter Bethany is putting a tattoo on our son, Samuel.
Our nieces, Naomi and Julia, and our daughter, Bethany, displaying their tattoos.
Lori and our neighbor, Gwynne, who spent SO much time planning and organizing this carnival!! Thanks Gwynne!
Our neighbor, Tina, cleaning the pie off of her face. She also spent alot of time talking to people and getting sponsors for the carnival! She is awesome!
Our daughter Bethany is putting a tattoo on our son, Samuel.
Our nieces, Naomi and Julia, and our daughter, Bethany, displaying their tattoos.
Lori and our neighbor, Gwynne, who spent SO much time planning and organizing this carnival!! Thanks Gwynne!
Our neighbor, Tina, cleaning the pie off of her face. She also spent alot of time talking to people and getting sponsors for the carnival! She is awesome!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Carnival is a HUGE success!
Hi Everyone! We are recovering from the carnival! It was so fun and amazing! We have put a little summary on the carnival page (click here) because we want to keep our "Thanks to our Sponsors" information up for a little longer. Also, Lori's sister took a ton of pictures. When we receive those from her we will move the info to the blog and post some pictures. Thanks to all of you who came, supported, donated, volunteered, contributed and prayed!
We also did not get details from our reunion posted yet. It all kind of took a backseat to the carnival. We will try to get some of that up as well!
Thanks for reading! Blessings on your day!
We also did not get details from our reunion posted yet. It all kind of took a backseat to the carnival. We will try to get some of that up as well!
Thanks for reading! Blessings on your day!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Airline Tickets
Hi Everyone! We are back from our family reunion in Arkansas. We came home with a new pet, lots of wet clothes and sunburns (more details to come!). Our big news today is that we purchased airline tickets last night. The money from the chipper/shredder covered all but $300 of the total. Isn't that awesome?! Lori and the kids will fly out on Thursday, September 18th. Our return date is Wednesday, April 15th which was the cheapest day for us to return that week. Apparently no one wants to travel on tax day! Don will leave around the 6th of September with the 4runner. He will drive through Mexico with a friend and then pick us up at the airport on the 18th.
The carnival is this Sunday. We are spending our week getting ready - finishing up the garage, weeding, planting bushes etc. We still have room for volunteers if you are in the area! Burger King in Blair has given us 100 value meal coupons that we are sharing with our volunteers as a thank you! Let us know if you are interested in helping! E-mail us at dallisonjr@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading! More details and pictures of our trip to come.
The carnival is this Sunday. We are spending our week getting ready - finishing up the garage, weeding, planting bushes etc. We still have room for volunteers if you are in the area! Burger King in Blair has given us 100 value meal coupons that we are sharing with our volunteers as a thank you! Let us know if you are interested in helping! E-mail us at dallisonjr@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading! More details and pictures of our trip to come.
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