A Spoonful of Sugar » Uncategorized

Oasis Retreat

Julie — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:49:43 +0000

I spent the weekend with over 200 women on a woman’s retreat with Irving Bible Church. It’s been a looooong time since I have been on a retreat! I had a great time with my friend Carolyn – we talked, laughed, shopped, ate, talked, laughed, prayed, ate, and then we talked, laughed and ate!!! We met lots of really neat ladies! Our friends Marcie & Gloria went with us until noon on Saturday, it was fun to get to spend time with them. We met some terrific 21 year old girls–they included us in all they did which was nice (I am trying to get one for a daughter in law and I would like to hire the other for the preschool),

Our subject this weekend was being in community with God and with other friends. We talked a lot about how in America we don’t really encourage intimacy with lots of people because of our life style. We live in individual houses in neighborhoods that have walls, houses that have fences, where we usually go in our back door without seeing anyone. In contrast to women in Africa who work, eat, and socialize together surrounded by their children in neighborhoods where everyone lives together. Our modernization and mobility are deterrents to being involved and having deep relationships with not only friends but also family!

It’s time for me to change that in my life — I’m looking for friends who want to be open, honest, and real in my life! Let’s do lunch and soon!

The Raccoon Wins

Julie — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:16:00 +0000

Okay so we did trap the raccoon! The bad news is that he was able to get out of the trap—the good news is that he hasn’t come back! He is one smart raccoon. See I already knew that raccoons were smart because I am a huge fan of Where the Red Fern Grows!! In the book and the movie the raccoons are really smart, and now I know personally that they are!

I guess I am really glad it got out. I would hate to think that I was responsible for the execution of a hungry little raccoon, and I’m not sure that Wray wasn’t going to grab the cage and rush out into the woods with it! We like to think of ourselves as wildlife relocators!!!

Raccoon Update!!!

Julie — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:11:31 +0000

How sad that my life is consumed with capturing a raccoon!! He is still on the loose, only visiting at night to finish off the dog food! We got a trap from the city, but of course we couldn’t set it over the weekend, because they don’t pick up on the weekends and it would be cruel and unusual punishment to keep him in his cage for days before they take him to be euthanized!!!!!!!

Wray, camera ready, has tried to capture our new friend on film so I could post his beautiful face for all to see, but it’s hard to get him to smile for the camera! Tonight we are pulling out the stops – we are opening a new can of dog food to put in the cage instead of just a little dry stuff — keep your fingers crossed!

Sadness in Haiti

Julie — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:01:19 +0000

I have never been to Haiti, but I really want to go. It’s an incredibly poor country and I think the opportunities for ministry are tremendous there. I would love to go and try to add a little laughter to the lives of the children there–after the recent earthquake, it seems that there is great need in Haiti. As I look at the news and see the devastation, it seems really unbelievable.

While I was in Kenya several years ago, they were experiencing little earthquakes. We never felt anything, but were totally blown away when the news media there said that a big earthquake would devastate that huge city because the buildings were so poorly constructed. We saw builders holding up sides of buildings with sticks waiting for the cement to dry. I am sure Haiti’s construction is much the same. We need to be praying hard for the people of Haiti, not only now but for years to come.

Good bye 2009

Julie — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:53:15 +0000

I have to admit that I am glad 2009 is over!! It was a tough year for the Rives family, but yet there were so many blessings also! Wray lost his job in January, but was able to find work in March–bad news/good news. His new job doesn’t pay much, but God has continued to provide for us through out the year —bad news/good news! Wes graduated from Texas A&M and has a great job with Spring –good news/good news! Jacob is doing great at Texas State and will graduate in December 2010–more good news! Josh and Mindy continue to be able to work at jobs they love — still more good news! I love my job and we constantly get to welcome sweet foster children in our home–yet more good news!

I guess when you sit down and consider all I have to be thankful for, 2009 was not so bad! I hope 2010 will be another great year! This year I resolve to count my blessings daily!!!

Lessons Learned

Julie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:56:31 +0000

It is amazing what you can learn from children! Last Friday night I had another babysitting night to raise money to go to Zambia—and here is what I learned:

1. Polly Pockets are really little pieces. Even when you think you have put everyone away, there is still a little tiny piece stuck somewhere!

2. It is possible for one child to play Rock Band for 4 straight hours!!!

3. The Indiana Jones handheld game (I think it’s PSP) has camels that when you click on them they fart!

4. One little girl listened to the radio where they told about a girl who was “jumping on a trampoline and wasn’t paying attention so she fell and her face fell off”. That must have hurt!

5. Peanut butter fudge is not as much fun as rolling out cookies then icing them!

Good times!!! I can’t wait until this Friday!!

Colorful Colorado!

Julie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:02:35 +0000

Wray and I joined Josh and Mindy with her dad and family in Colorado. Billy, Mindy’s dad, has a wonderful house in Buena Vista, Colorado. The weather was gorgeous, the Aspens were breath taking and the mountains were spectacular— God did some of His best work there! We saw chipmunks, deer and elk! Mindy took some great pictures and I’ll put those up as soon as I can figure out how!

It’s a good thing it was cool today or I may have just headed right back!!!!

Whatever!!

Julie — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:09:20 +0000

Josh was in Africa — now he’s in Greece! Wray spends most of his days in Dublin. Jacob is in San Marcos, and Wes spends most of his time in College Station (until he starts work). What is a moron on the computer supposed to do if she can’t figure it out for herself —exactly what I’ve done — wait until some one can show me how to work this new format-Thanks Wray!

I’ll post a lot later –I have lots to say now!!!!

will this work?

Julie — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:05:39 +0000

I’m trying to learn how to blog in a new format—I am not a very literate computer person….help!

New Math?

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:10:24 +0000

Okay, I admit, I’m not really great at math—but I’ve decided that our government is not very good with it either! How can our government have such a huge debt and still hand out trillons of dollars in bailouts? Do they just keep printing money until we get all we need? What is our money guaranteed with? In the old days they bartered goods for goods, and guaranteed money with gold. If money is just something that can be printed, I’d like to order up a big stack of it so that Wray doesn’t have to worry about finding a job to earn money. Of course, if you could just order it up, I don’t guess anyone would need Wray’s services as a CPA in order to account for what the government was owed. So confusing, I guess that’s the reason I majored in English!