There is a Time for Everything...

It has been almost two years since my last post and I must admit that it most definitely was not an accident....but, after many trials for our family and our marriage, the TIME has COME to move forward with what God has continually presented in our lives and our hearts...to serve.

Recently we moved to a tiny little town just outside Abilene, Texas, called Cisco.  I think there are about 3,000 residents.  N,o I did not leave out a zero.  We have been welcomed in way much like our welcome to the island of Roatan, Honduras -  with open arms.

The church we attend, Calvary Baptist, has welcomed us as well.  We are not used to a small, family-like church, coming from The Woodlands Church, but guess what, we really like it! Pastor Zach has even asked Trey to pray about helping head up a church wide mission next summer.  Wow, not even knowing Trey that well, he spoke directly to Trey's heart.  God's plan for us to arrive here was no accident and it has become more and more clear as each day passes and new opportunities arise.

Trey's heart has continued to ache for the purpose that God placed there, to serve others in third world countries through a sports ministry.  He is awaiting his approval letter from the IRS for his 501 c3 status for his charity called Replay Sports International.  He will continue to collect used and new sports gear and distribute through mission teams and those serving in underdeveloped countries.  Getting kids on the soccer field and off the streets can open up some pretty great conversations about life, sometimes without even knowing the same spoken language.  Through this, our hope is to show Christ through our actions.  Hope is always contagious.

We have decided to return to Roatan for a few weeks, this June.  After talking about it,we realized that it would be great to leave an open invitation to our friends' teenagers.  One of which, Lat Nichols, spent a some of his summer break serving with us when we lived there.  Well, wouldn't you know it, but not only is he wanting to return, but his sister and at least 5 others from the youth group at the church have been saving up their money!  Never in a million years did Trey and I see ourselves as caregivers to young people or any people for that matter.  God has a plan, it is not ours to question, especially when it just keeps coming up, everywhere we turn; HE's funny like that, GOD.

So, this June, Trey and I and our two oldest kids, along with 5-7 of the youth will be in Roatan, Honduras serving in any capacity available.  Clinica Esperanza, Living Water for Roatan, Care 4 Communities and rChurch are all in need of serving hearts and hands.

Jeremiah 29:11


"For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you...to give you hope and a future"



Take Care and God Bless,
Connie and Family

We just can't stay away....

So we are about to complete our 5th month back in the states....the last couple of months have been pretty emotional.  We had many visitors as well as a great Easter and Mother's Day.  Our friends Wayne and Stacia that have four kids our kids' ages came in to visit us, the Nichols family was in for Relay for Life and stayed with us too, then we had or pastor Jeremy and his family from Roatan, come in for a couple of days too.  It was fun to catch up with everyone and truly awesome to see how easily we pick up right where we left off.  It had been over a year since we had seen Wayne and Stacia and the kids, almost two years since we all saw the Nichols family (their son Lat stayed a week with us Roatan last year), and four months since we had seen Jeremy and family in Roatan......needless to say, God placed each of these families in our lives for a purpose, many purposes really, and I can honestly say that they are all like family and will be for eternity.  So cool.

Well, we just can't seem to stay away from what God has placed in our hearts, the need to serve the kids back in Roatan.  This weekend we are collecting used sports equipment at the Conroe YMCA to send down to Roatan, Honduras.  The mission teams that we have gotten to know over the past couple of years as well as the engineers that are headed there for a month in June will be adding this gear to their baggage as they continue to give back to the community that we grew to love and still long to help.

Trey and I have been kicking around so many different ideas about ways we can use our non-profit to help others and it always seems to go back to gearing up underprivileged kids with sports equipment and enabling youth to GO and GIVE back through sports camps and VBS, volunteering at the clinic and our Church back in Roatan.....Awesome opportunities for young people and adults alike to step outside the box and follow HIM.

This reminds me that God has "a plan...for us to prosper...and give us hope and a future" (taken from Jeremiah 29:11)

Please be praying for us to open those doors that HE places before us and to grow in HIM for all that HE has planned for us.

God Bless,
Connie and Family

3 Months in The States....Who Knew It Would Take So Long To Adjust???

It has now been three months since we arrived back in the states.....WHEW!  It has been as hard to re-adjust to living in America as it was when we first arrived in Roatan, Honduras.  Who knew it would take so long to get back in the swing of things back home?  Thank God for our dear friends and family here for lifting us up in prayer and never failing to listen or just be here for us....even our friends back in Roatan have been so faithful to communicate with us, whether through quick FB chats or Skype or even just plain old email.  We are so very blessed in the midst of so much that is going on around the world.

So far our only health issues have been Anna with the flu and then a stomach bug, Wiley with bronchitis and Parker with some rare all-over body rash that was a reaction to the four vaccinations that she had just received.  Trey and I have managed to just deal with allergies and of course, my roller-coaster of emotions (I think he was getting pretty close to putting me in a straight jacket, just kidding!). 

Trey and I celebrated our birthdays on Valentines Day....he hit the big 40 and I am somewhere far being him and I am sticking to my story!  We also just celebrated our 12-year anniversary in late March, the time really flies by.  So, two big milestones and many more to come.

We have been really pleased with the neighborhood we are in, the kids all walk or ride their bikes to and from school.  They are so stinkin' independent, sometimes I just want time to stop so I can enjoy them for a just a little bit longer while they still need us and it is obvious.  Of course, there are other times that I could tell you the exact amount of time we have left until our two-year-old is 18....those are the tough days that always seem to be followed by some really rewarding moments when we realize that being a parent is the highest honor we could have ever asked for.

We have recently been battling an issue with our son, regarding his ability to focus in school and the possibility that he might be ADD or ADHD or OCD or all of the above....what a nightmare.  To be such a great kid and smart and respectful, yet unable to sit still or stay on task to the point that he may be retained for fear of failure in the next grade....anyway, we were already behind from being in Honduras so we are playing catch-up in not only a very competitive school, but also with a child that needs a little extra re-directing.  Please be praying that we can get him caught up and learn of new ways to keep him interested in the classwork so that he can be successful, without using meds.

Our  pastor, Jeremy and his wife, Melissa, from Roatan, are in the states for the next three months and will be making a stop in Conroe the second week of May.  We are praying about hosting a meet and greet/fundraiser for them while they are here.  It would be a great opportunity for our friends and family to meet some of the people that were a huge part of our lives while we lived and served in Roatan, Honduras.

Take Care and God Bless,
Connie and Family