As I look back at March 13 when I was blogging about my purpose here in missoula, not knowing what the future would hold at that time... God is so good. The future from march 13 to now is now past, some not so easy, some not so hard. I am amazed at every few months, looking back, I don't know how we made it this far, and I don't know how we are going to make it in the future.
But we will. we will make it and God's will will prevail. How awesome is that? I continue to pray that he stretch and mold us in the way He sees fit, to help others to know who He is. WOW! God is amazing. The wrld i soo messed up, but we can rely and have Peace in God!

Sitting in a room, a room that reminds me of maybe my highschool, White, shiny,cynderblock walls windows on 2 of those walls, trimmed with bright turquoise paint. A bold contrast of trim. Perhaps school colors? Pride in school? These windows don't lead to the bright sun, but windows to the hallway, and more windows covered with two way mirrors. theres another room with a basketball hoop attached to the wall. sometimes there are boys in there, bouncing balls. maybe a 2 on 2 game. As I sit in a classroom singing praise songs there are 9 students sitting at tables looking down at the floor mumbling the words of the song quietly. One student has a wonderful voice, singing out everyone in the room notices. to sing and worship. The walls are covered in large sheets of red and white paper. The word LOVE is artisticly Drawn, and colored in large letters near the door, there is a beautiful dove drawn right under the word love. A peaceful, loving classroom right? The stdents wear orange, all orange, a pair of red sandals and orange socks. Orange shirt orange pants. "Its aa whole new take on the color orange" one of them says. Freedom is something these kids don't have. Are they "Bad Kids"? maybe. I can tell you one of them has a voice of an angel. She even looks like a "normal" kid. her hair well kept and that beautiful voice. If you were to run into her on the street, you wouldnt ever think she would have been here. All of these kids awaiting court dates and hoping the judge will let them go "home". Why does society put the labels on these kids? Are they Bad? If you were to see them in their Highschool, would you think the same way about them? Is it their clothes? Is it the Orange? Why are they here? maybe paroll violation, maybe a cocane bust, maybe selling of ones soul,and body? Maybe theft? Are these kids marked as bad kids? some are as young as 12. some as old as 17. Do these kids have hope? Can they be somebody someday? why are they here? Are they failures that should just flush their lives and give up now? Do they have hope? No I am not talking about the "hope" like people say Obama will bring, but Hope for a "Normal" life? to find freedom, and stay free, to live a legal life. Is there hope? These children, they are children, not too mch older than my own, what kind of life have they had? Is mom a druggie? is Dad a dealer? maybe Dad is Mom' pimp? maybe they grew up in a meth house? maybe dad steals motercycles, and sells them? Maybe they never had a chance from the day they were born, maybe they never had the oppertunity to dream. Maybe they have been raising their siblings since they were very young. Are these kids forgotten? Who is to blame? Is is society? Is it their parents? Do we ignore these kids until they wrong us or their lives directly affect us? I watch people rush around daily, get to work get to appointments get to the store, looking down, or just so focused and in their own worlds, no smiling, no have a great day, no holding the door open for the person behind us. so many times it shuts in that persons face, does anyone notice? NO we are too buisy in our own world and this "great" new invention of bluetooth, um.... ok... so we can stay in our bubble even more, and wow, an excuse to not have to relate to people face to face. why bother if it isn't convinent to me?After all I am the only one who matters right? We can't do this on our own. we cant live in our own little bubble! We are here to share ourselves and our Joy with others and to share the real Hope we have in God. He has totally changed my life. I have seen Him make amazing changes in the lives of others. We can't expect these people in our communities to change on their own lives as we walk by making a business deal on our blootooth headset, and looking at them, and thinking... "oh what a thug", or "punk teenager". How are we to help these kids see? Is there hope for them? can we help them see?
Please pray for the kids that we are in contact with in the jail ministry, some really believe they have no hope. I believe they all have great potential, there is hope in Christ for each one of them, if they want to see it. Can we help them see that? How?

Wyoming and the "secret tunnels"

Pretty big glob of gross??

Thats train tracks on the other side of the ravine, Going through tunnels too!

These are the "secret tunnels," Nacho Libre

It all looks safe at this point, thats what they have you believe, but by tunnel #3... well youre ready to see those empty vistas of nothing but red rock angin!

More fun for dinner!

Not blaming anyone.... but look who is carrying Norm!

Sanfords

Fun in Wyoming. We made a special stop here to eat at this brand new place! It was fun. Much to our suprise there was a picture of cadillac ranch on the way to the bathroom! Wow we were just there... like a day ago!!! Race car Drivin!!!! Go Norm!

Little girl, ig ice cream!

Unfortuantely Norm had a little accident here... under Large statues of bugs bunny, and Daffy duck, It wasnt his demise, and he didnt meet his maker, but,... he busted his backside!

Almost to MT!

Throgh Wyoming.... through Wyoming..... and more Wyoming!!!!! Its a Loooooong Drive!!!

Almost missed this shot! but just barely made it, and that darn constrction got in the way too!

Me and my buddy Norm!

Norm made friends with Joanne the toll lady!

I dont remember what this thing was called, it was another must see thing on the roadside oddity list, we even had to back track to get the picture. Some sort of observatory??!!

park fun!

Pikes Tower & deer watching

What a view?!

This was our night in Co. we had a picnic at the park and saw a few deer,

And climbed the tower.

Heres Norm at the top. Fun family pic of al of us! while we were still smiling!

Ok not too sure ifthis was Ok. or Co. but we got to see dinosours!!
Norm enjoyed it... He is at this time in the trip, the only one who humors me in these silly little outings that are on our fabulous family FUN trip across the country!

What a shot?! Norm was deer watching!

Wheres the gun when you need it?

Yes I am a redneck! But no, wouldnt shoot a deer in the park. infact... probably wouldnt shoot a deer period, I dont like to eat deer! eeeewwww. And Yes Dad I can tell the difference!

Colorado

Me and my Boy... oh and Norm too!

More fun traveling across the country!

Watch out fro falling objects!! No not UFO's.... Bombs!!!

Norm enjoyed the ride, but the boy... well he was not as lucky!

I LOVE those eyes!!!

For real, this fell, it was a big oops I'd say!

how odd....

Boy do I love this Boy!

Groom

Ok I have to say this place is AMAZING. This is in Groom,TX about 45ish minutes outside of Amarillo,(ithink to the east) I had to beg to come by, it was a bit out of our way, But WELL worth the extra few hours it added to the road trip. WOW! It is billed as the 2nd tallest cross in the western hemisphere (I think thats right?) But there is soo much more there to see, and it isnt finished yet either, they are always adding more. One man I think was given the land and sculpted all the bronze sculptures and put Lots of $$ into this himself. it is Wow. I am sorry I didn't do it justice in all the pictures and I hope they are in order for the most part, I know the last supper isnt really in the right place, forgive me for that.

WOW it was/ is amazing.

Thank you God for your amazing grace upon us!