Well it’s about time I update the blog about our crazy November!  The month we had been preparing for was finally here and I felt anxious and excited all at the same time.  Daniel and the team had been working really hard for this out-of-country event and it is always exciting to see it come together.  And we had been working really hard to be out of the country and out of town for an entire month…no easy task.

We finished the Master Bedroom and Daniel was able to get the windows out and drywall and paint in the baby’s room the day before we left for Mexico.  I am so proud of all of his hard work, his mad skillz, and for being the best husband I could ask for!  He was in Portland three days before we left so it was a mad dash to get everything done but when you are leaving town for a month, it’s kind of important to tie up all the loose ends.

After landing in Cancun, we spent the afternoon hanging out in Customs because they did not like some of the equipment we had brought with us.  Thankfully, we both took it in stride and tried to enjoy our time in the airport..hmmm…well, not really…but we did not get frustrated, which was good.  After much negotiation, lots of smiling and trying to buddy-buddy with our guy, lots of questions, some official looking paperwork and our unwillingness to hand over several hundred dollars in cash, they still wouldn’t let us take it with us so we had to leave it behind for the next day and try again.

We arrived at the resort, which was fabulous, and I was really proud of Daniel and the team for picking such a great place.  I had visited another resort with him earlier in the year and loved it but thought the Paridisus was much better suited for Entreleadership.  I know everyone back at the office was giving the team a really hard time for getting to work in Mexico but let me tell you, it was non-stop for 10 days straight.  Of course it was in a beautiful location, with awesome people, and great food, but I only set foot in the pool and beach twice the entire time and I was not even on staff!  It was awesome to serve and help out my husband, the team, and the awesome attendees.  We had a chance to sit down and talk with so many great people, hear amazing stories, and encourage many along the way.

And let me just say, I am amazed at what my husband is a part of each and every day.  What Dave Ramsey shares with these awesome business owners is incredible and the fact that my husband gets to know them, their business, and support them in what God has called them to do is amazing.  It really is a great opportunity and I feel so blessed that God has us here.  We love Nashville, we love Lampo, we love Fellowship, we love our friends and feel like the Lord is using us, growing us, changing us, and that we are right where He wants us to be.

It has been interesting over the last several months, as there have been so many global and national issues overshadowing the truth and peace of Christ, to be in the position that we are in particularly when so many that we love are hurting and struggling in these “tough times”.  I struggled for a few weeks with fighting off guilt for what we were a part of and then realized how stupid that was.  It’s hard though when you care so much for people but at the same time, by feeling that way, I was highlighting earthly problems more than the faithfulness of my Savior and His current leading in our lives.  And to hear from the backbone of the American economy, the small business owner, more times than not how great business has been this year and how they are fighting to win the battle against the naysayer and continue to pursue what God has for them and their business, I cannot help but be optimistic and grateful!  And after this last Sunday’s message from Celestin of ALARM Ministries, I am convicted now more than ever to not let even fear around me overshadow my hope and that the best way I can love others who are hurting and fearful is to be hopeful.  So, if you are one of those people, count me as at least one person who has HOPE and you can borrow mine if you need to for awhile. 

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this GRACE in which we stand, and we REJOICE in HOPE of the glory of God.  More than that, we REJOICE in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces HOPE, and HOPE does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Here are a few more pics! And a special thanks to Laura & Heather for letting me borrow some super cute maternity clothes for a trip to the Mexican Riviera!  It’s no easy task to have two weeks worth of resort beach maternity clothing in the middle of November and I’m truly grateful for your great taste and your generosity.  It helped me so much to not have to buy a summer maternity wardrobe.

Where will Entreleadership be next November?!?!  I cannot wait to find out!

Today is 9/11/08, 7 years later.  I’m not watching the media coverage of today’s events so I’m not as intune with what is going on this year.  Check out my post from this day last year: The 6th Year.

After being sick last weekened and also missing out on Emily M’s planned visit, it ended up being a very low key weekend.  I ended up watching movies and laying on the couch trying to eat rather unsuccessfully but finally felt better on Sunday.  Daniel was in Tampa and got back in time for us to go to Fellowship on Sunday which had an awesome video about www.frontporchministry.org.

I’ve felt really good this week and was able to get a lot accomplished.  I’ve also been walking in the mornings about 2-3 times a week with my friend Missy and that has been a very good thing.  Emily M & I met for lunch in Ardmore, TN (what a name!) at our little mexican food restaurant and enjoyed a good four hours of conversation.  Always a plus and she gave me our first official baby gift!  SO fun.

I listened to the Dave Ramsey Small Business Theme Hour on Wednesday and finally got to here Daniel’s radio ad about Entreleadership!  It’s been running for awhile and he keeps getting calls from friends across the country about it but every time I listen, I never hear it so I was way excited.  We’ll be heading to Cancun in November for a spectacular event.  I actually did some quick maternity sale shopping because I realized I will need off season clothes and a bathing suit and did not want to pay full price at a specialty store that carries those things year round.  Thank you Target.  And I hope they fit.

We’re heading to Atlanta today for Daniel’s business trip and I actually need to go pack.  Since the last 4 weekends he has been out of town or we’ve been busy with the wedding, I’m really looking forward to getting to be together all weekend.  Atlanta is not really one of my favorite places (I think I’ve been there too much) but you can always find something to do and somewhere to eat so it should be good.  I’m also hoping we will have plenty of time to talk and make decisions about baby stuff so we could have the answer to the “finding out question” when we get back.

I’ve been really into keeping up with the hurricane news and am concerned about the Texas coast and what Ike wil decide to do since I have a lot of family in the Houston area. I also hope my brother & sister in law decide to update their blog about it. Hint, hint.

And for the pregnancy update many of you want….I’m 16 weeks as of yesterday and I think I may have felt the baby move this morning.  Not sure, but I think so.  I’ve got the very painful sciatic nerve pain going on too so I had to lay on one side all night long.  That’s hard for me because I tend to change sleeping positions often.  But because of that, I think the baby was hanging out on one side so when I pressed on that side of my belly, I definitely felt a reaction.  So then I did it a lot and then had Daniel try and we both felt something.  I’m not totally convinced and it wasn’t spontaneous movement so I’m still waiting to call it official.

So there’s this week in review.  Happy Weekend.

Dave Ramsey’s November Entreleadership Event is being held in the Mexican Riviera so Daniel and some other team members had some site visits in March. We decided to go a few days early to enjoy a little Mexican vacation and because we knew neither one of us would enjoy it without each other. It was so fun, very relaxing, and an incredible treat!

The Mexican Riviera – March 2008

The flowers in our room when we arrived

Our view from our room

On the beach

Mexican coffee every morning

Staring at the ocean

Aren’t we cool? Hmmm…

Our night at the Brazilian Restaurant

We missed the show but not the pic

The classic beach pic

We missed the most important pictures, though. Daniel in the hammock and Emily in the pool lounge chair. That’s where we were if we weren’t eating or sleeping. It was the slowest paced vacation ever and exactly what we wanted and needed.