Rose City Baptist Church

The Vineyard family had a wonderful trip this weekend to Tyler, TX. The home of a thousand churches. I believe that there were more churches per square mile in Tyler than I have ever seen before. Even when we turned down the two lane farm to market road you would think that you might see the small country church. No, it was the mega church in the woods and not just one but threee or four. The whole experience was a blessing and I will tell you about tonight because we are about to start TAKS testing and I do not want to get into trouble. PEACE!

Easter at the Vineyard's

Tripp's Big Day!!!

This is illegal for me to be posting the pictures that you see here today but I figure I know where most of the seven people live that might read this. So don't tell the coppers that I posted Tripp's pics. I am tired of waiting, so here he is at his 1st Birthday. He dove right in to the cupcake covered in green icing. You know this Easter as a child of the Living God I celebrate the sacrifice of the Son of Man and as a Father I celebrate the receiving of the son of mine. Praise God for his great gifts.

Palm Sunday at New Birth Ministries

This is a new house that the guys are fixing up.

This is the main ministry house.

Pastor Charles and Denise Hart

I have the wonderful opportunity on the first Sunday of every month to go and preach at New Birth Outreach Ministries. New Birth is a Christian based drug rehab program run by Charles and Denise Hart. This Sunday Joley, Tripp and I headed over and what a blessing it was. My message today was about Palm Sunday and how we as believers today need to revisit that day that Jesus went willfully into Jerusalem. I wanted to try and understand Jesus as he wept over the city. When was the last time I wept over my city? It was truly a blessing because five of the residents made a commitment to trust Jesus for the very first time. Please be in prayer for this ministry, they are doing such a great work, they operate 90% of the ministry on the gifts of Charles and Denise. Also, pray for the men that are currently being set free from addictions and turning their lives over to Christ.

Spring Picnic

Olivia had some friends over today and they had a picnic. What a glorious day that the Lord gave us today. It was good to be outside. Olivia is such a blessing. She is so beautiful and her creativity is awesome. She loves to speak in a British accent especially when she has tea and crumpets. We will soon be able to show some pics of my boy because we are almost done with the adoption. Tomorrow will be april 5th and that is the end of the 90 day period that we had to wait before we could file our paperwork. As long as no cousins, aunts, or random grandparents come out of the woodwork between now and midnight tonight we are in good shape. Please continue to pray for this process and that it would be over with soon.

Spring break photo trip!

I hopped in a car at about 6:30 in the morning with a Brother in Christ that happens to be one of my Principal's at my school. We traveled about 180 miles in about 9 hours. We stopped where ever we wanted and snapped as many pictures as we could. Hope that you enjoy a few of them.

Sorry it's been a while.

I have not written anything in quite a while and I apologize. I will try to keep up. For those who know us and our situation with our foster children know that we experienced a loss after Christmas. One of our kids was removed and placed with a friend of the birth family. This is the second child that we have lost. Here is the thing. Our case worker says," Well you knew that was a possibility you should not let yourselves get so attached. " WHAT? You have got to be kidding me. Here is a baby, live with it for four months, feed it, keep it clean, give it a bed and warm clothes, stay up all night long with it soothing it when it cries, make it a part of your family, but DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH IT! DO NOT LOVE IT LIKE A SON. I am sorry that is impossible. I feel like because I am a foster parent people see me as someone who should not have a problem with a child leaving. That is your job. It is what you do. Your are a FOSTER parent. If a parent gives birth to a child and that child lives for four months and then dies, the whole family is devastated. They grieve the loss of that child. That is what you expect. A mother and a father that will never have that son or daughter again should be devastated. Their family understands, their friends understand, even their job understands. However, when we lost both of our boys to family placements I did not lose foster children I lost sons. Instead of grieving I had to, shove it all inside, get up ,and go to work the next day. It has taken a while for me to get to my breaking point and I have. That is why I have not written. I did not have anything to say to anyone but now I do. I love those two boys, I hurt for those two boys, I experience loss for those two boys, I have and continue to weep for those boys. They are my sons. Jay Jay and Gabe I Love you.