My Matt






It's always nice to be missed. And Matt planned a surprise date for me this past Saturday, the day after I got back from east Africa.
Arranged for a sitter and took me to Orange Hill restaurant and had a great time being together and enjoyed great food.
Matt is such a great husband, so sweet and romantic. The day I got home their were beautiful flowers and a sweet card waiting for me. And the house was clean!!!


I love you Matt and these 11 years have been wonderful.














Glad to be home






I'm so glad to be home after being gone for 14 days. East Africa was awesome and spending time with the m's there was a joy and honor. The people there were so friendly and sweet.


Becky and I left Thursday night 8/7 around 8:30. Everything was fine and dandy, but after two hours into the flight I started to feel a little sick. Before I knew it I ended up in the bathroom vomiting. And that continued for the next 8 hours. When we arrived in London my allergies started to act up, and for those who know me, my allergies pretty much knock me out. So we had to reclaim our bags in London and then re-check them. Still feeling pretty bad at this point and I had another 8 hour flight from London to Nairobi, Kenya. I was feeling a little better during this flight so I was very thankful for that. Well, as we started to descend my stomach decided to act up and so the vomiting began. On top of everything else our layover in Nairobi was six hours and feeling the way I did, I was miserable. The airport was small and I tried to lay down in a row of chairs, but at least my stomach settled down a bit.


Saturday afternoon we finally arrived in east Africa and one of the m's picked us up and called a couple ladies on his team who are nurses to let them know that I was sick. Side note: because of the high level of security these M's are in, names will not be mentioned or the exact location of their work.

We arrived at one of the M's house and immediately my temp was taken and I was given a hydration drink and anti-nausea pills. Those pills actually worked too. They thought maybe the anti-malaria pills combined with the motion of the airplane caused my upset stomach. I took the anti-malaria pill as we left LAX.


We were taken to our hotel, the Daisy Hotel, and I crashed. One would think I'd slept for the next 12 hours especially after 26 hours of travel time and being sick. NOPE, I think I slept about 6 hours. Becky and I enjoyed a nice breakfast at the hotel that included fruit, awesome passion juice, eggs and sausage(which was actually a hot dog), we did not eat the hot dog.


For lunch we were picked up by an awesome family who are M's there and they're from CA too.

They took us to an Indian restaurant and had such a great time with them and their kids.


On Monday we left for a town that's about an hour away for our conference. Becky and I took care of the 2-5 year olds for the week and had so much fun. One of the boys there who is the youngest of the fam from CA is absolutely hilarious. We enjoyed getting to know all the M's there and eating with them and talking with them. We were so blessed by their stories and we left there so humbled. Each and every one of them was so sweet and just fun to be around.


Something we don't have to worry about here in the U.S is mosquito netting around our beds and we don't have to worry about putting bug spray on ourselves and kids every night. This is something the M's have to do every day and night.


One of the days Becky and I got up around 5:30 to watch the sun rise and I'm glad we did, because it was a great time of reflection. I listened to music and just walked and prayed along the beach.


After our week at the conference center we were supposed to go on a safari, but it turned out that the cost was double the price quoted, so the safari was out. We were then given the option to go to the island for about a day in a half. We went with another group from Florida to the island and enjoyed the 15 minute plane ride to the island. We went in a 12 seater plane and it was the coolest plane ride ever. The Indian ocean is gorgeous and something we noticed about that ocean, no waves, just quite little ripples.


When we arrived on the island we met up with one of the M's there and she took us shopping and we loved how this lady engaged her people group. She exchanged numbers with one of the shop keepers and was invited to tea in two ladies homes. God is definitely as work in this place. We love how this M shops and shares, this is how she engages her people.


This island was exactly what we wanted to experience. We enjoyed the culture and being in the middle of the market place was quite the cultural experience. Fish being gutted right there in front of us, goats and cows being butchered right there too. And the smell, my goodness, I guess you'd get used to it. I just held my breath till we passed through the fish and meat sections.


After an hour or so of shopping we met up with Ali and he gave us a two hour tour of the city and he shared with us the different doors that are around the city and their meaning.


After our tour we did a little more shopping and then we went to the M's house for dinner and to sleep. Becky and I could have easily spent a week with this family.


By this time I was missing home so much. I needed to hear mommy so badly, and a hug from my Matt. So we came back to the mainland on Tuesday morning and the next few days we just hung out with the other volunteers from Florida and we had a blast with them. We took the taxi into town many times and just the taxi rides is an experience. Traffic is so bad there and one taxi driver would drive on the sidewalk (which is actually dirt) and through the gas station and just swerving and cutting other people off. It was hilarious.


There is more I could share, it's just easier to share face to face.


Becky and I left Thursday morning around 3:00 and began our long trek home. We went back to Nairobi, only about a two hour layover and then 8 hours to London on Virgin, best airline ever. They constantly fed us and even gave us a little bag with a sleep mask, socks, toothpaste and toothbrush. And the leg room was more that any other airline. We had about a two hour layover in London and then we headed to New York and about the last two hours of our flight to New York I got sick again and vomiting in the bathroom. Of course our layover in New York was about 6 hours, over night, and we had to re-claim our bags and could not re-check them till 3:00 in the morning. I ended up sleeping on a bench in the airport till 3:00 and we checked our bags and we got to our gate and just waited to get on the last 5 hours of our travels.


It's so good to be home and I enjoyed every minute of my trip and thank you to all who helped me get to Africa and all those who helped watch Luke.

Got my purse, I'm going!!!

Suitcases packed, child care taken care of, food in the fridge...I'm ready!!!
Around 8:30 Thursday evening Becky and I will be on our way to east Africa, by way of London and Nairobi. A total of 26 hours of travel time. I am so excited, words cannot express the joy of seeing God's hand in all of this. God provided the funds for me to go and I cannot wait to see what wonderful things God has in store for us.
I will definitely miss my boys; Luke and his warm smile every morning, our bike rides to the beach and our reading time. Matt and his kisses, our walks after dinner and our conversations.
I pray that Becky and I will be a light shining forth His love and glory. That we will be able to let go of what's safe, secure and predictable and just solely trust in almighty God. That we will return forever changed.

I just want to thank all those who are taking care of my Luke while I'm away, Suzanne Faris, Katelynn, April, the Beals and my mom-in-law Sue. You guys are awesome.
Thank you to all those who are praying for our journey and know that Becky and I covet your prayers and appreciate each and every one of you.

I will try to post when I can while I'm there.
God bless you all and I can't wait to share when I get back.

Cutlerama???

Actually, this blog so far has been all about Luke. I guess I'll be able to post a few things about MY activities once I return from TZ. Until then, it's pretty much all about Luke and the joy and fun he brings into our lives.

Body Boarding 101




Beach time with my Luke

Such a cutie!!!

This is Luke's bat cave.



Luke trying to body surf.


This is my last week at the beach with Luke. I get back from east Africa on Friday 8/22 and go right back to work on Monday 8/25.
Luke and I spend so much time at the beach all summer, and I will especially miss that time with him.

Four More Days


Well, Becky and I leave for east Africa in four days. I guess I should start packing so I won't wear what I will take. We will be taking a "few" things that we will need for our VBS group and for some goodie bags for the M's there, stuff they cannot buy in east Africa.

This pic is what I'll be taking in my luggage, now double it, and Becky has the other half.

Kelly's Wedding


Our friends Kelly and Dave were married on Friday, August 1. It was a gorgeous ceremony and the Lord was definitely honored and glorified that evening.
It was also great to see Linda, Jeslin and Scott. It's always hard to say goodby to such great friends. You guys are missed and know that Matt, Luke and I appreciate your friendship and we love you.