Jan 19, 2016

2016 Winter Tour

My apologies everyone for making this post super late.
Our month long Winter Tour started out with our back axle giving out right outside of Birmingham AL. We were on our way to the We Care Prison Crusade when it happened. We were only about two hours away from our destination! Dad called a towing company and had them tow our bus to the nearest mechanic shop, which happened to be a half hour from where it broke down.
Then, while they were in the process of towing it, one of the wheel bearings burned up. It was then necessary to load the motorhome onto a trailer of a semi truck.
It was late by the time they made it to the shop.
I just want to tell you all though that God was so faithful on this trip. He provided all of our needs and took care of all our concerns. He was so good!

Some friends of ours were very generous and let us use their motorhome for the week of the AL Prison Crusade.
Time to transfer our stuff!


Laurissa, packing up some food items from our broken motorhome, to the other.


Smiles (or half smiles =) from the motorhome.

The Crusade was once again a huge blessing!
We saw so many men and women touched through the music, preaching and testimonies given by the volunteers. God was definetly at work in the hearts of the inmates. We all came away feeling blessed, encouraged and uplifted from the week.

Since we still didn't have our motorhome back by the end of the crusade, we were starting to worry a bit about how we were going to get to our next destination, which was Dothan Alabama. But the same friends which lent us their motorhome earlier were generous once again and offered to drive us there. Which for them, it wasn't all that bad because it was already on their way. Their destination was Florida, so it all worked out just fine!
As you can probably imagine, it was definetly a tight squeeze. Jamming fifteen people in one veicle, six of them being small children was a challenge.


Once we got to our friends in Dothan, it felt good to get out and stretch.

Here Dad is playing Kubb with the youngsters.




The cheerleaders.


Miranda and Laurissa enjoying the sun.


Believe it or not, this mound of dirt is an ant hill, not a gopher pile.


Dad, driving these cute kiddos around.


Everyone had lots of fun on this go-cart.


Biking!




Playing frisbee.



Later that week, us ladies went into town and did some shopping.


Smiles!


We also did some jamming.


Us and the Byrd children.

Thank you so much Byrd family, for taking us into your house and for the hospitality you gave us during that week long stay. You truely were a blessing!

Some of you may be wondering how we got back to our motorhome and got all of our stuff switched back in their original places. Well, that was one of the many examples of God's faithfulness to us.
While we were in Dothan, we happened to meet a friend of the Byrd's who owned a RV shop. He and Dad talked, and he offered to drive us all the way to our concert in Macon Goergia, which in itself was three hour drive one way. Then drive all the way to Birmingham so we could pick up the motorhome, and then that same night drive the four hours back down to Dothan.
God is so good! He provided for our needs.

On the road again!


Stuck in traffic.


Later in the trip we visited some good friends in Iowa.
I would have to say our favorite thing about traveling is both meeting new people, and reconnecting with past friends. It is such a treat for us!


Smiles from Miranda and Allison, plus some Witzenburg girls.


These two munchkins had fun helping Laurissa make cinnamon rolls.


The guys playing Hearts.


Smiles from Kaylee Witzenburg and yours truly.


Their player piano was a fun experience for us younger generation.


Smiles from these two cuties.


This little guy is such a doll.




Smiles with more friends in Iowa.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19


Jan 4, 2016

Thanksgiving!

I know this post is really late, so my apologies everyone.
This year we had Thanksgiving up in Manitoba Canada with our sister Andrea and her family.
It was so nice to spend time with the whole family, including Joel's parents.


The table is ready!


Everyone, minus a few...


The pumpkin pie was scrumptious!



The pie face game.



Leana absolutely loved spending so much time with all the aunties!


Cuddles with Aunty Miranda.


Ethan with his grandma...


As you can imagine, we were all wanting to hold this little guy.


Me enjoying time with this little bundle of joy.


So precious!


~ The Maendel family ~


"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and forget not all his benefits:
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-2,5