Brenda can ride a bike!

With no training wheels!


A while back, Abi and Katie went garage sale shopping for some bikes for us. They found three bikes that we have been riding. We have tanken many bike rides since.
Little Brenda is only five, she has many times been left behind on the bike ridingbecause she didnt have a bike. Her older siblings each have one they can ride or borrow. We have dried many tears as she watches a group of kids take of on the bikes.
She had a little bike, but both of the tired were pretty much gone. I had promised her that as soon as i had some extra cash we would fix her bike. But amazingly her big brother came to the rescue. He took the back tire of off another bike and placed it on hers. She came by the house the other day saying, "i can ride a bike, Tony fixed my bike, and i dont even need training wheels."
so there she is, riding non stop all day long..

...heres to awesome big brothers that offer what they can, that sacrifice for you. She will always see men in a different way because of it. And some day she will be able to him as he has given to her.

May Update

I found out, almost a month ago now, that I am going to Chicago! I cannot believe the path that God has created for me over the past year and leading into this next one. Only He could have taken me from where I was to where I am now and I am so excited to be on this crazy journey walking next to Him. I am truly psyched for Chicago. In all honesty I have wanted to move to Chicago since I was a freshman in college and knowing I am going to be living there in just a few short months is incredible. My friends I think are just as excited, if not more, that I am going to Chicago because it's the closest of MY's destinations to our "home" here in Joplin. It still is like 9 hours away, but it's the closest. I keep telling them that there are only certain times we are allowed visitors and that I can come home, but that doesn't seem to change their excitement. Many of them are from the Chicago land area and therefore I guess feel this new sense of bonding with me now that I am moving to their home turf. Whatever the reasons are for their excitement, all I know is I am so glad they are excited. My community here are my brothers and sisters and transitioning together as a group through changes for our friends has always been key. We want to be in each other's lives enough that no distance will change our commitment to one another. So moving to Chicago is an awesome high this month!
Another high has been the fifteen billion birthdays this month. Literally like 60% of our entire friend group has birthdays in April and May and so the last month and a half has been like one long birthday party, but what better thing to celebrate right? Also, May 1 marked 3 years of following Christ for me and that just rocks in itself!
The final and greatest high has been the birth of Uriah Daniel Gonzalez, the first baby in our group! The parents are my neighbors and dear friends and being beside them through the whole pregnancy has been an incredible journey. It is so exciting to have him here now with us.
This is just a taste of the great things that are going on these days. As the weather warms up, all the kids are coming out to play and biking around town has become our new favorite pastime (I even learned how to ride with a kid on the bike with me yesterday!). We have started taking cookies across the street to our local AA/NA meeting and that has been really cool meeting new people and their kids. There has been a lot to rejoice over this past month and I wanted to share just a little with you all.

Baby Gonzalez is here.

Late last night Eddie and Emilie (plus crew) headed to the hospital for the birth of their first child. Uriah Daniel Gonzalez was born this morning at 7:16am. He was 21 inches long and weighed 7 pounds.
Mom and baby are doing well. Resting and visiting with family and friends.

God is good. Please join is in prayers of thanksgiving to Him for the newest resident of God's Resort.