Amarillo.

We are now 241 miles from Amarillo, Texas, where we will spend the night. The girls will be staying with Les and Denise Simpson and the guys with Ray and Kim Allen. With the time change we should arrive in Amarillo around 7:30 this evening. Donnie is driving, I am working on this blog, and the other eight are sound asleep. Surprise, surprise! The good news: if they are asleep we don’t do many restroom stops.

We pulled out of the parking lot at First Baptist Church in Monticello around 6:20 this morning. Daniel was awake and came to see us off. He would have been mad if we had taken off without waking him so that’s what we did.

Daniel and Chris, our four-wheeler turnovers, were both feeling fine this morning with the exception of Daniel’s left hip. He said his hip was sore but other than that he said he was feeling okay.

Because we’ll probably get to our beds late this evening I’m going to get some help from the Utah Crew. I’m going to ask them the most important thing God taught them and the most exciting thing that happened:

Preston Willis - Preston said the most exciting thing for him was the ATV accident (It probably wasn’t for Daniel and Chris). What he learned, through the accident, was God has a plan for our lives and that he will continue to use and bless us until the plan is completed. It was obvious to Preston as he witnessed the accident that God is not yet finished with Daniel and Chris.

Caroline Clark - Caroline thought is was pretty cool that when the skit crew (Caroline was part of that crew) did the serious crucifixion and resurrection skit on Thursday and that the children saw that Jesus really died and went through great pain for them. Caroline said she learned that it’s not all about fun and games but more about ministering to the children there.

Corinne Rogero - Corinne said that the most exciting thing of the week was finding out that Daniel hadn’t even broken a bone despite the fact that the four-wheeler pummeled him as it rolled over. What she learned was that just because something seems right for you to do, it doesn’t mean it’s God’s will for your life. He may have something else planned for you that’s even better.

Donnie Brown - Donnie thought that the most exciting thing was the overwhelming friendliness and love of Pastor John, Echo, and the church family at First Baptist. God has taught him, through the experiences of the week, that we must trust God more. Even though things don’t always go as we would want them to we can still learn through those times.

Chris Rogero - Chris learned from climbing a rock formation that we cannot put God in a box and that God is all-powerful. The sight from the top of the rock was breath-taking and spectacular.

Katie Milliner - For Katie, the most exciting thing was that VBS was smaller making it easier to get the children focused. God confirmed the fact that he works all things out for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

Chris Stiles - His most exciting thing was riding to the hospital in the back of the ambulance. He learned that nothing is impossible when God is on our side.

Olivia Ricketts - She said the most exciting thing was when two little pre-school girls in her class accepted Christ. She learned to trust God no matter what the situation.

MacyAnn Holland - She, too, said the most exciting thing was the two girls in her preschool class that trusted Jesus. She learned that God allows us to go through different difficulties to teach us what he wants us as individuals to learn. She also learned how the body of Christ should love one another and God orchestrates and has a plan in everything

For me every day is a brand new lesson. I’m thankful for every bonus day God gives me and want to take in all he wants to teach me. Out here in Utah I was again reminded of the absolutely incredible Creator we worship. Everywhere we went and everything we saw cried out, “We have a Creator, a Designer, and we want to declare his glory” (Psalm 19:1). Over and over, God continues to teach me the real meaning of awesome: Deuteronomy 10:17. My most exciting part of the week was being back again with my extended family in Monticello, Utah.

We’re now 123 miles from Amarillo!

We just ate supper with Les, Denise, Faith, and Meredith Simpson and Ray, Kim, Bailey, and Karley Allen at Blue Sky in Amarillo. The burgers were great and big and the fellowship was even better.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

-Romans 8:28

We are now in Amarillo!