The 15th birthday celebration

Here we are on Saturday, March 23 decorating/preparing for Laura's 15th birthday celebration! In Mexico ththe 15th birthday is a very big deal - like a wedding here in America.

Details...details...

We're gettin' there!

We went and changed before the party. Here we are all fresh and clean, ready to meet people.

Playing prelude music and deciding on songs to play for the ceremony.

The processional - we played "To God be the Glory"

Isn't she beautiful?

First Day in Mexico

We arrived in Mexico on Thursday evening (2/21) and got checked into our hotel, etc.
On Friday morning we went shopping to fill the refrigerator, and that evening we went to The Pan de Vida church to see if the missionary pastor and his family were there.

Bible school was finished when we arrived at the church, but the Vasquez family was still there. They were not expecting us, so you can imagine what a surprise it was when Damaris saw us walking toward the church! She and mom went running to each other and just hugged and cried!!!

Truly a "family reunion". On the left is Damaris and Luis (two of the pastor's children) Pastor Luis Miguel welcomes mom and Mrs. Lupita is standing to the right.

Damaris holding a girl who was still there from bible school.

Here is Pastor Luis' other daughter, Dana, holding one of the baby's.
We didn't know it, but one of the young lady's from church - Laura was turning 15 the next day and everyone was preparing for the traditional 15-year fiesta. They invited us and we agreed to come early and decorate, serve drinks, etc.

We're Back!

Hey everyone! We JUST got back from Mexico. Will be posting pictures and updates more frequently. I'm sorry that there have been no updates.

The Creation Museum

On Saturday, January 19 we went to the Creation Museum again. They keep on adding things each time we come. This was the first addition we saw when we walked in.

These photos are out of order...just random snapshots here and there. A little further down you'll see the ark under construction.

Here's Craig waiting to see the Planetarium!

I think this shot was taken at the end of the day...he looks a little tired.

Here's the big dinosaur in front of the museum.

We went to Cracker Barrell after the museum...Paul's favorite restaurant!

Back to the Creation Museum. I think Eve was pregnant with Seth here.

Yup...there I am being goofy

Lydia enjoys the museum

Look at those hard working men! Trouble is, they've been working ever since we came the first time back in August and they're still sawing through the same boards!

Here's a model of what they're aiming for.

Entering the Garden of Eden

Lots of critters

Here's Adam trying to pet a mountain lion with a sheep under his arm...really neat to imagine!

Looking, reading, learning

The serpent

In Nashville

I found my NEW CAR!!!! Right there in downtown Nashville...I know they were thinking of me! Oh wait...the harp won't fit...well, I could pull a trailer...but that would take away the fun...oh well...maybe next time.

AHA! Now THIS will carry the harp! Yeah, I think we found it now. Talk about being safe in an accident...

Here are two incredible songwriters: Dave Berg and Georgia Middleman. This was on Saturday afternoon, we enjoyed some time with them at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ford Theater.

This was on Monday night after walking over 8 miles. We went to Macy's to meet up with a friend of ours to go out to dinner. We had a nice evening. Here's mom in front of the Macy's building.

And here I am advertising for Macy's with a brand new fluffy down coat. Talk about a "coat so warm a cold wind can't get through" (Dave Berg)

More Wreck Pics

Here Bradley is on Monday sitting in the back seat looking at how much room he had to be thrown around just two days ago.

Here he found a spot he broke on the back of the seat, probably with his knee or something. There's even still a little dried blood on the seat from his hand.

Here's the view from the inside looking out the front window.

This is the side we rolled on.

This is the side the impact came on. Doesn't look like the road hit this side at all.

The Car Wreck

On Friday night mom, Brad and I (Deanna) went to Nashville, TN again to stay until Tuesday Jan. 15. On Saturday morning we got up at 4:15am and left at 6am to go audition for a new talent thing called "Can You Duet" where Mom and I were going to sing together. As we were driving down the road mom was singing the song, I was filling out paper work and Brad was putting on his coat when we went through a flashing red light without stopping. Another vehicle was coming through the flashing yellow light at a fast pace and ran into our bumper. Our car slid over and hit the curb which blew our tire and we flipped landing on the roof.

Within seconds all three of us were out of the car safely and the police, ambulance, taxi, street people, etc. stood in amazement at God's protection. Bradley was not buckled in the back seat and got pretty beat up but didn't have any broken bones. Mom was in shock for a while after the accident and left with a small cut on her finger and I only have a cut smaller than a cat scratch from when the man broke my window to get me out of the car.

We ended up staying in Nashville and continuing on with our plans, coming home last night. We are praising God that He has spared us.

Here we are at the scene of the wreck just hours later on Saturday afternoon.

On Monday we walked 4 miles one way to see the van at the impound lot. We wanted to know if it would be worth it for dad to bring a trailer to take it home

The other car hit us on the passenger side rear bumper

Considering everything that happened the structural integrity of the passenger compartment held up extremely well

I think the car was sitting upside down on the curb where the roof is dented in.