20 Years!!

So on the 29th of this month Johnny and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. It honestly seems like yesterday and then it seems like it was ions ago. Time has gone by so fast but I feel like I've known Johnny and been a part of him forever.

God has been so good to us, not only to keep us in love with each other but for putting us together in the first place. When we reminisce about old times I'm amazed at how much alike we were. We were, in no doubt, made for each other.

20 years doesn't seem that long when you reach it but it's pretty major. For 20 years our hearts have been tied together and I have enjoyed every second of it, okay so maybe not every second but almost every second.

Anyhoo, we're headed out today on our anniversary trip. Kiddos are staying with their brother Cody and Grandma so I'm sure they'll be fine. I think Six Flags is scheduled for one of the days so it should be nice for them too. Johnny and I are taking a road trip to Arkansas and we'll be gone until next Monday. I'm so excited.

I'll be back next week with lots of photos and maybe some funny stories too.

Lady-like First Lady?

I don't seem to remember any of our First Ladies of the past in any photos like this. Hmmm, maybe she's a different sort of first lady, could be . 

LA'DY-LIKE, a.

1. Like a lady in manners; genteel; well bred.

2. Soft; tender; delicate.

Lady like?? Not quite.

A very proud Mama

This year the Joshua and Hannah got to go to teen camp for the first time ever. They have been to teen camp in Croatia before but it's not quite the same for them.
Anyhow they went to camp at Lake Texhoma and some great things happened. While both Hannah and Joshua made decisions for the Lord, Joshua made the most important. Joshua went to the front during one of the invitations and asked Jesus to save him. He thought he was saved but apparently he wasn't. Praise the Lord for Joshua's tender heart and the great thing God did in his heart.

Wednesday night Joshua was baptized at our home church in Arlington, Texas and we're so proud of him. Here are just a few photos.

Bro. Ricky Gonzales, our Spanish pastor was baptizing that night since it was the week of soul-winning. 

There is no greater blessing than to know my children are saved. Praise the Lord!!!

Yea it's the Week of Soul-Winning!

Hey now this gentleman may look a little "out there" but he definantly has the right idea.

This week at our home church is the Week of Soul-Winning. Everyday morning and night the church goes out and knocks on doors and gives folks the opportunity to be saved. 

I didn't make it yeasterday but today has been a great blessing already. My partner today was Jenette and she was a wonderful blessing to me. She is a new soul-winner and she told me she wasn't going to talk. She is bilingual with Spanish being her mother language and boy did I love it. Every time Johnny and I are in the area we go to our church soul-winning and we have been hitting one large apartment complex everytime we go. Sadly we only are able to talk to 50% of the occupants but not today. Today Jenette and I had them coming and going. The English speakers were stuck with me and Jenette got all the Spanish speakers. I was so excited for her because she was so new to door-knocking and today Jenette got to led two precious Hispanic ladies to the Lord personally. WOW, she's addicted now and she's gonna be my partner this week, yea me!!! Oh yea and I just want to thank the Lord for John, he's 12 years old and sharp as a tack. He asked Jesus to save him this morning and he was so sincere. 

Anyhow, I thought I would give a little update. We're about to head out again so I'm praying that God will save folks despite the mared vessels He'll be using tonight.

UPDATE: As of this morning (6-22) our family (minus Josh, he's been sick) has had the privilege of leading 11 people to the Lord. Hannah had a 19 year old lady saved last night and she even came back to the church to be baptized immediately. Hannah's first soul saved and baptized! God sure is good!

Red Fingernails

You know, there are a few things I just can't seem to make myself like. I have always hated white shoes, even after Labor Day I still can't make myself wear white dress shoes. I think I saw some weird lady wearing black hose with white shoes and it ruined it for me. I would never wear white shoes with black hose but I can't help but hate white shoes now.


Nude hose, now that's another. It has taken me forever to like nude hose. I don't know why but they have always been tacky to me. I still don't like 'e'm but I wear them now out of necessity. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do sometimes, whether I like it or not.  


Really high pony tails are another one of my fashion hates. Even in school when they were cool I still didn't like them. They reminded me too much of a valley girl or some silly girl like that. I loved all the other fashions from the 80s but those high ponytails just ain't for me. 


I know that what we see and experience as kids and the sorta folks that sport those styles really make an impression, whether positive or negative. I remember a lady that I knew that wore rings on both hands. While there isn't a thing in the world wrong or ugly about rings on multiple fingers my mind can't get past that lady.  I have been influenced by people I have known. Hey there are even names that I can't stand, names that evoke a feeling or thought. I'm not even gonna give my list of names in fear of hurting someones feelings that might share one of those names but it's true I do have negative feelings about some names.


Anyhow one of my real hates has always been red fingernails. I don't know why but I have always associated red nails with wild women. (disclaimer: I know that there isn't a thing wrong with red nails. I know that they are not a sign of risky women or of uncomely ladies just wanted you to know that) for some reason as a young girl I formed the opinion that red nails were a bit risky and I have never been able to wear them...Until now!


My husband recently expressed a like of red nails. He has never been vocal about about the way I dress or anything like that. The other day we were sitting having a coffee and I asked him what he thought about my grayish light purple nail polish. He replied that it was nice, reminded him or Easter and then stated that he prefers red. I was taken back a bit. Red nails?? Are you joking with me? No, he was serious. He thinks they're pretty. 
Wow, red nails are pretty? They're pretty and not risky? 


Whoa now, he likes something I hate? How am I gonna reconcile this? I can't wear red nail polish! I can't! I don't wanna be perceived like that. No I wont!!! I won't wear red nail polish! Never!


Uh oh, I thought to my self. I wont because I don't like it? Does it matter what he likes? Can I really live with red nails? I questioned my idiosyncrasies and realized that his desires are my privilege. Really, who was I trying to please? Me, others? Wow, I realized something, his opinion is so much more important than mine. I don't buy into all this women's lib junk: "I need to love myself and I'm number one." I know that self esteem is  important in a marriage but much more important is living for each other. When I live for him I'm happy. I am secure in who I am with him. I am not Tori alone, no, we are Johnny and Tori together. I have self esteem and worth with him. 

Red nails... yes red nails and the adoration of a husband that knows my desire is only unto him and his wants are my desire. So as I type this I'm watching my red nails skate across my keyboard and smiling a little to myself. It feels nice to know I have sacrificed something I like or dislike for what he wants. Red fingernails??? Yea...He's worth it!

Does HE care? Oh yea HE does!!!

   Sometimes we forget all the wonderful things God does for us. I mean He answers prayers and we praise Him at the moment but we soon forget. I'm so guilty of this. In general I tend to have quite a bit of faith but I still forget sometimes how good He is. 

   Lately we've been really going through a life change with Cody (our oldest) graduating from high school and now working his first job as a medical courier.  We were so worried about this whole change in life when we really should have remembered all the great things He has done so far. Wow, as a family we have always been blessed beyond measure, and yea I know that's a phrase but that's our phrase. God has met every need and took care of lots of desires along the way. 

   I'm so glad to see that God is now doing the same amazing things for our son Cody. When we first came to the states we were really looking for a car for Cody but we were very careful not to get in front of God. Anyhow, one day after a long trip visiting churches Johnny took our van to a full service car wash for a detailed cleaning. As he was sitting in the waiting room he overheard a conversation between an elderly lady and one of the workers. She stated that she needed her car detailed since she was selling it. Curious, Johnny went over and inquired about the car. She hadn't even put the car up for sale yet. She was moving to Hawaii and didn't need the car. Johnny went out and looked at the car and it was almost brand new. It was exactly what Cody needed and since she was a Christian she gave us a great price. God dropped that car into our laps and at such a great price. 

   So the car was all taken care of and then the next step was a job. Cody decided long ago that he was going to honor God and not work on Wednesdays or Sundays. He put in tons of applications and surprisingly to me the only one who called out of dozens of applications was a pizza place and after a interview Cody decided it wasn't for him. He told the manager that he couldn't work on Sundays and before the interview was finished the manager tried to trick him into coming in on Sundays. 

   Anyhow, we told Cody to wait on God and that He would bless his putting God first. Well, as usual, the Lord came through and he was hired on the spot as a medical courier. He delivers medical supplies and pharmaceutics. Cody is allowed to come in at anytime of the morning and he can deliver all morning and then start his route at 1:00. The job is perfect, couldn't be better for a college student.  This job almost seems too good to be true unless you remember God, the one who created the stars, shut Noah up in the Ark and preserved his family and made a way for dirty sinners to be washed clean and inherit a heavenly home. Wow, and this God isn't big enough to supply a job for a young man who loves Him and honors Him. Oh yea He is, He cares, He hears and He answers prayers. 

   What a great blessing for me to see the God that has supplied for our family and taking care of us now caring and supplying for Cody.  DOES HE CARE? OH YEA HE DOES!!!

UPDATE: Okay so the job didn't work out. They were liars and totally changed the agreement. Act Fast Couriers is a joke and they treat their employees like garbage. Yes, this is a rant but it's justified. 
I still believe that the Lord is good and that in His time Cody will get the job that he needs. We'll just have to wait a bit longer. Anyhow, just wanted to update 'cha.