Re: Bag of Love for the Homeless

Well friends,

Our friends and I had great intentions of making this happen. But with some prayer and counsel from a ministry involved with the homeless we have decided not to do this. We were sad at first but now we are going to help out a different ministry that needs some help but can not be discussed. Thank you to anyone who was bathing this in prayer. Matt and I personally are wanting to help another family from my work. All in all I still feel like we are showing Crazy Love this Christmas. I pray that we are honoring God in the things that we are choosing to do.

Bags of Love for the Homeless

Dear Family and Friends,

My friends and I are heading up something that God put before us after we read the book, CRAZY LOVE. After much prayer with our families, we feel led and so excited to do what God is asking us to do! Our project, Bag of Love for the Homeless, will take place on Christmas Morning at Sunrise . We will go out with our families and find the homeless in Lubbock and give them a bag of goodies as well as share the Love of Christ with them. We personally are so excited to greet Christmas morning with the excitement of what God is going to do rather than the excitement of the gifts under the tree!!

If you would like to be a part of this, please join us! We already have a couple of other families and an extra teenager or two that are coming along to help out! If you are not able to attend but would like to donate any item listed below, I would be more than happy to get it from you. If you know of a business who would like to donate items, please let me know, also. We have contacted Wal-Mart as well as United, and are waiting for a response. We are making breakfast burritos to deliver that morning (they can easily be individually wrapped) and are trying to figure out how to transport coffee/hot chocolate downtown!?! (any ideas?!?) We will also have juice boxes for any children we locate.

However, the most important thing we ask for is your prayers! Pray for God to show us where to go and for the hearts of the homeless to be receptive to hearing the Good News of our Lord and Savior!!! Ironically, there was an article in our local paper not long ago that stated that at any given time, there are easily 600+ people on the streets in our city. That is just heartbreaking.

We can’t wait to see what God does this Christmas Morning!!


MERRY CHRISTMAS ~

Matt, Francis & Bailey



PS..If you would like to make a donation, if I could make sure to have it before December 15th, that would be great! Thanks again!!

List of items needed for Bag of Love for the Homeless

Blankets

Sleeping Bags

Socks

Beanies (hats)

Gloves

Thermal Underwear

Baby Wipes

Hand Sanitizer

Lotion

Chap Stick

Travel Mug

Deodorant

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Towel

Bottle Water

Cereal Bars

Animal Crackers

Gold Fish

Peanut Butter Crackers

Cheese Crackers

Trail Mix

Bibles

Inspirational Books

Playing Cards

Puzzle Books

Pens

Notepads

Juice Boxes

Bags for all the items (Reusable bags from United or Wal-Mart)

Our project will take place on Christmas Morning at Sunrise . This will be a time of sharing our love and most importantly Christ!


Matt and Francis Daniels

549.2444 or 559.5669

Kim and Ray Don Wideman

632.7964 or 214-608-1406

Kara and Jason Marshall

392.0179 or 773.3735

Austin Wideman

632-7964

Landry Allen

544-8413

Bailey at the park.

OUR FAMILY VACATION WENT WELL. WE HAD A GREAT TIME TAKING BAILEY TO THE ZOO. SHE LOVED IT AND IS VERRY MUCH CONVINCED THAT WE WENT TO BARNEY'S ZOO. THEN WE WENT TO MY AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE IN STEPHENVILLE. HAD A BLAST WITH THEM. WE TRIED TO GO TO A WATER PARK ON sUNDAY BUT WE GOT RAINED OUT. SAD DAY. BUT THE KIDS HAD FUN WHILE IT LASTED.

MY SURGERY

DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

MY SURGERY WENT REALLY WELL. WHEN I WENT BACK TO GET PREPPED FOR SUGERY MY NURSE WAS A LADY FROM OUR CHURCH THAT I HAD TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL WITH. THAT REALLY HELPED CALM ME DOWN. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE SURGEON THAT I USED WAS THE ONE THAT SHE WOULD HAVE USED PERSONALLY. AFTER I WASHED UP GOOD THEY STARTED AN IV AND TOOK SOME BLOOD. THEN THEY SENT ME TO A HOLDING AREA AND STARTED MY ANESTHESIA. I WENT TO SLEEP WHEN I WOKE UP IT WAS ALL OVER. I WAS IN PAIN.THEY GAVE ME SOME PAIN MEDS TO REGULATE MY PAIN. ONCE I COULD BREATHE ON MY OWN THEY TOOK ME BACK TO OUTPATIENT FROM THERE THEY SAID THAT I COULD GO HOME AS SOON AS I HADE GONE TO THE RESTROOM. I DID AND GOT HOME AT ARROUND 11. MAINLY I HAVE SLEPT ALL DAY. GOT UP JUST A WHILE AGO AND TOOK SOME MORE PAIN MEDS. TRULY DO FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. IT IS AMAZING HOW SOMETHING SO SMALL CAN MAKE YOU FEEL SO BAD. I AM GOING TO TRY AND GET UP AND WALK ARROUND OUR APARTMENT SOME TOMORROW.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONCERNS AND PRAYERS. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WONDERING BAILEY WILL BE WITH MY PARENTS ALL WEEK. THANKS AGAIN
FRANCIS & MATT

BAILEY

BAILEY'S EASTER EGG HUNT

WE ARE MOVED!

SORRY I HAVE NOT POSTED IN A WHILE. I WANT TO BE BETTER AT THIS BUT I HAVE NOT THUS FAR. WE ARE IN LUBBOCK NOW AND ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME. WE GET TO SEE MY FAMILY MORE. LAST NIGHT WE WENT OVER TO OUR FRIENDS HOUSE AND PLAYED DOMINOES. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. THAT KINDA THING IS WHAT WE MISSED ABOUT BEING HERE. OUR JOBS ARE GOING WELL. THEY HAVE NOT LAID ANYMORE PEOPLE OFF AT MY JOB AS OF YET. WE ARE CROSSING OUR FINGERS AND HOPING THAT WE CAN GET BY. I AM REALLY NERVOUSE BUT I KNOW THAT THE LORD HAS TAKEN CARE OF US BEFORE. AND IT MIGHT NOT BE HOW WE WOULD HAVE WANTED IT BUT IN THE END IT IS FOR THE BEST. BAILEY GOES TO THE DOCTOR MONDAY FOR A 2 YEAR CHECK UP WITH HER NEW DOCTOR. YES I KNOW THAT SHE SHOULD OF HAD THAT MONTHS AGO BUT NEVER GOT ARROUND TO IT. I HOPE THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING GOOD. I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT HER FEET. SHE IS SLIGHTLY PIGEON TOED AND SHE MIGHT HAVE TO WEAR BRACES IF THE DOCTOR DOES NOT THINK THAT SHE WILL GROW OUT OF IT. I AM GOING TO ACTIVELY LOOK FOR A SURGEON TO TAKE OUT MY GALLBLADDER THIS WEEK. I AM FINNALY GETTING SICK OF IT TO WHERE I DONT WANT TO PROCRASTINATE ANYMORE. I DONT KNOW WHERE THE FINANCES ARE GOING TO COME FROM BUT I WANT TO FEEL BETTER. I AM TIRED OF BEING SICK. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO BE A LOT MORE CONSCIOUS ABOUT WHAT I AM EATING THOUGH AND THAT HAS BEEN GOOD. I AM DOING THIS WEIGHT LOSS THING AT MY OFFICE. SO FAR I LOST 5LBS AND THEN GAINED BACK 2. I AM NOT GIVING UP THOUGH. WHEN WE FIRST MOVED INTO OUR APARTMENT I COULD BARELY WALK UP THE STAIRS AND NOW I CAN GET UP THEM MUCH EASIER. I HAVE BEEN VERY DETERMINED THIS TIME. I HOPE THAT I WILL STICK TO IT. MATT HAS BEEN A GOOD ENCOURAGER. WELL I WAS TOLD THAT ONE DAY MY TALK WOULD COME TO THIS. WE ARE EXCITED CAUSE BAILEY WENT POOPOO IN THE POTTY YESTERDAY. WE ARE READY FOR HER TO BE POTTY TRAINED. SHE DOES REALLY GOOD AT DAYCARE BUT HAS NOT BEEN AT HOME. SINCE MY SISTER HAS BEEN WATCHING HER SHE HAS REALLY TRIED TO WORK WITH HER AND SHE IS GETTING BETTER. I THINK THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BUY ANYMORE PULLUPS FOR HOME AFTER THIS PACK WE ARE JUST GOING TO USE PANTY'S MAYBE THAT WILL HERLP HER TRAIN FASTER. A WHILE BACK BAILEY GOT TO RIDE THE TRACTOR WITH HER PAWPAW FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHE WAS SCARED AT FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD. THEN DAD TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND SHE GOT ON AND LOVED IT AFTER THAT. NOW WHEN WE ARE DRIVING AND SHE A TRACTOR SHE SAYS "PAWPAW TRACTOR". WELL WE ARE GOING TO HELP MY BROTHER MOVE INTO HIS APARTMENT TODAY. SO WE SHOULD GET GOING. I WILL TRY TO POST MORE LATER TONIGHT.

GETTING SETTLED

WELL WE ARE IN LUBBOCK. WE ARE GETTING SETTLED. WE HAVE MOST OF THE UNPACKING DONE. WE STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN BAILEY IN DAYCARE BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS. WE ARE WAITING TILL WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE MONEY. SHE WILL BE GOING TO DAYCARE IN SUNDOWN WERE I WORK. IN THE MEAN TIME, MY SISTER IS BEING SO KIND TO WATCH HER. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP. I AM HAVING TO GET MY HEAD AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED. I WAS REALLY WORRIED THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR IT. THANK THE LORD THAT BOTH ARE UNDER MY WARRANTY AND OR THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TAKE THE HIT.

MOVING

SO WE ARE MOVING......WE ARE A LITTLE OVERWHELMED AND EXCITED ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WE JUST DECIDED WHEN WE WENT HOME LAST MONTH THAT WE WANTED TO SEE IF TRANSFERS WERE A POSIBILITY. I ASKED FIRST AND WAS TOLD THAT I COULD. THEN MATT ASKED AND WE FOUND OUT LAST WEEK THAT HE COULD. SO THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE COULD BE RELEASED FROM OUR RENT WITH A SMALL FEE. SO NOW THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD KEEP US HERE IS IF WE CANT FIND A PLACE TO LIVE. I THINK THAT LUBBOCK IS BIG ENOUGH AND THAT REALLY SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. WE ARE GOING TO LUBBOCK THIS WEEKEND TO LOOK FOR AN APARTMENT AND THEN MATT WILL GO TO WORK THERE ON THE 22ND. HE WILL COME BACK THAT NEXT THURS AND THEN WE ARE PLANNING TO LOAD THE TRUCK ON FRIDAY. AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE THERE ON FRI NIGHT OR SAT MORNING. WE HAVE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW ALL OF YOU MIDLAND PEEPS AND PLAN TO COME VISIT. WE JUST WANT TO BE CLOSER TO HOME.

BAILEY

BAILEY IS BETTER NOW. I AM NOT TOTALLY CONVINCED THAT SHE IS IN THE CLEAR YET THOUGH. I THINK THAT SHE MIGHT JUST BE HAVING ALLERGIES AS THIS POINT. SHE DID NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF GOING TO BED LAST NIGHT AND WAS CRANKY THIS MORNING. WE WILL SEE HOW SHE IS THIS AFTERNOON. IN OTHER NEWS IF THERE IS REALLY ANYONE THAT READS THIS??? I HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS HEAVY ON MY HEART THIS MORNING. I DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THE SITTUATION ON HERE BUT IF YOU COULD JUST SAY A PRAYER FOR MY FRIEND I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

SICK BABY

WELL THIS WEEK HAS NOT BEEN THE FUNNEST IN THE WORLD. BAILEY IS SICK AND HAD TO GO TO THE DR YESTERDAY. WE ALSO HAD TO TAKE HER TO LUBBOCK TO MY MOMS SO THAT MATT AND I COULD BOTH WORK SEEING AS HOW BAILEY COULD NOT GO TO DAYCARE. WE SURE DO MISS MY IN-LAWS IN TIMES LIKE THESE. OH WELL. WE WILL BE MAKING THE TRIP BACK TO LUBBOCK THIS WEEKEND TO GO AND GET HER. HOPEFULLY SHE WILL BE BETTER. THEY GAVE HER SOME STRONG DRUGS SO SHE SHOULD. SHE HAS A LOT OF CHEST CONGESTION.RUNNY NOSE AND COUGH THAT IS GOING ARROUND. I AM SURE READY FOR SUMMER. THOUGH I CANT COMPLAIN TO MUCH WE REALLY HAVE NOT HAD A WINTER HERE. NO SNOW. AND LIFE WILL GO ON..........

WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE

SO THIS WEEKEND WE HAD A CONFERENCE AT OUR CHURCH CALLED WALK THRU THE BIBLE. IT WAS AN OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY. WE LEARNED ALL THE MAJOR EVENTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. I HAD A LOT OF FUN HELPING WITH THE KIDS. I THINK THAT I LEARNED A WHOLE LOT. THE MAJOR THING THAT I GOT OUT OF IT WAS THAT GOD CAN USE ANYONE. I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH NOT WANTING TO DO MINISTRY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I SUBCONSCIOULY HAVE BEEN TELLING MYSELF THAT I NEEDED TO GET CLEANED UP TO COME TO JESUS. WELL WE ALL KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE. SO MY RESOLVE IS TO GET MORE ACTIVE AT CHURCH AND TO STEP UP MY WALK WITH THE LORD.