Hello.  I am so bad about keeping something like this up.  This past week my uncle died and Kent took care of his funeral arrangements.  They rented a funeral home in the town they live in and I took off work to help Kent with the funeral and visitation.  You talk about me being green in the funeral business; Kent had to tell me everything as I didn’t know what to do at all. 

I also had a girlfriend Beth come and visit from Florida.  She was with us for about 3 days, which seemed so short.  Her visit was cut short due to the death of my uncle.  We went shopping one day and spent one evening with some friends from our old church. (The Pages)  We played cards and grilled out, that was fun.  Then this week I’ve been helping my grandmother get ready for her garage sale which is today.  We are having a garage sale next weekend.  I have this weekend and part of next week to get ready for that.   

A couple of months ago Kent’s two dogs came to live with us, Tosha and Whitney (little wennier dogs).  I had to go to the airport and pick them up and my grandmother dog-sat for us till I got off work and them I took them home to meet Stanley (my miniature Doberman). Yes I know it’s crazy, we have 3 dogs.   It took a few days for everyone to be able to be in the same room without barking but it is better now.  Whitney is about 9 or 10 and she has cancer.  Kent is supposed to be getting her into the vet but his oldest daughter Ashley wants him to make sure she gets to see Whitney one last time before he puts her to sleep if he has to.  Tosha is about 3 and she is so cute, she likes to chase rabbits in our backyard.  She has just figured out, last night, that she can squeeze through the fence in our backyard and get in the neighbors yard.  A couple of nights ago Kent told me that since we don’t have kids (that live with us) that we are substituting the dogs.  I think he is right.

We have finally decided on a church, it is the same church the Eoff’s go to.  The pastor is Dawn Eoff’s uncle.  He is a good preacher, I think he will really challenge us spiritually, or at least me for sure.  I wasn’t very happy with the music at any of the churches where we visited so I told Kent I doubt if I will get involved in the music program unless it changes.  This will be the first church I’ve gone to that I didn’t sing on the worship team so that will be weird for me. 

Kent’s daughters are coming in June.  Please keep them and my brother Eric in your prayers for Salvation.  There is a possibility that Kent’s younger daughter, Megan may spend the whole summer with us.  I know neither one of them go to church and that is something that really bothers Kent.  We hope that maybe Megan will meet some friends here and re-consider living back in MO with us. 

I hope everyone is doing good.  Have a good day!!  Lavonna

Hello, I haven't wrote in a while so thought I'd catch up.  We have been visiting churches the past few weeks.  I think we may have it narrowed down to two churches.  Both churches are 10 minutes from our house.  Please pray for us as we try to decide what to do.

Yesterday I read a blog from someone who use to be in my Sunday School class who was talking about wanting to die.  I told Kent last night and he said I needed to call someone at church and tell them so they could check on them.  I told him that I didn't think they were serious but him being in the business he is in, thought I needed to do something immediately.  I mentioned to the youth pastor at church quiet a few months ago that he really needed to get a blog so he would know what was going on in the lives of his youth and I don't know if he ever did or not.  I hope he did.  I think I may get in touch with them this week.  I emailed them a month or two ago and they never responded.  I figured they really don't care for me anymore.  Kent asked me last night how if feels to know that people you have tried to help and invested so much time in, are living the way they are (not for God) and it seems like they don't even care?  I didn't really have much to say, I just told him that it's not a good feeling, not good at all.  Their will come a day that they will wish they listened and lived for God but by then it will probably be to late unless they open their eyes.  God is a good God and he loves them, but I wonder how deep in sin he will let them go before he gets their attention.  It kind of hurts becauase I really love those teenagers and I hate to see them suffer and that is what sin will do for them.  You just don't play with fire and not get burned.  Ok, ok, I'm going to quit.  

It looks like Kent's youngest daughter may spend the summer with us but I don't think the older will stay the whole summer but a few weeks.  I don't think they will be coming at Spring break but my girlfriend Beth may be coming.  If she comes it will either be Spring Break or Easter, I'm not sure which.  

This past weekend my brother and his roommate came for dinner.  We played a couple of games too.  I really miss seeing him like I use to.  I know that since I got married my life has changed a lot as I don't see my family and friends nearly as much as I use to.  I am going to work on that.  I wonder if once you've been  marraried a little while that wanting to be with each other so much changes.  I have been married a little bit over 5 months and it doesn't seem like it should be that long.  I do really enjoy being married and I feel so fortunate to be married to my Husband.  I don't know what we are doing for Valentines day but I know we will have to stay in town as Kent will be on call.  If anyone has any good ideas let me know.  I hope you all are doing great!           

Christmas time is come and gone

Hey, this past week seems like it just flew by.  My work lets us two days before Christmas and we didn’t have to come back until Jan 3^rd.  This past week my step-daughters stayed with us for the week.  Ashley is 15 and Megan is 12, but I’m glad to say they didn’t seem to have the teenage attitudes going on while they were here.  We picked them up in Kansas City, spent the night at Kent’s parents and then spent the following day at his parent’s house up by Lake of the Ozarks. 

On Christmas day I went to church and it was pretty emotional as not only was it Caryn and Floyd’s last Sunday but I knew it was my last Sunday also.  That day my family came up and we had Christmas at our house that evening.  I can’t tell you how many times we played dominos.  Monday night Heather came over for dinner and Thursday evening Chris and Alesha stopped by.  I took the girls to town a couple of days to shop.  Kent was only off work ½ the time while they were here.  One day we went to Lamberts, all of us, and took the girls to the mall.  That is the first time Kent has been off to come to town since before Thanksgiving.  (He has time off, but he is still on call so he can’t leave town.)  I really had fun with the girls and was glad to spend this time with them to get to know them better. 

It was sad seeing the girls return home.  Megan called crying later that night as she wasn’t getting along with one of her friends and she told her dad she wished she was back here with us.  She has already told us she is coming back and spending the whole summer with us.  Ashley is coming back to but we aren’t for sure for how long she will want to come back for.  She will be driving then and we aren’t sure what we will do about allowing her to drive back here.  I can’t imagine what our insurance will cost if we have a 16 year old driver on our insurance. 

We haven’t determined for sure which church we are going to yet; the churches in town didn’t have church on the holidays so we weren’t able to go.  There is a church in a town about 10 minutes from the house that I think we will visit on Sunday.  One thing about it, I hate looking for a new church.  We have to remember that the girls will be with us during the summer time and we have to make sure the church has a good youth group so the girls will enjoy it when they are here.  Looks like this week will be back to the same old routine of work.  I am not sure what God has in store for the future but I know that I have to be sure that where ever we go to church that I know it’s where we are supposed to be.  Kent and I are going to read the bible through together this year, we decided that last night.  We are already a few days behind but have to bible on CD so it shouldn’t be too hard to catch up.  I hope everyone is doing well.  Love you guys!! Lavonna    

Well as many of you may know Kent and I purchased a new house.  I really like it and we are all moved in and now have my parents dog Stanley (a mini pincher) has come to living with us.  Kent wanted a dog and this is what we ended up getting since he hasn't been able to bring his dogs back from Oregon yet.  Looks like tomorrow we are going Christmas shopping for his daughters and for the rest of our family.  We are about done. 

I announced to my Sunday school class that we are going to be changing churches.  With Kent on call so much he is not able to drive to town every Sunday, usually is only able to go maybe a couple of Sundays a month so we are switching to a new church in the town we live in now, which is about 30 - 45 minutes away.  I felt bad as I had no idea that the Associate Pastor Floyd, was announcing that he was leaving the same day.  We are staying at that church through the month of December and then we will switch.  I just don't want my husband to go to one church and me to go to another one, I think we need to go together.

Since I got married my life has drastically changed and I have become much more of a homebody.  With Kent on call not able to leave town, we are home a lot and watching tv a lot.  His daughters will be coming to stay with us for a week at Christmas.  They come in Dec 23 and leave Dec 30.  I have to get presents wrapped this week and get their bedrooms all picked up ready for them.  I better run, have a good day!!!