A MISSION TRIP TO JOPLIN?? ARE YOU TEASING ME, GOD??

I know God doesn't tease

but, these last couple of months

have been a merry go round,

so for just a moment I cocked my head...

I have spent hours trying to find a woman's
shelter that would allow Skyler
 and myself to come in and

teach some art project
for a couple of days.

Everywhere I turned I was turned down
because we didn't have the
criminal background checks.

I totally understood where
they were coming from

but, it was very frustrating.
(Misunderstanding God IS
frustrating, isn't it!!)

So, I sat back and waited for God to show me

where he wanted us to go.

JOPLIN.

JOPLIN, MISSOURI.

Well, I did't ignore him,

so I called Skyler

and told her the change of plans.

She was excited about going to Joplin

and helping the people that live there

and have found themselves

smack in the middle of Hell.

I was excited, too.

We can be very effective in Joplin.

There is so much to do.

And, even though God changed "our" plans,

we feel we're still able to help

the children.

We are going to hit every

Big Lots, Dollar General store and

the other dollar stores

and I am going to buy every

coloring book and crayola product

I can find.

In our hotel at night

we are going to stamp lunch sacks

with precious stamps

and fill the sacks with

the loot I am able to gather!

We're going to fill hundreds of sacks

(that's my hope)

and find the Salvation Army when

we get there because I've heard that

they are keeping the kids

during the day while their parents

work on putting their lives back together.

Isn't this just the best thing??

God is so good. He knew all along

where he wanted us and we're thrilled

to follow his lead!!

Do you still want to help?

You can send checks or

coloring books, construction paper,

glue sticks, kids scissors,
glitter sticks

and crayola products.

Your help would be such a blessing
And, remember, we're leaving
June 24th!

And, if you've already sent me

tags, don't worry about them being used.

You know what else God have let

me know??

He wants me to volunteer at the

woman's shelter here, in Kerr County.

I can do general work

and I'm hopeful that I can teach

art projects to give the women

a break from worrying about their future.

Isn't that just the best??

I love God!!

So, if you want to help with

our mission trip, send donations to me at:

Jan Vermillion-Thomason

5720 Hwy. 27

Center Point, Texas 78010

Can't help with donations??

We need lots of prayer and that

would be a huge gift.

Thank you, God bless you,
and I think you

are absolutely wonderful!

         Jan



DON'T BLAME ME!

Maybe you remember earlier this year that I blogged about driving through Missouri.
That post was about driving through on the interstate.
This post is about driving through Missouri yesterday, but on the back roads.
The fact that I'm writing this post while amazingly tired is the same as last time, only the roads have changed.....

Missouri - now, don't get me wrong, I know that other states have the same type of towns and just because I happened to be driving through Missouri both times that I post about the oddness of a state and it happens to be Missouri, well, it's just coincidence.....

I saw three towns while driving the beautiful, very curvy, very dangerous backroads of Missouri yesterday..............

Climax.
Licky.
and Bourbon.

What is going on?
Who are these people that name these towns???
Not my relatives.
Oh, please, not my relatives.

As I drove I kept my eyes peeled for even better town names...............
I kept looking for Panties.
Can'a Whoop Ass
and Bite Me.

Never have I been so disappointed.

MISSOURI - AMERICA'S VACATION STATE???

Okay, before you start reading this you must take two things into consideration.
One, I'm really tired.
And, two, I'm really tired.
Oh, wait.
I already said that. LOL
Okay. Two, if you live in Missouri or hold it dear to your heart for whatever reason, read this in the spirit that it's written - I'm just going for a laugh and, actually, I could be writing about many different states that I've driven through in the past...

As my blog followers and friends know, I'm driving to Michigan to get my mom and bring her back to the ranch for a few months like we did last winter.
The difference this year is that I've packed most of my studio, including my Lollishop listings, in my trunk because I'll be dog sitting my sister's dog, Mo, for four weeks (you read that right - long story and you'd be bored) while she's in Florida before mom and I start back for the ranch. I'll have lots of time to work!

Anyway, today I hit Missouri and I declare, I'm on the tollroad and the minute I cross into Missouri from Oklahoma, it was like vacationer's Hell.
Missouri - America's vacation state??...........
you be the judge. LOL

Billboards...........lots of billboards, advertising all there is to do - how does anyone get through this state???

PRECIOUS MOMENTS MUSEUM - The first billboard I saw.
What do I do???
Do I stop?
How do I NOT stop?

SNAKE WORLD ZOO - If I stop, I can die happy.

XXX ADULT VIDEO SUPERSTORE - Do they have motels close by???
I could hit the Precious Moments Museum first, then XXX and walk across the parking lot to my motel.

WALNUT BOWL FACTORY - I can always use another bowl and these are wooden.

COZY COFFEE CORNER AT CALICO COUNTRY - Cozy coffee? We do not have that in Texas. Might be worth a stop...

WORLD'S LARGEST GIFT STORE - Christmas shopping early.
I wonder how big their gag section is?

So, I had some fast thinking to do............
stop???
keep driving???
stop???
keep driving???

And then I saw a Motel 6.

XOXO,
. .