Chick-Fil-A show

We performed at a show put on by Chick-Fil-A. It made me realize how unique our life is. This was part of our act:The guy who popped out is Chick-Fil-A executive Bubba Cathy.

Some break dancers came to perform at the show as well. They did not know that they had to wear cow costumes while they danced until they got to the venue. That really through them for a loop! How could they break dance with a heavy cow costume on? It was interesting.

The Purpose for the Party

After everyone ate, we gathered the table from the bedroom and living room into the dining room area and Brock spoke to them a little. He talked about Haiti and what we saw while we were in the Dominican Republic. We chose to give through Compassion International because we trust them so much. The president of Compassion lived in Haiti for 4 years. Also, they have been raising up children there for the last 40 years. Wess Stafford, the President of Compassion, said that these leaders and Christian pillars of the community that have been raised up are poised and ready "for such a time as this." He also said, "The media will leave, but we will stay."

The day before, on my way to make the big grocery run, I was thinking about everything that had happened that month. We had a pipe burst. We had a leaky roof that had to be fixed. Plus, some other things that we did not count on happening. The thought ran through my mind that maybe we should not give as much as we had alloted to give toward Haiti relief. Then, I caught myself! I had a roof and pipes to complain about. Many people in Haiti had lost everything. Then, I heard the Lord's gentle prodding to give more. When the time came to contribute, I was so excited! There is something about giving sacrificially that gets my blood flowing! I had not done that in a while.

When all was said and done, we raised $1,050 for Haiti relief Saturday night. Praise the Lord! I beg you not to be like the press. Let's keep praying for Haiti. We've been praying for Haiti for years. They are so close and so desperate. It was a quicker flight from DR to Miami than Miami to Nashville. They really are our neighbors.

Valentine Party with a Purpose

We transformed the house into an elegant restaurant Saturday night donned with white Christmas lights and candles. We had 4 tables set up with 31 chairs. That was perfect since we had 31 attendees (not including Brock, Barbara, and me). The tables were in our living room, dining room, kitchen area, and bedroom. We draped a curtain in our bedroom hiding the bed. We also curtained off the kitchen. It was romantic and elegant.

We served a 5 course meal. I have to admit. I thought that I had it all planned out. However, it was way more difficult than I thought it would be. Brock hosted everyone by seating them and entertaining them with a little magic. He even had them circle what they wanted from the menu and mix all of the menus up before giving them to us. Then, he was able to deliver the right orders to the right people. Barbara ran around being waitress the whole night. I was the cook and stayed in the kitchen most of the time. It was crazy! I have a new respect for cooks and waiters. I will be the best tipper in the world from now on!

Here are some pictures...

Shows in Madison, MS

I came alive this weekend! I think that I am meant to do these shows with Brock. Friday night and Saturday morning, we performed a couple of times for the youth group. Then, Saturday night, we did a big show that was opened to the whole community.

Friday night right before we were to take the stage, the emcee had some of the leaders come onstage. We had our props set just right onstage. I was worried that someone would back into our prop, so I stood by them. Then, it happened! The students were instructed to throw these balls at the leaders. People were running around everywhere and balls were flying through the air! All I could do was place each hand on the two props so that they would not fall over. In the process, I got pelted with balls! It was funny! That's never happened before.

Saturday night we did a new stunt, and it was amazing! We thought that maybe it would be a "filler" trick. We also thought that it would be rough the first time doing it. On the contrary, it was a big hit!

Snowed In

I am going to take a break from the pictures from vacation to tell you about our fun weekend! We heard about a big snow and ice storm coming our way. However, when we left our house Friday morning, it looked like there was no chance of snow. It was clear and not that cold. We had a meeting to go to in Franklin. Then, we were driving to Chattanooga (about a 2 and 1/2 hour drive) to make a surprise appearance at a youth pastors' convention.

During our meeting that morning, it began to snow hard. We drove about half an hour down the road and stopped for lunch. By the time we got out of lunch, the traffic was backed up and the snow storm was in full effect. Brock called the people we were working with in Chattanooga and decided it was best not to go this time.

So, we turned around and headed back home. Along the way, we pulled a few people out of the ditch with our big 4X4 truck. Brock was so excited to use his 4 wheel drive. It was such a man thing! Plus, he saved people a $200 tow bill.


Then, we picked up several of our friends and took them to our house for the weekend. Due to the bad roads and traffic of everyone trying to get home, we did not get back until after 5pm. We ate taco soup and homemade chocolate chip cookies. Then, we watched movies and youtube videos all night.

Stephanie

We were entering our gate area in Santo Domingo to come home last Saturday. Brock saw a lady whom was all stitched up and cut up and beat up. He could tell that she was from Haiti and had been in the quake. He sat right by her. He asked if she wanted something to drink, but she showed him her half full Dasani and shook her head. A few minutes later, he asked if he could get her anything and she replied that no she just wanted to sleep. Then, he asked if she wanted to use my bag to put her head on and she replied no.

Brock was being so persistent that I figured the Lord was guiding him. He was. Brock was praying that she would open up to us. An hour later, the lady asked Brock if she could use her phone. Calls made in the Dominican Republic are probably rather expensive, but he did not care. She tried to call a few people in Haiti but could not get through. Then, she told us what happened to her.

Her name was Stephanie and she was in Port-Au-Prince visiting family and friends. When the earthquake took place, she was running and fell on something. She had been all cut up and bruised up. She said that her head wound that went from the top of the right side of her forehead down to almost her nose was all open. When she went to some of the doctors on sight, they told her that she was not hurt enough. So, she had a gaping wound in her head for four days. (Realize that I am not blaming the doctors. I'm just explaining the gravity of the situation.)

She had been living in Miami and had a U.S. passport, so that is how she was able to get out. She went to the Embassy, and they had flown her to Santo Domingo the day before where she was finally able to receive hospital care. She had also been able to eat there.

After we put her on the plane, we told her that we would wait for her in Miami. We did, and Brock carried her bag for her through customs. She kept placing a towel over her head so that nobody could see her stitched face. She also walked very slowly with a limp. Brock carefully and tenderly took care of her. It was out of Brock's character to be such a caretaker (that's usually my job). Also, he never walks slowly. I felt as if Jesus were right there with us at the time exuding Himself in Brock.

Before we parted ways, Stephanie used our phone to call her brother. She wrote down where to meet him. The brother called right back just to thank Brock for taking care of her. My heart just went out to this lady. She was obviously out of it from loss of blood and leftover drugs from the hospital. Yet, here she was all by herself trying to figure out where or what to do. I don't know what she would have done if she had not used Brock's phone to call her brother.

Stephanie was smiling at the end. She was so sweet and gentle. She got our information and gave us each a hug before she left. I hope that she gets in touch with us, but even if she doesn't, I will always remember and pray for Stephanie.

Living on the Road

For the next few days I am going to tell stories from the time we lived on the road. For two years (2001-2002) we lived in our truck. It's actually called a totorhome. People use it to haul racecars. We used it to carry a magic show, and we lived in it. We had no other house or home. Here is the Freightliner:
Inside, we had a bed, couch, tv, kitchenette, and bathroom.

It was a fun time. After finishing a show, we would go back and sit in the truck and pull out the atlas. Then, we would decide where we wanted to go before our next show.

We traveled all over the country in that truck---Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, California, Washington state, Washington D.C., New York City, Niagra Falls, Pensacola Beach, FL, etc.

This last one was our favorite place to go. During those two years that we strictly lived in our truck, we stayed at a campground in Pensacola, FL called Fort Pickens a lot. It was situated on the end of the island surrounded by the whitest beaches and beautiful emerald colored ocean. There were many a mornings when I would step off of the truck and directly onto the sand.

We stayed in campgrounds, truck stops, and Walmart parking lots all over the nation. We also stayed at our parents’ or friends’ houses for extended lengths of time. Life on the road is an unusual life with extreme experiences which you will soon see...

Brock Racing Motocross

Brock training for the race.

Brock racing in the Arenacross tour.
He won second place!!!

Gypsy Fest

The Gypsy Fest was a huge success! We had about 60 people there and we raised $750 enabling us to purchase 75 malaria nets for children involved in Compassion projects all over the world. Brock grilled his famous burgers (75 of them) and I made 92 chocolate chip cookies. We transformed our back porch into a stage. Our backyard is a big hill creating a natural amphitheater. The only downside is that the tables holding the food were very slanted on the hill.

At one point during the night, I heard one of my friends laughing. Then, I looked back toward the food and saw one of my other friends trying to catch a couple of sodas that were rolling down the hill along with some cups and such. It was funny!

I will tell you someone else that was funny...Barbara! She and Brock emceed the night. That was a sight! Barbara would say something in Spanish and Brock would "translate." One time, Barbara said a whole paragraph worth of stuff and Brock said, "She said, 'No cameras!'" Another time, Brock actually spoke Spanish and Barbara translated exactly what he said, which was, "Where are my pants and a big drunk man!"

We had some great talent. Tiffany, Cait, Abby and Greg, Charmaine, and Stephanie Smith performed music as well as Brock and Sean Beard each did an illusion. We began the show at around 7pm and it lasted an hour and a half. Then, we had a bonfire and some fireworks! What a great night!!!

Video from Spirit West Coast

Almost Kidnapped in Mexico

This is the video we took right after we crossed back over into the U.S.

Soles4Souls Brock Gill Sandal

We are selling sandals especially made for us for Soles4Souls. If you buy a pair for $20, another pair of shoes are sent to people all over the world who need them. We've had some cool things happen with them in the last few weeks. One girl bought a pair and immediately donated them to Soles4Souls. It's like double giving. Another guy bought a pair of sandals and put them on. He then placed his nice work boots that he had on in the box to donate. One kid threw his nice Nike's in the box and went home barefooted.

If you would like to buy one of these sandals and contribute to Soles4Souls, go here.

Bow and Arrow Practice

Pictures from the Block Party

Pedro

Greenroom Mascot

What a Follower of Jesus Looks Like

I've been really convicted this week about looking after the least of these. Brock spoke about what a follower of Jesus really looks like. If you were to ask someone in this country how you know someone is a Christian, they would probably say because they go to church. To be a Christian means to be like Christ. Is that how you would describe Christ or his followers?

The scripture that I posted yesterday was when Jesus was talking about separating the sheep from the goats (basically Christians from nonchristians). How did he tell whom the Christ followers were...the ones who took care of the least of these. There was no mention of where they went to church. It's not saying that you must do these things to become a Christian. This is simply showing the evidence of a Christian. This is what a Christian would look like.

I don't necessarily think that we should help every single homeless person that we pass, but we should help the ones whom the Holy Spirit prick our hearts to help or include that person that feels left out. Sometimes I'm so busy doing my own thing that I don't even notice a person in need much less hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit. I know a couple of people that do this very often. They notice people in need. They are all about people. I am very encouraged and inspired by Brock and Lindsey Little. I want to be more like Jesus.

Onstage with Matt Papa

The Cruise---Days at Sea

Pray for us tonight. We have a show in Splendora, TX.

Pics from Chocolate Tasting #2

Liam and his parents

The sleepy boy!

Brock leading the tasting

During the tasting

Pics from Chocolate Tasting #1

This is Brock's mom on the zipline! Brock gets his personality from his dad, but his daredevilness is straight from mom!

During the tasting

Anna's contribution

Bonfire afterward

Brock's parents