Plano Balloon Festival

A couple of weekends ago the girls and I went to the Plano Balloon Festival. It was a lot of fun and we had a great time. We were there with Kathy, Nate, Nana & Paw Paw. Everyone enjoyed all the different balloons. I think the favorite was a tie between the dragon & the panda bear. Here are some pictures we took...

Wreck 'Em Texas Tech!!

This past weekend we drove up to Amarillo to visit and to take Gracie to her first Texas Tech game. The Red Raiders didn't disappoint and beat the SMU Mustangs 43 to 7. We all had a blast and can't wait to do it again!! Here are few fun pictures...

Gwyneth's 1st Day of Preschool

Today was Gwynie's 1st day of preschool. We dropped Gracie off at school then it was Gwynie's turn. She has been very excited about going to her new classroom to meet her teachers. The drop-off went well. She was very excited about going to Chapel like sissy use to. She is used to being dropped off in that building every Sunday, but not for as long as she will be today. Thursday's drop off might go a bit different, we will have to wait and see. I know she is going to have a great day!!

Dawn's Mission Trip to Belize 2008

St. Philip's Belize Mission Team 2008

(Front Row: Robert Holton, Middle Row: Me & Mother Diana Freeman, Back Row: Sheryl Holton, Dawn Sommer, Frances Gatewood, Beth Sarey, Amy Smith)

My team and I are back from our mission trip to Belize! I had such an amazing time. I am so grateful for all of your prayers and support. I can’t tell you enough how much it has meant to me, my family and my team. I have been trying since I got home to find a way to get on paper (with the detail they deserve) the wonderful people that I met and the life changing experiences that I have had. I decided that I will start at the beginning and write as the Holy Spirit moves me, so here it goes…

We spent our first night in Belize City and were just thrilled to finally be there. The next morning we took a 1 ½ hour water taxi ride to San Pedro to visit Holy Cross Anglican School. After arriving we walked a short ways to the community of San Mateo which is where the school is located. The school was generous enough to provide lunch for our team. During lunch we were given a brief history of Holy Cross, San Mateo, and the challenges they battle everyday. Several years ago there was a political party that was trying to gain supporters for the upcoming governmental election. In return for those that supported them they gave away plots of land (which is now San Mateo). In addition to this land the politicians promised to provide roads, water, and a proper sewage treatment facility. As you have probably guessed by now, that political party did not win the election and did not keep their promises to the people of San Mateo. To make matters worse the government of Belize has a policy that if they did not build on their land the government would take it back. So they were left with the decision to build on a swamp with none of the promised utilities or lose their land. With all things stacked against them they decided as a community to build. They are doing the best they can with what they have, but building under those circumstances has created unhealthy conditions for adults and children. There is a small packed sand path about 2 feet wide that winds through the community. On each side of this path is water that serves as their sewer. From the path to their front door children must cross over sewage filled water on makeshift bridges made of discarded scrap lumber less than 1 foot wide. We learned that just 2 months before we arrived, a 3 year old little girl had cut her foot on a nail and with an open wound fell off one of the bridges into the water. Her cut soon became badly infected. It was several days before her family was able to take her to a doctor on the mainland, but the treatment was too late, and she passed away. Holy Cross has hopes of somehow acquiring funds to open a small clinic at the school that would help prevent such horrible tragedies.

The school has been a tremendous blessing to the San Mateo community. Our team was able to help the school while we were there by painting 2 of their classrooms. San Mateo and Holy Cross Anglican School have had such a major impact on me that I will never be the same.

Wednesday we traveled back to Belize City to set up for the teacher training workshops. The workshops were extremely successful and well enjoyed by the teachers. I really enjoyed getting to know several of the teachers. They came from all over the country. I even met a teacher that came from Georgeville, which is where Lance went on his first mission trip to Belize. They wanted to make sure that I told him and the rest of that team that the church that they help build is finished and that it is beautiful!! On a fun side note, it turns out that Dawn is a pretty common name in Belize. Out of the 37 teachers that attended there were 2 Dawn’s and 1 Dawna.

While the teachers were leading the 3 day workshop the rest of our team walked across town to Queens Square Anglican School to assist where we could. We were able to help them by painting their canteen or school cafeteria as we might call it. We were helped by some of the kids that live right behind the school. I was blessed to have connected with one of them in particular, a wonderful 15 year-old girl named Kayla. She and her siblings came and helped us everyday. I spoke to Kayla quite a bit and was just fascinated by her drive and determination. She loves to read, is able to speak 5 languages and desperately wants to be a teacher. One of the highlights of my days with Kayla happened just as I met her for the first time. One of our team members had a picture that was taken of her on last year’s trip. It was so neat for our team to be able to give that picture to her and her family. I have since mailed Kayla a note with several more pictures. I can’t wait to hear back from her and to continue to build the relationship that God has provided.

I haven’t stop thinking of my experience in Belize since I have returned home. I find myself constantly thinking about the various people that I met and wondering how their day may be going. Especially Kayla since I know that her school year is set to begin in just a few short days.

Thank you again for all of your prayers for me and my family while I was away. I have been so blessed by the amazing people that God has put it my path. I am so thankful that God allowed me to go and completely immerse myself with His people in Belize and I pray that His will for me is to go back and to go back soon!

Gracelyn the KINDERGARTENER!!!

Well, it's official...Gracie is in Kindergarten!!! She LOVED her first full day of school. Yesterday was the Kindergarten Orientation with parents and we went with her. So today was her real 1st day. She came home, changed clothes and said, "I'm EXHAUSTED!!". Her favorite part of the day was lunch...surprise, surprise. The next on her list was coloring a monsters. Her least favorite..."waiting in the hot sun for Mommy to pick me up". Parent Pick-up was a bit crazy! She is excited to go back tomorrow and we are excited for her!

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days...

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

This past Wednesday night Lance got tickets for us all to go to a Texas Rangers Game. We kept it as a surprise from the girls. Gracie figured it out when we got them ready to head to the game, but since she had never been to a game before she didn't know what to expect. It had been pouring rain all day and the whole drive to the game so Lance and I were worried that the game would get delayed or canceled. But God smiled on us because as soon as we got to the stadium there was not a cloud in sight. The weather was perfect!!! The game was also very exciting for the girls because there were 7 homeruns that night so they got to see a bunch of fireworks too. Everyone had a wonderful time. Gracie let us know that this was the "best day of her life" AND the "most awesomest game of her lifetime". Lance had gotten GREAT seats from work...we made sure to tell Gracie that these seats were special and that we wouldn't always get to sit this close to the players. Here are a few pictures from the girls first major league baseball game...

Gracie Got Her Ears Pierced!!

Sunday night Gracie came down from watching TV with Lance and asked if she could get her ears pierced. I guess she saw someone on American Gladiators with pierced ears and thought that it was neat. She has friends that have their ears pierced, but she hasn't really ever shown interest. With school starting next week we decided to go ahead and let her get it done. We went to Sweet & Sassy to get haircuts and her ears done and she did great! I had told her that getting your ears pierced hurts, but no matter what she had to get both ears done. She was a bit shaken after the first ear, but she let them do the second ear and she LOVES them!!! She is better about remembering to clean them 3 times a day than I am.

All ready...
Marking her ears
Ready, set...go

Yikes, that hurt & now I have to do it again?!?

She thought it was all worth it because she looks so pretty

She LOVES them!!!

Lance's Birthday!!!

Lance's Birthday came just 3 days after I got back from Belize sorry I haven't had a chance to post any of the pictures yet, but here they are...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!

I'm Back From Belize!

I had an amazing time!!! I can't wait to share all the stories from my trip and all the great things God is doing for the people of Belize!

Dawn's is on Her Mission Trip to Belize

I am leaving in just a few minutes to catch our plane to Belize. Thank you to all who supported our team and will praying for us and our families while we are gone. I can't wait to come back and tell you all about it!!!

Matthew 28:18-20

God's Peace,
Dawn :)