Thursday, August 23, 2012

We Are Moving!!!

Please join us for some dessert and fellowship!
Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012 @ 2:00 - 5:00pm
Chick-fil-A
13725 W. Bell Rd.
Surprise, AZ
We are so blessed to have met so many
wonderful friends in the Phoenix Valley.
We would just like to gather you all together and say,
“Farewell, until we meet again!”
Drop by between 2:00 - 5:00 and see us.
 
(Please do not park in Chick-fil-A’s parking lot,
we do not want anyone else to think they are open for business…
Park in the shopping center parking area.)

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Happy Birthday Megan!

August 3, 1997 we had "Children's Day" in the
park, in Colorado Springs. I was walking across
the wet concrete floor, warning everyone of how
slick the floor was. No sooner did I get the warning
out, when my feet went right out from under me and
I landed right on my behind... The next morning I
went into labor and Megan was born... :o)

Here she is... A beautiful 15 year old
young lady... Having lunch at Panda Express.

The next day we got together with family for cake.

Mom and Megan!
 "Happy Birthday" song...
And boy was it an amazing song, sung
by these Shuler's/Doerfler's...




The years seem to pass so quickly.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

To Arkansas And Back

On July 12, 2012 I flew to Little Rock, AR to join
the family, attend Regional Convention and meet
new friends.

Convention was so refreshing. I met so many new
people and enjoyed the fellowship very much. The
messages were encouraging and I tried to just soak
in every minute of it. Of course, I loved to hear
my guys sing again.

Here is Jacob, Megan, Sara and Philip.
They were helpers in the Children's Church.
I think they fit in pretty good. :-)

The whole gang, minus Grace and her family.
I had to have a picture taken in this cool
Gazebo, in the Barker's backyard. Thanks
Sis. Charlotte for taking this picture.

 Monday, the 16th, we headed to Mountain View, AR.
On the way, we passed through Strawberry... Home
of Roger Bennett. He was a great piano player for
the Cathedrals Quartet and I always enjoyed his
stories about Strawberry, AR. My smile here, is a
nervous smile... The grasshoppers were very thick
and they were jumping everywhere.
 Onto Mountain View, we stayed with the James Dixon
family and they allowed us to ride their horses. It has been
many years since riding a horse but it all came back to
me when I jumped on. Of course we payed the price
the next day... Very sore muscles.
This is Sand Man... A very fun horse to ride.
 We had a great time visiting with the people in
Mountain View and we drove around town...
Walked down town, looked in some shops, ate
at the Soda Fountain and had a fantastic Coke,
with AMAZING crushed ice.
We had a BBQ at the park (A surprise graduation
party for Philip). We met more Church people
and had great food. We loved every minute of
our stay in Mountain View. Thanks to everyone
who took care of us, while there.

July 19 was the day for me to fly home. The plan was
for me to fly home and the rest of the family would
head to AZ after dropping me off at the airport.
While getting ready to head to the airport Colin
says he has a very uneasy feeling about me flying
home alone, on this trip... The more he talked about
it, the more flurbed out I got so we drove on,
not stopping at the airport in Little Rock and we
all drove together.... What a long drive! On the
way home their were some pretty nasty storms.
We made it back to AZ safe and sound, after driving
21 hours straight... I don't know how Colin does it.

On Tuesday, the 24th, I took the family down to
our neighbor's house, Jack and Penny. Jack is a
retired stunt man and was a double for the Lone Ranger.
He is so much fun to listen to... All of the shows he's
worked on, the people he's worked with... He even
brought out his Lone Ranger mask, hat, guns and holster
for us to try on... Those pictures are on FB.
Here is a picture of Jack. This picture was taken
50 years after the Lone Ranger, right out here,
in AZ... He looks great! He signed it for us...
He was so cute... He said he was the honored one,
being in the presence of such talent... I gave them a CD
a couple of months ago and they have really
enjoyed it...


So now, here it is July 29th... The guys head out
again tomorrow. They will be gone a month this
time and then it will be time for a new chapter in
the Shuler Book of Life... :-)

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Week #4

Ok, it's been four weeks without the whole family.
The weeks are getting a little harder... I am now
counting down the days until I get to fly to AR...
I could make more quilts but I already cleaned up
the AZ room and put the sewing machine away.
If it were my house I would leave it all out and keep
working... So, I did finish quilt #3 for the new boy
coming in October. And I made the matching pillow.
I think it turned out pretty cute... Makes me feel like
Grandma Babe, making quilts for the Grand kids :o)

I took the Special K challenge for two weeks. I
didn't lose 2" off my waist as promised by the
advertising, but I have lost 4 lbs, so I can't complain.

I have been keeping busy with odd things here
and there... I won't bore you with the details.

8 more days and I get to see the family! I
am very excited! I am also looking forward
to meeting a plethora of people who are
anxious to meet the woman who belongs to
those crazy Shuler men.

Life can be cruel... But it's all good!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Week #3

Three weeks have now passed since the family went to AR.
I have had to slow down because I may run out of things to
do, and I have two more weeks to go.

I decided, with the extra material I had from the first
quilts, to make some pillows... I'm not sure I want
to do that again... I didn't enjoy that too much,
but they're still cute...

I started the third quilt for the new baby. It would
have been done a few days ago, but I made myself
walk away... I needed to leave myself something to do
next week.

Grandma had a few doctor's appointments this
week, so that helped make some days go by.
She had her yearly Alzhiemer check up...
She has donated her brain to the Research Institute
so they evaluate her every year. She is doing
remarkable for her age.

The normal weekly chores keep me somewhat
busy also... Although things don't get too messy
with just two people and a dog. Duke and I get
up and walk a mile every morning... He is
faithful (too faithful) to wake me up and we go.
Then I come home and have my coffee and we
start the day.

Tommy celebrated his 11th birthday
this last week. I think he had a good
time. Sara made some pasta salad,
he loves that stuff... We all do. The Dixon's
are taking great care of them. They're
having fun!

Well, that's it for this last week.  Next week
I'm pretty sure I'll have pictures of the finished
third quilt.

Two weeks from tonight I will be in AR.
So, looking forward to seeing my family!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Week #2

Another week has passed since the family has left and
I'm doing ok... The key is: To keep busy!
Last Saturday I finished the Clifford quilt and I
was pretty proud of myself. It was so much fun
putting it all together.
Sunday I took Grandma to church, went to lunch
and then I took her home and I went shopping for
 some Elmo material for my next quilt project.
After finding the perfect material I went over to
visit my in-laws and say "Happy Father's Day"
to my second dad. We had desert and played
some games.... Then I came home and worked on
a press kit for the guys. By Monday I had demo CDs
burned and the fliers made and I was able to mail 11
kits out to the Phoenix area... Hopefully I will have
some bookings for the guys for the holidays.
After the grocery shopping was done on Monday, it
was time to start the Elmo quilt. I was so excited
to get started and it was so cute seeing it come together.
But the happy feelings were tested on this project.
Elmo was not being cooperative and I experienced
another lesson in patience. I finally finished it Wednesday
night... It is far from perfect, but I don't think Zoe
will notice. If everyone else just looks from afar,
it'll all be just fine. :o)
So, here it is.....


Thursday was Grandma's yearly check up at
the Alzheimer Research Institute. She has two
more appointments next week.

Every morning Duke and I get up and walk a
mile... It feels good. I have lost 1 lb... Only
29 to go....


The family is having a blast with the Dixon's.
And revivals have begun again for the guys.
They had a wonderful time at Youth Camp
(Their first Youth Camp).
This last week the guys were in Paragould, AR
and there were good reports from that revival.

Since Sara, Megan and Tommy have been in Mountainview
They have been riding horses... Another first for them.




Yesterday, Colin and the boys joined the kids
in Mountainview. They sang, with the Dixons, at
The Independent Care Facility... This is an
amazing sight to me... I love it!

After singing their little hearts out and blessing the
residents there... They had to go feed those hungry
stomachs... Yummy Pizza Hut!



Two weeks have passed and three more to go, before
I get to fly out for convention. I thank the Lord for
His strength and this time of learning from Him.
He has been speaking to my heart and helping me
make some changes in my life and attitude.
God is so good to me... So blessed!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

A Week Already?

It has already been a week since the family left for Arkansas.
I think it's going well so far... I feel like I have been
pretty productive. Here's a short recap of my week...
Cleaned and organized the garage, laundry room
and the Arizona room. Cleaned and reorganized
all of the drawers in my room. Took items to Goodwill
and the Recycling place. Packed up and
mailed last year's school supplies back to AZVA.
Packed and mailed things to Colin that he forgot
 to take with him and mailed things that we brought
home from CA that belonged to Zoe and Max.
I went shopping and bought birthday cards,
bought a couple things for myself (rare) and
I couldn't resist... I had to buy a couple outfits for
the grand kids. I also bathed the dog and gave him
a haircut... Isn't he cute? He has been my
faithful companion.... 

I spent a couple of days trying to write a song...
What a disaster... I stink!!!
The most fun I have had is.... I dug out some
quilt blocks I had cut and started to sew together
almost 10 years ago... Loree Brock had come
to Colorado Springs and given the ladies
of the Church a quilt class... I started a quilt, but
never had time to do anything with it. SO, I sewed
the blocks together and here's what I have so far...

I hope to finish the quilt today or Monday and go
buy some more material for another one. I hope to
get a lot of practice, then when the kids get home,
and school starts, the I'll help the girls make their own.
My kids are too old for Clifford the Big Red Dog,
so I guess this first quilt goes to the grand kids.

So, there you have it... One week down and four to
go, before I see them all at convention...

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Busy! Busy! Busy!

The family has been gone for two whole days now and I'm doing fine... They had a safe trip to Arkansas and I'm sure the fun began as soon as they stepped into the Barker's house. They are going to have the best summer ever!

I have been keeping very busy... It keeps my mind occupied. I have cleaned/organized the garage, cleaned out and rearranged the drawers in the bedroom, shopped for birthday gifts and groceries, packed up last year's school supplies and put them in the van (to be mailed tomorrow), washed the dog, and a few other things here and there... I have many other projects lined up for myself... Some alone time is not ALL bad... Although there is another person in this house that is not necessarily wanting alone time and she requires some attention once and a while... As long as I don't run out of projects I think I'll make it ok... It's all good!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Happy Birthday Colin

Today was a very sad day... A very strange birthday
for Colin (Happy Birthday Honey)...
All of the kids and Colin loaded up in the
Ole' Mini Van and headed to Arkansas.



This will be the kid's first "Youth" Camp... Also, it will
be their first Church Camp without their mother... Feels kind of
weird. I am so glad they have this opportunity, even
though it pulls at this momma's heart strings. They
are going to have SO much fun!

Colin will be doing some work with Bro. Dewayne Smith
and hanging out at the Barker's until after camp.... Then revivals
begin again. I don't expect them back in AZ until
the holidays... Don't get too worried... The Lord has
already provided a way for me to see them in July,
at the Regional Convention, in Arkansas...
And I'm trusting that he'll provide again, for another visit
some time after that.... The kids will be home by the
end of July...It's all good!

Keep us in your prayers... Thankful to be His servant!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

A Much Needed Vacation!

We are so thankful that God provided a way for the whole family to get together and have a little retreat together. With Paul and Grace living way up North and Colin and the guys traveling all over the USA and not seeing each other very often, we were ecstatic to be able to meet in CA for a much needed vacation.


We first met in Apple Valley, CA at the New Wine Studios, where Colin, Jacob and Philip recorded our next CD, which by the way, will be ready for purchase some time this summer :o). After a few days in the studio we went to San Diego, CA for fun in the sun (as if we don't get enough of that in AZ). We spent three days at Sea World, two days at the zoo and three days at the beach. What a great vacation!

Here is the whole Colin Shuler family, grand kids and all!



The men in our family...
from left to right -
Max (AKA Bubba or Bugsy), Jacob, Philip
Tommy, Paul and Colin.


The women in our family...
from left to right -
Gerri, Zoe, Grace, Sara and Megan.



God has blessed us with an amazing family and we are grateful for every moment God allows us to spend together!

Monday, February 27, 2012

God Is So Amazing!

God never ceases to amaze me. Just this morning, during our devotions, I prayed that God would help us to be a blessing to someone today. As I heard these words come out of my mouth, I thought, "Who else would I be a blessing too, other than Grandma... Since that's who we spend most of our time with"... So I hoped to be a blessing to her... But God had something else planned for me today. The Internet guy came by to take care of a cable that had come uncovered in our back yard. As we were talking about the cable, he looked at me and smiled. He said, "You're a Christian, aren't you?" I stopped and stared at him for a second... I had done or said nothing about God... Could he possibly see God on my countenance? I hope so! I smiled back and said, "Yes, I am!" We talked about the Lord for awhile. I gave him a copy of our CD and told him about our ministry. As I started to walk into the house he said, "Thank you Ma'am... I mean, Sister." When I walked into the house I remembered my prayer that I had just prayed a few hours earlier... Now, that may seem like a small thing to some, but I am SO blessed! I love it when God answers a prayer so different from what you were expecting. I just want to be a usable vessel. This is the best Monday ever!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Washington DC - Virginia Trip


I could not even begin to express how blessed and thankful

the kids and I were to be able to take this trip. We boarded

Frontier Airlines on Feb. 14th and flew to Washington DC.

After a long flight, we arrived at Reagan National Airport

at 10:00pm. Sis. Connie Wilson and Sis. Johnna

picked us up and drove us to our motel room. Thank you

Johnna for finding a fantastic room for us. It was so nice

to see these beautiful ladies... Especially since they knew

their way to the motel. The next morning, Colin, Jacob,

Philip, Paul and Cathy Horton and Heather arrived at our

motel. My heart still skips a beat when I see my wonderful

husband. After all of the greetings we jumped into our vans

and headed out for a whirlwind tour of DC. We were limited

on time so the Smithsonian was not on our agenda.

We found some parking places right down town, which

was amazing, especially since we had two vehicles and

they were right close to each other... After parking, we started

walking. The park was FULL of geese. Paul tells Tommy, "I'll

give you five dollars if you can catch one of those geese." Off

he ran!



He didn't catch one, but he had a nice run. On the way
back he said, "It's ok, I have money in my pocket." He's
so funny. So, we keep walking through the park. This is so
amazing! We are in the Nation's Capital... How cool is this?
It is a lot to take in... But no time to proccess.

Here we are, the Shuler family, minus Paul and Grace. :-(
Next time, hopefully we'll all be together...
ALL... Right Lyndi?

Standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial.






This is SO amazing! If you've ever seen "Night at the Museum"

you feel like Lincoln could wake up at any moment. A must see!

TV or pictures do not even begin to give this sight

justice... So... WOW!




From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, looking

out towards the Washington Monument. There is

a lot of construction going on behind the kids...

I tried to cover it up as best as I could. I'm sure

they are working very hard to get this finished

before the upcoming elections.


My honey and I.





It is hard to see, but the Capital Building

is in the distance... It's hard to take your

eyes off of these goofy kids, I know.


Again, Capital Building in distance.



Sitting in front of the White House.






Oh yeah! What's more American than having

a hotdog, right in front of the White House...

And ordering it from an Asian guy who speaks Spanish(?)

;o)


Some Fine Art...

More Art....


Paul and Cathy, waiting for us...


Onto Arlington National Cemetery...










I don't think I really realized how big this place was...

A solemn reminder of what war does... I am so

very grateful for the men and women who

have given their lives for this amazing country.


We went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

and watched the changing of the guard.










We had a long day... Lots of walking... Lots

of sights... The kids were pooped!




We drove to Lynchburg, VA to stay the night

at the Horton's house. After a good night's rest,

we headed to TN for the Couple's Retreat.

It was a beautiful drive, even if the ground was

brown and the trees were leafless. I kept saying,

"I bet this is gorgeous in the summer".


The Lodge where the Retreat was held

was so nice. We had a nice room with a fireplace.

Of course we had to use it! As always, I was

cold most of the time.


Here is the Master Fire Starter.


We had a great Retreat! The fun, fellowship and

prayer time was just what I needed. The kids

were having a wonderful time in Marion, VA with

the Womack kids. Eric Hogan and Katlin Horton

were there for the Sunday service and they all

said it was fantasic one. It snowed most of the day

on Sunday so after service the kids had to go

and take advantage of the white stuff and built

a snow person and had snow ball fights.


Back at retreat... We were able to be with family....



And friends... And meet new friends...




Tommy enjoying the snow...

Megan and Sarah Womack.

Colin, me, Crystal and Shaun Womack in
front of an old Church near Marion, VA.


This is what it would look like if it were snowing.


The kids were curious to see the inside...










Cemetery beside the old church.



Colin, reading names and dates.


The Womack's sure can show you a good time...

Sight seeing... They take us to the Mental Hospital.

:o) HaHaHaHa!!! I think I'll make my reservations.

It is a cool and creepy looking building.


We then drove up to Hungry Mother Park.

We looked around the little museum they had

in the Ranger Station. In the Gift Shop we

found a Critter Net...

And it worked!



A Marion Snow Family along side of the road.


We had such a great time. We made new friends.

Thank you to the Womack Family for driving us

to your house and giving us a place to sleep.

(Even if Bro. Shaun did drive with one hand on the

wheel and talked on the phone while driving in snow)

Thank you to the Horton's for playing in DC

with us, taking us to Retreat and letting us stay

at their house. Thank you to the Sheets for doing

a great job directing their first Retreat.

It was an all around GREAT time.

It was hard to leave Colin, Jacob and Philip

again... But so thankful for the time we had together.