Africa in a nutshell

I do not know how to properly sum up my trip to Africa. It was the first of many trips my family will take and I made relationships that will last a life time. The ministry we partner with, Tree Life Ministry, is run by some of the most amazing, precious people and I miss them so much more than I imagined I would. I was afraid I would be overly emotional most of the trip and unable to hold it together, but the people (despite their circumstances) are so extremely joyful that it is just contagious. The only time I cried was when I left. The thought that it would be a year before I would be back was and is so hard to swallow.
I didn't know how I was going to pick what pictures to put on my blog, but after watching the slideshow that Chuck Pope put together of our trip I decided to just post that. Enjoy all the precious memories I made with my Wonderful SalSaf Team - Blair and Lauren Robinson, Shelly and Bre Patrick, Chuck Pope, Jake Kelley, and my amazing husband, Jeremy Hendrix.
Thank you Jeremy for all your hard work put into planning this trip and the work you have already begun for 2010. I love you. And thank you sooooo much Jake, for keeping me sane. You made this trip so much more memorable for us! We love you tons!

Uganda Slideshow from Melissa Hendrix on Vimeo.

I can't post about Africa without thanking the wonderful people I can count on to take care of my most treasured boys. Toby and Bear spent a week in Gulf Shores, AL with Pam and Steve (the amazing in-laws) and Chris and Nikki (bro-in-law and girlfriend) and then spent a few fun days with their Aunt Jen. Thank ya'll so much for taking care of my babies and thanks to all my friends for your willingness to be on-call just in case. I am sooo blessed with such a big support team! I think I could leave my boys for a month and not worry once about their well-being. Missing them would be the issue! All in all I did really well being away from the boys. I had a year to pray about it and, as usual, the Lord came through with flying colors. I have to say the reunion at the airport was amazing...
My three boys in full embrace
PawPaw made shirts for the boys to wear to the airport The boys in their shirts How cute are they??? I will devote an entire blog to the trip to Gulf Shores. It's too cute to cram into this post! Talk at ya soon.

So...I've gotten quite a bit of flack for returning from my blogging hiatus for Michael Jackson, so I feel compelled to appease.


Let me update... We have moved into an amazing house in Irving. I really love it. We've already made many memories here. For example, on Bear's first birthday (Superbowl Sunday), I was feeling the loss of my mother rather strongly so I didn't really get in gear and have a party for him, but my sweet friends came to the rescue. Melissa, Janelle, amd Krystal came with their wonderful families and we had cake and made it a birthday to remember. Thank you friends.

More recently, my oldest baby turned 5! Yes, you heard me right...5! He had a combined birthday party with friends, Titus Burger and Ben Norris. It was a blast!
Here's the Birthday boys. Ben, Toby and Titus!



Man, How time flies! Look at what a difference just a few years makes...
This is Toby at Chuck E Cheese at his 3rd birthday, hence the 3 fingers.

And this is Toby at 2 yrs. old at Six Flags. Look at those cheeks!


We leave for Africa in 5 days and I am so afraid to see the changes in the boys when I return. We will only be gone a few weeks, but while Jeremy was last in Africa Toby went from grunting for juice to stating full out, "Mommy, may I have juice please." It was the strangest thing! I truley do want to just freeze time.
Well, this is just a little catch up...Until next time.

Back from the dead...

Or so it feels. It's been ages since I blogged. I feel it necessary today though. I am newly aware of my drama-prone personality. In such fashion, I must declare that I am DEVASTATED at the recent loss! Was that dramatic enough for everyone? I recognize the kook that Michael Jackson is or was, but I can not properly portray what a huge part of my childhood was spent mimicking him. I could grab myself (to my mother's dismay), moonwalk, and spin and scream "hee hee" at quite a young age. :) My mom used to record any time he was on TV for me and I would spend hours rewinding and replaying my VHS tape to perfect each dance move. Thanks mom. I can't say why I had such a fascination with him, but man, I did and it made me truley sad to hear the news. My friends are all laughing reading this, and my husband and sister would truley gag, but I love you Michael. :) I do not know where he stood on believing in God. I know he stated in an interview with Oprah he did, but I shutter to think that he is gone now and was not welcomed into Heaven by my sweet mom.

Here's my favorite MJ song:

Michael Jackson - Man in the mirror
by dangerous_world_tour

The Olive Tree

Woohoo! I actually uploaded some of my newest art...see my Olive Tree blog!!!

LONG TIME NO BLOG!

My sweet niece, Maddie and her crazy friends. Bear is in there too.

Oh to be 10 again!!! My niece turned 10 a few weekends ago. 10!!! I remember when Jen told me she was pregnant. I was a niave 17 year old at the time. We've been through alot in just those 10 years. We've added precious family members and lost some irreplacable family members. I would have never sat down as that 17 year old and pictured the life the Lord had planned for me. I would have NEVER imagined what 10 years would bring. I count my blessings and pray for strength. I recount my favorite verses for motivation and pray for Jesus to come quickly. I am seeing what it truly means to "run the race," to "wait with expectation," and to "lean not on my own understanding." I so long to tell Maddie, not to mention, my sweet Toby (4 yrs. old) and Bear (7 months old) what it means to love God. To REALLY LOVE God...To celebrate each moment just because God gave it, to find contentment in all your circumstances and to truly be thankful. Please ladies, find a way to perfect this and reveal it to your sweet loved ones, and then, TELL ME HOW! Wouldn't that be the ultimate?!
I mean, look at them...

Daddy and Toby
Mommy and Bear

I am surely lucky. Man, they are funny! I really need to write down the stuff that comes out of Toby's mouth these days. I need a permanant video camera for sure. This weekend at Maddie's birthday party, the kids put on shows. Remember when you used to do that? You would plan it all out in the back room and then proudly march in the living area to show the grown-ups. When did I become a grown-up? What a funny thought! I guess that's where 10 years gets me - Happy Birthday Maddie!!!!

Toby's debut performance!

Toby had his very first program! He had to stand in front of people and sing songs WITH movements - the whole 9-yards! Knowing Toby as I do, I knew this was going to be interesting to say the least!!!!

Escuse the camera work. Very shaky! It was our first time. In this first clip - (Toby is wearing a brown polo with blue stripes) He literally covers his face and shakes his head! Bear makes his vocal debut in this clip as well.


Toby's Program from Melissa Hendrix on Vimeo.

In this clip - he just decides to turn his back on everyone! This is classic!


Toby's Program 2 from Melissa Hendrix on Vimeo.

That's what friends are for...

I am making a point to write a normal, non-depressing blog. Balance is healthy! And I count myself fortunate when I examine my life and the ladies I am honored to share it with. I must declare proudly (and somewhat arrogantly) that I have the BEST friends ever known to man.


It starts with my girls from childhood - Britt and Emily. I have had the pleasure of knowing Brittainy for, I'd say, over 20 years now. I remember blazing through the '80s in excellent nerd fashion with that girl. We have since gained a sense of style and full-blown families to boot. Britt has twins that Toby absolutely loves. She is one of the only other women that can make my Toby shake in his boots! She has that boy in check! More power to her! She'll need that firm hand this summer while he is terrorizing her house from 8 to 5! Love you girl!
Then, there's Emily. She expanded me and Britt's dynamic duo and brought some new excitement. Never a dull moment with that girl! She was a wild child through high school and we got into more trouble than I will EVER admit! You'll never get it out of me! Promise Em! Now it's hard to recognize that girl with all her "baggage" - I say that lovingly. Emily has 3 of the most beautiful kids! Man, when did we grow up? It's such fun! And we will have to continue to take trips to the zoo with all the kids! How stinkin' fun was that? What a ride?!

ALL the kids, plus some nephews

Then, we move on to the "college friends" - as Britt likes to refer to them. Dallas Baptist sure did produce some of the best woman! These are the women I am growing old with. We are breeding like the end is near and laughing like we don't care. Every moment with these women is a JOY. Angelique, Cathy and Kassie are my prayer warriers and my strength in hard times - and we have shared many a hard time. We also, however, are able to revert back to teenagedom in less than 60 seconds. It's a proven fact. They are my good balance of common sence, godly wisdom, and just plain fun. I was more of a guys girl before these women. Always thought girls involved entirely too much drama that I wasn't willing to take - then these ladies came along.


Above from L to R: Me, Kassie, Angelique and Cathy


Then there's the fab 10! Yes I said 10! With the 3 girls mentioned above, then throw in a few of our suitemates and some volleyball players and you have the most down to earth, loving, easy-going women I have ever met. Among the 10 of us, we have 14 kids! Yes 14! And I CAN name them all! Not in order of age though. It's humorous actually. No wonder we need girl time! I went from childhood with 2 close friends to adulthood with a whole slew of wonderful women lifting me up daily! I count my blessings for sure.

Above NOT pictured: Lana and Kassie

Not done yet! We can't finish up this blog without acknowledging God's impecable purpose in placing me at this church (where I am the Financial Secretary) in His perfect timing. I am surrounded - and I mean surrounded by wonderful women who are currently my crutches. I am struggling with each day after the loss of my mother, and in every weak moment I see the loving face of sweet Janelle or Melissa or Michelle or Krystal or Jennifer. The list is endless! I am in awe of the warriers I have struggling in prayer for me and crying sincere tears for me and with me. Sweet Janelle and Michelle get an earful on a daily basis and I will always look back on this hard time in my life and remember their sweet words of encouragement. I love these ladies and look forward to sharing many seasons with them.

Above pictured: Krystal, Lib (holding Bear), and Janelle

Above pictured: Krystal, Melissa and I