…Catch Me if You Can…

So here are some pics I dug up from the XD in Rome, Italy 2007. Just in case people have questions as to what went on in our side of the world during the Core. I know I didn’t post much sooner…forgive me and let your eyes now behold it all. Just 3 weeks and so much was covered and learned…I hope and pray everyday that I keep all these memories in my heart and soul and continue to always, no matter what, be Xtreme!

As I took a peaceful walk in the great outdoors…my own back yard in fact, I became aware of a presence very close to me. The presence was not cold or dark. Instead it was as warm and assuring as the sun caressing my face in all its goodness. It did not stalk me in a way that made me feel awkward…instead it made me desire to be stalked all the more! It wrapped its warmth around me when the wind threatened to chill, it kissed my cheeks as I lay on the bright glades of grass. It sang to me as I drifted off to a dreamy sleep…where it appeared to me again, this time in all its splendor and delight. Can you guess what this presence was? It is because of it that I am here today…

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To Journey to Fairyland
by
Joannda Riche

You must believe with all your heart and soul.
Let no man tell you otherwise,
Or fill your head with darkened lies.

The way to get there is many in choice,
But a good first step is the inner voice.
By air, or water, by earth or fire,
Fairyland is your hearts desire.

There you are free, all you can be,
And everything is real.
You could sit for a while ,
Upon a sundial,
And chase the rays of the light,
You could float on the air,
Without any care,
Or fly with butterfly wings.
Buzz with the bees, and fly through the trees,
Float down with the falling leaves.

You could go on a boat,
Through sparkling waters,
Made out of the shell of a tortoise.
Sit in the ring where the fairies all sing,
Drink, dance, fairy fling.
Diddle on the fiddle, play fairy in the middle,
Sparkle, shine, drink buttercup wine.
T’is not far, you must believe,
Just follow the voice from within.

When I Close My Eyes.

by
Joannda Riche
Sometimes when I close my eyes,
I’m there again.
I can touch and smell and see,
All the beauty of that time.
A time of innocence and freedom,
When I was safe and protected from harm.
And within that innocence,
Was there for me, the magic of natures gifts,
Given freely for me to enjoy.
Who would have thought,
So long after the time has passed,
That I could still close my eyes, and be there in my memory.
It was such a precious time,
And I never knew,
That it would embed itself in my heart forever.
Like a ghost from the past,
It melts into my soul and remains, gently rocking me,
Just like I was there,
When I close my eyes….

JoJo 2002

I want to spend this day thanking the Lord for my wonderful dad, since it is his birthday after all. To the one who has poured into me so much and given me so much in the physical, mental and spiritual. I love him so much with all of my heart and soul and I wouldn’t trade his presence in my life or his effect on my life for anything. As a matter of fact I wouldn’t change a single memory with him for the world!

You have always been there for me and have always been a comfort, in those times I needed you, you were always there. I love you so much and can’t express it enough to you! Thank you so much for the years you’ve poured into me and the love you have given me, my life wouldn’t be the same without you!! I wish you the very best in everything this year! Happy Birthday! XOXOXXO

One fine day I decided it was time to move on from the “sunny, safer south” to the west…western Europe that is. So here I am in Italy. Am I healthy? Yes. Am I happy and fulfilled? YES!

Here is a picture of us and all the wonderful people in our home. Look at us, we’re so full of joy and joyness!! YAY! Don’t we look great together?

Love, joy,(and joyness), excellent home members, 9 happy kids (soon to be 10!), a beautiful house and receptive people in the this field..who could ask for anything more?? Not me…! TYJ!

So after prayer and thought about our plans and preparations for the upcoming Offensive, we decided that one of the many new avenues of outreach we would try would be a good idea to start up a singing team/show troupe, so off we went along our merry way getting our voices in-sync and on- tune. We were off to a good start too as the first few nights we tried it out together it went very well! TYJ! Albeit it was, and still is, a lot of work getting everything together and trying to keep the beat of singing whilst dancing too, but with God’s grace we are doing it!

This weekend we got invited to perform at a Cowboy Fair here in Pisa, one whole hour of songs! Yikes! We had to put together a promo video and pictures of our little troupe for them since they are paying us…lets hope and pray we can pull it off as it will be good publicity for us and hopefully lead to greater things in the future!

Here are the pictures:

Today we had a ride in the ambulance…not because of any physical ailment…but simply to catch a ride to the city center next to the hospital called “Volterra”. Lyee and I had a wonderful time waltzing around the city(despite the fact that everyone said it would be horrible weather..the sun DID shine!!) eating pizza, drinking hot chocolate and ice-cream, making friends and taking pictures of everything like good little tourists..! hehe. All in all we had a blast being our wierd selves as usual and not having the boys there to tell us what “just isn’t appropriate here!” tsk, tsk..

Well here are the pictures..

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Just a little picture in memory of the XD…though I had mixed emotions throughout the whole thing I know that it made a big difference in my life and I can honestly say that I know I would never be happier than in the Family living for what I believe and being a 100% disciple!! Thank God for XD!!

We went on a real “adventure” today. We got dropped off in this little town where they filmed the famous movie “Brother Sun, Sister Moon”. It was nice to see one of the famous little towns near us as we haven’t done much site seeing since we moved here. We walked around, met some Chinese people who we talked to in Chinese(much to their shock!) and had some amazing gellato (ice-cream) something Italy is famous for. Then we had an all too exciting adventure getting home which took a bus ride, 2 trains and about hours of our lives…hmm, not TOO much eh? hehe. But in the end it was worth it as we had a blast!

We celebrated Lylee’s birthday along with the two other Capricorns in our home…twas fun was had a simple chilling party with music and drinks in our living room. We even had a “dance-off” where the boys really freaked out with their dorky dances…hehe. All in all

it was lots of fun and we were highly entertained by each other and lets not forget to say WE LOVE YOU LYLEE!!!!! Isn’t she just lovely? Let me just say that there isn’t anyone else in the world I would rather have moved to a new country or explored Europe with than you! Here’s to all the good and crazy times we’ve had and hopefully there’s a lot more where that came from! I love you LOO!! Happy 19! XOXOXo