Dominican Republic - part 1

Since Sam and I are both teachers, we have the whole summer to do whatever we want! Usually, there is a good chunk of time devoted to missions in the Dominican Republic. Since we've been married, we've spent time in Peru, Mexico, and the DR. However, Sam is in love with the Dominican culture and the Dominican people, so it's really the only place we go to now.

Last summer, we didn't travel anywhere because we were waiting around for little Michael to get here and then spending all our time with him once he decided to arrive. Now that Michael was a year old, we thought he would be OK for us to travel. Sam was there for almost 3 weeks and I went for just a week. (The original plan was to take Michael with us to the DR, but after a lot of thinking, we thought it would be too hard on him. It gets SO hot there and he doesn't quite understand how to "suck it up". He also wouldn't have had his one year vaccinations, so we didn't want to risk him getting a disease. AND, we would have had to carry a truck-load of stuff just for him. That would have been slightly stressful.)

Sam led a youth group trip with some friends of ours from Indiana. We first met this youth group when we led a trip for them 3 years ago. They wanted to go to the same city and work with the same pastor and see the same people, so Sam helped that happen! The trip was 10 days long and the group has some excellent stories to tell! God used them so much to bring his love to the people in Moca, DR. I could go on and on about some of their encounters, but I will tell just a couple.

Sam and a couple of the youth were out going door to door. (Side note: Door to door ministry is widely accepted in the DR. The people are very relational and they love having you in their home to talk about anything. They are very open to hearing about the Gospel and hearing Truth.) So, they encountered a lady who had a very mentally disabled son. This son was locked up in a back room chained to the wall. People thought that he was demon possessed and they wanted Sam and the youth girls to pray for him and pray the demons out of him. Sam did not know the truth about this man, but everyone needs prayer, so they did just that. They decided that they were going to cover him in prayer and in God's love.

Sam had to approach the man like he was five years old. He was very timid and afraid at the sight of Americans in his home. Sam started the prayer like he was praying with a child and then it eventually grew to a more serious, deep prayer. The man was crying and in awe that someone was showing him love and compassion. They talked to the man and asked him "Do you love Jesus?", "Do you know that He made you?", "Do you know that Christ is King?". All the man could answer was a simple "Si" (yes). They tried to get him to speak the name of Jesus, but he couldn't get the words out.

When Sam and the group left his house, the mother of the man was overwhelmed with the love that was shown to her son and the son just sat and watched the group with a smile on his face. He was a changed man. He heard the Gospel and heard the name of Jesus and was shown love through Sam and the other youth. They were Jesus to him.

There are so many other stories, but it would take up many more blogs. The theme of the week was teaching the youth group to be warriors for Christ and to hate sin just like Jesus hated sin (think the story of Jesus in the temple). They learned a lot on this trip and they were able to grow closer to Christ as they shared his love and shared his Gospel with the Dominican people.

Michael's First Birthday

We cannot believe that it has been one year already! Michael has grown and learned so much in a year! Sam and I are so blessed to be his parents and we look forward to many more birthdays with our little Michael Man!

Michael's birthday was on Thursday, July 9th. We just got home from the Dominican Republic the day before, so we just celebrated at home with some cake and our friends Jacob and Robin. We plan on having a big party sometime soon so that all the grandparents and our friends can be there! So, we're celebrating his birthday all month long!

Here's some pictures of Michael enjoying his first taste of the good stuff...CAKE! He was really most interested in the vanilla icing. I don't think he even got one bite of cake because he was licking his fingers so much.

Here's some stats on Michael after one year of life:

-He unofficially weighs 22 pounds - We haven't had our 1 year checkup yet!

-He's walking like a champ and enjoys getting chased around the house.

-He smacks his lips when he sees some food that he would like to taste.

-He's now drinking out of a sippy cup.

-He really enjoys facing forward in his big boy carseat!

-His vocabulary consists of "gur" (Sugar), "bah" (ball), "bah bah" (bye bye)

-He's calling Sam "dada", but doesn't call me "mama" even though he says the word.

-With a room full of toys, he still loves cell phones, remote controls, and water bottles the best!

-He's sleeping 12 hours  a night...praise the LORD!

-His favorite foods are sweet potatoes and fruit...the sweet stuff.

-He would rather throw his food on the floor or feed it to Sugar than put it in his mouth. This can be quite frustrating!

Our Zoo Adventure

Michael went to the Atlanta Zoo for the first time the other day with his mommy and grandma! I'm sure this is the first of many annual trips that he will take in his lifetime. He was able to see a few animals up close, so those were the ones that he liked the best. He got a good look at the UGLY warthogs, the leemers, and the pandas! He calls every animal "gurgur" because our dog's name is Sugar. So he enjoyed seeing the "gurgurs".

We got to sit on the bronze statue of the famous Gorilla, Willie B. I remember seeing Willie B. in when I was little. He is the icon of the Atlanta Zoo, so it was nice that Michael got to meet him and play with him!

We also got to go on a short train ride around the zoo. Michael enjoyed riding like a big boy (and sometimes standing up like he shouldn't)!

Michael also got to pet his first animals (that weren't doggies)! He got to pet a goat and a sheep. We stayed away from the pigs because they smelled bad!

Here's a look at some of the animals that we got to see! We were really glad to see the pandas because we heard that they are going back to China. Apparently, the zoo just had them on lease for a short while.

 It'll be different taking Michael to the zoo next year because he'll probably be able to say the names of the animals! I'm excited to have started yet another tradition that we can carry on for years to come!

Happy Father's Day!!

Sam is in the Dominican Republic, so Michael wanted to tell him how much he loves him! We can't wait for him to get home and he's only been gone for 2 days! 

Sam, you are the best daddy and you are Michael's hero!!

Happy Father's day to Michael's Grandpa, Great Grandpa, and G-Daddy, too!

Hair today...gone tomorrow!

Although we like the California surfer boy look, people were starting to think that Michael was a little girl (even when dressed in obvious boy clothes!!). We decided that it was time for him to get his first haircut! So, we went to see our friend from church, Beth.

Michael did fantastic! He got a little squirmy after a few minutes...but since he loves his daddy so much, sitting in his lap did just the trick!

Now our little man really looks like a little man! He's growing up.... *tear*...but, he is growing into one handsome little fella!

Before...

Beth did such a great job! Michael thinks so, too!!

Family Reunion

The 2nd weekend in June has always been set aside for the McGarity family reunion. My grandma was one of 14 children and we have been gathering in their honor since my dad was a little boy. Although there is only one living McGarity child left - my Great Aunt Lucille - the descendants still gather each year. 

My grandma's name was Eufaula McGarity. She passed away 17 years ago, but I still remember the times we spent at their house almost every weekend when I was younger. She and Pop would always have a candy jar full of York Peppermint Patties. The house was filled with the smell of fresh buttermilk biscuits, fried chicken, and peach cobbler (which I used to call "clobber"). On the nights when I would spend the night, Grandma would always have me read the Lord's Prayer and help me to memorize it....which I did! We would play outside in their huge backyard and go greet the cows that used to live in the pasture behind her house. Sometimes Pop would get out his shotguns and practice shooting with my dad. My brother loved watching them and developed a love for hunting because of it.

It's so nice to get together and celebrate new life and remember those that have left this earth. I know Grandma and Pop would be proud of their great grandson! Michael will grow up knowing their memories and he'll enjoy going to the family reunion each year and continuing the tradition!

Michael's nametag said "Michael - Eufaula's great grandson"

Michael and G-Daddy (my dad) going for a stroll

Kennedy enjoyed swinging on the swings...something my brother and I did when we were her age!

Kennedy and Michael

Classic!! Enjoying his first Coca-Cola!! 

(Note: it was empty...no sugary syrup entered his body!)

Splish Splash!

Sam and I took Michael to the pool for the first time this week! It was hot outside, but the pool was still pretty cold. He did NOT like it at first...he would start breathing heavy if you just got him near the water! He never really cried when he got wet, but he would whine and hold on to us really tight! 

Needless to say, he eventually got used to it and really enjoyed it! He got to use his baby float that Grandma and Grandpa got him! He would kick his little legs back and forth and try to move in the water! He also loved splashing just like he does in the bathtub!

We're looking forward to some more pool time this summer!