Welcome!! This blog has been an incredible outlet for me. It’s the place that I record my life’s happenings and photos. I also love to keep in touch with friends and family through my blog. So, be sure and leave me a comment.
My husband, Bryan, and I were church planting missionaries in Togo from 2000-2008. We grew to love the Kabiye people with whom we worked. We were supported by a wonderful congregation, Preston Road Church of Christ, in Dallas, TX. I am a Californian and Bryan an Iowan, but for many years Texas was our stateside home.
I am a servant, lover and believer in God. I am so thankful for the time He has taken to mend my brokenness and to forgive my sins. Thus, my blog’s name…New Creation! All believers in Christ (not just me!) are new each day- every moment because of His redeeming blood. This thought alone has carried me through many difficult days. There is nothing that I can ever do to repay Him, but I plan to serve Him and sing His praises all of my days!
I have been married to Bryan, an amazing guy, for 15 years. I am the mother (or should I say BIG Mama) to four energetic, athletic and creative little boys- Isaac,13; Graham, 12; Owen, 8; and Lochlan, 2 years. I am wholeheartedly dedicated to my family and I love to use my energies to create a loving and fun home for them.
Our family has now been living in the States for 4 years! We have adjusted (fairly) well to American life in Tennessee. Bryan is a CPA and works as an auditor; I am a 5th grade public school teacher. Enjoy my blog!!
New Creation 
Ok, we’re hooked.
–April
I have really been liking your new blog. what is wordpress? I’ll be reading soon…
Jen, wordpress is just another blogging site. It’s easy to get an account and simple to use. But, I’ll admit it’s not as easy as Blogger. I am still learning how to use it, but I’m glad I switched. Love you!!! T
Tracey, I am a friend of your grandmother, Ruth. We are members of the Brownwood,Texas Austin Ave congregation, and I also quilt with Ruth. My husband and I have set up a computer for her with a yahoo address and a camera so that she can hopefully instant message you and be able to see your family through that method…I say hopefully, since we aren’t sure her current server will support the video. But all we can do is try! 🙂 At the very least she might be able to instant message with you through Yahoo if we could coordinate a DATE and TIME that you could BOTH be on Yahoo at the same time. You can email me at karenb@web-access.net to let me know when would be best for you. I will reply to confirm the exact coordinated time to do this with Ruth. In the past my family has been able to talk, hear, and SEE our son almost every day when he was in Australia for a year, and we have been able to communicate with missionaries in Chile in the same way. It has been wonderful to communicate in real time and be able to see them…and sometimes hear them when our slow dial up cooperated…and all for free! I am hoping to walk Ruth through this process so that she can do this by herself in her own home on her own computer. She would be thrilled to experience this I think. Our congregation has Skype, but this would be more convenient for your grandmother since she can do this from her home. Let me know. Thanks!
hey tracey and bryan,
i am joe bob and wilma griders oldest daughter….shonda.
i think you newsletter is great and tracey i have enjoyed reading your blogs. you have inspired me to start blogging.
whenever i read your newletter, i can’t help but think how very proud bryan’s grandmother, my aunt bettie would have been of you all!
please put me on your newsletter email list and know that i am so proud and blessed to call you all family!
know that you are in my prayers.
have a good one and don’t let satan steal your joy today,
your cousin shonda
kentucky
Shonda, Thanks for leaving a note! I am glad to hear that you keep up with us through the newsletter and blogs. Let me know what your blog address is and I’ll check it out. We think of Bryan’s granny often..she had an adventurous spirit that was passed along to Bryan, I think. Blessings to you and your family!!! Love, Tracey
Tracy — great stuff here on your blog. I wanted to say thanks for the thoughts and prayers.
hey tracey,
you were the one to give me the blog bug…i have finally set mine up:
shondajudy.wordpress.com
i’m hoping you can give me some tips. (i still can’t figure out how to put up in the top right hand corner “i write about…”)
it is not very exciting right now, but give me a little time.
anxious to hear your schedule when you get back into the states.
i would love to catch up with you all sometime this summer.
please let us know of your needs and wants when you arrive back home.
praying for health and continued blessings on you all.
happy birthday bryan!
Hi Shonda! I checked out your blog…way to go! I hope we can connect sometime soon!
Hello, I am an American citizen that would like to travel to Togo, Africa and am interested in seeking information on how someone may go and reside there for a brief time and actually live with the natives and experience their culture. If it would be possible for you to provide me with information on how this would be possible, it would be most appreciated. Thank you very much for your time.
Check out https://www.lonelyplanet.com/togo It has a lot of useful information about travel and sights in Togo.