Olly's BACK!! (aka "Mr.Betsy")

Hey guys! You'd never believe what happened two nights ago. After being gone for 6 weeks and eventually settling with the fact that he wasn't coming back, we got a phone call from a woman across the street that has had him for the past 2 weeks! We couldn't believe he'd survived this long. That means that he somehow survived these neighborhoods for about 4 weeks on his own, and Olly's not the bravest of cats. We think it was his caution that saved him. Especially being mostly white in color, he must have hidden himself pretty well from the coyotes. He also miraculously crossed the busy street of Washington Blvd. in front of our apt and reached the porch of the lovely woman that returned him.



We weren't sure if he'd remember us or our home, but sure enough, within 30 minutes after bringing him home, he found his litter box, his favorite place on the couch, and was immediately up on the table again while we played cards. And yes, he still spoons with me at night with his head right on my pillow. It is such a special little blessing to have Olly back home with us. I still can't believe he's alive!

The "Mr.Betsy" name was the lady's name for him when she had him. Because of Olly's beautiful markings and sweet face, she thought he was a girl. So, she named him Betsy and then when the Humane Society told her he was a boy, she called him Mr. Betsy. =) Olly's definitely lost weight since he's been gone and is a little bit dirtier than before, surviving all the dirt and rain we had for those couple weeks straight. In the picture Olly is playing with his new homecoming toy we bought him. =) So good to have him back!

Trip to Kentucky!

This is the company of women that I dance with in Benita Bike's DanceArt Company (from left to right): Laurie, Tiff, Teya, Kim, and myself. We were invited to Louisville, KY to teach and perform for middle school students plus the surrounding community. This pic was takin' after performing in a classroom for a small class of 6th graders and the director of the county's arts center treating us to lunch.


This next picture is from our second day in KY when we performing on a small piece of marley floor they put down for us in their gym to perform for all the school's 8th graders. The unique thing about our company and Benita's vision is to educate the audience about modern dance as we perform. So, she talks in between each of our pieces (to allow us to change of course) but to ultimately interact with the audience and allow them to share their reactions from the previous piece.















The pic below is of us performing for 6th graders on their little stage in their gymnasium. It was funny because they initially wanted to have the stage closed off with a curtain and a small group of students with us on stage while two classes played dodge ball for P.E. But, we insisted that the P.E. simply join the audience and watch us dance instead. It worked out, the teacher was flexible, and we got to reach a lot more kids that way.





































This is me on stage during our tech rehearsal doing my solo to "Jimmy Crack Corn" in our dance titled "A Few American Songs." Teya's knee has been bothering her so I was asked to learn her solo before we took this trip. It has a lot of jumping in it, so I'm enjoying it. Plus, its a joyful solo, so I get to smile.

Below is the beautiful space we got to perform in for our Saturday's full evening length performance. This is Oldham County's Arts Center stage, but it used to be a church (obvious by the pews still there). It was pretty cool with its unusually shaped stage, high ceiling, and audience seated at different angles.















If you wanna see more pics from our incredibly fun trip, you can click on the link below.
We did go out to a Kentucky bar Saturday night after our show and danced the night away until 2:00am. Mind you, Benita was picking us up at 5:45am for our flight home. =) I'm still catching up on my sleep.

Link

Answers Already...

Thank you for your prayers!

To my surprise, our family IS getting together. In fact, in a few weekends we're all getting together (including extended family I haven't seen in 15-20 years) at my parent's house in Riverside. And beyond that, we are having a memorial service at the church up the street that my parents have been going to which is in walking distance. So, pretty exciting. There is much potential for some healing and reconnection to take place throughout the Tures Family. Praise God for that!

Also, I spoke with my Grandma on Sunday and it was such a joy to hear from her personally how God has shown Himself to her. First of all, my grandma told me she has been praying all year that God would take grandpa home to heaven before the new year. And guess what...(its just like God)...grandpa went home with the Lord New Year's Eve! Isn't that just awesome. I think God loves to just show off sometimes. =) He is so perfect in all that He does.

My grandma also described to me what a beautiful moment it was to have her hand on her husband's chest when his heart took its last beat here on earth. She had never imagined or asked if that was possible; she simply wished to be there in his last moments. She thanks God so much for being able to share that very last moment with him (having been married over 60 years). What an incredible love God built in their marriage.

Thank you for your prayers.

Prayer Requests...

My grandpa, Marvin D. Tures, passed away last night at 2:00am over New Year's Eve. He is home with the Lord now and we rejoice in that, but I have a few prayer requests.

Please pray:
1. For my grandma, for not only comfort and peace from God but also the courage for her to leave her place and possessions if necessary. It is not the healthiest situation for her to be out there in 29 Palms alone.
2. For wisdom for my parents in how to help at this time. Unfortunately, this is the 3rd death on my dad's side this year and our family has yet to come together to share in these hard times. Pray that if its God's Will for us to come together, either for a simple gathering or an actual service, that God would provide the means to do that.
3. For the entire Tures family to find hope in the reality of heaven for those who know and confess Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. And if they do not yet know the Lord personally, that they would make that life-changing decision now.

I praise God for making it possible for us to spend eternity with Him where there is no pain or fear. Grandpa is no longer in pain and discomfort but enjoying the presence of the Lord now.

Thank you for praying for the Tures family,
Jess & Jud

Our Three Praises to God!

We praise God for:

1. Providing a church for us to call home.
2. Benita Bike DanceArt Company for Jess to dance with.
3. The PEF grant Jess just received for the PHS dance program.

Our first and greatest praise is for God's provision of a church! Jud & I visited about four churches in the area over the past three months and became quite frustrated. We were having a hard time finding a church that put its primary focus on the Scriptures and Jesus Christ. However, through prayer and waiting on God...He faithfully provided and led us to Calvary Bible Church in Burbank. We are so excited about their focus on the Bible and their contagious love of Jesus Christ. We are meeting more and more people each week and I am so enjoying the woman's bible study I just got involved in. We are studying the book of Joshua now and are on to Judges next! Jud & I also go to the Young Marrieds group on Sundays. The following picture is from the Young Marrieds Christmas Party we went to last Saturday night. It was a white elephant gift exchange...notice the IV stand, puppets, and other random gifts. It was absolutely outrageous. Although Jud did walk away with a real set of bagpipes from Ireland that someone brought and had no use for...how appropriate for the Camerons! =)



Secondly, I've been wanting to share that God provided the most unexpected opportunity for me to perform again. I'm having so much fun with it. A friend of mine texted me one morning recently and asked if I'd be interested in dancing with this dance company as a part time dancer. I prayed, I tried out, and they asked me to join. It is much different from the last company I danced with...it only consists of five female dancers and the movement is more classical modern and conservative. The girls are so great and I'm being challenged as a dancer again. I love it. Plus, it inspires me in my teaching and gives me an outlet to relieve my own stress as well as reminds me of the love I have for dancing. We practice in Studio City and perform locally. The uniqueness of this company is that its focus is on educating the local community about modern dance by exposing them to it for free! The company has so many sponsors/donors that all but one of our performances are free to the public and we perform almost twice a month. It amazes me how God had this planned when He led me to say no to becoming the school's dance team advisor and to say no to doing my master's right now. Hmmm.....I see now that He had this planned. =)

Lastly, speaking of God's plans...He also had plans for me to put on our very first Spring Dance Concert this year for the high school dance program. I have dreamed of doing this since I was hired three years ago, but never did I think this was the year to do it. But, as I began this year, He definitely starting laying things in place for it. Literally overnight, a couple months ago, the joy and excitement just came for putting on a full show. The ideas flooded my mind, the energy to fundraise came, the excitement from the students came, the resources started falling in my lap. It all started with the $2,000.00 grant I applied for in November. I applied for this same grant last year but did not receive it. However, with the help of my teaching mentor, we rewrote my proposal with a clear vision and plan and by God's grace, I got it! I couldn't believe it. The money is to purchase a safe marley dance floor for the kids to perform on, costumes for the show, and a practice curtain in the dance room. Since then, I have met some key people in the Pasadena area and district connected with the arts that have shown a great interest in supporting what I'm doing. It is soooo exciting, encouraging, and overwhelming all at the same time. All to say, I praise God for opening the doors to do what I love and have always dreamed of. May God be glorified through the whole process.

I not only wanted to share these praises with you guys, but also ask for prayer. Yesterday Jud got laid off from his job. We know God is faithful and will provide as always. Please pray with us for God to be glorified through us in this time as we wait on Him and seek His will.

We love you guys and thanks for sharing in our lives.

Bark...Bark...

So, here we are, April and I, for our annual baking of peppermint bark! For the past three years we've gotten together, ordered pizza, and spent hours melting chocolate and stirring in crushed peppermint. And family, yes, you will be getting some, don't worry. =) Our new flavors this year besides the original, were dark chocolate with espresso, and milk chocolate with heath crunch. If you want an easy recipe for making something that looks pretty and tastes good for the holidays...this is the one! Let me know if you want it!

The Tures/Cameron Thanksgiving!

Yep...you read that right! Both of our families spent Thanksgiving together at the cabin in Big Bear. It was so much fun. We are definitely blessed for being able to do that. I think my dad found a new friend in Bob. They seemed to have hit it off, hangin' outside talking, and shooting their pellet guns out back. (Well, Kellie did join them...and shhhh...she's the one that hit the bull's eye). =) Jud and I introduced them to the Moonridge Zoo and took them down to the village where we all walked, window shopped, and enjoyed the Black Friday buzz of Big Bear. It was absolutely beautiful weather the entire weekend. Mostly in the 50's and below freezing at night; great for mittens and scarves, but yet still sunglasses with the sun out.

Every one brought up amazing dishes to contribute to our combined tradition-filled meal. We also had fun taking family pictures of each other for our Christmas cards. The Cameron's headed back to San Diego Friday night and the five of us headed to 29 Palms on Saturday to visit my grandparents. It was a joy giving my grandpa a blanket I had made, to help make him comfortable in these last days of his. We're all waiting patiently, praying for the Lord to take Him home. He wants to be with the Lord so bad. I praise God for allowing us to see him on one of his good days. He actually recognized us and was able to say "I love you too" back. That, I will remember always.

We have so much to be thankful for! I pray that we continue to be thankful, praising God for our families, our friends, our spouses, our children, our health, and most of all...the gift of salvation, through Jesus.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed time with your family or friends!

P.S. Kellie's sandwich is now known as "the" Thanksgiving Sandwich! (mash potatoes included...) =) Oh yeah...and if you were wondering...that is Pumpkin Cheesecake next to the Red Vines. =)