Timber again

In anticipation of hurricane Gustav, we took down another tree today. It was an oak on the side our house near our bedroom. Albert, the archer, threaded the rope using his arrow. I drove the car to pull it in the right direction. We got it done before dark!

Granny's Birthday

Today was Granny's 60th Birthday. We called and sang her Happy Birthday. She got our gift and card in the mail on time . We love you Granny.

Tyler's Birthday

Today was my godson, Tyler's birthday. He is 11 yrs. old and in junior high now. Happy Birthday T!! We love you.

Happy Anniversary

We celebrated by going to Pappadeaux's. The Centilli's watched the kids as a gift to us. We ended up at Lifeway afterwards (big surprise). We then went to Chickfila for ice cream shakes. We had a nice time.

Bookcases and videos

I have been copying videos all week from the tape/VHS to DVDs. I had wanted to do this since I got the recorder for Christmas (two years ago). It has been fun watching them with the kids. Today I went to Big Lots on Sawdust to get a cheap, white 5 shelves book case. It was only $29.99. The kids books upstairs are everywhere so that will take care of that and then I can move the little bookcase down stairs to the office for home schooling books. My office has stacks of stuff since we began this journey back in May. I know if I am ahead in the organization department I won't be so stressed come Monday. I'll have to clean on Saturday so everything will be in order.

Prayer Request

Please pray for baby Gabby Williams, daughter of my friend Erin and her husband Geoff. She was born 8/26 and had low blood glucose levels causing her to be put in the NICU. Please pray that her levels will return to normal so that she may go home to see big brothers Griffin 5 and Grady 2 1/2!

Homewood Christian Co-op

Last night I attended the new member meeting. My friends Denise and Corinne are both members of this group. They have over 300 families in and around The Woodlands participating. I liked the structure because upon joining you sign up to volunteer. I love that kind of accountability. They function as an online community and have functions regularly. I ordered T-shirts for the kids as well. I was blessed to win the door prize too!!

Horse Farm

Today we were blessed to visit the Lackey's who are our neighbors and church family. Denise gave us a tour of her stable and instructed us in the proper care and riding of a horse. She has 4 horses that she stalls and their names are Rooster (he's 25), Twistol (he's four), Dakota (he's 8) and Gypsy (she's ??). Kara and Christian were riders. Ethan decided to ride the tractor instead. They loved seeing her cats which total 16 now. She is a smart woman keeping them around to ward off snakes, spiders, and rats!! It was educational and fun. Denise and I got to sit and visit under her fabulous fan. I got to hear all about Brittany's mission trip to Ethopia. It was awesome listening to what the Lord led Brittany to do for Him there. She will be a church Sunday! Thanks Denise for your patience and hospitality. We had fun!!

Our 13th Anniversary

Today Albert and I celebrated 13 years of marriage. We started the day with PRESENTS! My card was a blessing. I got a guitar and all the accessories for it. I have wanted to learn to play for a while now and this gift makes my dream come true. I also got the Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie OMartian calendar. If you have not read any of her books, I encourage you to do so. She testifies of the Holy Spirit's interceding for us through prayer and the impact it has on "earth as it is in Heaven."

After presents we went to Los Cucos for lunch. The food was delicious as always. I love the shrimp, chicken and steak fajitas. Afterwards, we traveled to Conroe to the Pie in the Sky bakery off of FM 2854. They have the most tasty pie ever! I had banana creme pie, Christian had Mississippi Mud pie ala mode, Ethan had chocolate pie and Kara had a chocolate cupcake and shared my pie. They didn't have the blueberry pie Albert wanted so he ordered us a Southern Pecan pie to take home. He did get to finish off both boys because the slices were so big. I definitely recommend their pies. You can actually taste the different ingredients not just sugar.

Friday night we will go out as a couple thanks to the Centilli's offer to babysit.

Another Tooth Lost

At our swim fun, Christian lost his other big tooth. Thankfully, we had a baggie in my purse just for that moment. I guess the tooth fairy will be visiting Christian tonight!

Finally some sunshine

It has been raining the whole week! The kids have stayed inside and read library books and watched videos all week. Finally, today we got to get out and have some fun. Cari Kent invited us over to swim with them and the Green family. We had lots of fun. Here's some pics from our time together. Thanks again for having us over!!

Celebration continues

Just like the day of his birthday, Christian had a celebration time for his baptism. We went to lunch with the Centilli's to our usual Mexican food place. Thanks again for blessing us with your love. This evening we went to the City of Conroe's Aquatic Center for the end of summer party with our church. We rented the place so it was just familiar faces to swim and play with. Kara was swimming like a little fish. Christian enjoyed the waterslides. Ethan loved being there with his Dad. Daddy had fun swimming and even got rowdy by throwing Mr. Jason in the pool! I enjoyed the overcast sky and enjoyed sitting in the water visiting with my friends.

But Sunday's coming

Celebration, joy, excitement, peace, hope, thankfulness describes our day. We were blessed beyond belief to see our first born son, Christian baptized. I know many have differing views on this ordinance but for us it is an act of obedience. Christian recognized his need for salvation during VBS in July. The change in his determining right and wrong choices is so evident. He desires to read God's Word and prays in the morning without being reminded. A friend of ours, Jason, when told of Christian's baptism, looked at him and said today starts your ministry. Please keep him in your prayers as he grows and develops in the ways of the Lord.

Home school Convention 2008, my turn

Well, Saturday was my day to go check it out. We joined the state association which included entrance to the convention. What a blessing to have it 15 minutes from my house at the Marriott Woodlands! I went to two seminars over language arts. The first was by former home school mom, Rosie Watson, a very intelligent woman who has the gift of writing. She developed a creative writing program which uses award winning books to develop a child's love and gift of writing. She also speaks for Total Language Plus curricula which is for 4th-high school. Although a little advanced for our ages, we did purchase her creative writing kit.
The second seminar was by Janet Hulcy, the co-author of KONOS curricula. She has four grown sons she taught. She is a brash, entertaining woman. She believes in visuals and hands on experiences. I could see using KONOS for Ethan in the future. I then toured the exhibit hall looking for the different booths for the materials we had determined to purchase. I saw my friend, Corinne and her daughter Katherine there as well. She is a distributor for Usbourne books and had a booth at the convention. She said sales were good. With science, history, and math picked out and purchased, I left with a feeling of accomplishment but overwhelmed with the task before me. I am so thankful Albert has agreed to partner with me on this. I would have surely thrown in the towel by now. I returned home and he reassured me we were going to be blessed by this experience. I know that but my fears forget easily. Keep me in your prayers this week as I prepare the lesson plans.

Home School Convention 2008

Albert is on his way to the annual convention for home schoolers. He is planning to attend a class on the study of history and check out the math, history, and science curriculum offered there. We are hopeful to find discounts on the ones we are planning to purchase. I am so thankful to have his support in this endeavor.

Prayers needed

Please pray for my Mom, Carolyn. She is going for tests on her gall bladder. I'll update the blog after the results of the ultrasound are complete. Thanks!

The Artist and the Dragon

Sounds like a fairy tale but nope it's true! Christian, our creative genius, was busy this morning sketching his dear pet, Dragon. Dragon's daily constitution is known by our boy so he was prepared with a napkin underneath him. Sure enough, that beardie pooped on the kitchen table! The mess cleaned and the table disinfected, work continues.

Can you tie your shoes?

The 5 year old question to be sure. Here's Eddie and Dad having practice time.

Sports Camp

Ethan and Albert went to sports camp this week through the YMCA at Shadowbend. They started out playing duck, duck, goose, and freezetag. Everyone got use to each other and the instructors and then they started learning soccer. Ethan had a great time learning and following directions. However, he got splinters from the grass BOTH days and got worried about getting more. He and his Dad had a great time together. He is ready to take karate now. Oh, no!!

Dinner is served!

Albert and several of the men hosted our Ladies Dinner which included guest speaker Dawn Smith Jordan (see dawnsmithjordan.com for her ministry info.) who shared her testimony of forgiveness and hope through song. The former Miss South Carolina's family was forced into the limelight when her younger sister, Sherry, was kidnapped from their family home. The Lord gave her the gift of forgiveness which led her to peace even in the face of her sister's murder. She also has found grace despite divorce.
It was a real treat having Albert and the other men serve us our dinner. They made great waiters!

Graduation pictures

I can't believe I'm actually typing this. Elkin, Krissy, and her best friend Kym came down to shop for outfits for graduation portraits. Is it really possible for her to be graduating this year? Time flies by.

Prayer and Discipleship Conference

Albert and I were blessed to attend this conference at Spring Baptist Church. It was to train and encourage prayer and disciple leaders from churches in TX, AR, OK, and Canada. We attended with Ken and Barbara Davis, Cindy Medema, and our Pastor Scott Blevins. We really got to know the Davis' and probably gained 10 lbs. eating out with them!! They are a wonderful couple. We heard many of the pastors who are apart of the Southern Baptist Convention. Having no idea what was the heart of the religion, this conference gave me much insight. They called us to pray for revival in our churches and communities. We had breakout sessions on setting up prayer rooms and services, personal prayer time, serving in the church, and church programs. These were more in a PowerPoint seminar format. I would have loved to had more interaction with other church leaders to hear what was going on in their congregations. We had a time of worship each day and got to sing hymns. That was a treat! We traveled to Mineola Thursday to pick up our kids. They had a great time playing with their cousins, swimming, going to a Nature Preserve, and visiting with Granny, Granddaddy, Aunt Angela, Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Stephanie. They did not want to come home.

Sunday

Albert continued his first reserve weekend and the kids and I attended church. In Sunday school our class discussed evangelism. We watched a video called Way of the Master hosted by Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort. It explains how to use the 10 commandments to share the Gospel. After church, the kids and I headed home to pack for their trip. Albert and I are going to a Discipleship/Prayer Conference here in Spring and the Kids are going to stay with Aunt Steph, Uncle Jeremy and Brooke. They will visit with Aunt Ange, Uncle Tom, Seth and Tate, Granny and Granddaddy. Pray for traveling mercy.

Sunday school party

Our Saturday has been quite eventful! We are headed to the Centilli's house because they are sponsoring the social this month. The theme is Mexican food so I got some yummy HEB tortillas and cooked them and we are headed to the party.

CPS and the Vineyard

This morning the kids and I traveled to the Spring/Klein area to the Vineyard Church where the Back 2 Basics ministry was having a time of praise and worship. Our friend, Barbara leads this ministry that serves youth in the care of the state's Child Protective Services. These children are ages 10-17. Some have been in the state's care since birth. Their stories are heartbreaking and raw. However, the Lord is using Barbara and others who love the Lord, to show these children His love and grace towards them. Back to Basics throws monthly birthday parties for the kids and we were blessed to be apart of that a few months ago. Today a praise pastor named Trevor led a time of worship and the youth pastor from North Houston Community Church led his youth group Oasis in a drama related how Jesus paid the price for our sins and how we can trust Him to heal us of our hurts whether physical, emotional or spiritual. Hearts were moved and the youth group joined with the CPS youth in prayer. It was a beautiful, awesome experience. Christian had lots of questions about why they were in a foster home and why some were so emotional in the service. He really enjoyed the youth pastor's message and wanted to stay for the entire event. Please take a look at the Back to Basics ministry's website www.B2BMINISTRY.com and prayerfully consider donating to this opportunity to meet the needs of the orphans.

Pony's Surgery

Today Albert and Ethan took Pony to the vet. After calling around to find the best price, I got a hold of Mrs. Muriel who works for Drs. Kasper and Rigby here on FM 2978. The were $100 cheaper than everyone else! Pony got neutered, shots, and wormed. We got to pick him up this afternoon. He is groggy but pleasant as always. He started to wander so we decided to "fix" that. lol The kids are glad he is ok and home. They are enjoying August in TX by swimming.