Younger Siblings

So, my children have been in school for 2 days now.  So far, so good.  Ashley has complained about a couple of her teachers that Nick had and how they hate her already.  Nick was known in the two classes as forgetting to do homework.  That surprises me. Ashley said when they called roll and came to her name they asked if she was related to Nick.  She said yes and then the teacher proceeded to roll their eyes.  Not a good sign.  What they don't know Nick will be an angel compared to Ashley.  Ha Ha!  I say that and laugh because Nick might have forgotten his homework, but Ashley she will have a debate with them about homework.  Ashley told Nick she hated being the younger one because he messes up in school and later on she pays the price for it.  She also told him he better not misbehave this year.  I was the oldest child so I don't know how she feels. 

First Day of School

Well, my wonderful kids are off to school today.  They were both excited but nervous.  I sit here and think about when my children were younger and I would be nervous.  Wondering if they would know where to go once they were inside the school.  Would they know what bus to get onto.  Now I find myself worrying about other things such as, will they make the right choices or will they say no to peer pressure, will they continue their way with Christ or will they try the worldy ways.  As much as I talk to my children and tell them right from wrong are they strong enough to make a stand or will they fall into the worldly ways as I did as a teenager.  I am so glad that Craig and I sit down with our children and talk to them one on one about things that might be bothering them or things they might be tempted by.  Parents let me tell you if you don't talk to your children now is the time.  Craig and I have found out so much about our children and the stuff that goes on at school and things that have been offered to them.  Craig and I do family devotions with our children.  Its hard to stay on track but now that our children are older its important and our jobs to make sure our children know the Word.  Parenting is a hard job and I am sure it doesn't get any easier as they get older.  My prayer for my children is to continue to grow in Christ and even when we are not able to be around them and protect them they know that God is.  I pray they grow up being a Godly man and woman who will not be afraid to make a stand for what they believe in.  I pray that my children stay in God's word and able to continue to make a difference in our community. 

Children's Camp

I just got back from children's camp.  What a great and exhausting time I had. We had 436 people this year at camp.  Even though the weather was a scorcher, and we were crowded it was a great week.   I enjoy and am grateful that I can participate in such a great ministry opportunity.  When I go my prayer is that God uses we in a mighty way. This year I had opportunities to talk to a few people.  I am thankful that God can use me.  When I get back from either a mission trip or children's camp I understand more about why it is so important to share the Gospel.  I appreciate my life more, things I have, my family, and most important my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  I realize how important it is to share the Gospel.  We (believers) are not just to go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, we are suppose to be involved.  Our jobs is to spread the Gospel to all nations.  That includes Paragould, Greene County, and Arkansas.  Too many times people put their fears first, if you are doing the work for the Lord, He will give you the words, courage and strength.  Don't let your fears stop you from doing what we as Christians are suppose to be doing. 

Mission Trips

I love going on mission trips and seeing how God works in the teenagers lives and mine.  Last week I was blessed to go to Indianapolis on a mission trip with teenagers from East Side.  The last few years that I have been able to go I have been blessed personnally. To watch teens grow in Christ and step out of their comfort zone is amazing to see.  To watch them be eager to share the Gospel with a stranger and not worry about what people will say is amazing to see.  Each year I am still amazed by the lessons that I am taught, and the experiences I experience.  After being away from normal life and focused on God for a week I always come back feeling spiritually lifted and ready to make a difference.  Then I get home and life is back to normal and then I find it harder to stay focused, and Satan is trying to tear me down. This year is different from the past couple of years I am determined to stay focused and not let Satan bring me down.   
 

Mission Indy 2011

 Mission Indy 2011
This is our group that went to Indianapolis this year.  What a great and inspiring week we had.  This year we went back to Indy to help Tony Manning and his church reach out to their community through Kids Clubs and Block Parties.  We had 3 different areas to reach.  We started the week off on Sunday having a great worship service at Hamilton Village Church.  Then we split into our groups and hit the neighborhoods to hand out flyers. 

This was our morning entertainment.  Wink and Johnny.  Johnny would get us pumped up through exercising.  Then we had the Battle of the Sexes. Wink was a great game show host.  Following our exercise and game show we would have a great worship time and a great message from Tony Manning.

On Monday we was worried about what the week would bring.  It started raining and flooded roads and the church parking lot.  This is the church parking lot.  There was a creek that ran along the side and back of the church which caused the flooding.  So the students decided that they were going to play in the water.   

 Well, the boys won the Battle of the Sexes game but we still had fun. Well lets just say even though we lost we still had fun.  We stopped by Starbucks then returned to the church to play games and had a birthday cookie cake.  Oh yeah, and the girls played a little prank on the boys nothing too bad just deflated beds and hid the air pumps.  It was good times with the girls!! 

This is Ashley with a few of the girls she met this week.  The good thing about mission trips is that you get to share the Gospel but you also get to make new friends.  But then when you have to leave it is very hard and emotional.  This was Ashley's first mission trip and when we had to leave she was crying and these 3 little girls were crying too. 
What a great experience going on a mission trip to watch students jump in and start sharing the Gospel and they are not ashamed to share.  It's a real blessing to watch your child come out of their comfort zone and see them praying with people and growing in their faith.  It was a great week not just for my kids but for me too.  My prayers is that the students will take what they learned this week and apply it here in Paragould.  What a difference they can make in our community. 

Sports Camp

What a wonderful week at Sports Camp.  This years theme was Unleash the Power.  We had average of 280 each night and 170 workers.  The children had a lot of fun participating and learning about their favorite sport.  They also had a great devotional time.  God moved this week and a few lives are changed.  What a great ministry opportunity for children. 

Great Day!

This is my mom before she got baptized this past Sunday morning.  Can you tell she is nervous?

I tried to get her to do a cannonball but she would not listen.  She was too nervous that Pastor Jason was going to drop her.  What a wonder day to know that my family and I will rejoice in Heaven together one day.  Since my sisters death the Lord has been working in my families lives.  Yes, we are sad and we miss her beyond words but then I stop and look how the Lord still uses her.  My walk with Christ has been getting stronger. Tonya turned her life around and joined church.  Melissa is going to church.  Craig has rededicated his life to Christ and going on a Mission trip this year.  My mom has finally realized she needed to make a change in her life.  God is so wonderful.  Now we will all be reunited with Teresa again in Heaven.  What a glorious day that will be.

Fishing Rodeo

Saturday morning there was a fishing rodeo at Reynolds Park.  My kids and I like fishing.  A couple of years ago my father-in-law started taking my kids to the rodeo.  This is some quality time and great memories with grandpa.

This year Nick decided not to go.  He, I think got frustrated a couple of years ago when his sister won a trophy and he didn't.  But when we went to check on Ashley and Grandpa, Nick couldn't help throwing a line in the lake and stealing his grandpa's hat. 

So, Nick has a replacement, Jorden, my nephew.  He wanted to go fishing with grandpa.  The only thing with Jorden is he is 5 years old and he doesn't understand you have to sit still and not catch all the bugs around you.  Neither one of them caught anything that morning, but they had fun.

Swimming Pool

After all the hard work of taking down the pool, leveling the dirt, and sweating alot our pool is back up and working.  It is nice to go home and take a dip in the pool or play around with the kids.  As you can see Ashley loves the pool too.  I think both of my kids would stay in the pool all day if I would let them. 

Constant Battle

Weight has always been a constant battle for me.  I find myself buying different workout videos, weights, kettleball, and whatever else I need to help in this long journey of mine.  After I had my children I really didn't care that much about my weight and the weight kept coming.  Then 2 years ago it finally hit me in the face.  Here I was going on vacation with my family, and I wasn't able to keep up with them climbing small hills.  How embarassing for them and me.  So, I decided to make a difference.  It went well, I lost 40 pounds within 6 months.  Craig came home off of deployment to a more health conscious wife.  I stopped drinking sodas and stopped going out to eat.  There was more fruit in the house.  I have been at a plateau for a few months and its frustrating but I am not going to give up.  With the support from family and friends and continual prayer, I will one day meet my goal.

Baby Girl

 She will get mad when she finds out I posted this but I LOVE it.  It is so her.  She did not want her picture taken that day and no matter what I did she was not going to smile.

 This is my baby girl just a couple of months ago.  She is growing up.  This was her first pageant at school.  I wanted to cry. 

This was at her band banquet.  She received an award for the most outstanding.  I'm am so proud of her.  I am blessed to have her.  When she was born the doctors said she had a 50% chance of making it with all her problems that she had.  I knew then she would achieve in anything she set her mind too.

My little,big man!

 Wow time flies!  It seems just yesterday I was changing diapers, getting up in the middle of the night to rock him to sleep. Now he is going into the 10th grade and will be playing Senior High Football.  Nick loves football so much and no matter what I say he is going to play.  I pray the Lord protect him and keep him safe. 

And now he has his drivers permit.  It only took him 4 tries and $30.00. Craig and I had to encourage him to study a little thats where the money came in. I am excited, proud and scared.  I'm so proud to see him turn out to be a fine young christian man.  But scared because I have to let go a little.  I wish they could stay young forever. 

80's Night

We had 80's Night at church a couple of weeks ago.  Wow! That brought back some good memories.  I don't know who was more excited about dressing up my kids or me.  We had fun shopping for our attire.  Honestly, I think we look TOTALLY AWESOME!!