17 Years Ago Today

When I write it like that, it seems like a very long time ago. Well, I guess it was...

Newman proposed to me 17 years ago today. I was a sophomore in college. He had been working for the City for about a year. We usually did not see each other during the week, but that night we met for dinner at Darryl's. After dinner, he took me to a shopping/business complex with a beautiful water fountain at the entrance. He had me sit by the fountain and close my eyes. When I opened them, I had a huge plastic spider ring on my hand along with the diamond ring which was turned upside down. Then he asked me to marry him.

We will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary in December!! I can't believe how God has grown both of us in love for each other as well as blessed us with two wonderful children.

Our (Last) Week in Pictures

Bryce's 7th lost tooth. And it's not gotten any easier. I needed a chapter on "Kids who are traumatized on having their teeth pulled." It was loose for a very long time. He's even tried to pull it himself, but it became a desperate situation when a permanent tooth got yucky looking because it was not being brushed as it should. Nonetheless, he still got his dollar!

Crazy hat night at AWANA.


Their first hot chocolate of the season.

With marshmallows and animal cookies.

Aubree's artwork. As you know, kids have a hard time of letting 'stuff' go. I read in a magazine to take a picture of them with 'it,' then trash 'it.' A much easier situation for all involved. (I actually may have kept this one, but there are many more that are gone!!)

Bryce's Journal Entry

One of Bryce's LA lessons last week was Journal Entries. We introduced them one day, and the next day the assignment was to write an entry. The following is his journal entry about our field trip to the local newspaper on Thursday (as dictated to mom.)

Newspaper Field Trip - Thursday, October 23, 2008
Uncle Brinn talked to us about the newspaper.
He showed us the camera which was old.
He showed us the one who worked there and he showed us how they burned the paper.
Then, we went to the place where they had ink. He told us not to come over to the side where he was.
We got a Mini Page.
He said to us, "Who thinks they want to be someone who works at the newspaper factory when they grow-up?"
He told us it was fun!

Congratulations Scott and Karen!!

Sonlight Moment

Our homeschool cirriculum is from a company called Sonlight. Bryce loves it! Reading the History/Geography and Science is his motivation to get his Math and Language Arts done. Every once in a while we get that WOW moment of confirmation. And yesterday, we got one.

Newman's dad was visiting while the kids were playing. Aubree got out her Wiki sticks and Bryce started playing with her. They went into the kitchen where we couldn't see them. Then, Bryce asked Aubree if she wanted to do a "little play" for PawPaw. They made little Chinese coins and strung them on a string made from the Wiki Sticks. They pretended Bryce (Little Pear) was buying a tang-hulur from Aubree the shopkeeper. They even made two tang-hulurs (candy on a stick). They exchanged the coins for the candy and played on and on. Later, I explained to Newman where it all had come from. One of Bryce's Read-Aloud books that we just finished was called Little Pear. It's about a little Chinese boy who gets into a lot of mischeif and the books teaches some Chinese customs, etc. It was a cute book that kept Bryce's attention. Newman said he appreciated the explanation and could now better understand what exactly the kids were doing.

And I forgot to take a picture...Can you believe it??

Our Week in Pictures

We went to the Pumpkin Farm on Thursday for a Field Trip. The kids had fun picking out their own pumpkins. We went on a hay ride, saw some animals, had a picnic lunch with MeMaw who was able to go with us and the kids played on the slide. The kids lined our pumpkins up on the front steps.



After the pumpkin farm, we went to Costco to get Bryce's glasses. He loves being able to see distance things now. While we were getting a snack at Costco, he asked mama if he needed to take them off to eat!! I think they make him look older. He's adjusting well and trying to take good care of them.

If you notice, Aubree's pumpkin is the biggest. And she knows which one is hers!!!

Can't show much from our Friday shopping day!! A very successful shopping trip for the bride and her mother. Both will look very pretty!!

Dr. Akin's Sermon on Sunday

When I was in school, I found it helped me to come back from class and type my notes (nerdy girl, I know.) Thought I would do that here and share.

Dr. Daniel Akin is the President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC.

The title of his sermon was "A First Century Vision for the 21st Century Church." The scripture he referenced was Acts 2:14-47. I felt the message was very clear and contiues to impress on my heart how important our church family is.

He explained 5 points about "A Church That Pleases God."

1. Exalt the Savior
His sermon is Jesus-centered

2. Expound the Scriptures
A Scripture saturated church
He had a true story of a self proclaimed atheist who understood
the importance of the resurrection. (I appreciated the simiplicity
for myself as well as talking about it with the kids.)
A. It would take a God to raise Jesus from the dead.
B. Jesus is that God.
C. There is heaven and hell.
D. The Bible is true.
E. He (Jesus) makes all the difference.

3. Edify the saints
Disciple making church
A. Teaching church
B. Loving church
C. Praying church
D. Giving church
E. Worshipping church

4. Embrace the Holy Spirit
Biblical balance is the key
He had a great explanation about spiritual gifts.
God gives them to you. We are to know
AND exercise them.

5. Will evangelize sinners
Be a soul winning church - teach repentance.
A family - where membership matters.

This is an hour sermon condensed tremendously!!!