My Long Distance Friends

I call them my "long distance" friends. They are constant especially when my life is in transition. God has used them to bring stability in my life. When I am having to find my place in my new situation, they bring me comfort because I already have my niche with them. They are comfortable like your favorite pillow, jeans, or movie. I am so blessed to have them. They have walked through every move and new church and town I move to. They are not seasonal, but enduring. I am excited about acquiring some new friends to add to my long distance friends. One of the things I truly miss about our move was the abundance of precious friends I had. I know that the Lord is going to allow them to become part of my enduring circle. smile.
To my long distance friends: I look forward to growing old with you - being white haired old ladies loaded in a cadillac causing a stir down the road. Know that I love you and "thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

The Twins

We are the proud parents of 2 goats: Trixy and Curly. They came to live with us last week. They have added a new level of excitement to our lives. Be watching for more........

Fun Family

My brother-n-law and sister-n-law came to visit today. We had such an awesome time with them. Laughter is never far behind when they come. They came to the 11 0'clock service and ate with us at our harvest pot luck. We walked around downtown and then out to one of our new friends' house who has built an amazing house.
We gave my sister-n-law an elephant hat because she makes the best elephant noise you ever had. We found it a couple of months ago, and have been waiting to give it to her in person. There is a place where Brushy Bill supposedly died of a heartache on the sidewalk. There is a chalk outline of the body. Ever fun loving sis thought it would be fun to lay in the chalk outline. After that all the girls needed to have their picture taken in it too. There's not room for all of them, but enjoy the fun.

Homecoming

Homecoming is fun in small towns. Everyone gets involved. High school, Jr. High, and Elem all came to the pep rally. Since I was subbing 2nd grade I had the responsibility to keep up with them on the bus to and from the High School. It was so much fun.
We also surprised the girls with mums. Sp 4th grade teacher got tickled with her. Several came to school wearing mums. Sp asked about them and where you get them. She said we just moved here, so I bet my parents don't know anything about that. She switched classes, but her teacher said she wished she could have seen her face when the mums were delivered. Since I was subbing she saw me in passing and ran up to me and thanked me with her sparkling smile and a hug. Their godmother gave them mum rings. They are adorable.
K thought it would be great to have a Lock In afterwards to give the students something to do. He thought maybe a hundred. He had 131 students show up for the evening. They had a great time eating pizza and traveling a nearby town for bowling and skating.
We were also tickled that one of our youth girls was elected homecoming queen. That added to the excitement of the evening.

GOD IS WORKING

Monday, we went to my parents to pick up the daybed they gave us for Sp's room. The next day on Tuesday we received the call! "Can you come tomorrow and close on your house?" We could'nt on Wednesday, but on Thursday at 2pm we ended that chapter of our lives. It was painless and easy. God is so good. We've been approved for the loan on our new house and should close soon. God's timing is so perfect!! We just praise him for all he is doing in our lives. To Him be the glory, and the power for ever and ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TUCKER COMES TO CHURCH

One of the cool things about our church is our religious pets. We have a seeing eye dog that attends, and Tucker. He sat next to me in choir practice a couple of weeks ago. He belongs to our church pianist. The girls love him. He attends every Sunday and Wednesday night service.

REFRESHING MOMENTS

You can always get a cold saspirilla or D.Dr. Pepper at the visitor center!
GOD IS SO GOOD. HE BLESSED SH WITH A CALL FROM ONE OF OUR FRIENDS WHO WANTED TO SURPRISE THEIR DAUGHTER WITH SH. SHE HAD AN AWESOME WEEKEND. WHAT SWEET FRIENDS TO DRIVE OVER AN HOUR TO MEET US SO BOTH GIRLS COULD HAVE SOME GREAT TIME TOGETHER. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HER GETTING TO COME STAY WITH US.

WE WERE ALSO BLESSED BY ANOTHER PRECIOUS VISIT BY FRIENDS WHO ARE FAMILY TO US. THEY CALLED AND WERE COMING OUR WAY WHEN I WAS BACK IN THE CITY PICKING UP SH. WE DIVIDED KIDS BETWEEN THE CARS, AND I HAD A REFRESHING HOUR AND A HALF CONVERSATION THROUGH POURING RAIN AS I DROVE HOME. GOD SO LISTENS TO OUR PRAYERS AND ANSWERS THEM IN WAYS WE WOULD NEVER IMAGINE. I PRAISE HIM BECAUSE OUR CONCERNS ARE SO CLOSE TO HIS HEART!!!!!! WE WALKED AROUND TOWN AND CAUSED QUITE A STIR WITH 7 CHILDREN IN TOW. PEOPLE IN RESTAURANTS GOT QUITE TICKLED WITH THE SPECTACLE. THE CHILDREN FOUND A PAIR OF SNAILS( THEY ASSUMED MALE AND FEMALE). THESE BLESSED SNAILS WERE TREATED TO A WALK AROUND TOWN ABOARD A BOUNCY BALL. WE HAD TO CONVINCE THEM THAT WE COULD NOT KEEP THEM, BUT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TOGETHER IN OUR YARD. HOW OFTEN DO WE MISS THE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF LIFE, BECAUSE WE ARE SO BUSY? THIS WAS SUCH A SPECIAL MEMORY TO TREASURE.

THE GIRLS' FIRST DANCE

Being part of a small town has its fun things. The Sr. high put on a dance for the Jr. high as a fundraiser. I've included a picture of how you are supposed to dance with boys. I've also included a picture of sh and her disasterous wreck on a bike when dogs were chasing her down a country road at her godparents. While the girls were at the dance our friends - the girl's godparents came over and ate chicken and dumplings with us. We watched RV and roard. Spencer enjoyed snuggling with her godmother. C is doing much better since his heart attack.

NEW BEGINNINGS

K has enjoyed being able to do youth and education duties. He has already learned so much from our pastor. We are excited about all God is doing and teaching us through this new experience. The pastor has promoted unity and loving each other as the body of Christ should. It has been so sweet to be a part of this fellowship.
There are still adjustments as come with any new adventure. Our hands are open, though to what God is doing. Any obstacle we encounter we know has been through His hands before it touches us or our children. So I can walk in confidence because we are in His will that these obstacles are for our benefit. I don't want to rob my children of what God is going to use in their lives. I don't mean to imply that its easy, but I'm really trying to focus on His truth and let it defeat any lies from the enemy.

God is so Good!

We've been enjoying our new church. K preached today in overalls because we are promoting the harvest for Great Day in October. He did such a great job. I'm so proud of him. He also performed a wedding this weekend for one of our youth from Bangs. We had a sweet time seeing these students that are now adults.

Our New Church

From purple suits to pink hats, precious Tucker who comes to church with our pianist, being given a camo. shirt to wear first Sunday in November for beginning of hunting season. I'll have to post the pictures of Tucker later.

MORE MOMENTS

THE GIRLS WERE SO THANKFUL WHEN IT RAINED. THEY DANCED OUTSIDE.

SP WITH HER PRINCIPAL. SHE WON THE FIRST AWARD IN HER CLASS THIS YEAR.

SH with our friends' puppies.

MOMENTS FROM OUR FIRST MONTH

K is on the cross country team and participated in her first meet in Cleburne. We were so happy she placed 41 out of 200 7th grade girls. She particpates again this Wednesday.

I WONDER. . . .

THE RESPONSE TO OUR MOVING HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING. WE WERE NOT SURPRISED BY THE RESPONSE OF SOME OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO THOUGHT WE WERE CRAZY. WHAT HAS BROKEN MY HEART IS SOME BELOVED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST WHO COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WE MOVED BECAUSE GOD CALLED US. RESPONSES HAVE BEEN THAT WE MOVED BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS OR OTHER THINGS. THEY CAN'T ACCEPT THE FACT THAT GOD WOULD CALL US TO A SMALLER CHURCH AND A SMALLER SALARY. SINCE WHEN DOES GOD OPERATE LIKE THE WORLD? HE NEVER PROMISED US WHEN WE ACCEPTED THE CALL THAT WE WOULD KEEP MAKING MORE AND MORE MONEY AND GO TO BIGGER CHURCHES. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SERVE AND GO WHEREVER THAT LEADS US. KELLY AND I HAVE BEEN SEEKING THE LORD, SO THAT WE COULD GET TO A POINT WHERE MONEY WAS NEVER AN ISSUE. I'VE BEEN ASKING THE LORD ARE THERE OTHER THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT THE WORLD'S INFLUENCED ME SO, THAT I'VE TOTALLY MISSED OUT ON WHAT GOD SAYS. I'VE BEEN ASKING HIM TO REVEAL THOSE THINGS TO ME, SO THAT I CAN ALIGN MY HEART WITH HIS.

FLAT TIRES, HEART ATTACKS, MOVING... OH MY......

The last couple of weeks have been crazy. Due to internet being down at the church and in transition of moving the blog has been silent. smile. Now there will be tons of catching up to do.

A couple of Sunday nights ago on the way to the youth fellowship, the van feels funny. Sure enough a flat tire on a farm road. It was a deja vue moment. Fortunately this time it was still daylight, my cell phone worked, and my children were older. Last time I was in the white van we used to have. It was dark, Sp was in a baby carrier, my cell phone didn't work, there was one lone house in the distance, and I had to run past dogs hauling a baby carrier. K was in one of the church vans, so our friend C came riding like a hero on his motorcycle. I watched this time, so I know what to do next time. Funny their son had a blowout 2 days later while C was out of town. K got to return the favor. We are so thankful for our tire guy. K takes in my van and asks for 2 new back tires. Our sweet man pulls out the 3 Nails ( where in the world?), patches the tire, and says your fine. You don't need new ones yet. That'll be $7.00. Yippee honesty and trustworthiness. We're definitley out of the city.

In case you haven't heard there is a contract on our house and as of 9/13 things are progressing well. God's timing is so perfect. We have been able to develop some friendships that we would have never developed if things would have been quicker. God is moving, and we are getting to be a part of it. Also, our friend C had a mild heart attack. Because we were at their house, we were able to help with getting family to the hospital in Hamilton, and on to Temple. He is doing better now, but we were very concerned.

There will be pictures to see soon.