Red Envelope Day

If you read this post on March 31, I urge you to do this simple thing today.

Buy a red envelope. Address it to President Obama and write the following message on the back:

This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be part of our world.

For more information, go to www.RedEnvelopeDay.com.  

Thanks.

Do You Really Think I Wanted to Know That?

So, Jeff and I are driving home the other night and he says, "Do you realize that in about 13 months Katherine will be about to graduate from high school? And, that in 20 months she could be leaving home? for good? And within the next 5-7 years she could be married and we could be grandparents?"

Sure, I've been sitting around, just thinking about the fact that I will be a grandmother in 6 years. NOT! 

Thanks. Thanks alot. Now I feel panicked, and old.

(A Day) and Night of the Arts

We started off last Saturday morning with a lovely piano recital at Ridglea Presbyterian Church. Abigail played "Sonatina in C" Opus 36 No. 1 by Muzio Clementi. And, according to her, "I messed up three times."  She played very well in our opinion.  It's always a delight to watch and hear her play, those little fingers moving so rapidly over the keys. She likes fast songs and this sonatina certainly qualifies.

On Saturday evening, we went to Grace Prep to attend "Night of the Arts," presented by the high school students. Several dramas were performed and the art students had their works displayed.  Coffee and desserts were served and it was a really enjoyable evening.

Katherine with her buddies

Her art display

Next weekend Katherine travels to Austin for the TAPPS State Contest. Hope to have more good news to report, as in....Katherine wins big, gets a scholarship, PAYS FOR COLLEGE!!!! Hey, I can dream, can't I?

The Jungle Ain't What It Used to Be

Used to be, you could send someone on a mission trip to the jungles of Peru and you wouldn't hear from them for days on end. You wondered, worried, fretted about their safety and would be so relieved when they returned to civilization and could call you. Not so anymore. Technology has come to Pebas, Peru. Jeff used his iPhone to call us from a village in the Amazon. Six years ago, on his first trip, this would have been an impossibility.  Of course, the conversation went something like, "Hey, you won't believe it! I'm calling from Pebas. There's a cell tower here. I have no idea how much this is going to cost. Bye!"

Here we are welcoming the team home. 

It was great to see them walk 

through that turnstyle at DFW.

I had a special interest in this trip, other than the fact that Jeff was going. Our children's choir, Wild Worship, had raised money to send 100 shirts to the Yagua children. The back of the shirts had John 3:16 printed in Spanish.  I couldn't wait to see pictures of the kids who received them.

The team on the rapido, heading to the villages.

The first picture shows a little boy wearing a shirt we sent in January 2008. It was formerly black with a turquoise and pink logo. On the right he is wearing a new Peru Pals shirt in yellow.


More happy faces. While it was great to send the shirts, Jeff said they could have handed out many more. So, I'm pondering the possibility of trying to raise enough money or donations to send more shirts on the next trip that will be in June.  I've already thought of a name for the fundraiser: No Yagua Child Left Behind -- A T-Shirt for Everyone!  (hee, hee)

After traveling to the villages, the team spent 4 days in Iquitos helping the seminary to build a wall for their classroom.  It was a profitable time, as well as an encouragement to the hard-working Peruvians.

Just loved the beautiful colors of this photo of the Amazon River

As usual, Jeff came home bearing many exciting gifts and wonderful stories of the way that God is working in the Amazon Basin.  Remember:  the next trip will leave in June. So, start sending me those t-shirt monies now!  There's still time and, if you call now, I'll throw in a free Yagua jungle bracelet with every donation. ; )

A Dios sea la gloria!

Oh, The Places We Went

Sure, we could have jetted off to Hawaii, like some of our friends did. We could have flown away to Florida or some other beach destination.  But, there were so many interesting things to do right at home for Spring Break.  Jeff spent 10 days in Peru on a mission trip, so the girls were left on their own to enjoy the break from school.  Here's a recap.

1. Total of books read:  16

2.  Some of the exotic locales to which we ventured:  Venus, World Market, The Beer Gut Club, Maypearl, Texas Roundup

3. Fine dining experiences:  The Purple Cow, Red Hot & Blue, Whataburger, Sonic (lots), Amy's Donuts

4. Chores completed: crape myrtles trimmed, Jeff's truck cleaned, two closets organized, 6 bags of leaves, shower grout removal started, weeds removed from lawn

5.  Other things we did:  

a.  Abigail began teaching herself to play the guitar.

b. Genny realized how much she STILL hates yardwork and next year will call a lawn service.

c.  Katherine painted several pictures.

d.  Rebecca was a beast at Star Wars Lego on the Wii.

 e.  Enjoyed a lovely day of shopping with Grandmother

So, next year, don't plan a family trip to San Antonio, or even Hawaii. Give us a call and we can set you up with a local Fort Worth itinerary that will just blow you away.  No one should miss a visit to the Beer Gut Club in Venus.

 

 Enjoy some random pics, compliments of Katherine.

Still My Baby Girl

She's eleven now. Preteen. Growing like a weed. Most likely hormonal. Fights with her sister -- constantly. Doesn't need help with schoolwork. Wants to accomplish everything by herself.  But tonight she was my little girl again.  It's probably due to the fact that Jeff is out of the country, but I don't care.  

As Abigail was getting into bed she hugged me and held on longer than normal. Like she really wanted me to be there. How could I pass up the opportunity? "Do you want me to read  you a story?" I asked. "Sure," she responded. I told her I would choose the books.  Silly choices on my part, really. Two were books I had as a child:  "The Big Golden Book of Counting" (probably on a toddler level) and "Little Black Sambo," still a favorite. The other was "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T.S. Eliot.   I told her all the things I remembered that I loved about them as a child. We laughed as I read them in the voices my mother read them to me in.  ("Oh! Please Mr. Tiger, don't eat me up!")  I read about a couple of Eliot's cats and we had a hard time not singing them with the music from "CATS."  

A wonderful moment for me brought to us by Spring Break -- a great time to slow down, spend time with family, and stay up late reading silly books.  How often we just wish our kids would GO TO BED because we are tired and have so much to do before we can get in bed ourselves.   Thankfully, we have all week to stay up late, reading...and Abigail has already picked out our book for tomorrow night.

That's All, Folks

Abigail reached a milestone this week. After 2 1/2 years, once a week, she has completed her allergy shots. This probably doesn't seem like a great topic to blog about, but it's huge to us. Time-wise we gain back an hour every Wednesday. Always a good day to have more time on. Money-wise we gain back $64.80 per month, and some monstrous amount for extract once every quarter. I'm not sure if I'm more excited about the money or the time.  

Trish, the wonderful shot giver.

Abigail celebrated by bringing 

her some homemade cookes.

This picture is out of order, 

but I couldn't move it for some reason.

Abigail sitting in the waiting room 

with an ice pack for 15 minutes after

getting her injection.

THE FINAL INJECTION

YEA!!!!!

Can you tell Abigail was thrilled for me to be

documenting this momentous occasion?

(Oh well, it will give my kids something to talk about when they're older.  Remember how crazy mom was when we were younger? Photographing everything?)

The empty bottle...a beautiful sight

The best part of this day was realizing how much Abigail's health has improved. I know she doesn't get sick near as often, and her eczema is all but gone. A huge thank you to Dr. Lanier and his staff for taking care of my baby.

They Really Do Know Me

A recent survey on Facebook was just too fun to pass up. Ask your children these questions about you. I asked them separately so they couldn't compare answers. It shouldn't have surprised me that my kids know me so well.  They were mostly correct, although I have to admit the "Miss Piggy" reference has me seriously thinking about resuming my diet.

1. What is something Mom always says to you?
Katherine (16): "Oh, dear..."
Rebecca(13): "Love ya, doll!"
Abigail(11): "Have you fed the animals?"

2. What makes Mom happy?
Katherine: When I make her laugh.
Rebecca: Flowers
Abigail: Hugs

3. What makes Mom sad?
Katherine: When I don't empty the dishwasher.
Rebecca: When we fight
Abigail: When we don't obey

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
K: Making funny faces behind dad's back
R: When she watches us play sports
A: When she says funny stuff

5. What was your mom like as a child?
K: I don't know. I wasn't there.
R: How am I supposed to know?
A: How am I supposed to know? I wasn't alive then.

6. How old is your mom?
K: 26
R: 29
A: 43

7. How tall is your mom?
K: shorter than me
R: 5'4"
A: 5'4"

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
K: Scrapbook
R: Scrapbook
A: Scrapbook

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
K: Reads books and does laundry
R: Cleans house
A: Drives people places

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
K: Super mega awesome scrapbooking skills
R: Cakes
A: Professional scrapbooking

11. What is your mom really good at?
K: Playing the piano
R: Cooking
A: Scrapbooking and making me feel better when I don't feel good

12. What is your mom not very good at?
K: Making herself clean house
R: Sports
A: Sports

13. What does your mom do for a job?
K: Take care of me
R: Professional mother
A: She's a mom and a chauffeur.

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
K: Cheeseburgers
R: Carrot Cake
A: Chocolate

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
K: She gets up early on Sundays to play piano for church.
R: She's gorgeous!
A: She directs children's choir musicals.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
K: Miss PIggy
R: Wilma from the Flintstones
A: Tweety Bird

17. What do you and your mom do together?
K: Read books and watch JAG
R: Have nice talks
A: Drive around

18. How are you and your mom the same?
K: We like to read.
R: We are both intelligent.
A: We both like reading.

19. How are you and your mom different?
K: She can't draw and I can.
R: I'm athletic and she's not.
A: I like dogs and she doesn't.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
K: She acts like it and gives me hugs in the morning.
R: She tells me.
A: She tells me.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
K: His dashing good looks
R: His eyes
A: Everything.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
K: Upstairs to her scrapbook room
R: Kohl's
A: Home or the beach

Basketball Banquet

On Tuesday night we attended the GPA Girls' Basketball Banquet at Fellowship of the Metroplex in Arlington. (Have you noticed we go to lots of banquets?) Abigail took this fun picture at her table.  

Two beautiful sisters

No, they did not plan to dress alike.

Are you kidding?

Erinn and Katherine, basketball buddies

Black and white seemed to be a theme for dresses.

8th Grade Basketball Team

Coach Kelly Wilkerson giving Rebecca 

"The Lion Award" for

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Rebecca was completely shocked to receive this award, 

which made it all the more fun.

She really had no idea how valuable she was to the team. 

Way to go, Bec!

 

Katherine received many nice comments from her two coaches.

Coach Zack Edwards, JV Coach, gave her the Newcomer Award.

Coach Julie White, Varsity Coach, gave her the Determination Award.

Junior Varsity Team

First, Second, Third and Fourth

What a day for Katherine Holmes - Artist Extraordinaire!  She went to Liberty Christian in Argyle to participate in the TAPPS District Art Competition for Grace Prep. While at the school she spent her time drawing a still life in the on-site drawing contest. We found out this afternoon that she won FIRST PLACE! I don't have a copy of that picture yet.

She also had three other entries submitted. Each of those pictures placed, as well.

Third Place - Oil

(Take that, rodeo judges)

Second Place - Ink

Fourth Place - Acrylic

These pictures will all be sent to the state contest in April. Katherine will also compete in the on-site drawing contest at state. Way to go, Katherine!