Endurance!

There doesn't seem to be a day that goes by that doesn't include softball for the girl.  Her day began at 6am with Algebra II, and moving on from one commitment to another; ending in hitting lessons with Coach Kelly.  We had rain outs earlier in the week so she needed to get in some practice.  

Her CHANT coach said she will be getting equal time on the field as the lead catcher.  With that inspiration, she is putting in the hard work to earn that spot! 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.  Colossians 3:23-24

Friends of Silver and Gold

After Speaker's Club, most of the youth stayed behind to help Hannah with her Girl Scout Gold Award.  Hannah raised enough money to assemble one hundred emergency bags for seniors.  Hannah directed the group to assemble the packs with flash light, multi-tools, first aid kits, water bottles, solar blankets and other necessities. 

Hannah has made arrangements to deliver her packs and finish the documentation to complete the Gold award.  The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts, earned by Senior Girl Scouts.  Only 5% of eligible girls successfully earn the Gold Award. Go Hannah!! 

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
 Philippians 3:14

Be Sincere; Be Brief; Be Seated

What to do on a Thursday with no softball?  I mean what do normal people do?  Well, unfortunately, we don't know normal people so we met up with our PEACH Speaker's Club.  Abigail has loved the last two years in Speaker's Club, but has missed the last two meetings because of her vigorous softball schedule. 

Mrs. Hansen asked Abigail to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon, needless to say after six years on stage and two years of public speaking, the girl was right at home behind the podium.   I'm so grateful for the opportunities our Public Speaker's Club and Drama Club have provided Caleb and Abigail.  Being center stage is awkward for me at best, but the kids are so comfortable to be 'on.'  Jon is a great public speaker and teacher, so maybe some of that is inherited.  

As you can tell by the group shot all the kids are pretty comfortable around each other!

“A good speech should be like a woman's skirt; 

long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.”  

― Winston S. Churchill

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

    for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Proverbs 23:9

Be Blue

What do Mike and Ikes, Oreos, Eclipse and Crunch bars all have in common?  They all come in wonderfully blue packaging, making them perfect additions for today's care package, 'We Are Blue Without You!'  We filled it with snack and useful items for the boy.  Abigail included the sweetest card:
Hi brother, 
I love you! I can't wait for you to come home this spring break!  I bet you'll be glad to get away from classes for a little bit, even if you have to do some home work.  Text us when you get this and don't forget to share snacks with Richard! 
Love, Love, Love,
Abigail 

And they shall take a cloth of blue and cover the lampstand for the light

Numbers 4:9

Head in the Clouds

We spent the day with our heads in the clouds and our eyes to the sky at UT Arlington’s Planetarium with our PEACH friends.  It’s an amazing sixty foot dome theater screen.  The day opened up with a space rollercoaster through the galaxy.  Next, one of the space scientist took us on a star gazing tour of the sky, pointing out constellations with amazing clarity. 

While on the UT campus we took a lunch break at the Connection Cafe. It was a step up from your typical cafeteria and looked more like a food court at the mall with Chick-fil-A, Subway, Starbucks, Panda Express, etc.  Very snazzy!   

After lunch we returned to the Planetarium for ‘Back to the Moon’ featuring a race to return to the Moon 40 years after the historic Apollo landings.  It was especially enjoyable because it was narrated by Tim Allen, a.k.a. Buzz Lightyear! 

Next up was a look at the Arctic Circle where crews captured time lapse images of the Aurora Borealis in high resolution, fish eye lensed cameras.  It presented the explosions on the surface of the sun and the subsequent auroras.  Spectacular! 

Below is a two minute look at the Aurora Experience: 

The heavens declare the glory of God,

    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

I'm Ready to Play Today

Well, a-beat the drum and hold the phone

The sun came out today

We're born again, there's new grass on the field

A-roundin' third and headed for home

It's a green-eyed pretty girl

Anyone can understand the way I feel

Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today

Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today

Look at me, I can be catcher-girl

Seventy-six degrees in February, you better believe we're playing ball today.  The girls played seven innings out like the John Fogerty lyrics, 'just hit the ball and touch 'em all.'  It was a very close game, Chargers lost 3-2 to Irving MacArthur ISD Cardinals.  Abigail batted three times and had two base hits, smiling the whole way! 

 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men

Colossians 3:23

Everybody Loves a Competition

Who doesn't love a little competition?  The girls qualified to play in a local tournament against six public school varsity teams.  It really is a different world when the home school team has nine players on the field and two in reserves versus an opponent who can field nine and still have ten on the bench!  That difference becomes very apparent by about the third and fourth game when the girls begin to get tired! CHANT played four games, won two and lost two; Saturday will be the play offs for final ranking in the tournament.   

As iron sharpens iron,

    so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

Gracie's Birthday

With Caleb off to college and the Gungan's off to Oklahoma, our house has become a lot more girly.  There are more squeals and giggles than the sound of Nerf wars!

After school today Abigail hung out with Gracie's family to celebrate Gracie's 15th birthday.  The girls had a great time that included steak, presents, grandparents and cake!  Those are all a few of my favorite things.  

May your father and mother rejoice;

may she who gave you birth be joyful! 

Proverbs 23:25   

CHANT Chargers vs. Trinity Christian High School

Today the girls played a little ball against Trinity Christian High School located in Cedar Hills, Tx.  The team is new enough that they do not have softball fields so we played at the fields in Desoto.  

Again, because the Trinity team is a young team, the Chargers were able to play all of our newbies, including Abigail, who got to catch for three innings.  She also made it on base at all three at bats, bought in runners and scored.   

It was a longer game that we usually play but all of the girls got to play and they got in a lot of practice time and learning time.  It was a bit odd to see our coach announce that we would be bunting so the opposing team could set themselves accordingly.  The weather was perfect for a little softball, Chargers for the win! 

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,

    who trains my hands for war,

    my fingers for battle.

Psalm 144:1-3 

Valentine's Day with All the Pieces of My Mom Heart

Sunday morning services at Sunset Church of Christ, lunch and one more visit with Padme'; that's a Valentine's Day!  

For lunch the boys opted for On the Border for a little Mexican food.  They gave J.J. a hard time because that Kansas boy isn't much into spicy food.  The boys had big plans for their afternoon, I think they mentioned Netflix!  Caleb had to meet back up with Kyodai to clean up the room they had changed and prepped for Master Follies.  Whew, now for five and a half hours in the car! 

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24