Sunday Softball

With a banner day that began with her baptism, how do you follow up a day like that?  At the ball park, of course!  

She was so funny, her team lost her game and her response was, "that's ok, besides I'm saved!" 

Perspective.  The rest of the day, nothing shook her.  Wouldn't it be great if we could respond to all of life's surprises with that attitude!  

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:5-6

Abigail's Baptism

In 1988 I watched as Jon was baptized at the Owasso Church of Christ by Dennis Hendrickson, and my heart was full!  On February 20, 2000, Jon baptized Frankie in the same baptistry, and again I thought I could know no happier feeling.

On June 10, 2010, with great joy, Jon baptized Caleb at the McDermott congregation.  My joy was complete today as Jon baptized Abigail!  

Praise be to God!!! To my children, I am confident that, 'He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.'  (Phil. 1:6)  

I rejoiced with those who said to me,

    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Psalm 122:1

Everybody Likes Cookies and Pizza

We love our time with our Metro family on Wednesdays!  Today Abigail baked chocolate chip cookies to share with our friends.  With our family in other states it has been a blessing to have all the added 'Grandpas' like Mr. Arvid, Mr. Jerry & Mr. John.  These men help the guest shop and help Abigail with her Spanish.  

Caleb is usually unloading trucks or moving boxes.  Today I found some suspicious characters in the cooler.  Oh wait, that's Mr. John, Mr. Austin and Mr. Jason, nothing suspicious at all!  

I've given a 'shout out' before to the awesome people at Tom Thumb and Starbucks in The Colony that make weekly donations to Metro.  Today, I want to say 'thank you' to the Papa John's Pizza in Plano at Legacy & Coit.  They donate pizzas weekly to Metro.  For our local friends, please tell these business thank you for their generous hearts when you shop these businesses!! 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

Leadership Training for Christ Sunday Worship

What a real treat!  Yesterday afternoon we got the call from the North Texas Leadership Training for Christ (NTLTC) Director asking if Caleb would be willing to give his 'Un-Called Out' speech at the Sunday morning worship services.  It was so awesome to see him on stage with other young men who led singing, prayers, etc. for the Easter Sunday services.  I know there were smiles in heaven as my Daddy, Grandaddy and Great-Grandfather looked down!  

The message is the same as the Speech event I posted earlier and due to my poor video taping skills the other is probably a better recording but for posterity sake, I am uploading this video too!   Caleb, I am so amazed and proud of you!! 

When services were over on the car ride home, I asked Caleb, "Did you see me in the back video taping?" Caleb responds, "Hmm, woman in a bright purple sweater, standing on a chair in the back of the room. . . nope, never saw you!" :)

A Few of My Favorite Things

As if this weekend wasn't busy enough with all of the Leadership Training for Christ events, Abigail also had a double header this evening.  She finished up her last LTC event and then Jon rushed her to the ball fields!  

I hung out with Caleb at LTC because he had one last event, but the two of us made it in time for her second game.   I think they won one game and lost the second, I know she was one tired little girl after all the business of the weekend!! 

then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 

Deuteronomy 15:10

Leadership Training for Christ Drama Performances

Ever the performers, of course the kids both participated in the drama events for their age groups.  Abigail's group included 7th and 8th graders and was a skit about a youth group headed on a mission trip to Madagascar.  Abigail plays the part of the youth minister's wife, named Mrs. Kirkwood! 

Abigail & Roy

Caleb's skit is made up of 9th - 11th graders in a meeting of Fellowship of Christian Athletes electing their newest vice-president.  The adult coordinators for LTC drama this year did an outstanding job!  Not only was this their first year to coordinate the event, they wrote and coordinated three separate teams!   I'm so grateful for their dedication to the kids!  Again, I apologize for my poor video taping skills!! 

Act according to whatever they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.  Deuteronomy 17:11

Leadership Training for Christ Speech

Once again Mr. Cooner worked with the young men for Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) speech event.  He is great at helping the young men cultivate their ideas and encouraging them to feel comfortable speaking God's Word in front of a group.  All three of McDermott's high schoolers did a wonderful job, each had a little different take on the theme Called Out, taken from the Life of Moses in Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Caleb's speech above he entitled the 'Un-Called Out,' and refers to those in Korah's group and others who rebelled against God.

Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?  He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together.  Numbers 16:8-11

Leadership Training for Christ Girl's Speech

We are very blessed with Jon having a great job, a roof over our heads, and food on the table.  But sometimes I do miss not having any of our family in the state!  Thank goodness for our little blog, with the help of YouTube we can share with our Oklahoma, Arkansas and Maryland families our musings!  

Here is another video from Leadership Training for Christ, this is from Speech.  Abigail was the only girl again this year from our congregation to participate in Speech.  She was very excited to see a girl friend, Natasha, from Camp Blue Haven in the same event!  

I am fairly confident I will never be asked to video tape anything professionally!  Sorry for the movement, but hopefully the grandparents will enjoy!! 

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Philippians 2:1-2

Leadership Training for Christ Bible Bowl

Our last event for Friday night at Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) was Bible Bowl.  This event is very different from the Texas Bible Bowl.  It is really more basic Bible knowledge, things the kids should already know, with some new material they would have covered in preparing for Bible Bowl.  

In the case of the Life of Moses, Bible Bowl would cover questions about Moses being placed in a basket; found by Pharaoh's daughter; killing an Egyptian task master; fleeing to Midian; the burning bush; Plagues; the Red Sea; Ten Commandments and entering the Promised Land.  Most of the events covered are stories the kids would be familiar with from their Sunday School Class, but it does give them encouragement to study their Bibles further.  

Caleb, Abigail and their friend Ryan all answered 97 out of 100 questions correctly.  It is a fun event with no pressure, and meant to encourage the kids to see all of them in one room who have spent time studying the same scriptures! This photo shows about 500+ kids taking the oral test in a ballroom at the Hyatt Regency! 

let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another Hebrews 10:24-25

Leadership Training for Christ Puppets

The kids second event at Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) this year was Puppets.  Who knew my kids would love this event so much!! They have wonderful coaches who write the cutest scripts and just make it a great experience for the kids.  

Abigail and the 7th & 8th graders performed, 'Moses the Musical.'  You will hear here solo on the Moses edition of We Are the Champions.  Caleb and the 9th - 11th graders had a western feel using the 'Called Out' theme.  Caleb is the puppet on the far right, he has used this puppet every LTC performance since 3rd grade.    Enjoy! 

When Israel was a child, I loved him,

    and out of Egypt I called my son.

Hosea 11:1