CHANT Chargers vs. Lucas Christian Academy

It was another beautiful day to play ball, the sun came out and there's new grass on the field! Our CHANT Chargers took on Lucas Christian Academy at the Ballfields at Craig Ranch.  

Since neither CHANT nor Lucas have ball fields we rented out the Ballfields for our game.  These are the fields where the national professional fastpitch girls softball team the Dallas Charge play. 

As with most sports some of the teams we play are really great and some are just getting their feet under them.  Our team has been a fabulous team but many of our seniors graduated last year.  That is what opened up the spots for Abigail and a couple of other freshman to make the team.  

In that transition I've come to appreciate that if we are winning by a significant margin our coach doesn't run up the score, he holds the girls up from taking more than a base.  He is also great about using those opportunities to allow the girls to play different positions and get new game experiences.  Today we won 18-0 but the girls got to work on new skills in a live game; sliding when it wasn't even close, slap hitting and even new pitchers!  We've been on the other end of that score and I so appreciate Coach Craig! 

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:31

Finishing Strong

Leadership Training for Christ 2016 is now in the books!  It marks seventeen years of LTC for Jon and I between the three kids.  Before the Gungans headed back to Ada and the boys went back to school I did get a group shot of the kids.  These six have participated in eleven years of LTC together. 

Sunday evening the congregation at McDermott presented all of the participants with their awards and showcased some of the kids talents for the congregation.   Due to the sheer number of participants at the North Texas Leadership Training for Christ it is hard to see and encourage all of the participants.  The Sunday night service is great to see the group performance, McDermott had four puppet, two chorus and two drama groups. 

Some of the young men got and gave their speeches, led prayers, and singing.   Abigail came home with Golds medals in Individual Bible Bowl (her score), Speech, Service Challenge, Teaching Challenge and Chorus.  Her team earned a Silver medal in Bible Bowl finishing off another great year. 

Take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7

Singing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

One of the favorite event at LTC is the chorus event.  The Church of Christ on McDermott Road presented a 3rd-6th grade chorus and a 7th-12th grade chorus.  Both groups earned a Gold medal at the competition.  This is the older group Abigail was in performing, 'Whither Thou Goest' and 'You Oh Lord Are My Refuge.'  There is something so amazing about hearing these tender voices praising God.  As a mom to one of these kids, I delight in hearing her lift her voice to the Lord and know our Heavenly Father must feel the same way when He hears His creations praising Him. 

 "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ephesians 5:19-20

Saw It, Wanted it, Took It

Saturday at Leadership Training for Christ is filled with chorus performances, puppets, drama, sign language and speech.  

The kids write their own speeches based on the LTC theme and then present the material in a 3-5 minute time limit.  They are judged on Content, Illustrations, LTC Theme, Grammar, Voice, Delivery, Gestures, Personality, Attitude and Overall Effect.  For the first year ever, Abigail received all 'Excellent' ratings in all of the categories above by all three judges earning her a Gold in Speech.  

We were able to hear Ryan, Roy and many of the boys speeches as well, all of whom did a marvelous job.  Speech is not Roy's favorite event, but every year he participates and the boys timed his speech at one and a half minutes, almost doubling his time last year!   

When I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them.  Joshua 7:21

Leadership Training for Christ Bible Bowl

The boys came in last night for their Easter break and to spend time with the younger siblings at Leadership Training for Christ, LTC.  North Texas LTC is large enough that it is hosted at the Downtown Dallas Hyatt, DFW Airport Hyatt and the Anatole.  It began in the Dallas area in 1989 and is held in ten other locations across the United States. 

The purpose of LTC is to promote programs that assist young Christians to develop their knowledge of the Bible and biblical principles and sharpen their areas of Christian service.  LTC offers 30+ events from Bible Bowl, Puppets, Web-sites, Teaching Challenge, Service Challenge, Poetry, Art, Video Bible Drama and many others.

The main event on Friday night is Bible Bowl.  This years theme was 'Refuge' taken from Joshua, Judges, & Ruth.  For Bible Bowl the kids take for rounds of questions over the theme for a total of 100 questions.  It is a fairly easy test, Abigail missed eight questions.  

We were at the Downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency location and there were about 600 youth in Bible Bowl tonight. 

"May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”  Ruth 2:12

I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke

This was our PEACH homeschool's group final Speaker's Club Meeting for the school year.  Last week Mrs. Hansen gave each of the youth assigned topics to present at club.   

They finished off the meet with awards and trophies for all their hard work.  It is amazing what progress the kids make in a year of direction in public speaking. They are so much more confident and comfortable in front of a crowd.  It's a life school that will serve them well!  And when you look at the statistics that most individuals are more afraid of public speaking than death, yikes!  It's a skill everyone can use! 

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

    than a fool bent on folly.

Proverbs 17:12

Mostly Classical Book Club

Our PEACH Teens enjoy a Classical Book Club throughout the year.  The teens vote at the beginning of the school year and with a little adult guidance the book list is edited for the youth.    

This year's selection included: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card; Hamlet by Shakespeare;  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; Invisible Man by H.G. Wells and they will finish off  May's Classical Book Club with Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.

Mrs. Hansen does a great job of leading the youth in the influences during the writing process; from the political environment to the religious views of the author.  For example although Ender's Game is not a classic, it was one the kids wanted to read.  But in discussion you could see how the author's Mormon background really shaped his world view for the book. 

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a man that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15

When the Wind Blows

Tonight was round number two at Dallas Christian for the CHANT Chargers.  The girls were evenly matched for much of the game with the score 4 to 5 at the bottom of the fifth. But then the wind kicked up, and by kicked up I mean it was blowing hard enough it blew our pitcher off the mound.  The wind blew over our first baseman as she leaned over to catch a grounder.  

That was nothing compared to what the gusts did to our pitching and hitting, not to mention the dust storm coming in off the infield!  By the time the  game was over most of the stands were cleared out and fans took shelter under the bleachers and to the side of the dugouts.  

Stone is heavy and sand a burden,

    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Proverbs 27:3

Charming Celebrations

The girls got together tonight to celebrate Gracie's birthday.  With these kids I'm not sure even the Cheesecake Factory was safe! Reports were that the food was fabulous and the banter was even better.  After dinner the girls walked around the shops at Watters Creek.  

There is a new Kendra Scott store opening up, a Charming Charlies and a veritable plethora of other stores to entertain and occupy teen girls!  

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

Something's FABULOUS in Plano

Our PEACH Drama Club is getting closer to the performance date for 'Something's Rotten In the State of Denmark.'  A fun take on Shakespeare's Hamlet.  Today we met up at Plano's Courtyard Theater for cast photos.   This will be the youth's first production at the Courtyard.  

The Courtyard Theater was originally the gymnasium for Plano's Cox High School.  It was built in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project.  In 1999 $4.6 million dollars was spent to restore the building and convert it into a 321 seat proscenium-style theater. 

Mark your calendar for May 10th and check out their fabulous production!  I'm partial to Queen Gertrude's performance! 

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.  Daniel 4:2