Painting Party

So when your best friends decide to move and need to get the house ready to go on the market, you go help them paint!   But there are some things that your heart won't let you do, like paint over the choo-choo train mural Donna painted in Roy's room.  

So, whomever buys the Gungan's home I hope they like the sweet murals in each of the boys rooms because we couldn't paint over them.   

The memory of the righteous is a blessing

Proverbs 10:7 

Fun in the Sun

The kids planned a day with friends today at Hawaiian Falls.  Caleb rented a cabana to save them from the Texas heat.  The group got to enjoy the great water slides, wave pool, lazy river and all the other rides in the park.  I think they hung out for seven hours at the water park. 

Since Caleb, Richard and Ryan all work at the park their manager was fabulous and gave all the kids free pizza, free drinks and free dessert.  I don't think there was anything they lacked!  

Caleb took our cooler pass and made sure everyone had enough water and Gatorade.  Richard borrowed a friend from church's Jeep for a little fun after the park.  I think the only thing this day needed was a little more sunscreen! 

For thus the Lord said to me:

“I will quietly look from my dwelling

    like clear heat in sunshine,

    like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

Isaiah 18:4

Don't Dress for Dinner

Wow, a second day in as many weeks!  This may be more dates than we had all of last year! Our adventures today took us to Half Shell's Seafood Grill for an amazing lunch.  I love seafood and the restaurant has great reviews, but when we went and I saw they had Roasted Jalapeno Soup, that was it!  A bowl of soup for lunch, no seafood for me. The soup was fantastic, I may have a new favorite restaurant.  Jon had no interest in the creamy soup and ordered the catfish.  

Following lunch we headed over to the Richardson Theatre Centre to see our friend Eddy Herring in Don't Dress for Dinner.  We've attended church with Eddy and his family for the last decade.  They have a son Caleb's age, Blake;  and a daughter Abigail's age, Baylor.  

Eddy played the part of Bernard, who is planning a romantic weekend with his chic Parisian mistress in his charming converted French farmhouse, while his wife, Jacqueline, is away. He has arranged for a cordon bleu cook to prepare gourmet meal, and has invited his best friend, Robert, along too to provide the alibi. It’s foolproof; what could possibly go wrong? 

Well…. suppose Robert turns up not realizing quite why he has been invited. Suppose Robert and Jacqueline are secret lovers, and consequently determined that Jacqueline will NOT leave for the weekend. Suppose the cook has to pretend to be the mistress and the mistress is unable to cook. Suppose everyone’s alibi gets confused with everyone else’s, what a mess! 

the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters.
He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.
Ecclesiastes 7:26

Happy Birthday, Jon!

If you've been around our family very much you know that we love celebrating birthdays.  They are not an over the top type event, it's really sort of a simple affair.  But every birthday celebration for every member of the family begins when the person wakes up.

We have the usual cards and gifts but most importantly breakfast in bed!  And it is always the breakfast of choice of the birthday person.  

The kids love Jon's birthday because it is always the same, chocolate donuts and Dr. Pepper!   At some point we outgrew all five of us fitting on a bed, so these days we usually spill over to the floor or area around the bed.  Somehow today, Jon made it into the living room before we got all his goodies together! 

Happy birthday, honey!  Fifty-two looks great on you!  

See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.

I Samuel 14:29

A Time to Celebrate

For the last several years Abigail has made cakes for all of the Gungan's birthdays, this year was no exception.  She decided to go with an Avenger theme for the cakes.

For Ryan's birthday she made Thor cup cakes!  For Roy's birthday in June she made a Hulk sheet cake.  And this week for Richard's 18th birthday she made a Captain America shield.  We even found Coke bottles with Ryan and Richard's names, no Roy. 

Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established strength because of your foes,

    to still the enemy and the avenger.

Psalm 8:2

TDO Kids Opera Boot Camp

One of the perks of coordinating the Dallas Opera field trips for our home school group is that they also include us in their year round fun! 

Today The Dallas Opera held their Kids Opera Boot Camp for Pre-K and Elementary age children.  Abigail was invited to help out as a junior counselor, interacting with the kiddos.  She had two of the sweetest African American girls that were mesmerized with her hair and kept petting it.  I'm sure the texture was so different to them.  It was so precious.  

During the workshop the kids broke up into groups and worked on rhythm, music, projecting, choreographing, costuming, and staging.  At the end of the day the participants sat back while the pros performed Billy Goats Gruff.  It was a short children's opera addressing bullying.  

Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken,

    and the prey of the tyrant be rescued,

for I will contend with those who contend with you,

    and I will save your children.

Isaiah 49:25

Just Another Monday

Monday morning, so it's time to feed the hungry!  Metro Relief opens the doors at 9 am and there is always a like of people waiting for food. One of the aspects of working at the pantry that I enjoy is there are so many different ways to serve.   For an example, Abigail and her friend Emma work to greet and sign guest up to receive groceries.  Caleb helps with intake, talking and praying with guests.  I do a lot of computer data entry and paperwork.  Some days Abigail and Emma help the guests shop for groceries.  In the back, Frankie works at marking cans and sorting food donations.  Everyone usually pitches in to unload the delivery truck when it arrives on Wednesdays.  

There really is a job that everyone can fit into their routine and help out! Some days I really enjoy visiting and praying with guests, but there are other days when I prefer to hand out and mark cans. 

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,

    but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 14:31

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

Sunday afternoon date to see Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! The performance was at the Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch.  It is a former fire station converted to a community theater. The show was in the high energy you would expect from this great show.  The music was great, I was ready to sing along, especially with Ado Annie! 

One of the main draws to this show was that my child hood friend David Bates was performing the part of Will Parker!  Here is an excerpt from a local on-line review, "Paired with Paige was David Bates as Will Parker. Bates’ performance was spot on in every way. There was never a moment when Bates failed to deliver with extreme energy. His facial expressions and good-ol-boy looks of confusion added comedy in several places."

The show was a great afternoon outing and a fun way to spend three hours together! 

Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,
 and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters,
 your wives, and your homes.  Nehemiah 4:14

USSSA Tournament Day 4!

One more game for this weekend!  The weekend was filled with a lot of sunscreen, Gatorade and sunflower seeds. This was the last tournament for summer.  Abigail will play fall ball with CHANT, the homeschool high school team in their off-season and then will will see what Spring ball brings! 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11:28

A Little More Softball

Game two for Southern Force and the girl is still catching!  I'm sure the child will sleep well when the games are over!  Meanwhile, the girls have had an energized game and played well together.  

Abigail had two outs at home plate, the girl is fierce!  She also had 2 RBI's and a double this game.  The games are always more enjoyable when the girls are winning! 

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for,
 but may win a full reward. 2 John 1:8 

USSSA Fastpitch Texas Nationals

The tournament moved into day two with a couple more games for Abigail's Southern Force 14U team.  My little girl caught for both games yesterday and again for game one today.  It's crazy hot in Texas but these girls were all smiles. 

One of Abigail's team mates got her hand stepped on with metal cleats and continued playing this game and the next! These girls are crazy tough and yet they drive the couch nuts talking nail polish and hair bows! 

The women at home divide the spoil 

Psalm 68:12 

USSSA Fastpitch Nationals

The 2015 Texas USSSA Fastpitch Nationals kicked off this morning!  The girls have three games today.  We started off bright and early! 

There are 50+ 14 year old teams playing in North Dallas this weekend.  They will be playing on fields all over north Texas.  We'll see how the girls do this weekend but they were pumped to play today, ready to put all those new skills into place that they learned yesterday! 

knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee

Proverbs 2:10-11

College Exposure Camp

As if my boy heading to Lubbock Christian University wasn't enough today the baby girl had Softball College Exposure Camp.  It is a clinic for college coaches to observe the skills set of upcoming players.  The softball coach for LCU was even there.  

The girls broke up into groups according to position.  Coaches rotated through and giving the girls pointers and drills.  At the end of the four hour clinic the girls broke up into eight teams and then scrimmaged each other. 

It was a really hot day but a great experience for the girls to see what that next level of ball looks like. 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
 rightly dividing the word of truth.  

2 Timothy 2:15

Cow Appreciation Day

Today we were on the way up to the church building to work on Bible Bowl, but first we stopped off for lunch.  

I forgot that it was cow appreciation day at Chick-fil-A, it their annual event where guesting dressing like a cow receive a free menu item.  Unfortunately, we forgot and didn't dress up.  But we did have a yummy lunch and took a picture with a cow.  Pretty good day! 

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,

you would not have found out my riddle.”

Judges 14:18

Pacifying Puzzle Time

Sweet Frankie doesn’t like change; but she does like puzzles. Frankie is not happy right now about Caleb leaving for college.  Right now there are reminders everywhere around the house of his upcoming departure; like a dorm fridge, microwave, bedding etc. stacked around the formal dining area. 

Frankie was fixated on all the college hoopla, so Jon got out a relaxing 1,000 piece puzzle to calm the situation. They worked on it for FIVE hours straight; she wanted it finished by the time Caleb got home from work. When he got home from five hours of standing outside in the heat at Hawaiian Falls she made him play a board game with her!  Hopefully tomorrow is a better day! 

the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15

Minion Matinee Movie

Softball, Hawaiian Falls, college preparations, volunteer work; it seems to be an unending circle!  Today we took a break and just hung out with friends! 

We met up with a group of our homeschool friends for the matinee showing of the new minions movie.  We had about twenty-five kiddos together for the movie but I forgot to get a photo until most were leaving.  

After the movie, a few of the kids headed over to Gazeebo Burger for lunch.  Best sweet potato fries!! 

Strength and dignity are her clothing,    and she laughs at the time to come.
Proverbs 31:25 

Softball Tournament Game 3

Playing ball in one hundred degree weather, no problem.  Playing three back to back games in the Texas heat, no problem.  Well, no problem if your fourteen and used to it!  However if you're a mom, you are a melted puddle sitting in the bleachers! 

The photo on the bottom is great because of the smile on those girls face after three games!  They must love this game! 

From the rising of the sun to its setting,

    the name of the Lord is to be praised!

Psalm 113:3 

Softball Tournament Game 2

Time for the second game today.  Jon was the official score keeper, so he and I got to sit in the perch behind home plate.  This turned out to be an excellent spot for taking photos of the game!  I especially like the action shots of my catcher pulling off her mask and going after the ball.  

This was the first game Caleb was able to see in summer ball because of his work schedule.  The girl liked having her entire cheering squad behind her.  

In this game she got two runners out who were running home, after that the other coach would tell his player to go home but they wouldn't unless the ball wasn't anywhere near Abigail.  

His offspring shall endure forever,

    his throne as long as the sun before me.

Psalm 89:26

Softball Tournament Game 1

What Independence weekend we be complete without some softball?  The girls have played in a tournament this weekend in Arlington.  This afternoon they played three consecutive games, my little catcher girl caught for two of the games and played right field in the other.  

Under the category of things that bring me great joy would be watching my girl do something she enjoys so much and watching her do it wearing a great big bow!!! 

May they fear you while the sun endures,

    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

Psalm 72:5

Independence Day Celebration

Between softball and Caleb's work schedule we did not make it Tulsa for the fourth of July, but we did get to spend time with sweet friends. 

We hung out at the Windon's lovely home with another couple from church.  The Windon's three kiddos all participated in Texas Bible Bowl with us this past year.  

We had a great dinner and enjoyed visiting together.  Once it was dark we drove over the the nearby high school to watch the city's fireworks display.  

It was a wonderful evening and there was a lot of great food and fellowship. 

Praise him, sun and moon,

    praise him, all you shining stars!

Psalm 148:3

Bring Out the Sun

All of the recent rains have played havoc on our softball schedule, many of the fields are just to wet to play ball.  Our coach was able to find a field a little further north where the girls could scrimmage another team and get in a little practice. 

It's fun to watch this group of girls, they get as excited about playing as other girls get about going to the mall! 

For thus the Lord said to me:
“I will quietly look from my dwelling
    like clear heat in sunshine
Isaiah 18:4