Mondays at Metro

Monday morning means we are back at the food pantry hang out with our crew.  Metro Relief had a need for food for the upcoming Spring Break and I sent out a request on my Facebook page.  Many of our friends brought in food and in fact after the picture in the upper right hand corner was taken, three more friends from church drove out to Metro to bring us more donations. 

After we closed up the pantry at noon the volunteers headed out to lunch for burgers.  

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

Road Trippin'

Today we had a break in Abigail's softball schedule so we took a trip up to Atoka, Oklahoma to meet up with Granny and Donnie for lunch.  With the cool weather, Padme' and Sport both made the trip. It was good to do a little catching up and be able to hug their necks! 

We texted Caleb a 'guess where we are' text knowing he would recognize the Mexican restaurant where we meet Granny and Donnie.  So Caleb texted back the picture of 'hello, Granny and Donnie' from Caleb and Sonny.  It was funny because at about the same time I got a 'hello' picture from my blonde son, Richard and his fiancee' Melissa!  

The father of a righteous child has great joy;

a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

Proverbs 23:24

CHANT vs. John Paul II Softball

Tonight was a chilly but another exciting game for High School softball! At the end of seven innings the CHANT Chargers tied John Paul II 9 to 9! My catcher girl had 2 RBI's and scored twice! She got to catch eight out of the nine innings. I'm surprised they let the game end in a tie and didn't let them play on but because John Paul's field is near a residential area they can't have stadium lights so when it's dark they are through playing ball!   

Without any light, they feel their way along in darkness.

    God makes them unsteady like those who get drunk.  Job 12:25

Stained Glass Art Class

It's time for another Teen Art Class at the Dallas Museum of Art.  The kids have studied a lot of different medium of art through these classes and today was no exception. 

They began class looking at the stained glass in medieval cathedrals in the Art and Nature in the Middle Ages exhibit. Later in Tech Lab they made their own 4”x6” glass panes. 

Using Plexiglass panels they took essentially a glue gun with black sticks to create the iron work and then painted their panes of glass.  

Each work was very unique and when they were flipped around to allow the light to shine through it was quite impressive.  Because they were working with Plexiglass each student to draw and lay out their design and then transfer it using the 'iron work.' 

To others, show mercy mixed with fear of sin. Hate even the clothes that are stained by the sins of those who wear them.  Jude 1:23

Bon Jovi in Concert

It took nearly thirty years but I finally made it to a Bon Jovi concert!  Now of course this was Jon's third time to see them.  Jon saw Bon Jovi open for Ratt at the Tulsa Fair Grounds in early 1985.  Later the same year he saw them open for Scorpions, and Deep Purple at the Texas Jam.  

When I was Oklahoma Christian University I had a wonderful roommate Nancy who loved Bon Jovi.  In the conservative house I grew up in was limited to country music.  So the rock n' roll tunes of their first album Slippery When Wet were a whole new experience for me.  Nancy and I listed to that cassette everywhere we went in Edmond.  So much fun and so many great memories.  

Nancy and always talked that one day we would see Bon Jovi in concert, but school, weddings, and children happened.  About seventeen years ago Nancy lost her battle with breast cancer.  I can't tell you how many songs brought back memories of my friend.  She would have loved it! 

The other great memory for Jon and I tied to Bon Jovi is on the back of one of Jon's race cars I stenciled "On a Steel Horse I Ride" from the Wanted: Dead or Alive song.  That was one of the encore songs from tonight's concert along with Living on a Prayer.   We were able to enjoy the entire concert from the comfort of Thompson Reuters luxury suite at the American Airlines Center.  It was a great night out with my guy! 

Junior Toastmaster's Tall Tale Contest

This year our homeschool group offers a Speakers Club is being directed by a Toastmasters Master Speaker, Ms. Vogel.  Each of the youth are required to present six speeches and compete in the Speaker's Contest. Last year Abigail completed all six speeches but because of her commitment to the varsity softball team she was unable to compete in the contest. 

This year the girl was all prepared to compete.  The youth were to present a Tall Tale.  Abigail chose to present her 'Nina Story.'  Which you would have thought was a tall tale except every word of it was true! 

Jon's company gave us tickets to their luxury box at the Bon Jovi concert tonight so we headed to the concert.  But like a the great friend that she is, Ms. Donna and the boys came down to cheer Abigail on!  It's great to see the girl being independent and surrounded by friends.  She drove herself and Frankie to the contest.  Ms. Robin and Ms. Donna texted me updates and pictures of her presenting her speech.  And after wards the girls went out to Braum's with the Gungans and the Hansens. 

Click on the video above to hear my girls tale! 

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children,
and their children to the next generation.  Joel 1:3

ZAP! Review Game

This is for my other Bible Class teacher friends; it’s my favorite review game called HA!  The game was originally called ‘Zap!’ but when we were studying the book of Acts we saw the footnote of ‘HA’ which means ‘leave us alone.’  It’s a great game mainly because the brightest team doesn’t always win, which makes it fun for the whole class.

This is the perfect review game for any subject matter! To build a game board you will need:

Supplies: 

24"x36" foam board

16 library card pockets

1 sheet of self adhesive numbers 

Cardstock

double-sided tape

Place the self-adhesive numbers on the library card pockets and use the double-sided tape to attach them to the board. Simple!

To play the game you will insert cards in each pocket.  Click HERE to print off the inserts.  They say things like:

• ZAP other team
• Switch scores with the other team
• Add two points to your team score
• ZAP both teams
• Add to points to the other team's score
• ZAP your team
• Subtract two points from your team's score
• Add two points to another team
• Blank (nothing happens)

To play split up the class into teams.  Have your review questions in hand to play the game.  You will need a dry erase board to keep score.

Ask each team a question, if they get it right they receive one point AND they get to pick a numbered card from the game board. The game cards can either be good, bad, or do nothing at all.  The team with the most points at the end is the winner.

I have played this as a review game in class for four years, so it was time to build a new board!  Hope your group enjoys it too! 

“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”  Luke 4:34

Delbert McClinton Concert

This is my guy, he gets me! Valentine’s Day conjures up images of chocolates, roses and poetic cards, right?! My Valentine’s Day gift included a Delbert McClinton CD, 2 tickets to the concert tonight and a giant can of hairspray! Why? In 1989 I drove a 1967 Ford Pinto that had a Delbert McClinton cassette stuck in the player. It was the only thing I could listen to in my car, over and over. Jon would laugh every time he got in my car and I would just sing along louder. The cassette would later get traded in along with the Pinto that year. 

Tonight we headed to the Granada Theater in Dallas to see the now 77 year old McClinton perform!  His music is a mix of blues, jazz and soulful rock.

After the concert we were walking through the parking lot and there were fans waiting in line to get a photo with Delbert, I couldn't miss out on such an opportunity like that!  Jon just laughed and stood in line with me and took the picture! We had so much fun.  Thanks, Jon! 

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8

Little Elm Softball Tournament Day 3

Today was day three of the Little Elm softball tournament.  We've faced some really great teams so far and done well.  Most of the time our home school team only plays against other private high school teams. But this tournament lets us play the Big Boys!  

All of the teams we've faced were 5A and 6A schools from the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  Our first game of the day was against Frisco Heritage HS.  It was a really fun game to watch because the teams were evenly matched.  In the end our Chargers lost 13 - 14.  The second game of the day was against Frisco's Wakeland High School.  

Wakeland is the team that has played after us most of the weekend so the moms got to interact with their team while our girls were playing.  I was impressed with the girls and the coaches on the team.  One of the funniest moments was when a player from Wakeland said, 'oh that's neat that they let you (homeschoolers) play sports!' 

Unfortunately we lost to Wakeland, but we left the tournament with four wins and two losses and that was a better showing than we had last year.  Not too shabby for team with no school, no practice fields, and volunteer coaches!  Go Chargers! 

In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.  Titus 2:7-8

Little Elm Softball Tournament Day 2

Today was day two of tournament play in the Little Elm tournament,  The girls first opponent was Greenville High School.  Greenville is a 5A school which is a far cry from our high school team of 9th-12th graders. It was a a tight game but the CHANT Chargers won 9-8! 

The second game of the day was against Little Elm High School.  They are a strong team with really great pitching!  They were the toughest team we've played so far this season.  They are the only team the Chargers lost to in this tournament 5-0 in seven innings. 

It was a much stronger showing that we had in the same tournament last year.  The girls have two more games lined up for tomorrow.  

Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins. Welcome each other as guests without complaining. Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others.  1 Peter 4:8-10 

Little Elm Softball Tournament Day 1

Today begins the CHANT Chargers first tournament with public school teams.  We have six games this weekend.  We start off today with a game against Fort Worth South Hills High School.  Our chargers won 5 -2!

Next up the CHANT Chargers played Grand Prairie High School and won  13-3! The girls did really well today.  The tournament is a high school tournament but most of our team are 9th and 10th graders.  I think we have two seniors and one junior this year.  So they should do really well as they age up and get more experience. 

It was a great day at the ball park.  We will see what tomorrows games hold. 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  I Corinthians 9:24

Valentine's Day at the Christian Care Center

Today we got to hang out with some of our other home school friends from church for Valentine's Day.  We got together and made Valentine's Day cards for the residents of the Christian Care Center in Allen, TX.   Abigail coordinated with the Activities Director for our group to pass out our home made cards and visit while the residents enjoyed their lunch.  

Many of our Church of Christ on McDermott Road church family live in the independent living section.  And several of our Bible Bowl kids great-grandparents also reside in the assisted living portion of the facility.  The facility is very new and incredibly nice.  It specifically houses elderly members of the churches of Christ.  Many of the residents are members of the Waterview Church of Christ that planted the McDermott congregation.  We've even met relatives of our church friends from Oklahoma!  

After the kids passed out their homemade cards they exchanged valentine cards with each other, and played a few cards games together. 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27

Tic Tac Toe Review Game

I promised one of Bible Bowl buddies I would be sure and post a few of my favorite Bible review games that I play on Sundays with my class.  This is a simple game of Tic Tac Toe.  

Supplies: 

24"x36" foam board

1 small roll of washi tape

9 library card pockets

1 sheet of self adhesive numbers 

9 adhesive Velcro circles

double-sided tape

Print out 5 X's and 5 O's to be used in game play and print out a header for your game.  Mine reads "Bible Bowl Tic Tac Toe"  Use your Washi tape to mark your tic tac toe board and use the double-sided tape to attach library card pockets. 

Place a self-adhesive number on each pocket. Allow enough room to place a Velco circle on the outside of each pocket.  The back of each X and O will have the other side of your Velcro dots.  Click HERE to download my Game Board Heading and X's and O's Game Pieces. 

To play the game I have question cards review cards that I slide into the nine library pockets.  The teams take turns selecting a pocket number.  If they answer the question correctly they can place an X or and O on that pocket.  If they get the question wrong, I review the correct answer with them and then place a new question card in the pocket.  I usually place the hardest question in the center spot! 

The winner of the game is the first team with three in a row.  I did laminate my X's and O's and game board heading so the board can be used for many review games to come! 

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,

    for the ears of the wise seek it out.

Proverbs 18:15

Little Miss Independent

Abigail babysitting may not be anything new but today for her first time to drive all by herself, my newly licensed teenager drove to her babysitting job.  How cool and crazy is it that the baby of the family, the youngest grandchild on both sides of the family is not only taking care of other kiddos but driving herself there, too! 

These two boys have quickly won her heart.  They head over the the nearby park to ride bikes, swing, race and run off energy! Today they did a little Yoda artwork! Imagine the girl hanging out with Star Wars loving, athletic boys!  Hmm, that's my little girl!  I mean that's my young lady! 

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  2 Timothy 1:5

CHANT vs. Ursuline

Softball season is in full swing, so be prepared to see a lot of softball posts, especially because Abigail plays on two teams.  Our CHANT Chargers homeschool team doesn't have a field, or equipment or even paid coaches.  They are a group of girls who love the sport and enjoy playing ball.  

In order to make sure the girls are prepared to play high school ball, the players on the CHANT team are required to also play on a select team.  On the select team they get in practice time, conditioning and drills.  Then when the girls come together for CHANT games they try to implement those skills.  Abigail plays and practices with her select team, RAGE.  

The nice part about the select team is they do not have games during high school softball season, only practice.  The reason for that is that most high school coaches don't want to take a chance on their players getting hurt during the season. 

So for now Abigail is practicing for 2+ hours on Sunday afternoons with Rage.  She has batting lessons on Tuesday evenings after piano lesson and then during the week she plays games with CHANT.  

Tonight the CHANT Chargers had a game against Ursuline Academy of Dallas, a Catholic college preparatory high school for girls.  It was a good game they played until the sun went down, final score Ursuline won 8-5.  

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Licensed to Drive Me Crazy

In case you can't tell by the leap of joy, the baby girl passed her driving test today.  We headed to the DMV and provided all the necessary paperwork showing that Abigail had completed the parent taught course.  

Next was the actual driving test with an officer and twenty minutes later she had the paper version of her license.  When we got home Abigail drove Sissy to Sonic for the maiden voyage without a parent.  It was a big day in the Kirkwood household! 

Then our sons in their youth

    will be like well-nurtured plants,

and our daughters will be like pillars

    carved to adorn a palace.

Psalm 144:12

Texas Discovery Gardens

While we were at Fair Park visiting the aquarium, we decided to head over and check out the Texas Discovery Gardens with the Hunts.  

The gardens are located on seven and a half acres of gorgeous gardens.  There is an indoor Butterfly House and Insectarium with a three story walk thru garden of tropical plants and hundreds of tropical butterflies.  

There is also an indoor exhibit featuring fifteen species of snakes native to Texas.   There were docents on hand to answer questions for the kids.  

The gardens, even in winter, were beautiful with pristine fountains and Koi ponds.  The almost seventy degree weather only added to the day.  We didn't know beforehand but found out while we were there that Tuesdays are "Pay What You Wish."  So if you don't want to pay the $8 fee you may choose to pay $4, you decide! Good to know! 

 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.  Ecclesiastes 2:5-6

Children's Aquarium at Fair Park

Today we joined homeschooling church friends at the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park for their Homeschool Day. Several years ago this aquarium closed down to for a complete remodel.  The museum is now home to fabulous fresh water zone with takes of eels, piranhas and snapping turtles found in those areas.  There is also an intertidal zone with exotic fish. 

The aquarium is part of the Dallas Zoo so today for the Homeschool event there was staff on hand for demonstrations with the kids.  There were special feedings for the kids to observe, including the piranhas.  They were also able to pet the sting rays in the petting tanks.  

Praise the Lord from the earth,

    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths

Psalm 148:7

Time to Play Ball

It's Monday and we're back home so that means back to Metro Relief in the morning and softball in the afternoon.  Somewhere in there we knocked out a little school, not much mind you, but a little.  

The CHANT Chargers took their first loss tonight against last years district champion, and 2nd Place State Champs, Dallas Christian.  The girls got behind in the first inning but were within two points of catching up when the game was called.  

We were playing on fields without lights so once the sun went down the refs called the game.  After the game we stopped at Whataburger for dinner, we were a little disappointed at seeing the first base ump having dinner with his daughter, Dallas Christian's first baseman!   

Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;

    all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Proverbs 16:11

No Greater Joy

A few of my favorite things would be Sunday services with the boy and lunch with his friends!  Sissy and I went to Bible class with J.J., Caleb and Sonny.  Later Richard and few others joined us for services.  Afterwards we headed to Jason's Deli for lunch before Sissy and I headed back to Plano. 

I'm going to miss these faces! 

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  III John 4

LCU Master Follies 2017

Tonight was the big event for LCU's Homecoming, Master Follies. Master Follies is a musical variety show featuring students in performances, during homecoming weekend. It is a family friendly event of the long standing tradition on campus. Each of LCU's social clubs, which are much like fraternities and sororities, perform a show using songs and choreography to tell an original story. Assessments of judges from each performance are tallied on the final night to determine winners in men's and women's categories. The audience selects a People's Choice winner that is announced at the final performance.

Hosts and Hostesses entertain between club shows. Each year hosts and hostesses are selected through auditions. This group entertains the audience between club shows as well as performing the opening and closing act. Caleb's Kyodai club came in second in the men's division!  Kyodai's sister club LOA  (Lambda Omega Alpha) won the Spirit of Follies award! 

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.  

Romans 12:10

Science Spectrum Museum

Part of LCU's homecoming weekend is all the events for the alumni.  Caleb had a welcome home breakfast with the alum from his club Kyodai this morning. As an officer for Kyodai he was up early setting up for the event. 

Frankie and I enjoyed a little breakfast in the hotel and the boy joined us after his event.  

Caleb's friend Sonny took us over to the Science Spectrum, a science museum in Lubbock where she is interning this summer. They have over 250 hands-on interactive science exhibits and live science shoews.   The museum also features a 160 degree panoramic view on a 58 foot domed screen.  

It made for a fun afternoon exploring and hanging out together.  Sonny made sure we got the VIP tour of the museum and she made sure Frankie had a great time. 

To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness is everlasting: The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 136:7-9

If You Give a College Kid a Steak

Time to see the boys!   Sissy and I got up at four thirty this morning to make the drive to Lubbock.  We were able to make it to LCU's campus in time for lunch. 

We enjoyed a great time together with Caleb and his friends.  Since Abigail had softball games this weekend Jon missed out on this trip. But Jon did say that our first stop needed to be to get the boy a steak.  So we headed to Longhorn Steakhouse for a juicy, medium-rare rib eye! 

We headed back to campus where Caleb showed us where he works on campus in the Bible office. We also toured around and saw the offices where he has his student senate meetings, and where he attends classes. 

It was great to spend the day in Caleb's world with his friends! 

And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. "But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Luke 14:12-14