Halloween Heroes

It's Halloween at the preschool!  I had thirteen super heroes in class today!  Everyone from Michelangelo, the Ninja turtle, to Iron man! 

The preschool hosts a carnival during the day for the kids. The parents attended our costume parade at the beginning of our day.  So many adorable faces! 

I found a fun Jesse costume from the movie Toy Story and then made a wig out of red yarn.  The girls joked that will his beard Jon looked like the Prospector.

Later in the day I helped the kids build trebuchets to toss pumpkin candies.  We were able to fling them about half way across the entry hall in the foyer! 

Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. I Samuel 17:49

HSAA Angels vs. J. J. Pearce High School

Tonight the HSAA Angels played J. J. Pearce High School.  My favorite catcher girl had two great hits with an RBI.  She had a single and a triple! It's always fun watching her play ball!

I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.  Psalm 119:32

Wild Berry Farm Pumpkin Patch

While I played with preschoolers today, Frankie and Abigail went with our homeschool families from church to Wild Berry Farm.  It was a beautiful day for a hay ride and selecting pie pumpkins from the patch. 

The kids made their way through the corn maze.  They also slid down the big slide.  The farm had pumpkin bowling and pumpkin tic-tac-toe.  They even fed the catfish in the farm pond.  

I think the girls favorite part was play tether ball! 

The workers from the city who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel. Ezekiel 48:19

Pumpkin Projects

In preschool this week we are learning about Fall, including leaves, weather and all things pumpkin.  I brought in a store bought pie for all the kids to try a bite and some pumpkin cookies.  They cookies were a big hit.

In our art center we painted beautiful fall leaves.  At the end of the day we moved on to several pumpkin experiments.  This is my favorite part because the kids get to guess what they think will happen and they are always very enthusiastic! 

First up, I cut open a pumpkin and let them look, smell and feel the pumpkin insides.  Next up we took two white pumpkins and turned them into volcanoes!  Next up was my giant pumpkin!  It seemed like the perfect container to create elephant toothpaste.   Elephant toothpaste is a super thick foam created using yeast, warm water and hydrogen peroxide found at beauty supply shops.  It was a very exciting day! 

The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was to be seen.  I Kings 6:18

Happy Francis Marie Day!

Today our sweet Frankie celebrated the anniversary of her adoption date.  Each year we start off celebrating the day with breakfast in bed and presents. 

Frankie's favorite place to celebrate her anniversary is Olive Garden.  This is a big day for our family we waited over three years for the state of Oklahoma's foster care system to finalize Frankie's adoption!  It was an agonizing wait to finalize what we already knew which was we were meant to be her family! 

The day we got the news she was finally legally our baby girl was a day of much celebration!  Today was a great reminder of the joy of that very special day! 

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

. . . a time to embrace! 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-5

A Morning of Hope

This is one of our families favorite Saturday mornings!   It's the annual Hope for Haiti's Children (HFHC) fundraiser.  We get to see the updates made in the past year and find out what their need are for the coming year. 

The organization is supported by Churches of Christ.  Approximately 80% of Haitians live in abject poverty. Illiteracy, food shortages, lack of clean water, and minimal health care are common realities they face every day. Less than half of Haiti's children will ever attend school. Scarce public education and tuition-based schools make education an impossible dream for most Haitian families.

Hope for Haiti's Children meets the needs of these children through an education sponsorship program offering health care services, orphan care, and crisis relief efforts. 

Our dear friend Steve Cooner hosts the Dallas event and has a huge heart for these precious souls!  If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please visit their website at www.HopeForHaitisChildren.org 

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40

Fire Day at Preschool

On Monday we celebrated policemen, complete with a visit from the Plano Police Department.  The kids got to climb into the police car and learned to dial 911! 

Today we had a visit from the Plano Fire Department! It was so exciting!  The firefighters taught us to Stop, Drop and Roll!  In class I read the kids several books bout these valuable community helpers. 

I covered a large box with red brick printed paper and then used red, yellow and orange tissue paper to create flames coming out of my building.  My class used spray bottles to put out the flames! 

If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.  1 Corinthians 3:14-15

HSAA Angels Defeat Richardson's Berker High School

Our Lady Angels faced Richardson's Berker High School on the ball field.  Several high school teams play in the fall league to hone their skills for the spring season.  

Abigail had two at bats.  Her first at bat was a ball straight to the first baseman.  Her second at bat was a ground rule double, she advances on a passed ball and scored on a base hit! 

The Angels won 7 to 3! 

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 

Romans 14:19

Take A Hike

With a softball game rain out due to field conditions, Abigail  was able to join some of her church friends for a five mile hike.  The youth took the hike in the trails around Lake Ray Roberts. 

Later today when I checked out Facebook I saw a picture of Caleb with his Kyodai and Loa friends serving at a mobile food bank in Lubbock.  What mom doesn't love to see that.  When he was growing up there wasn't much choice for the kids they would be serving at the food pantry with us.  I love that now as an adult, away from home that is still how he spends his time.

He trains my hands for battle;

    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You make your saving help my shield;

    your help has made me great.

2 Samuel 22:35-36

Carmen at the Dallas Opera

Tonight was George Bizet’s Carmen on stage at Dallas' Winspear Opera House. The star of this opera is always the Bizet's music. His masterpiece of dramatic keeps Carmen in the top 10 list of the most popular operas. This is the second time we have seen it at the Winspear. 

Carmen is of course the infamous gypsy at the center of Bizet’s opera.  She warns the men she attracts immediately: she is not a woman to be tamed. When she sets her sights on a trusting soldier, Don José.  Falling instantly in love with Carmen, José willingly follows her into a life of thieving, ignoring the attentions of Micaëla, his hometown sweetheart.

When a dashing toreador enters the equation, Carmen finds her attractions shifting to the handsome bullfighter, pushing José to the brink of desperation.  I love the music but I still have flash backs of Gilligan’s Island when the Skipper as Polonius sang to Laertes (Mary Ann) in Hamlet set to the music of Carmen! You know the Toreador song, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be, Do not forget: Stay out of debt; Think twice, and take this good advice from me, Guard that old solvency. There’s just one other thing you ought to do. To thine own self be true.”

For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,

    and her speech is smoother than oil;

but in the end she is bitter as gall,

    sharp as a double-edged sword.

Proverbs 5:3-4 

Mechanic Day at Preschool

It was another spectacular day at the preschool facilitated by another one of my sweet friends!  My PreK class is still working on our Community Help unit and today's helper is the mechanic.  Our friend from church, Mr. Jason owns Frisco Automotive.  He brought out his mobile mechanic to the school.  

They showed the kids how to change a tire using the impact wrench attached to the air compressor in the mobile vehicle.  It was pretty cool!  Sunday afternoon I built a car around our laundry basket and put it upside down on a small table. The tires, headlights, and tail lots were all attached with Velcro dots so they could be removed and 'repaired.   I brought in toy tools, flash lights, air masks, funnels, fluid bottles, and Chamois.  

My class had a blast working on our car!  We read a fantastic book, "Interstellar Cinderella." With a little help from her fairy godrobot, Cinderella is going to the ball. But when the prince's ship has mechanical trouble, someone will have to zoom to the rescue! It's an irrepressible fairy tale retelling, with an independent heroine that has a stellar happy ending. So fun! 

Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord— the carpenters, the builders and the masons. 2 Kings 2:4-5

It's for His Mom!

Caleb was home this weekend for LCU's fall break! We've had a great time together but Sunday afternoon means Bible Bowl class with Caleb teaching the kids and then he heads back to LCU.  

Caleb finished up his break teaching John chapter 2.  It was a fun coincidence because in John 2 is the recording of Jesus' first miracle at the request of His mom! 

“Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied.

John 2: 4

[a] Greek for Woman does not denote any disrespect.

Texas State Fair 2018

Today the kids headed to the Texas State Fair together.  It's become a tradition since Caleb took off to LCU that they enjoy the fair together over LCU's Fall Break.  Last year Caleb missed out because he was in Spain so we did our best to have fun with out him.  But I'm pretty sure the girls were thrilled to have him home this year.  

Between Fletcher's Corn Dogs, the rides, the animals, bands, and carnival games they had a good day.  I worked at preschool today but my phone kept buzzing with their fun pictures. 

Children are a heritage from the Lord,

    offspring a reward from Him.

Psalm 127:3

Doctor Day at Preschool

Today was a special treat for my sweet preschoolers.  We are learning about our community helpers and today's focus was on medical professional.  

My dear friend Dr. Shae came by to talk to the kids.  She brought her stethoscope to let the children listen to their heart beats.  A couple of them asked to listen to my heart beat.  

Dr. Shae also fascinated them with her reflex hammer.  They squealed with delight as their legs involuntarily popped up! Such a special treat. During our craft time each of the kids made medical bags to take home.  

Abigail also visited the preschool today filling in as our afternoon P.E. teacher!  

Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  Matthew 9:12

HSAA Angels Defeat GLB

Tonight the HSAA Angels took on the Garland Lady Bombers at Winters Park.  The girls had a great game winning 6 to 1!  Abigail had several great plays including the series of three pictures across the top depicting her throw down to third base for the third out!  Frankie and I enjoyed the game with a yummy tray of concession stand nachos, jalapenos on the side! 

When the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. . .  and show them no mercy. Deuteronomy 7:2

North Texas Home School Homecoming

The baby girl is looking all grown up and fabulous!  Our girl and Gracie enjoyed their last North Texas Home School Homecoming  at Frontiers of Flight Museum. 

The homecoming event is for homeschoolers across North Texas.  Abigail's boyfriend Josiah came down as her handsome escort for the evening.  And Gracie was on the arm of Gabe.  They all looked dashing. 

This year's theme was 'Around the World' set with the beautiful 45+ suspended planes on the main floor of the Frontiers of Flight Museum.  Some 800+ home schoolers with their dates attended, plus plenty of parent chaperones!  

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens . . . a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance Ecclesiastes 3:1-4