Happy New Year!

The kids rang in the New Year in Oklahoma again this year.  They joined the Gungans and the Lowes for a fun evening together.  Before they headed north Abigail had softball practice with her HSAA Angels.  

The kids had a great time together and really appreciated being able to be together and just hanging out! It's become a great tradition! 

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them” Ecclesiastes 12:1

Roasted Tomato Pasta Sauce

Having Caleb home for the holidays and Abigail not working or playing ball has been wonderful.  One of the things we'e always done together is cooking, specifically canning.  From the time they were little we've made everything from pickles to jelly.  The kids have been spoiled with the real homemade goodness. 

One of our favorites is homemade pasta sauce! So while the house is full we worked together cutting and cooking!  It is so much easier to make having someone chopping onions and peppers while others are prepping the tomatoes! 

I love the way the house smells of the savory Italian goodness! By the time we finished up today we had sixteen quarts of pasta sauce. I see some ravioli and spaghetti in our future meal planning! 

One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Romans 14:2

The Birthday Girl

It's official, we now have three adult children! I'm not sure how that happened.  Time went faster than I thought it would go! I'm thankful she has a Christmas birthday and Caleb was able to be home and celebrate with us.  

We began with our traditional breakfast in bed.  The birthday girl chose sausage balls and waffles.  After breakfast we headed down stairs to open up gifts.  Boxes were filled with great things she'll need for the next chapter of her life in college.  

We goofed off most of the day playing board games doing a little shopping.  For dinner we headed to Studio Movie Grill for dinner.  Much like my easy going girl, it was a relaxed day laughing and playing together.

May our sons in their youth

    be like plants full grown,

our daughters like corner pillars

    cut for the structure of a palace

Psalm 144:12

Merry Christmas

It's the happiest time of the year, or at least that's how the song goes.  But I have to say it is truly a blessing to have all the kids at home for the holidays.  Caleb has been home on Christmas break but he's worked most of the break.  He has a few days off for the holiday and we can all be together.  That's the blessing of working for a Christian company. 

Abigail has been working five days a week, too.  So again the next few days off is so appreciated.  Our morning started off early with Frankie excited and ready to check out Santa's haul!  We opened our stockings and then enjoyed breakfast together.  After breakfast we checked out the packages under the tree.  

Santa was generous will all of us and the day was filled with my favorite people.  We broke out the snowballs and had a snowball fight in the house, Padme' was barely phased but all the activity! Today was a nice blessing surrounded by my sweet husband and beautiful children.  Truly the best gift of all! 

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 

Christmas Chili

We usually enjoy tamales with chili for dinner on Christmas Eve.  But yesterday I noticed we were out of homemade chili!  So what's a girl to do but fire up the InstantPots and cook up sixteen quarts of homemade spicy goodness! 

I went to my favorite chili recipe and with a little help chopping onions, peppers, and tomatoes while I cooked up the meat we are back in business.  Tamales will be served tomorrow night as planned! Whew! 

Better is a dry morsel with quiet

    than a house full of feasting with strife.  Proverbs 17:1

Power Couple

I try to refrain from publishing about the kids and who they are dating.  But every once in while I just have to because, well grandparents like to see those things and they are just so cute! 

Abigail and Josiah celebrated Christmas together at the George W. Bush Presidential Library.  At Christmas they have a beautiful display of replicas of White House trees decorated by various First Ladies.  Definitely a 'must see' when you are in Dallas! 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

Cherished Moments

I had trouble deciding what pictures to post of our fabulous church homeschoolers Christmas party.  Some unique things have happened this year.  One is that Abigail is graduating and I realize that my time as a home schooling mom is coming to an end.  I'm going to miss these times of the kids getting together to play, to make cards for the Christian Care Center, to exchange gifts.  

Because of Abigail graduating I realize how extremely fortunate I've been to have these other Godly women in my children's live. They are such wonderful Christian examples.  We've shared so many joyous happy moments together and some of life's darkest, saddest moments together.  I'm forever grateful to God for my church family and the role they have played in shaping my children. 

Another change that has taken place this year is I have returned to work at the church preschool.  Two of my sweet preschoolers have joined our ranks of homeschooling families at McDermott.  I can't express what a blessing it has been to see these young children and young moms with their children.  The moms are Frankie's age(ish) and it is a gift to see them with their children and getting to love on the younger children.  It's not a path we will get to travel with Frankie but God knew my heart needed to walk this path.  I'm so grateful He's given me this opportunity! 

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Growing Sweet Things

It's getting close to Christmas time and my preschoolers are getting very excited.  In our centers room I created an ice skating rink with laminated white paper and plastic coated paper plates for skates.  I also set up a concession stand with hot cocoa and warm pretzels for the kids. 

In the classroom we had a little Christmas magic.  At the beginning of the day the kids planted peppermint candy in a cup of marshmallows and we set them by the window to grow.  By lunch they had grown into small candy canes and by the end of the day they were full grown candy canes!  

We talked about God's creation and how He gave us everything we need to grow.  This was just a simple, fun example of how that works.  It was so much fun watching the kids excitement as they watched their candy canes grow! I let the parents in on our fun! 

The righteous flourish like the palm tree

    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

    they flourish in the courts of our God.

Psalm 92:12-13

A Time to Celebrate

Let the Christmas celebrations begin!  This evening was the high school class Christmas party.  The house was packed with wall to wall teenagers.  Many of them wore their ugly sweaters and some wore PJ's.

There was the annual gift exchange, followed by dinner and a devotional message.  Abigail said it's a little surreal that this is her last youth group Christmas party.  So many fun memories of gag gifts and beautiful singing with this great group of young people! 

A man of many companions may come to ruin,

    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Another Generation

Our Bible Bowl preparations are going great.  I have thirty-seven kids from third through twelfth grade.  This year will so many older kids I've let some of the young men take turns teaching the Bible class.

Today Zach stepped up and taught from John chapter 11 which included Jesus' seventh miracle, the raising of Lazarus. Everyone in class was so attentive and Zach did such a great job.  I can't wait to see what great things are ahead for there service in Lord's body!  

Train up a child in the way he should go;

    even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Heartfelt Friends

Tonight was another wonderful evening with our Heartfelt Friends.  Frankie and I really enjoy our evening of friendship, fellowship, dinner and Bible study with these sweet ladies.  Each month one of the mom's opens their home up for our sweet group.  The ladies ministry at church does a great job of making our very large congregation feel like a small town, close knit church body! 

(Treat) older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. I Timothy 5:2

Christmas Recital

My sweet preschoolers have been 

preparing for several weeks for tonight's Christmas program.  Both 4 year old classes sang Santa Clause is Coming to Town. 

Later Kyle read Pete the Cat Saves Christmas.  The parents joined us for cookies and pictures with the Big Guy! 

The kids made decorative plates using their hand prints to create Rudolph!  They were very sweet! 

Jon and the kids came up for the festivities! 

Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Matthew 24:42-44

Let It Snow

In preschool we are still working on weather unit.  Today for P.E. Class I thought we could do something weather related, so . . . . 

I found snowballs at Target.  They are plush, squishy, realistic feeling snowballs.  First I read "Snow" by P.D. Eastman about all the fun things you can do in the snow.  

Wes, our pulpit minister joined us in the auditorium for a snow ball fight!  Usually we discourage the kids from throwing things at each other, so Wes was good spirited and let us throw snowballs at him.  Once the kids saw it was harmless and fun spirited they were ready to take aim at each other!  

They ran off a lot of energy, had a ball, no one got hurt and no snow balls landed in the baptistery! Sounds like a great day! 

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

    they shall be as white as snow

Isaiah 1:18

Happy Birthday, Granny

Today we got make the trip to Tulsa to see the moms!  We enjoyed a belated Thanksgiving celebration with my Mom and Bob. And had a really great visit.  

The next morning we headed to a lunch celebration for Granny's birthday!  I wish the kids could have joined us but it was still nice to get together with Jon's mom, brother and family!  

A wise son makes a glad father,

    but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 

Proverbs 10:1

Weather Unit Study

What a fun day of experiments at preschool today!  We are working this week on studying weather.  At the end of the day we had some fun with several experiments.  The kids love this time together and it's definitely one of my favorites when they can actually visualize the science behind what we're learning. 

We created clouds using shaving cream and blue water droppings.  Next, we created snow in a jar using baby oil, white paint, water, glitter, and Alka Seltzer.  The Alka Seltzer bubbles and propels the white glittery paint to the surface and then falls like snow! 

We also made thunder clouds using paper bags and simulated a rainbow using Skittles and water.  I love seeing the kids wonder and excitement as we play and learn! 

When He imparted weight to the wind And meted out the waters by measure, When He set a limit for the rain And a course for the thunderbolt, Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out.  Job 28:25-27

Bible Bowl Buddies

For Bible Bowl this year I have quite a few high school boys.  The boys have been taking turns teaching the Bible lessons and doing a fabulous job!  With Caleb in town this weekend he taught from the book of John.  

One of my sweet preschoolers asked to hang out with us in class because her older sister is in the class.  She helped me get a few pictures of our class.  She was intrigued with Jon's beard and took several pictures of him!  At the end of class she wanted a selfie with Caleb, so sweet! 

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. I Timothy 5:1-2

Roomies

The girl has made her college selection, Oklahoma Christian University!  I'm very excited because OC is where my dad, my uncle, my brother and I attended!  She'll make a fabulous Eagle! 

She's so excited to have her college decision made, plus she has a sweet friend from Camp Blue Haven that she will be rooming with, Ms. Audrey! Can't wait to hear about all their adventures! 

May he grant you your heart's desire

    and fulfill all your plans!

Psalm 20:4

Happy Thanksgiving

The boy got in from Lubbock yesterday, and while we waited for his arrival the girls and I got busy baking.  With it just being the five of us we were able to keep it simple but delicious.  

I know the days of having all three 'babies' home are numbered but I'm so happy to have our little family together.  For family and friends who stop by our little blog, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Blessings to all! 

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

    for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul,  and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Psalm 107:8-9

Kirkwood Thanksgiving

The year has turned its circle,

The seasons come and go.

The harvest is all gathered in

And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,

The fields, their yellow grain.

So open wide the doorway-

Thanksgiving comes again!  

when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,  “For he is good,

    for his steadfast love endures forever,”

2 Chronicles 5:13

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing this is about our 12th year to have a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with our McDermott home schooling families!  

It's a great afternoon with a lot of great food, Charlie Brown style.  You know, buttered toast, jellybeans, pretzel sticks, popcorn, sandwiches and desserts.  The kids usually watch the Thanksgiving special while they eat lunch and then head outside after wards to play. 

This year we were at Ms. Julie's beautiful home and enjoyed marvelous conversation while the kids had their fill of Nerf wars and trampoline time. 

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:15

Oklahoma Christian University's Honors Program

Abigail has been looking at all her options for college.  She's weighed playing college softball versus academics.  Her top school is Oklahoma Christian University.  

OC has the Honor's college that accepts about 5% of the incoming freshman class.  The Honors Political Science program is very solid, in fact 100% of their students have past the LSAT for the last six years! 

Our trip to OC today was for Abigail to interview with the head of the Honors department, Dr. Baird for the program.  She's made it past the application and phone interview and today is her one on one interview!  If it goes well, she should receive her acceptance letter into the program by Christmas! Of course it shouldn't hurt that her letter of recommendation was from General Tommy Franks! 

Turn from evil and do good;

    seek peace and pursue it.   Psalm 34:14

My Happy Place

Last week I got word from our friends at NTX Community Food Pantry, formerly Metro Relief, that they were low on baby formula.  

If I mom is on WIC they can get most of the necessary baby food and supplies.  But many of the families we see at the pantry aren't on WIC for various reasons.  Many of those families look the the pantry to help out.  

I made a few phone calls to several of our church friends who work at pediatrician offices and collected donations for the pantry.  The girls and I were able to deliver forty-six cases of formula to our friends!  We are beyond blessed with the generous servant hearts of our friends! 

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Luke 6:38

Preschool Science

In preschool we are currently learning about fruits and vegetables. In my art center we did stamp painting with corn, bell peppers and onions. 

For the science portion I thought it would be fun to try an experiment to make kernels of corn dance. 

Supplies:
a clear glass container
popping corn
2 1/2 – 3 cups of water
2 Tbsp. of baking soda
6 Tbsp. of white vinegar
food coloring (optional)

Simply fill your jar with water and add a couple drops of food coloring.  Add your baking soda and stir well until it is all dissolved.  Add a small handful of popping corn kernels, I used yellow and red kernels.   Add the vinegar and watch the corn start to hop up and down!  

After I conducted the experiment I then had stations set up for each of the kids to pair up and try their hand at following directions and making the corn dance.  Some were successful, others didn't let their baking soda completely dissolve.  So, afterwards we sat down and talked about what went wrong and what worked! 

You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 18:4

My Distinguished Delegate

Abigail returned from her  trip to Washington, DC.  She had a great time at the nation Model U.N. conference.  I'm blown away that she was accepted into Collin College’s Model U.N. program even though she’s still in high school and homeschooled at that! 

The delegation from Collin College represented the Member State of Cameroon. There were 151 Member States represented at the conference including universities from Texas Tech, Figi National University, Reitaku in Japan, WSC Italy, just to name a few. As a group the delegation from Collin won the Distinguished Delegation Award for their honorable conduct. 

Abigail and her partner Ian were awarded a Position Paper Award. My little home schooled, softball catching, piano playing, Bible Bowling little girl has been invited back to Model U.N. in New York in the Spring!  

While in Washington the students were able to visit the capital, the Washington Monument, and the Smithsonian.  She came home with so many wonderful stories.  I'm so grateful she had this opportunity and that she is able to articulate what she believes and use her words to persuade others, that is a talent required for all believers. 

In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. I Peter 3:15

Passing the Torch

One of the great things about teaching Bible Bowl for so many years is I get to see these young people grow up into adult; into Christians serving in the Lord's body.  Today was one of those wonderful moments.  Matthew has been actively involved in my Bible Bowl classes since he was in third grade and today he took on the role as teacher.  

Matthew taught a class full of his peers over John chapter six. It is one of the longer chapters in the book of John and Matthew did a great job of capturing everyone's attention as he took us through the feeding of the 5,000  and Christ being the bread of life.  

I'm so proud of Matthew and the other young men in my class who have taken on carrying the torch of the Lord's Word for the next generation! 

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. John 6:47

Sawyer Brown Concert

With the girl in D.C., the boy in Lubbock, and the oldest with a friend, that means Jon and I have a date night!  I've been looking forward to the for months!  Sawyer Brown in concert in our town!  Sawyer Brown was one of the first concert Jon and I went to.  Back in 1995 Sawyer Brown was the headliner with Rick Trevino and Toby Keith as the opening acts in Tulsa.  

Later we saw Sawyer Brown in 2005 at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth!  They are absolutely my favorite!  Their songs are high energy, generally appropriate for all ages and just happy!  

Tonight they played with Restless Heart as their opening act at the Veterans Celebration.  So many great songs and fun memories. I won passes for us to go back stage and meet both Restless Heart and Sawyer Brown.  My inner high school self was beyond ecstatic!  At the end of the concert the local VFW set off a beautiful fireworks display.  Best date night ever! 

"Well I ain't first class

But I ain't white trash

I'm wild and a little crazy too

Some girls don't like boys like me

Aw but some girls do" 

Model U.N.: Abigail Goes to Washington Edition

Abigail is taking political science at Collin College.  The professor offers all of her students the opportunity to try out for Collin's Model United Nations and to compete in Washington, D.C.  Abigail tried out and was accepted into the program. 

The group of twelve college students have been meeting every Friday afternoon putting together their delegations.  Collin will represent the Republic of Cameroon in Africa. Today the group and their professor took off to Washington D.C. to compete against colleges and universities around the world!  Crazy, right! 

Can't wait to post more over her adventures soon! 

Put me in remembrance; let us argue together;

    set forth your case, that you may be proved right.

Isaiah 43:26

Election Day

This post might best be captioned with, 'you might be a home schooler if . . ." your mom signs you up to work a polling place on election day! Abigail and I showed up at our polling location at 5:30 this morning to help set up.  We worked until it was time to close down.  

Denton county had huge increases in voter turn out!  On the first day of early voting Denton county had more voters than in the entirety of the previous presidential election!   The lines stayed about a thirty minute wait all day and a little longer after five o'clock.  It's a great experience for my sweet political science major! 

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  I Timothy 2:1-2

HSAA Hit a Thon

Tonight was the Hit-A-Thon fundraiser for the HSAA baseball and softball teams.  The junior high and high school teams took to the fields at Craig Ranch.  Each of the players were responsible for getting sponsors for their hits.  The money raised goes to offset the cost for the teams to rent fields, pay tournament fees, uniforms, and coaches equipment.  

Each player took five pitches and then the longest hit was recorded for sponsors.  Baseball fields are larger than softball fields.  On a softball field 200 feet is 'out of the park.'  Abigail's longest hit was 210 feet! 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 
Acts 20:35

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