My Kids

The best part of homecoming weekend at LCU is getting to see all our kids, including our blonde son and his lovely wife.  We were able to worship together at Sunset Church of Christ and then headed over for some Mexican food for lunch. 

My mom heart is so grateful that Caleb and Richard have spent their undergraduate time together at LCU. Their personalities are different; they have different career goals; but their faith in God and desire to serve Him with all their heart is the same.  It's been a true blessing knowing they are doing this part of their lives together. 

A man of many companions may come to ruin,

    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Practice, Practice and More Practice

Today was one of my favorite Bible Bowl review games, the buzzer round.  My class broke up into four teams and competed to answer  questions over the book of John. It still fascinates me at how much information they remember! 

After church services and Bible Bowl we headed over to the batting cages for Abigail to get in a little practice.  The weather hasn't been cooperating for outdoor practices. Softball season starts up soon! 

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Roaring Good Time

I am having a ball with my sweet preschoolers!  They are so precious.  I've been blessed with absolutely the sweetest group of children.  They are coming together as a group to encourage either and work well together. 

Today we began our morning work under my big umbrella because it was raining outside. Our Bible lesson was Joseph and his coat of many colors.  The kids made beautiful water color coats. 

Our unit study this week was about bears.  So the kids acted out the story as I read it, complete with hibernating and roaring when they woke up!   I'm pretty sure my teacher friend across the hall really appreciated our energy! 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17

Book Signing with Kevin Henkes

What an enjoyable evening with friends at Barnes and Noble Bookstore.  We went for a book reading and signing by Kevin Henkes who is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Henkes told the story that he thought he would be an artist until his junior year of high school, when one of his teachers encouraged him in his writing efforts. He discovered that children's books combined both his literary and artistic interests.  To date he's written and illustrated some 50 books!

Frankie and I went to the event with one of my sweet friends from church and her precious girls.  It was a delightful evening.  The kids in the audience giggled in delight at his stories and drawings! 

The living, the living—they praise you,

    as I am doing today;

parents tell their children

    about your faithfulness.

Isaiah 38:19

Service with a Smile

This evening was one of our service nights at church.  Member participated in lots of great areas.  The biggest project we work on is assembling M.A.G.I. boxes for Healing Hands International. These gift boxes are delivered to needy children in Honduras, Mexico, Texas-Mexico Border, the Dominican Republic, and Zambia. 

We also made cards for our widows and shut-in.  Some of the men spread new mulch on the preschool playground. Lots of great things going on tonight! 

"For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man."
- II Corinthians 8:21

Painting with Preschoolers

I am having a wonderful time with my sweet preschoolers.  They are the sweetest group of kids.  There are thirteen kids and they are all very big personalities.  Most of them will be five years old before Christmas.  

Today we read the story of Corduroy the bear who just wanted a home. After story time we painted paper plate Corduroy bears.  

There are so many things to teach the kids in preparing them for kindergarten between letter, numbers, shapes, sounds, etc.  But the most important thing they will learn is that Jesus loves them.  The church is a warm, safe place.  And that their teacher adored and valued them.  If I accomplish those things it will be a successful school year! 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14

Training Tots

I'm loving working with my sweet class full of four and five years olds.  The preschool is a wonderful ministry for the church.  Many of the kids are members of the congregation, but close to 60% of the attendees are from the community! 

That's amazing to me! We have families bringing us their children and entrusting us with their care, and allowing us to teach them the Bible!  Each morning we start our day with chapel for the 60+ kids. In addition to our morning chapel we will have a Bible and Music class.  In the classroom we will have a Bible story and we work on a weekly Bible verse.

There is plenty of time for playing and fun as well as working on our numbers and letters; but I love that the Bible is the focus of our day! 

Train up a child in the way he should go;

    even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Thriving on the First Friday

After preschool today the girls and I spent the afternoon serving fruits and vegetables to  our neighbors in McKinney.  Each month the the congregation on McDermott Road serve eighty plus families in the area with fresh produce once a month. 

The rain moved in on us and Frankie and Abigail took bags out to the elderly client's cars.  We were grateful for the tent cover to work with the paperwork up by the trailer.  

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 14:21

Sunday Selfies

When Caleb took off for Lubbock Christian University three years ago we started sending each other Sunday Selfies.  Attending church services and worshiping God is the best thing we do together all week and it was what I missed the most about him leaving.  The selfie just served as a reminder that even though we were a part we were still together in the body of Christ.  

Our Sunday Selfie text group grew to include Richard and his wife, the Gungans, and the Lowes. Every Sunday we all check in with our selfie on the way to church.   These are some of the fun pictures we texted to our friends on Sunday this summer. 

that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:12