Summer "do"

My new hair highlights...

Texas-size french fry

Joshua is so excited over this "long" french fry!

Not much to write about

Just thought I would write a post on this poor neglected blog.

We are out of school for the summer and are enjoying it very much. I have been very busy though. I have lots of projects planned.

Have a great summer!

FAMILY UPDATE

I haven't updated blog in a while. Facebook has taken much of my extra time.

Jacob started college and moved into a dorm on campus. He has only called me once or twice. I am still adjusting. It isn't quite so hard knowing he isn't that far from home. I keep reminding myself that even though he isn't home under our protection, he is still under God's protection and God loves him more than I possibly could. The more I pray, the more peace I have.

Joshua is in 5th grade this year. This is our 2nd year to homeschool. We both LOVE it. Life is much less hectic and the time together is priceless! What a blessing it is to be able to teach him with curriculum that is God focused. I have total peace about this decision. I know this is God's will for our family and I know he will provide everything we need! And we are blessed to have alot of very close friends who also homeschool.

Manuel is getting ready for hunting season. He is in the process of moving his deer stand (concession stand, we call it) to a different deer lease...one closer to home!! That will save on gas and he won't have to get up so early when he goes hunting. He bought a crossbow this year...so I guess that means his season will be longer...oh boy! He is having problems with his hand and may have to have surgery in a few weeks (this is not the hand he had surgery on earlier this year).

I am pretty much recovered from my surgery. I am still having a few problems which I will get checked out next week. I am praying it will be a quick and easy fix or will just heal itself over a short period of time.

My dad retired (working just enough to pay for golf...ha) and mom still works at bank. She has to support her man...ha

Manuel's mom just turned 80. We had a birthday party for her at Pizza Inn with family and friends.

My Mammy just turned 87...also had a big celebration for her!

Tonight is the first Wildcats home game. This is the first time in many years that we haven't had a child in halftime performances. It feels good knowing I don't HAVE to go! Manuel is a true fan and will probably still go to every game.

Well until next time...

My senior

Reality is here...one of my babies will soon be graduating! This is hard. It seems like just yesterday he was in Granddad's lap drinking a bottle, as shown above.

Wildcat State Championship Celebration on Square

Wildcat State Championship Celebration on Square

Jenkins' boys

Manuel's brother, Ron, and his three boys (Michael, Paul and Chris) came to see us Monday night. They were all surprised at how tall Jacob is now.

Joshua in Kids Choir program at church

Christmas Parade

The Annual Christmas Parade this year was at night. It was really cool!

Wildcats win at Texas Stadium playoffs!

The Wildcats are only 2 games away from State championship! We will play next Saturday at Texas Stadium again. If we win, we will play in the State finals, probably in San Antonio, the weekend before Christmas. Our entire row was Central Baptist Church folks. We got there really early and saved seats for everyone. Joshua was happy because all his friends were sitting with us.

Lights of Life

The SSHS jazz band and our Kids Central Kids choir performed at the Lights of Life at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. I didn't get any pictures of the kids singing because it was too dark. Chasity and Allie weren't sure about "Santa Claus"!

The Kansas City Southern Railroad's Holiday Express made a stop here in Sulphur Springs...around 3,200 people weathered the cold weather to sneak a peak at the train. Joshua and I went in short sleeves, shorts and flip flops. It had been warm during the day. The weather quickly changed when we arrived. We stood in line for about an hour and 15 minutes...I was freezing!!!

Photos

Here are a couple of recent pictures (Chance, Kaci and Jacob at homecoming pep rally on the square, Jacob's 1st homemade apple pie - all made from scratch, even crust - he made this while I was at AWANA, Joshua watches tv in the weirdest place)

Decorated School Room

We have been wanting to paint Joshua's room for several years. He couldn't decide a color or theme. When we decided to homeschool, he wanted to make his room the school room and paint it blue and green and decorate for school. I posted pictures of our painting project and a before and after shot. Poppy came and helped finish up but I didn't get his picture.

First day of homeschool August 4th

We didn't get to use our newly decorated school room (Joshua's bedroom) our first day of school...LOL. Joshua has a skin abscess and couldn't sit up at a desk. We started school at 8:45 a.m. and then stopped to go to the doctor at 9:20 a.m. We finished up when we got done at the doctor's office. I tried to teach Joshua to hold his pencil the correct way. In the pictures, you will see the way I taught him and then the way he is use to holding it. As you can see in another picture, he was so excited that he could chew gum during classtime! (it is the picture with the gum showing in his mouth...obviously!). After school, he just laid around in pain from the abscess (possibly from a spider bite?).

Homeschool Party

We have decided to homeschool Joshua beginning this year. I see now how God has been preparing us for this for several years. The Taylor's, Maynard's and South's threw us a celebration party!