Winter Dance

Yes, another dance! This has definitely been the year of dressing up for my teenage daughter. She attended her high school's Winter/Valentine Dance with a group of her friends back in February, and had the best time! Here's a few pics...

Matt, Kristen, Nick, Katie R., and Katie A.

Kristen and her friend Matt

Pretty girls!

The boys' basketball season

Well basketball season has come and gone! Jake had a great season as a 2nd grader... he played for JMAC and they came in 2nd at their club. He learned a lot this year, got pretty tenacious at defense, and was able to contribute some points here and there.

Jake #9

This was Clay's first year to play for Chaffin, his role being point guard. Honestly they didn't win very many during the season, but had an incredible run in the city championship at the end of the season. During his final game, he scored 14 points - we were so proud of his effort!

~ S.n.O.w ~

I can't remember the last time our area got to enjoy so much SNOW! Winter '10 was a white one, and we loved every minute of it!

The park looked beautiful

Kristen playing in the snow with friend Caitlin

Madi catchin' snowflakes!

And 2010 begins...

Can't BELIEVE January is almost over... Life is going by at warp speed! Nothing big going on around here, so I thought I would just post some random pictures of the month so far... duck hunting (Russ's love), friends' birthdays, dressing up, and just hanging around the house. Both boys are in the midst of basketball season - wish I had some shots to post, but those gym lights hate my camera :/ Truth be known, I can't WAIT for baseball season... love watchin' my guys, plus baseball = spring/summer is almost here! Just gotta wait a little bit longer....

Kristen's best guy friend, Nick, turned 16, complete with a surprise party...
known him since kindergarten, great kid.
So fun (and a little sad) watching these awesome kids grow up.

My little man Jake getting ready to duck hunt with his dad. I LOVE this picture!

I took this before Madi went to bed... she had made this life size poster
of herself in preschool that day. She was SO proud of herself...

Jake and Clay hanging out watching TV with their best friend Saylor.
This dog is so spoiled :)

Dressing up... this was for an Anniversary Ball that her
high school sorority sponsored. She and her "sisters" put in many
community service hours to be able to attend.
(Pictured here are her friends Caitlin, Spencer, Matt, Vyvy, and Corey)

Kristen and her friend Matt... they all looked so nice
and had a great time.

Sweet friends Vyvy and Caitlin... they looked gorgeous.

Another best friend's birthday - Carly! We love this girl like our very own - she turned
16 last week and Kristen threw her an awesome party with all their friends at Chili's.

My 16-year-old nephew, David and friend Josh came down from Springdale
and spent a weekend with us so they could go hunting with Russ and Clay. What fine
young men - we had such a great time with them.

Two boys, two girls....

Well that is the "title" that I chose for this blog when I started a couple of years ago... obviously referring to my kids, of whom these posts are usually about :-) Actually, this post is about another set of "two boys and two girls" that are unknown to me at this point, but are high priority in my prayers. They are my children's future spouses! Now of course, marriage is FAR in the future for them, especially the younger ones, but I feel it's never too early to begin praying about the 2nd most important decision your child will make (1st being salvation). I started when Kristen was a toddler; as I prayed for her future, I felt absolutely compelled to pray for the man that she would someday make a commitment to. As of now, I pray for 4 nameless people, whoever, wherever they are.... funny to think I could be praying for someone my child goes to school with, or someone I've never met half-way across the country!

My prayers for them include lots of things, but in a nutshell: I pray that as they grow that they would come to know God early in their life, and be not luke-warm, but passionate about their faith; that God would bless their family and protect and prosper them in every way possible; that they would make wise decisions, protect their hearts as teenagers, and place a high value on waiting for my son or daughter; and that the relationship will happen in God's perfect and ordained time. And it could be that my children are being prayed for in this way, as well ~ what an amazing thought!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Since I'm on the dating/marriage subject, I'll do a book plug. For my older two, it has been "required reading" - haha... and they loved it. It's called "Dateable" and I think it helped answer their questions in a way that made sense to them. When I was teaching youth, a friend suggested I go through this book with my class, which I did and they ate it up! It's great, the best I've seen on the subject in awhile, because it puts the whole dating concept in perspective. It's extremely teen-friendly, aimed at both guys and girls, and speaks the truth plainly with a sense of humor to hold their attention.

Happenings in my Home, 2009

Reflecting on the highlights today, here's just a few that come to mind (in totally random order):

. four different campuses on the first day of school . k gets her driver's license . m knocks out her two front teeth . k plays flute solo for 9th grade chaffin choir concert . family vacation to destin . k makes the shs majorette line . c learns to play percussion . j gets a grand slam in a big game . russ has a successful duck season . k gets her braces off . i turn forty . c competes in spelling bee and 6th grade track meet . j conquers his 'r' problem thanks to a wonderful speech teacher . k is voted a sophomore homecoming maid . c plays qb for 7th grade football . k teaches kids how to swim . conway boy wins american idol . shs plays in championship game . k and c parasail . c makes all-stars in baseball . c surpasses me in height . j is patriot of the month . k makes all-state in high school swimming as a freshman . k makes the difficult decision to leave competitive swimming after 6 years . c goes to his first dance . new baby cousin arrives . j makes straight a's . 6th grade fishing derby . many summer hours spent at eastgate pool . i start teaching 2 and 3-year-olds after teaching youth for 15 years... haha there's not much difference :) . baseball, baseball, and more baseball . c plays point guard for 7th grade basketball . too many sleepovers to attempt to count . c gets first job as a 'pool boy' for neighbor . i spend way too much time behind the wheel . k learns to wakeboard . j and m's first razorback football game . m learns to swim, sort of . precious time spent with cousins . big cedar lodge . 6 years at our beloved church . 13 years we have called ft. smith home . 17 years of marriage . bible study fellowship . new schools = new friends for k and c . youth camp . new neighbors . many ministry opportunities right in front of my eyes . witnessing, at least so far, my two teens choosing the "right" thing over the "popular" thing (thank you Lord) and praying my younger two follow suit .

... so thankful for God's blessings in 2009, may I not take one single thing for granted! I'm so ready for 2010, I pray it will find me faithful!

Merry (White!) Christmas

We had a wonderful celebration of Christ's birthday ~ the first "white" Christmas I remember having since we've lived here! The kids were so excited to see the flakes start falling Christmas Eve. Later, Russ and Kristen braved icy roads at midnight to get some packages delivered to a local family. I think that experience was the most valuable gift my daughter received this Christmas, and I praise God that she and her dad got to make that memory! The next morning we read the Christmas story, exchanged gifts, and played in the snow. After having our morning together, we bundled up and headed to Springdale to be with our extended family. It was such a great day, I really didn't want it to end. I love having my kids home during Christmas break, and I'm trying to soak it all in before January 4, when schedules begin to rule our home again! Here's a few pictures that represented our day ~