Graduation Pictures

I’m just checking this Windows Live Writer thing out to see if it actually works and if it is more user-friendly than the BlogSpot interface. In the meantime, enjoy these graduation photos from our family’s visit in December when Kyle and I earned our Masters degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Graduation 2010 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

And I attempted to make a quick video using Windows Live Movie Maker.  Same photos, just put to music and a bit snazzier transitions.

Graduation Video, 2010

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Expectant but not expecting

Thought that title would get your attention. :) I'm not pregnant (as far as my finite mind can be sure about anything...but I'm pretty certain on this one). I'm just excited about what God has in store in our future and thankful for what He's been doing. I've been encouraged by the opportunities for ministry and growth in our Sunday School department. Kyle and I are getting nearer to graduation and hopefully a job for me. :) Things are going really well with Kelsey living with us and it's a great blessing to see her growing in Christ.

Though the alternator is on its last breath in ole black beauty and Kyle's car has over 200,000 miles on it and accelerates from a stop like an old man trying to get out of a deep, comfortable chair, we trust that God will continue to provide for us as He always has. Though Kyle works hard hours at FedEx and many hours at the church for what amounts to be less than minimum wage per hour (salary pay) and I only get to sub a handful of times per month, we still have enough to tithe, pay our bills, and even enjoy some times out to eat and football games. We have wonderful family members that are traveling 2,000 miles round trip in December to attend mine and Kyle's graduation from seminary though we'll be home a few weeks after that for Christmas. We've been able to attend seminary without incurring any loans to pay for our education.

God is good and I just wanted to publicly thank Him.

Psalm 111
1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

Quick Update

Kyle has had another one of those weeks. He preached Sunday night, had a test Monday night, and has a paper due this week, on top of his normal classes, teaching at church, and spending time with little ole me. He is so diligent.

Rebecca is flying in this Friday to spend the weekend with me. So exciting! I have a few ideas for things to do in DFW...we'll see which ones she's most interested in. Of course, it will include some good food at some of the great DFW restaurants. I want to check out the Pit BBQ up on Jacksborough HWY because it was voted to have the best ribs in Ft. Worth. Yum! There's also the Montgomery Street Cafe which is supposed to have wonderful chicken fried steak. I'm getting hungrier just thinking about it. We aren't going to just eat the entire time she's in so I'm thinking about other things like attending a local showing of Sleepy Hollow (very Halloweenish), going to the Farmer's Market (yay for fall!), and shopping is always an option as long as I spend very little money. There are tons of great places to shop and eat in DFW. It would be fun to ride the train into Dallas just because I've never done that before. I've been on the bus in Ft. Worth when I had jury duty but not the train. Oh the options. Then there's the good ole Botanic Gardens and such.

Mom and Dad are flying in for Thanksgiving so I'll have to start thinking of the Thanksgiving meal soon (it's almost November...holy cow!) and things for us to do.

Class is picking up for me as well. I have a group presentation in a few weeks that is supposed to last the entire class period on how to teach and work with youth. I also have to make a Teacher Training Manual with 10 one hour sessions. I really should get cracking on that manual.

Rylie is doing well. She's pretty crazy sometimes but she has a sweet disposition. Kyle is feeling better after his episode a bit ago. I'm getting antsy wanting to paint the kitchen hardware, the mailbox outside, the bench I need to finish. I also need to finish my final set of curtains and take the recycling somewhere that has piled sky high in my garage (no recycling in our town).

The youth are doing well. Kelsey spent the night last weekend and we took a few youth to a football game on Friday. I'm really enjoying teaching my Sunday School class and love the youth in there. They are all so different. I need to pray about being a better teacher to them, especially in light of the lesson today on all the different intelligences, learning modes, and styles that people have. So much to take into consideration!

Well, I think that's plenty of rambling for now. Oh...by the way...pray about the election and go vote. I already have so I don't have to wait in line!

Spring Break with (part of) the Family

I decided on a slideshow this time instead of a montage. The slideshows don't have sizing options like the montages do so it doesn't fit exactly. Sorry! Enjoy!

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Family and Youth Service

Mom and Dad made it in safely on Friday. We are waiting to do anything major until after Bub comes out tomorrow (we don't want to exclude him). Saturday we went to the Amon Carter Museum. I'm not big on art museums but when they're free, they aren't so bad. I just don't have the artistic eye, I guess. Modern art in particular looks like paintings a five year old could do so I never see the point in them. Dad tried to give his interpretation of them, which was pretty funny. I do appreciate beautiful things though. One painting was so life-like that I told Mom to get really close to it so we could look at some of the details in it...and then the security guard came and told us to back away. It's really easy to get Mom in trouble and oh so much fun. Wednesday, I'll think we'll head over to Dallas to explore. I work today and tomorrow so that cuts down on some of the stuff we can do. I told Mom and Dad they could take my car but they seem really leery to drive around DFW by themselves.

It was a Youth Service last night at church. The youth led the music and performed a skit and all of that went well. They act like goobers during drama practice but then usually pull it together for the performance. Gotta love youth. :) Kyle preached from Isaiah chapter 1 and did a wonderful job in my completely unbiased opinion. His allergies were bothering him so he sounded a little stopped up and during the sermon, a wasp landed on Dad's head which Ed quickly swatted off. Even with those distractions, he preached God's word clearly and with conviction so I pray it impacts the hearts of all who were there to give God true service, not merely heartless religious rituals.

So.....I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. I have the Oven Ready turkey that Melba recommended (you don't have to thaw the turkey...how amazing!). I think we'll do stuffing, corn, green beans, broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes, a veggie tray, rolls, blackberry cobbler (my fave), brownies (another fave), and a few other things. I don't know how to cook sweet potatoes (probably because I don't like them) and most of us like pumpkin pie but prefer other things over it so we won't be having it for dessert. None of us are big cranberry sauce consumers so we'll skip that too. I'll need to go buy a card table soon because we only have a little four person table. If my friend Laura joins us, we'll have 6 people. A good number for my first Thanksgiving, not too overwhelming. If there are any cooking disasters, we'll just head out to eat and no one will ever speak of it again.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Weekend Update

Just a quick update of what's been going on. Friday, Everman won in overtime (fantabulous game) and they are now district champs. Saturday, twenty-seven youth came to Connect. I taught the girls how to play Mafia (instead of viewing it as teaching them how to kill and be deceptive, I like to think that I have taught them the finer points of discernment). Kyle played Madden and Guitar Hero with the boys. I think the Bible study on prayer went well and I'm hoping the youth will be motivated to take part in the 6 week (I think it's six week) study that's coming up. Oh yeah, and I got a whopping 1.5 hours of sleep on Saturday night and still don't feel like I've caught up. I haven't been able to nap (gotta love naps) because I have a research paper on Open Theism due this week. I've learned so much researching for and beginning to write this paper but I'm afraid it's going to stink. That's alright...I have a well cushioned grade in the class right now.

Mom, Dad, and Bub (aka David) are coming in in less than a week. I've missed them and I'm excited about them coming in. I also get to be their tour guide, which is always kinda fun for me. There are so many things we can do while they're here. Bub wants to go to Dallas to see the site of the JFK assassination. I'm thinking about taking Dad to the Ripley's Museum and the House of Wax and Mom to the Farmer's Market. They have to go to the Stockyards if they're coming in to Fort Worth. We'll have to wander around Downtown and maybe go to some of the free museums in the area. Too much to see but there's always next year if there are things we miss.