Busy Times!

One would think that as your children grow that life slows down and gets a little less hectic... So far, I haven't found that as true.

This summer found two of our boys working out of town and one working hours just opposite of ours...so our summer went fast and we didn't have much time as a family together.

Paul spent the summer in Knoxville, TN working. For the past couple summers he has had the awesome opportunity to work as an intern under Rob. This summer he lived in Knoxville, spent many evenings with the Gillens, enjoyed spending time with the Oakridge Baptist Church's singles, and enjoyed some additional freedom of basically living on his own. Paul is in the midst of his junior year at BJU where he works at least 2 jobs (cook & lab monitor) and is a computer science major.

Timothy worked in town but with hours almost opposite mine and Rusty's. Tim and I shared a car...so I would get home in time for him to go to work. We tried to use times when we were both off work to do our "college shopping". He had the opportunity to submit some graphic work to an area politician, and although his designs failed due to office politics, he gained some valuable experience. Mid-August we said our goodbyes as Tim drove off to PCC where he is working as a cook and is a graphic arts major.

Peter also worked out of town this summer. He had the opportunity to work on the Tech/AV/Progaming Staff at Southland Christian Camp (http://www.southlandcamp.org/). He absolutely loved the chance to work at the camp and still feels as God is directing him toward camp ministry. He is begging to get his driving license asap (I think this will happen next week). He is the class president of the junior class at TCCS.

Andrew continues to grow, but I guess when one has a size 13 shoe he has a LOT of growing to do! He is right at the 6' point and shows no signs of slowing down yet. He has been working hard to help with our current home remodel project. He loves to keep things organized.

Arrena is right at passing me! I can't believe my baby is now 12! She plays the piano and french horn, loves to read, does well in school, and loves K4T club on Sunday evenings.

Before the college kids all left for college, we got together as a family at Dad and Mom's. It was great to have all David & Jen's and Rusty and my children together with Grandpa and Grandma. We enjoyed watching them play games, tease, and love on each other.

After Tim left for college we found an evening to go to PowerPlay out in KS. This unique indoor gaming center is mostly all blacklite and was loads of fun! I was surprised at how inexpensive it was for us to spend a few hours today doing something fun and different. Paul, Peter, and Andrew enjoyed a round of free-throw shooting together...we found that Andrew had quite a talent shooting free throws! Peter threatens to tell Coach Christensen.

Graduation and a month!

The past couple months have just flown by...I keep saying that I need to write a post, but time never seemed to allow for it. So I will try to catch everyone up to speed.

Saturday, May 24...we celebrated Timothy's graduation from Tri-City Christian. We are so proud of the young man Tim has grown to be. He plans to attend Pennsacola Christian College this fall and major in Graphic Design. Tim loves to work in children's ministries at the church. He is involved in children's church, puppet ministry, and Kids 4 Truth. We celebrated Tim's graduation with an open house complete with family and friends. We are grateful for the family and friends who came from out of town to make this time special for Tim. Congratulations Tim! We are so proud of you!

Sunday, May 25...Peter left for the summer to go to Southland Christian Camp where he is working on staff for the summer. You can learn about his summer ministry at: http://peterralph.blogspot.com/. We are excited for the ministry he has this summer.

Tuesday, May 27...Paul left for Knoxville, TN where he is doing an internship again this summer. We are so grateful for the opportunities God has given to Paul. He is able to gain valuable experience, learn things that help him in school, and earn money for college all at the same time.

Sunday, June 1...Andrew and Arrena left for Mississippi to spend some time with Rusty's folks. The truck & trailer was full of people and animals when they left our house with 5 dogs, 3 cats, Grammie & Grampie, Brant, Neal (friend from Mississippi), Andrew, and Arrena. The kids enjoyed their time with Grammie & Grampie and Brant (their cousin from FL). Andrew even caught a catfish the size of his arm!

June 8 - Saturday June 14...Rusty and I took 47 junior-age children, 10 teens, and 3 adult sponsors to Southland Christian Camp for Junior Camp. Arrena joined us on Monday and we were able to see Peter. It was a great week of camp watching many bus children make professions of faith and church children make life changing decisions.

June, 22-28...Rusty drove a bus to Southland Camp again to take our teens to camp. This time Andrew joined him on Monday and once again he saw Peter.

June 27-29..For the first time ever I flew in an airplane. I went to Greer, SC to teach a Kids 4 Truth Advanced Regional Event. It was amazing to see God's Creation from the clouds! A bonus on this trip! Paul drove over from Knoxville, TN to see me and help with the training (he taped it all) and I stayed with my brother and his family. It was good to see them all and see Paul after a month! I had a great time teaching (enjoy teaching), but was so glad to get home to my family. It was smooth flying there but the trip home was full of delays.

July 4...We spent the fourth as a family. I went shopping with Tim in the morning/early afternoon getting clothes for college. In the evening we went to Ralph and Adele Roberts (our adopted family) to have a cookout. We enjoyed fresh fruit, hotdogs/brauts, and homemade icecream. The beautiful clear sky make watching fireworks special.

Well...I'll do my best to update the blog more frequently.

TCCS Elementary Spring Program utilizes Kids 4 Truth!

I had a joy and privilege this evening that I am sure is very rare that I would like to share with you…

Tonight I have had the blessing to watch as TCCS elementary children have presented a program called “Thy Word is Truth”. This is a program that Cynthia Simmons wrote using the Kids 4 Truth Curriculum and Songs (http://equipu.kids4truth.com/blogs/clubsblog/archive/2007/05/08/Kids-4-Truth-Program.aspx). I was literally been in tears as I listened to children quote the curriculum and sing the songs not for a program, but to the Glory of God. Listening to the children sing out loud and clear the songs has been a blessing. You should have heard the 1st & 2nd graders sing One in Three and To Be Like Jesus…would have brought tears to your eyes.

So have I sparked your interest? You may purchase the DVD of the program at: http://store.tri-city.org/detail.aspx?ID=475. You may download a copy of the program Cynthia Simmons put together at: http://equipu.kids4truth.com/files/folders/generic_programs/entry1902.aspx.

Cynthia shared a few notes with me regarding this program:

"I enjoy teaching the children the Kids 4 Truth songs. I feel like I am teaching them something eternal. They are learning Bible doctrine when they learn the songs, and that makes me feel good.

One of the major dilemmas in teaching music is coming to the balance between preparing for concerts and still having enough time to adequately teach the necessary musical concepts in the curriculum. With only two, thirty-minute time periods a week, it seems like an impossible task. As I was preparing for the Spring Concert using the Kids4Truth music, I was able to use the songs to reinforce my curriculum and continue teaching the required musical concepts for grade levels. I did this mostly in the 3rd through 6th grades. In 3rd grade we begin introducing the concept of harmony singing with rounds, so “Your Word is Truth” worked great. Also some of the songs are two-part or include descant and this reinforced skills I was teaching 5th and 6th grade. We have been analyzing form and so were able to do that with several of the songs. “And Yet God Loved Us” was particularly nice for this because it is an ABA form with a major-minor-major composition. We were also able to examine key signatures and meters and thus continue teaching as well as learning good principles of choral singing and great Bible truths.

...I had one little boy in 3rd grade say last week, 'Mrs. Simmons I feel happy when we are singing these songs.' We were singing “Thy Word is True” and I explained to him it was based on several Bible verses and truths and he was singing Scripture and that was what made his heart glad."

A special thank you to Mrs. Simmons for putting together this program and to the elementary students and teachers at Tri-City for doing an awesome job presenting this program to the Glory of God.

I had more than one parent catch me after the service asking how they could get ahold of the music - especially a cd with children singing all twelve of the Kids 4 Truth songs. At this time we have two CDs available with the Kids 4 Truth music.

1. Kids 4 Truth Music CD - includes the first 6 Kids 4 Truth original songs - CD includes tracks for each song with vocals, and with just piano to use for accompaniment(http://store.kids4truth.com/detail.aspx?ID=276).



2. Kids 4 Truth Piano Accompaniment CD - Includes piano accompaniment for all 12 K4T songs (http://store.kids4truth.com/detail.aspx?ID=298).

The Kids 4 Truth Music Book is available at: http://store.kids4truth.com/detail.aspx?ID=311.

The Kids 4 Truth Staff are currently raising funds to do a CD recording of all twelve of the Kids 4 Truth songs sung by a professional children's choir. If you are interested in donating toward this project please contact: payments@kids4truth.com. We would be more than happy to tell you more about this project.

Happy 19th Birthday, Paul!

Happy 19th Birthday, Paul!

Today is the first time in 19 years that we cannot celebrate Paul's birthday with him in person as he is at BJU. It is kinda sad, but we did what we could to make it special for him. A couple weeks ago Timothy and Peter went to BJU for national competition and took a "Birthday Party in a Box" to Paul. The box had a few snacky items, presents, an apple cake that Arrena Jeanette made, birthday plates, napkins, and party horns.

Happy Birthday Paul. We are very proud of you and your love for God. May God continue to richly guide and protect you.

Have a great birthday!

Castle Making

Andrew and I had a good time tonight building a castle. I thought you might enjoy seeing the project.

One of the assignments for 7th grade history class is to do a project. Peter choose to make a flan when he was in 7th grade, but Andrew choose to make this castle. Although the directions said to make the castle from cardboard, the teacher told Andrew he could use styrophome. So...of course, Although Andrew started the project a month ago...he never finished and we had it to do tonight...so he and I spent a quality time filled evening on the kitchen floor, cutting, hot gluing, and then finally he painted it on the front porch in the rain with Rusty.

All in all I think it turned out pretty good.