Vacation Over!!!

Yes, it is over... almost a week of vacation time is spent along with three days out of town. The week began last Tuesday doing some shopping.... on Wednesday we conducted a special worship program at the Carole Young Medical Facility(TDCJ) for the Female Offenders... Thursday, we had Christmas day with the Templeton clan... and on FRiday, we left for Abilene to see our daughter and son-in-law. They did not know we were coming, so it was a surprise, even though Leanna said she had a "feeling" we were coming. I assured her that the "feeling" was just "gas pains"... We had lunch with them at Scheswan Restaurant in ABilene before going over to Abilene to spend the night with the Batteas family.... ON Saturday, After going with my brother and his wife over to Roby to see the "Flower Shop" and Fisher County Museem, we went to the cemetery to visit my parents' graves. Haven't been there for a few years, so it was special. On Saturday afternoon, Shelly and i went back over to Abilene again to see Leanna and Chris, ate lunch at Dairy Queen and then visited Jacob's Ladder at Abilene Christian. it is a sight to behold.. Took a lot of pictures... Spent Saturday night back in Sweetwater after meeting up and having supper with some very dear friends.... At the Batteas home, we played 42 and and few hands of Aces... and on Sunday morning, we went back to Abilene for church at Southern Hills with Leanna and Chris. AFter lunch with them at Cracker barrel, we left for home... It was a long drive... and we now are tired. But I will tell you, it was good to "get away".. It was a nice visit with all.. NOw to get ready for the New Year!

creative Friday

So I thought I would try to create something with some polymer clay I had left over from a project a couple of Christmas' ago. My first attempt for a flower flopped, it didn't smell like a flower, so I thought I would make beads out of them so this is what I came up with a Matching Necklace and Bracelet set.(picture on bottom)

So my second attempt I decided that I needed directions. They look more like a flower but now I just need to string them into designs. (picture on top)

Totally Cool Tuesday

Well, here it is Tuesday morning.. Got to the office.. getting ready to do some fierce studying for my sermon Sunday on the Necessity of the Cross. Yesterday was our anniversary.. 29 years. Some of those years were tough.... some easy.... but I realize more and more how blessed I am to have Shelly as my wife of 29 years. She stands by me... encourages me... loves me... You get the picture.

She probably needs a sympathy card for putting up with me... but I am so blessed because she did put up with me. She is the best. I love her so much and I am not ashamed to say that! Yesterday, for our anniversary, we went to Mardel's to do some Christmas shopping and then to Pappasitos for a wonderful anniversary dinner. . . then, to Sam's club to do some "window shopping" before returning home to watch a movie together on TV - "Christmas with the Kranks".  Thank you Lord for giving me one special person to share my life with! Until next time....

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for our friends and family, God has truly blessed us. I am also thankful for the "SNOW"  I thank God for letting me hear the Laughing Children and Adults late at night around the neighborhood playing in the snow.  I thank God for the sight to see the flakes falling and for the sense of touch and feeling the wet hit my face. I am thankful to God for allowing me to see yet another beautiful wonder of His Glory. 

Sending Lots of Love

Shelly

teasing tuesday

Well the invite went out to the kids for Christmas

For some who don't know our kids blame us for adopting them and screwing up their lives! They say we were to strict and wouldn't let them have everything they wanted. One told their daddy they didn't want to be a preachers kid anymore! So what  do you do, you keep them in your prayers and maybe one day they will understand that we love them and we have no regrets in adopting them.

Now the Leanna and her husband Chris live in Abilene and are expecting in July.

Andrew and his wife Tina(she has 3 kids and are not raising) are raising Harmony (Dianna's daughter)

Dianna and William got married in Sept. have one daughter Elizabeth who will be 1 this month.

Christopher is still trying to deal with his medical discharge from the Marines.

They all live in Angleton or Clute

O.k. now the invites went out and to my hope that I would see Harmony for Christmas, it is not happening.  So what to do now! Go to Disney World? NO we don't have the money LOL. No we are toying with the idea of going to Sweetwater to visit Charle's mom and dad's graves(who passed away in 2000  and then stop by Abilene to see Leanna and Chris.

So this Tuesday has been teasing us with the possabilty of seeing the grandkids to traveling who knows what we will actually be doing.

One thing that is certian is that we have each other! I love you Charles.

Super Sunday

One day we will miss having services on one half of the auditorium, but this Sunday will be remembered for one young man for years to come as he was baptized into the Lord this morning. 

This Sunday night will be the first full fellowship dinner since Ike, I can't believe how busy things have been over the last couple of months, just this week Ron and Christine painted the Nursery and toddlers room, Christine, Mary and Myself painted room 6(classroom and Children's worship room). Charles and I moved bookcases and supplies around. Pictures will follow soon. Charles, Alicen (one of our teenagers) and I went to Impact Church of Christ for their Christmas party with the kids and face painted, I was told there were 182 that were there.  There were six of painting anything from candy canes to presents and Santa Clause. We had a blast!

This next week the ceiling tiles will go in and then we will just need to wait on carpet! !  The playground will have to wait so for awhile the kids will have just the metal swing set but they can handle that. We  have so much to be thankful for.

Darrel and Joyce just dropped Charles' birthday off, we have bombarded him with Texas Longhorns this year, they brought him a rocker, Gann and David gave him towels,(to go in his longhorn bathroom), Lucie and the kids gave him a stadium seat, mug and key chain and candy.

Until next time lots of love and prayers for our family and friends. Shelly

Yes, I did turn 58 yesterday. Very uneventful, except for the nice gifts from my dear wife and the nice evening meal at Uncle Chan's. I really don't feel any older..I just feel so blessed by my father in Heaven. So many dear friends.. a dear family.. a loving and caring wife...relatively good health (except for aching joints!).. and the list goes on. I think I will take the position of dear old Pop Saxon.. I will quit having birthdays.. just celebrations.. that God continues to give me another day.

Praise the Lord!

Happy BirTHdaY Dear Husband!
Yes today is your day Charles this is the day that we celebrate you turning 58!
Lots of love and best wishes
Love your adoring wife

A long time.....

It has been a long time since I have blogged.. But a dear friend inspired me and I will do my best to keep this up.  This is Monday and things are well. I am studying and preparing for lessons in the future as well as basking in the sunlight of God's love and blessings. It is so good to be a Christian and to have such godly friends. Please stay tuned to this blogging attempt and you will get a small glimpse on what is happening. Thank you and may God bless you.