The Fruits of the Spirit

Love is caring from the soul of Jesus
Joy is feeling from the heart of Jesus
Peace is having the mind of Jesus
Patience is waiting in peace on Gods timing
Kindness is showing the love of Jesus
Goodness is showing the heart of Jesus
Faithfulness is expressing the loyalty of Jesus
Gentleness is having the character of Christ
Self Control is surrendering to Gods control

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Christmas 2008

Christmas this year was an absolute joy. This was sour first Christmas in our new house and we had so much fun decorating it. This was also teh year of parties...in the month of December we had 30+ for Chandler's Birthday, the traditional family birthday celebration, the New River Staff Christmas party, the Kids Ministry staff party, three different family Christmases, and Christmas day at our house! I was such a pleasure though...each one of them...to get to share and enjoy our home with family and friends was such a blessing. We also got to spend ALOT of down time at home over the holidays. Here's a few pics to get me caught up...

Chandler's Party Photos...as earlier promised (Thanks friend for the reminder!)

Chandler's "TEAM" for the Amazing Race

The Whole group

Chandler's Birthday Party--- 13 going on...I'm not quite sure

SO this was the big one...well the biggest one we've hit so far. Chandler turned thirteen and therefore the party had to be the best yet. I'm a huge fan of the big parties with lots of friends simply because I love having kids over and I always want it to be fun. So...we had Chandler's Amazing race. That's right...complete with Detours and Road Blocks. We had over 30 thirteen year old boys and girls at the house and running through the neighborhood completing fun and crazy tasks. It was a blast! Here's a few pics and I'll add a slideshow later!

Happy Birthday Chad (and Chandler)

Well, it's time for Birthday celebrations and parties...Chad's birthday is today...he's a whopping 33! But, because he's a good sport and has shared his birtday with his sister his whole life(Julie's is the 7th) and his daughter(hers is tomorrow- the 6th) for 13 years, we will be having Chandler's birthday party tonight. 30+ 12 and 13 year olds will be here in our house/neighborhood for "Chandler's Amazing Race"

So in the spirit of Chad's special(not-so-special) day i want to share with you the top 33(because there are so many more...) reasons I L-O-V-E him

1. He loves God more than anything else
2. He loves me in spite of my many flaws
3. He is an amazing dad
4. He truly cares about people
5. He makes me laugh
6. He is passionate about what he does
7. He is driven
8. He is oh so(makes me crazy sometimes) organized
9. He cooks
10. He cleans
11. He does his own laundry
12. He makes me feel so important
13. He is very involved in his kids lives
14. He is thoughtful
15. He is a Do-er
16. He has a heart to give whatever he has away
17. He is steadfast in his commitments
18. He serves in children's ministry with me
19. He is an encourager
20. He's amazing to look at!
21. He committed to working out
22. He is disciplined
23. He gives good gifts
24. He is teachable
25. He is willing to be vulnerable
26. He is modest
27. He is ready to help whenever help is needed
28. He will give you anything if you ask for it
29. He is an amazing provider
30. He LOVES his family with everything in Him
31. He is an honest man
32. Did I mention he's HOT!
and...
33. He puts up with me!!!!

Happy Birthday Chad-bo I love you more than you'll ever know!

The blog slacker...

So...I know it's been a while and a lot has happened over the last month so this will be my attempt at an update.

*Chad- done travelling(for the most part-aside from hunting trips)
*Riley- Football season is over(PRAISE GOD!!) Don't get me wrong, we LOVE football but it is such an intense busy season that we also love when it's over...until next August. Chad actually turned down the offer to play on a select team...smart choice.
*Chandler- Select soccer is on break till after Christmas. She tried out for basketball at school and made the C team(Very exciting considering she has NEVER played basketball- always enjoy the break between soccer seasons)
*Me- finished up a busy fall with a couple children's ministry conferences, baby dedication, now getting ready for Birthday and Christmas parties like crazy!

Here's a few pics from the last month...





We are almost DONE with our Christmas decorating and shopping so we can spend the majority of our time ENJOYING the holidays with family and friends.

God is challenging and changing the way I think and feel about myself and my family and people and things and circumstances and you name it...HE si working on it....

Love you and I'm thankful for each of you!

Chandler is AMAZING!

Chan ran in her last cross country meet of the season. She did amazing! Ran hard, finished strong and placed 6th place for jr high girls-west. The coolest part of it all is that her time beat the FIRST place runner in the jr high girls-east. She ran the two mile course in 13:26 which is a whole minute better than the first time she ran and BETTER than all the Weatherford Middle School BOYS did tonight!!!! Here are a few pictures from tonights run.