Wipeout...



Mario Higgins from the Denver Broncos came to motivate



The coaches...

Group shot!

So, this week our church hosted a 1st-6th grade football skills camp at night, because we live in Texas.  I am thankful that Rook has the opportunity to be around Godly leaders, just like his dad.  We have high school coaches that are active members of our church and they use their skills and passion to serve the Lord and our community.  Rook has burned through a case of Gatorade in 3 days...Texas.  He has learned a lot and I appreciate Mario Higgins, a believer who plays for the Denver Broncos, coming and sharing his testimony with the boys.  Phil.1:12 "But I want you to know, brethren,that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel"  Paul wrote this while he had been chained to 4,380 Roman guards.  He witnessed to all of them while Caesar paid for the guards to watch over Paul.  It was a true chain reaction.  Mario Higgins talked about his circumstances growing up were not ideal, but that God has used those circumstances in his life to further the gospel, having now played on the NFL for 9 years as a linebacker.

Eat it! Eat It!...

Mr. Clark, Rook, Mr. Jim...in the serving line...

Hair net...check....gloves...check...smile...check?

Hair Net!  Size extra large!

Kris took Rook with a group from our church to the Dallas Life Foundation to serve food to the rehabilitating homeless in Dallas.  Dallas Life Foundation has several programs to help homeless, and unemployed families in Dallas.  Our church tries to regularly support their ministry with volunteers and funds.  Kris even asked everyone  at church, at the end of the service to donate their shoes. I loved seeing the congregation give their best shoes and walk around the church and the parking lots bare footed that day.  Psalm 100:2 says, "Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing."  I love to see Rook smiling and serving!

Su Amor Rebosando, Jesus' Love is Bubblin Over

Mrs. Sandy, our church's preschool minister, had a mommy and me play date all about bubbles.  Kris took Molly, otherwise I would have more pics (Uh UMM).  I am glad that he took her.  The bubble lady from the spring made another appearance, she is a favorite.  Mrs. Sandy does a great job of creating a fun, learning enivironment for our preschoolers.  I love to see kiddos jumping out of their car to come to church.  Psalm 34: 8 says (ICB version)," Examine and see how good the Lord is.  Happy is the person who trusts in the Lord."  God is good all the time.  Even when things don't make sense in this imperfect world, and I might wonder "Why?" sometimes, I can trust that His ways are not my ways.  He will always work for good in my life. He can make beauty from ashes.  Bubbles from soap!

Basket-Ball, Oh Yah- Basket-Ball...

Rook and Jackson, friends since kindergarten

Last week, Rook woke up Urrly (early) for basketball day camp at Wylie East high school.  He met some boys that will be at his new school next year, so that is a plus.  He learned some new skills, plus, plus, and my house was a little quiet in the mornings, plus, plus, plus.   Rook learned about "Burpie" push ups and all sorts of "Fun"  but he endured.  Proverbs 21:5 says..."The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."  Seeing Rook play reminded me of Michael Jordan, who was cut from his high school team and later became an NBA legend.  He was diligent and put himself at risk.  I saw a quote by J. English that said, "Our fear of potential comes, not from doubting that God can get us there, but from questioning if God can keep us there." May we obediently be diligent in becoming what God has intended us to be.

We Are Family...I've Got All My Sisters...

Meet Shannon.  She is one of the most precious Christ followers that I know.  Their family has been in the adoption process for about 6 years now.  They are meeting their sweet Olivia Grace (I call her Blessing) on July 10th in China.  I've been praying every day in true belief that God was going to honor her prayer to bring a baby China doll to complete their incredible family.  He has heard Shannon's cry and in less than a month she will be in her new home. It has been an honor to walk through this process with them.  John 1:12-13 says,"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  God has adopted all of us who choose to receive Him.  Thank you Jesus.

Shannon holding up Olivia Grace's 7 month old picture

The Williams Girls, Shannon, and her daughters Greta(12), Lucy(17) and Olivia, Corbin (18) and husband Marty will welcome Olivia.  Corbin will be a freshman at Texas A&M in the fall.

Shannon's daddy Ken

Shannon's momma, her parents came from the Panhandle

Stephanie hosted the shower.  She and Shannon started the process together.  Allie joined Stephanie and her husband 5 years ago.  Allie and Olivia are from the same orphanage in China.

Greta, Shannon's daughter wrote this on Allie's picture 5 years ago...so sweet

Shannon's dad found a cozy spot to relax during all the girly stuff

Virginia, our Youth Minister's 2 year old daughter was practicing helping Olivia

Virginia's high heels...made me smile

I gave Shannon a Pam St. John diaper bay with an owl on the front to remind her to ask for wisdom.

Dancin', Dancin', Dancing Machine, Watch Me Get Down...

  Psalm 150

 ¹ Praise the LORD.^[a]    Praise God in his sanctuary;
   praise him in his mighty heavens.
² Praise him for his acts of power;
   praise him for his surpassing greatness.
³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
   praise him with the harp and lyre,
⁴ praise him with timbrel and dancing,
   praise him with the strings and pipe,
⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
   praise him with resounding cymbals.
 ⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
   Praise the LORD.

Ten Feet Of the Ground, tap

This Little Light of Mine, ballet

Taken as she performed back stage

Back stage...Are you watching momma?

Mrs. Nikki saying hi to the class right after her dance...a ballroom dance with her husband Todd

Waiting backstage

So, last Saturday was Molly's dance recital.  I some how signed up to be a back stage mom. A Lot of pressure, I tell you.  I had to help make sure hair was done, shoes buckled, gloves on, accessories on, bodies glittered, potty breaks...P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E.  Molly had her own cheering section of 8 loved ones, Kris, Rook, Cha-Cha, Big Bird, Bubbe, GrandBill, Mrs. Tommye, and Mr. Jerry.  She danced with all of her might just like David.  I was so proud of her and look forward to Tiny Company dance coming in the fall.

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay

Lady Victory pointing to the battle of San Jacinto, Texas' victory over Mexico

The Duck Boat Car from WWII that could transport our troops from sea to land

A lot of History, This tour was one of my favorite activities

Going into the bay

Cha Cha gave Molly $10.00 she bought a pink dolphin for the dolphin tour boat, and some gummy worms

The Dolphin Tour Boat...We saw several pods of dolphins in the bay

Kris's hat from Molly's pony party has made the rounds

Looking at the dolphins..."I see 'em!"

Kris enjoyed seeing the big ships in the bay because one summer in college he spent ministering with YWAM on a Mercy Ship to the Dominican Republic, which gave him his passion for missions...He also felt the Holy Spirit's prodding him to marry me on that trip...AWWW Shucks....

See Em?



The last night we stayed at the Tremont Hotel built in 1876 on the bay side by the strand, this is an electronic key that I thought was really neat




See the old iron beds with brass knobs?  There were 20ft. ceilings....





The bathroom with art deco tiles...Is it weird that I took pictures of the bathroom?...The coffee maker had real mugs with the hotel logo...Once again thank you Priceline, name your own price, it's the way to great deals



These pics conclude our "Veecation" to Galveston Island.  The last night we enjoyed the bay side of the island.  The Tremont Hotel has a rooftop where you can sit and see the big ships come and go.  We borrowed bikes from the hotel and rode to Rita's Ice Custard one last time.  My family also had dinner with Jeff Scott Blakeman and his sweet family.  Scott was adopted by my biological father when he was 18 months old and lived with my family until he was 16 years old.  I was little when he moved out to live with his mother in LaMarque, Texas by Galveston.  I hadn't seen or talked with him in over 30 years, my father's death allowed us to reconnect.  It is great to know that he is a Christ follower, and is training up his family in the way they should go.  Psalm 33:6-7 says" By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.  He gathers the waters of the sea into jars."  Who am I that the Lord is mindful of me?