They Call The Thing Rodeo

They had buses to shuttle us from the parking lot to the Rodeo

Molly Rides Rusty every year

He is a minature horse and she has picked him for the last 4 years

Sam our Student Minister with Kris...eat more cicken

The student ministry brought our inflatables and raised money for youth camp

These guys were kinda serious gangsta cowboys...Sam wanted a picture

It rained!  The rodeo was cut short but we were thankful for the rain!

Yee Haw!  Hey Howdy Hey!  It was rodeo weekend in Wylie.  Our church sponsors a gate.  There is Mutton Bustin' which Rook accidentally placed 4th in when he was 6 (long story) and all the good stuff, dust mud, etc.  Molly was not a fan of the cattle roping...there was one lonely Woo Hoo! that she yelled when a calf got away!  We left soon after.  My favorite part is the grand entry where locals ride too.  There is usually a 50 year old sweet lady who rides around wearing a sparkly body suit during the National Anthem.  I think I have body suit envy, her flag usually shoots out Roman Candles during the Rocket's red glare part...I feel jipped because she wasn't here this year, a young maiden with a sparkly shirt, not body suit, replaced her, and the patriotic speech was prerecorded, no coughing!  At least there was cotton candy and Rusty!

Lay Me Down On A Bed of Roses...



Joshua, Anna Joy, Jonathan When they were babies



Anna's Portrait in Momma B's House

    
     I enjoy literature.  I know, the way I blog you'd think that I would be a better writer, oh well, I still love it!  I was studying the Lady of Shalot poem when I got the horrible news that one of my favorite people in the world was stricken with Leukemia in her 8th grade year.  That poem was the inspiration for the hit song, 'If I Die Young'.  Anna Joy Blankenship's birthday was in September along with her 2 brothers.  They were triplets.  Please read their precious mother's book about Anna's life entitled "Draw Near"  it is available online on Amazon or through Barnes and Noble.  It is a precious description of our Savior holding a sweet momma's hand as she battled sickness with her daughter and now reaches out to families as a hospital Chaplin.  A lot of her book is actual excerpts from her personal journal.  The book is written like a narrative.  It will make you laugh out loud and weep all on  the same page.  It is a book of hope from the beginning of Sherry's trouble becoming a mom to struggles of being a mom having a fatally ill child.

The Cover to Momma B.'s book

Card drawn in Anna's Honor...Still In Stores

    Anna still has a huge impact on the world around her.  Not a day goes by that my heart doesn't think of her and smile.  It truly is hard for my heart to write about and put into words what Anna teaches me.  She was a faithful witness at a young age bringing records that talk about Jesus to her kindergarten class.  She hid God's word in her heart at any early age as well and was able to recite it frequently in her time of need whether at a track meet or even under anesthesia. Almost all of the medical staff that had any part of Anna's 18 month hospital stay became believer's in Jesus and were amazed of God's hand on Anna and the peace in her family.  She called me her big sister, having been the baby of my family, that was an honor.  If ever I had a bosom friend and kindred spirit (Anne of Green Gables) it was Anna even though I was 8 years her senior.  Mary Englebright my favorite artist frequently visited Anna in the hospital and drew a card in her honor. She genuinely rejoiced with others, and cared for those around her.  I hope my room in Heaven is next door to hers and I can't wait to hug her neck!


Back Cover to Draw Near



Are you ready for some football?

Stands for I'm Gonna...(a coach from the 70's started saying it to the opposing team's coach)

Wylie's stadium...Heather Leggett, a school board member let us have her all access pass to the sky box and Kris got to take Dayton and Rook to the side lines...

Wylie's police cars? SUV's

"That Wylie Band"

Instead of Run Through Signs there are inflatables now...Less scary for those who were on the other side of the signs

Virginia came with her popcorn!

Rook  and his Best Bud since Kindergarten, Dayton

A blurry view of Pete the Pirate mascot

Molly's favorite, the Pacesetter Drill team with sparkly hats!

View from the Sky box!  THanks Heather

See the AHMO letters on the track...We won!

B-b-b-Base...

While I went on the mission trip, my mom and sister took care of my kiddos for the week in Houston.  It was also the same week that Pine Cove Christian Camps was piloting a new day camp idea where they come to churches and put on the camp.  Woo Hoo!  Kristen even found a way for my kiddos to get scholarships!  So she could still work during the day.  The kids had so much fun building memories with  Bubbe, Aunt Kristen, Uncle Eric, the cousins and Maggie B, Jones the dog!  They had Bible study, skits, huge water slides. made tie dyed shirts, sang, more fun rec activities and hung out with awesome College counselors for the week.  I will forever be indebted for their amazing help.  Next year I guess I get to host Cousin Camp at my house...

They had a cake fight!

Kristen took them to Dylan's Candy store in Houston

Collin was a great sport and swam with Molly, he never smiles with teeth!

Rook and Jack are pretty much inseparable once together

Swam every day while they were gone

Headed to first morning of Base Camp

First Morning of base camp