Paige is enjoying having Maddie in the same gymnastics class level these past two months! They are now, according to them, becoming experts in their back handsprings. Now, if they can just master the flyover on the bars! They both hope to move on to Advanced Elite in the Fall together. IF they do, they can start learning routines and are super excited about that possibility. They'll find out during their parent performance Wednesday!
Paige is also on a countdown to her "13th" birthday. That makes three official teens in our household come Friday. What an adventure!
Stephen performed in his first recital for his second instrument, GUITAR! He has been doing well and enjoying the learning process.
Click here to see it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6eh1A1L9fc
Around these parts, the homeschool community puts on a sort of prom called the Senior High Gala. Kathryn and Taryn went together and met some friends from one of their schools they attend (Geometry class) and had a BLAST! Who says you need a date to spend an evening of laughter, fun dancing and to top it off a gourmet meal. They were certainly glad they didn't let not having a "date" hold them back on making fun memories and having a great time with friends and each other.
What great timing for getting their hair done by cousin Christa who is still in town. They were asked by someone if they got their hair "professionally put up." Here's the result of her efforts:
Chris has been wanting a loft bed for awhile now and especially one with a desk underneath so he can do "school" in his room sometimes! We told him he would have to wait a few years and perhaps we'd think about it. But, the Sovereign One intervened and tonight he just got his dreambed and for FREE too! Just so happens a friend had neighbors who have moved and wanted to unload this treasure. We gladly took them up on the offer and four hours of work later.... (pick-up in two trips, take apart, put back together, etc.) ONE HAPPY 10 year-old boy!
We just got news that Taryn has raised what she needs to go on her missions trip to Monterrey, Mexico in July! Not just what she needed but more. God does indeed provide and we are thankful for those who generously gave so she could go on this life-changing trip to another country and bless and be blessed through it. Would you join our family this summer and pray for Taryn and her whole mission team of 10 (3 leaders and 7 students from 10th-12th grades) for their impact as a group as they minister alongside Fuente De Vida with sports ministry, Vacation Bible School, orphanage visits and construction work? Pray that God would use them and would provide opportunities where they could share the Good News of Christ's salvation to those He places along their path! Also, that the team would experience God's love in a new and different way as they allow Him to use them through these various works. The rest of the team has to still raise more support so could you also ask that God would provide the rest of the funds so all their expenses could be covered?
On the way to Taryn's first Soar volleyball game, just a mile away from our destination, I hear a
terrible noise on the front right tire. Yep, a flat. My first ever while I was in the driver's seat. Thankfully, our friends were more than willing to come pick up Taryn so she wouldn't be late to her game and my brother-in-law came to the rescue to help me put the spare on! Thank God for community!
Taryn's team, the Sweet Peas, named after the fact that their uniforms happened to be a very flourescent type green, played well today, tying 1-1 and losing by a few points in the 3rd match! But, Taryn was overjoyed to be finally serving OVERHAND and making it over the net. She NEVER thought she'd ever be able to do it and after a few weeks of working hard at it at home and at practice, today she proved that she could indeed get it over!
Soccer season for Paige is underway. She was so hoping she would be a different color team but well, she was destined to be on the purple team again but with a different name, Team Japan! Sammy got a great action shot of his sister during this morning's game!
The girls were soooo excited about our family field trip with friends to the Carolina Raptor Center today! They were
jumping up for joy in praise to God! Well, truly, Tar was just trying to get a good profile pic for her FB page. LOL.
Here's a group shot of friends who decided to join us on this outing!
Some great shots of our furry friends:
So cool to see how one thing leads to another...
Taryn made this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH1nCiKLQQk for the God at Work focus for church this past Sunday and now she is being asked to help with slides at church. Something she loves and wouldn't mind doing..
Then, it was really neat when the children's director acknowledged Stephen's drawings in front of all the Kid Venture children and now the assistant pastor says that "he has got to design next year's youth retreat t-shirt!"
Also, here's the final result of Steve's poster he is entering into our town's yearly Labor day weekend festival! If he wins, it will be used on t-shirts and banners and more, not to mention a great money prize, but if he doesn't, it was a great experience for him anyways!
We had a double celebration because Easter happened to fall on the same day as Howard's last year of his 30's! Yep... 39 years of life and very thankful for it..
