BACK-TO-SCHOOL

It is back-to-school day for all our Texas scholars. Steffinee has already been in class for two weeks in Oklahoma. Praying all have a great school year.

Carlos (Sophomore at Trinity HS), Isabell (8th grade at Harwood Jr High), and Samantha (5th grade at Wilshire Elementary).

ENTRANCE GATE TO SPRING MILL STATE PARK

A friend posted this picture today and it brought back so many memories. Love this state park in Mitchell, Indiana. I have so many childhood memories of this park from family picnics, school trips, Junior Prom at the Inn and Sunday School trips. Later in life I enjoyed taking my kids there. We had a birthday party for Cindy there one year and took the kids there to the Virgil 'Gus' Grissom Memorial to get their first look at a real spacecraft. I could go on and on.

I WILL HAVE TO COOK

Now that school will be starting up and Samantha will be busy, grandma will have to start cooking again. I sure hope papaw will be able to go back to grandma's cooking. Here is the bacon, potato, onion, peppers skillet Samantha prepared the other day. The little toot loves to cook and bake and we enjoying eating what she makes.

FORTY-NINE YEARS AGO TODAY THIS FAMILY BEGAN

Forty-nine years ago today was a hot day in a little country church that had no air-conditioning! That was the day Steve and I got married in Avoca, Indiana and this crazy little family began. Through five states, the USAF, three children and seven grandchildren our life has been quite an adventure.

SAMANTHA BAKING CAKE POPS

A family friend brought Samantha a couple of cake pop kits so she spent this afternoon making cake pops. She made some for the friend's grandson and some for us. These are sugar-free cake so grandma can enjoy them, too.

A lot of work went into the finished product.

 

HELLO KITTY COOKIES FOR CHOIR

Today was the last day of choir camp. They have tomorrow off then their first performance is for all the district teachers (early) Friday morning. Samantha is excited. Grandma is not looking forward to having her at the First Baptist Church in Euless by 7:15 AM. I am an early riser but Samantha is grumpy in the mornings. Today she has choir practice at church. She made Hello Kitty cookies for the choir. She would have preferred baking cookies from scratch but Aunt Cindy had bought her these to bake and after camp they worked out fine. She said they are very good.

HONOR CHOIR CAMP

Yesterday was Samantha's first day of Honor Choir Camp. She was very excited. This choir combines the best elementary choir members in the HEB (Hurst, Euless, Bedford) school district and Samantha is happy she made the cut. She is looking forward to a fun year with the choir. There are 111 members so she is proud to be on the first row so we can see her at performances! Yesterday she got her choir tee shirt she is to wear to school on choir practice days. I made her try it on before I washed it so she is acting goofy in the picture. She has a polo shirt to wear to casual performances and a formal black dress for special performances. She always loved going to cousin Lauren's high school choir performances and is now thrilled that she is in a special school choir and is an alto like Lauren.

PROUD OF YOU, CARLOS

I am running behind but what's new? We are so proud of Carlos and the young man he has become. We are in a transition with children's pastors and last Sunday was our Sunday between the last pastor and the new one. Carlos was ask to fill in and he did an excellent job of leading the Kid's City program last Sunday. Stay true to God, Carlos, and allow him to continue to use you!

Carlos leading the boys in their memory verse at our recent Bible School program.

SAMANTHA MAKES A CROWNIE

The other night Samantha saw a commercial where a silly guys said he makes brownies with cupcake and calls them crownies. Samantha's eyes got big and her baker's mind started going full force. But she didn't want to make cupcakes she wanted to make a big crownie. She made a round brownie layer, covered the top with chocolate fudge filling, topped it with a chocolate cake layer and frosted it with her own chocolate cream cheese frosting.

The process.

The finished product.

LINDSAY AND SAMANTHA SELFIE

Yesterday was the last time for these two cousins to enjoy a summer movie together this year. Next week Lindsay will be at a school function but Samantha is looking forward to Dolphin Tales 2. This is their selfie yesterday right before they watched Curious George (Samantha's all time favorite character). Lindsay has taken Samantha to a summer movie every Thursday except for Samantha's week at Kids Camp.

SAMANTHA'S PIES

Samantha woke this morning wanting to make pies. She made a pear crumb pie and a peach crumb pie. We thought they were very good. A lady Chad works with has a diabetic husband so she's been wanting to taste some of Samantha's baked goods. Tomorrow Chad is taking her pie.

Peach Pie

Pear Pie

SAMANTHA SINGING THE SONG SHE WROTE

Samantha loves singing and the guitar. Last night before bed she sat down and played and sang a song for me she had just written over the past few days. It is entitled, "Best Summer". This guitar was given to Chad when he was a preschooler in Indiana. He loved the man at church who made this guitar. When the young man died suddenly his widow gave this guitar to Chad. Samantha says it is her favorite guitar (she has others).

STEFFINEE AND SAMANTHA MADE AUNT CINDY A BIRTHDAY CAKE

The girls worked hard this afternoon making their Aunt Cindy a birthday cake. She has probably never had a cake baked with more love. They were proud to deliver it to her.

CARLOS AND THE TEAM

I am so proud of Carlos for working with the team to conduct the Truth Academy VBS program at a church in the neighboring city of Hurst this week. Praying God blesses the team's efforts this week.

What a great team of workers. Carlos makes a good looking spy!

MY BAKERS

Tonight while I was at a church workers banquet Steffinee and Samantha made cupcakes. They both love to bake and have a good time in the kitchen. They do a good job. From the frosting on Samantha's face I believe she has sampled their work!

LAST PICTURES OF THIS YEAR'S BIBLE SCHOOL TRAINING

Samantha loved every minute of her training at the Truth Academy, this year's Bible school program. Here are more pictures from the last night.

Every good agent needs an attache' case. Who knew a cereal box would make a good one?!

We have a tired agent showing off her credentials.

She told me she was hiding behind her case because she is being a secret agent.

One proud agent.

MORE BIBLE SCHOOL FUN

My apologies to Samantha for being a few days behind getting the end of her Bible school pictures posted. Here are some of the last night.

Time to enjoy some of Mrs. Jeri's M&M Rice Krispie Treats. What every good agent needs to replenish their energy after water training!

And speaking of water training.....

Getting lined up....

Instuctions...

The hand-off...

Water training 2

Getting ready to go

Grandma and camera retreated indoors and missed the slip and slide training!

ANOTHER BUSY NIGHT FOR THE AGENTS OF THE TRUTH ACADEMY

One of the dreaded parts of agent training is the obstacle course and last night was the night to complete that part of the training. I heard a lot of laughter instead of moaning and groaning! The course was a lot of fun.

Getting instructions from team leaders for running the obstacle course. Agent Wilson was designated the starter.

Getting ready to go....

Starting the course...

Followed by her friend Kyleigh.

A little wobbly here....

Kyleigh's got it.

Oh no! Gotta tackle the laser alley!

Going first is trial and error...

Almost there...

Victory in sight!

Here comes Kyleigh.

Wow, we made it. Obstacle course complete!

CARLOS IS A VERSATILE VBS WORKER

Carlos is a "man of many talents" at VBS. He goes from a mean old spy to helping the little ones with crafts, including coloring, every night. Good job, Carlos. Grandma is proud of you!

LAST NIGHT'S TRUTH ACADEMY AGENTS FUN

Last night was the second night of Bible school and the agents are still very excited at the Truth Academy. Here are a few snapshots of the evening's activities.

All agents must have an ID. Here is Agent Wilson working on hers.

Exercise is important in agent training, even if it is trashbag volleyball!

Carlos is a great VBS helper.

Leading the boys in the memory verse. The boys won, they were louder than the girls!