10 Blessed Truths - #2

The second blessed truth is to BE CONTENT.  

The Bible says "Whatever state I am, therewith to be content.  You are blessed."  We need to recognize and acknowledge that fact and be happy with what we have.

Okay - this hurts!  The Lord must know I'm attending a card party next week and love to get new items... I've got to use what I have!  (I can hear Kyle laughing...)  To be content - it's harder than you think... our family always find something we want and its an age of "instant gratification" - because we want it NOW. Our boys often say, "Just write a check for it!".  This method has killed our family in healthy eating!  Fast food is quick and satisfies (and I don't have a kitchen to clean afterwards!)  but is SO unhealthy. Do you find yourself doing the same?  After working all day, I'm tired and my boys are hungry...  I'm going to need help with this one!  To realize that I've got enough and just use what I have; to stay home... and remember where I've put it!  Whew, 'gonna have to pray hard and be persistent.  Are you content... really content in the state your in?  How did you do it?  Help!

"Make & Take" Social coming up!

           Next Tuesday, a group of ladies are getting together to do BIRTHDAY cards and projects!  Each will bring 9 "Make & Take"  birthday projects that they have designed and created.  Each will leave with 9 different  birthday projects at the end of the night!  Here is a quick sneak peek of some party favors for the birthday party!  I'll complete more post and pics throughout the week!  

     OF COURSE, we'll have balloons, cake and ice cream as we craft away!!  If you think you would like to be a part of this group - we'll get you involved!  We've got big ideas for more craft nights - come join the fun!  It's my chance to have "girl time" as well as doing something I enjoy so much!  

10 Blessed Truths

      This Monday, I've started a study of 10 Blessed Truths. Thought I would share with you. 

#1 Blessed Truth is to love yourself. 

 Effect change within your heart and soul in order to be the best person that you can be.  Loving yourself is a blessed truth. 

    Boy!  That's a hard one!  To love myself...hmmm.   Do you love yourself?  How do you know?  I wonder who I am and why has God put me here?  I believe that one of my God given talent is to be an encourager.  To encourage, push, up-lift and support my Christian family,  friends and students - I am needed!  Being the best person that I can be involves people!  I need to lift up, to reach out, to help and encourage who I meet each day. (That's why I make cards so often... to "encourage"... right?)  To love myself - I've got to share my "love" with you -- soooo watch out - here I come! hahaha!  What's your God-given talents?  

Roll Tide Roll

              Since Saturday; Andy Hayes can't wipe the smile off his face...   Hmmmm!  Wonder why!  We love you!  How long can 'Bama hold that spot? We shall see!  Soon to be Andy's new home in January 2009 - Tuscaloosa, Alabama - home of the Roll Tide!

Happy 85th Birthday!

Paw Paw Kitchens made it to 85!! On Saturday, after the flag football games, we celebrated with a good home-cooked meal by "Ging" and Paw's favorite - pound cake, fruit and whipped cream! He was so worried that he wasn't going to make it. He's my hero! A real trooper! I love Herold Kitchens!!

It time for Flag Football!

The season has begun!! This is Alex's last year for flag football. We have been playing this sport since 1996! Remember those years, Andy Hayes (Go Packers!)? This year, Alex is on the Red Raiders with Coach Dr. Craig Darter! Saturday, his team won with Craig's son, Jacob, coaching! Jacob is a freshman at CHS; must be in the blood! Aric's team this year is the Sooners! (Eat your heart out Andy! Yes it's the team rated over 'Bama!). His coaches are Todd Cummins and Jeff Pleming, the Sooner team had a great time playing this Saturday afternoon! The weather was unseasonably hot! 91 degrees... we are all sunburnt from the afternoon sun! Even so, a great time was had by all! Here's a pic of the Vannoy's "yelling crew" for this Saturday's games (Uncle Byron, Pawpaw and Ging)!

Stephanie Harbin

Stephanie has finally taken the plunge into the "Blogging World"! After taking the workshop this school year and being addicted to reading everyone else's blog - she has decided to join us!  Be sure and take a look at her beautiful pics and give her a great, big welcome!  She's a super, neat lady and such a great mom to beautiful Ciara!  Welcome, Stephanie!   Http://artistdiva.blogspot.com

Painting personalized Lap Boards

This weekend, I've been trying to finish painting Caitlin's lap board. It's for her 17th B-day that was in July. Yes! Running just a little late! This year, I have tried to paint all my nieces and nephews a personalized lap board. My boys have one and some very special friends have one. It was such a hit last year, that my advanced art classes just had to paint one each during class. All I lack on Caitlin is her name in turquoise, she picked out the zebra pattern, along with peace signs! They all have themes!! It's an art thing, I suppose!! KV's is a giraffe print because of his TALL legs, Alex was colors from his bedroom with a "Gilligan Style", Aric's is titled "Birthday Cake Explosion". Andy has one that is with a ying-yang, zebra print with a Napoleon Dynamite font!! I even painted Savannah one - Andy's girlfriend. Guess if I pass from this world - my kids, nieces and nephews will have a "piece of me" to stay and haunt them! hehehe! Now why Caitlin... she's my adopted daughter, didn't you know. Now that's a story all by itself! My little boys just had to have a sister and good ole' Caitlin was nice enough to oblige! Hope I can finish it before she turns 18!

1-800-222-1222

Write this important phone number down! 1-800-222-1222 We just thought we were past those days. My 9 year old son thought eating all the gummi bear vitamins would be a GOOD thing...wrong! I had just bought a new bottle on Tuesday and started dispensing it out on Wednesday. On Saturday, I realized there was an empty bottle on the breakfast table. I freaked out and then Kyle double-freaked out. Luckily, after calling the poison control number (thanks for the magnet stuck on the refrigerator, thought to be never used...) we learned that gummi vitamins do not contain IRON; that all Aric had to fear was a terrible tummy ache. I wished him a BAD ONE (bad mom... just to teach him a lesson, ya know) - but he didn't even get that. It scared us bad, Aric finally got a little scared, but now he KNOWS not to eat vitamins... and I will NOT be buying the gummi bear vitamins any more. He can take Alex's teen vitamins - which he thinks are so yukky - oh well!

Aric leading his 1st song!

Aric led his first song during church on Wednesday night! We were so proud!  Of course, he has watched his dad, Andy and Alex - finally it was his time.  The little toot didn't even get nervous - later, he admitted he was finally nervous when he got up at the pulpit and looked out at all the people in the audience!  He did a great job.   He sang one of his favorite song - "Thank You Lord"; verses 1 & 3.  John Mark Lott teaches a "Timothy Class" on Wednesdays and the boys get to participate once every month; so this will be one of many, I hope!  The picture is so fuzzy & yellow - my camera does awful indoors, but great out... maybe it's the flash or could be just the picture-taker!!  Course, I was the geeky mom up in the balcony taking the pictures... hope no one saw the flashes... just had to take pictures. Just wanted to share - thanks for reading!

Oklahoma City State Fair

Our "Mystery Trip" was to the Oklahoma State Fair in OKC! The boys were thrilled. They each received a list of what to pack on Friday night and to be ready to leave at 6 AM the next morning. A clue was given to them every thirty minutes during the trip (a map, pictures of the hotel, $15 money coupon for shopping, pictures of fair food, a map of the fairgrounds & a schedule of events for the day and a picture of fair rides - a list of all the rides that were there!)  We hit the fair at 10 AM - left exhausted at 4 PM... intending to come back and ride the rides at night BUT after swimming in "ICE POOL" (as the boys named the indoor pool at the hotel!) and eating a fabulous dinner at Charleston's (yes! we gained 5 lbs. this weekend EACH!!) - we were SO tired. We went to the hotel and watched TV in bed; I was asleep by 9:30PM. Cable is a treat for us; so we were all excited. Sunday after church, we ate Cracker Barrel, shopped and was home by 8 PM.

     It was a GREAT time for all. We decided that we are taking a "Mystery Trip" once every 4 months; a total of 3 a year! I have learned one important thing doing this - Kyle can NOT know ANYTHING... he slipped NOT once,  or twice but THREE times of where we were going! Remember, Kyle can not keep a secret! hahaha!

Our pics included Shamrock's Conoco landmark, "skytyping", the car show (eat your heart out ANDY - that's a cherry red 2009 corvette by Alex!!), eating fair food, JUMP! the dog show, a sea lion show, landmarks of the OK fair and "Ice Pool" at the hotel!

You've just got to do a "Mystery Trip" for your family... it was so much fun! We will definitely do this again and again! Guess I better win the lottery or get another job!!