handsful

Like the title? I spent seconds coming up with it.

So, our kids are really enjoying our new church. The mid-week youth program is called NextGen – next generation. It involves a time of awesome praise music with a jr/sr high band – then some group time with one of the pastors – and, then they usually split up into same gender/grade groups for some group time with a leader.

Another facet of the youth program is called Go M.A.D. Stands for Go Make A Difference, and it consists of ministry teams like photography, worship, art, etc. These teams work together to serve the church and/or the community, using their God-given talents and gifts.

Payton is on the art ministry team. Their leader gives them a theme each week, and they draw something to fit that theme…the pictures are displayed during NextGen on Wednesday nights.

Abbey took this picture of him presenting his drawing to the team (she’s on the photography team, and part of her responsbility is to document the other team’s activities with pictures).

Ethan is on the worship team, and will be paired with a more seasoned guitar player until the time comes when he can join in. He can’t wait.

The theme this week was “everlasting worship” – meaning we can worship God in everything we do. Payton came up with this…

He’s the player helping his opponent up…having a good attitude in sports is a hard thing to do, but when you do, God wins. I loved it, and was very proud of his creation.

One activity that Ethan and Marley have really gotten into since we moved onto the lake is fishing – they love it. Marley was very happy that she caught this big catfish this week! The catfish was less than thrilled…but, he got to re-join his catfish friends soon after this shot was taken.

Now, the cookies…Payton promised Lainey that they could make something the other day and thankfully I had an easy cookie mix in the pantry. With only a little help from me in the stirring department, they did it all themselves.

Lainey, learning the ever-crucial part of making peanut butter cookies. The criss-cross. Check out that technique!

The first bite – success! And, since Marley won’t go near a peanut butter cookie (can you imagine NOT liking peanut butter?!?), we had lots to go around. In fact, I think there are still a few in the kitchen.

Time to wrap this post up, mama needs a cookie.

Saturdays are FULL these days! Payton is playing basketball in an 11/12 year old league…he’s played b-ball since he was 6, and still loves it. This is the first time he’s had someone OTHER than his dad coach him…he’s handling it well. Randy, on the other hand, absolutely hates NOT coaching his son. I’m sure he’ll be offering his coaching services next year.

Interestingly, the kid in the green shorts is the son of the owners of the house we’re renting. Follow that?

Payton being Payton…they won, by the way :)

On the way home…

Abbey took this close up shot of Lainey…nice!

Then, I took this nice shot of Abbey. What a smile she’s got.

In the past, Abbey has done horseriding, gymnastics, basketball, and softball. Although she’s enjoyed them all, she hasn’t found anything she truly loves. That might have changed last week, when she played in her first ever volleyball game. She had had 1 formal practice. One. And, we were astounded at how well she played. Like she’s played for years. It was really cool to watch.

That’s Abbey, hitting it over…she can serve well, and has already figured out how to direct her hits to where she wants them to go.

The team. See the guy with the brown shirt? Yes, that’s Randy. Coaching Abbey’s team. Has he ever coached volleyball? Nah. But, they needed coaches and Randy is most definitely a coach. Thankfully, the other guy standing there KNOWS volleyball inside and out, but doesn’t know how to coach a team. They’re the perfect couple. I mean, coaching team.

This past weekend, Payton’s game was at 9am, and then Abbey had games at 2 and 3:30. A total of 4 hours spent in a gym. But, we’re loving it. I might need to invest in a bleacher cushion, though.

Taken by Justin

Don’t let anyone tell you differently.  Moving is HARD.  Moving out of state is that much harder.  Of course, you miss your friends and all things familiar to you.  But, the daunting task of finding replacements for all of the activities, doctors, homeschool connections, etc. is…well, hard.  We’ve prayed specifically that God would provide for us in these areas.  And, even though finding a good guitar teacher might not seem like something God would care much about…boy, does He.  

Driving around in downtown Mooresville, I spotted a small guitar store and I figured that would be a good place to start finding out about area guitar teachers.  The guy who answered the phone said he normally taught, but his summer work schedule was too heavy for it…but, he had a friend who was home from college who was looking for students.  He gave me his number.  Having no info on this guy (he could be an ax murderer posing as a guitar teacher!!), I called him. 

To say he was polite is a grave understatement.  Then, he told us he was a christian, majoring in worship music at a very respected christian college (our nephew heads there this coming Fall).  He came to the house, and did a few lessons here.  We’ve ended up moving lessons to his houe because he also teaches drums…something Payton has always wanted to take.  Jackpot! 

So, I take the 3 kids to his house once a week…and, even though he heads back to college soon, he plans on getting together with them during his weekends home and he has a friend that he highly recommends when he’s not home. 

There are many more examples of how God is providing for our needs here in our new home.  Justin, the totally cool, totally sold-out for God, guitar/drum teacher is just one of them.  It amazes me how much God loves us.

Mom…can we use a roll of toilet paper?  Lainey and I wanna do something. 

Uh…sure.  I guess.  Have fun :)

They’re all fun,

silly,

sweet,

and beautiful. 

And, they’re all mine.  I am blessed.

Sister…brother.  But, last night?  They were fierce opponents.  Facing each other in the…

Boys vs. Girls game!  Not an official thing for Upward.  Randy coaches both Abbey’s and Payton’s 6th-8th grade teams.  Practices are usually back to back, 7-8 and 8-9pm.  This was the last practice of the season, so Randy arranged a double practice so they could take on each other.  They’ve both been talking smack about if for weeks. 

He started it off with a relay lay-up race.  The boys won.  By a lot. 

Then, it was time for the game. When the game began, the boys and girls were both a little timid.  Especially the boys…how do you guard a GIRL?  They lost that really quick, and the game got very aggressive. 

Abbey’s backing him up…

break for devotion time. 

Not sure why I didn’t get a good shot of Payton with the ball, but I remember I shared one of him a while back. 

At the end of it all, the boys won.  They were quite a bit ahead, and then the girls came back to tie it.  So, the boys only BARELY won.  Can you tell who I was pulling for?  Well, honestly, I was pulling for both.  Mostly.  It was a lot of fun, watching the kids play against each other, and laughing at Randy as he tried to coach and referee at the same time. 

Last official Upward games are this weekend, with the end-of-year celebration on Thursday.  It’s been a fun season.

Yes, 14.  1 year away from a learner’s permit, 2 years away from driving…if I keep going, I’ll get lightheaded. 

After a family trip to the mall, where Abbey had a mini-shopping spree, we came home for cake.  Her request…chocolate cake, chocolate frosting.  She IS my daughter, you know. 

Laughing, as her dad serenades her with the birthday song.  Oh, if only you could have heard…

A couple of presents at home…a capo for her guitar and a new voice activated alarm clock. 

Happy Birthday, Abbey.  We love you to bits.