S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E

She's studied for weeks, and today was the day! She really wanted to win and I was so proud of her composure, even though I knew she was super nervous!

Her words: rooster, bogus, trumpet, novelist, meager, flourish, thyme (all that cooking channel paid off here!), savvy, dementia, palliative...then didn't get exoneration. The winning word at her school: wherewithal. She got 2nd place, out of 37 kids, a ribbon....and a medal.

Save the Date

Found THIS in our mailbox today. Oh my. LOVE these TWO. 

Big Days in the Fourth Grade

Super thankful for Jordan's Mathematics Mastery Award and her Honor Roll award. When you haven't ever been encouraged or pushed to do your best, you sometimes forget to dot your i's and cross your t's. We study a lot, and try to make reading fun too. Second pic is her class on the 100th day of school. Bonus points if you can find her!

Pray, Pray, Pray

If only I prayed as much as I read, wrote, cleaned, did laundry, or cooked. Nothing makes me more at peace, more grounded, more joyful as prayer time. I have so many things on my heart today of things we are diligently praying for I decided to record them. I don't often journal my prayers, but every time I do it's so amazing to see how God was working before, during and after my simple human prayers.

1. That Jordan and Cameron would continue to be hungry for the Truth and seek a personal relationship with Jesus.

2. The next two weeks Richard will be out of town for about 10 days. We're super thankful for his job, but things at home aren't the same without Dad. Cameron, especially, needs his presence. Praying for a good two weeks.

3. Erin has submitted all the essays, recommendations, and paperwork to get into the Honors College at UCA. If she makes it through the first process, she'll be called to do an interview. Around 50 students will be ultimately chosen and their school will be paid for. We are praying for the opportunity for Erin to be interviewed.

4. Richard and I have taken on a new role at NLC. It's our first since being there. We're super excited about facilitating the Connect Classes. I am especially excited to have a purpose and a plan. Praying for us to be servants of the One True King and to shine His light through our service.

5. Ryan, Lauren and Katelyn: praying always for their diligence in college classes and the environments they find themselves in. Praying that they stay free from illness. Lauren is sick this week, praying it isn't the flu and that her rest this weekend begins the healing process.

 




6. Richard is traveling this week. Today he's in Miami, Oklahoma. He'll be in Boulder, San Antonio and Houston later in the week. Prayers for safe travel and successful meetings at the churches he's working in.

7. My event is coming up very soon. in 4 weeks we'll be moving in. I have lots of things to do in order for things to be as prepared as they can before we get there. We're in a new space, actually 3 buildings, and my prayer is for peace and wisdom as I work each day to get things as organized and prepared as I can. God has always blessed what I do, I often let Satan steal some of my security in that.

8. My first speaking engagement is the weekend after my event, March 13-14. I have almost all of my material prepared, but not actually finalized. I'm encouraged by sermons, scripture, and life experiences...because when you're talking on contentment...well, it's easy to see where you fall short. I'm praying for the supernatural wisdom of the Lord to minister through my words that weekend.

9. Feb 4 will be the first meeting of our LIFE GROUP since last year. We've agreed to lead it, but it will be in Rsvl in someone else's home. Praying for authentic relationships.

VACATION day!

REASONS TO CELEBRATE:

1) Richard has been home for 4 days.
2) Yesterday was a fantastic church day, with an extra evening worship service.
3) We just finished a week of prayer and fasting.
4) It's MLK day, and there's no school!
5) Lauren came home last night.

A FULL DAY OF FUN:

9:00am We drove to LR, and went to the Clinton Library.  It wasn't crowded and there was a Charles Schultz/Peanut's exhibit. It was less than captivating for the littles, but it provided lots of picture opportunities! I had never been so it was worth the admission price to see what they have there. My estimation was that it was the promised trip to the trampoline park that was uppermost on their minds and they didn't chance it by acting bored or tired.
11:30am Ate at CFA...used a gift card we got for Christmas! Yea!
12:00-1:00pm Altitude Trampoline Park
3:30 -5:30 Played at home with friends...almost 60 degrees in January!

Nerf Wars

And the winner of the best Christmas gift goes to Grandma, who gave Cameron the NERF gun. To Ryan, who bought a second one. To Lauren, who bought 80 extra bullets for the guns for Cameron's birthday. They know they're not allowed to use me as a shield, but Sheridan was guarding her place hard while I was working yesterday and I couldn't resist capturing this face.

SEVEN on the 7th!

I love birthdays, but this one was even more special because it's the second birthday we've celebrated with Cam! 

Ryan had to leave the day before, so he at lunch with him on the 6th, and Lauren ate lunch with him on the 7th. Having two BIG college kids eat with you at school...highlight for a 1st grader! When he arrived home we had ice cream with SEVEN different toppings, and cupcakes! Presents followed...play time, and then a trip to Russellville. We thought we were taking him to one restaurant, but on the way there, he appealed for McDonalds. We never go to McDonalds...but we did. Then we went to the bowling alley, the boy has never bowled, and still isn't sure it was fun...but it WAS a surprise. And it's hard to SURPRISE a kid who asks so many questions!!