Memphis tournament

Our primary reason for attending a tournament in Memphis was that we could count one of the games as our Division 2 official game.  We played a hard game and we ended up in a tie.  But for what we needed to do, that was much better than a loss.  Unfortunately, we didn't fair to well in the rest of the tournament.  But it was a good experience for the team

Huddling up before the game!

The rest of these pictures are just of Christian in action.  I look at these pictures and I'm just amazed at how big he is now.  I remember when we first started this select soccer and they were U8's ("under 8").  I remember seeing these BIG boys play and just couldn't even imagine what that would be like and then I see these pictures and realize he's now one of those BIG boys.  They play a lot more physical and tougher at this age, but it sure is fun to watch!!!

Memphis Visit

While we were there for the tournament, we got to stay with Justin & Mandy and family and spend a little time with them.  Then they came to both of Christian's games on Saturday.  It was a lot of fun to see them and see how much the kids have grown.  Thanks, Mandy & Justin for letting us crash at your house.  

Sweet Reese at the game

A little half time entertainment!

Not sure if we have a future soccer star here or not yet!

Where's Reese?  Peek-a-boo!

Rebecca just loved Reese

Kicking the ball

Between games, we went to Steak & Shake for a snack

Rebecca with Uncle Justin

Mandy, Julianna & me

At the second game, I gave James his first piece of gum.....

Let's just say it didn't last long!!!

ECS football game

We headed to Memphis for a soccer tournament and were able to go on Friday night and attend an ECS home football game.  We were excited to see the new field and support Justin as one of the coaches.

We had fun hanging with Mandy and the kids and the other coaches wives and their kids at the game.  I also was able to see Cindy, my sweet HS friend whose kids now attend ECS.  So here are a few pictures of the evening....

Adore this picture of my girls with Reese!!!

Sweet Reese playing with me

Cindy & I laughing as ususal!

A little bit better picture of us!

An old college friend....

So in my days of college, I was a huge Days of Our Lives fan.  I used to try to schedule my classes so I would haven't anything from 1:00-2:00 each day.  As soon as lunch was over, a large group of us would run back to the dorms and watch it together in the lounge.

Rewind even further and I remember my grandparents watching it while I was just a young child, so I remember characters and names, etc.

So my sister, Cassie is now friends with Melissa Reeves, who plays Jennifer Horton so I "saw her" grow up on the show.  I always loved her.  Well, for years, Cassie has been saying she needed us to meet her and what a great, sweet Christian lady she is.

So in the fall, I was able to go to one of Caleb's football games that was in our northern neck of the woods and low and behold Melissa's son also plays on the team.  So without being giddy or a stalker (as we are often referred to by a certain brother in law of mine), we asked if we could get a picture with her.  This has not been posted on FB - it's not even been shown to a single person until now...

I would like to say that she was a very humble sweet person that is as down to earth as anyone and I'm glad I got to meet her....and I am NOT a stalker!

So, I hope this is an appropriate blog......

Fun on the Zip line

At the church wide picnic and baptism, we got the opportunity to play on the camp's zip line   There was quite a line to take a turn.  Here are some pictures of my family members going!!!

Christian takes the plunge

Christian

Matthew's going to take a turn

It took Julianna a couple of tries to get up the courage but she finally did.  Loved seeing our college friend Travis Dotterer up there encouraging her!

She did it!!!

It helped that Daddy was waiting on her in the water!

After that, she wanted to do it again!

One of our college aged students stayed in the water with her this time - love her flying through the air!

Julianna's Baptism

On March 18th, 2012, Julianna accepted Christ.  We'd spoken to her about it a few months prior to that, but just didn't feel she was ready to make that decision.  Then our church had communion one Sunday morning and she talked to us about it that night.  Her sweet Sunday school teacher has done such a great job with her class and we really felt that she had an understand of what it meant.

In August, we had a church wide baptism at Coldstream Christian Camp.  Julianna had been saying she did NOT want to be baptized in the lake - as much as we swim and play in the lake, you would think she would have been dying to.  But we finally convinced her that it would be okay, plus about 3 of her friends from her class were also being baptized.

It's an amazing blessing for me that Matthew has had the opportunity to now baptize all 3 of our kids.  I am so thankful for this and look forward to what God is going to do in our sweet little Julianna's life!

Mr. Mark helps Julianna out of the water

Julianna and Matthew

Julianna and Katie

This is Ms. Cherilyn - all 4 of these girls have accepted Christ in teh last 6 months and were baptized that day.  What an amazing thing!!!

First Piano Duet

Julianna is taking piano lessons from a friend, Emily, at church.  She's working really hard and one day, I sat down with her and played the duet part for her.  We had so much fun.  Here it is:

Volleyball Dance Poster

Each year, I've posted the picture of the poster Rebecca has made for the volleyball sponsored dance.  She drew Tony the Tiger all on her own - I was impressed.  She was proud that her poster was hung closest to the cafeteria door so it was in a very prominent position!

Sermon Illustrations

Fun pictures - Matthew was "Ready to Play" at church and this is how he taught - he used the theme of baseball as an analogy for things happening at our church and joining our team and needing everyone.  Thought he was really cute, so I wanted to share!!!