AWANA

For 9 years John and I have served in AWANA. It is just a ministry we really believe in. But as the years have unfolded we have seen a greater need to serve the kids who live in our town.

They are everywhere and our van can only bring 2 extra kids to club each Wednesday. So we presented the idea to a local church here in Evansville to start a club under our direction.

That was in June. By August we got the "yes" and things started to work in rapid fashion.

In September, we left our most loved church in Madison to begin our work here in Evansville. In 3 weeks time we had 17 volunteers who needed to be trained, equipped, and encouraged to be ready for our launch date of October 13. God is so good - all the time.

It was a full time job for about 3 weeks, but on our first night of club we had a whopping 44 kids. So very many of them are boys! I frequently see a picture of a wheat field and a sickle in my hand when I pray about our club. What a fantastic response from the clubbers and the volunteers and the church leadership. Clearly it is of the Lord. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

You should see the smiles on those kid's faces last week when they earned their first awards for memorizing their verses. It was a moment that I won't forget.

I am so thrilled to see so many boys and girls who will be trained to Know, Love and Serve Christ right here in Evansville. The desire of my heart is that as David, Caleb and Nathan grow up in the Lord that they will have a peer group who will stand firm with them and choose right. Some of whom came to the saving knowledge of Christ in AWANA. I know that God's word does not come back void and so we will be busy planting those seeds in our kids and any other kid who we can reach with the gospel of Christ, and then train them to serve Him. Let me challenge you to join us. What else is worthy of your time?

School updates

David has now been moved to an accelerated math class. His math assessment scores were really high. His homework this past week was so hard, I had to call John in for help. I am no math dummy either.

John used an excel spreadsheet to help David grasp the math concepts and I thought to myself: Whatever are we going to do next year? I need to blow off the dust on my thinkin' cap.

Caleb is reading like a champ now. He now knows all his long vowels and we are learning all the "Exceptions" in his Hooked on Phonics class. I had the best moment last week when I gave him 6 scriptures and he could read them all by himself. Now that was an ear to ear grin for me.

When your son can read the word of God on his own - that is something terrific. Frequently now he will independently pick up a book and begin to sound it all out. His confidence level has shot way up and I am standing back with a proud smile.
Life skill of reading: Check that off the list. 2 down, 1 to go.

Nathan has moved on to graduate potty skills and is "standing like the big boys".
Nathan also started Cubbies in AWANA this year and is beyond excited to have his Cubbie Vest, book and bag. He is so much smaller than the rest of them (He is the youngest one), but he has no problem memorizing the verses and references.

Harvest time

I love u pick places.

We u pick strawberries in June, raspberries in August, apples in September and Pumpkins in October.

Here are some cute pics of Caleb, Olivia, and Nathan at Epplegarden in Fitchburg.

We enjoyed an indian summer day pickin' apple pie apples. YUM!

Now my freezer has 4 pies worth of apples ready for Thanksgiving dinner.

I think fall would be my favorite season if it wasn't followed by winter. sigh.

Visit from Grandma Rose

A few pictures from Grandma Rose's visit.

We sure have enjoyed our California family coming back for fun family time.

We wish we could see you all more often. We are due for a plane trip there now.

The first picture was taken about 3 minutes before Nathan peed on Grandma Rose's lap.

Poor Rose is still getting peed on. Never a dull moment here.

Been awhile

It has been a while since I posted last. It is certainly not for a lack of material.

Since my last post we had so many things happen.

We had a lovely visit from Grandma Rose.
John got a promotion at work - during a terrible economy.
We refinanced both houses - what a load of work that was!
We had our first parent teacher conference for David's 4th grade.
We left our beloved church family of 15 years at Monona Oaks. (Love you guys!)
We joined a local church and started an AWANA ministry. (44 kids the 1st week -PTL) I could write a whole book on this experience alone. What a priveledge to start this club in Evansville.
The van was in the shop not once, but twice.
My cell phone broke the week before AWANA started - grrr.
I injured my right foot - spent half day getting it xrayed but it's not broke - whew!
Almost wrecked the van at school turnabout - terribly dangerous distracted driver (not me).
We celebrated our 16 year wedding anniversary.

That enough? I'd say yes. As soon as things settle, I will have more time to post about them all. But, we are blessed.
It is a different type of busy than when the boys were babies and I love it.

Time is going faster and faster now, and we are trying hard to savor the goodness of our great and mighty Lord. Hope you are too.