This was my devotioal today!

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
-- Acts 16:25
Thought:
Falsely imprisoned, Paul and Silas had been beaten "with many blows," placed in prison, and locked down in stocks. Under such horrible circumstances, they managed to praise God in hymns and pray to their Father in Heaven. Under this kind of pressure, their faith caught the attention of the other prisoners who listened to them. We need to be reminded that over the years of Christian witness, some of the most effective times of evangelism happened because Christians remained faithful and joyous people despite persecution and harassment. Nothing should limit our prayer and praise. God will use them to reach the hearts of those in the most difficult of places!
I recently had someone I love very much share with me how they had watched my marriage over the last 17 years walk itself out, and what it ment to them. I admire this person very much, and had no earthly idea they were aware of all the craziness that has been my life during these past years.

We have no idea why God allows us to walk through certain things on this earth. But we have to believe that it's to ultimately fulfill His will. He is bigger than any sickness, failing marriage, lack of confidence, loneliness, or family history we could ever hide behind. You just have NO IDEA who may be watching your actions as you walk through these earthly things.

I am sure that God has placed people in my life so that I could witness their joy over flowing, and their freedom in completely surrendering to Christ as they walked through some sort of trial. I give Him thanks for the blessing it has made in my walk, I pray I will make Him proud in my times of struggle.

Love ya
TJ

Jacie lost her first tooth :~)

Early last week Jacie told us her tooth was loose. We watched her work it back and forth all week long. Today at lunch she had Cory cut up her hamburger because it hurt to bite into it. We looked up a few minutes later because she squeaked..... and there it was in her hand.

Jaxson was in amazement. He had to inspect the situation several times. It was so cute.

She was totally excited ... and so were we!

BIC Lawn Care Services

Were so excited for Jordan. He and a friend, Gage, have started up a lawn mowing team. They have only been at it for a week, but have already earned a small fortune.

Please keep them in your prayers that God will help them find favor and prepare open harts ahead of them.

Memorial Day Weekend

What a wonderful weekend. We haven't been this many places all in one weekend in a long while. We headed to Madisonville Saturday morning and enjoyed the day celebrating Grand mom Whites 99th birthday. The kids enjoyed playing with cousins and roaming the back pasture. Cory saw a group of butterfly's and tried his hardest to create a home grown net out of the craw fish sack to catch one for Jacie. It wasn't very successful :~(. Jordan was his usual great crazy self, getting bit by donkeys and walking on top of the bridge. After that we went out to Aunt Pam and Uncle Jim's to swim a bit. Jax had a blast with Ann shooting everyone with the noodle water gun.

Then we headed to Houston to visit with Mema and Dado for a bit. Their new house is beautiful. Jacie and Jax enjoyed the long awaited "bubble bath swimming tub". They had been out there a few times and seen the huge tub before the house was finished. The anticipation had built up more than we knew. Jordan and Jacie slept in the new house while Jax tagged along with Cory and I in the trailer. Jordan said he thought it would be warmer in the house, since Mema kept it ice cold in the trailer, but no dice. We found him curled in the fetal position the next morning near frozen.... LOL..... we love you Mema :~). The kids went over to the park early the next morning and enjoyed some play time in the cool morning .

Last we dropped by the soccer fields in Spring, where Sydney was playing in a tournament. We were there for about 5 minutes when it began to POUR down rain. We were all soaked and ran for shelter. After enjoying dinner with everyone, we headed for home.

What a great weekend.

Take me out to the ball game

We went to a Round Rock Express baseball game

last weekend. Jaxson was mesmerized.

Cory knew one of the players from the other team,

OK city Redbirds. Jaxson was bug-eyed when he

saw his dad talking to one of the players.

He wanted to go out on the field so bad but we

weren't able to stay that long. Maybe next time.

Just hanging out

Last weekend was one of those great hang around the house weekends. Jordan and Gage took advantage of the great weather and skated more than should be humanly possible. The Dr. released Jordan back to full activity and we think he must have been making up for lost time.

Dado helped Jordan make this skating box and the boys are really putting it to the test. I'm amazed at how they can control the skate board so well. They even got the idea to try and make more of them and sell them on Craig's list.

Spring Classes Finished :~)))))

It's official, our spring classes are finished and all classes were passed. My phobia of taking "real true" finals is now over. They weren't as bad as I thought. And it makes it even better if you keep up with your daily grades so the final doesn't make or break the whole class.

Im trying to pick up on some of Cory's tricks, he is just crazy! I could have studied hours for an assignment and he walks in, looks at it for 30 minutes then makes a much better grade than I. It's just not fair :~(.

So we have a month off and then on to Summer 1 classes.

Thanks for all your prayers!!!!

Im prayen for Kristi Berry

So, my roommate for family camp had shown me her swollen arm and we talked about the Dr. apointment she was set up for that next week. So on Wednesday her Dr. sent her over to the ER, and after a whole day of tests in the ER she has been diagnosed with lymphoma.

This lady is unbelievable, happy, joy full, funny, bubbly, and absolutely strong in her belief of our God in heaven. Her life journey has already been colored with trials and now it looks like there will be more to come. She has set her mind to walking through this season of her life to do what ever will God has for her, in total submittion to his plan.

They have 4 children ranging from Sr. in HS to a Kindergartner. Please pray for their family with us. We have set up a face book group for her.

I think you can view this link with out being a member of FB.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=182138355290&ref=mf

Family Camp '09

Our church hosts a weekend camp for the entire family once a year. The boy's all bunk in one set of cabins and the girls in another. We live in true "summer camp" style for 3 day's eating in the cafeteria, attending scheduled activities, and enjoying free time on the camp grounds.This year was so much fun, each year their is a theme. 1st year it was 2 cowboy's, 2nd year it was superheros defending God's word. And this year it was super agents. We all dressed up in our shirts and glasses and went on spy missions throughout the weekend.

Cory and Jordan both competed in the chubby bunny contest to see who could stuff their mouths with the most marsh mellows and still say "chubby bunny", and Jordan took 3rd place. So many more fun games and fun times spent with families.

The guest speaker was Tom Tombs, he did all sorts of tricks and illusions it was great. The youth stayed up into the wee hours of the morning playing capture the flag across the whole camp ground. So needless to say, Cory and some of the other dads were walking zombies the next day. But it was all so worth it!!