Growing in the Lord

For the past month, we have been blessed with many opportunities for spiritual growth. September is always a busy month for gospel meetings and lectureships, and we are very grateful that we've been able to participate in several both locally and not-so locally. 

Our gospel meeting at Oologah is always the second full week in September. This year, our speaker was Mr. Jesse Dickinson from Sapulpa. We've known Ms. Tami and Mr. Jesse for 6 or 7 years now, but it was really great to share some meals with them and get to know them better. Of course, Mr. Jesse preached the word to us, which was both encouraging and convicting.

Mr. Jesse bringing the Word

One of the most encouraging things about our gospel meeting week is that we often have several visitors. It's always great to see young people interested in God's word!

Jax, Bri, Ashlyn, Kyle, Samuel, and Bren

Brecklyn, Sadie, Brooke, Caroline, and Khloe

The week after our gospel meeting was the Midwest Lectures in Independence, Missouri. This was the 43rd year for the lectures, and I can remember attending these as a young child when we lived in the area. Dad has been part of the lectures for many years, and it's always good to be able to hear him in person. We arrived Monday of the lectures in time to hear Dad bring the 6:30pm lesson.

On Tuesday, Russ, Lisa, and Chloe were in attendance all day, along with many others we know and love. 

Cousin Besties 💜

Brianna was so happy to see her friend, Vaneza.

Chloe, Vaneza, Bri

Brenson was always close by ready to stir up some trouble.

Crazy girlies - Chloe, Brooke, Bri, Brecklyn, and Scarlett

Bri, Brecks, Lehya, Scarlett

Just a brother doing what brothers do . . . 

Several of the young people sat at the front of the auditorium together (which is always nice to see), but Bren was the only young man who chose to sit up there. He didn't enjoy it as much as he might in a few years :-).

It was great to see Landon and Kristin at the lectures this year!

It makes me happy to see my kiddos paling around with others who are being raised in a similar way. 

Brecklyn, Scarlett, Brooke, and Lehya

A little bit crazy, but a lot sweet!

Sweet girls!

We came home on Wednesday afternoon of the lectures. Brianna ran an XC race in Stillwater the following Friday, then we headed back to the KC area for a Ladies Day at the Park Street congregation in Olathe, Kansas. Tia, Sadie, and Caroline met us up there, so we all went out for dinner on Friday evening. I went to take a photo of the younger girls just as they were getting ready to pray for their food 💗.

Tia's sister-in-law, Shenia, spoke at the Ladies Day, and it was edifying. After two lessons, we all enjoyed a meal together.

Brecklyn and Sadie

Scarlett, Caroline, Lehya, Brooke, Sadie, and Brecklyn

Brianna, Vaneza, and Scarlett

The weekend following the Ladies Day, we spent the day in Weleetka, Oklahoma at a one day lectureship. Dad was one of four preachers that spoke on the lectureship, and it was another great day of growing in the Word! The congregation served us a lovely meal, and afterwards some of the kids enjoyed playing outside.

Khloe, Brecklyn, Brooke, and Shane

There are several more area gospel meetings (that we know of) happening within the next few weeks that we hope at least part of us will be able to attend. I didn't do a good job of getting photos of the adults at any of these events (kids are cuter, anyhow 😉), but these relationships we have in the Lord are very precious to us, and we love being with others of like precious faith. I can't say enough how grateful we are for the opportunity to learn, grow, and bond during special times such as these. 

September Round-Up!

For the last several years, September has been a month full of lots of church activities and lots of cross country. This month was no different! Here are some of the activities that filled our month. 

Early in the month - before the kids had their first XC meet of the season - we had the junior high and high school cross country teams over to our house for a spaghetti supper and an evening of games. It was fun, a little crazy, and very loud! Coach Renee split the kids into three groups after we ate, and we played an escape room style board game. Then, the kids all went outside and chased each other around for about a half hour before parents came to pick them up. The sky was incredible that night!

Coach made these fantastic signs for the teams that did not win :-)

My team was the winning team 👏👏👏

I made Kaylee a fun shirt for work this month, and she sent me this cute photo of her wearing the shirt!

Our monthly youth devo continues to be a time of encouragement, growth, and bonding. We hosted at Oologah this month and had a solid turn-out. After the meal and devo, Chris facilitated a game of Bible Pictionary. The kids had a blast with it!

Brayden drawing

The winning team celebrating

We started back with school in August, but really found our groove this month. We all really enjoy hands-on activities, so I try to make that happen as often as possible. One of Brianna and Brenson's assignments for American History was to make and serve a meal like what would have been available during WW II. They researched recipes and finally settled on German Potatoes and a bread called The National Loaf as two of their dishes. The potatoes tasted distinctly Eastern European to me, and no one really enjoyed them much. The bread was okay. After we all tried it, we took some to Grampy and G-Jo to try. They felt the same as we did about the dishes.

Brooke and Brecklyn also did a project with food, but theirs was a bit more tasty :-). We are studying Astronomy right now for their science, so we made the phases of the moon using Oreos.

We've had several days of incredible weather this month, and Bren took advantage of it by doing some fishing. About once a week, we were meeting at Heart Healthy Trail in Owasso for run practice, and there are a few ponds near the trail. Some days during elementary practice, Bren and Gavon would fish and actually catch quite a few bass.

Chris and Bren also went out to Oologah Lake dam a couple times. Bren was pretty excited to catch this catfish!

When we were in Nebraska at the beginning of August, Aunt Lisa brought several activities to keep the kids occupied. One such activity was this little zipper bag for the twins to put jewels on. It took them a while to finish this project, but they got it done. Brecklyn wanted to me to send Lisa a photo as a thank you!

Our neighborhood dog, Sam, has loved to come see us for several years, and all the kids adore him. However, this month his brother who lives in a different neighborhood had also been coming around a lot. The kids call him Bob as we don't know his real name. He's not quite as friendly as Sam, but the kids are determined that he is going to like them!

Brianna had a Friday XC meet in Stillwater last weekend, then we (the girls and I) drove from there to Olathe, Kansas for a Ladies Day. We cut across Kansas on I-35, which took us very near to the town where my dad grew up and where my grandparents lived until their death. We decided to take a small detour so I could show the girls their old house. It means a lot to me to have a photo of them in front of the house and to share this piece of family history with them!

Finally, we have decided that Bren will play basketball with a new club this year called Oklahoma Flame. The club had an informational meeting for new families that I attended with all the children (Chris was out of town). We got a lot of good information at the meeting, and after it was over this was the song playing in the van as we were leaving. Hmmmm . . . maybe a sign?!? It was definitely a strange coincidence!

August Round-Up!

Another month has flown right on by. The end of August always feels like the end of summer to me, and this year is no exception . . . especially since we've already had some cool and rainy weather! Here are some of the things that occupied our month.

We returned home from Nebraska (you can read about our trip here) on August 3rd, along with several dozen heads of corn. We gave part of it away to our church family, but we enjoyed the rest of for several meals! 

Cross country practice was going strong all month. The elementary kids began practicing three days a week, while the junior high and high school kids continued practicing four days a week. After JH/HS practice, Brenson was often found heading up a game of disc golf with several of his teammates. 

Gavon, Bren, Hope, and Abby

I made a new cross country shirt for a new season!

I also made several other shirts, including this one for Kaylee:

Our friend and sister-in-Christ, Lynn, passed away on August 9th, and so we attended her funeral and graveside service a few days later. She had cancer, and we had prayed that the Lord would take her swiftly. While we were thankful her suffering ended, it was still a really hard thing to say good-bye to her. Lynn is the third church member we've lost at Oologah in the past six weeks. This is the only photo I have of us together from a few years ago, and I'm so thankful I have it!

One day this month, I drove Mom to Wichita to visit Granny. She has recently moved from her assisted living apartment into a more traditional one-room type nursing home situation. I wish I could say we had a great visit, but it was really tough. Granny was very agitated and confused when we arrived, and it took her a good bit to calm down so we could visit with her. Even after settling down, she wasn't having a mentally clear day. At one point, she told Mom that she would love to go horseback riding. She said, "I could do it, but I know I shouldn't." 😂 Even with all that, I'm so thankful we went.

 

We started back with our schooling the first week of this month. The kids are working hard and doing well so far. The photo below was part of something Brenson had to do for ELA. It made me smile!

Finally, we ended the month with a quick trip to Ft. Smith, Arkansas with Mom and Dad to learn a little history and explore the National Historic Site. We typically have a cross country meet on the last Saturday of the month, but Coach decided to change things up a bit this year. We were grateful for the time to take this little trip, as it's something we've wanted to do for a while.

We went to Mom and Dad's house at about 8:00am, so Brenson and Brooke could ride with them to Ft. Smith. Of course, Grampy had to stop for donuts along the way, but we eventually made it to the Arkansas visitor's center. 

And then, to Fort Smith just a little ways down the road. 

We began our visit at the Visitor's Center where the kids stamped their passport books, and we watched a short video on the history of Fort Smith. 

Then, we were able to walk through the jail known as "Hell on the Border".

Brooke and Brecklyn agree that it is not a place we'd want to be!

The jail had two cells that held up to 50 men each. Yikes!

On the upper floor of the visitor's center, there is a museum that gives lots of history of the fort along with some hands-on exhibits of the jail (from a different time period) and barracks where soldiers slept.

We were even able to see the courtroom where Judge Isaac Parker - known as 'The Hanging Judge' - presided. 

The grounds were beautiful, and we were there on a gorgeous, cool day (for August). 

Entrance of the fort with the 38 star flag flying in the background

Brenson, Chris, and Grampy with a cannon

The commissary building

Bri and Brooke with a covered wagon in front of the commissary building

After spending a few hours exploring the fort, we went to lunch at a little diner called Lewis's Family Restaurant. It was good food and hit the spot!

Before heading back to Oklahoma, we drove through the Fort Smith National Cemetery. I can't recall having ever been to a National Cemetery before, and I know this was a first for the kids. 

There were graves that dated back to the Civil War. It was sobering and interesting, for sure. 

Brianna and Brecklyn rode with Grampy and G-Jo on the way home, and after stopping for ice cream in Muskogee, we arrived home around 5:00pm. It was a quick trip, for sure, but we really enjoyed it! 

This month definitely had some difficult parts, but as always there are blessings along with the hard. For that, we are so grateful!