The Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. Ours was busy with several of us going in different directions, but it was enjoyable.

I've mentioned on here a few times that Brenson is playing basketball with a new club this year, Oklahoma Flame. We are hopeful that this season will be better than last, and so far it looks promising. Brenson is 14U this year (how?!?), and Oklahoma Flame has four 14U boys teams. This past weekend was the official season tip-off with a tournament in St. Louis. Chris and Bren drove up there Thursday evening so Bren could play on Friday and Saturday. They drove back home on Saturday evening. Bren had a great time at the tournament and getting to know his teammates better. 

Bren's confidence is really building with this team, and we are excited to see how he grows this season!

There is definitely a sense of comradery between the 14U teams. While the "Select" 14U team was playing, Bren and several of his teammates sat on the bench to support them. 

Meanwhile, I was holding down the fort back at home. Friday night, we hosted our monthly youth devo. We've been doing these devos now for over two years, and I'm so thankful for them each month. They are an uplifting and encouraging time, and this month we had some visitors Brianna invited from her Physical Science Lab class. It's always good to have visitors, and we were thrilled they were able to make it. 

On Saturday, we were invited to celebrate Sadie's 12th birthday at her house. It's crazy that she's already 12! Her party was Harry Potter themed, which Brooke and Brecklyn thought was fantastic since that is one of their newish interests. 

Amazing cake!

Fun group of party girls!

Of course, they had all the fun party favors for everyone!

Sadie opening her gifts from us

They each even got a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and had a contest to see who could each every flavor. Brooke won the contest, and Brecklyn definitely did not, lol. We were laughing so hard watching the girls each all the terrible bean flavors!

They even enjoyed some time outdoors on the trampoline.

BFFs!

Love these girls!

After we left Sadie's house, we swung by Jaxen's house to bring him home with us for the evening. Bri enjoyed having him over for a few hours. 

Yesterday was our monthly potluck at church, and we had a Thanksgiving themed meal. It was delicious as always, and we even had some visitors stay for that, too. 

Now we're focusing on getting through the last couple weeks of school before Thanksgiving Break, which will be directly followed by a vacation to Texas. We are certainly blessed!

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. 

Calling All Cornhuskers

Happy Wednesday, everyone! We recently had a wonderful opportunity to go on a door-knocking and lectureship campaign in Nebraska, and I want to share all about it with you.

Back in April, my dad approached me one evening and told me about an invitation that was extended to him to be part of a door-knocking campaign and lectureship in Kearney, Nebraska. Our family has known the preacher of one of the {2} congregations in Kearney for many years. In fact, when I was in high school, John came to Oklahoma a few times to spend time with Dad, and his youngest daughter even went to church camp with me. She and I were good friends for a few years before losing touch, but Dad and John have kept in touch all this time. 

Anyway, so Dad asked me if Chris, myself, and the kids might be interested in joining the campaign in late July. I told him we'd check our schedule (knowing we had a lot on our July calendar already) and think about it. 

In May, we took a vacation to the Dakotas and stopped in Kearney for worship on our way home. While there, John invited us to be part of the campaign and even told Chris that he would make a spot for him to preach in the lectureship line up. Not long after we got home from vacation, Chris told me he thought we should go. Chris contacted John, we marked the days on our calendar, and we made plans to join the campaign!

The campaign began on Wednesday, July 30th. We spent that day driving the almost 8 hours to Kearney, but other team members had taken Tuesday as their driving day. The campaign included John and his wife, Leanna, Mike and Kay (two members of the congregation we worked with), Mom and Dad, Russ and Lisa, Lance from Georgia, a group of nine from Mabelvale, Arkansas, and Lois from Kansas City who was picked up by the Arkansas group on their way to Nebraska. While the door-knocking kicked off on Wednesday, we were making our way to Nebraska.

We had to to drive through Kansas to get to Nebraska.

We stopped at a roadside park north of Salina, Kansas for a picnic lunch on our way. 

The best thing about taking a road trip is being able to stop at random places along the way. While passing through Cawker City, Kansas, we decided to stop and visit the world's largest ball of twine!

Brecklyn and Brianna wanted to take a photo with this cat cutout that was at the ball of twine. Silly girls!

We arrived in Kearney at about 4:00pm that afternoon. Chris had reserved a house for us through VRBO, and we made a quick stop for some groceries before getting settled at the house. The house was one of the nicest we've gotten through VRBO. It had a nice front porch with swing, a living room with ample seating, two bedrooms (both with king beds) and a full bathroom, a dining room that seated 8, a great kitchen, and a sitting room upstairs. Downstairs was another living room, two more bedrooms, and another bathroom. 

I didn't get any photos of the inside of the house, but Bri took this one of the beautiful grounds (and bunny) next door. This was the view from the front porch!

One we got settled, we met Mom, Dad, Russ, and Lisa at a local fast food place called Runza for dinner. Nebraskans will insist that Runza is the best, but we thought it was just okay. After dinner, we headed to the church building for Bible study with the rest of the team. 

The next morning (Thursday), we all met at the church building for a devotional and planning meeting before starting our work for the day. John made sure to include all eligible males in leading, and Chris ended up leading singing and prayers several times.

The devotional lasted about 30 minutes, then we spent about 30 minutes making a plan for the day. We split into small groups of 2 or 3, and John made sure everyone knew where to go.

Brianna, Lance, Bren, and Grampy heading out to go door-knocking

Ready to door-knock!

Our goal in door-knocking was to invite local citizens to join us for the lectureship, as well as set up Bible studies. We handed out tracts about the church of Christ, invitations for a correspondence course, a tract titled Does God Care if I'm Lost, and the invitation below. 

Chris, Brecklyn, and I ended up being a team on Thursday morning, and for the most part we were met with friendly people. Chris had a few short Bible discussions and made one contact that seemed promising. We did have one woman threaten to call the police on us for leaving material hanging on her door, and then continue to shout at us as we walked down the street. That kind of reception is never pleasant, but she was certainly the minority. 

Around lunchtime, we all gathered back at the church building where we ate lunch that had been prepared by Ms. Leanna and Ms. Kay. 

The men were good to highlight streets on a map that had been worked so we didn't repeat houses. Of course, Bren wanted to be right in the middle of that!

Wesley, Chris, and John

Chuck, Wesley, Chris, and John

We also took time to pack more bags and enjoy one another's company while back at the building for lunch. 

Bren, Brooke, Lisa, and Mom

The group from Arkansas had driven a small bus, and Brooke happily joined those riding the bus to door-knock. She partnered with Mr. Wayne a good bit of the time and had no problem knocking on doors, talking to people, and passing out literature. 

After working for several more hours after lunch, we all parted ways for the evening. Thursday was the only free evening we had, so we invited Mom, Dad, Russ, and Lisa to join us for taco salad at our house. The meal was simple but good, and we had a great time visiting. Russ and Lisa even stayed an hour or so after Mom and Dad left so we could catch up on life. 

On Friday morning, we all met back at the building once again for a devotional and planning meeting. 

Most of the campaign team - the photo is missing Wayne (who was taking the photo), Randy (who hadn't arrived yet), and Mom and Leanna who had gone for Leanna to get chemo that morning

The previous two days, Mom had stayed back at the building to help with tasks that needed to be done there. John also didn't join a door-knocking team because he had the job of running people and materials to where they needed to go. However, on Friday morning, Mom took Leanna to have a chemo treatment. Since I was in a group of three, I decided to stay back and help with tasks at the building. I helped rearrange and set up tables for lunch, helped clean out and fill the trough that serves as a baptistry, and packed more bags for door-knocking. 

Meanwhile, the skies opened up and poured on our fellow workers out door-knocking. The weather was actually pretty chilly this day, and my kiddos were definitely cold when they came back to the building wet!

Lance and Bri in the rain

John had told Chris that morning to work Fourth Street until they hit the cornfield. I thought that was some sort of Nebraska humor until Chris sent me this photo of Brecklyn at the end of Fourth Street, lol!

Once again, lunch was a great time for everyone to reconvene, dry out, and get physical and spiritual refreshment!

Bren and Brecklyn packing bags for more work that afternoon

We took a short rest Friday afternoon before meeting back together on Friday evening for our first lesson. Lance preached an excellent lesson on authority that evening. Lance is an OABS graduate, and both Dad and John were among his instructors. 

Chuck, Lance, John

Because the OABS semester began the Saturday that we were in Nebraska, Russ and Lisa had to leave on Friday to get home for classes. John was also committed to teaching for OABS Saturday morning, so there was nothing planned for the campaign team at that time. Several of us took the opportunity to visit the Nebraska Archway that morning.

A beautiful morning in Nebraska!

We were thankful Mom and Dad joined us for the morning.

Grampy and kids spent some time feeding the biggest fish from this bridge. 

We didn't pay to go through the whole museum, but we did enjoy the parts that were free.

The Nebraska Archway that spans I-80

We ate lunch at Culver's, then met at the church building for the afternoon lessons. We had a few visitors from some area congregations on Friday evening and for the afternoon lessons on Saturday. For the evening lessons on Saturday, we had four visitors from the community!

Prince, Praise, Brooke, Peace, and Tre ready for the evening lessons

We had two more excellent lessons on Sunday morning.

After Sunday worship services concluded, we took a few photos of the team. 

Jason, John, Lance, Chuck, Prince, Praise, Wayne, Wesley, Chris, and Mike

Jason, Lance, Prince, Chuck, John, Praise, Chris, Wesley, Mike, and Wayne

Tre, Brianna, Peace, Brecklyn, Brooke, Tamara, Laticia, Chelley, Jody, Leanna, Kay, and Lois

These men have worked together for many years and in several countries - 

Chuck, Wayne, and John

Laticia was from Arkansas and really enjoyed Brooke and Brecklyn

Jody and Leanna

We all enjoyed lunch at Pizza Ranch together, then parted ways. It had been such an uplifting time for us that it was a little hard to leave. However, we were all thankful for the time spent together, the work that had been done, and the contacts that had been made. 

The next week, John let us all know that Breanna - a young lady who had visited the meeting on Friday night with her fiance' Micah - had put on Christ in baptism. We were thrilled to hear this news! Micah is a Christian from a somewhat nearby town, but he and Breanna plan to move to Kearney once they marry in the fall. 

Micah and Breanna

In addition to the wonderful news of Breanna's baptism, John also let us know that he had received three requests for correspondence courses in the mail so far. We were all certainly encouraged by this news!

We praise God for the good work that was done in Kearney during this campaign, and thank God that we were able to be part of it!