It's Coming!

Wow, can't believe it's coming. Memorial Day Weekend is just a couple of days away. This means that people will be heading out to celebrate with family & friends. Cook-outs, swimming, fishing and the "official" start to the summer.
For our family, we have a Memorial Weekend tradition. It is "Rodeo Parade" weekend. Me & Ashlyn will ride Saturday in the Van Buren parade and then on Monday we will ride in the Old Fort Days Rodeo Parade. Krystal, Mitchell and her family will be on the "sidelines" watching as the parade of cars, fire trucks, bands and horses pass by. It is a blast. It is hard work getting everything together, but it's a blast to sit on a horse and wave to all the little kids that stand in awe of how big the horses seem to them.
After riding in the parades, we begin riding in the Grand Entry at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Ft. Smith. We will ride Monday night where there are usually between 800-1000 horses that participate in the first night of the Grand Entry. We'll have to come back to Siloam because of work and Ashlyn still has a couple of days left in school. She already has told me and Krystal that she is heading back down to spend Thursday ~ Sat at Papaw & Memommy's house so she can ride in the Grand Entry and attend the Rodeo on Thursday, Friday & Saturday.

Mitchell isn't quite big enough (and still enough) to ride, but he enjoys watching all the action from the bleachers. It's always a great time of fun and entertainment. If you live close to Ft. Smith, I would encourage you to go at least one night. It is a blast.

Next week I'll let you know if anyone from our riding club has a rodeo on their own during the parades. lol!

Just Updating!

How many passwords do you have..... 3, 4, 5 or a dozen? When you stop to think about it, it's amazing how many passwords and user-names people have. Maybe you are not like me and only have one or two. Stop and think for a moment ~ one for your ATM, email, blog, voicemail, bank account, house alarm, cell phone account, loan accounts, etc. It really is amazing that we can keep up with all of it. Well, sometimes (like today) my mind goes blank and I have to use the "forgot your password" line and retrieve it to log into my blog, email, etc. High tech security helps keep us safe for the most part. As we continue in the high tech world, the need for more high tech user-names will be needed as well. Amazing when you stop and think about it.

Just an update with Ashlyn and being able to meet Jennie Finch last weekend. Jennie Finch was the pitcher for Team USA softball team. She won gold and silver medals. Krystal, Ashlyn and Kim and Paige Fielden headed down to Ardmore, OK for Jennie Finch's Softball Camp. Ashlyn & Paige play on the same softball team and really had a great time. Ashlyn was able to learn about athletic ability, attitude and how important academics are. Krystal told me that Jennie Finch and several other Olympians were not ashamed to share about their faith in Jesus Christ. Looking at their blogs was really encouraging to us (jenniefinch27.blogspot.com) . Ashlyn was also able to get their autographs and the big honor was getting her photo taken with Jennie Finch and holding the gold medal. I've never even met anyone who has seen a gold medal in person let alone touch one. Too cool for her!

Tonight is Mitchell's big night. He is graduating from Pre-School. Can't believe he is already heading into kindergarten next year. This Sunday, we will celebrate "Gotcha Day". It's the day that we were able to pick him up from the orphanage in Russia. We are so thankful that God placed him in our family.

Krystal is winding down school. She teaches business courses part-time at Siloam High School. I believe she is ready to get out just as much as the students. She does a great job of juggling teaching, working at the church and being a great mom & wife. I am so blessed! We are heading down to Van Buren tomorrow for a visit and horseback riding. It's that time of year again. Next week, we'll ride in the Van Buren Parade and the Old Fort Days Parade and Grand Entry. It's always a lot of fun.

Another great week and making the most of our lives.

Belonging

We all want to belong to something. Even as kids we wanted to have a "club" and a "clubhouse". There is something about belonging to something that makes us feel good and makes us feel important. It may be that we want to belong so we don't feel left out.

This is the last day of the Arkansas District Council. It is the annual meeting of our Assemblies of God Fellowship of the state of Arkansas. It begins on Monday night and goes through Wed morning. It's a good time of refreshing as we participate in church services and also see friends from across the state.

Dr. James Bradford, who is our General (national) Secretary of the Assemblies of God spoke Monday night and then again on Tuesday morning. Both times were good, but Tuesday morning made me so glad that I BELONG to the Assemblies of God. Yes, I know that it is a "Cooperative Fellowship but I BELONG with the AG. As Dr. Bradford shared his message, it just brought about a sense of being part of something great. It's not about the AG and the AG is not perfect, but I feel like the AG is moving in the right direction. I'm so glad I belong. All the messages should be up on our District's website soon. (www.araog.org) You can also hear some great messages and get info about the Assemblies of God at www.ag.org .

The 2010 District Council is concluding and I'm heading back home. Oh, by the way. I'm glad I belong to my family as well. Ready to see them and get "back in the groove". Just remember, you and I belong to something or should I say someone far better than an organization or club. We belong to the body of Christ.

Enjoying Life

Wow, how the week has gone by. My dad has told me that the older you get the faster time goes by. Time does seem to be going by fast, but I don't want to say I'm getting old. Even though there are things that are going on in our house that remind me that time doesn't stand still and every moment counts.


First of all, Ashlyn got her book to study for her driver's test. She has been asking us to get her one since she turned 14 in February. This past week I finally stopped by and picked it up for her. I went by her room a moment ago because I hadn't heard her "stirring around". There she was laying on her bed studying away like it was a final exam to pass the Bar Exam. It won't be long until asking for the keys to the car will replace the asking for a driver's Ed book. She's definitely growing up too fast. But for now, we are going to enjoy every moment. We head out to Bentonville tomorrow for a softball tournament. She is doing great and next week will go to Ardmore, OK to the Jenny Finch Softball Clinic. Wow, these past 14 years have gone by.



Secondly, Mitchell is registering for Kindergarten this next week. Right now, Krystal is going over his "paper work" asking him questions. One question is "A rock is hard, but a pillow is ______" and he has to fill in the blank. He also has to draw a boy or girl and trace a line from one side of the paper to the other. Can't believe he is heading to Kindergarten next year. All I can say is Pray for the Teachers!!!!!!!! Ha!!!


This past week has been busy. My parents were in for the weekend and decided they are ready to move to Siloam Springs. Dad is retired and mom is ready to retire, I believe. It will be nice to have them up here with us. My sister and her family live in Springdale, so that will mean they will be closer to their immediate families. They went home after this weekend and put their house on the market. They are now leaving it in God's hands. God has His timing for everything.

Another week has gone and we are blessed! Next week I will be in Little Rock for the annual Arkansas Assemblies of God District Council Meeting. It's good to see friends and hear the great speakers that inspire and encourage you. It's also nice to get back home to the family as well.
Have a great week and make a positive difference in your world.