Fall Soccer

Faith and Will are playing their 3rd season of soccer and loving it!

Will is on Kansas City (blue)

Faith is on Seattle (green)

Will hi-5ing Coach Paul after making a goal his first game of the season

goalie rotation

goalie kick

little miss princess waiting for her turn

Coach Daron and his Seattle girls!

Super hot!

Silly Willie at practice

Faith is an awesome forward!

Sugar Land Baptist Fall Festival

Our Church always has a really fun Fall Festival with a spin...trunk or treating.  Several Sunday School classes decorate their trunks and kids go from car to car for games and prizes.  Faith and Will's friends from soccer were able to go--it was a great time!

Faith-Baterina
Carina-Soccer girl
Will-Iron Man
Oscar-football man

Pumpkin Palooza--Enchanted Gardens

We have made it a point the past three years to go to our local nursery and let the kids decorate pumpkins, eat popcorn and cookies, and some cold punch.  It's a great family-fun event!

Story Land

Will goes to a Christian school where they choose not to celebrate Halloween, but they still want the kids to have a good time so they have what they call "Story Land."  Each class has a theme book and the kids are to dress up in a "low-budget/homemade costume."  Will's book was Winnie the Pooh and he wanted to be Tigger.  He already had an orange shirt so I just patched on these different colors of felt.  I was quiet impressed without the outcome considering I don't care much for crafts :)

Luckily Daron had just gotten back in town from business and was able to go spend some time with Will at Story Land...I was SO glad so I could have some pictures of this fun memory.

I just made the shirt, hat and tail are courtesy of Walmart :)

Quiet ferocious

I wantd to take a picture of his back side and all he would do was show me his tail between his legs

Will and Ms. Wester

Will and his classmates

ready for some games

I love how you can't see his head at all :)

The End

only one "right"

John 1:12 "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God"

With rights there's always responsibilities, just like success..."with success comes a challenge from God to be selfless and to focus on the greater good and higher goal." 

Remember as you become successful that you have the responsibility to give back to the people who have given you the resources and that helped you get where you are and the people who supported you and your success along the way. 

Man, lots of responsibility comes with success :)
Colossians 4:2-6  Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.  Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

don't be too proud to seek help

Today I was reading my devotion and it really made me think of some people this could possibly help.  In the devotion, she was talking about a pattern in those who suffered trauma as a child (death of a parent, close loved one; physical, sexual or emotional abuse; or witnessing a horror, etc).  She goes on to say that those who have experienced these tend to feel more stressed and have more anxiety as parents....especially when their oldest child approaches the age that was most traumatic in their own lives.  She explained that some parents tend to be so controlling from their own insecurities that when/if their child rebels it can actually put their children at a higher risk.

Ephesians 4:27 says, "Do not give the devil a foothold."

She explained, when you don't deal with the issues of your past, you give Satan space to work.  She urges in the devotion that if you suffered trauma as a child, seek professional help before your oldest child is anywhere close to the age you were when the trauma happened to you. 

Isaiah 57:12-14 says, Now I will expose your so-called good deeds.  None of them will help you.  Let's see if your idols can save you when you cry to them for help.  Why, a puff of wind can knock them down!  If you just breathe on them, they fall over!  But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain."  God says, "Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity."

~I have no clue what you have been through or going through, all I can say is Jesus is waiting...do not continue to live in captivity.  With Jesus you are free, free indeed! Amen!

Circle of Friends

I just loved my devotion this morning. It talked about who we surround ourselves with...are they are like us, same tax bracket, same age and stage of life?? She warned there could be danger in that.

"...there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and have not strayed away!"

"Variety in relationships will safeguard your success. Diversity in dialogue will protect your ability to think clearly. Looking at an issue or idea from all angles protects your future...it is wise and biblical to expand your relationship circle." -Pam Farrel

In Revelation 5:9 it says that heaven will be full of all types of people. Having friends that are different from us will keep us sensitive to their needs, traditions, and help us think through our own personal beliefs and theology.

Ever since I was in grade school I have had a mixture of friends. I had my Church friends, a couple of which become my life-long friends, I had school friends and within those school friends I had many different groups. I have never been afraid to be friends with another race, friends from broken homes, friends from no money...my mom will actually tell you that I tend to be drawn to those. I do, my heart drifts to the what I always thought of as "normal" people I find great joy in being able to pray along side and be there for these friends.

Observing my friendships and relationships to this day I truly feel like I have variety. I am truly grateful for the many different relationships I have! My Christian friends that stand firm and hold me accountable. Those I know I can call on at any moment and be prayed for. Those that have faced some really tough trials and tribulations and I have been able to learn from their experience and strengthen my walk with the Lord, husband, and family.

Everyone that comes into your life has a purpose. Really try and search as to why that person crossed your path today, take a quick moment to pray for that person, ask God to bless them, provide for them, and show his love. These are some of my favorite times...last year when I was training for my San Antonino 1/2 marathon I saw the same, very over weight man every morning walking around the pond. Every morning I would pray God would give him the strength not to give up and continue to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Another more recent one is every morning when I'm turning in to work the same man is out on the side walk sweeping the leaves, I pray for him, and I am so thankful he is here to keep my building beautiful. Too often these people are overlooked, just pray for them, who knows where they've been or where they are going--with prayer miracles happen!

Have a blessed day.