Thankful for Summer...

I woke up 45 minutes early this morning.  I guess I'm excited/anxious about starting back to school today.  It has been an amazing summer!  As I was doing my mom jobs last night..laundry, making dinner...I was thinking about how grateful I am to have a job that allows me to have the summers off.  It allows me time to recharge, focus on my family and projects that I want to do at home.  I can sleep in, get everything done without rushing, and work on things that I don't have time for during the year.

I am so thankful to have the time off with my children to get to know them more intimately and to be able to help them develop into the people God has created them to be.

This summer I have traveled to Europe, been to a family reunion in Arkansas, cheered on my son in the World Series in Dallas, visited family in Florida, partied at Ray C.'s class reunion, read six books, learned to geocache with my children and their friends, exercised, concentrated more on healthy eating habits, laughed with my children, prepare my son for middle school, caught up with old friends, discovered how much I love my children, strengthened my relationship with my high-school-sweetheart husband, built a bookshelf/desk in my bonus room, partied with friends and family at my surprise birthday party, and I have been reminded of how truly blessed I am to have my family living so close.  I'm sure I have forgotten things, but suffice it to say that it has been a great few months.

Today, I go back to school.  Sadly, it is not the school I have been at the last two years, and it is not the team I have come to adore at Smith.  However, I am ready and excited.  Today I become an Anthony Raven.  I am "opening the school" with the rest of the staff.  I have the opportunity to work in a brand new state-of-the-art school.  (It isn't actually ready yet, but we should be ready enough for students next week.) I am looking forward to setting up my room, planning with my new team, and getting ready to welcome my precious little 6th graders on Monday!

Am I sad summer is over?  Not really.  It's been fun, but I am ready for the school routine.  I love what I do as a teacher.  I love that I am making a difference in the world 160+ students at a time!  I love that I get up early, work, and then can be home when my children return from school.  I am still a mother first and foremost.  It is the most important job God has given me.  We are molding three little people to go out and change the world.  I can only do so much as one person, but when these three kids grow up to love God and His people, they are going to go out and do so much more that Ray C. or I can do alone!

This summer I have had the opportunity to really see into their hearts, and they amaze me.  They are all caring and generous. They all love the Lord.  I have absolutely loved spending time with them and my husband this summer, but today, I am charged and ready to go out and do what God has called me to do in the world.  Teach!

Frontier Camp

All three kids went to Frontier Camp again this year!  They had a blast, and we had a relaxing week of date nights!  I'm so glad they have the opportunity to go to such a wonderful camp!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

In case you haven't noticed, baseball is a big part of the Hughes family life...  So, for Father's Day, the kids told daddy they wanted to have a family outing to a baseball game.  They suggested the Astros, but daddy requested we go to a minor league game which he assured them would be much more fun for everyone!  

So, a few weeks later, we hauled everyone down to Sugarland to see the Sugarland Skeeters play!

 Daddy wanted to sit in the outfield so the kids could play at the splash pad and on the huge playground!  The kids didn't really care much about the game, but they did have a lot of fun! 

 And daddy was happy because he got to watch the game!

We even got to watch a fireworks show at the end!  

Frontier Camp

I really left my kids at camp yesterday!!  

 They were so excited to get there and for me to leave!

 Both of the kids had people they know in their cabins.  So, that made me feel a little better about leaving them, but I still didn't sleep very well.  Every time I woke up, I was thinking about (and then praying for) them.

 They had to face their fears as soon as we arrived because they were concerned about swimming in the lake, but they were required to take a swim test.  After much coaxing, they finally jumped in.

                                               

 I know they are going to have a blast and that I prepared them the best I can.  So, all I can do this week is pray for their safety, a fun time, and that they will grow in their relationship with God!

Missions Minded

The Sky is the limit this week

 The kids are learning to trust God...no matter what during VBS this week! We have somewhere around 800 kids in VBS at Foundry this week.  It has been so much fun to see them all over the place.

The most exciting part for me has been watching them serve God at the Hope Centers, within our groups, and at home as they have been raising money for our Mission Project in Haiti...Jacob's Well.  

As of today, the kids had raised over $3000 for the project!  Mary Frances had a lemonade stand with the help of one of our 8th graders, Sydney!

Chase wanted to wash cars, but because we are in a drought, we decided to clean windshields instead.

They have both had a wonderful time raising the money and being generous!  Thanks be to God!

Homemade Ice Cream

Mary Frances has been begging to make ice cream. So, we decided we'd make it yesterday and invite the kids in the neighborhood as a "farewell to summer". Because it is still summer, we started our day at the pool...enjoying the outrageously HOT sun for a little while. We met a new family who just moved to Houston 2 weeks ago, and one of the girls is Mary Frances' age. So, at Mary Frances' suggestion, we invited them to our ice cream party.

About 10 neighborhood kids showed up along with the two new girls and their mother! We were so excited they were able to come, and they were so excited to play with some other kids!

We made my great-grandmother's vanilla ice cream in the electric churn and CHOWED down. All of the kids loved it! But before serving it, I asked everyone if I could pray for our new school year. So, we all bowed our heads and thanked God for a safe and fun summer and asked Him to bless our year in school. It was a great experience! I am so thankful that God has sent us to this place to be His light! (AND, I'm thankful for Mama Taylor's Recipe!!)

Here it is if you'd like to try it. I have adjusted the amounts to fit in a modern churn!

Mama Taylor's Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 gallon whole milk
1/2 can Borden's Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar

Just mix it all together and follow the directions on your churn! Be sure to have a bag of ice and Ice Cream Salt, as well!

Ah....Summer

Okay..sorry for those of you regulars who keep checking to find nothing! It has been an amazing summer, but I just haven't shown it on the blog! I promise that I will sit down on Monday (the first day of school) and begin recording everything for your enjoyment!

Here are some things to look forward to:

1. Disney World
2. Visiting Community of Hope (the first church in which we served)
3. the Sr. High Mission Trip to Atlanta
4. Visiting with family
5. SOMEBODY IN OUR FAMILY IS MOVING TO TEXAS!!!
6. a new patio
7. There's an APP for that...
8. and more...

Talk to you soon!

SHUT the door..

We haven't seen rain in MONTHS, and it is so HOT here that our houses can't even cool off! Everyone's closing their blinds and curtains, keeping the lights off and avoiding the oven just trying to cool down as much as possible! It is so hot, the pool isn't even refreshing! Seriously, the heat index was 110 one day last week!

I seriously don't know how people live without AC!

Of course, it doesn't bother the kids. They still want to be outside, and they do not understand how important shutting the door is! Neither did I when I was their age! I think we all remember our parents yelling at us as we walked out the door to SHUT THE DOOR, right? I never understood the importance, but right now, it is as important as eating fruit and drinking water! And every time they walk out the door I have to say it again! At what point does it sink in?

It doesn't help matters that we have a little escape artist dog that jets when the door opens. That just means that I have to get all hot and sweaty chasing him down the street only to return to a warmer house because the door has been open the entire time I've been out! AAGGHH!!!!!

Lord, please send us some relief from the heat!

I figured out why the heat bothers us so much and not the kids! Whenever we get hot, we think about how long it is going to take us to get ready and smell good for whatever we are about to do! The kids DO NOT CARE!

My kids are happy to go to Kroger (or church for that matter) with dirt on their face, hair sticking every which way, and sweat running down their faces. Chase would also be wearing his flip flops on the wrong feet and one baseball glove on his right hand! See, they don't care. It's all about fun to them!

But for me, there is no fun in the heat! I do not enjoy smelling like I've been sweating all day when the only thing I did outside was walk from my house to my car! Oh well, the heat will go away, and the fall will return! Oh how I love FALL!!

By the way, the one glove thing is not a tribute to MJ as several people have asked. He just likes wearing the thing.

Children's Museum

(Mary Frances plays Veterinarian to the stuffed animals.)

We took the kids to the Children's Museum last a few weeks ago and were amazed at everything there. You could seriously spend days there! I couldn't, but maybe you could! I had enough after about 20 minutes, but that's just because masses of children make me SHAKE!!

However, the kids had a wonderful time. It really is amazing what they have. The area called Kidtropolis allows the children to have a "job", earn a paycheck, and then deposit the money into their own "account" using an ATM and check card! It was really amazing. Then they were able to spend their money at the grocery store, in the deli, etc.

Chase had so much fun shopping in the HEB. Thomas and Mary Frances were more interested in being the checkers.
There was an area where they got to build a trolley and watch a machine build one, then discuss why the machine did it differently. They even had an area to test their work!
I really don't know what this one was, but Thomas and Ray C. played with it for 30-45 minutes! Thomas was taken by it!
Chase had fun "driving" the old mustang.
Cute kids before we entered the mad chaos!