Papa G.

The kids loved all over Papa G., my mom's dad! They had so much fun talking to him and loving on him!

Chase especially loved Papa G. He wanted to sit in his lap the whole time! He even wanted to eat in his lap! Papa G. sure did get a lot of love and kisses! We can't wait to see him again!

We had a nice photo session while the kids were waiting for grandaddy to come in the door! They could see him through the glass door, and it made for some great pictures!! After trying for 2 months to get them all looking in the same direction, we finally got a good Christmas picture! Too bad it was January 6th!

The Four-Wheeler

We visited my family in Georgia last week and had a blast. One thing that has become a must for the kids is "camping." The first time they requested to go we actually camped in a tent for the night, but after we realized that all they really cared about was the fire, hot dogs, smores, and the four-wheeler, we changed our plans! So, now we just go out for a few hours of fun. It is really a lot of fun for all of us!

So, as I was telling my friend, Heather, about the kids tonight, it hit me that their feelings and style on the four-wheeler are a perfect description of their personalities! Chase is OBSESSED with the thing. He talks about it all the time, notices most four-wheelers we pass, and must ride it daily when visiting my parents. He always has to be the first one to ride (that's mainly because he just can't stand to wait when we first get it out), and he usually gets the last ride, too! However, he rides very quietly. He is content doing anything on the four-wheeler as long as he gets to ride!

Thomas is very cautious! He enjoys the four-wheeler, but it likes to go pretty slow, not hit any bumps if possible, and he doesn't want to ride for long. A leisurely ride will do him just fine! I bet that surprises you about him, but I'm not describing his activity level - this is personality!

Now, Mary Frances, the princess, loves the four-wheeler too! However, she likes to go as fast as it will take her, as long as it will go, and she wants to hit every bump and mud puddle in the way! She is a dare devil, and has been since birth!

I don't know that there is any relevance to my sudden realization but it sure is fun to think about! I am so glad God made us all so different. We all have things we like and don't like. I love that I have different things in each child to enjoy. I remember the first time I realized that the kids were going to be different was when Mary Frances decided she liked grapes. As crazy as it sounds, I was so excited! Thomas had never liked grapes. It hadn't really occurred to me that they would like different things. So, it was fun to see that at such a young age they were already displaying some differences in preference and personality! Of course, it is a challenge preparing meals for 3 children with different tastes, but I am grateful for the differences!

Mary Frances Registers for China...

Mary Frances is turning 4 next week, so we have set up a registry for her fine china. She is registered only at Belk's. I'm sorry if that is inconvenient for you!!!

No, really! Ray C.'s dad gives the children money for Christmas every year. We could go and spend the money on more toys that they don't need or we could put it in a savings account for later. However, it really isn't enough to be a huge amount later on. It would probably get used on something they would forget about in a year or two if they remembered it that long!

So, I have been thinking for the last month or so that I would really like to start her some type of collection with the money so that she could have something really special. Even though the money may not go far later on, it will go a long way when you use it on the best sales! After Christmas (and other times during the year), China is discounted a lot.

So, I took my mom and Mary Frances to the mall today to look at patterns. I know her taste will not be the same as it is now and may be different than ours, but we had to start somewhere! So, we looked at several different options and found one that we agreed any girly girl would think is pretty. One thing is for sure - Mary Frances is a girly girl!!

I intended to just buy a little at a time, but the sales person suggested a registry - smart on his part - so we decided that was fun and would be a nice way of keeping up with what is bought. Who knows, she may start getting pieces from other people as well! I know this may seem crazy to some of you, but I feel that this is a great way to make use of the money she is given, and she will be so thrilled to have a nearly complete set of China when she becomes an adult!!

So, I am really excited tonight. After we registered her, I gave her a few choices of items we could take home with us as her first few pieces from Papa. She chose the tea cup and saucer without hesitation and had some juice in them when we got home!

Now I just need to decide what to do for the boys. I know they won't care about China now or later. My parents have suggested another type of collection like stamps or coins, but I'm not wild about either idea. I think a collection is a good idea, but what could they collect that they would be proud of later on? Any ideas? I need some help!

A Child's View of Christmas Morning...

Last night and this morning, I couldn't help but reminisce about Christmas as a kid. I had such a dreamy look on my face remembering the excitement of looking for Santa's sleigh in the sky and listening for the jingle bells. I remember being so excited for morning to come that I could barely close by eyes to sleep. I remember waking up early the next day with incredible anticipation of what was waiting in the Great Room for us (my sister and me)!

And then, I had to wait some more - I also remembered that we had to wait outside the great room door for my parents and grandparents to get their COFFEE!! Ray C. said, "That's just wrong!" But you see, they were just as excited to give us the gifts as we were to get them. Seeing the joy on our faces was as exciting to them as receiving the gifts was to us!! Side step here, don't you know that's how God feels when He blesses us? He is just as excited (or more) to give us the things we ask for as we are to receive them!

So anyway, where was I? Oh, we were waiting at the door. Did I mention that we also had to brush our hair, make sure our PJ's matched (that was probably done the night before, actually), and be sure our hair was OUT OF OUR EYES?? Big deal to my mama!! You must look pretty for pictures! Thank you mama. The pictures are nice to look at now!

So, when everyone was ready - seated in their places all in the living room, we would hear, "Oh my goodness." and "Look at that." and "Wait til you see what Santa brought." And I especially missed today from my papa, him singing "Santa Clause has come to town!!" Finally, they would say, "Okay! You can come in now!" We would fling the door open and run to our spots. Santa left my gifts to the right of the fireplace and Jessica's to the left. I still remember how some of the things were even laid out.

So today I enjoyed every moment even though I haven't felt great. We opened each present one by one. The kids had so much fun playing . We had to take a break at one point because they were so busy they didn't want to stop to open anymore! We really didn't spend much on them, and still they got so much!! The kids were thankful for their gifts. I got some great gifts, some things I really wanted and some I really needed - like a massage from a local place!! I gave a gift I was so anxious to give - something I built for my husband. That was the best part! I couldn't wait to give it to him. It might not mean much to anyone else, but it was special because it was a labor of love! (I framed 2 HUGE maps he had so he could hang them in his office.) It was a big deal for me to do it since I've never used a saw before!!

I talked to my family and am looking forward to "doing Christmas" with them soon! It was a great day! We did start with Baby Jesus. He was in all the mangers when the children woke up. They were so excited to see him, finally! Mary Frances said, "Baby Jesus looks beautiful in his manger!" I couldn't agree more! Thank you, Jesus!

Mary Frances got slippers from Papa!
Chase got a few bath toys and then took an hour long bath!
Uncle Glen gave Mary Frances what she "always wanted" - Dora Saves the Mermaids!!
(You can see one of the maps in the background!

The Best Gift Ever

As far as I'm concerned, Jesus was the most incredible gift ever given to me. As I was placing Jesus in all the mangers around the house tonight, I continued to ponder this incredible gift! Over the last few months I have been thinking a lot about my relationship with Christ and why I have such incredible faith in Him.

My parents introduced me to God, and His son, as a very young child. I went to church several times a week and loved it! But more than that, I was taught about having a personal relationship with Him, about how much God loves me no matter what I do.

I always thought I had a boring Christian testimony because I do not have a dramatic story of how God saved me from addiction and torment. I didn't really want that type of story. I just didn't think anyone cared about mine after hearing what He had done for someone else. However, I now believe that God really didn't intend for us to have to be brought out of that. He wants us to just trust Him, take Him at His word, and obey Him. I am so grateful that my parents gave me this gift. Of course, I chose it for myself, but it was undeniable for me. He was so real to me that I couldn't do anything but trust Him. And the amazing thing is that He has never let me down!

I'm tempted to discard this post because I really haven't thought it all through yet. These are just the thoughts going through me head right now. Please understand I am not saying that I am exempt from temptation or trouble. It definitely comes my way and I am not always quick to flee, but I think I learn my lesson pretty quickly because of the trust and faith in God that has been built in me!

Okay, I'll stop writing now because I don't know where I'm going now. Just jotting down thoughts...

Peanut Butter Anyone?

Apparently, Chase and Mary Frances couldn't wait for a snack! I don't think there is any peanut butter left. Since Ray C. was in charge, he cleaned up! He said it was the oily-est bath he had ever seen! What did we do before we had kids? Life must have been very boring!

Father and Son

I just had to add this picture. I think it is so nice. I wish it had a better background, but, oh well! Ray C.'s dad is here visiting with us for Christmas! He took us out for lunch today and the people around us enjoyed watching our circus! Anyway, we're excited he's here!

Christmas Card Attempts

The following are pictures you will not see on our Christmas cards this year!

Okay, this one is really cute, but you can't see the boys' faces. So, we went with a different approach: a newsletter including the best of everyone!!

Hope your Christmas is Merry!

Princess Mommy

Sorry it has been so long. I just haven't felt like blogging! So, I'll start with something small. This morning Chase noticed my wedding portrait, and gasped. Then he said, "Mommy, you a princess." I love that kid!!!

Potty Problems

So we flushed over $500 down the toilet today, so to speak, to have 3 TOYS removed from the toilets! Chase seems to enjoy flushing things. We found 2 foam letters in one toilet and a toy screw driver (about 8 inches long) in the other. Can you believe it cost $255 per toilet for the excavation? What am I going to do? I have asked the children to help me watch him in the bathroom. He has also tried to flush other things that didn't go down - a towel, a basketball, a golf ball, a tennis ball, etc! The plumber suggested putting a lock on the bathroom door so he can't go in, but he apparently has never been in my situation with 3 newly trained children who could never wait for me to open the door every time they need to go. I'm fostering independence here. So, I will be more cautious with Chase in the bathroom while allowing the older children their independence! What fun it was to have the toilets removed from the floor and have the house filled with the wonderful bathroom aromas! I could not wait for that guy to leave, and he said he wished he had 3 or 4 more jobs like that today! I guess so when you're making $250 a pop!

Trick or Treat...

The kids had so much fun on the very first night of trick-or-treating! We have never done it before. So, it was an extra-fun time for us! They were so cute running up to all the doors, and it was so much to see all of our neighbors out!

I explained the rules of trick-or-treating to them last night:

1. If the porch light is on, they have candy and you can knock.
2. Let them put the candy in your bucket. Don't reach in! (Yeah, right! That did not happen. Well, actually it did, but Chase grabbed a few extra pieces afterwards!)
3. Keep the candy in the bucket. Do not eat it all tonight! (Now the candy is hiding!)

The first house we went to was our neighbor's, Ms. Marilyn, whom the kids adore! When she answered the door, the kids said "trick or treat" and then Thomas gave Ms. Marilyn some candy from his bucket (something from school). Apparently, I didn't explain this very well!
It is nicer to give than receive, but I corrected my son and told them we would be receiving candy at all the houses tonight not giving it away! I love the things they do and the way their minds work!

Hopefully, they will understand that Halloween is only once a year, and that it is not customary for us to ring a doorbell and ask for candy!! We'll see how that goes!

Peter Pan

TinkerBell
and the horrible, Captain Hook

Pictures of Me at Preview Service

A friend sent these to me since I didn't have any pictures of myself at the preview service! Actually, they are of Jessica and me singing with the band! It was awesome! Movies will just never be the same!

Intense Conversations with Preschoolers

On the way to school yesterday, the children and I had a great conversation! Chase is the only one who went to school because the others were sick. Thomas started throwing up Saturday night and Mary Frances started on Sunday! They are all fine now, but it made for a great conversation!

I'm not sure how we got started, but we were talking about the devil. I think the kids may have asked what he looked like - no telling where that came from with Halloween right around the corner! Anyway, I proceeded to tell them a few truths about the devil - mainly that the devil doesn't like churches. So, I told them that the devil isn't happy with mommy and daddy because we are starting a new church and telling more people about God. I told them that the devil was trying to make us think about other things and not about our new church this weekend. So, that is why they were sick, we had a car accident that rendered are car useless, and several other more minor things.

Now, if you aren't sure about this whole God thing, this may seem really strange to you, but I can assure you that this is how the devil works, and I try to teach the children in as simple terms as I can about it. I did assure them that God is bigger and stronger than the devil and we had no reason to be concerned as long as we didn't let the devil win. So, we decided to not get a new car until this week, not worry about the kids being sick, but continue on, and to trust that God would work out all the details!

At "Church Planters Boot Camp" in May, Jim Griffith said to us, "If you don't believe in the devil, just plant a church!" We have certain people designated to pray for our family every day for this very reason!

So, after this deep conversation, we moved to cancer. Mary Frances was talking about a friend of Jessie's who just died of cancer recently, Mr. Pete. I told her that is why Grandmary (Ray C.'s mom) died also. So, we talked about how the doctors can usually make you better when you are sick, but sometimes they can't make you better if you have cancer.

We talked about eating healthy, and how fruits and vegetables make the cells in our bodies strong so when we catch germs from other people our healthy cells actually fight the germs and tell them to go away. Yes, I do normally explain things this much. It makes more sense to know why we do things rather than just "because I said so." However, "because I said so" really works well when you are tired of explaining! Anyway, they loved the visual of the healthy cells and germs duking it out!

(I know cancer is not "caught" like other illnesses, but I still believe healthy cells fight off most cancers. So, eat healthy!)

I love having these kind of conversations with the kids! It is so much fun to hear their comments and questions! I especially love it when they say something a week or month later proving to me that they really were listening! It is true that they are sponges!

Fry Road Preview Service

GOD IS AMAZING!! What an incredible morning! I was practicing my music for worship this morning on my way to church. By the time I pulled into the parking lot, I was crying huge tears of joy as I was singing the redone hymn "How Marvelous." You may think it strange that I was driving around before sunrise with a hymn blasting in my car, but it was an awesome way to prepare for what God had in the works.

I pulled in to the theater parking lot and was overwhelmed by the amount of cars already there - the people who were already hard at work preparing for the service!
(This is the cafe area with coffee and donuts!)
Ray C. and I were walking down the hall a little later, and he said, "There is no way we should be able to do this our first Sunday!" It was out of total amazement that he said it because we were watching it unfold before our very eyes.


We had volunteers everywhere. I am still meeting new people who are volunteering!








The party rooms were turned into nursery rooms and then FULL of children.


The theaters were turned into worship rooms for the preschoolers, elementary, and adults.

The preschoolers had clowns in the worship service.

The elementary kids had a magician.

And the adults had an awesome band that I was thrilled to sing with (including my sister)! We had a great preacher (even if I do say so myself), and awesome people everywhere making things happen.


We had so many people in the worship service that we had to ask everyone to move toward the center because people were standing trying to get in!! I think the total count of kids, volunteers , and the rest of the adults was around 320! And we barely advertised for this service!

It was great to have practice because we realized a few things we could do differently, and we know people are a little more forgiving. I can't wait to see our launch service! But after an exhausting weekend, we're glad we have until December 2nd to do it all again!

BIG DAY!!

My day started at 5:15 this morning when Ray C.'s alarm went off and he said, "I can't believe it's today!" What an emotion-filled statement for us and the Foundry family as we prepare to see what this baby is going to look like.
It's kind of like an ultrasound. We all get to see what the baby will look like, but we can't really have it yet! There is still so much to prepare!
So, I am leaving in just a few minutes to join my friends and "family" who have been at the Cinemark since 6:00 setting up for our first preview service at the Foundry Fry Rd.
Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to build God's team and church! This is His thing, and we are so humbled to have been called to be a part of it!
Thanks to the guys at PCI for delivering our trailers (after packing them) and teaching us how to set it all up. They are even at the theater this morning showing us how to do it!

Where do I begin?

With three little ones, there is always something blog-worthy going on!

*Chase has a scratched eye that took us to the Opthamologist's office yesterday for 3 1/2 hours and another 2 hours home (we were in Houston the entire time). By the way, they did nothing for him. It healed on its own overnight! I've been through the same thing with Thomas at this age, but you just can't risk an eye injury! If you ask Chase what happened he says, "Tata shrach my eye!"

*The kids are all doing better in school although Thomas does not like the prayers Ms. Dana says. He is determined the class will learn his superman prayer. He has a fabulous teacher that is working with him so patiently! We are so blessed!

*Thomas made a snack for us today while the rest of us were sleeping. While we were taking a nap, he poured (and spilled) orange juice into cups and then diluted it like we usually do. He washed off the plates from breakfast in the bathroom sink, and got out baby carrots for everyone. He also gave Mary Frances an apple since he knows how much she loves them! He even cleaned up what he spilled and put the towel right back in the bathroom. I was really moved by his thoughtfulness. And on top of that, he waited for us to wake up to eat his snack! He has such a sweet heart!

*Chase is still saying, "I na a bebe emor. I bi boy!" Don't dare call him a baby (or a snuggle bunny). He is a big boy!

*Mary Frances has a sweet smile. I am falling more in love with her. She may know how to work the system, but she too has a sweet heart! She is a female after all. Isn't working the system part of our DNA!?! We just need to keep it in check, right!?!

*My husband has been out of town for the week, and I miss him. I thought I would enjoy sleeping in the bed by myself - that BIG king bed, but no such luck - 3 other people keep jumping in at 4:00 in the morning!

*I'm tired! But what's new!?!

Dear Abby...

Thomas wrote a letter to his cousin, Abigail, yesterday. He sat down with the paper and pen and started asking me how to spell things. So, I said, "Why don't you just see if you can sound it out and do it all by yourself?" I was floored that he actually did it. He usually says "I can't" and then just gives up, but he stuck to it! I was so proud of the outcome. Here is the literal interpretation of what he wrote just so you can understand his writing. Under the letter is what it says, in case you can't figure it all out! Remember, he's only 5! This his first ever attempt to write anything other than his name! I did help him a little with the birthday - he wasn't sure about the "th"!

DER ABGAE PLES KUM TO MY BRTHDAY LUV THOMAS
DEAR ABIGAIL, PLEASE COME TO MY BIRTHDAY. LOVE THOMAS

Pretty good, huh? Now, his birthday isn't until September. He just had one, but I guess he just wants her to get it on her calendar!

Coming to a Theater Near You..

I know I used this title a month or so ago, but this time it is without the "maybe."


We are so excited to be having our first "preview" service in the theater in just 3 weeks! I cannot believe this is coming so fast, now. It has been on our hearts for so long, and it is finally coming! We have had 2 launch team meetings with 21 and 30 adults, respectively, and it has been so emotional for me to see people catch this vision and get excited about this new thing we are doing!


We had lunch together yesterday after the team went to the theater to watch another church set up, have their services, and then tear down! I was a little nervous at how people would respond after seeing the amount of work involved, but they were so excited. We discussed the things each person noticed that they liked or that we could improve.


We have so much work ahead of us, but I am grateful that we are doing this at Foundry with the incredible amount of support we have. We have resources available to make things happen and to do them well!


And we have KIDS!! We talked a lot about the children's ministry, and how we will make things secure and inviting for them and their parents! There were 11 kids at the meeting (and 5 more in the nursery at the church).



I could go on and on, but I'll end with God is Good! I am so humbled that He would choose me to be a part of the leadership in this new campus and grateful for the opportunity to show my love for Him in this way.

Rectangle CD's

Thomas is wanting to sing with the karaoke machine today. He asked Ray C. for a CD to play in it, and Ray C. told him to go get one out of Chase's CD player. Thomas said, "No, daddy. Chase's CD's are round. We need a rectangle CD." (That would be a tape - you know the old fashioned things we used before the round CD's were invented!) I love the things that come out of their mouths.

I really enjoy conversations with them because there are so many things that they just cannot comprehend. Like high school. They have no clue what that means. We tell them teenagers go to high school. So, they say, "well when I grow up I want to be a teenager." They just don't understand the order of things. I love it! What a big job we have ahead of us - to put things into proper perspective for their growing minds. One thing we're working on is the law against marrying relatives. You just can't marry your brother. It is so sweet right now, but you will be really grossed out in a few years!

Family and Friends

We've come a long way since Seminary, and look how we've grown! This is a picture of our good friends from Seminary, Kevin and Kerry Henson and Mike and Mary Gammill with all our children! We all met before kids, and now we have 7 between us! It has been so much fun for the children to pick up with friendships that were developed the moment they were born!
A kiss for sissy!
The Hughes' Express!! Choo Choo...
We had to get a new family picture! The kids are supposed to take pictures to school for different things, and the last family picture we took was over a year ago! So, here we are - just before church Sunday morning!

Where did all the babies go?

Chase has just informed me that he is no longer a baby! He cannot form a full sentence that anyone else can understand, but he does insist he is not a baby. He came in the office earlier to hug me because he just loves to snuggle, and I scooped him up saying, "I love my baby!" He looked up at me and said, "No, I not baby. I big boy." Of course, it was not that clear, but I understood him perfectly.

So, we've been going back and forth on this for about an hour, but he is standing firm! He is a big boy, and I have no more babies! Although, life is getting easier without a baby under my arm at all hours, it is sad. We are moving past a special stage. Oh well, God has so much in store for us. It has been a wild ride so far. I have no doubt it will continue to be FUN!