2nd Annual Pumpkin Carve

We have the honor of being chosen each year by college students to be their "adoptive parents". What this really means is that we provide them with free food, fun, and company. This year we were chosen by 9 students (still not sure how this happened since there were only 6 sign up slots under our name.) This is a ministry of our church which is appropriatly named Generations. Last year, we started a pumpkin carving contest and they had a blast. So, we made it an annual thing. Last year, Noelle was the judge. As the night went on, we found out that was a bad idea. They began trying to persuade her with candy, favors, and I think a few even offered her money. So, this year, we got an outside judge. Once the college students figured out our neighbor was the judge they tried to work on her too. It worked out great though, and one of my newest students won with her self portrait in a pumpkin. As they carve their pumpkins I give a devotional to them about how pumpkin carving is just like becoming a Christian. When you cut the top off your pumpkin you see all the bad stuff, just like God sees in our sinful pasts. Then you scoop all the goop out just like the Lord forgives us for all our wrong doings. Then you carve a face just like God gives us a new face which is fresh and new because of the hope and grace he has shown us. Then you put a light in your pumpkin, just as the Lord has put his light into us so that we may shine in a world of darkness. If we are like the pumpkin shining in the darkness with faces full of hope and all our sins forgiven, then we can increase the Lord's earthly pumpkin patch of people by sharing the good news. How awesome is that!!!!!!!!!

This is Sarah's winning pumpkin, way to go Sarah!

Here are 8 of the 9 college students. We love you guys!

A Day on the Farm

Hunter in The Corn Pool Noelle and her baby pumpkin Today was Noelle's school field trip to the Marnego Creek Farms. I took Hunter along, and he two of them had a great time. They loved the animals and playing in the corn. Noelle and Hunter are truly best friends. I am so proud when I watch the two of them together. LeeLee missed out on this trip. She stayed home with Amber (the babysitter).

Beautiful Picture Day

Today was family picture day on the beach. You all will see the family one when we send out the Christmas Cards, but here are some of my babies enjoying the beach.

Crabs and More Crabs

Now for Hunter this trip is all about catching things. This is like a dream come true trip for him. Last night we all stayed up late and went out on the beach with flashlights and caught ghost crabs. It was a good time, and we caught lots. It is so incredibly dark here though, we could not see a thing without the flashlights. Hunter, let all of the ghost crabs go at once and laughed as they all ran. Today, we ended our day by going to catch blue crabs. I never thought it would be so easy. Hunter was so excited catching them. He would get them out of the trap and put them in the cooler. When we finally got back to the house, after getting the truck stuck on the beach (long story, you'll have to ask me later), we had a crab boil. This made Noelle happy, she loves crab.

Eating Machine

Eleenah's idea of a fun vacation is eating. Here she is hanging out on the porch. It's hard to tell, but she has been drinking strawberry smoothies and eating lots of crackers. If there is food available, she is eating it. I haven't quite figured out where it all goes. She doesn't seem to gain as much as we think she should. She is having fun here too, she likes the beach. She likes to hunt for the shells. She is a little collector.

Giddy Up!

We are in Cape San Blas, Florida. It is absolutely beautiful. The weather is awesome and we are enjoying our laid back trip. For those of you who have not heard of this place, it is also referred to as the forgotten coast. It is empty here, we have only seen two other families and they have been at a distance. Noelle has been looking forward to this vacation, mainly because she wanted to ride horses on the beach. Today was the day! Her horses name was Cowboy and he was an old Tennessee walker. She looked like a natural up there. I could definitely tell she was my daughter. She handled him like a pro. Our guide even commented on how great she did.

A New Dog for Hunter

After alot of prayer, I finally came to the decision to have three of our five dogs put to sleep. I knew the day would come, but nobody wants to face it. Everyone who knows me, knows how important Ginny was to me, but it got to the point that I had to look at quality of life over the quantity. Also, Forrest and Gump has gotten older and were beginning to act a little pyscho due to cancer. So, in late July we had one very bad day. But just as the word tells us in Romans 8:28, the Lord can turn something bad into something great. I was searching on petfinder.com for the perfect dog for Hunter when the cutest little face appeared on my screen. His name was Rags and he was at a shelter in Columbus, GA which is only 45 minutes away. I waited about 24 hours, then I called and asked lots of questions. Then we waited 2 more days and went to visit. I was really hoping that someone else would adopt him, so I would be able to forget about him. When we visited, we fell in love. He was so calm and gentle with the kids. We went ahead and put him on hold, but it would be another week before we went to pick him up. I felt in my heart that Hunter and Rags would be great for each other. Rags was a special needs dog. When he was brought in by animal control, he had a dog toy that had embedded itself in his neck. They immediately did surgery and cut the toy out of his neck. I began thinking of Hunter's birth and how the cord was so tight around his neck, and the danger that he was in. I figured the two of them would somehow be able to understand each other. They are pretty funny together. Rags is Hunter's pillow when he watches TV and his playmate when no one else will play. When Hunter has to go to the naughty mat, Rags goes to. He has turned out to be a little crazy, but as we continue to learn, you can enter this house and be normal, but you will not leave normal. I haven't quite decided whether this is a good or a bad thing.