Marathon Man!

Our Grampee finished his 27th CONSECUTIVE HOUSTON MARATHON today! He did it virtually which means we had the honor of cheering him on and celebrating through the neighborhoods. Yesterday, we played games and Gamee made homemade manicotti so we could get his pasta in. The kids made signs and a finish line for the big day. This morning, all the grandkids got a chance to cheer Grampee on in the neighborhood and even walk alongside him for a few miles. He timed it just right to cross the "finish line" right in front of the house. The neighbors may have thought we were crazy with all the screaming and celebrations, but we are always so proud when Grampee finishes. After resting and showering, we ate the traditional subway sandwiches and enjoyed being together. The drive it takes to do this is truly amazing to witness. Way to go Grampee, we love you! Isaiah 40:31

Happy 73rd Birthday Daddy

Today would have been my Dad's 73rd birthday. He was the very BEST Daddy ever. He never missed a moment to make others laugh, always chose joy, constantly did for others and truly never met a stranger. We always say "strangers are just friends we haven't met yet." Today, in honor of my Daddy, I said hello to every stranger I came across and told 5 people why I loved them. I also went to the "BR Hospital" and got his favorite...nonfat cappuccino blast. I felt like I could run 3 miles on the sugar overload...but the smile my heart felt thinking of him enjoying one was worth it. Happy birthday Daddy, I love you and still think of you EVERY single day.

TIS Students Recognized as Houston Texans Stats Challenge Winners

We could not be prouder of Cade and all he accomplished with his academics thus far this year.  After Thanksgiving break, Cade came to us and wanted to submit a video about the Stats challenge to the Houston Texans for a chance to win tickets.  Of course he told us the night before it was due at 10pm, but regardless, we went to work.  Well...Cade and Mom went to work. Charles did help hit the record button later that night, but I am not bitter at all. Ha!  Fast forward to January 4th where we found out that Cade was selected as one of the 10 winners in the Houston area and won tickets to today's game against the Tennessee Titans.  We were so excited, and of course Cade selected his Daddy to go with him.  The two of them had the best time.  Cade said his favorite parts of the day were the free food, watching the teams warm up, and spending time with his Daddy.  This was also Charles' first NFL game ever and he said his favorite parts were experiencing something new with Cade and being in the Suite. The Tomball ISD news article is below. Way to go Cade! 

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Tomball Intermediate School sixth grade students Cade Hall and Hayden Hamilton were recently recognized as Houston Texans Stats Challenge winners and were honored at a football game.

Because of their hard work in completing assignments and the creation of a personal video, Tomball Intermediate School sixth grade students Cade Hall and Hayden Hamilton were recently selected as winners of the Houston Texans Stats Challenge.

This math program, presented by the Houston Texans and Schlumberger, is available for sixth grade students to improve their math skills using the game of football.  The Stats Challenge is designed for classroom learning and uses fun videos, player stats, worksheets and answer guides to sharpen students' math skills. The activities were incorporated into the Fall Curriculum as an extension activity related to real-world experiences.

These students, under the direction of their math teacher Kristi Prejean, were two of just 10 students the Houston Texans selected as winners. Both Hall and Hamilton completed six weeks of assignments that the Houston Texans created incorporating math and football concepts.  At the conclusion of the lessons each student created a video about their personal experience with the Houston Texans Stats Challenge. Their videos earned them two tickets to a recent Houston Texans game where they were recognized on the video board.Because of their hard work in completing assignments and the creation of a personal video, Tomball Intermediate School sixth grade students Cade Hall and Hayden Hamilton were recently selected as winners of the Houston Texans Stats Challenge.

This math program, presented by the Houston Texans and Schlumberger, is available for sixth grade students to improve their math skills using the game of football.  The Stats Challenge is designed for classroom learning and uses fun videos, player stats, worksheets and answer guides to sharpen students' math skills. The activities were incorporated into the Fall Curriculum as an extension activity related to real-world experiences.

These students, under the direction of their math teacher Kristi Prejean, were two of just 10 students the Houston Texans selected as winners. Both Hall and Hamilton completed six weeks of assignments that the Houston Texans created incorporating math and football concepts.  At the conclusion of the lessons each student created a video about their personal experience with the Houston Texans Stats Challenge. Their videos earned them two tickets to a recent Houston Texans game where they were recognized on the video board.

A new Year for Bunco!

We started year 4 of the Bunco Babes at our house with a 2022 theme.  It was great to start the year with friendships and smiles all around.  A special surprise for me was Gamee being able to fill in as a sub!  Gamee also made beautiful champagne cookies for desert.  Bring on 2022 and the deepening of friendships!

Engagement Day!

19 years ago, Charles proposed to me in Grapeland, TX.  It was a magical evening surrounded by both sides of our family.  Charles' parents, my Dad and Grandmother "Mumps" had snuck off and lit about 100 candles forming a walkway down by the dam.  Rose petals covered a walkway toward a bench.  Once we got down there, Charles led me to the bench (while I kept telling him we had to leave cause we were gonna ruin someone's surprise!).  When we arrived at the bench, he read me some verses from the Bible and then reached into his boot where he had hid the ring.  Immediately he dropped to one knee...and well the rest is history.  After our excitement, we drove back to the house where we were greeted by our parents cheering.  We celebrated by going to a local Mexican Restaurant, Little Mexico, where they sang "For he's a jolly good fellow" to us while we wore sombrero hats.  Jan 4th may be a normal day to others, but it has a lot of great memories for us. Cheers!  

Welcome 2022!

I have given lots of thought to what my focus needs to be this upcoming year.  Like most, we all have so many things we can work on.  Every year I say I need to get 8hrs of sleep per night, drink more water, exercise more, and stay in his word daily.  It seems to be the same struggle each year.  However, I have found over the years that often times I can pray and find a word that helps me focus all these things into one.  It amazes me that the word I choose will take shape throughout the year and mean different things to me in different seasons.  Here are my words for the last 4 years.

2018- Choose Joy

2019- Draw Closer

2020- Balance

2021- Intentional

I kept praying for a word to come to mind that solidified what my focus needed to be for 2022.  As funny as it sounds, "Pruning" kept coming back to my mind.  When I first started thinking about the word, our CFBC Pastor, Dr. Stephens, actually did a sermon the next week on it (yes, THAT is how God works, ha!) and said the following...

"Pruning is a reward. God is the vinedresser who prunes the life of everyone who abides in Christ and bears the fruit of Christ. I believe spiritual pruning will enhance personal growth by removing whatever inhibits my spiritual growth. Technically speaking, to "prune" means to cut off or cut back parts for better shape or more fruitful growth. When we prune correctly, we can encourage healthy growth and flower to our fullest potential."   

Needless to say, my mind was made up and I knew Pruning would be my 2022 focus.  My verse of the year fell right into place as well.  John 15: 2-6 was actually one I had memorized in High School and it was fun to think back to the index card on my bathroom mirror from 1998.  Who knew that 24 years later life would circle back around to a verse that meant so much to me back then.  So, here's to 2022...the year of the PRUNING! 

John 15: 2-6

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me.

To ring in the new year, we decided it should start as a relaxing one.  We hung around the house, started painting Ma's furniture set for one of the guest rooms, made our neighbors laugh with axe throwing in the front yard, watched a gorgeous sunset, and cooked a LOT of great food.  Charles smoked a brisket for 10 hours and let it rest for 4 hours, cooked some deer sausage from a friend, and made our first batch of burnt ends.  We also tried a recipe we found for smoked cabbage wrapped in bacon and made black eyed peas.  Gamee & Grampee brought cheese grits with jalapenos, and we spent the evening watching the Baylor Bears WIN the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans!  It was a tough decision not to go to NOLA for the bowl game, but we decided to save the money since we had gone to the very same bowl game 2 years ago.  It was a pretty perfect beginning to what I know will be a year of adventures, growth, and pruning.  Cheers to 2022 and all it will bring!