Hey guys, what's new with you???? We have just finished with a week of being on the Boomerang Express at VBS. The kids loved it as always. Caleb was able to run the sound booth and video all week long and really loves it. He did a great job. I ended up with between 8 and 12 kids in my 3rd grade class all week. We would join up with the 4th graders to rotate to music,crafts, rec., and snacks. They had about 8 kids in 4th grade so we had about 20 with us most of the day. We really had a great group and only had a couple of kids who we had to knock over the head! Hee Hee!
Well, this weekend we said goodbye to my dear Aunt Elizabeth. Her funeral was on Saturday and we really enjoyed getting to be around family and friends and getting to see everyone. All of my brothers and their families (except Crystal) got to come and we got to visit. Elizabeth had a great life and lived to the age of 84 years old. She was my daddy's oldest sister. I remember so many things about her because she was always around and doing everything with us. I don't remember a time in my life that she has simply just not been there. She was active in everything and was really a huge part of the community. Clint said at the funeral home the other night, "man I can't believe all these people knew her!" It was funny to me because in all reality she knew so many MORE people than that. She had always been a part of everything. I would love to know how many VBS's she helped with. I bet if you counted them all it would be over 50 if not more. She taught God's word more years than I have even been alive yet! She was always working in the church and had a awesome testimony of how not to give up and "retire" in the church. So many people think that when they reach a certain age that God is through with them and they are excused from serving him. Elizabeth was not one of them. She was teaching and leading in bible studies all the way until the end of her life. I loved looking at pictures today at Aunt Irma's today. Many people don't have a lot of pictures from when they grew up but, my Daddy's family was not one of them. They have such great pictures of all of them growing up and moving to Texas. Family trips and Easter Sunday's were all documented well as well as snapshots of them playing and everyday life. They were great. My Daddy was so handsome! I love seeing him grow up. Everyone needs to riffle through all the pictures in Aunt Irma's box, it has great treasures!
This week hold rest for us. I plan to sleep to an obsence hour in the morning and just rest. We also are going to take the kids to the local Harriett Baptist VBS at night. It had a kick off party tonight. The kids played games and won prizes while we walked around and met new people and talked to some old friends. The run about 25 kids in VBS over the week. They are praying for 40 this year and passed out 120 invitations to people. We are hoping the kids will meet some other kids that will go to school with them this year. So far no luck. All the kids we met are in grade over them or under them but not with them. Caleb volunteered to help out and they are going to let him do the sound booth for them during worship rally. It really is a very small church but, I know they are good people and the kids will have fun.
Well, I guess that is all for now. I am going to upload some pictures from VBS to the computer and will post them soon. Have a wonderful week!
Love ya all
JJ
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Aaron's baptism. He was so cute and so happy!
Down he goes in the water. Buried and raised into a new life!
Aaron answering the question "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior and do you desire to follow him all the rest of your days?"
Here is is curling is toes around the brick at the bottom.
Aaron is standing on a brick on the bottom of the baptistry. This is where I thought be might get the idea to splash the choir!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
What's Up!
Hey gang, as promised, I am checking back in. I have not picked up another book yet, except of course for the VBS materials. It's VBS week at Hillcrest and this year we are prepared! Last year we had more kids than ever before and had to go into full blown panic mode. I had 25 in the 3rd and 4th grade class that I taught. It was nuts! I was literally stepping on kids because they were so packed in. This year, however, we decided to break up into individual classes and I am only having to teach the 3rd grade. I had 10 yesterday and 11 today. So much better! They can have fun and really get to learn much better. If you have 25 in a class NO ONE gets to asks questions or input but with a smaller class you get to actually see them learning (you know what I mean). You see there wheels turning and see how they are processing the information. Anyway, it's been fun so far! Aaron was selected as student of the day for his class today. He got to get his hair spray painted and pick a toy. His teacher tells me he is so good and helps her keep on track. She says he is going to be a teacher one of these days. His mission teacher also made a comment about how he is so good at answering questions and is really eager to learn. I can see him turning out to be a teacher one day. Since he asked Jesus into his heart at Children's Camp this year (did I blog about camp??? I don't think so...man I'm behind) and was baptized he has really started learning tons. He reads his Bible a lot without being told to and is wanting to study more and more.
OK let's see.....I'll just go through family and tell you how everyone is doing.
Brian....is Brian....what can you say. Since we have moved to the country I don't hardly see him. The man is a country boy at heart. He is the biggest piddler, neighbor, tinker'er, I have ever seen. You know the type...my Daddy is one. The type that likes to stay outside, working on stuff, visiting with the neighbors, running down the road to talk to my brother Mac and goof off at his huge vegetable farm. He LOVES living in the country. His Mom always said that after they moved to Miles she never saw him much except at night because he would stay outside all day long. With Brian's 40th birthday sneaking up on us in August, I think he is in his second childhood and loving the country life! Other than that, he is is working and trying to sell the old house. NO we have not sold it. We have had one offer that was lower than we needed it to be. We tried to nogotiate but it didn't work. Anyway, we have lowered the price and have had a lot more activity around it lately, but no offers. We praying and know that God is sell it in His timing so we are not worried. Until He sells it He is providing the money we need to make the interest payments on it so we can't complain. It's so out of our hands it's not even funny. There is no way we can do this at all!
Me....well you know what I have been doing. I've read all summer. Last week I went to a workshop with all the girls from St. Luke. It was a lot of fun and not near as boring as it couldn't have been. I liked getting to touch base with all of them and talk about the new year. I don't have to start back until Aug. 30th so I have a lot of summer left still!
Caleb....is going to be 13 years old on Thursday! I can't believe it! Where in the world does the time go! I will offically have a teenager in the house this week. We let him pick out a new phone for his birthday today. I know it's early but, come on you can't get a phone they will like unless they are standing right there. He has had his other one since 6th grade and has not lost it, broken it, or forgot it once! That is pretty amazing for a kid I think! He doesn't use it all that much right now still (he's a boy and doesn't have much to say)but, I have a feeling that when girls hit the picture all that will change. Yuck! I am so not looking forward to that! Caleb is excited about being a Bulldog this year. We went up to the school and the high school principle (Merl) took us on a tour. He showed Caleb all his classes and showed him his lockers. He has to walk about 50 feet in between classes and has 5 minutes to get there. He is in Heaven! At Lee, he had to go a block in 3 minutes and up a flight of stairs, while carrying a 30 pound backpack! He is really looking forward to it. Please start praying now for Caleb to have friends and to really enjoy it. I know it might be really tough moving in your 8th grade year.
Jared....is also loving the country. We bought him a brand new BB gun for his 9th birthday(also a post that I am behind on) in June. He loves shooting at things. He loves going outside and just roaming around. He's a lot like his Daddy and usually goes with Brian visiting the neighbors. One funny thing the boys decided to do was to bury a time capsule. Right after moving here, the discovered that we would let thme dig holes. I don't know why they like doing this but, they have always liked digging BIG holes in the yard. Anyway, they had already dug one hole and then the next day wanted to do another one. I am in the house taking a nap during all of this, sadly or I might have some pictures. Anway, I wake up and they drag me out to a freshly covered hole with a big rock over the top of it. On the rock, Aaron wrote in marker "X marks the spot", "Do not remove for 1 year". I laughed like crazy! Under the rock, is a butter tub with treasure inside for a time capsule! I don't know what is all in there really. I guess I will find out in a year! I love boys!
Aaron...well you have heard a little about Aaron already. His big thing is that he accepted Jesus as his Savior during Children's Camp in June. He was a part of Bro. Rody's group and he stuck to him like glue all during children's camp. After the sermon on Monday night, Aaron raised his hand and said he wanted to know more about asking Jesus into his heart and life. The pastor talked to him and then told them to think about it a while. The next morning Aaron was up bright and early and was on Bro. Rody's heels. He looked and looked for him. Finally they squatted down in the middle of the driveway and talked about Jesus. Soon after, Aaron and Bro. Rody came to find Brian and I and took us into the prayer room where Aaron prayed and asked Jesus to come into his life and live there forever. Brian was crying, I was beaming and Aaron was just too cute for words. I love that little boy! Two Sunday's later, he was baptized at the church. He was so cute going into the water. I was very afraid, as Rody talked to the congregation about Aaron's decision, that he was going to splash the choir on the other side of the baptistry. I was hoping Rody would go ahead and dunk him and get him out before it crossed his mind! I could see it in my mind, Aaron playing with the water and then flinging into the 1st row of the choir loft. Hee Hee! Of course, HE DIDN'T do it and everything was beautiful.
OK now you are up to date kind of... I know I have missed so many things. I will try and go back and post some pictures soon. One thing of note about our lives is that our pastor Brother Rody has resigned from our church shortly after baptizing Aaron. It was a shock and a loss that we are still trying to reocver from. I may try and post more about it soon but right now the thoughts just won't come. They are still all over the place. However, I know my God...all things work together for GOOD for those that love Him. And I know I LOVE Him so things will work out! I trust Him and yes even "thank Him" for the trails we are going through. We will come out more refined and more precious for it! His will be Done!
Love you all,
JJ
OK let's see.....I'll just go through family and tell you how everyone is doing.
Brian....is Brian....what can you say. Since we have moved to the country I don't hardly see him. The man is a country boy at heart. He is the biggest piddler, neighbor, tinker'er, I have ever seen. You know the type...my Daddy is one. The type that likes to stay outside, working on stuff, visiting with the neighbors, running down the road to talk to my brother Mac and goof off at his huge vegetable farm. He LOVES living in the country. His Mom always said that after they moved to Miles she never saw him much except at night because he would stay outside all day long. With Brian's 40th birthday sneaking up on us in August, I think he is in his second childhood and loving the country life! Other than that, he is is working and trying to sell the old house. NO we have not sold it. We have had one offer that was lower than we needed it to be. We tried to nogotiate but it didn't work. Anyway, we have lowered the price and have had a lot more activity around it lately, but no offers. We praying and know that God is sell it in His timing so we are not worried. Until He sells it He is providing the money we need to make the interest payments on it so we can't complain. It's so out of our hands it's not even funny. There is no way we can do this at all!
Me....well you know what I have been doing. I've read all summer. Last week I went to a workshop with all the girls from St. Luke. It was a lot of fun and not near as boring as it couldn't have been. I liked getting to touch base with all of them and talk about the new year. I don't have to start back until Aug. 30th so I have a lot of summer left still!
Caleb....is going to be 13 years old on Thursday! I can't believe it! Where in the world does the time go! I will offically have a teenager in the house this week. We let him pick out a new phone for his birthday today. I know it's early but, come on you can't get a phone they will like unless they are standing right there. He has had his other one since 6th grade and has not lost it, broken it, or forgot it once! That is pretty amazing for a kid I think! He doesn't use it all that much right now still (he's a boy and doesn't have much to say)but, I have a feeling that when girls hit the picture all that will change. Yuck! I am so not looking forward to that! Caleb is excited about being a Bulldog this year. We went up to the school and the high school principle (Merl) took us on a tour. He showed Caleb all his classes and showed him his lockers. He has to walk about 50 feet in between classes and has 5 minutes to get there. He is in Heaven! At Lee, he had to go a block in 3 minutes and up a flight of stairs, while carrying a 30 pound backpack! He is really looking forward to it. Please start praying now for Caleb to have friends and to really enjoy it. I know it might be really tough moving in your 8th grade year.
Jared....is also loving the country. We bought him a brand new BB gun for his 9th birthday(also a post that I am behind on) in June. He loves shooting at things. He loves going outside and just roaming around. He's a lot like his Daddy and usually goes with Brian visiting the neighbors. One funny thing the boys decided to do was to bury a time capsule. Right after moving here, the discovered that we would let thme dig holes. I don't know why they like doing this but, they have always liked digging BIG holes in the yard. Anyway, they had already dug one hole and then the next day wanted to do another one. I am in the house taking a nap during all of this, sadly or I might have some pictures. Anway, I wake up and they drag me out to a freshly covered hole with a big rock over the top of it. On the rock, Aaron wrote in marker "X marks the spot", "Do not remove for 1 year". I laughed like crazy! Under the rock, is a butter tub with treasure inside for a time capsule! I don't know what is all in there really. I guess I will find out in a year! I love boys!
Aaron...well you have heard a little about Aaron already. His big thing is that he accepted Jesus as his Savior during Children's Camp in June. He was a part of Bro. Rody's group and he stuck to him like glue all during children's camp. After the sermon on Monday night, Aaron raised his hand and said he wanted to know more about asking Jesus into his heart and life. The pastor talked to him and then told them to think about it a while. The next morning Aaron was up bright and early and was on Bro. Rody's heels. He looked and looked for him. Finally they squatted down in the middle of the driveway and talked about Jesus. Soon after, Aaron and Bro. Rody came to find Brian and I and took us into the prayer room where Aaron prayed and asked Jesus to come into his life and live there forever. Brian was crying, I was beaming and Aaron was just too cute for words. I love that little boy! Two Sunday's later, he was baptized at the church. He was so cute going into the water. I was very afraid, as Rody talked to the congregation about Aaron's decision, that he was going to splash the choir on the other side of the baptistry. I was hoping Rody would go ahead and dunk him and get him out before it crossed his mind! I could see it in my mind, Aaron playing with the water and then flinging into the 1st row of the choir loft. Hee Hee! Of course, HE DIDN'T do it and everything was beautiful.
OK now you are up to date kind of... I know I have missed so many things. I will try and go back and post some pictures soon. One thing of note about our lives is that our pastor Brother Rody has resigned from our church shortly after baptizing Aaron. It was a shock and a loss that we are still trying to reocver from. I may try and post more about it soon but right now the thoughts just won't come. They are still all over the place. However, I know my God...all things work together for GOOD for those that love Him. And I know I LOVE Him so things will work out! I trust Him and yes even "thank Him" for the trails we are going through. We will come out more refined and more precious for it! His will be Done!
Love you all,
JJ
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A confession!!!!
Ok many of you have wondered...what happened to the McGuire's???...did they move and fall off the face of the map????....are they so busy they haven't blogged in two months???? are they still alive???? O.K. here is the confession....we moved...we worked and set up the new house...then I started a new book series!!!!!!! If you know me at all...you know that when I pick up a book all life stops as we know it until I am through with the book. I don't clean, don't cook (much), don't do anything until I am finished. Well, the problem is I was given by Amy (yes it's her fault again, she leads me into so much trouble Hee Hee) at whole series of books 7 in all called the Mitford series. So for the last month I have live with Father Tim and his wife Cynthia in Mitford! It was a great vaction in my mind (which is all we can afford this year!) So now I am finished with reading the 8 books (oh and I of course had to go back and reread the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Price book too, so that I can critize the movie coming out) and I am back among the living. Well, I did pick up one on Sunday, again which is the sequel to the Mitford books but there is only one of them so far and I finished it today (Tracy is to blame for that one). So now you know my confession and know where I have been the last couple of months. The confession is out! Sorry all of my blog friends and loved ones. I hope you haven't missed me too much!
Well, my husband just called to say he is coming home for lunch and I have to cook! Yuck! I promise to post more later on!
Love to all!
JJ
Well, my husband just called to say he is coming home for lunch and I have to cook! Yuck! I promise to post more later on!
Love to all!
JJ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)