Word, Boys, and busy life

Over the past month we have been busy with school, work, and sports. Logan is on two different basketball teams and has started baseball. Garrett is playing basketball and will start baseball soon.

Busy -- Busy -- Busy

Work, School, and Basketball

It seams life is flying by...

Saturdays are going to be busy for the next couple months during UPWARD basketball season. The two teams I am coaching are coming along great and we have met one goal for both teams. I told the kids that my goal was to have everyone score a point during the game. This would take passing, and getting everyone open!! IT WORKED... FOR BOTH TEAMS... I even told L to pass off the ball and not shoot anymore, unless totally open and could not pass. What a kid full of Christ!! G was the same way. He would pass to others and help to get them open. I am truely proud of all my boys. With L's team, we keep score. We won by 2 points and I pointed out with true teamwork the TEAM improves. This is not an individual sport. By passing and working on the close shots, layups, quick jumpshots, the boys really put some numbers on the board. Now we did miss a number of easy layups by bouncing them off the backboard too hard, but the effort and teamwork were amazing!!

We are busy at home also... We have incredible new neighbors. J and T (Chicken too) are great to be around. We have been working feverishly to get the place ready for them. The previous tenants were messy and left a few items broken. On our first day of cleaning, L, G and H were running from room to room finding pennies, nickels and the sometimes a quarter. Well L saw a penny on the counter in the bathroom, jumped the toilet and landed on the under side of the trailer. Yup, went through the floor.... ooppss... "Dad -- we have a problem!!!" "Can you help me out?" OK we had some cleaning and a new floor to fix...

A worked on the cleaning and I worked on the floor -- which took me to my favorite store 3/4 times that day... Boy -- I was in heaven... Off to Home Depot honey... Be back soon.... Of course A said, "Yeh right..."

With the floor fixed, toilet set and all leaks stopped, my sights were set on the other bathroom. No water was running to the other bath. A quick call to the previous owners and she stated the renters never asked about the running water in the bathtub. I ripped out the wall, surround and found lots of GUCK in the pipes. After replacing the fixture, I ran new water lines to create a shower (I am a regular handy man now!!). I even got to use a blow torch!!!! Fire is goooood!!!

OK I am rambling.... Short story... Cleaned trailer, Fixed trailer, new tenants/friends!!!

Life is good. Need more people to come over for dinner.... Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday nights are free... Please invite yourself over...

Love to all,

G

Upward Basketball

The time has come again for another season of Upward basketball and the boys are excited about the possibilities of meeting new kids on their team and creating a "team." I am coaching both the boy's teams and have a good group of kids to work with.

May God bless all these kids and parents this year!!

G has surgery

You know how live just sneeks up on you. Well I forgot to anounce that G was having 4 teeth pulled today. OK - bad dad...

G went in this morning at 8:45 am to have 4 back teeth pulled. I watched as they put him to sleep at 9:15 am. I left the office at 9:30 am to get to work, and A called me at 9:45 am saying he was done... I could have grabbed the pliers if I knew it would be that easy!!!!

He is such a trooper!! He whimpered a little with the IV, but has not let out a peep since the surgery. Maybe they took his voice box!

Please pray for him and quick healing.

Hugs to all,

G

how are you ?

                                              Dear  Dad,

 

 

 

            How  are  you  today? We  both  had  a  great  day!  We  both  hope  you  had  a  good  

            day!

Church is good!!

It is exciting to get to know someone new and have them to your home. We had the priviledge of inviting our new pastor to our home and had a wonderful time!! (and we will have to do it again!!).

Pastor Joel has brought a new twist to the church and is interesting to hear the down to earth message. Today's message was "Wake up!!" We are to wake up as a church, as a person, and as a congregation. Why does God allow us to hit the snooze button? He is calling us to do his work in and around our community. We have an obligation as a Christian to live through the word and let our actions speek about the message of Jesus Christ. Whether we meet as a small group or a large body, we are consistantly seeing and feeling people in need of our attention/ministry. The great thing about this life, everyone has problems. All God wants us to do is listen and then act.

Looking forward to more great and awesome things!!!

G

Wow - has it really been that long?? Merry Christmas

I have tried to keep up with the reading on everyone's blog, but then I finally realized that I am not keeping my end of the bargain.

OK - Here is the general gist of December...

Snow
Ice
Cold

L's birthday, with more snow and ice...

The boys have been playing on the pond with the neighbor boys and having a blast. When it gets this cold it is hard to get them out. We also have two new pets!! We received two sheep from a family from McComb. It was exciting for the boys at first, but now we are into the nitty gritty of farm work with feeding and watering. Even with the cold, the boys have done a good job of taking care of them.

We had Christmas with A's family on Sunday. We had a great trip, but missed our church family. H got some new trains and is busy putting the tracks in a million different configurations. G and L received ice skates and hockey stick and cannot wait to clear off the pond and get on the ice.

Seriously, A and I are planning to have an open house for our new home... Just trying to find time to get it in after the holidays.

L, G and I were all sick last week with the flu from L's classroom. After he got sick, there was only 9 out of 18 children in his room. During the day, 2 more went home... Pretty tough stuff.

Well, how has God been working in our lives... Let me think!! Pastor Joel has open our eyes to new thoughts this holiday (ok - enough with the PC talk...) sorry - CHRISTMAS season. He has been a new bright shinging star in our lives. The boys are asking about inviting his kids over to play and we will soon.

We are thankful for all of our friends (yes you ALL are special to A and I). I am excited about God's kingdom and what he has in store for all of us. As we strive for a Godly life, we are reminded this Christmas season about the trinity of the holidays. Thanksgiving - a time to be thankful and remind ourselves how blessed we are. Christmas - the blessing of the Christ child - Jesus our Savior and Redeemer. Then comes New Year - the time to renew our lives in Christ (and the trivial weight loss and exercise program). I heard a radio talk show host (Glenn Beck) talk about this today and was enlighted about the true meaning of Happy Holidays. Originally this meant the trinity of holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years). While Thanksgiving and New Years are not Christian holiday, they will take on new meaning when you add the blessing of Jesus into your life. We are truely thankful for the life and teachings of Jesus and every year we should strive to be closer to him.

That is my prayer for you this holiday season!! This Christmas season!!

Family -- Friends -- Home --- Seems like everything is in order. We are praying for all of you and welcome you to our home at any time.

Happy Thanksgiving and praises to the King Jesus
Merry Christmas and praises to the Baby Jesus
Happy New Year and new praises to God the Father, his only Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit who guides all our understanding!!

Hugs to all,

Gary