Girls who Love Jesus

Friday, November 15th

My friend Laurie Hembree began a Bible Study two years ago for girls in the Jenks Syno program. Now that the girls are in 7th grade, and there is no longer a Syno program, she decided to expand it.

SO grateful my Abby got in on that list! :-) 

I gladly volunteered to host as I looked forward to meeting everyone...including the two precious leaders - both Juniors at Jenks who attend Fellowship Bible Church and are grounded in their Faith.

Soooo grateful my Abby got in on that list. In a public school with 850 kids in your grade, it is very difficult to find other Believers and make authentic friendships. Trojans for Christ on Friday mornings is awesome...but an intimate study every Friday afternoon is even more awesome! 

These are the girls I want my Abby connecting with and making memories with...

 Girls who Love Jesus. :-}

Halloween 2013

*The Queen of Hearts*

Creative lil' thing made her card collar herself...so impressive!

My 3 Loves...our first year not to have all 4 together :-(

Dorothy (of which I've been trying to get Ella to do since she was like 3; she only consenting b/c I told her she could walk Romey...sadly, we didn't end up getting to even take Miss Romey) and my Fierce Little Pirate (couldn't find his patch or earring set yet again...showed up b/w Great Wolf Lodge and Halloween and then got lost again), arrrgh Matey!!

Ella & Reese (Frankenstein girl)

JSE Besties

JSE 4th Grade Friends all went Trick or Treating together 

 7th Grade Friends at the Mackey's Cul de Sac Party

The whole gang 

 Ran into Miss Sydney...fun surprise! 

Our sweet new neighbors, the W's, left my kids their very own signed bag o' candy

 Candy Explosion 

(seriously, it's the most we've ever gotten!)

Now to keep Romey from getting to all that chocolate...

Fall Retreat Fun

Abby was SO excited that her friend Savi was able to attend Asbury's Fall Retreat with her! It was super last minute, but worked out just in the nick of time!

Petyon, a friend from Jenks Pom, was also aboard the bus to NLR!

(FYI: Peyton's mom became Abby's C-Group leader a couple weeks later...gonna be great!)

Will headed home after a super awesome weekend of fun!

I was soooo thankful that A and W were able to attend a retreat together...Won't get to again for 3 more years. :-(

(Will continues to love church and its plethora of activities more than anything else in his life...nothing can stop this boy from being there on Sunday mornings, evenings and Wed nights! It fills his cup...)

NLR Meant to Be

Looong story short...a lil' miracle occurred and Abby is heading off to her 1st week of overnight camp at New Life Ranch. She did go to Asbury's "Discipleship Camp" for 4 days in early June (her actual very 1st camp experience). 

After months of drama of trying to get her and 3 of her Jenks compadres in Week 4 to no avail, the other 3 moved to Week 7. I talked Abby into staying at Week 4 so she and Ella could go the same week. Literally the day before leaving, she decided she'd rather not go. :-(

A few days later, I e-mailed my NLR contact and asked to switch her to Week 7 to be with her friends. Her response - "Abby is #12 on the waiting list for 7th grade girls". Basically - no way Hosea is she gettin' in. Abby was sad, I was kinda relieved...only because of the stress of all the travel and packing involved right around our family lake wkend.

                                      

Well, as you can see....the Lord worked a miracle, and she got in! 

We knew there was definitely a reason.

1st Day Swim Test

7th Grade Girls Cabin Pic

(found out she was in a cabin with almost all Jenks girls! and...even with one of my sorority sister's daughters who goes to Jenks West)

Morning Camp Party

Trust Walk with heavy rock in hand

releasing burdens (rocks)

Adios heaviness...Ola Freedom in Christ!

Morning Camp Party again

Cabin Challenge - sponge game with feet

Abby chose "Low Ropes" one day as an elective...

and she was THE ONLY GIRL!! ;-)

she ended up winning an award for this :-)

WORSHIP

and they're off...

 

Decades Week Photo Booth

and yes...my daughter's the one with the 'Fro 

Final Morning of Camp

Savi and Abby's bunks

Miss Bev (A's Counselor #1)

Miss Kenzie (A's Counselor #2)

Her award from her counselors was: "Encouragement"

She also got the "Most Creative & Artistic" Arts and Crafts award (no surprise - she's amazingly talented)

Soooo grateful that these precious friends got to experience this together!

Romey went SPASTIC when she saw her favorite girl after 10 long days (between Lake wkend & camp)...seriously almost licked Abby's face off!! 

Home*Sweet*Home

Abby's favorite memories of the week: Worship...especially "Unplugged" on the last night where kids shared testimonies and they took song requests. She loved the giant trampoline at free time (new this year), arts and crafts (making a modge podge journal), winning the "Pit and Palace" award (cleanest cabin), and most of all, spending time with her Jenks friends!

Fun in Sun with Friends

It was the hottest day of the summer, so we invited a few of Abby's favorite school friends over for some swimming. 

The girls swam and swam and swam some more! I am always amazed at how much fun kids have in that pool! So grateful to have one for the first time in my life. What a blessing!

After making some gummy kabobs and having a snack, the girls ended their time together...guess where? Back in the pool. ;-)

Abby's 11th All Around

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer.
~ Author Unknown

The time had finally arrived for Abby's 11th B'day Party. Just like her 10th b'day party, she chose to have her party at our casa and came up with all the activities that would take place.

Favorite treat of the night - fresh raspberries filled with chocolate chips! 

Yummo!!

Duck Tape Extravaganza

(one of A's very fave past times had to be incorporated into her par-tay)

Who Am I Game?

Yes and No ?'s to find out who you are

Confetti (multi flavored) and Chicago Mix 

(half cheese/half caramel) Popcorn

Pictionary Time!

guess what I'm drawing...Zoe got lipstick! :-)

Raspberry Sparkling Punch

Craft Time 

Outdoor Just Dance III on the Wii

A few friend pics 

(still kicking myself that I didn't get them all)

The B'day Girls

Silly

more silliness :-))

Baby bro jumps in

Dinner Time!

(The B'day Girl chose Taquito's, Chips and Queso, Carrots and Ranch with Fruit)

Jammin' in da Jacuzzi 

El took the opportunity to have the Wii to herself while the big girls soaked :-)

gettin' silly

slip 'n slide!

Telephone Game

(whisper a phrase in the ear of the person next to you and go all the way around until last person - and then they say out loud what they "heard" - hilarious what ends up being said!)

I LOVE this pic

not planned...spur of the moment = best

After drying off, the girls headed to the yard for some free style dance & gymnastics

 

more Just Dance...

silly sister

Just a Swingin'....

Ella's airplane

Cake Time!

Abby's B'day Cake Creation

she reeeeally wanted the b'day donuts w/ Happy B'day Abby spelled out...however, they are not open on Sunday, so they woulda been stale by the time of her party if picked up on Sat.

So I talked her into making a cake out of donuts that were picked up on Sunday....after a trip to Hobby Lobby and Michael's, we found a few things to Spunk up her cake.

"Happy Birthday to Abby..."

make a wish

dig in!

BTW, b'day girl no longer smiles showing teeth - and she has a beeeautiful smile...don't get it

after just a couple of bites into her sweet goodness, look what happened!!

she LOST HER TOOTH!

she couldn't stop giggling...and she has LOVED sharing that she lost her 11th Tooth with her 11 friends at her 11th B'day!

Party Favors

(cool lil' woven friendship bracelets adorned with Rhinestones)

Gifts await...

her new green leopard spectacles from none other than Claires in the mall 

*~Happiest 11th Birthday to my Amazing Abby Lou!~*

You light up our lives with your Joy, your Passion, your Kindness, your Generosity, your Creativity, and mostly your unconditional LOVE. God Blessed us BIG when He gave us YOU...and oh how we Love You SO.