Dallas Minus One

It was time to depart for our annual Spring Break Road Trip to the Big D! Except this time...MINUS 1.

My Will was on his 1st Mission Trip with his youth group.

After a little over 3 1/2 hours of driving, and a pit stop at one of our faves, (Allen Outlet), we arrived at our home for the week...

Homewood Suites by Hilton in Frisco, TX

Lil' Man was digging it already!

Nothing seems to bring immediate happiness to my gang like a hotel

especially a hotel that has a warm, yummy fajita meal waiting for you as you walk in the door!

After dragging the kids to the nearby Nordstroms for a late night shopping spree, the little ones were comatose in front of the kid's shoe dept t.v.

Until I mentioned "Ice Cream" :-)

And here's the real excitement - cartoons all together on a sofa couch! 

thankfully these two are inseparable and actually enjoyed being in such close quarters

Thursday, March 22nd, Day 2

Bella's dressed and ready for the day! She knew American Girl Store was on the agenda, so she loaded up *Ruthie for the trip!

But before we hit Galleria, it was time for our very first experience at JUMPSTREET

We've had many Texan friends and family tell us about this place...and all the "hype" was legit!

Kids ages 3-7 area

The O-Man trying out the Croc Slide

and little tike tramps

BOING!!!!

The Big Girls stuck to the 8 and Up Tramps:

Cartwheels

Jump! For my Love!!

About 30 minutes into our fun, the girls got word of the "Fun Pass" and begged and begged 'til I obliged.

The Fun Pass allows unlimited access to the Snow Slope, Vinyl Maze, Foam Pit, and Bull Ride. Hey wait - we never saw the Bull Ride! stink!

Needless to say, the other 3 activities were WELL worth the extra expense

Even Ella was totally into it! 

(I was a bit surprised by this)

wheeee

Jump into the Deep

So Ella :-)

again, I was shocked that she was willing to try all this

These smiles made it worth every penny :-)

Off to the Snow Slope Slides!

Abs went for a backward slide

Before we departed, Abs wanted to get in on a game of Dodge Ball

Go Girl!

After some lunch and fabric shopping, we finally made it to the AG Store where Miss Bella found a very special lunch box to bring home for all her AG Girls to play with.

Owen gave the catwalk a whirl!

Tin Star with our dear friends, The Ernsts.

Between Jolene and I, we sport 8 kids. So, there is never a dull moment when we get together.

we go back to the sweet age of 14 - so thankful for this one!

Another reason why we love hotels...special cuddle time with Daddy

and SILLY time jumping and playing on the bed!

Friday, March 23rd

It's not a fulfilled Texas trip without a stop at my fave Plano restaurant

It was a gorgeous day 

(after some rain and chilliness the days prior)

My handsome man has crossed the dark side and actually digs sushi now...YEE HA!

he's still in the minor leagues...but, hey! you gotta start somewhere!! :-)

The youngen's enjoying some fresh air 

and then getting GIDDY when we said it was time for our next stop...

COLDSTONE!

this is yet another mandatory Texan pit stop - especially since we no longer have one in T-Town

(cake batter w/ brownie....UMMMM)

The Fulton's House for Friday Nite's Festivities

Kate threw a 3rd b'day party for her youngest of four, Mr. Mack!

and graciously invited her three best friends and their fam's to join in on the fun

Between the four families, we have 13 kids!! YOWZA!

*The Birthday Boy*

The Funky-ness Half Time Show by all the girlies in the group

Abby and Ella on left...

They definitely got their GROOVE thang on!!

Lil' Annie giggling at them all :-)

Time for cake and ice cream!

and then Mommy's turn for Hotel cuddle time...

Saturday, March 24th

After days of promising a swim in the hotel pool, the time finally arrived!

Unfortunately, the pool was frigid and the hot tub was on fire...but, hey! We kept our promise!!

Due to Texas having school this week, we didn't get to see my older sis Kim and her fam 'til Saturday for lunch on our way out...a short visit is better than none at all! We just love them!!

And back to T-Town we go...they were actually all excited for Home!

It is HOME SWEET HOME after all...

A WILL for Missions

“The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity” – Mike Stachura

If that is indeed true, then we are at One, GREAT Church!!

Saturday, March 17th, 2012

Asbury's 7th Grade Mission Trip to Houston

The place where my son's spirit is fed weekly

Venue 68

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20  

 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, 

and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 

Youth Friends - so thankful for these guys!!

After all, the Lord did send them out "2 x 2"

 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9 

“We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.” — Oswald J. Smith

“Expect great things from God; 

attempt great things for God” — William Carey

Will - we are so proud of you for fulfilling this quote. We know that He is going to do Great things through your life! May you be a blessing as you help lead worship for the first time. May you touch every person you meet with the Love of Christ. May your heart be forever changed to be more aligned with His. 

*Thunder-Struck!

March 7th, 11:18 a.m. Texts 

Greg: Saturday at 3:30 our date will begin
Me: Huh?? 
Greg: You will see
Me: Pitter patter (heart)

After 22 years together, my Honey is finally catching on to the fact that I love a surprise...particularly a surprise date!

Our 1st stop: Iguana Mexican Grill

We dined on yummy enchilada's and a delish Tilapia salad paired with one of the best swirls I've ever sipped on!

Next up was a ride on the Iguana Party bus that scooted us on over to the Cox arena where we...

watched some very tall boys toss a brown leather ball around

Having grown up in a family where all 5 kids played b-ball, this was right up my alley!

And, being that this was my very 1st NBA game, it was super memorable!

Between the numerous dunks and the rockin' rap music, I was totally in my "zone"

And catching sight of the half naked Thunder Viking Dude was just icing on the cake :-)

A Second Chance at Dance

At long last my Abby is back in dance. 

It's been too long...but, thankfully, it's not too late.

Stifling an urge to dance is bad for your health - it rusts your spirit and your hips.  ~Terri Guillemets

Dance is the only art of which we ourselves are the stuff of which it is made.  ~Ted Shawn, Time, 25 July 1955

Dance is the hidden language of the soul.  ~Martha Graham

I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance.  

~Friedrich Nietzsche

Just like David in scripture, dance can be imperative to expressing your passions. Watching my Abby beautifully move her little body to music is moving to my soul...and I'm pretty sure, hers too. Thanking God that He allowed a window for her to return to one of her first loves. 

Ella's *Seussical Musical*

In honor of Dr. Seuss' 100th Birthday, 

Ella's 2nd grade Jenks SE Music Class put on a

*SEUSSICAL MUSICAL*

And, in order to do so...one must dress the part.

So, the girls went with Cindy Lou Who do's :-)

So, we didn't master it, but we did our best

The performance was A-Dorable,

and so were the people in it!

Mrs. Campbell's Seuss Crew

MF Farewell Brunch

Sweet lil' M's last day in Mothers Fellowship prompted a 

*Surprise Farewell Brunch*

M would be heading off to North Africa with her family in just days.

 Her family's mission is to:

"We want to share the gospel, disciple believers, and see them begin meeting together as a body of believers. Our means of doing this is by living full time in North Africa and working in business alongside everyday people. We will send our kids to school with them. Through God's leading we will share the story of Jesus with them, pray with them, and ask God to bring them into the Kingdom."

Watching M's adoration for our beloved Esther Gene is priceless. They have such a strong connection over their huge hearts for missions.

To read more about M's family ministry:

caravanconnection.wordpress.com

What an inspiration she has been for all of us! We will miss her so....

Mothers Fellowship Winter 2012