MOUNT MAGAZINE THANKSGIVING!

BEAUTIFUL MOUNT MAGAZINE VIEW! and it goes on like this for about 180 degrees--gorgeous!

Inside the SkyCrest Restaurant--the highest restaurant between the Appalachians and the Rockies!


BOB

Larry and I

Joyce and Bob

The Lodge and Restaurant at Mount Magazine

Larry, Dianne, Joyce, Bob

This is 45 or 50 year old Norman whose mother, about 75 I would guess, kept calling him to come back and to be careful. He was making her really nervous. She was a cutie and so funny!

My photographer husband took this picture. Isn't it great?

We went up the Havana side of the mountain and came down the Paris side. Bob's grandparents lived in Paris so he spent a lot of time there in the summers when he was a little boy. His family owned Cox Valley and Simmons Valley so we went to explore them. On the way was Chigger Valley Road. I just had to get a picture of it!

I loved this sign and church!

The County Courthouse in Paris, Arkansas

Subiaco Academy

Thanksgiving 2008

What a glorious weekend we had with all the kids and grandkids except our precious Kailey. We miss you, baby girl and hope that we never have to celebrate without you again. We all worshiped together at The Summit Church this morning and spent yesterday and today eating, decorating the tree, and playing Scrabble and Dirty Rummy, remembering, belly laughing and of course, shedding a few tears, most of them by Mimi (me) because I get all emotional when I have them all together. There is no greater gift in all the world than having all of them together.

From the bottom of my heart, Dear Lord, I thank and praise you and give you all the glory. It's really all about you just like the sermon said this morning--Christ alone, through faith alone.

I made a recent purchase of a tripod and we set it up and used the timer on my camera for this little snapshot. I think it looks pretty good not to have an actual photographer.

KATELYN EARNS ALL REGIONAL HONORS!

Our granddaughter, Katelyn, won all regional honors in voice competition recently. She sung in the all-regional choir this past Saturday night.

Chris, Dree, Ashton, Noelle, Kim, Michael, Traci, Kennedy, Caroline, Larry and I loaded into a van and an SUV and drove to Searcy, Arkansas for the concert tonight. Katelyn's choir technician was really awesome. It was very evident from their performanc what a great director she is. She teaches in the Springdale area. They had one day to practice and performed without music. They added hand clapping and sign language to the program which really made it special.

Katelyn, Boompa and I are so proud of the lovely young lady you are. It was a joy listening to you sing. Thank you.

ROSE BUD RAMBLERS

Tonight Larry and I drove up to Cabot to watch Jeff's 9th grade team play. They won quite handily against Cabot Junior High North. After the game, Jeff needed to go scout Rose Bud because Arkansas Baptist plays them in the St. Joe Tournament on Dec. 1--so off we went to the middle of nowhere to Rose Bud, Arkansas. They have a very good team and an awesome gym with theatre-like seats--won the state tournament last year going 33-0. Now what would your mascot name be if you were from Rose Bud? You got it--the Rose Bud Ramblers--I thought that was pretty cute!

KENDALL HITS 3-POINTER TO WIN GAME!

Monday night-November 17, 2008

Arkansas Baptist played Oak Grove tonight. Kendall started the game as a sophomore which is a great honor in itself. Jeff had to coach his 9th grade team so he was not able to be there. Larry, Johnny (my brother), Kim, Sara, Traci, Michael and I watched as we were down 52-51 with 2.7 seconds to go and the ball on the opponents end of the court. We threw the ball in to Sam at mid-court and Sam passed to Kendall who was well beyond the 3 point line and almost on the sideline. He shot with a man in his face and it swished--hit nothing but net--with time expiring. We all went crazy. Absolutely one of the most exciting moments of my life!

Thank you, God, for precious family times when we can all rejoice together. I give you all the glory!

CARDBOARD TESTIMONIES!

I have written before about how humbled and happy I am to be able to create calligraphy on canvas that hangs on the walls of peoples' homes. Almost all, if not all, of my calligraphy is scripture so that makes it a double blessing for me. And I hope it is a real blessing for those who have it in their homes and read it regularly. I am not quite finished but am including a picture of my latest canvas. It reads, "For God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." This passage is from Corinthians.

Recently, a dear friend sent me an email entitled "Cardboard Testimonies." She told how she started sobbing less than halfway through it. I did the same thing. And at the time I checked my email, I was taking a break from working on "this beautiful canvas," and there staring at me were these crude, cardboard signs that evoked such strong emotions. Would my "beautiful canvas" ever make anyone cry like this?

I realized afresh how God can take the most common things and translate them into beauty. Those cardboard posters were more meaningful than anything I saw in the Louvre in Paris. I am including the YouTube video of these testimonies in this blog. Please take a few minutes and stand amazed at what the power of God can do when we embrace Him.