Happy 20th Birthday, Zachary!

I'm posting this a few days late, but the message is just the same:  HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY, ZACHARY!  It is unbelievable that you are 20, but you ARE!  What a wonderful 20 years it has been!

It has been so much fun having Zachary here at home this summer! Next year he won't be here because he'll have an internship somewhere, so we've made the most of him being here.  For a "job" this summer, he's making cinnamon rolls.  He's done a great job and been about as busy with it as he's wanted to be!  Plus they've sure smelled good when he's been able to make them at home!

A major milestone he's had this summer is getting his braces off!  It was a looooonnnnngggg time coming, and he's been a real trooper through the whole thing.  It's worth it in the end, but I know it was definitely a pain!  What a beautiful (handsome, I suppose he would prefer!) smile!

Instead of a large family party, we just did our own family party. We ate Mexican food and bowled.  It was a lot of fun!  It's always fun seeing someone else wear a sombrero and get sung to!

Since this is a few days late, it gave me an opportunity to post about something Zachary did a few days after his birthday. He was down to teach the auditorium Bible class for this past Wednesday night.  The topic was "Homeland Security" and had to do with what parents could do to prepare their children for the world and "war zone".  Even though he doesn't have any parental experience, he has lots of experience being a "kid" and is a great example of how to live in the world and not of the world.  The material was basically prepared for him, as he only had to add a few of his own thoughts and experiences, but he did great!  He'll do that full-time as a youth minister, so this was just preparation for his future, Lord willing.  

Zachary,

I'm so thankful that God gave me the opportunity to be your momma.  (He calls me momma...the only one who does!)  It has been a wonderful blessing to raise you, and I'm so very proud of you - for who you are and for your work in God's Kingdom.  I look forward to seeing how He uses you in the years to come.  Thank you for being such a great brother to your siblings.  We appreciate you very much.  We are always here for you.  We will always love you.

MOMMA :)

Summer Road Trip - Part 1

(Delayed post due to technical difficulties!) 

For the remaining weeks of summer, I've told the kids that one day each week we will take a road trip. They are busy with work and activities, but hopefully at least two of the four will be able to go each trip. 

Yesterday Zachary and Tyler were able to go. 

They wanted to play golf at Hinton, at a beautiful course that Zachary has played before. Unfortunately that course has closed again. It's a shame because it was so pretty and surely brought visitors to gnat town!

We decided to go to Weatherford, where they were able to play 18 holes. I love watching them play. Some day I won't get to do that. I don't think grown men would want their moms following them around a golf course! 😂

Tyler wanted a selfie. I wasn't ready when he snapped this! 😂 Obviously he was!

It was back to Hinton for lunch.

Zachary had eaten here before, so had raced about the place. It didn't disappoint! That chicken fried steak was HUGE! We had lots of it left for my husband. The green beans were delicious! The boys liked the rolls. The mashed potatoes weren't homemade, which is always weird to me, but they were okay. I wanted coconut pie to go, but it was gone. That's okay. Didn't need it, anyway!

Our final stop we looked in the gift shop at the 50's diner, Lucille's in Weatherford. 

What a fun day for our first SUMMER ROAD TRIP!

QMCC 2016

Friday was the end of our family's week at Quartz Mountain Christian Camp. It was a wonderful week!

My husband and oldest son directed the session together again for the second year. The theme for th year was PURSUE, using 2 Timothy 2:22, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Joe and Zachary did a great job! Of course, I know my husband could do it, but seeing an almost 20-year-old take a leadership role like this - and do it well and for God's glory - makes this momma proud and thankful. 

For a last night of camp banquet, we had a glow in the dark/blacklight reactive theme. It was so much fun! The kids really enjoyed it!

The highlight of the week, though, had to be the fact that six souls gave their lives to Jesus, as they obeyed the gospel and were baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins! What a wonderful thing! We praise God for His work in the lives of these teens! 

We already can't wait to go back to QMCC next year!