Oklahoma FFA State Convention 2013

WOW! What an exciting time it was at the Oklahoma FFA State Convention last week!  This year's theme was "Grow Like That", and the theme was carried throughout the two day event.

This year, for the first time and only time, our three oldest children attended the FFA Convention together.  The last year for our daughter and the first year for our third child (son).  It was pretty neat for me getting to be there, too! 

The State FFA Chorus was great again this year.  Sadly, our daughter didn't make it this year, as she had last year.  There were about 100 in the chorus and about 200 tried out to be in the chorus - so there were many that didn't make it.  What a great problem to have!!  So many talented singers in the Oklahoma FFA!  Our oldest son did make the chorus, but forfeited his place because of a regional golf tournament. 

The convention speakers were great this year, and I'm always amazed and inspired that the FFA organization doesn't shy away from Bible based principles.  In fact, EVERY speaker spoke of God and Jesus in their speech at some point.  That is AWESOME!  Brooks Gibbs (quote above and picture below) talked about how he was bullied as a child.

But the amazing part of his talk was how he told the teens to NOT be a victim any more.  He told them to stand up for themselves and not allow hurtful comments from others to keep them down forever.  It was great!  I am sure he inspired everyone in the convention hall.

A group called iLuminate performed several times and it was amazing to watch them!! This picture isn't good, but shows them lit up with lights as they danced.  They performed on "America's Got Talent", so if you're interested there are YouTube videos about the group.

Our oldest son and some friends went to the Devon Energy Center.  It is worth visiting, for sure!  Devon is a huge supporter of the Oklahoma FFA and welcomed the members to visit during the convention.

On the final night of the convention, the state officers entered the building kind of like the Duck Dynasty show's intro.  "Sharp Dressed Man" blared, laser lights flashed, and the vehicles transported the officered into the arena for their final duties.

The highest award that can be given at the state level is the State FFA Degree.  This year 751 seniors received the award.  This is our daughter receiving hers from State FFA President, Brandon Baumgarten.  This was the biggest group to get the award in a few years.  I think 1994 must have been a baby boom year or something!!

After the convention ended, our FFA group took time to take a picture together.  They spent the next day having a fun day in Oklahoma City, but the fun was squelched a bit by the cold front and high 30's temperatures!  

Lots of memories were made last week.....and lots of inspired members left OKC with dreams of "Growing Like That"!

The Convention

You may have seen this before, but it's always a good reminder. God allows satan to tempt us. Maybe being too busy with things of the world is where all of us give in to temptation without thinking. 

The Convention

     Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, “We can’t keep the Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles & knowing the truth.
     We can’t even keep them from conservative values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.
     So let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can’t gain that experience in Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do, angels. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior & maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”
     “How shall we do this,?” shouted his angels. “Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life & invent un-numbered schemes to occupy their minds,” he answered. “Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, then, borrow, borrow, borrow. Convince the wives to go to work for long hours & the husbands to work 6 or 7 days a week, 10-12 hrs. a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work.”
     “Over stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive, to keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their homes. And see to it that every store & restaurant in the world plays non- biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds & break that union with Christ.”
     “Fill their coffee tables with magazines & newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hrs. a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues, & every kind of newsletter & promotional offering, free products, services, & false hopes.”
     “Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation ex- hausted, disquieted & unprepared for the coming week.
Don’t let them go out in nature to reflect on God’s wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts & movies instead.
     And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip & small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences & unsettled emotion.
     “Let them be involved in soul-winning. But crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacri- ficing their health & family unity for the good of the cause.”
     It was quite a convention in the end. And the evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy & rush here & there.
Has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge.
-Author Unknown

Navy, Orange, and Camo Wedding Shower

Navy and orange for the bride......some camo for the groom (although the bride likes it, too!)  What a fun and unique shower to decorate for a sweet bride and groom!  

A friend and I decorated together for this shower, so it made it a lot more fun!  The bride-to-be provided the antlers and pheasant feathers and we gathered up the other supplies.

Tree stumps added an extra-special natural feel and a navy chevron printed burlap ribbon and orange deco-mesh provided a modern touch to the other decorations.

My friend and I enjoy using lamps when we decorate.  She had some beautiful ones to bring for just the right touch for this shower!

My youngest son asked why we called a wedding shower a "shower".  Good question!  Because we "shower" the couple with gifts!  These are just a part of the gifts that were opened during the wonderful shower!

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Beautiful corsages for the bride-to-be, the mother of the bride and the groom-to-be's mom.  So pretty!

Centerpieces were squares of camouflage burlap which had been fringed at the edges, topped with orange buckets of marigolds.

Best wishes, Jeremy and Harli!  May God bless you in your marriage and may you have many years together and in service to Him!

(Note: We have so many wonderful examples of Christian couples in our church family.  On Sunday....the day of this shower.....one couple was celebrating their 76th wedding anniversary!  Isn't that wonderful?!)

Using Your Talents

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Colossians 3:17

This is a random post.....mostly just for me.....to chronicle what has been going on in our lives, but there is a spiritual thought at the beginning and end. 

Spring time has been busy, fun, and exciting.  Everyone is ready for the end of school and start of summer break!

Our oldest son has been competing in golf with his high school team.  He has been doing very well, and the team will be competing in the Regional Tournament on Monday.  Golf is fairly new to our school, so this is quite an accomplishment!

Many years ago I bought a really nice camera thinking it would save us a lot of money because I would be taking the kids pictures myself instead of paying someone else to do them.  Here is one of our daughter's recent Senior pictures we took at a Rangers' game.  My husband actually got us tickets (just she and I) for Opening Day at The Ballpark in Arlington to watch the Rangers, then take pictures.  So, so neat!!

Our second oldest son has a new "business" venture.  He's going to be planting pumpkins - not just because I love having pumpkins to decorate with in the fall, but also so that he will have an FFA project that is a type of business. We look forward to selling the pumpkins in the fall, and expect a bumper-crop (no squash bugs, please!).

Our youngest son recently competed in a few 4-H events.  This picture is from the Impressive Dress contest.  He's wearing sportswear - his favorite golf clothes.  He didn't mind standing up in front of judges holding a golf club! He even swung it while on stage!

The other competition was "4-H has Talent".  He sang, "You Raise Me Up", and did great! If  you would like to listen to it, you will need to turn off the music on my blog (down at the bottom of the home page, then click the link OR just copy and past the link and close the home page.  Those who get this via email won't have to worry about the blog music.)  Here's the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNcRSVcBS5o

My daughter made this little picture for Instagram and added this quote.  It kind of goes along with the pictures I've posted of my children.  They are using their talents.  I had no idea my daughter had this talent, but maybe she'll teach me! :)  

She's right.....we all have talents!  Hundreds of them!  I pray that each of us are using our talents to serve others and to glorify God.

SURPRISE!!!

All during the past year I've been secretly planning to have my husband a surprise party for his 50th birthday at the end of this month, but I was getting disappointed when I realized recently that he wouldn't be here for his birthday.

Finally, after thinking of several strategies, the kids and I thought of doing it after a Wednesday night Bible class.  It worked out perfectly because we had a visiting preacher in for a series of gospel lessons for three days - morning and evening.  Several opportunities to spread the news about the surprise!

I'm pretty sure this is the second time EVER he's really been surprised! The first was at his surprise 30th birthday party!

My mother-in-law made the birthday cake and my daughter and I each made other cakes for the guests. I planned on 125 people and I'm sure there were that many in attendance.  Thankfully there was enough desserts for all who wanted some.

Guests signed the photo mat above to be a keepsake for him of this special celebration.  You only turn 50 once, right?!

He enjoyed telling everyone they weren't his friend anymore, since no one warned him of the up-coming surprise.  Ha ha!

Just a lot of fun for him.....and for us who planned it and helped with it.....great memories!

Joe with the kids....

All six of us together.....

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, JOE!  A little early, of course!