The Chronicles of Biscuit - A Special Thank You

The Chronicles of Biscuit: Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

While I was in Oklahoma City last week, I called Biscuit to see how his day went.  He said that his class made something special for me that I would get when I got home.  I asked why and he said, "For everything you do."

Because I'm the PTO President - and have been for 13 years, the students think of me as the "party lady".  I enjoy the title and enjoy "treating" the students throughout the year, but I didn't and don't expect anything in return.  I get joy in doing that "job"so that's all I need - to make them feel special!

(Sweet and simple :).

But Biscuit said it was his idea that his class do something for me because of the pizza party they were having for winning a Box Top contest.  (Note:  I actually had helpers that day because I was out of town, but did have it organized before I left).  I was a little embarrassed that he - being my own son - suggested they make me something, but thought he was really sweet for saying that and getting something organized (showing leadership skills is something I enjoy seeing in my children - especially when it is doing something for someone else!)

(How creative!)

Yesterday Biscuit's teacher gave me the special thank you gift.  It was filled with sweet messages from each of the students.  I love it!!  What a sweet group of 4th graders!!

(Nice Pac Man reference!! Favorite childhood video game!)

Thank you, Mrs. Wolfe, Biscuit, and the rest of the 4th grade class for my special "Thank You"!!  You are each a blessing in my life!

(Thank you, Biscuit, for your sweet message and for organizing this whole thing! I found out this morning - after this post was written - that Biscuit "hired" someone to make his note!!!  I asked if he paid them.  Thankfully he didn't!  Later he said he only hired them to make the heart.  Ha ha!!)

There's Always Tomorrow

For two weeks I did a strict food regimen of no flour and no sugar (NFNS).  I didn't intentionally get off of that at first....it was just too hard to follow at a golf tournament and then when at the FFA Convention, I just didn't even try.  So now, a week later, it's hard to get back on track.

Yesterday morning and early afternoon, I was back on the NFNS plan, then jumped off the wagon again soon afterwards.  It's no wonder that the Disney song, "There's Always Tomorrow" popped into my head!  My body says:  It's time to get back to NFNS!  But my mind says:  There's always tomorrow!  It's a struggle.  A daily struggle.

But it makes me think:  Is there REALLY always tomorrow???  No.  Someday there will be no tomorrow.  Some day this earth will pass.  Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will come back to gather His children.  God will judge us.  There will be no more time.  No time for me to eat better.  No time for me to lose weight.  No time to tell someone else about Jesus. No time for those who haven't become His children to do so.  It will be too late.

None of the NFNS stuff will matter on that day at all.  It will only matter if I have lived a life in accordance with God's plan of salvation.

We sing another song at worship called, "Tomorrow May Be Too Late".  That's the song that makes more sense to a Christian and to a non-Christian because some day tomorrow will be too late.  It makes me think, does it you?  What is something I am putting off doing that I should be doing TODAY?  

The song in my mind today should change. Tomorrow may be too late should be my theme.  Will it make me eat better today?  Maybe so.  Maybe not.  But will it make me use my time to the glory of God more efficiently?  Absolutely!

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?!)