IS IT REALLY MAY?

It's unbelievable how fast this year is going! I can't believe it's May already!

Sorry I've been out for several days.  Our boys are busy with golf tournaments (which, by the way, are loooonnnnggg compared to most sporting events!), so that's been fun.  They're in the Regional Tournament this week.  And last week was the annual FFA Convention, so I've got really neat things to share with you about that event.  But, I decided that can wait. Sleep seems to be the best option right now since I've got to get up in the wee hours of the night.

Yesterday and today our church family had a FAMILY SEMINAR. It was SUPER! Lots of great "stuff" from the speaker, Steven Minor.  He challenged us to spend more time together as families, to say NO to more busyness, and to eat together around the table at least four times this week.  That should be easy, but some times it's not.  Sad, huh?!

Well, have a wonderful week!  I'll write more Tuesday morning.  I can't wait to share some "stuff" with you all!

Coming Home

Later on this afternoon, our oldest child will be back home. Lauren will have completed her first year of college!  She will officially be a Sophomore.

It seems like yesterday that we dropped her off, driving back home without her, tears streaming. We weren't sure what life would be like without her here. But, just like she did, we adjusted. We learned to enjoy her weekend visits. At Christmas she was here longer, then transferred closer where we've been able to see her a lot more often.  And now she'll be home for three and a half months.

There will, most likely, be an adjustment to Lauren living back at home. Her brothers have adjusted to life without an older sister bossing them around, for one! Ha ha!  She will have to get used to being home, too.  She won't have quite as much freedom as she had before, but will have more, in a way.  My rule for her coming home was that she didn't have to help around the house if she was here for only a weekend, but if it was more than three days, she was no longer a guest. She was part of the family....and the family works together! :)

This relationship between a college child and her family makes me think of God and His children.  Maybe the reason some of His children feel distant from Him is that they aren't around Him enough.  Maybe they just visit from time to time, but don't ever stay long enough to be really familiar with Him.

God longs for His children to be close to Him. He doesn't want just occasional weekend visits. He wants full-time custody!  He wants His children to feel so comfortable with Him that they can tell Him anything - and they do.  He wants that closeness. He wants their hearts.

When we give our lives fully to Our Heavenly Father, it won't be an adjustment each time we come home to Him.  It will be natural.  Coming Home.......that's what God wants from His children.  All of them.

Celebrating 90 Years - Tipton Home Homecoming

For 90 years Tipton Home (a children's home) served children who have been orphaned, obandoned, neglected, and abused.  Over 3,000 children have been at Tipton Home during those 90 years.  This past Saturday, a celebration was help to remember all of those years.

These "Hollywood Hills" type letters were lit up and displayed outside the cafeteria for the weekend. It's a beautiful sight to see, especially at night!

Just as the front of the administration building has four columns, these columns represent that building.  It made a great  focal point for the stage.

"Alumni Stars" was the theme for this years' Homecoming. Wooden clapboards were on each side of the stage to serve as photo backdrops.  Many alumni had their pictures taken in front of them.

 Oscar-themed centerpieces were on the tables on top of red runners.

 

A big red door symbolized the entrance into something very special.  Rope holders were lining the red carpet.

A special celebration required special touches, such as these imprinted napkins.

  The napkins will be kept as a special reminder for many who came to enjoy the special day.

 Clapboards were inserted into little stands to be used for centerpieces, as well.

The organizer of this event is Anita Davis. She and her husband, Charles, have been at Tipton Home for 47 years!  They will be retiring from full time work soon, so they were given a special award for their service.  Anita knows more about Tipton Home than anyone.  I'm not sure anyone loves it more than she does, either.  A special lady - a special couple.  They have been a blessing to others for all of these years.

My husband, Joe, was announced as the new Director for Tipton Home.  He loves Tipton Home, as well, and has spent 35 of his 50 years either living at or working for Tipton Home.  He will do a great job and lead by example.  Please pray for him in this new endeavor.

Alumni, you are the stars in our minds.  We hope that you enjoyed your weekend at Tipton and visiting Tipton Home. We hope to see you back next year!

Ladies' Salad Supper 2014

Last week I hosted one of my most favorite events of the year - a ladies' salad supper for my sisters in Christ. It worked out this year that the Sojourners were in town working at Tipton Home, so they were able to attend.

These cute plates were at Walmart, and apparently everyone else liked them, too, because they're GONE!  Someone needs to get busy and make more Chevron party plates!! :)

 The colored jelly beans are Laffy Taffy flavored and War Head Sours, but they sure looked cute in the vases with candles.  I think some of the jelly beans disappeared that evening!

 My favorite part of the evening, right up there with the delicious salads, is listening to the ladies talk. This year I made up a question/topic sheet (listed below). I found most of these "ice breaker" questions online, but came up with a few on my own.

Each lady picked three questions to answer.  It was great hearing their stories and thoughts.  Some told funny stories. Some told sad stories. Some told memories of loved ones who have passed away.  Some talked about their faith as they shared their thoughts about God and Jesus.

It was great.  Year after year there are a few ladies that aren't with us. I think that's the one regret I have, is that we didn't record their stories.  We still laugh at one story that one sweet lady would tell every year. It never got old!  And her telling it was even better because we all loved to hear her laugh!

The bond of Christian sisters is a bond that is stronger than a blood bond.  It's what the Lord's church is all about....and I'm thankful that He planned it to be that way.  Our family - the church - just keeps growing - just like it should!

Pick Three

1. Name one thing you really like about yourself.

2. If you could ask God to change any problem in the world today, what would it be?

3. If you sat down next to Jesus on a bus, what would you talk about?

4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

5. How were you proposed to?

6. If you had a time machine that would work only once, what point in the future or in history would you visit? 

7. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

8. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God? 

9. What has been your most embarrassing moment?

10. If you could live one day over again, what day would it be and why?

Passport to Paris Themed Banquet

Update: Thank you for your thoughts and prayers about my arm. I saw the doctor yesterday, and the bone is in place and everything is healing well! He said I could leave the immobilizer off and use a sling or NOTHING as much as I want to! I'm typing with both hands.  Thank you, God, for your healing. You made our bodies wonderfully :).  I've very thankful that my injury was minor in comparison to what others have faced and are facing. It could have been so much worse.

So, when I fell/tripped, we had just started working on our Junior-Senior Banquet. The theme was Passport to Paris.  It looked BEAUTIFUL!  Here are some pictures.

 The tables had floor-length white cloths, black square toppers, and red organza runners....

 The students' chairs had red tulle sashes tied around them.  Notice the beautiful chandelier hanging in the center of the room!

 A Paris cafe backdrop....

 The centerpieces were mirrors, metal Eiffel towers, tea light candles, clear gems and red rose petals....

 I wish I had a close up of the napkin rings. They were rhinestone buckles threaded onto red satin ribbon, then hot glued at the seams. It looked beautiful against the black napkins.

The fountain was directly below the hanging chandelier. It sounded so nice and soothing! Maybe I need one at home :).

 Our school has a really long hallway that leads from the gym lobby to the cafeteria. It makes a perfect walkway to decorate and transform into the theme!

 The fake grass lined the hallway and this little park area...complete with the lit up Eiffel tower.

 A Paris skyline....

 Another view of the park area....

 Our son didn't want a tux, but I insisted he have one. Then he knew exactly what he wanted - brown with a top hat, cane, and gloves! Oh, an a little pocket hanky! He didn't care for the gloves, then forgot the pocket hanky ($8 for that thing, too!).

 He sure looked handsome!

 His class worked hard on this banquet. They had lots of fun! Can't believe they will be SENIORS next year! (They are missing a few people and my own son's face is covered! I think I did that with our daughter's class photo, too!)

 The Sophomore servers looked so cute! They had fun serving!

 The chocolate fountain and dunking items were delicious!

And a final close up of the chandelier.  A night to remember.....in Paris!