Current Events

We would like to cover four events in this post. So hang on to your hats, grab a bowl of popcorn and try to get some entertainment from our recent happenings...

1. Wednesday of this week Katherine, Brandon, Anthony, Jonathan and Kristalyn headed down town for a tour of the Bexar County Justice Center-new Courthouse. The tour was put together as part of the FEAST Civics class that we have been participating in for several months. (FEAST standing for "Family Educators Alliance of South Texas") It was an interesting experience full of meeting new people, learning more about our justice system and seeing some beautifully ornate buildings.

2. Friday saw our entire clan heading out to Prairie Lea for a Varsity football game. It was a tough one with a close score the entire time! Anthony was able to play in spite of it being a varsity game...good thing because Brandon was mortally wounded in the foot...(well not really mortally)...during the first play and couldn't go back out and run for the rest of the game! What a disappointment it was for him but we know that the Lord is in control and has a reason for this "tragedy". The team did a fabulous job sticking with it until the end in spite of some steep competition. The final score was 24-20...Patriots did it again!

3. The JV squad played a great game Saturday on our home field. The day started out cloudy with threatening rain (praise the Lord it did not go beyond "threatening") and the slight breeze kept the hot temperature more pleasant :) Anthony was tired and sore from the "big game" the night before but our team walked the road of victory once again with the game ending 56-18!

4. Today a change happened in our church family that brings us both joy and sorrow. Joy because a new work is being birthed and sorrow for the "loss" of friends. The John Elliott family has felt the Lord's call on their lives to start a new church work in San Antonio. After attending church together for over a year now, this is an event of mixed emotions. We are grateful that it is not goodbye forever but rather farewell to worshipping on Sundays together. May the Lord prosper the work of their hands as they go forth proclaiming the gospel of Christ!

That's it for now. If you did not procure any sort of entertainment from the written words above, perhaps you will from the pictures below...(remember, Brandon is #3 & Anthony is #4)

P.S. Here's a "bonus question for a prize" game for our readers. If anyone can guess who's foot is in the top section of Benjamin's football throwing picture, you will be rewarded with a post on our blog entirely dedicated to you and about you...including a picture! (Providing we have one.) Please don't ask what possessed me to add the "P.S."...guess I thought it would be fun to have some interaction/competition/silliness...whatever! Give it a try.

Game Time...

Time for another game update! The FEAST Patriots had their first two home games this weekend and walked off the field both times with smiles of victory on their faces :)
Friday's final score was 51-12 and Saturday they triumphed in a 55-19 defeat. Both the JV and Varsity squads played in the games so we were able to see Brandon and Anthony on the field.

I had so much fun with the new camera...learning how to take action shots and filling up the memory card! We are extremely grateful to the Lord for such a wonderful way to capture memories that will last a lifetime!

Friday evening, Christian and I buzzed over to a "cafe concert" where Rebecca was singing. We were only able to hear the first half but Rebecca did a lovely job with a bright smile on her face...I love your smile Bec :)

Saturday after the game, part of the team and their families headed over to Cici's to get a belly full of pizza. Then we had to work it all off by playing some sand volleyball in the Leiningers yard. In all I think we accomplished 5 games, several rounds of "knock out" and viewed a little of the film taken of the weekend games. Thanks Josh for the invite to play...we always have a blast at your house :)

There you have it...first ever post of pics with our new camera...Enjoy!
Oh and BTW, Brandon is #3 & Anthony is #4...in RED.

A Surprise Visit

Last weekend we had quite a surprise...Our Uncle Mark from Tennessee was in Houston on business and drove over to our place for two days! I had to muster all the self control within me not to open and use the new digital camera that Anthony purchased! We wanted him to have the "first rights" privilege of opening and assembling his dream "toy" :) Brandon and Anthony spent the weekend in Mexico on their first ever "mini" missions trip. We were all happy for them to have the opportunity but not coveting was hard for some of us left behind :)

Uncle Mark made our weekend! He played with and read to the kids, taught me how to drive our stick shift truck, bought some delicious food and made us laugh as always. He did give us all a scare when we woke up on Saturday morning to the sound of our washing machine running...he threw a load of his white dress shirts in...oh no! Our water is full of rust and all our whites are taken to the laundromat on a weekly basis. Waiting for the outcome was scary but thankfully, nothing was ruined!

Nathan and Rebecca came out for an evening of delightful conversation...and we even sang some selections from the Phantom of the Opera!

We look forward with eager anticipation to the next business trip! Thanks Uncle Mark for the sweet memories...the time was too short but every minute was a blessing...we love you!

P.S. Our next post will include pics from our new camera...yay, yay!

Weekend Overview...

We have a digital camera at last...this means that our blog posts will be able to be put up at a more rapid rate! Well, don't hold me to it but that is the plan...perhaps a dream but I hope to enact it!

Here's a little update on our weekend...alas no pics so a word post will have to suffice.

Saturday, Brandon and I took off to Fredricksburg (about a 2 hour drive) to enjoy a picnic and volleyball at the Headwaters Ranch in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Bob Nilsen. The Nilsens are serving full time in the Dominican Republic with SCORE International and I was able to meet and get to know them a little during my time down there this past spring.

The Clarks graciously opened their home for us to stay the night and attend church back up in Fredricksburg so as to afford the opportunity of having more time with our missionary friends. We then headed to Bulverde for a "Texas welcome bridal shower" for the happy new couple, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Bell. We had the privilege of working with Adam last campaign season as we frantically tried to get Mr. Nathan Macias into office as a State Representative...Praise the Lord he won! We don't yet know Adam's new bride Lini but as I told them in their card...that is about to change :)

The Macias family did a marvelous job hosting another one of their beautiful parties...the fellowship was sweet, food delicious and the volleyball invigorating! Congratulations Adam and Lini...may the Lord richly bless your future together as you serve Him faithfully hand in hand each step of the way.

Victory!

Go Patriots! Last night was the Varsity's first game. It was pretty exciting due to the closeness of the score the entire time! The Patriots came out victorious winning 52 to 38.

Here's the list of our favorite highlights...the things Brandon was able to accomplish:

3 rushes 55 yards 1 touchdown
1 catch for 75 yards 1 touchdown
2 interceptions 80 yards 1 touchdown
13 tackles and 3 assists

Football Update...

Hooray! The Patriots' JV team won their first game yesterday...The final score was: 38 to 0!
Anthony did a fabulous job with 4 tackles, 1 assist, 1 interception, was 3 for 3 in passing for 97 yards and 1 touchdown and ran for two more touchdowns.

If that sounds like Greek to you, just know that it was a great game :)

I will endeavor to keep you updated regularly on the games and when we get our camera, I'll try to post pictures too!

"Skiin' in the Rain"

The date: Labor Day
The place: Canyon Lake
The weather: dreary and wet
The time: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

OK, so what were we doing? Enjoying water activities...some conquered all and others, not so much :)

Boating, wake boarding, jet skiing and tubing. I think everyone is a bit sore today! What a blast! Due to threatening thunderstorms all day and the cloudy atmosphere, not many people were on the water...so we had complete freedom to be just as crazy as we wished.

Our original plan was to head out to the Clark's house on Sunday night so we could get an early start on Monday morning. Haha! We stayed up till the wee hours of the morning laughing, baking, watching a movie, laughing some more and playing Nerts. So needless to say, an early start wasn't the order of the day! We did finally make it out the door after a scrumptious breakfast (Mrs. Clark is a great cook) divided up into two cars and set out on an adventure that would prove to supply many life-long memories!

Just the oldest six of us were able to go this time...poor Dad and Mom had to miss out. When I called home they were doing laundry, cleaning dog kennels, caring for sick children, and doing animal chores...it was because of their selflessness that we were able to enjoy such a fabulous day.

I am having a terrible time writing this post! I will conclude now and let the pictures say the rest. Thanks Mr. Clark for being such a great "water chauffeur" and thanks to Mrs. Clark we have documentation of some hilarious moments :) Enjoy!