Getting Ready for Summer

As we went through the spring and early summer, we really had some great times. Of course we were incredibly busy with baseball, church and work, but we managed to have some great times.

There were some very fun events including Don and Mary's dance, which we really enjoyed. Any occassion to go out and do some karaoke is always a good night out. We also hung with friends alot, did some great cooking and had probably too many laughs.

We made a quick visit to ATL in June and had a blast. We went to Six Flags with Mom and Dad and we all had so much fun riding rides. We also took in a Braves game with our cousins. The boys had so much fun together and did some pretty cool dancing. Mendi's church choir sang the national anthem and they were on the jumbotron. It was really cool.

Here are some cool pics from this timeframe.

Snow Days

We have really had a great time. It ended up that our thursday evening snow storm got us out of school and work Friday. It was great to have that day off. Here are some pics from around the house over the weekend. There is also a little video of some of the fun from outside.

Snow Day and More Work

We were absolutely blown away when out of the blue we got to take a snow day yesterday. What an amazing gift. We enjoyed it to the fullest and at the end of day really believed that we are tasting and seeing how good God has been to us. In fact, God allowed me to have some insight into my own soul, an ephiphany if you will. For this I am very thankful. I would really like to know myself or at least be aquainted with the true self that God sees. I am so very grateful for life and for the strength to live it. Can't wait to see what the next few days brings.

We are head down working on a number of different projects from work and church and aslo kicking into baseball seasons. Right now at our church, The Crossing, the band is going to be involved in some cool events for the Sundays of Palm Sunday and Easter. Here are some promos for those weeks. check em out!

Pictures from the Caribbean

We have just returned from the most amazing voyage. Last week was spent sailing in the Caribbean aboard the Carnival Conquest. We have had some very great memories in our marriage, but this week, outside of the honeymoon, may head the list. We absolutely had the most fun ever. Here are many pictures. (If they don't start automatically, try refreshing the page.)

One of the fun activities that we enjoy so much is karaoke. We really have a good time singing loud and off key, and apparently many others do too. Jen and I and our friend Susan were in a show where we had to sing with the band and wear costumes. It was really fun and a cool experience. Check out a little bit of the video here.

We have made it home and are now back to the normal fun. Baseball is starting and everything is in full swing at church and work. We are having a great year so far and are looking forward to the rest of it.

2008 Starts with a Bang!

It has been a couple of months since I have posted. During this time we have had such an amazing time. Christmas and New Year was awesome and we have had an incredible January. In these shots are pics from the huge play that the whole family was in during december, some shots from Christmas time and then some various shots from around the house during January. Last weekend we had our special Kin Thegither weekend and it was very fun. After going on a long hike together we decided that we would try to take some family pics, so we drug our old bench out into a field and took these shots. They turned out pretty cool.

Jen and I are only a few days away from our 15th year anniversary trip...a cruise. We cannot hardly contain the excitement. We are planning the trip of a lifetime.

Pics from McPherson Christmas Ball 2007

I can't believe that it has already come and gone. But last friday was our big party. And we really had a blast. Here are a few pics from the night.

Zoe Grace's Freestyling

I love to watch her do her thing. She doesn't enjoy so much being told how to dance, where to go and what comes next. She prefers to freestyle. There is something to learn from this.

Christmas Parties

This was the week for Christmas Parties. Jen and I host the McPherson Christmas Ball, which, we hope, is becoming a Mena tradition. Last year we decided since we already have done much of the work, why not let the kids host a party as well the next night. So this year, again we threw two huge parties. When we got back from Atlanta the preparation started in earnest and soon all the furniture was moved and we were string lights from the ceiling. Within a few days the living room was transformed into a party pad. All in all around 90 people through the house in two days. But it was so cool.

Our party was fun, lots of people dressed up, some of us danced and we generally had a few laughs. Not the least of which centered around a "Naughty" Book purchased at Old Navy for a gag. You can only imagine where all that went. Good times.

The kids on the other hand, really knew how to break it down as you will see in this video. We only had two major injuries. One boy broke out his front teeth on the concrete floor and another little girl got her glasses smashed. Both are o.k. and I don't believe any lawsuits are pending.

Thanksgiving in ATL

We absolutely love being able to go to my home town and stay with my mom and dad. It was great to be home for a short time around Thanksgiving. For us it is so relaxing and fun to be able to hit our favorite shopping places, music stores, and motorcycle shops, as well as our usual restaurants. Plus, there is always something to do.

This particular trip was very full because Jen and I attended the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Conference at the World Congress Center. It was great as usual. We came away relaxed, very happy to be married to each other and oh yeah, inspired.

Then we had Thanksgiving with the families and really enjoyed ourselves. It's hard because you don't know how much you miss people many times until you are face to face. I need to do a much better job keeping in closer contact with my extended family. We enjoy being together so much, It's sad that we can't more often.

We were strangely attacked by a weird stomach virus after midnight on the night before we left. So with little sleep and "varmitting" kids we took off for Arkansas long before daylight. We made it with no major problems and were excited to be home.

Fun with Friends

God has blessed us with some great friends all around the country. Many of our crew, we can pick up with just like we have never said goodbye and carry on just like old times. For Jen and I, richness of life comes from the experiences you have and the people you love. Our family and friends are dear to us, so we try to make choices accordingly. November was an especially great month with some good memories. One more word on friends, we're real thankful for friends that you can go out with or hang around with and feel comfortable, but probably more important than even that is that you can laugh together. On a night in November, I laughed so hard my face started to ache.

Here are some pics of hanging out with friends and family recently.