Christmas at Dollywood

How the "Left" Stole Christmas
Or

The Month Before Christmas

Twas the month before ChristmasWhen all through our land, Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand. See the PC Police had taken away, the reason for Christmas - no one could say. The children were told by their schools not to sing, about Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things. It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would sayDecember 25th is just a "Holiday". Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit, pushing folks down to the floor just to get it! CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod...Something was changing, something quite odd! Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa in hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda. As Targets were hanging their trees upside down. At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found. At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears you won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears. Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty are words that were used to intimidate me. Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen on Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton! At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter to eliminate Jesus, in all public matter. And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith forbidden to speak of salvation and grace. The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded, the reason for the season, stopped before it started. So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree" Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me. Choose your words carefully, choose what you say Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

May the Christmas presents remind you of God's greatest gift --- His only begotten Son.

May the Christmas candles remind you of Him who is the --- Light of the world.
May the Christmas tree remind you of another tree on which --- He died for you.
May the Christmas cheer remind you of Him who said, --- "Be of good cheer."
May the Christmas feast remind you of Him who is the --- Bread of Life.
May the Christmas snow remind you of the cleansing power --- of Christ.
May the Christmas bells remind you of the glorious proclamation --- of His birth.
May the Christmas carols remind you of His glad tidings, which we proclaim --- to all mankind.
May the Christmas season remind you in every way of --- Jesus Christ your King.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We traveled to Baltimore, Maryland to see Grandma and Pop Pop. We were very busy and did a lot of sight seeing.

Mason made these hats at school for him and sister.

It was a gorgeous day to visit the White House and the Washington Monument

After going to the Washington Zoo with Grandma, Pop Pop, Uncle Paul and Alexa we went to this Mexican restaurant around the corner from Alexa's house in Washington

Taylor and Mason at the Washington DC Zoo

Pop Pop and Grandma at the Baltimore Harbor with the kids

We also visited the Maryland science center

We treated the kids to Sundaes at a restaurant at the Harbor

Chuck E Cheese Night

Taylor and Jonathan, her favorite radio personality on LOVE 89.1

Girls will be Girls

Cindy and I took Taylor and Miranda to see the play "Cinderella" at a local high school Friday night. These two "PRINCESSES" loved it!!

Taylor, the Queen, and Miranda

The "PRINCESSES" with the PRINCE and the KING

Taylor, Miranda, and CINDERELLA

Boys will be Boys

These pictures were taken last week during our "Hot Spell" of 75 degrees. Mason's favorite thing to do is play in our "dirt pit." He loves to dig in the dirt and play with his "dumpbozers" as he calls them.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Banquet

Tony and I were so excited to have been a part of this year's FCA Banquet. Tony was even more excited to get to see his friend, UT Basketball Player, Olympic Teammate and former

NBA New York Nick's baketball player, Allan Houston. Tony and Allan were actually on the 2000 Sidney Olypmic team together. Allan was the keynote speaker for the banquet and his testimony was impressive. We wish him and his family well!!

Words of Encouargement

Remember that BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder. It is the beauty WITHIN you that shines so bright.

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/

Pillow Fight Night!!

Happy Halloween!!

Best Friends

Mommy carved Mason a TRAIN PUMPKIN (left) family pumpkin (center)

Taylor's pumkin (right)

It's Batman & Batgirl

BATMAN

BATGIRL

"Don't mess with us"!!

Taylor with her friends Bailey and Bailee

The BOYS of the neighborhood..Case, Mason, Parker, Connor, Collin, and Parker

Mason & Taylor's friend Andrew

Fall Festival at Mason's School

Taylor and Mason with their friends Matthew and Steven

Taylor got to see one of her favorite teachers from preschool

Taylor and Mason playing in the ball pit

Waiting for the balloons to drop with candy in them

Operation Inasmuch

Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40

October 29, 2006 will be a day that we will always remember. Every year our church has their community outreach day. We have always been unable to attend because we are usually out of town. On this day, Taylor and I felt the Lord leading us to "The Bridge" which is our group of 5th and 6th grade youth that our good friends Chris and Cindy teach. We contacted them about wanting to help make blankets and prepare bags with food, shampoo, socks, gloves, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. This is all I heard about for 2 weeks from Taylor, so I knew this is definately where the Lord wanted us to be. Well, little did I know that the Lord was literally taking us to the bridges and underpasses of downtown. When we had all finished making the blankets and packing the food bags that morning Taylor and I shared a very special moment together as we specifically prayed for the person or people who were going to receive her special blanket and bag made with love and care. She held tight to her blanket and bag as we traveled to downtown. The first place we showed up was called Highways and Biways. A well known place for all the homeless people to be. There was nobody there! Taylor was very discouraged and as we were driving down the road I began to pray to God to direct us to place where he wanted us to go. Well after a few turnarounds he lead us to the Salvation Army and the local Area Rescue. As soon as we arrived, Taylor's face lit up as she grabbed her blanket and bag. Taylor didn't know who to give her things to and she said mommy, "Who do I give it to?" I responded, "Taylor, whoever the Lord is leading you to give it to." It wasn't seconds later that an older lady approached Taylor with an outreached hand. Taylor looked up at me with the biggest smile ever then turned and gave her blanket to the lady. I told her that was the lady that we had prayed for the night before and who God wanted to have her blanket. She was speechless and so was I!! Well, the same happened with her bag. She really started getting into handing out the blankets and bags and started to get really excited about doing the Lord's work!! She said, "Can we come back and do this again?" I told her anytime!! I can't tell you what an overwhelming experience that was to share with her. I hope that she will forever be touched by this and I hope that this is just the beginning of how awesome it feels to be SERVING and GlORIFYING GOD. I pray that this story has somehow touched you and that if you aren't already, help your children find ways to reach out to your community and to share the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST with others!!

Mommy and Taylor serving the LORD

Taylor and her best friend, Miranda after making their blankets for the homeless

Kathryn and Cindy (leader of the The Bridge kids at church & good friend of course)

Taylor decorated her bag from her heart with no help...

She wrote,"HOPE IS GOOD FOR ME AND YOU."

The girls....Miranda, Taylor and a couple of girls from The Bridge (5th-6th grade students)

This was the most shocking for Taylor....We took her under the highways in downtown Knoxville to show her where the homeless people live. She couldn't believe that they actually slept on the ground and had no house.

Mommy and Taylor outside of The Salvation Army handing out bags and blankets

Taylor is handing HER bag that she made to a homeless man. What a blessing this is for her and what a blessing it is for this man to receive it from such a precious little girl.

Daddy and Mason organized the bags with the bread to be delivered to the soldiers. Then Mason and I went on Monday to actually deliver the bags with some other friends to the local military facilites around town. We wanted to show the soldiers that just because they aren't over fighting in Iraq doesn't mean they aren't important. We wanted to show our appreciation for their dedication of service and protection for our country. I even kept Mason out of school so he could go see the soldiers and tanks of course. He enjoyed handing the bags to the soldiers and saying "God bless you" when we left. He even got a hat given to him at the US Army Reserve center. I think this was also a blessing for Mason to see that reaching out to others is what God has called each one of us to do.

Mason and an Army soldier

We also visited a recruiting center where we gave all members of the Armed Forces fresh baked bread

Mason giving a soldier some bread that our Sunday school class baked for them

Mason outside the US Army Reserve with a hat on that he was given