Tuesday, October 30, 2007

TRUNK OR TREAT!!!!! What a blast! I love it when we do stuff like this...it gets all ages of people together. It was fun having the Wayne Reed and inner city kids with us too. They all looked GREAT!


Here are some pics from the night--


Sam is dressed like a Motocross rider and ready to go!

Maddie gives her best Wonder Woman pose. (She is getting so big and so, SO beautiful. I know I'm her dad, but it just astounds me at how fast they all change.)
Ella is Super Girl...and felt the need to strike this pose A LOT the rest of the night. (this costume was a Sheryl Thomas special)
We're ready...let's GO!

our kids pose with Jack and Sydney Williamson. Evy was dressed as Dumbo and she would have none of the picture taking business.
Logan Innis always dresses up perfectly. She made a great Cleopatra! (I also loved the black birds sitting on top of the car!)
Sonya Colvert cracked us up--Happily Ever After with baby on the hip, rollers in her hair and a bottle of Prozac tied to her belt.
nice green hair, Mom! :)
Michael Kirby sat with new baby Kyle and passed out treats while Melissa and Emily walked around.

Ella and her good friend, Emma Arnet
I have laughed at this picture so many times. Hilarious to me. Susan Stumne and Katie Howard dressed as Chicken and Cow.
After an hour of walking around, you just have to take some time to sit and enjoy the bounty!
Lauren Hall was about the cutest "Madeline" ever.
And...after a night of candy, at least the kids were able to choke down some Honeycombs with milk. It's the breakfast of champions.
Overall, a very fun night! It was about community, having fun, sharing together, welcoming others, laughing, and loving. No celebration of evil. In fact, I'd say we kicked Evil's butt. Love wins.




Sunday, October 28, 2007


Congratulations to Ben and Eve English! They were married yesterday morning and it was so pretty. Eve looked great! The music was gorgeous. It was so them. They are enjoying a week at the Polynesian Resort at Disney World. Ahhhhhh...

This afternoon is "Trunk or Treat" at Otter Creek. Maddie is Wonder Woman, Ella is Super Girl and Sam is a motocross rider. (He has not taken off his helmet in days--even bathed in it.) More pictures to come!

Friday, October 26, 2007

It's QUIZ Friday!!

Pick the one that best describes YOU...

1. Morning person or night person

2. Video or DVD

3. Mini van or mini coop

4. Sweet tea or unsweetened

5. Hannah Montana or Marie Osmond

6. Hymnal or Lyrics on the screen

7. Steak or salad

8. Beach or mountains

9. Michael Buble or Michael W. Smith

10. Religious or Spiritual

11. Dogs or Cats

12. Disney Channel or HGTV

13. CNN or FOX News

14. Driving or Flying

15. Movie theater or rental

This weekend is very very full for us. Eve and Ben get married tomorrow and I am involved in their wedding. We also have birthday parties and other family activities. Sunday afternoon is Trunk-or-Treat at Otter Creek. Everyone is invited so come and join us at 4pm! It will be a blast! Have a great weekend, friends.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Last night we went to the Otter Creek Kindergarten and Pre-school open house. All three of our kids are in school there this year. They were all so excited to show off their classrooms, teachers and friends.

Maddie poses here with her teacher, Miss Jennifer.

One of Maddie's buddies, Frances Horn, is the daughter of Cindy (Hester) Horn. Cindy and her sister, Gayla Hester Borders, were friends back at ACU. Cindy and her family go to Otter Creek and we enjoy spending time with them. She hasn't changed a bit and you can see her hilarious spirit has been passed on to her daughter!


Ella poses with her teacher, Miss Amanda


Sam and his teacher, Miss Julie...or "Miss Jewy" as he calls her.


Sam was proud of his art work displayed on the wall!

Eventually, once things settle down here and after I dig out from being gone I will post some more thoughts about our weekend. It was really so much fun! Have a great week, blog family!

Sunday, October 21, 2007


I'm not even sure where to begin to describe the last few days. Our trip to Texas was so full it seemed that we could not have possibly packed one more thing into our experience---and that was both wonderful and hard. Precious time with our dear friends the Lorenzes and more.

But my favorite thing of all was watching the girls all weekend. In some ways, I know each of my college roommates and I have encouraged relationship with our children, but to see it actually thrive...to be the sweet friendships we've always hoped they would end up being...it is simply a gift beyond description.


(my college roommates and best buddies--Stephen, Chris and Craig)

After chapel on Friday, we spent some time at the Fishers. (Craig just accepted the CEO position of Abilene Christian Schools...the campus school. GO CRAIG!) Pictures here L-R: Rainey Bailey, Ella, Maddie, and Riley Fisher


Owen and Riley Fisher show the kids their new house with lots of TX flavor!

The reality is, life is more than memories. If it were only memories we had, it would be sweet but somehow lacking. It seems to me that life is more about the consistency of community. This weekend we didn't just celebrate what we had 15 years ago--we celebrated what we've had ever since...and what lives on. Friendships are a beautiful thing.

Here are some pictures from our weekend. (Hello...you knew there's be pictures, right???)

The campus events and alumni staff did a great job on the set in the coliseum for this year's Homecoming circus theme!


The hosts and hostesses from ACU's Sing Song 1991 (my year) led worship with me on Friday and Saturday in Moody. We had such a great time and once we opened our moths in rehearsal realized how much we had missed singing together. (pictured here--Kristin Ward, Martha Kate Gunn, and Darcy Chapman)


1991 Sing Song Hosts R-L... Val Durrington, Kristin Ward, me, Darcy Chapman, Martha Kate Gunn and Stephen Bailey



Friday Chapel


Sam, Ella and Maddie


Shane Holland and Patrice Powell. Shane and Patrice were some of my very first friends my Freshman year at ACU--still great friends today! Patrice and her family live in the Nashville area and our kids play together. Shane and Lori and their family have been very special to our family since college days.


After chapel on Friday a bunch of us were standing around talking and I grabbed a Kodak moment... (front row L-R: Kelly Vaughn, Martha Kate Gunn, Camille Dickson, Patrice Powell, Darcy Chapman. Back row L-R: Shane and Lori Holland, Sheryl and me, Kyle Dickson, and Tim Chapman)


Friday night there was a carnival on campus in the mall area for alumni. It was such a blast! I think it was one of our favorite parts of the weekend...games, music, inflatables, a train for kids, food, and lots of laughs.



the kids loved riding the train. Thanks for riding with them, Shel!


This magician was walking around doing neat tricks for the kids



Mitch Wilburn has always been a hero to me. He was named Young Alumnus of the Year this Homecoming. Quite deserved! Shannon...his wife has not changed a bit since we graduated. They are such a neat couple and are so much fun to be around. Thanks to Arlene for her picture taking skills! (Hi, Arlene!)


Another great blessings of the weekend was getting to hug Tod and Lee Ann Brown (Stephen's sister). You may remember that last summer, they lost their son in a tragic car accident. Their family has been in the process ever since of figuring out a new life without Connor. It did my heart good to see Lee Ann smiling. I loved getting to visit with them. (L-R: Stephanie Bailey, Tod and Lee Ann Brown, and Stephen Bailey)


Stephen and Stephanie's precious and beautiful daughters Emily ("Emmy") and Rainey.


To my amazement (considering her father's fear of high places) Ella decided she wanted to try the big kid rock wall...she jammed! Go ELLA!!


The night ended with Ella, Cecily (daughter of Patrice Powell), Maddie, and Sam rockin' out to the music.


Saturday morning I went to the Gamma Sigs' Homecoming breakfast. We had to capture this picture...it's been a long time since this group has been together. L-R Shane Holland, Chris Seidman, me, Brent McCall. Brent and I were roommates my Freshman year and lived next door to Shane and Chris. We were all instant friends and have so many wonderful memories.


After breakfast it was time for the parade. The ACU "Big Purple: kicked it off right.


Maddie and Cecily Powell made sure they were in position to get to the candy tossed from all the floats passing by!


Martha Kate and I pose


Gamma Sigs' float...something circus. Honestly, I have no idea... sad.


Brooke Lorenz Nichols and I pose together at Saturday chapel. Brooke has been my sister since we were born. Her parents and my parents have been best friends for many years.


Sheryl and Darcy---they knew each other in Michigan...pre-ACU. It makes our friendship with Tim and Darcy even more special.


Dr. Money presents Alumni award to Mitch.


Brent McCall and I pose with our kids


My roommates and I pose together. God has been good to us!

The first picture I posted today of us caught my eye tonight. In the background is a sign that reads, "And they lived happily ever after..."

"Happily ever after" means more to us than just having everything work out. These are men who have wept real tears with me as my father died. We've shared the good, the bad, the ugly with each other...sometimes flying miles just to have a conference with each other in our worst moments. Happily ever after is really more about walking the road of life with friends...practicing unconditional love, rejoicing together, mourning together, and pushing each other to run after Jesus more completely...more fully.

After 15 years, I came away feeling blessed because of God's goodness displayed in my life through the hearts of so many of the friends written about in this blog today. We had a GREAT weekend. Even if Sam did melt down in the DFW airport on the way home. But that, friends, is ANOTHER blog!