Wow! What an incredible weekend?! It has been some time since I last blogged, however, everyone is healthy and God has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined. Kaeley Grace is trying to walk, if the boys would let her. She still tends to have a little strawberry in her hair. (especially when she gets made) She loves to have her freedom and roam from here to there no matter where we are. She still at almost 8 months has no teeth, very little hair, but yet, when it is night night time she calls for her b b b b b, (her blanky).

Preston is in kindergarten this year! During the first week of school he pulled a good one on his teacher. It was a hectic week and she wasn't sure who could do what as they have to get to know one another. She declared, "If you can't write your whole name, just put the first letter on it." I ask when he came home, "Preston, why are you only writing a P on your paper?" His reply, "My teacher said that's all I had to do." Over the weekend she sent home worksheet for him to practice his name. I finally called on Monday and told her, "He can write his name; it may not be perfect but he can do it." She said, "He's been telling me he didn't know how." I laughed and said, "He is pulling one on you.!" It is amazing at what they come up with.

Grant is doing well. He is going to headstart. He gets to ride with Kyle to school every morning. Kyle has really enjoyed this time with Grant. I suppose the most amazing thing Grant is doing is he will remember whatever you tell him and sometimes the things you don't intend for him to hear. He listens all the time. Preston and Grant were playing and talking about practicing. (We had been talking about practicing ball and learning to write and read on their own and that is how they would get better at whatever they choose to do.) Grant declares to Preston, "You have to practice, just like we have to practice being a Christian." I loved it. I couldn't help but Thank God for allowing me to see that he was getting it.

Well I suppose that should be all for now. Keep looking you never know what you might find. Oh! By the way, Kyle has now won 3, placed 2nd once, and placed 3rd once, not to bad for only racing 6 times this year. Congrats to him!!!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a blast! The last trip I will be seeing for a while. We traveled to my parents in Tennessee. The boys and I left on Monday, Kyle came on Tuesday and on Wednesday I got to see my aunt and uncle who came in from Virginia. What a blessing it was to be with them for a whole week. For most of the week the boys and papaw Paul (my dad) played in the woods building a fort and hunting deer, bear, and even snipe!!? They had a blast. Mom and I spent most of our time in the kitchen, preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Dad and I went shopping the on black Friday. First time I have ever done that. Officially not a retailer anymore so I suppose that is ok. Wal-Mart was our first stop, then off to Home Depot for the $49 Christmas Tree special. Man!! was I disappointed when the last one rolled by me as we got there. As it turned out Kyle and I got an early Christmas gift from my parents. Mom and I went out later that day to sears and got a tree. I know live trees are much prettier and smell great but with babies and family coming I didn't want to have a mess to clean up. Thanks mom and dad for all you do for us!!!! We love you! The boys had a blast decorating the Christmas Tree. Preston wonders why we have Christmas lights. I have told him to remind us of Christ's birth and to remember the light we should be in the world.

Papaw Paul and Grant on the Lemon Twist.

(Above)Preston and mom.(Yes I got on the ride 7 1/2 months pregnant. Kyle and Preston rode the shooting star. He loved it the higher the better. (Below)Papaw Paul and Grant; and Nanna and Preston on the Lemon Twist.

A fun day out

Mat. 12:28-31 (NIV)
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[f] 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[g]There is no commandment greater than these."

This was the sermon that was presented Sunday night from our youth minister. I was thinking that to actually apply this lesson would take lots of effort. I thought of it as finding life. The heart is the life line to your whole body, without it you wouldn't have oxygen to your limbs or brain. Therefore loving God with all my heart, I would be getting that fresh air needed to live. The soul is similar to our lungs it filters what we breath just as the soul controls our motivations and actions. Our mind is what actually helps us perform the steps of every day life and to know when to share God's Word with the people we are surrounded by from day to day. Our strength is like the adrenalin that our bodies run off of when there is something exciting or stressful we think we just can't wait to share with others. In Ephesians Paul talks of the strength or power that God left behind. It is the same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead! What adrenalin that takes. I think of all the hard work that goes on in the hospital or from the EMS when they are resuscitating someone. They are usually exhausted when they are done, some resulting in success and others resulting in a different kind of success. What if that was our attitude every day? Whether they accept Christ, already know Him, or reject Him, have we brought glory and blessings to God our Father. Just as the physically sick need a doctor the spiritually sick need the Almighty. It is my prayer today and always that we would find that power, that adrenalin, and the love that He has given us to allow others to see Christ in us. Share! What do we have to loose? What do we have to gain? Or better yet, what do others have to gain?

We visited Natural Bridge a few weeks ago. As I looked at the leaves and the wonders that our Creator had made, something amazed me about how the sun just pierced through the trees but yet darkness was still lying below the bridge. Knowing that we do not live a sinless life it is still possible for those who do not know Christ to still see Him above the darkness which lies in us.

Gotta Love Racing!!!

We follow NHRA Drag Racing. We are about to embark on the last 8 rounds of the season. My (Cheri) favorite driver is Tony Schumacher. He drives the US Army Top Fuel Dragster. Tony is #1 in points with 2527 with Hillary Will knocking on his door from a distance with 2315. By the way this pic was taken in Bristol May of 08 by yours truly. Below: Shumacher under full power during last round of Friday night qualifying.

Kyle's favorite driver is Jack Beckman, who drives the MTS, Vavoline Fuel Funny Car. He is a great guy below is a pic of Jack's car right is under power . Top is Jack and the boys. They talk about some of the drivers like they have known them all their life. I enjoy racing because you can talk to the drivers and watch the teams as they work on their cars. There is only 75 min between rounds and they litterally take each part off and put them back together! You get to watch the whole thing if you want.

Jack is a cancer survivor and is currently #2 in points with 2353 only 51 points behind Tim Wilkerson. We wish them God's best and fun racing in these last few rounds of the season.

You can check out Jack's site at www.gofastjack.com .

Arley, Al

It isn't the end of the earth but you can see it from here, also we pump the sunshine in. For those of you who have no clue where we are, here is a brief description. We moved in May to Arley, why many people ask or where's that? Well it is 13 miles from the Cullman/Winston County Line on Hwy 278, it takes us 10 min to get out enough to go somewhere. However many wonder why we are living here. Here are some pics that will explain it, but yet doesn't really do it justice.

Here is another reason we love it here. Meet Babe she is around 30 years old and was the first colt born on the farm and has lived here all her life. She just comes over whenever she feels like it. Occasionally, she will bring a long a friend. We are looking forward to many years of horses, cattle, and gardening to come.

Preston really loves to ride when she comes over. Wow! Check out Grant! I think he could take her or leave her.