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.