Happy Birthday, Rise'!

Thanks for a million years of friendship!

Elf Yourself!

Tell me this is not the cutest, most hilarious thing you've ever seen! You use your own pictures for the faces and they provide the dance and musis. This is courtesy of Office Max.

Click here to emjoy!

Howdy Pardner

My nephew, Logan

All in the Family

Just in case you're wondering where I got my humor (however defined), you can see that I came by it honestly! Johnnie and Teddy clowning around!

Family (After) Thanksgiving 2007

We all had a blast and memories were made!

After Thanksgiving Thanksgiving

We had an after Thanksgiving party yesterday and everyone brought leftovers which looked like the the kitchen exploded food - there was turkey, ham, pizza, casseroles and every kind of dessert you can imagine. And, of course, there was the traditional Thanksgiving football game. Here is proof that I actually played in the game. You will either be impressed by my tenacity or question my mental stability. I am definitely paying for it today...I look like my Grandmother's Grandmother when I walk - but it was worth it.....I had a great time! Hope Thanksgiving was wonderful for all of you, too!

You Raise Me Up by Selah

I don't know many people who have not heard this song by now. I also don't know many people who have seen the video from this song. Today, all over the country, many of us will go around the family table and voice what we're thankful for, but I wonder if we truly understand how blessed we are, every day. Please watch this video on Thanksgiving Day and hopefully you will understand just HOW thankful you are, and will pray for the ones who have nothing. Give true thanks to God today.

The V&E Lunch Bunch

Here is my posse from work - I believe I have eaten lunch most every day with these same girls since I started here 4 years ago. We are co-workers and friends. That's "Guido" over there on the right end. She pretty much instructs us everyday about what, where and what time we're eating - we don't miss a lunch without having it approved by her so she doesn't send someone to break our legs. It is a great place to work, because of these girls! BUT-- ALAS, we had to say goodbye to Boxie (standing by Guido), as she has gone back to school to find out if she's "smarter than a 5th grader!" (she's now a Language Arts teacher) The loss is huge....how could she ever be replaced?? Who could possibly fill her shoes??.....(see below!)



.....Not to worry, I think the Newbie will fit in just fine! Welcome to the Lunch Bunch, Sharon!

W3Schools

This site is one of the web's best kept secrets - there are tutorials for anything web - and it's all FREE! Been thinking about creating a web page? Need to learn HTML? JavaScript? All the web basics you could ever hope to learn are at this site - check it out!

W3Schools

Don't Hate Us Because We're Beautiful...

Me and my sister at the Murder Mystery Dinner! Are we cute or WHAT??

Murder Mystery Birthday Party for Johnnie!

Wanna know 'who dunnit?' - well, all I can tell you is to stay on Johnny and Jenny's good side! We might have known the birthday girl and hubby would be the killers! The theme for this shindig was a high school reunion where we dressed in retro 70's. I was Nancy, rock start wanna-be who crashed the reunion because my idols, who graduated from this school, would be there! And, a good time was had by all!

A Smile From God

I got this in an email yesterday. It is truly like a smile from the Father. Thank Him today that He smiles on us, even when we don't notice....

What I Look Like In Caricature

Could you pick me out of a line up?

Lego Tie

Every year on Father's Day, our Church holds a contest to see which Dad can wear the most unique tie. All the kids got together this year and created a masterpiece. I think, just at first glance, it is very evident that Ted won the award. Unless you know him, you can't know that each level stands for something that has to do with who Ted is, and what his interests are....the kids did an awesome job! What you do you think? You decide!

Trace

Will you just look at this face? This is my 3-year-old great-nephew Trace. He has an engaging personality and a killer smile! He's very smart and has a vocabulary that won't quit. He had a pillow fight with Teddy and I last night and he was the one who laid down the rules and we all had a great time!

In Gratefulness, on Veteran's Day

Wynonna - When Love Starts Talkin'

You cannot watch this video without smiling. Wynonna has the whole Judd family involved from Mom Naomi to sister Ashley to the kids, and it's very upbeat! I love the little dance clips with Wynonna and Ashley together and the fact that Wynonna just cracks herself up all though the performance - Enjoy!

Just Like Teddy

The older I get, the stronger my opinion that sometimes children are the only ones who truly "get it." As I watch my nieces and nephews grow up, I understand more and more why Jesus said we must "come as a little child." That blind faith, that trust without reservation - it truly is amazing to watch. I learn many life lessons from these kids who are so precious to me.

One such lesson was learned several years ago from Teddy, who was only 4 at the time. I went to pick him up to spend the weekend and, when I arrived at his house, I saw him coming up the stairs to meet me, with a mournful look on his face, head hanging, his lower lip dragging along on the ground behind him. When he saw me he just threw himself into my arms and buried his head in my shoulder. Concerned, I gently asked, "What’s the matter, T.J.?"

He slowly lifted his head, looked at me with big sad eyes, and with drama worthy of an Oscar nomination, he declared, "Scott hurt my life!" It was all I could do not to laugh out loud! Instead, I wrapped my arms tightly around him and told him that he would be big-brother free for the whole weekend and no one was gonna hurt his life while he was at my house. This seemed to soothe his heart and, by the time we were ready to go, he was running happily toward the car, seemingly care-free!

Later, as I pondered the moment again, I smiled to myself as I thought, "who hasn’t had their 'life' hurt at some point along the way?" I know I have. And, I walk along with my head down, feeling sorry for myself and not quite sure things will ever be right again. But, the difference between most adults and children is, Teddy knew exactly what to do. He knew where to go to feel better and had complete faith that I would make things right again. He didn’t hesitate, he ran to my arms. And, after he found the comfort his little heart needed at that moment, he didn’t mope about it anymore. It was over, Scott was forgiven, and there was life to be lived!

How many times have I run straight to my Father for comfort? Not very often. I don’t know what it is as we get older, that we don’t seem to be able to trust anyone, even the Father, with our broken hearts, and life’s burdens and wounds. And, we keep resentments tucked away where we think no one can see them, but it sure keeps us from living life, care-free like a child, doesn’t it? I think we could all take lessons from children.

Someday, I hope I grow up to be just like Teddy.

Are You Flourishing In YOUR world?

You know.....I think I'm gonna let this tree do
all the talking today.....

Emma

My niece, Terah, took this picture of little Emma - I think it's awesome. I love the contrast between the dirty dress and the clean hands - it reminds me of "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Coming to Christ as a little child and reaching to Him in faith - I guess I don't have to tell you that Terah picked her up, just like Emma knew she would......today, I'm taking a lesson from a child.

Teddy's 13th Birthday & Purity Ceremony

Hey everybody - Here are some pictures from Sunday night It was a very
special time of affirmation and encouragement for Teddy.

Happy 13th, Teddy! FINALLY a Teenager!

I present, today, the many faces of TJ - you can see why he is such a great kid
and why it has been my honor to be his Aunt!

Teddy at age three-cutest kid on the planet!	Hollywood!	Teddy at 13 - still the cutest kid on the planet!
He makes it look so easy!	The next Jeff Gordon!	TJ being attacked by a laptop!
Uncle Teddy and Trace	Uncle Teddy and Taylor	Uncle Teddy and Logan
Uh.....um..... er...uh.... I give up!	TJ and sister Terah on the plane to sister Kate's in DC	We love Uncle Teddy!
Reading to the little guys	Ahhhhhhh!! Incoming!!	I got it!
Teddy the Actor	He can play any part!	Teddy at PACES annual Sock Hop
TJ and Mom	TJ and sister Elisabeth	TJ and aunt Sherreemurray

Marty

This is my cat, Marty, looking out the window....isn't this the cutest picture?

Circus Eyes

I think this picture is very cool although I can not really take credit for it - I was using the red eye tool on my picture editor when it froze up - so I did a screen capture and voila! Go, me!

Additional ETBC'rs

Hey Everyone - here are some friends from ETBC that we didn't get to see, but we did make contact with. It was so great to get reconnected!

Dr. Clay Brown is Pastor of First Presbyterian, Mooresville, North Carolina. He is married to Cathy (Blake) Brown (class of '81)	Dr. David Brooks is Director of Student Life at ETBU - kinda ironic, ain't it?
Dr. Vicky (Wilcox) Spencer is an Assistant Professor of Education in the Department of Language, Literacy and Special Populations at Sam Houston State University.	Scott Neal is the Pastor of Eagle Heights Fellowship in Mont Belvieu, Texas. His wife Nanell (O'Bryant) Neal also attended ETBC.
Paul Staggs is 1/2 of award-winning duo Branded. You can check out his web site at www.branded-duo.com	Bailey Harris is the Pastor of Old First Orange Baptist Church in Orange, Texas (my hometown - woohooo!!)
Nikki (Faler) Ferren is in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and is the proud Mama of four kids.	Jimi Heslop is Associate Pastor of Central Baptist Church in Crandall, Texas