1st game of the season

(Christian is #10 in red for the Nationals)

Yesterday was the first game of the season - Orioles vs. Nationals. Each team is up to bat until they have 3 outs or 5 runs.

Christian had a blast!! He played 3rd base the first time in the field and made an awesome out!
The Orioles scored 5 runs.

Christian hit a single from the pitching machine. The Nationals scored 5 one of those scored by Christian.

Orioles 5 Nationals 5

The second inning, Christian played right field. He did not have any balls come his way, but he was ready if they did. The Nationals stopped the Orioles from scoring 5 runs.

Orioles 8 or 9 Nationals 5

The Nationals are up to bat to finish the game. One more run is needed to win the game. Christian comes up to bat. He gets his chance to hit it off the tee. He hits a single, bringing his teammate on 3rd sliding home. It was a close call, but he was SAFE! GAME OVER!

Orioles 8 or 9 Nationals 10

Offering

This song really ministered to me (and I know others) yesterday morning at church. When I woke up this morning this song was on my heart. May this song minister to you!

$10,000 Video?

As I was going through pictures and videos this morning - I found this - Christian's masterpiece. I'm wondering if it's a $10,000 video - maybe not (Tom says not) - but it sure made us laugh - a lot!! I don't know what's funnier - the actual filming technique or Christian trying to direct a stubborn cat, Smokey. Either way enjoy this look through the eyes of a six-year old.

Hey Batter, Batter

Here's Christian getting in some batting practice.

Spring = Baseball Season

I just had to put this song on here. Christian is the brown-eyed, handsome man rounding third and heading for home.

Christian is playing baseball for the first time this year. He is doing great and having a wonderful time! He is playing in the 5-6 yr. old league (machine pitch/tee-ball) for the Nationals. Here are some pics from some practices. I'm having technical difficulties loading the video, but will continue to try to get it posted. First game is next week!

Christian is ready! He dares the ball to come his way.

Watching the flowers grow? No, he's playing center field!

Yes, that's a West Johnston Wildcat football t-shirt. GO WILDCATS!!!!!

Pray the Answer

When we pray, what do we pray? Do we pray the problem - explaining to God what's going on, what the doctor says, how we feel? God knows all that. He wants us to pray the answer.

Jesus is THE ANSWER.

Children know this. When I was teaching Sunday school and would ask the children a question the first answer was usually, "Jesus". No matter what the question was. I probably smiled and asked the question again. Looking for the answer that was listed in the book. The answer isn't in a book but THE book - the Word of God - the B-I-B-L-E (Yes, that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God.) .

Jesus is the inevitable answer to all questions.
How do you know God loves you? JESUS!!
He provided and IS everything we need - healing, peace, freedom, grace, mercy, faith, hope, LOVE.

HE IS OUR ALL IN ALL!

So, today is the day - start praying the answer. Praise and thank Jesus for everything big and small.

Meredith Andrews Concert

From: www.wilsonpregnancycenter.com


HERE IS OUR NEXT AWESOME EVENT TO BENEFIT THE WILSON PREGNANCY CENTER!!
Two-time 2009 GMA Dove Award nominee and Wilson native Meredith Andrews will be in concert at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2009.

This concert to benefit the Wilson Pregnancy Center will be held at Peace Church, located at 2838 Tilghman Road in Wilson, North Carolina. The doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.itickets.com or by calling toll free 1-800-965-9324.

Tickets are also available locally at the Wilson Pregnancy Center, located at 703 W. Nash St. in downtown Wilson

The Wilson Pregnancy Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit, Christian organization established in 1985, whose aim is to minister to women and families facing crisis pregnancies.

For more information, contact the Wilson Pregnancy Center by calling 252-237-6833.

For specific information on Meredith Andrews, you may visit her website at www.meredithandrews.com.

"El Elyon" Dance

Insert from the church bulletin:

The dance team thanks God for Steve Wolfe's obedience to the Lord by suggesting "El Elyon" for Resurrection Sunday. The names of the Lord in this song are included in the bulletin. We pray that our interpretation of El Elyon ministers to you & to the One Who inspired it. The dance symbolizes that in the beginning, the earth (us) was without form. Then the Spirit of God awakened us (white flags at the beginning) & His Light shone upon us so that our eyes opened to see who He is in us. We rejoice today in the revelation that He chose us before the foundation of the world & has judged us to be holy & blameless. Why? Because He loves us! He loves YOU!! Everything in the dance is symbolic of that love & the restoration & transformation that take place in His people because of it. We are responsible for bringing Heaven to earth. It is the blood of Jesus shed on the cross that gives us that right & responsibility. The circles around the banners are symbolic of how He spreads us out into the world bearing His name so those who are lost are found in Him. The little girls represent our child-like faith as well as us growing up unto the Lord. We carry that child-like faith with us as we mature. All this for the Glory of God!!

El Elyon means "Most High God". It affirms a great truth that our God is the Ruler, the Creator, and the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth. He is the Master, and the Creator, and the Possessor of the Universe.

Elohim is the Hebrew word for God as the Creator and Judge of the Universe. It means to be strong or be in front, which suits the power and preeminence of God. It is in the plural form bus used in the original language with a singular verb or adjective. This indicates the idea of a plural magnitude or majesty when used in reference to the one true God.

El Shaddai is the Judaic name for God and is normally translated as "God Almighty". El points to the power of God Himself. Shaddai seems to be derived from another word meaning breast, which implies that Shaddai signifies one who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies. It is God as El who helps, but it is God as Shaddai who abundantly blesses with all manner of blessings.

Yeshua is the Hebrew or Armanic name for "Jesus." However, it is interesting that it is also used to describe the Second Temple Period and Jesus is the second person of the Trinity.

Adonai is Hebrew for "Lord". It signifies ownership or mastership and indicates the truth that God is the owner of each member of the human family, and that He consequently claims the unrestricted obedience of all.

"I Am Your Beloved" Dance

The young ladies brought many tears to many eyes as they shared their worship on Resurrection Sunday. What a blessing!!

Ice Skating

Yesterday we helped cousin, Madison, celebrate her 9th birthday. She had a great birthday party at the Ice Plex in Raleigh. The kids were excited about ice skating. Tom had skated once before and did amazing. He amazed us once again with his ease. He pursuaded me to give it a try. It was so much fun! I only fell once and did so gracefully and laughing the whole time. I graduated from hugging the wall to pushing buckets (to help with my balance) to holding Tom's hand to a solo trip around the rink.

Great job PaPa, Uncle Ronnie, Josh, Madison, Anna Gracen, Wooten, Christian and Tom - if we can get the rest of the family to join in maybe we can start a family hockey team, LOL.

Thank you, Madison and Jill for an afternoon of fun and laughter.

Happy 9th Birthday, Madison!!!

Check out some pictures that PaPa (Tom's Dad) took.

HE LIVES!!!

Resurrection Day is upon us. Jesus not only died for you - He died as you. He took on our sins and the sins of the world so that we may have eternal life (relationship) with our Heavenly Father. God so loves us!!!

Jesus' death is not the end of the story. Let us not forget that on the third day He rose from the dead - conquering death, hell and the grave. He is alive and sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty - interceding on our behalf.

Lots of people wear crosses. Some just for a fashion statement, but I wear mine as a notice to others and a reminder to me. A notice that I am His and a reminder to me that I am His and His alone! A reminder of the price He paid for me and the love He has for me.

We are blessed and highly favored!! Let us rejoice and sing praises unto His mighty name!!

Family Fun

We have had a fun-filled week.

Tuesday- Tom's cousin, Kathy and her kids, Darby and Daxton (from Charleston, SC), came to town to visit with GG (what the great-grandkids call Grandma) and the rest of the family. 22 of us invaded Parker's Barbecue for lunch. We were so rowdy that they put us in our own room. Just kidding! They were nice enough to put us in a private room so that we could all sit together and visit (we probably were a little rowdy or at least a little loud). The boys: Wooten, Josh, Jacob, Daxton, and Christian had their own table. Darby, Rebecca, Anna Gracen, and Madison had their own table. Which left Eli and his entourage at the big table.

After lunch we loaded up and headed over to MeMa & PaPa's house to continue our visit. My kids stayed and enjoyed supper at MeMa & PaPa's while I headed to a Ladies' Meeting at church. The kids had a blast!! It was really cool watching the cousins interact as if they see each other all the time. What great memories they made. We really enjoyed our visit and are looking forward to another visit this summer. A ladies' road trip to Charleston has been mentioned.

Wednesday afternoon - Christian had his second baseball (machine pitch/tee ball) practice. He did a great job! He hit 3 of the 6 machine pitched balls. One got some serious air. He did awesome hitting off the tee. Nana and Wooten said he also did a good job fielding. (Anna Gracen and I were off to dance practice.) The boys enjoyed dinner with Nana.

Anna Gracen and four other young ladies at church will be dancing Sunday morning to celebrate Resurrection Day. They will be dancing to the song playing "I am Your Beloved". They have had a wonderful time practicing and look beautiful in their dance outfits. They also have a part in the dance that we (the ladies' dance team) is doing to Paul Wilbur's "El Elyon". Hopefully I'll be able to post videos of each of the dances.

Today after dance practice we went to the annual Resurrection Egg Hunt at church. We had lots and lots of goodies to eat, a puppet show and lots and lots of eggs. Anna Gracen was off to see "The Hannah Montana Movie" with her friend, Lindsey. The boys and I came home and had a yummy lasagna for dinner.

Tomorrow we're off to celebrate cousin Madison's 9th birthday with an ice skating party. We'll be dying eggs and making our Resurrection cookies tomorrow evening.

Have a great weekend!!