To blog or not to blog......

that is the question. I have such good intentions about blogging - things I want to share in pictures and in words.

What keeps me from posting? Time - I get so busy doing the stuff I want to blog about that I don't get around to blogging. Does that make sense?

With that said - my blog posts will probably not be frequent. They may be more like a wrap up of what is going on with us (like this post).

We are enjoying the warm weather (when we have it). You gotta love NC weather - warm one day, cool the next - some days it starts out warm and turns cold and vice versa.

Christian is playing spring baseball on the Yankees 7-8 year old team. He had a blast at his first practice this week. The boy loves baseball (and does very well I might add). Wooten will be playing baseball, also. Assessments for his age group are coming up in the next few weeks. Tom, Wooten and I are going to see the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles play in April. Wooten is very excited. We'll have to ride by and take a picture of the Charm City Cakes building (home of Ace of Cakes) while we're in Baltimore. Anna Gracen is finishing up her first year of gymnastics. She loves it. I am impressed with all she has learned. Her awards day is coming up in the next few weeks.

We are enjoying homeschooling. The kids are doing well. We'll be having end-of-grade testing in May. We attended an open house for Classical Conversations last week. The kids really enjoyed it. We are prayerfully considering enrolling for the fall.

Wooten attended Acquire the Fire with the youth group. They had a great time and did a wonderful job of sharing about their experience. Wooten did not share much in church, but has shared with us some things that touched him. The speaker, Nick Vucjicic, made a huge impact on the youth (on anyone who has ever heard this testimony).

We are anxiously awaiting the birth of Matthew Abel Sloan which could be any day now!

I have a home business that I am getting started. For more information check out my website www.fhtmus.com/amandadoc. I am excited about the possibilities.

We are blessed beyond measure. We are able to visit with family frequently and have a wonderful church family. We are thankful to God for all He has provided to us through Jesus. We look forward to the plans He has for us. We will be celebrating Jesus' resurrection with an egg hunt at church on Friday. We will be trying out a new recipe for resurrection rolls (thank you, cousin Kathy) and our traditional resurrection cookies (Nana's favorite). I am sure their will be several egg hunts with family.

Until time allows...Blessings! :)

Anna Gracen is 11!!!!

This was supposed to have posted yesterday - but the celebration continues......

11 years ago today God blessed us with a beautiful baby girl. She is such a loving, creative, social, motherly young lady (but I'll always call her my LITTLE GIRL).

We celebrated with one birthday party last Saturday at MeMa and PaPa's house with Aunt Lillian, Jill, Madison, Aunt Colleen, Uncle Ronnie, Rebecca, Josh, Aunt Jennifer (Abel), Uncle Matt, Eli (Jacob was missed), MeMa and PaPa.

Today we will celebrate Anna Gracen's birthday by going to see the ACT! For Youth's production of Willy Wonka; going shopping; and going out to eat (at a restaurant of the birthday girl's choice - right now she is saying Zaxby's and then Rita's for dessert - she may change her mind though).

On Friday, Anna Gracen is spending the day with Nana and Mr. Bobby doing some more shopping. That girl LOVES to shop!!!

We will celebrate with the rest of the family this weekend. Birthdays get spread out to birthweek celebrations.

We are blessed beyond measure!

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY, ANNA GRACEN!!!!!! We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very and a whole lot more verys much!!

Mommy, Daddy, Wooten and Christian

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOM!!!!

Today is Tom's 39th birthday!! We are so blessed to have him as a Daddy, husband, best friend and spiritual leader of our home. Sometimes he's quiet, but sometimes he is a riot! He makes us laugh - he keeps us protected - he makes us laugh - he encourages us to do our best - he makes us laugh - he loves us even when we may not be so lovable. We thank God for him everyday!!

Happy Labor Day, MeMa!! Thank you to MeMa and PaPa for raising a wonderful man that we are blessed to call - Daddy!

Tom and the kids at MeMa & PaPa's for a birthday celebration that we had a couple of weeks ago (because of Tom's work schedule).

Happy 39th Birthday, Tom!!!! We love you bunches!!!!

30-Hour Famine

The Youth Group that Wooten goes to on Wednesday nights at First Free Will Baptist Church is participating in the 30-Hour Famine again this year. You can read the post from last year here.

This is an amazing opportunity to raise awareness about hunger in our world. Last year's statistics were that 26,000 children under the age of 5 die each day from preventable causes (hunger, poverty and disease). This year's statistics are down to 25,000 a day. That is still 25,000 too many.

For more information about the 30-Hour Famine go to http://www.30hourfamine.org/.

As we have seen from the coverage of the earthquake in Haiti, there are people in need. We can help - first and foremost by praying! The prayer of a righteous man avails much. As I explained to my children - as big and bad as the earthquake was - God is bigger!! No situation is too big for Him! We have heard some of the miraculous stories let us not forget Who is in control.

Faith Keeps Woman Safe in Attempted Robbery

Click on the title below to read the story and see the video - truly AWESOME!
Faith Keeps Woman Safe in Attempted Robbery

Silver Ring Thing

What is the Silver Ring Thing read more here. The youth group at our church is taking part in this curriculum. It has opened up conversations in our home. So many people are scared to have "the talk" with their children, but (as stated in the video the parents of the youth saw today) if we don't tell them someone else will. I want my children to know the truth - God's truth about sex. We are an open family - we have told the kids if they have any questions they can ask us.

Purity is something they have heard about before - thank you, Jonas Brothers. The Jonas Brothers have been very open and honest about wearing their purity rings and what it means to them. They were picked on in the media for their stand for purity. What is up with our society? Making fun of teens who have decided to save themselves until marriage.

Here are some statistics from Next Equipping Parents to Lead... Inspiring a Generation to Wait (a parent resource from Silver Ring Thing). These statistics are "based on a national research and analysis report published in 2005 by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

• Nearly half of all high school students (9th through 12th grade) are sexually active
• Approximately one-third of young women get pregnant before age 20.
• Around 10 percent of girls and boys have sex before turning 14.
• Eighteen percent of high school boys and 11 percent of high school girls have had four or more sexual partners by the time they graduate.
• Approximately one in four sexually active teens contracts an STD every year.
• An estimated half of all new HIV infections occur in people under the age of 25.
• Nearly one in four high school students claim they feel pressured to have sex.
• One in four teen report that they "did something sexually they did not really want to do" as a result of feeling pressured.
• One in ten high school students reveal they have been forced to have sex against their will at some point."

Pretty alarming - right? What if these teens had parents, family members and church youth leaders that were willing to talk to them about purity instead of contraception? We can not bury our heads in the sand or turn a deaf ear -

I thank God for our head youth leader, Pamela, the other youth leaders and our church body who are helping and supporting us and our children along this journey of purity. Thank you to our families for praying for Wooten and the youth group.

Happy Birthday, Mama!

Today is my mama's birthday (Elvis was born on this day also). We will be celebrating tomorrow night with a family dinner complete with cake and ice cream (what really makes it complete is the fact that Nana will be with her three children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, five grandchildren and her honey).
Happy Birthday, Mama! (Mama & Mr. Bobby - Christmas at Aunt Vicky and Uncle Paul's house)

He won't relent

Be sure to pause the music on my playlist (on the left hand side) before you listen to the video below. We sang this song at church Sunday night.

I get glory bumps every time I hear it (glory bumps not chill or goose bumps.) What are glory bumps you may ask? Mrs. Ethel (a sweet, Jesus loving, spiritual mother from church) would correct anybody if they said something spiritual gave them goose bumps. She said they are glory bumps.

You have had them before - you may have called them the wrong thing, but I'm sure you have experienced them. You hear a song, see a worship dance, hear a word of confirmation, a sermon and you feel chills go through you and there they are the bumps. Your spirit has been touched by God's truth - His Glory. Your spirit is so overcome with His Glory that your physical body can not contain it.
Take notice the next time they appear....

Kim+Walker+and+Chris+Quilala+-+You+won%27t+relent

Kim Walker and Chris Quilala - You won't relent
Uploaded by jesusseigneur. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

It's CHRISTmas time!

Jesus is the reason for the season!!

Happy 14th Birthday, Wooten!!

I can not believe that Wooten is 14 today. It seems like yesterday that all the family was sitting in the waiting room playing games and awaiting his arrival.

We are very proud of the wonderful young man that he is. We are proud to be his parents and witnesses of him living out the plans that God has for him.



When I asked him how he wanted to celebrate his birthday all he mentioned was food. He wants tacos from Taco Bell and french fries from McDonalds for lunch and Buffalo Wild Wings for supper - topped off with a dirt cake for dessert. He informed me that he would like to eat the cake right at midnight. The boy is all about celebrating.


Happy 14th Birthday, Wooten!!! We love you!!

Mom, Dad, Anna Gracen & Christian

New Pictures

Christian at Jesus Jubilee at church. He was an ECU Pirate - AARRRGGG! Anna Gracen won the costume contest in her age group. She was a business woman. You go girl!

Wooten helped with the games at Jesus Jubilee. He dressed as a teenage, Yankees' fan - himself!

This past Saturday we headed to Raleigh to the State Farmers' Market. MeMa was out of town, so we invited PaPa to go with us. We met up with Aunt Jennifer (& baby boy Sloan), Uncle Matt, Jacob and Eli for lunch at the market. It was yummy - not to mention fun!

Thank you to all veterans!!

Our little gymnast

Anna Gracen is taking gymnastics at the YMCA. This past week it was parent visit week - so there I was with camera in hand. Anna Gracen and her friend and our next door neighbor, Taryn.

Check out that back bend.

Here is our girl in action...

Faux hawk

Wooten talked Christian into a faux hawk. He loves it!! Doesn't he look cool?

Christian turns 7!!!!

Happy 7th Birthday, Christian!! It seems like yesterday that we found out God was blessing us with a baby. You are that - a blessing from God!! We are so proud of the young man you are. Your smile (which can be mischievous), your laugh, your hugs, your sweetness, and your smart wit makes my day. I am so very proud to be your mommy.
Much love,
Mommy
XOXOXO

It's a BOY!!

We have welcomed a new addition to our family - a chocolate lab puppy. We have named him, Tank.

Here is Tank's dad MHR Deep Run Goose CGC JH QAA..."Goose".

His mom AKS's Red,White' N Blues "Glory".

The kids loving on Tank (while he is in his crate). Tank's first swim.

The first night we had Tank home - I gave him a milk bone and told him to go to his crate. He left all of us in the kitchen, walked through the den into the sun room and went right in his crate. We were amazed! He (and we) are adjusting well! He sleeps great in his crate and is doing well house training. He is very loving and likes to be with us. He is definitely getting his exercise playing with the kids.

There is just something about a dog in a crate that looks sad (I guess because they aren't smiling). He really does like his crate and is only in there at night and when we aren't home.

Growing Up

Christian lost his first tooth! He was going to pull it, but as he walked up the back steps - it came out all on it's own. He is proud!

Chris Sligh's Back to School Tour 2009

Last night was a great night of worship and fellowship. My friend (Laura), her daughter (Lindsey), Anna Gracen and I went to Raleigh Community Church last night for a concert. Christian concerts are so much more than just a good time - it is corporate worship that awakens you and draws you closer to God. The unity was incredible.


These anointed musicians have teamed with Compassion International to share Jesus with the nations. You can find out how you can sponsor a child and make a difference in their lives by going to the link.


Andrew Witt, Aaron Shust and Chris Sligh singing a song Andrew wrote about making a difference in one life. You can hear the song, "Compassion" on Andrew's website


Wilson, NC's very own, Meredith Andrews, is also on the tour. Her boldness is inspiring. The last song of the evening was "How Great Thou Art".

Anna Gracen with Andrew Witt - he signed her CD. He is a very talented, anointed man of God. Check out his music and blog at his website.
Andrew signed Lindsey's "Back to School Tour" t-shirt. The girls think Andrew is FOXY!

You may recognize Chris Sligh from a little show called American Idol. Chris was a 2007 finalist. This was his second "Back to School Tour". We went early for the VIP Meet & Greet and was treated with an acoustic session with Chris and Aaron Shust. They shared their faith and music.

Later during the concert Chris said he was going to answer some questions that he is always asked.

*Yes, that is his real hair.

* No, he does not have a perm.

*What you see with Simon is what you get. The contestants don't see him outside of the show.

*He said he is asked if Paula is always high. He said he never saw her drink and left it at that.

*American Idol was fun.

Chris has an awesome personality and made us laugh (a lot). Laura said he reminded her of Jack Black - we agree.

More on Back to School Tour

Lindsey made the observation that "Woody" on Sweet Life on Deck looks like Chris Sligh. "Woody" pictured above. Chris below. Chris and his "Mini Me".

This is a poster that was hanging in the sanctuary of Raleigh Community Church. Laura and I thought it looked cool.

I met Aaron Shust! He is very nice and personable. I was laughing when the picture was taken. The camera was not cooperating and this was about the fifth try (not to mention I am not photogenic). Whatever! I met Aaron Shust !