Kayla's Art Show

Kayla standing next to her drawing of grandmother Quinn as a toddler
My favorite piece is this one of Kayla and my daddy in the swing.
Jake standing next to the picture she drew of him.

mom and Kayla

Kayla's art teacher and others who came out to support her big night.

Kayla and her pretty mom, Linda :-)

Yesterday was Olivia's 11th birthday and also the opening reception to Kayla's art show. Even though Olivia and I were at the show, neither of us had our picture taken with Kayla :( Chris's mom Sylvia was also there videotaping the event. We all had a good time. Congratulations Kayla for completing your AP Studio Art Portfolio. Her work will be display at the Landrum Public Library through April 25th.

Happy Birthday to my sweet Olivia :) She had a good day, but we plan to celebrate with her friends this weekend (nothing planned yet due to all of the work going on around here), but we will put something together to make her feel special!!! Can't believe how fast she is growing up and that she is taller than me.

Well, she and I have school to finish. We are studying weather right now. God bless you and thanks for reading ( Wanda :)

the LOST

Would you join me in praying for some friends and family members that are lost? By lost I mean they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Some of them don't seem to care. Others seem to choose to ignore Him on purpose and with a bit of pride and attitude. As much as I love the Lord it is very difficult to see, hear or read about someone belittling Him. At the same time the Lord is working in me not to be critical of these people, but to have compassion on their souls and to reach out to them in love ( not judgement). I have realized that I wasted a perfectly good field of folks to reach out to when in high school. I was so busy judging their actions that I neglected to share the good news. One example: Once on a field trip a group of us were on the bus waiting for the teacher. Someone mentioned going out to clubs and I said I didn't do that sort of thing. Everyone on the bus made fun of me and called me Miss Goody Two Shoes; even one of my "church going" friends who I just knew would be on my side joined in the teasing. I got on the defense of how I didn't drink and I didn't dance so I had no reason to go to a club. I will never forget that day and how I felt. After that I didn't want to talk to those people. I had a strong sense of the Bible and it did say to come out from among them, but still I could have taken the approach of sharing Jesus' love but I didn't.

Well, that was then and this is now. Considering the fact that many of those same people still don't seem to care about their spiritual life has prompted this request. I don't want to neglect them twice. Thanks to face book and all of the communication tools at my finger tips, I can share with many what the Lord has done for me. I just want to be obedient to the Lord's will and not my will. My will always seems to mess things up, but God's will is perfect.

Will you pray for me as I seek to know how to approach several friends and family members about their walk (or lack of a walk ) with the Lord. I love them to much not to warn them about hell ( a place many of them think is make believe).

Thanks for listening and please pray.

catching up

Hello friends it has been awhile. I have to admit since I am home schooling and on face book my blogging time has been cut. I do have two readers that I know of :) so I will write for you both :) since you mentioned missing my blog. Thanks Diane and Karen, love you both :)

Things are super busy around our house as we are in the midst of major repairs. Our home is 20 years old and is in need of new siding, wood repair, windows and a new deck. For the past few weekends we have dug up all of the shrubs around our home. Chris is in the midst of tearing off the deck now. Our goal is to have a clean work area for the men who will do the siding & windows (hopefully next week :) Once they are finished we will build a new deck and plant new shrubs or some type of landscaping. On the inside I have been busy de-cluttering all of the cabinets and closets. Miracle Hill came by and picked up a ton of stuff last week and just today I took a load to my mom's for my nephew to use in his house. Yes, Justin has moved out and into his own home !!! I am very proud of him. It's a tiny place, but he is very happy and I am happy for him. He and Joey and Jeff painted a couple of rooms last week and he's started moving in. Can't believe he's grown up!!

Kayla is a senior and is doing great in school. She is an excellent artist and will have all of her works on display at Landrum Public Library for an Art exhibit April 19th. There will be a reception and all !! So proud of her. Jake is as handsome as ever and he too is doing well. They both have prom this weekend maybe I can post pictures. Sweet kids. Speaking of April 19th that is my baby girls 11th birthday. She is taller than me and so beautiful. I just love homeschooling her. She's a joy and I thank the Lord for her daily. Me and my Livie have a grand time learning and going through life together.

We finally found Daisy, our crazy dog, a new home. My fabulous brother Steven and his precious wife Linda (Jake and Kayla's parents) decided they would take her in. They already have Daisy's sister so now she's with family :) They say she's doing well. I am so glad. We love Daisy, but she had a tendency to bite Olivia's friends and well we can't have that.

Grandma Quinn is doing well in the nursing home. She actually told mom last week she had the best day!! So glad she has adjusted and is doing well. Mom is good. All of us keep her busy and shower her with love. She's the best mom.

Chris is going to be in an all day fishing tournament tomorrow and is excited about that. Olivia and I will just enjoy sleeping in and running errands. We have some exciting days ahead, can't really talk about it right now, but if you'll pray for our unspoken requests I'll fill you in on the details later. God bless and thanks for reading.

The Power of the Cross

Do you really understand the Power of the Cross and all that Jesus did for you? As I sat inside my doctor's exam room this morning I had plenty of time to think. I thought about what the cross means to me and what this Easter weekend means to me. Oh if only I had words to describe the feelings in my heart. Oh, if my hands could type fast enough to tell the thoughts I think. I love Jesus so much and thank Him for dying for all the selfish, sinful things I have chosen to do. He was the only perfect sacrifice. He could have said no, but he didn't ... He went to that cross for me ( and you). Do you really understand what He did? He died a horrible death. He was put in a tomb. He arose from the dead. He is in Heaven right now, praying for you and me. Praise God for His love. Praise Him for His sacrifice. Praise Him for his grace, mercy, forgiveness ... Praise Him, Praise Him Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Happy Easter.