See You at the Pole, 2012

See you at the Pole has become one of my favorite days at the school.  The kids, administrators, teachers, coaches and parents all stand shoulder to shoulder not as participants at a school function but as believers.  They come out of their warm cozy little shells and pray for themselves, for one another, for their school and for their country.  They brave a world that seems to dislike anyone of character and strength and integrity and promise God Almighty they will try to do better by Him and by themselves and one another.  They want HIM, they make no bones about it and they aren't even afraid to say it.  They want him in their lives but as we all know having the Almighty in your life can seem like a daunting task and they need leadership, all of them, not just the kids, the adults as well.  We need someone to step up and help us, lead us and encourage us to do what needs to be done.  Youth Ministers, you should be all over this!

The Chuck Smith Family, CBC Youth Minister

I like to call this one...."Daddy Tooted".

Rachelle & Chuck Smith

Brentley

I finally got Chuck and Rachelle's pictures....and little Brentley... He's the cutest one in the family!
Chuck is the Youth Minister at Calvary Baptist.  He leads the kids with humor and the gospel.  His sweet sweet wife Rachelle is definitely his better half!  And they made the best part, Brentley.  He is a happy sweet baby who has the attention of the entire youth department as well as the church.  Thank you for your service Chuck and Rachelle and for having a cute baby!

From Tiny Twins to Teen Twins

Shawn and I decided that feeding the class of 2018 was managable.... and it was except that I didn't consider how hungry these kids would be I should have ordered twice as much pizza as I did!

Things started out quiet enough....

...and then, they noticed that the icing was really really soft....

And it just kept spreading....

Before long.....

Even the BOYS!

The entire Ira 7th Grade, class of 2018

Mrs. Scott led the kids in a Spanish version of "Happy Birthday"

Birthday Girls

Hoping for some sleep, well, I was anyway

The girls woke up to cool fall weather Saturday morning

Fresh Sweet Faces

Not sure WHAT happened here

Mud Packs

And the weekend ended with Shawn and me mixing it up with icing...

Our tiny twins aren't tiny anymore..
In a way it breaks my heart but in another way they have proven every parenting principle I believed wrong and have broken all the rules for me.  I honestly thank God for the girls..... all three of them because all of my preconceived notions are out the door... all the things I thought I wanted for my kids have been proven to be wisps of smoke and really of little significance.  They are all three live wires, they make me think harder, pray harder, and work harder.  I like that.
Their friends are hilarious and geeze they talk to one another so abruptly that I would shrink at the words they had for one another thinking someone was fixing to cry at any minute, but they would take their truths in stride and grow and laugh instead.  I like that.
They have an honesty about them that is refreshing and sincere, and they all know it.  I like that.

First Day of School at the McCowen House

"Bear"

"Rav"

"Em"

Every school year begins a new chapter in the lives of the kids and the parents.  This was the first year in 12 years that I didn't go with my kids to the school to help them unload, find, pay, whatever!  They managed on their own.  I'm proud of them for what they are becoming and how strong they are.  Junior High and Junior in High School.  Won't be long till they are starting lives of their own and putting their own kids in a pickup to head to school alone.

The Hunter Family

Jayna and Tommy Hunter.  Jayna is Calvary Baptist's new Children's Minister.  Tommy is her husband.  Their little girls are Jessie and Sidni.  Cute Cute kids! Sweet family!  Jayna and Tommy have lived in Snyder FOREVER! and have gone to Calvary about that long!  Jayna has a natural way with kids (as you can see in the tackle pic).  She is going to be a true asset to Calvary and to the kids that will come up under her ministry.