A 4-n-1 Celebration

Last Saturday, August 1st, our family drove to Lake Tenkiller to celebrate birthdays. We were celebrating Sebastian's 4 1/2 birthday (read here if you wonder why we celebrate his half birthday), Katherine's 7th birthday, Wes's birthday, and Taylor's birthday (Wes' brother's girlfriend).

These were SO GOOD!


Presents!!!!

Barbie clothes and then a Barbie car!

Aaaaahhhhh.....

A remote control boat!!!
Man, those grandparents hit the jackpot!
It was a fun day!

Watermelon Festival

For the last three years Trinity Baptist Church of Valliant, Oklahoma has made fans and given them away at the Watermelon Festival held at the Valliant City Park. The last two years we've given the opportunity for kids to make watermelon picture frames and magnets. Everything we provide is free of charge to the public. Our goal is to let the people of Valliant know we care and love them, and we, as a church, are here for them.


Sebastian and Ryan cooling off with a snow cone!












Sebastian and Ryan handing out TBC fans.











Raeli and Katherine found the face painting booth.



Trinity's pastor. (Yes, that's his iPhone in his hands. I believe he was twittering!)

More Summertime Photos

They are such a blessing! We love them so!

Our Summer in Pictures

June's Main Adventures

This year as Wes, the kids, and I headed off for the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, we prayed for safe travel and an uneventful trip. Now, if you are wondering why we wanted an uneventful trip please read here.

Katherine and Sebastian began their grand adventure after we arrived in Franklin, Tennessee. While Wes and I would be heading onto Louisville, KY, they would be staying with Wes's Aunt Sara and her daughter, Lee, for the week. They took a trip to northern Indiana where Dan (Sara's husband) was producing a play. They were joined by Dan & Sara's son, Glen, and his fiance' for Father's Day weekend. The kids had a blast with Dan, Sara, Lee, Glen, and Angela.

Wes and I arrived in Louisville on Saturday, June 20th without any incident. Well, that is until we checked into our hotel. We checked in and were in our room about five minutes when Wes found a used personal item on the floor next to the bed. Needless to say we were moved and compensated with a better room.

On Father's Day we attended New Salem Baptist Church in Cox Creek, KY, where our friend Richard McPheeters is pastor. Wes and Richard served together in Cyril, OK, about eight years ago. We enjoyed worshiping with that church and the great fellowship of friends afterward.

As always, the days of pastor's conference and the SBC annual meeting kept us busy. We enjoyed taking care of the SBC business as well as reconnecting with friends from all over the world. We didn't get much sleep, but it was sure fun and worth every minute.

Wes and I headed back to Franklin, TN, Wednesday night to see our precious kiddo's. We peeked in on them and woke them up once we arrived. It was good to be back with them, and their smiles said it all!

Backyard Bliss

Already two weeks?

Katherine's been out of school for two weeks now and we've been busy! The day after school was out we headed to a mall so Katherine could have her ears pierced. (You can read about it in the previous post.) The next day we met Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Billy at the lake where we enjoyed their lake toys (wave runners, tube, & boat). Two days later we were back visiting a mall with a Build-a-Bear so Sebastian's new dog, also named Sebastian, could be repaired. We made a stop into H-E-B's Central Market where we picked up a few items for home. Somehow we managed not to stop in to IKEA, but that was probably because by then we were out of money!

Now if you're keeping track, it's only been four days since Katherine's been out of school and we've made two trips to the Dallas area with another day driving three hours to spend at the lake with family. I dare say we are on our way to living the summer in the car! Thankfully we spent the next week mostly at home!

Last weekend we upgraded to a new and much larger swimming pool. We spent most of last weekend and this week working on getting the pool where we could swim in it. The pool is a wonderful addition to our back yard as well as the new patio cover. We are very thankful and are looking forward to spending a good bit of our time enjoying our back yard this summer.

Well, that is, when we're home!

She's growing up...

Wes took his little princess into Claire's where she had her ears pierced.

When she was a baby some people asked us whether we were going to pierce her ears. As her parents we wanted to wait and let her make that decision when she was ready. Six years later that time is here. Time sure does fly!

No More Rain

The rain began sometime in March. It continued to rain through April and the first half of May. There were a few days in between the rain that we saw the sun. On those days we would try to get out, but usually it was too wet & muddy. Now that the rain has FINALLY stopped we are enjoying being outside and going to the park.


Katherine's last day of first grade is Thursday! Sebastian is as happy about school being out as Katherine. They are looking forward to being together, and I wonder how long the 'happiness of togetherness' will last!

Zoo Field Day

The 1st-4th grade students of Swink School took a field trip to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday. Sebastian and I took part in this adventure as well. We had a fun day!







Katherine took most of the pictures of the animals. She loved having my camera!

Shirley Ruth Whitaker Jentes

My mother influenced my life in many ways. She could say and do some of the funnest things. She could make me so mad and then have me on the floor laughing. She was my mother not my best friend, but as I became an adult we became friends too. She taught me how to be strong and independent through all things by having God's love. It was her prayers at night that taught me how to pray for my children. She wasn't perfect, but she was the best mom she could be to me and my brother and sister. We love her and miss her terribly, but we know she's in the presence of Our Father.

On this rainy mother's day I will enjoy hugs and kisses from my two precious kids while remembering my beautiful, loving, praying mother and all the many things I learned from her!