It's a New Year

Okay, it's already over a month into the new year and we've been busy.

Wes and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary on Monday, January 6th, which was also the kids first day of school. 

Sebastian is two-thirds of the way through his DSYHL (Dallas Stars Youth Hockey League) Squirt season.

While Sebastian is keeping busy with hockey 2-3 times a week, Katherine keeps busy with piano and ballet lessons each week. 

Both kids are actively involved in our church's kids programs as well.

2014 is off to a good start and we are looking forward to all God has in store for us this year!

GPS

Our church offers children's choir on Wednesday evenings during the summer.  Katherine and Sebastian participated this year. Here are some clips from their musical.

Where Is The Time Going?

BBC Children's Camp

In June, Katherine was off to children's camp with our church, BBC.  The theme for camp was Fear Less and Psalm 56:3 was the scripture reference.  Dr. Jason Lee, former professor at SWBTS, current dean for the Cedarville University School of Biblical & Ministry Studies, & former member of BBC, was the camp pastor.  Jarryd Foreman was the camp worship leader. 

Hannah, Katherine, & Mackenzie

My precious girl, Katherine Grace

Gathered to pray before loading the bus

Loaded & almost ready to pull out

The group pulled out Monday morning, June 24th, and returned Thursday afternoon, June 27th. 

I was thankful she had the opportunity to attend camp and thankful to have her back home on Thursday. 

Katherine's Volleyball Adventure

Katherine decided this summer she would learn how to play volleyball.  She signed up for the 10 & under girls volleyball program through the Fort Worth Recreation Center.  She was able to be on a team with a couple friends from church.  She had two practices & one game each week for six weeks, and she had a great time learning a new sport.

Children's Bible Drill

 Katherine participated in Children's Bible Drill this year at our church.

(Children's Bible Drill helps children in Grades 4-6 increase in their knowledge of the Bible and in learning how to apply the Bible to their lives. Children's Bible Drill is made up of three cycles of verses and key passages that rotate over a three-year period. At the end of three years in Children's Bible Drill, children will have memorized the books of the Bible and 75 Bible verses. Children will be able to locate Bible books, verses, and 30 Key Passages.  * Taken from FBC, Euless /Bible Drill) 

She was required to memorize the books of the Bible, 25 Bible verses, and 10 key passages.  In March, she competed in our church's competition and was required to score at least 12 out of 24 points to qualify for associational competition, which she did.  At associational competition she was required to score at least 17 out of 24 to qualify for state, and she scored 20!  At state she once again did great and received an Excellent Rating for scoring 21 out of 24 points.  Wes and I are so proud of her and all her scriptural memorization. 

~The picture above is the group from our church, BBC, at the state competition at FBC, Euless.

Katherine's Ballet Recital

Katherine takes ballet at Debbie Dena's School of Ballet.  Mrs. Dena is a wonderful Christian lady, who loves and prays for her students.  Mrs. Dena and her assistants are teaching their students so much more than ballet, and it is a real blessing for her students & their parents.  One of my favorite sights is seeing the girls gather at the end of class to pray.

Here is a 3 minute slideshow from the recital...

33 Days and Counting....

The kids have been back to school for 33 days now, and we are enjoying our year.  Katherine is in the 5th grade and Sebastian is in 2nd grade.  They are doing well, and Wes and I are very proud of them.

We've started our local park day with other homeschoolers and already been on a couple field trips with several SWBTS homeschoolers.   

Sebastian has finished his Saturday learn to skate hockey lessons and is now part of Dallas Stars Youth Hockey.  He has practices three times a week and will find out what team he is on next week.  He will get to play weekly games and one game will be played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, where the Dallas Stars play,  sometime during the hockey season.  He loves being on the ice and is learning a great deal.

Katherine is taking ballet once a week and loving it.  She is learning something new each week and constantly dancing around.

Katherine is not taking piano lessons for the first time in four years, but she is still playing.  She needed a break, and Wes and I thought it best to allow her to do so.

Katherine is involved in Girls in Action at church on Sunday evenings as well as Bible Drill and Activate on Wednesday nights.

Sebastian is involved in Royal Ambassadors on Sunday evenings and Activate on Wednesday.  He will also take part in a new believers class called You're a Christian, Now What? on Sundays for the next 4 weeks.

Wes and I are constantly amazed at how Katherine and Sebastian are growing and changing daily.  They are such blessings, and we are extremely blessed to be their parents.  We love them so much and are proud of them.

Birchman's Amazing Wonders Aviation Musical

Clips from our church's vacation bible school musical.

Swim Lessons

Katherine and Sebastian took their first session of swim lessons May 29th - June 8th.

When I registered them they were not excited.  They'd never had swim lessons and didn't know what to expect.  Wes and I assured them they'd end up enjoying the class, but they were not to be convinced.

After the first day of class they decided it wasn't so bad, and they even looked forward to going the next day.  (Wow, the parents might have been right about this one!)

Katherine & Sebastian finished the Level Two class at the Hurst Aquatics Center on Friday, June 8th.  After showing off their skills for all the parents,  the students were rewarded with free swim play time.

I am very proud of them and signed them up for 2 more sessions this summer.  They will begin their second session Monday at 8:15 AM.  Katherine will be in Level Three and Sebastian will either be in Level Two again or if he's improved on his backstroke & freestyle onto Level Three. 

Easter Art Project

Katherine and Sebastian are taking an art class at the Hurst Recreation Center on Wednesday mornings.  The first couple classes before Easter they each made a paper mache egg.   They called them ostrich eggs as they were rather large.

Kilgore City Park

Back in February the kids and I spent a couple days visiting my sister in Kilgore, Texas.  One evening I took the kids to the city park where I experimented using different settings on my camera.  The kids were willing to pose for a few shots.  Here are a few...

 *Remember I was experimenting and learning different settings, so these aren't the best quality.

Kate's Artwork

Winter Recital