Spirit Night 080725

 Millsap is a small community about 10 miles Southeast of Mineral Wells. That is where Kennedy is

attending school. It is much smaller than Mineral Wells. 

To kick off the new school year Millsap High School had "Spirit Night" the day before school started. They introduce each student on all the athletic teams and band members. Kennedy is on the cheer squad so I got to watch her perform. Vanessa invited me to ride with her. It was fun!

Can you find Kennedy? She is the tallest girl on the backrow.

I am very grateful that a local photographer takes photos of all the schools events. 

Singing the school song.

Click here for introduction of cheer leaders and a cheer.

Another short clip here of the cheerleaders while band plays.

Have a good one!

End of Summer Back to School

A lot has happened since I've last blogged although I don't have many pictures to share.

I can't believe it is already mid August! The kids have been very busy this summer. Kennedy and Kashton have both gone to multiple camps. Korin has spent time with friends. I have started taking each of them to lunch and I have a standing date with Vanessa on Fridays to have coffee with me at the office. It's about the only way I get to see them!

Keannon has been writing claims for homes in our area affected by hail earlier this spring so he has been sharing office space with Doyle so I see him more than I do the rest of the family.

Keannon and Vanessa sold the restaurant in June. They had been trying to sell it for over a year. They sold it to a family who is local to the area and already has another busy in a small neighboring community. The transition went smoothly and the kids are enjoying a little more freedom. Vanessa is actually really looking forward to when the kids start school.

All three grands attended the camp Pine Cove in Tyler, Texas again this year the last week in July. Tyler is about 3 hours East of us.

Vanessa posted this pic on Facebook of Kennedy and Kashton on the balcony of Kennedy's dorm. I guess she didn't take a picture of Korin! 

Based on their ages each of the kids stayed in a different part of the camp.

Kennedy's school started August 8th. She is a Sophmore this year. Their mascot is the Bulldogs.

Kennedy on her first day back to school. It occurred to Vanessa that this is probably her last time to take Kennedy to her first day of school. She will be 16 in December and will be legal to drive herself!

Kennedy made the cheer squad. She is also an officer in FFA. 

And she still dances.

Kashton and Korin will be attending Grace Christian Academy. It is a small private school about 20 minutes from us. Kashton will be in 7th grade and is playing football. Korin will be in 5th grade. Their school starts on August 18th. Hoping Vanessa takes pics that I can share.

Have a good one!

Time of Worship 07.05.25

My heart is so heavy over the horrific flooding event that occurred in the Hill County about 5-6 hours South of us on July 4th. I've been praying. It was most helpful for me to worship. I sensed it would be helpful for others too. 1) Open the Eyes of My Heart 2) I Need You More 3) The More I Seek You 4) I Love Your Presence 5) Nothing Else 6) Where You Are 7) I see the Lord (Isaiah 7)

Abounding Hope and Joy Conference

Doyle and I attended Abounding Hope and Joy Conference in Redding, California May 2-3. 

I have been following Steve and Wendy Backlund, founders of Igniting Hope Ministries  for 11 years. I am a different person since I began following these people and their ministry.

Steve Backlund.

We met people from all over the world and made some new connections and friends.

Who says you can't have fun at church?! 😉

New friends Jenny and Andy Fitzgerald. Part of the Backlund Team and also have their own ministry called Imagine Life. Jenny is a Beliefs Trainer for Igniting Hope.

We had a great time!

Have a good one!

More Bike Riding 05.01.25

We enjoyed riding the e-bikes so much that we rented them again and rode a little farther.

I missed posting a few pictures from the ride the day before. These Canadian goose and goslings were right along the bike trail.

 

I shared in the previous post this picture that Doyle took of me taking a picture of an eagle but didn't include the photo of the eagle!

It appeared the eagle had taken a bath as I saw it grooming itself and I could tell their feathers were wet.

Wild flowers along the Sacramento River.

We rode the same bike trail but this time when we crossed the bridge we rode to Keswick Dam. (We turned right.)

More beautiful flowers.

Keswick Dam

We rode a little farther on the trail past the dam to a hilltop. The terrain reminded me of home except for the mountain in the background!

This bike trail goes all the way to Shasta Dam which is about 19 miles. We didn't want to ride bikes the entire day. I would like to do it some day.

We did put in 17.6 miles!

We have been to the Sundial Bridge many times but never at night. Doyle wanted to do that. There was a special event  happening called Glowing Wild Lantern Festival at Turtle Bay. 

View of the Sacramento River after sunset.

It was pretty cool!

Have a good one!

Biking Along the Sacramento River 4.30.25

Doyle and I went to Redding, California April 29th. In times past we have gone to a Leaders Conference at Bethel Church.

This year we went to a conference put on by Igniting Hope Ministries. The founder, Steve Backlund is a leader at Bethel Church. I have been following Steve for many years. I have so bought into his message of renewing my mind with truth. Replacing negativity and lies with positive statements and truth that God says about us, our circumstances, others and God. 

Doyle and I had the best time! We will go to this conference again. It was nice to be at a smaller conference than the one at Bethel. There were greater opportunities to make connections with the staff and meet new friends.

The conference didn't start until Friday. We arrived on Tuesday. We had Wednesday and Thursday to do what we wanted at our leisure. 

We chose to rent e-bikes and ride the bike trails along the Sacramento River. I am so glad we did! It was a blast!

Yes, we rode this trail! The e-bikes do most of the work!

Poppy's are the state flower. The purple flowers reminded me of our beloved Bluebonnets but they are actually called Lupines.

Doyle with our e-bikes. We are about to cross a bridge over the Sacramento River.

Doyle got a head start on me!

The trails are so nice!

There were shaded parts of the trail too!

Love this view. We are crossing another bridge over the Sacramento River.

If you click on the picture to make it bigger you can see in the distance a snow covered mountain. That's Mount Shasta.

We rode to the park where the Redding eagles nest. Doyle got a picture of me taking a picture of one of them in a tree. You'll have to make the picture bigger. The eagle is perched in the top of the dead tree to the far left of the photo.

We racked up 13. 7 miles!

Have a good one!

Hodge Podge April 2025

April 10th - Kennedy needed a ride to a babysitting job that was about 15 miles North of town. It was in a rural area. On my way back home from dropping her off I saw a hawk on the ground in a open field. I found that odd. I found a place to turn around. Before doing so I put my zoom lens on my camera and got it ready to take pictures. I drive by again slowly taking pictures from the road. It never moved. 

I wanted to get closer so I turned around again and parked on a road off the road that ran along side the open field that the hawk was in. I make my way slowly hoping to get closer. I get this photo before it takes flight.

I was so disappointed that it wasn't in focus. I decided to share it anyway. It would have be a great shot if it had been in focus!

April 11th - Kennedy at bat playing high school softball.

April 20th Easter Sunday.

This was taken at the Floyd property in Weatherford. The kids spent Easter with her step-mother's family.

L to R Kashton (12), Kennedy (15) holding Barrett (18 mos the kids cousin) and Korin (10).