Dancing at Merry Wells 11.30.24

Kennedy and Korin performed dances with their dance company in the Crazy Water Hotel pavillion.

This is Kennedy's dance group. She is third from the left.

Kennedy about to perform with her group.

Kennedy's dance group. I was bummed when I realized I wasn't videoing so I didn't get the whole dance.

Korin is the 2nd girl from the left.

You can watch Korin's dance here.

Have a good one!

A Little This and That and the Other

 

I love my little piece of country right in the middle of town. I get to watch sunsets and see wildlife. 

The family that live by my horse pasture recently purchased some chickens. They are so funny. They come out to the barn when I'm there. One of the hens has started laying one or two eggs everyday in my barn! 

Did you notice the critter in the photo that is not a chicken? Yet, an armadillo! He/she was visiting regularly but I haven't sent it in a while now.

Casper (mom) and one of the 5 kittens that were born in August.

(This picture taken 11-16)

I have a total of 8 cats! The most I've had in a really long time. They tend to disappear. Casper had her first litter April 2023. There were four. None of those kittens made it past 4 months. Her second litter was born March 2024. Two of those kittens are still around. Her third litter she had five babies born August 12th. They are now 4 months old.

As you can see the babies like to play with Fancy's tail. She doesn't seem bothered by them. Makes me laugh.

(Picture taken 11-28)

Here are two of the 5 youngest kittens. This picture was taken 10-11

Picture taken 10-14

Dooby on the top of the pipe. Casper and 4 of the 5 babies. I call them the "Fab 5" for now. 

My armadillo buddy.

My odd menagerie. I love it!

Have a good one!

Leader's Conference Nov 5th - Nov 11th

We again went to a Church Leaders Conference in Redding, California, November 5th-11th. We took

another couple with us who had never been before. 

We were able to connect with our young friend from Russia, Kamilla over breakfast.

Brandon Jordan is taking the picture. He and his wife Rose are the couple we brought with us. She was unable to come with us that morning due to a video call with a book publisher.

We took Rose and Brandon to the Sundial Bridge.

We connected with a couple we met last year.

Scott and Diane Ritchie from Michigan.

I also got the opportunity to meet a woman that I met through zoom three years ago. Her name is Ally. She is a Beliefs
Trainer with Igniting Hope Ministries who lives in Spain. She and her husband have a ministry to the pilgrims that travel the Camino de Santiago. The first time we met through zoom we instantly connected. I learned we have the same birthday and we both married our husbands in the same month and year! How interesting is that?! We met at the conference. Later in the week they came to the VRBO we were staying in to visit and really visit.

Ally's husband is on my left. His name is Stephan. (pronounced Stefen). We had a great time of learning more about each other and praying for each other.

On Saturday we took Rose and Brandon to one of the water falls we had visited. It is a smaller one but the bigger ones took longer to get to. 

This is Hedge Creek Falls. I've posted pictures of this fall before. 

View looking out from behind the falls.

We hiked a trail to a look out point.

View from the lookout point above.

We had a great week together!

Have a good one!

Friend is an Author 11-02-24

Rose Jordan and I have been friends for many years. 

She started a ministry geared mostly toward women called "Beneath the Fig Tree". I was one of her "beta members". I have watched her grow by leaps and bounds since we first met. 

She launched a podcast last year. 

Her first published book is a collaboration of authors called Journey to Joy: A Collection of Stories on Resilience, Gratitude, and Faith.

She had a book signing November 2nd. Doyle and I went to show our support and get our book signed.

All of this she has accomplished while being the "Director of Tourism" for our local Chamber of Commerce!

Rose and her husband Brandon are members of our church as well.

She is also extremely creative. The board you see behind us is a "fig tree". The leaves have the names of each member of the "figs community". 

Here is the whole tree.

Can you find my name? 😉 I'm in the middle of the bottom swirl.

Rose is currently working on getting her first solo book published.

I am so proud of her and thrilled to be counted as one of her friends.

Have a good one!

Addison's Baby Shower 12-07-2024

Addison and Jerry in their new home about to unwrap gifts. Mother and Wayne are sitting to the right. It was in the 50's that day but they had the windows open so that is why Mother has a blank on her legs.

Sherri (Addison's mother) with husband Carl sitting in front of the bar. Behind Carl is Ryan, Destiny's husband. The little girl is Scarlett, Taylor's little girl. Taylor is standing behind the bar in a green shirt and his wife Whitney is in the white sweater. Korin and Vanessa.

Jerry's family. Next to me is Jerry's son, his brother, his mother, Aunt, step-mother and Dad

I met them for the first time at the shower.

Mom and Wayne.

We played a game to guess the baby's name.

Her name is Eviryn Addison Stephens-Jones.

Jerry and Addison

Addison and Destiny

Sherri (Addison's mom)

Taylor and Addison

Wayne (Addison's dad) and Kai

Kelley (Wayne's wife)

me and Mom with Addison

Destiny, Addison and Taylor

L to R Scarlett, Aubrey,  Taylor, Whitney Kai, Addison and Jerry.

It was great to see Wayne and family and meet Jerry.

Have a good one!

I Am Well Able 103124

Joy is One Third of the Kingdom 103024

I Have Favor 102924

I am a holy temple 102824

I Let Holy Spirit Control My Mind 102324

Without a Single Fault 102224

No Matter What Happens 102124

People's responses to me 101824

I am God's Ambassador of Heaven 101724

Missouri Trip 10.5 thru 10.10

Vanessa, Mom, Korin and I made the trip to Missouri to see family. In the early planning stages, all of Vanessa's family was coming. The closer to time it got they began bailing one by one. In all fairness, Keannon had a great excuse. He was called to Oklahoma City to write claims for hail damage.

Vanessa picked the date as Kennedy would be on fall break from school. The other two are homeschooled. Then she learned that even though school wouldn't be in session, sporting games and practices would still continue. After Kennedy's shoulder injury, Vanessa was going to  make her come. Then a new friend Kennedy made at school was having a birthday party during the time we were going to be gone. The mother even offered to let Kennedy stay with them while we were gone. Vanessa was going to hold her ground but Kashton had a (according to him) super important football game and baseball game. His dad said he could stay home. Vanessa knew if Kennedy learned that Kashton was staying home she wouldn't have a leg to stand on! So....our group of 7 dwindled down to 4. 

We left Saturday morning October 5th driving straight through to my Aunt Sandy's.  Her granddaughter (Katie) and 2 children are living in the lower level of her house. Katie's daughter (MacKenna) made a welcome sign for us. She and Korin made fast friends! 

Auntie fixed us a bite to eat. We visited a bit then headed to Barbara's (my step-mother) another hour North leaving Mom to visit with her sister. 

October 6th Sunday morning, I went to church with Barbara. Sunday late afternoon we went to the 60th
Wedding anniversary of my Aunt Sharon (my Dad's sister) and Uncle Jimmy. They had a big celebration 10 years prior we attended. There weren't as many family members there this year but it was still good to see the ones who came.

The lovely couple. I swear Jimmy has not aged in 20 years! He is 80!

Everyone who was there!

L to R (white shirt with glasses) Michael Hughes (my cousin Deborah's husband) behind him is Karen Shonk (Barbara's daughter), Ann (Gray) Underwood (my dad's cousin), Mary Ann (in striped shirt), Philip is behind her, Barbara is next to her, Jimmy, Sharon, Kevin (Jim & Sharon's son), Vanessa, Korin, me, Lyndie Alan, Aaron holding his son Nolan and his daughter Vera standing next to him. 

Kneeling L to R Deborah (Jim & Sharon's daughter), her son Josiah (12), Kyla (14), Elli Jane (9) Jules - 9 (Kevin and Kelly's daughter) Kelly behind her and Isabella 17 (Kevin & Kelly's other daughter).

Jim and Sharon children, spouses and kids

Josiah, Michael, Kyla, Deborah, Jim, Sharon, Kevin, Kelly, Elli Jane, Jules and Isabella (Kevin and Kelly have 5 sons who were not there).

The Stephens siblings and spouses.

L to R Mary Ann, Philip, Barbara, Jim, Sharon Alan and Lyndie.

October 7th Monday. My Uncle Philip and Aunt Mary Ann stayed over with my Uncle Alan and Lyndie who live 7 miles from Barbara. We went there for lunch and visited most of the afternoon. Alan and his son Aaron were harvesting corn. Korin got to ride in the combine with Aaron. She thought that was pretty cool!

Alan and Philip supervising the corn loading into the grain bin. Brought back memories on the farm!

Short video clip of the process.

While we were visiting Philip and Mary Ann's son David called. He, his wife Jenny and 2 small sons live in Fort Myers which was the portion of Florida that was in the path of Hurricane Milton. They did not evacuate. I did learn later that everyone was okay. 

Tuesday October 8th my Uncle Bob (mom's brother) and Aunt Cindy drive to my Aunt Sandy's from Wichita Kansas to visit Mom. We came to have dinner with everyone and visit. I failed to get pictures of us with them! Aunt Sandy made sure she got pictures the next morning with her and Mom before they left.

Wednesday October 9th. We made plans to visit more with Michael, Deborah, Jim and Sharon. We
decided since we were leaving Thursday evening for home we would spend Wednesday night at Aunt Sandy's. We left Barbara's around noon. It was hard to leave. This was the first trip we made since Dad passed and our first picture without him.

It was a shorter trip than we usually take this time but it was good and got to visit lots of folks!

Have a good one!