Changes......

Wow, I cannot believe it has been February since I have made a blog entry. I guess I'm a bad blogger! It's hard to believe that the last time I blogged it was winter. Since then we have had a scorching hot and dry summer ,and now are in the middle of my favorite season, autumn! I love all the colors of fall and the changing of the weather.

Speaking of change.....where do I begin? I have had so many changes in my life in the past 2 months.I thought my major change this year would be my son graduating from high school. While this was new territory little did I know what was just around the corner. In July we found out that my husband would be appointed pastor of a new church in another town about an hour away. Although this was our hometown, we have been gone for several years. Not only did this mean a new church family, but it also meant a new house, a new job, new schools for the kids, and a new routine for everyone. It seems that I have had very little free time with all of the unpacking and settling that takes place with a move.


I sat down the other day and was thinking about all of the changes and how everything was different. Don't get me wrong, I know that God orchestrated this change in our lives, but we all like our comfort zones. Change is hard. But, I began to think about how God never changes. Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the LORD, I do not change. That is so comforting to me knowing, that in the midst of ALL of life's changes, God--who is in control of EVERYTHING--never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As I look back over my life, He has been in control and has always sustained me even in the times of uncertainty and change.

Another favorite scripture of mine is Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowlege him and He will direct thy paths. As I reflect on these scriptures, I know that God who has never changed, will guide me through all of the change and seasons of my life.
 

Praying for God's blessings on all my old and new friends and family.

Blessings,

Tonya



Umm...Umm....Good!!!!!

Nothing is better to eat on a cold winter day than a hot bowl of soup. In fact, that is a favorite around our house during winter. I personally, love anything that I can cook in the crock pot and soup makes the house smell so good. For the past several years, we have had a soup competition at our church. This is an annual fundraiser for our ladies' department, but the entire church participates by bringing or eating soup. In fact, it is a much anticipated event every year. To enter the contest, you simply bring a homemade soup. Each soup is lableld with a number so that you don't know who made the soup.  For only $5.00 you can sample as much soup as your heart (or stomach) desires. You then vote for your favorite soup. Each year we have had approximately 17-20 differrent soups and we divide the soups into 3 categories: tomato, broth, and cream-base soups. There are winners in each category. Winners receive a trophy and runners up receive ribbons.

This year, I entered a taco soup and a potato soup. The taco soup is a version of a Weight Watcher's recipe. I am allergic to beans (weird, I know) and therefore I substitute the beans for rice. My husband doesn't like corn (again, weird), so to make him happy, I leave the corn out of my recipe. The potato soup was just a recipe that I found in a cookbook. I am a simple cook. I look for recipes with the least amount of ingredients. This was my first attempt at homemade potato soup, and my family LOVED it. In fact, it was perfect during those cold snow days.

Of course there were also  desserts..........

The fundraiser was a success and special thanks to all of those who participated!!!!

God Bless,

Tonya

Snow Day....WooHoo!!!!!!!!

Last Monday morning, I received a text message bright and early from my friend, Lynett, whom I carpool with to work. She was letting me know that the local school was closed. My first thought was, "That's odd, maybe the heat is broken at the school." A few minutes later, I received a text from the college where I teach letting me know that our classes were cancelled. I realized then we must have gotten some snow or, most likely ice. I was suprised when  I looked outside and saw a beautiful blanket of snow on the ground. Lynett and I sent each other a text message almost simultaenously that read, "Snow Day...WooHoo."  That is one of the perks to teaching...we get snow days!

Now, I am sure my family in Nebraska and Indiana do not consider this much snow, but where I live, we are lucky to get snow once or twice a year. Most of the time it is more ice than snow, but last week we had beautiful, fluffy white snow that was perfect to make snowballs and of course a snowman.

Even big boys cannot resist playing in the snow. If you're wondering where Caleb is, he was inside sick with a cold, and didn't get to come out and play (poor, Caleb).

In the end, we decided to make a snow- lady instead of a snowman. We gave her a necklace, scarf, sunglasses, and an umbrella. She was a true "Southern Belle" snow lady. Of course we gave her a name. Introducing...........Elaine Pankey.........................................................

Although it was fun, I admit I am glad to see the snow melting. I am ready for some sunshine and warmer weather!

God Bless and stay warm!

Tonya

Christmas 2009

It's so hard to believe that it is the first of February and  I have not posted since a few days before Christmas. My New Year's Resolution was to be more organized, and I have been busy with some small organizing projects that have taken up a lot of my spare time. Nothing major, I started out by taking down, organizing, and storing the Christmas decor here and at the church. It seems like it takes me a while to get my house back in order after Christmas. There's always new items to find places for and odds and ends that need to be put away. My goal now is to try and update my blog at least once a week. I would like to do it more often, but at least putting a small goal in writing will help me to be accountable (at least I hope so!)


I wanted to share some pictures from Christmas. It seems like I'm taking a lot more pictures these days. Probably because the kids are getting older and it's making this Mama very sentimental about holidays! I also miss my extended family that I don't get to see very often which is one reason why I started blogging. Hope you enjoy a few pictures from our home.

This picture was taken in front of the tree in the living room.

This is a picture of my sweet brother-in-law, Billy. This picture was taken at the Blytheville Christmas Parade. I told Billy I was going to put his picture on my blog and he told me as long as I labeled it as "the most unsocialable man in the world." Whatever....!  Does this look like an unsocialable face to you? I don't think so!

I love this picture of me and Josh. In fact, it is my current Facebook profile picture.

Caleb..............

Katie Beth showing off some Christmas Rice Krispy Treats.

Me with my hubby.................

I hope that all of my friends and family had a blessed and not stressed holiday season. The older I get, the more I desire to keep things simple and stress-free. That is my goal for 2010.

God Bless and have a wonderful week!

Christmas Decorating!!!

Well, today is officially the first day of winter and as the song says, "Baby it's cold outside!" It seems like the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas just fly by. It's funny, when I was a kid it seemed like it took forever for Christmas to finally come, but now that I am older it seems to come quicker each year. I like to celebrate the entire month of December. My favorite part of the season is spending time with my family, friends, and church family. I like to put up my Christmas decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving. Each year, we "Deck the Walls" at the church the Sunday after Thanksgiving. This is a time of not only decorating, but fellowshipping and enjoying Christmas music--which is another thing I LOVE about this time of the year. I wanted to share a few pictures of the church decoations.

This is the tree in the church foyer (sorry the ladder is in the picture.)  

Below is a picture of the front of the sanctuary. The Nativity on the communion table belongs to my mother. I love the simplicty of the Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus figurine. She has been kind enough to loan it to me to use in the church for the past several years.

Tree in fellowship hall:

When we "Deck the Walls", women, men, teenagers and even children participate. The following picture is of one of our youth, Royal. Royal is blind, but he enjoys coming to listen to the music and to chat. Royal always has plenty to talk about!

Below is a picture of one of the children, Christopher. He is such a sweetie, and he wanted his picture made. Check out his big smile!

We all had a great time. Some of us even got in touch with our inner child (sorry , Karen, I couldn't resist!)

It was a fun night and thanks to everyone who helped make the church festive for the Christmas season. May God bless you!

Remember: Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Technically, it's still autumn!

I know it's Christmas, and yes, I have decorated my house and even my blog. In fact,I have been to a couple of Christmas parties and have indulged in many Christmas treats! As I type this, I'm wearing a Christmas sweater and listening to Christmas music. However, winter does not officially begin until December 20th or 21st (I can never remember); therefore I think it is still okay to blog about fall and share some pictures from various events this fall.

First of all, we spend a lot of time at football games from September through the beginning of November. I have mentioned previously, that I know very little about sports. I had no brothers and my father was not much of a sports fan, so I was never exposed to sports. However, I love going to the high school football games. First of all, my oldest son, Caleb plays the alto saxophone in the band. I too played saxophone in the marching band and have fond memories of marching and playing in the stands. My younger son, Josh, loves sports and has been on the junior high football team. This was his first year to play on the high school team. I do know that he is #88 and his position is tight-end, but that is about the extent of my knowledge.  I'm one of these Momma's sitting on pins and needles praying he doesn't get hurt!

In addition to home football games and away games, there were band competitions. I enjoy watching the band perform their shows. This year, the MHS Band's theme was "We Didn't Start the Earth Wind and Fire".

Josh in his football uniform (apparently, you are not supposed to smile in football pictures!)

Here are some pictures of the mascot and some pictures from homecoming 2009. He was an excellent mascot and provided us with much entertainment at the games.

Our good friend, Michael, showing his school spirit!

In addition to football and band, we were busy planning the church's annual Fall Festival.This has become a much anticipated annual event and fundraiser at our church. We have a silent auction, sell baked items, and food. The kids have fun playing games and participating in the cake walk and costume contest. Katie Beth dressed up like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

Vena and Karen-- or should I say "Moneybuckets the Clown"-- helping sell tickets!

Lots of yummy pies, cakes, and canned items! To the left you will see Ms. Ruby and Sherri. They are just a few of the ladies, youth, and men who volunteered to make the Fall Fest successful.

Our youth department sold BBQ nachos, sandwiches, fried pickles and other delicious items at the "Hollywood Grill". They were dressed as movie and television stars. To complete their theme, they had a red carpet walkway and a giant Oscar. I guess this is "Dorothy" winning the Oscar!

So these are just a few of the things that my family has been doing this fall. The Christmas season is well underway and it is cold outside. I hope to share some Christmas tradititons and decorations soon.

God Bless!!

Blessings!!!

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thessalonians 5:18).

I love the Christmas season, and I must confess, that I even know how many days until Christmas (30 days!). I have started some Christmas decorating and I have even bought a few gifts. However, I like to make sure that I do not rush through the Thanksgiving Holiday. While the Bible tells us that we are to give thanks in all circumstances, many times I am guilty of not giving thanks like I should. I would like to take the time to blog about some special blessings in my life.

First of all I am thankful for my salvation. My mother took me to church and at the age of 7, I accepted Christ as my Savior. While I admit that I can't remember the exact day or the circumstances, I vividly remember realizing that I was a sinner, and kneeling at an altar and praying the sinner's prayer.

Next I am thankful for my husband. God blessed me with a wonderful Christian man and he has been my best friend and soul mate for 19 years. He is a great husband and father and always puts his family before himself.

I would also like to give thanks for Caleb, Joshua, and Katie Beth. God gave me 3 bright and healthy children with their own unique talents and personalities. Each day they bring me joy and I am so thankful that they have each made a decision to live for Christ. They are so much fun.  Here are some pictures from our Thankgiving trip last fall to Gatlinburg. They were being silly!

I am thankful for my Mom and sister, Tobye. Losing Dad in 2007 has  caused us to walk through a dark valley in our lives, but even in death, God was faithful, allowing us to not only witness Dad's salvation, but also his passing from this life into Heaven.


Here is a picture of me with my Mom, sister, kids, and my Grandma Marie, my only living grandparent who suffers from dementia. The next picture is of my dad. It is a blessing to know, that one day will all be reunited in Heaven. Dad has already received his physical healing, and some day Grandma will receive complete healing in her mind.

God has also allowed me to be a part of a wonderful, loving church. The Lord has put people in our path throughout our ministry that have loved us and held us up in prayer.

God bless you all! Happy Thanksgiving!