Cookie Exchange

Instead of our usual lesson during Life Group this week we had a children's story time and cookie exchange. 

Jenni brought some books to read to the kids.

Drew read to the big kids in the front room. Doesn't he look like Saint Nicholas rocking in the rocking chair with his glasses on and children surrounding him?

The mom's took turns reading to the younger kids in the living room.

Jenni also brought some many different nativity scenes for the kids to play with. 

Rhett and Charlotte are the group's resident 2 year olds. 

Cookie Time!!

Baby Hannah did not get to enjoy any cookies. 

 

We ate every last crumb and still got to take all this home!

Because we meet at 4:00 on Sunday afternoons The Whittles always DVR the Cowboy game for us. Here are the men watching the game. 

The ladies are always talking in the kitchen.

And more girl talk on the couch. :)

                 Merry Christmas!!
Yet another festive time filled with fun, food, and fellowship.

That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

Labor Day Weekend

So, even though it was September 3 it was still 100 degrees outside so our life group leaders reserved the church gym for us to gather and play on Saturday night. Since we take the summers off from Life Group meetings we had just been away from each other for too long. We just needed to hangout and be around one another for little while. What a good idea. 

The Big Kids

It was so fun. Everyone brought their own baseballs basketballs and soccer balls.

The Bigger Kids

Max and Drew played catch with Grayson.

Our fearless leader, Drew, tossing the baseball to his son, Grayson. 

The Medium sized kids

Jason brought his toy car.

The Toddlers and their dads.

The men watched the boys...

while the moms chatted.

and Baby Hannah

Such a fun evening of fun, food and fellowship!

4th of July Celebration!

John and Sulayne Wright hosted a 4th of July fireworks watching party for our Life Group. It was so fun because it fell on a Monday so we were all back in town from a busy weekend. When we got there at 6:30 the kids painted in their driveway or ran through the sprinkler. 

Then we ate dinner, BBQ ribs, hamburgers and hot dogs. It was good.

The hostess with the mostest cupcakes!

Then everyone moved to the front yard for some volleyball. 

Wes helped Angelica and Ainsley play badminton.

Then it was finally time for the show!! We all pulled chairs out into the culdesac and enjoyed the fireworks. 

The Men

The Children 

and the Babies

They all pushed through to stay awake to see the night sky light up with bright, beautiful colors. And I think they found it to be well worth it. 

What a fun and memorable way to celebrate America's Independence. We are all so blessed to have each other in our lives and I love that our children are growing up together and becoming good friends. What a blessing my freedom is that I often take for granted, but on this day each year as I look around at these wonderful, loyal, generous, helpful people I thank God for allowing me to live in America along side them. And I thank God that our children can grow up in free country.  I pray that we will use that freedom to bring glory to His kingdom. 

"l thank my lucky stars,
to be livin' here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA."