Eat Your Heart Out Skip!

As you know may know, cooking is just not that fun for me. Skip is the chef in the family and I have many LBS to prove it. However, since my children must eat something other than breakfast foods(my specialty) and things in a box, I have decided to expand my cooking to include some simple recipes that Skip NEVER, EVER makes. He is not a mexican food kind of guy. Did I ever tell you chips and salsa are a staple in my diet? I could eat Mexican food 24/7. I don't, but I could. I found a simple recipe last night on this can, and the kids LOVED it.
I could have added a lot of extra ingredients and seasonings, but then the kids probably wouldn't have eaten it.

Not only did the kids eat it, they asked for seconds. We also had spanish rice and beans. And I can't forget, chips and salsa. Of course, I needed a tums before bed, but it was so worth it.

In addition to my new cooking skills, I can also take apart the pipes under my sink and find a clog. It took me over an hour Monday morning, but I did it. The culprit was a popsicle stick and some apple peelings that someone put down the disposal after he made me a cobbler on Sunday. It had made a little dam in the curved section of the do-a-ma-thingy. Yah, I'm so plumber savy.

Skip, you better find us a home quick or I might even learn to edge the yard.

A Fun Giveaway I Had to Share With You

One of my new favorite blogs to visit is 4 Reluctant Entertainers. Sandy and her family express their love for others through entertaining and hospitality like no other family I have peeked in on in the blogging community. My husband loves to cook, but we definitely struggle with having friends over as much as we would like.

Right now 4 Reluctant Entertainers is hosting a great giveaway. Go here to hear the details and enter yourself. Even if you don't win, you will be blessed by all the wonderful ideas and inspiration you will find on this site.

This Picture Sums it Up for Me

Here is the latest on the house/move situation. Over this last week Skip and I both have had the strongest uneasiness about the house we have put under contract. It is a cute house, a good school district for Ashley, and an okay street and neighborhood. However, both of us feel a pit in our stomachs whenever we would talk about it. If it was just me I might figure it was indigestion or something, but both of us feel that having two homes right now is just not smart moneywise for our current situation. We also found out that we would have to live in it for one year by law with the kind of loan we are doing. We can't commit to that because we are supposed to move back into our other home in January. Ugghhh!

Needless to say, I have spent most of the day in prayer and searching scripture for direction on what God would have us do. My options could be renting an apartment for 9 months, renting a home(if someone would be willing to lease for only 9 months), finding a townhouse, or running away to a cabin in Colorado(just kidding-kind of). At this point there are so many possibilities, my head hurts. This is where I wish I was 15 years old and my dad would say, "Honey, you need to......" and I would do it. In the midst of all of this, I still need to consider options for Ashley and high school. I don't know why but I felt God all weekend remind me of a Christian high school I hadn't thought about previously. I even dreamed about it Saturday night. I have no idea if it is something we could afford, but maybe if we choose a less expensive housing option, it may be possible. Sorry if I am boring you guys, but this is what I am focusing on right now. I love that God may be preventing us from making the wrong moves, therefore I am going to trust that this path will become clearer in the next few days. We would really like to move somewhere within the first week of May. Please keep us in your prayers!

Weekend in Review

Thursday

-went to Corpus to see my hubby
-traded in a vehicle for another vehicle and paid off a vehicle. No car payments, finally!


Friday

-Coffee with Tiff at Barnes and Noble (even though I had a frozen strawberry/lemonade drink)
-Spent the entire day reconsidering where we are going to live in Corpus (We just aren't feeling 100% sure about buying a second home in this crazy market)
-Checked out a possible high school for Ashley
-Annie made us all laugh when she said, "Daddy, I'm want Chinese food for lunch. I'm hungry for an enchilada, rice and beans." That is so Annie.
-Used a half a tank of gas looking at possible housing options in case we don't go for the Flour Bluff home

Saturday

-The kids spent almost the entire day swimming at the hotel we were staying at with Skip
-I finally had my first visit to our new church Saturday night. The message was an update on all that is happening at all the different campuses and a look at all the lives changing by what God is doing there. It was perfect message for me to get an understanding of what Real Life Fellowship is all about.
-We had dinner with some great friends of ours and the pastor's family at a fun pizza place. Our kids had a wonderful time making new friends.


Sunday

-Woke up early and drove back to Victoria
-Picked up Triscuit
-Let Triscuit attack us for ten minutes with kisses. She really missed us a lot! I don't know who was happier-Triscuit or Skip's parents who babysat her for 3 and a half days. Thanks Otto and Linda for giving us puppy freedom!
-Skip just arrived home from a very long week and is sound asleep. I'm off to see what I can get him to cook me for dinner tonight.

Have a great week everyone!

Thankful Thursday-Truth

I have had a lot of time to think lately about the new adventure that my family is about to begin as we move back to Corpus soon, and I truly feel that too much thinking can be a dangerous thing. When we allow thoughts that are simply thoughts and not truth to come into play, we can find ourselves feeling anxious, afraid, and even depressed. Because I will be going to the same town(it's a big town thankfully), but an entirely different church, I can already feel some friction. We are all part of one body of Christ, but I know that there will be hurt feelings, awkward moments and just plain confussion by some. I know this because I've already experienced some of it. God gave me this scripture a couple of months ago, and I am clinging to it. "He who trusts in the Lord, will never be put to shame."

Here are my top thankfuls for this week:

1. I am thankful and proud of my husband and the way he has followed God this past year and a half, and even if things are not in our understanding, God DOES have a plan and that is what Skip is trying to follow.

2. I am thankful to my friend Liana who has always reminded me of Philippians 4:8, not that I would ever forget. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."

3. I am thankful for the friends I'm leaving behind at Parkway who have been nothing but supportive of our leaving. They love us -PERIOD. Especially, Bard and Mollie!

4. I am thankful for my sweet group of friends who call and email me every week to say that they can't wait for me to move back. Coffee dates, and get togethers will be a must!

I want to encourage each of you today to look past the lies and the hurts that Satan wants you to believe, and just trust Christ and His Word. That is what I will choose today!

If you want to share your own Thankful Thursday post, just head over to Sting My Heart and leave a link to your site.

"5 on 5" Meme

I am bored, the kids have had enough of me and went outside to play, and Skip is sick of talking to me on the phone, so I thought I would invent a new meme for you lovely folks out there who should be cleaning, working or actually having a life. Here it goes:

5 Things I'm Good At (or so I've been told)

1) Listening and encouraging others

2) Cleaning (according to my family because they don't like doing it)

3) Roller skating (I know, it's a lost art form)

4) Wasting time (hence this meme)

5) Loving my husband and children

5 Things I Can't Do But Wish I Could

1) Play the piano (any instrument for that matter)

2) Sleep in (try as I might, every morning I wake up early)

3) Photoshop

4) Lose weight (Ughhhhh!)-I'm not giving up on this one

5) Write more (It will happen someday)

If you want to join in, please do. I'd love to hear what you come up with!

A Dove Morning With a Side of Triscuit

I love mornings in Victoria, and especially in my backyard. My kids sleep late and this is what I tend to find scattered across my fence as I come out for my morning cup of coffee. I could sit and listen to the birds and read forever. I never thought of myself as much of a loner, but I really enjoy this quite time with just me, the birds and my puppy Triscuit. This morning the dove were everywhere. It is a good thing Skip doesn't come out in the mornings, or he would have his bbgun in hand. No, I am not kidding.

Here is a shot of the backyard. It is on a corner lot so it is a weird angle, but so much fun for the kids. It goes on around the tree for quite some way and then there is another section of yard for tons of places to explore. The home we are moving to in Corpus does not have one tree in the backyard, but I'm sure I will have the sound of seagulls to keep me entertained.

I couldn't resist showing you how big Triscuit is getting. Seth took these pictures and I think he has a pretty good eye for Photography.

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful"

"I'm sorry I chewed Annie's new bathing suit to shreds. It was so pretty I couldn't resist."

"What are you looking at?"

Shhh! Don't Tell Skip

When the chef(Skip) is away, this is what I feed my kids. Thank goodness they love simple and quick meals just the same as gourmet. You don't even want to know the calories involved here. If you have make a quick easy meal that involves little brain power, what do you serve?

Reflecting on Today

At one point today, I had to get outside and be alone for a while with God. I had gone for a visit at noon with my brother to see my Popi for the first time in the ICU and it was not what I expected at all. He was hooked up to a ventilator and was not responding to anything we were saying or doing. I think he heard us talking a few times because he would move his head a little. It was so sad because my Noni(his wife of over 70 years) was holding his hand and trying to tell him how much she needed him to come home with her. Her vision is basically gone, and Popi takes such good care of her. They have five children and more grandchildren and great- grandchildren than you can count to pitch in, but it is Popi that she wants. I touched his hand several times and said prayers over him. I am praying that he recovers soon, or that if that is not God's will, that he will go peacefully. I really am hoping for a miracle for my Noni.

When I returned from the hospital we found out the loan process isn't going as well as we hoped and we will now be putting more money down than we had hoped. Everything had been running so smoothly, so this really took me a little by surprise. I am so ready to get my family together and I don't want any more setbacks. It's funny because just when I was thinking I would do a few things for the home (rugs, curtains, etc.), we find out that we won't be having those extras. I don't care about those things much, but I was finding myself dreaming about them instead of spending more time in prayer and thanksgiving for what God has been doing in our lives.

After starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the two above mentioned things, I started to get a little anxious. Instead of throwing a pity party (which has happened in my past many times), I went out in my backyard and sat on the deck to have some much needed prayer time. I laid it out with God and told him everything I was feeling and everything I was scared about. It was such a beautiful thing and I literally felt songs of praise on my lips. I'm sure the neighbors would have heard me singing, if it were not for the wind blowing so hard. It felt like a hurricane minus the rain and danger. God's presence was all around me and I know everything is going to be fine. Though I don't know the rest of our earthly story, I do know the end of my story in Christ. And it is going to be a HAPPY ONE.
"You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy." John 16:20

Need a Good Deal-Any ideas?

The home we are moving into has lots of tile. When I mean "lots", I mean every stinkin' room. Since we have had mostly carpet in the past 3 years, I need to buy several large room rugs. Do you have any idea where to find large area rugs at a good price? I also want a couple of shag rugs for the kids that will be durable, but also trendy and fun. Since Victoria doesn't have much other than Target, Lowe's and Home Depot, I will probably go to SA, Austin or Houston.

Since I have you here, what kind of window treatment would you do for the girl's room to go with this? There is only one large window in the room. Maybe black/white alternate sheers? I haven't got a clue.

Getaway, New Home, New Cut, and a Very Lazy Dog

Skip is house sitting for some friends for a few days in Corpus so I went "WITHOUT KIDS" to see him last night. Let's just say, we had a nice little visit together. We went out to dinner, looked at my (hopefully) future home, and he showed me around his new office. The rest of our evening we.....

Anyway, here is a picture of my soon to be place of residence for the next 8 months.

Okay, here is my cut. Just ignore the goofy smile. Thanks for all the advice everyone! I went a bit blonder with the highlights, but my new hairdresser also mixed in some browns. It was the first time in a long time that my cut and color was under 90 dollars. I'll be going back to her for sure.

Here is an overhead view. I know my mad photography skills are making you jealous. Just look how I captured the essence of a messy bedroom in the background. Since Skip has been out of town, my room is now the new hangout.

Now for the spoiled brat of the family. Here's Triscuit! That dog has the life like no other dog I've ever seen. She is spoiled rotten, and we are constantly taking things away from her that she shouldn't be chewing. She has ruined something belonging to everyone in this family now. Last thing for me was my nightstand lamp. I tried to turn in on, but nothing happened. I looked down and the cord was completely chewed through. Thank goodness the light was not on when she did it. That nut!

It's the Final Countdown

Just a quick(okay long) update: Many of you have been emailing about Skip and his new position at RLF. HE LOVES IT!!! He is so busy and enjoying every minute of it. He is mostly concentrating on the video production aspects right now. We are missing each other like crazy, but it shouldn't be but two more weeks apart-hopefully. He hasn't even sang a note on stage yet, but did do announcements after all 5 services this weekend. It is hard going from 2 Sundays a weekend to 5, but he had many years of experience before. He came home yesterday and loved on us, then crashed hard. The driving is really getting to him and his hip. He just seemed so happy, and loved Micah's preaching. Can you believe I've still never been to a service? I've watched online many times, but I haven't even met my new church family. Well, I've met some of the staff and a few wives and they are amazing!

We are in the final stages of getting our new home. I think we will probably only live there until Jan. when our old home's lease is up. Our previous home was bigger and has a fourth bedroom. The house we are currently buying will make a great rental, but it only has 3 bedrooms. I had to do a little bit of bribing to get my oldest Ashley to share a room with his little sister for 8 months. This is what I used to get her to see things my way. Okay, I also used this lamp but with a black shade and this throw. Hey, at least it was all on sale last week. Ashley is going old hollywood with this room. We are going to look for lots of black and white pics or make our own. She is going to pass down all her old beach Hawaiin decor to Annie when Annie gets her own room again. Luckily Seth could care less about his room. However we did promise him a keyboard when we move. We are giving our piano to Skip's brother because we don't have room for it, and it belongs to Skip's parents. Seth loves the piano, and we hate the banging, so with a keyboard he can play for hours in his room WITH HEADPHONES. Eventually we do want another piano, but this baby just doesn't fit the budget.

My week will be filled with more packing, a little getaway with the hubby tonight in Corpus, and more packing. I also want to go see my Popi who is getting better each day. He is still in ICU but getting stronger everyday. Thanks for your prayers.

Oh, very important news! Our former church Parkway voted in a new pastor last night. Mike Hurt is an awesome man of God, and I can't wait to see all the great things God has in store for everyone there. Congrats Mike and Kristi! We love you guys!

*One More Thing* I just received an email from some dear friends in need of prayer. Please go here and pray for Will.

Speaking of Haircuts

Both my guys went really short today with new haircuts. They were on one of there "no girls allowed" trips out of the house. It usually involves a trip to a fast food place, Best Buy and Academy.

Thanks to those of you who had some advice about my hair. I still don't have a clue what I'm going to go with, not to mention I am trying a new hairstylist. Scary, I know. I will possible post a pic of my new do next Tuesday. That is of course unless it looks REALLY hideous, in which case you will find me in hiding under the covers until it grows back.

Help!!!

I NEED your help? So what do you think about the latest hairstyles popping up? I am wanting something new for my upcoming move. I love this Katie Holmes style?

I also love this Victoria Beckem bob, but I could never go this short, and besides everyone is getting this cut lately. I heard it is called the Pob. I wonder if you could do the same thing just a little longer.

Okay friends, tell me what you think. I hesitate to do anything too drastic, but I do want a change. Skip suggested that I ask friends what they think, so here are some choices. If you have another idea, please let me know. Right now you can see that my hair is pretty long and dark.

This was a good length for me, but way too much forehead. This was a time when my straightener actually worked well.

Very blonde for me, but Skip kind of likes a little bit of high lights on me. It has been awhile. Look at the faces of my kids. This was Seth's normal attitude, and sometimes still is. Annie was so blonde compared to now. So cute. Ashley is doing a the Popeye look.

This cut worked great in Colorado on vacation, but in South Texas it would be flat against my hair with all the humidity.

I like this style okay, but I think my face would look super round since I have put on a few(okay many) lbs. since then.

I couldn't resist my 50 Cent pic I took in LA a couple of years back. I like the length, but I didn't have much in the way of color. Talk about complete OPPOSITES.

Thankful Thursday

My new senior pastor's wife gave me this devotional book last week, and I absolutely love what God is speaking to me through it. Isn't it amazing how God gives us just what we need exactly when we need it the most? I'm not usually one for devotionals, but this is so beautifully written and so full of encouragement.

Early this afternoon I was feeling extremely overwhelmed with the tasks I had before me, and little if any motivation as I looked ahead to the day. I was beginning to doubt all the things to come(our move, the loan process, my kid's schooling) as well as my ability to keep my focus on Him and his purposes for me. I stopped for a minute and got alone with God and read these words:

Walk on with Me

"Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it." Psalm 119:5

My child, the path of duty is before you. It may look rugged, but it is the only way of divine blessing. Choose some other way, and you shall find only disappointment and frustration of soul. Weariness shall overtake you on the smoothest road, if it is not the pathway of My ordained will. Be not deceived by doubts and be not detained by fears. Move into the center of my purposes for you. You shall find glorious victories are waiting for you, and recompenses far exceeding every sacrifice .

Be obedient: You will bring joy to My heart. Neither the applause nor the scorn of others should be of any consequence to you. My approval is reward enough, and without this, any other satisfaction is not worthy of your pursuit.

Walk on with Me. I will be very near to give you support and encouragement, so you have nothing to warrant your fears. They will vanish as you obey.

Wow, I could not have asked for a more personal response from God through this devotional. As I began to praise God for this special moment, I also began recalling a few other things to praise him for today.

1. I'm thankful for a night of laughter at IHop with the kids yesterday. Sometimes the things they say remind me so much of their father that it's scary. We all had breakfast foods for dinner and it was yummy!

2. I'm thankful that God brought me and Skip through all the trials and struggles we faced this year. I am so proud of the man Skip has become over the last 15plus years we've been married. I always knew that he was a good provider and a devoted husband, but this last year I saw him as a true servant of God and at the same time a warrior fighting for our family's best interests.

3. I'm thankful that I have such love and support from friends that have called and emailed me this week just to check on me, and tell me they have been thinking and praying for me. It means so much, especially from those that have their own personal struggles they are dealing with also.

4. I'm thankful that my sweet friend Sara has started a blog for moms of tweens and teens. Sara is an awesome counselor and now she is sharing some of her wisdom with the blogging world. If you still haven't checked out Liana's blog, you are really missing out on some wonderful writing and inspirational stories.

Sorry this is such a long post, but if you would like to see more Thankful Thursday posts, go over here and leave a link. Have a blessed day!

Another Prayer Update

*Popi's surgery went well according to the doctor who performed the thorocotomy procedure. Praise God! They had to basically open him up to remove all the infection. He will be in ICU for a few days so prayers are still very needed.

*Skip is doing some traveling today and will be home late tonight(lots of driving) so I would love prayers for safe travel.

*Our inspection on the house we are looking to buy went well, and we are awaiting the loan process. Hopefully all will go well with a great rate. We have never owned two homes at the same time so I'm praying all goes smoothly and we can all be together as a family very soon. I don't sleep well with Skip gone. It may be that my Annie Beth is a restless sleeper and tends to kick a little too much. I know she should sleep in her own bed, but I hate to sleep alone when Skip is gone and it is such a treat for her.

*My sis and my nephew are in Utah filming HSM3 right now. I pray for Matt to do an awesome job and have the time of his life living his dream. I also pray for Tony(my sis's husband) and Steph(their daughter) for the time they have to be apart during the filming. May God watch over all of this precious family.

Update on My Popi

Popi is going into surgery to remove the fluid from his lungs this morning. They could not get all of it out any other way, and if it continued to stay in there, he might not survive. Please keep him in your prayers.

So Sad, So Tragic, Yet So Wonderful to be With our Lord

I was following a fellow blogger's post which led me to find out that a very special young woman has recently gone to be with the Lord. Her name is Vanessa Whitwell and she was a worship leader at Fellowship Church. I believe she died from a blood clot in her brain. I have attended at least (4) C3 Conferences at FC and everytime I was so impressed with this beautiful person. I first saw her perform about 8 years ago or so, and I keep telling Skip, "Isn't she a beautiful girl?" I had never seen such pretty eyes, and I kept wanting to go up and meet her. I wasn't a stalker, but I just saw such a fun, beautiful spirit in her through her worship that strangely drew me to her. I never actually met her, but Skip did on several visits to Fellowship and she was so eager to help other worship leaders in their ministry. I can't imagine how devastated her husband, her parents, and all her friends must be to lose her in such a sudden way. I think she was in her mid thirties. As I pray for everyone who misses her, I rejoice in that she is with our Heavenly Father in paradise. Here is a post from her pastor Ed Young.

Prayer Request

This is my dear sweet grandfather Popi and my grandmother Noni at my Daddy's 60th b-day party three years ago. Right now my Popi is suffering an unknown illness at the hospital. There is a blur on his lungs and we are praying that it is just fluid that can be drained. They also found damage to his kidney. Popi is over 90 years old and the most entertaining man you would be honored to meet. This precious couple is so important to my family and right now they need your prayers. My Noni is needing comfort in knowing that God is going to take care of her husband. My daddy and stepmother are needing prayer for all that is involved in helping with the care of their needs. Popi needs our prayers most of all for healing and strength. I feel so bad that I've spent so little time with them over the last several years. Please join me in praying for Popi (he goes by C.W).

Getting in Touch with my Inner Teen

What do Paramore, Jonas Brothers, Ashley Tisdale, Aly and AJ and Hannah Montana all have in common? These are the choices I basically had when I took my teen's Ipod with me for a walk this morning. At first I was frustrated, then I was annoyed, and then I actually found a few upbeat songs with a pretty good message. Paramore is one of Ashley's favorite new bands, and the song "We Are Broken" really spoke to me about our youth of today. I also found Hannah Montana's "Nobody's Perfect" made me want to walk faster and even made me smile a bit. She also had some Toby Mac, Newsboys, and Superchick which gave me some choices of Christian Rock I already love listening to on my Itunes.


I really want to understand my teen as she matures, and to encourage her likes and dislikes. However I do draw the line on putting up Jonas Brothers posters in my room although Ashley would love them all over the house. She is a tad obsessed! I was the exact way with Simon and John from Duran Duran when I was a teen. Actually, that obsession still carries on just a tad. Just kidding.....kind of. Not that I've even thought about them in the last 20 years or so. See this post here.


If Ashley is already falling for musicians, she may have something in common with her mama who happened to marry this hot rock star. Here are pics of Skip in the late 80's and early 90's.

I had to throw in a fairly recent one of him just because I miss him and wanted to see him when I look at my blog.

My Saturday

Boxes and boxes to pack again-frustrated

Husband out of town-sad

Kids bored and arguing-driving me nuts

Mother-in-law and father-in-law calling to see if they can pick up the kids for several hours for some fun-ABSOLUTE HEAVEN!!!

Not Another House Post!

Oh yes, I am going to do another house post. I actually haven't written one since here, so I felt enough time has past. Besides, I would love your prayers. Here's the deal, we want to move quickly and there is a only a few in the price range and school district we want for Ashley. We found a precious 4 bedroom house, put in an offer and were on our way. It was a brand new house, so we thought everything would run pretty smooth. Boy, were we wrong. It basically failed every inspection from the plumbing to the electrical. It needs a lot of work and like I said, "It is brand new!" Unbelievable! Anyway, Skip looked at another great house today and it is one year old and seems like a good deal. It also has a covered patio which I've always wanted. I would love for things to fall into place, but if they don't, I have learned over the last year that God definitely knows best, and I better trust that he will show the way. Whatever we find, we would love for it to be a nice house for rental property since we may be moving back to our other home when our renter's lease is up in January.

On a side note, I just picked up Lisa Terkeurst's "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God" and I absolutely love it so far. I kind of want to wait and do it as a bible study, but I don't think I'll be able to put it down for long.

Precious Friends

Last night I was treated to dinner at one of my favorite places with a few of my favorite people. The pastor's wives of Parkway wanted to bless me with a special night before I move...again. These are the sweetest girls in ministry I've ever seen.

One of the them is Kay, and she is the full of wisdom friend. She has been in ministry for years and years and was actually the senior pastors wife of the church we went to when Skip was saved and began volunteering in music ministry over 15 yrs. ago. She has the most loving spirit, and there has never been a time that she hasn't wrapped her arms around me for a big hug when she sees me. She gets along with everyone, and loves everyone. Her husband Kim is completely amazing too! He has often been called "The Bible Expert" and he IS just that. What a bright man, and also so full of a desire to grow others in the Lord!

Next is Angi. This girl has taught me incredible things about homeschooling and faith. She is SO smart, and the most comfortable mom of 5 I've ever seen. Every time I think of her, I think of Proverbs 31:28. I even bought her a bookmark with that verse. Her husband is one of the most shepharding pastors I've ever met. He is always smiling and making people laugh. He was Clarence in this year's "It's a Wonderful Life" at Christmas, and he stole the show.

Last, but certainly not least, is my dear, sweet Mollie. She is just my precious friend who has encouraged, cried and laughed with me over the last year. I can't imagine this time in Victoria without her. Since our husbands are best friends, it makes it an extra special friendship. I know we will continue to stay close, and I am so glad for the time I did have with this very beautiful friend. This morning I found this post that her husband Bard wrote and it brought tears to my eyes. He understands Skip so well and I guess he would since they met when Skip was only 6. I didn't meet Skip until I was 15, so Bard fills me in on the younger years.

I am going to miss these wonderful friends so much, but I am so thankful for the times we did have together. They are all such amazing, godly people and I pray only the best for their years to come. I hope if you are reading this and you go to Parkway, you will show them all the love you can. They are 100% servants of the Lord, and I respect and honor them so much.