May God Bless all of you

The last day and the last hour that santa was going to remain at his mall post before heading off to the north pole. With all of TJ's excitement, we had to be very flexible and just praise God for our time together and Tj's safety, because off course nothing went as scheduled.

We teach our kids to set high goals, and TJ put that to the test. The oranges around the bottom of the tree were not up to his standards, so he wanted what he called the "orangest orange on the top of the tree". His landing was not as planned and fractured both bones of his left arm.

With significant displacement of the fracture he had is day with his surgeon to reset his bones. He wanted to know every detail before it happened. It took longer than expected but Tj did great. He had this little bear on his bed when he came out of general anaesthesia.
While he proclaimed he was never going to climb another tree, I had to express to him that while he was in great pain from his great feat, fractures are easier to treat than obesity, so keep climbing champ. He just smiled ear to ear looking at me like I was talking like the teacher in the charlie brown cartoons.

Our home bible study group

With a couple of extras

Home group Christmas party

We had kids and parents every inch of our house, with an exception of a couple of extras this is our usual friday night group

Jason (who co-leads the group) and I read the Christmas story from Luke and discussed some with the kids. We played a gift exchange that always leads to a little marriage strife, but filled with laughter. The party moved outside for a huge and probably very illegal bonfire, and many stayed for the great fellowship.

Danielles first banquet

Here is Danielle and Emily ready for the junior high banquet. (I am clearly not ready for this)

A few moments on a 4 wheeler with Benjamin and you will understand why I am holding both of his arms.

little did we know that we were about to be taunted with being dropped in a cactus pile by the crazy tractor driver. These boys together were so much fun.

This little Eden Brooks was very addicting, she was just hanging out with me this morning allowing me to take many pictures. Of course she had a huge smile in between every shot.

This was the most successful hunt I have ever had and I never even touched a gun. The good Lord blessed us with this great weekend together and gave TJ an experience that he will never forget. Although the hunt wasn't the only blessing. I asked TJ what was his high/low (which is a game we play in which you must reveal your high and low point of what ever we just experience) and he looked at me a little perplexed (because in his mind he knew I wanted to hear something about the buck). So I let him off the hook and asked what was his two highs of the weeked, to which he answered quickly "playing with Payton, Timothy,and Benj". Then he added "also the hunting". I pray we have many more of these experiences as a family.

On the second night TJ saw the deer a long way off and when the antlers hit the sunlight he yelled "its a buck". He kept the scope on the deer for a long time until he had a good shot. When he shot the deer took off and he thought he might have missed, but thirty yards away revealed a perfect shot right where he was aiming. When we were waiting after the shot TJ says " does this mean I can sleep in tomorrow and play with the boys" He has his priorities straight.

This is just oozing testosterone.

He and the boys were willing participants

TJ was a little nervous for his first field dressing but was a great help until his buddies (Payton, Timo, and Benj) distracted him away

Our second hunt ended with this big doe, TJ's first deer. He did it all by himself, and was very patient in taking a shot. The doe never took a step. The tongue pose is a long family tradition :)

first morning in the stand and it was cold. we passed little heater packs back and forth to get blood back in our fingers. TJ was so patient and made the best of our time together. I thought of everything, snacks, water, toys to distract, empty bottle to fill, and an ipod video with cartoons on it. a couple of hours he leans over and whispers with a big smile "number 2"...... I didn't think of that

Ipod and my own sprite, this IS first class flying

TJ and Vic waiting for our flight.

Here is Tj ready for his first airplane ride to Texas for his first deer hunt.

Chapmans vs washburns

Here is one way to burn off those thanksgiving calories. Darcy of course taking the photo op

Here I am trying to intimidate my 7 year old niece

I think I am getting in her head

Notice the great spiral deep left and then notice where Denae is with her hands ready to catch

Redneck pool draining

Daddy...Hey TJ we need to drain the pool and haul it off. 

TJ...wow that would be cool if we could shoot it and let the water explode out

Daddy..... (thinking I have to be the responsible one) let's do it 

Camp Church

I don't know why pictures are vanishing but here are a couple more of the last day of camping. Camp church is always exciting, we fill a large area near a river and the praise just sounds better surrounded by trees. I can't remember who spoke, but it was a great lesson of depth and insight:). From around 50 to over 400 this year brings so much energy and fellowship, which is such a blessing to so many. The kids want to stay the whole week next year.

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