Dorothy Was Right....

there really is no place like home! Here are some more pictures of my week in Indiana. You'll see why I was tired when I got home!

Lee riding the four-wheeler...safety first!

Looking fierce.

It's hard to see but Jacie is waiting on a snail to come out...after I explained that it would be mean to pull him out of his shell. A few minutes later she got tired of waiting and threw him in the yard.

Their version of NASCAR on the front porch

Psyching out the competition

Oh look they made up


Lee prior to the front yard sword fighting


Slip N' Slide fun!

Playing in the sand with Grandma

Visiting Uncle Lee's chickens

I took Jacie for a Happy Meal one day after school.

She wears her Dora the Explorer hat and her backpack EVERY DAY.

Living room wrestling match between Dad, Jacie, and Lee. Don't act like you don't do this at home too!

We hope you had a great week. It was raining and humid here but no flooding in our neck of the woods. Have a relaxing weekend. We'll post again next week.

Mandy and Kevin

You Have to Run How Far????

Okay, I mentioned in a previous post that I went to my 10 yr. old brother's cross country meet while I was home last. I am so proud that Lee has found something he likes to do....It really wouldn't matter to me what he did as long as he enjoys it. However, I know there is no way I could run 1.9 miles in 16 minutes without the definite need of CPR so I think his choice of sport is pretty impressive.

Most of you probably haven't been to a cross country meet since its not a really well known sport. This meet was held at USI's (University of Southern Indiana) disc golf course which meant lots of hills and wooded areas. They break the teams up into appropriate age groups and run all the boys together and all the girls together. On this particular day the course was 1.9 miles long and it was HOT outside. They gather all the runners for a particular race in an open field...fire the starting shot, and off they go. Each team receives a certain number of points for the finishing place of each team member. The team with the most points at the end wins. Right now Lee is running to beat his time from each previous race and is improving consistently. I offered to shave flames in the sides of his head to improve his wind resistance but he wasn't up for it. We divide the course into sections and head out in pairs to make sure he's got a cheering section at points all along the course. He only needs to finish two places higher and he will be a varsity runner. Below are a few race day pictures....

My sister Kate and Don...trying to stay one step ahead of the Jace-ster.

Jacie and Dad at Lee's meet...this seems to be the easiest way to keep an eye (and a hand) on Princess Squirms-a-lot. Looks mischevious doesn't she?!

Princeton Cross Country Team Picture (Lee is 4th from the left, front row)

The starting shot

Lee chugging up the big hill just before the end...keep going buddy!

Just a few more feet to the finish line! Time: 16 min. 7 sec. In other words - awesome

**Not Pictured** - Big Sister Mandy's heart bursting with pride...I know I'm not his momma but I get that proud momma feeling when he crosses the finish line.

Now you know a little about how a cross country meet works and why we were worn out after it was over! I wish I had half of Lee's energy. Good Luck in the rest of your season Lee - I'm sure you'll keep getting better.

Until next time,

Mandy

Friday Night Lights

My pictures have been restored! Don't ask me how...I couldn't tell you but I am thrilled. Victory is sweet! I have been laying awake at night trying to unsnarl the whole thing mentally....maybe I'll sleep better now.

Below are some pictures of our time at the football field. Its still a little too warm here to feel like football weather but no one here seems to know that. On this particular night we played against the Pirates and lost pretty brutally. The boys at our church have informed me that I am NEVER to wear Pirate colors (orange and black) or they'll disown me.

"The Opposition"...our arch rival...the South Pittsburg Pirates

Clashing on the field....no major injuries on this night

Mia...rocking the glow in the dark necklace given out to the kids.

The PomPom Hut will spray paint your hair purple for the low low price of $2

This place was so crowded we got there an hour early just to get a seat. You can see that tons of people stood at the fence for the whole game.

The steel and canvas tepee the Marion County Warriors run through for home games. Luckily , I look good in purple.

We hope you'll go out and support your kids, grandkids, friends, and community in their sporting events this fall. You never know who you'll see!

Love,

Mandy and Kevin

I'm So Mad I Could....

spit nails or kick a cat!!!! Why you ask? Because I went home to visit my family last week and took tons of great pictures. I had a week's worth of candid photo documentation ( I was waiting on a call from Life magazine at any moment begging for my awe inspiring photo skills) and when I downloaded them to my laptop they disappeared like that black sock in the dryer - never to be found again. This would fall under the "bad" category of blog posts. Up to this point our posts have pretty much been in the "good stuff" category. We had to know it wouldn't last forever. "Well, Mandy why don't you just download them again?" Because I told the computer to remove them from my camera after downloading. I don't like clutter in my house OR on my camera, but its safe to say from now on I won't be clicking that particular button.

I have a sneaking suspicion they are stuck in a file titled ESKB.mbb (anyone know what that means?) that appeared when I downloaded them, but that my computer can't open. I downloaded them just like always but when I went to open them in my Shared Documents they were no where to be found. After I fiddled with it for 2 hours and turned 3 shades of red in the process, I gave up....for now. This machine won't win. I will have the last laugh. I will get my precious memories back if it kills me! If you know how to fix it let me in on the secret. I will pay in the form of a blog post dedicated solely to your individual greatness. So, you'll have to wait a while for pictures. I have some more to post but that will be for next week.

So what have I been doing while you blog followers have been languishing for lack of news on the Knights? Well, we have been attending sporting events like its going out of style. We're trying to get out and support our kids and youth in their extracirriculars which have included softball and football so far. **Note** Padded chairs with a back that fit onto the bleacher seats are a MUST....trust us...your behind will thank you.** Anyway, high school football is a BIG deal here. Friday night everyone is crammed into the local stadium whether you know someone who is playing or not...its just what everyone does for fun.

Last Monday (Labor Day) I made the 4.5 hr treck home to my Mom and Dad's to spend the week with the family and help take care of my brother and sister (Lee and Jacie). We worked hard and played harder and had a great week. I got a taste of being a chauffer while taking kids to and from school. I played and won many games of Uno (sorry Lee...maybe next time), pushed kids on swings, took them to McDonalds, picked tomatoes in the garden, watched movies, read stories (Jacie's all-time favorites are Move Over Rover and Monster Bugs), rode bikes, organized the refrigerator, kept an eye on the first aid kit while Jacie and Lee engaged in sword fighting with sticks, gave four-wheeler rides, created ice cream sundaes, and broke up a few siblings fights. I know, I know...you're wishing your siblings were as cool as me....sorry I'm taken. My nieces and nephews came over on Thursday and we introduced them to a summertime classic - the Slip N' Slide. They're roughly 2.5 yrs old so we thought they'd love it...WRONG! We started off playing in the sand box and then moved to the water portion of the day. Most of them cried but Ethan was the best belly-flopper you've ever seen. Lee and Jacie got out of the car after school - dropped their backpacks - ditched their shoes - and headed straight for the summertime happiness that only a long piece of plastic and icy cold water can bring. After the Slip N' Slide experiment the little kiddies went back to the sandbox which meant that there was a beach in the bathtub by the time all five were clean again. Grandma Joy (Dad's mom) stopped by for a visit and I came home with a sack of novels to read from her personal stash....I'm always looking for new reading material! Thanks Grandma Joy!

Jacie and I went to Grandma Bette and Pappaw Jim's (Mom's parents) on Thursday afternoon to wear off some energy -going down the slide, chasing Pap all over the place, riding bikes, playing on the monkey bars, etc. - before going home to Mom and the quints. We also went to their house for dinner on Friday night and ate way way too much....but who can say no to Chocolate Creme Pie?...not me. Saturday before making the drive back to Tennesee, the whole family made the drive to the University of Southern Indiana for my brother Lee's cross-country invitational. He's new to the sport and doing great! He ran a 1.9 mile course with giant hills in 16 min. 7 sec. I'm very proud of him!....I know there is NO WAY I could do that myself. I felt like I had run across the country too by the time it was over. We like to spread ourselves out strategically along the trail to cheer throughout the race so we spend a lot of time running from one place to another and then to the finish line for the big finale.

So what was Kevin doing while you were gone? Good question. Pining away for me - obviously (He did confess that he missed me when I got back). I'm not really sure what else he did although I bet he was working hard. He really does love being a pastor. He had sermons to write, books to read, and people to see! I left plenty of food for him...hotdogs, Moonpies, cereal, pizza, and macaroni and cheese. Some of our church ladies who knew I was out of town also took good care (a.k.a. spoiled him rotten) of Kevin while I was gone. He must have done a little cleaning while I was gone because the house looked pretty clean when I got home. He even did a couple of loads of laundry. However, I realized when I got home that he had washed everything with liquid fabric softner and no detergent because he didn't read the bottle. Poor Kevin was shocked to learn there even is such a thing as liquid fabric softner.

This week we have spent each evening participating in the Jasper City-Wide Crusade. Each night a different church hosted the crusade and provided music and the speaker. We hosted Wednesday night and were proud to have 129 people in attendance. It was nice to meet some of the other local pastors and church people. Its a very friendly community and we feel right at home. This week also kicks off our fall Sunday School Drive which will last through the next 6 weeks. Yesterday we celebrated Kevin's 27th birthday with a birthday dinner at Cracker Barrel. He got lots of cards and well wishes from many of you and overall it was a great day!

We've got some great things coming up on our calendar and we'll be sure to share them with you. I am having a Girls Night In at the parsonage in October when Kevin goes to a preaching conference in Nashville so I'll have about 15 little girls spending the night and doing all the fun girlie things we do at slumber parties. I'll be completely sleep deprived by the end but they are super excited and are already counting the days until it gets here. Since I teach the junior/senior high Sunday School class we'll have them all over on the Saturday that Tennessee plays Alabama to watch the game and grill (yes they love college football almost as much as high school football). We're also feeding the Marion County High School football team before one of their home games and putting together a youth weekend for our teens in November. Needless to say we're busy but we're loving it and our people are with us.

Sorry I was MIA for the last couple of weeks....(my deepest apologies Wes - I'll try not to let it happen again :) but life has picked up speed. We'd ask that you continue to pray for us and our church - that we'd be the hands and feet of Jesus with lots of room in our hearts for everyone in our community. Also, continue to pray for my job situation. I'm still unemployed but I did start substitute teaching at the local elementary school this week to help fill up my weekdays.

Have a wonderful weekend. Check back next week for more fun stuff.

Love,

Mandy and Kevin

Sand Mountain

Last Thursday was Kevin's official day off. So he somehow convinced me to go with him to the golf course (go ahead, pick your jaw up off the floor) and ride the golf cart while he played 18 holes. Who knew Sand Mountain - known as the home of snake handling church goers - would have a classy golf course. This place is just full of surprises! For the record, this was only the 2nd time I've done this in our 4 years of marriage and now I remember why! He convinced me to go by telling me how beautiful it is up on Sand Mountain and I'll give him some points for that...it is pretty up there. It would have been even better if it weren't monsooning outside all morning.

The day we went it started raining on the 4th hole and we had to sit under a tree for an hour to wait out the storm. Luckily, I brought a book with me so I was able to entertain myself while he stood beside the cart holding an umbrella over his golf clubs. He played another couple of holes and it started raining again. By the time we were done (4 hours later....) I was cold, wet, hungry, and even less of a golf fan than when we started up the mountain.

Pretty View!...I'm talking about the mountains, not Kevin's backside. I knew what you were thinking.

See his ball in the sand trap...hahhaahaha.

Good view...but not worth the rain.

On a wide open golf course why is this warning necessary? If your driver is running you into trees or other humans on the golf course you have bigger problems than just staying in the cart.

I hope you get a day off this week! Make it a good one.

Mandy

Scary Signs

When we took the teens bowling the other night in Dunlap we rode with Michael , Justin, and Vickie. Along the way they pointed out landmarks we might need in the future like where the good gas station biscuits are and which ones are terrible (Hey, that IS important). However, there was one landmark they slowed the truck down for. On the way to Dunlap there is a house off to the right of the highway. In that house lives a very opinionated man who paints elaborate signs to put in his front yard. He changes them often and is always coming up with something new. These aren't nice signs. Frankly, they are signs I wouldn't want children to read. Sssooo, shocked as we were we drove back up there a few days ago to get some fast photo documentation. It was fast because we were afraid this guy might come out armed and mad. Yes, its that kind of place. Well...I'll just give you a few examples. Don't worry...I censored them a little and left the REALLY graphic ones out of the mix.

This sign was in front of a church that is right across the highway from the house with the signs. The man who paints all of them preaches at a local church. I wonder if this might be it?

So, why put this on the blog? Well, I have a few reasons actually... 1. I knew you might not believe me if I simply told you. 2. As scary as they are we can learn something from it. These signs made me ask some questions because no one just wakes up one day and starts putting these signs in the front yard for no reason. What influenced this guy? Where is he getting his information? What shaped him into this kind of person? Does he really think this is the best way to get his message across? We could make a few educated guesses but he's the only one who knows his heart. So what does this tell me?....

1. Just because someone sends you something they recieved from someone that they consider a reliable source or sends you a forwarded message doesn't make it true. Unless you take the time to verify the information in an email or article you probably shouldn't share it with others. Even if you're just hitting the send button, you're responsible for those words. You're putting your stamp of approval on it by sending it on to others.

2. Be careful what kind of information you share with others by word of mouth. We've all played that game as kids where you pass a phrase around a circle by whispering to the person on your left. Without fail by the time it gets all the way around it is completely different than when it started. We each have to take responsibility for the things we communicate through everyday conversation, because what we choose to talk about even in ordinary conversation says something about who we are. The Bible tells us that the things we say are a clue to what's in the heart.

3. Even when we feel strongly about an issue or event we have a responsibility to communicate in a loving and appropriate manner. Kevin tells me all the time that the way I say something says just as much as the words I choose. When we're angry or find ourselves in a tense situation its especially important to speak with kindness (this is a lesson I'm still learning by the way). Speaking out without checking the facts or doing so in an offensive manner only lessens your credibility and turns people away. Remember Proverbs?...a gentle answer turns away wrath. It may also be the starting point for stopping a tidal wave of hate and confusion.

So yes, these signs are scary but more than that they're just sad. They are sad because they point to a life that seems eaten up with distrust, judgement, and bitterness. Who knows how many people have seen those signs so many times that they associate all of Christianity with one man's hate. It seems to me that they're just reinforcing the general misconception that all Christians are narrow-minded and judgmental.

Rather than communicate in such a way that needs no response and requires no relationship with others, maybe a better way means trying to live lives that point the way to a God who is loving, patient, and just but never cruel. Its a difficult task because we're not perfect, in fact we're pretty ordinary. We're people just like everyone else with problems, issues, and concerns just like yours. But with God's help anything is possible....even the transformation of the human heart. And just like God who never gives up on us, we can't give up on open-minded, loving dialogue with our communities, families, or friends. What kind of "living sign" are you?

Mandy

Sing-spiration

Two weeks ago we had a sing-spiration on Sunday night because Kevin had a big board meeting before the evening service and its too much to do all in one day! Luck for us this church loves sing-spiration. I don't think I had ever been to one and Kevin can't recall it either....I'm sure I would remember something like that. To be honest -we were a little worried that it might be TERRIBLE. I get embarrassed for others very easily so if someone gets up to sing who really can't sing but no one ever told them that...its just painful to watch. However, we were pleasantly surprised....we have a church full of talented Nazarenes. Our children got involved and everyone who sang did a great job....no screeches, sqwauks, or squeals.

Gracie Mae, Hannah Shea, and Abby Lynn singing"I Want to Stroll Over Heaven With You" with our bass player Bill.

Overall, sing-spiration was a success and boy am I relieved.

Have a great rest of the week!

Mandy