I Know about time for an update.

Well as you can tell I have been a bit busy with things since it has been nearly 8 months since I have posted anything. I can not believe how fast the year is flying by!

Nicole - She finished up her Sophomore year and just started her Junior year. Heavy class load - Chemistry, Honors English, Pre-Cal, Spanish 2, Latin 3, US History, and Wings (Advanced performance choir however they do not seem to do much performing at this school!) She is enjoying it. She has a very busy simmer. Her group won 1st place at the State FCCLA Leadership competition. They designed their own business, a coffee shop based on Broadway show tunes. They went to Nationals in Nashville TN and received a Gold. They worked very hard and did an amazing job!

She spent a week at Depauw University living on campus and experienced college life for a week. (Side note her roommate was from Austin Texas!! She liked that!) She was there for a Vocal/Fine arts camp. Only 25 kids were accepted into the camp. She loved it however came to the conclusion that she does not think she wants to major in Fine Arts. That was the purpose of her going. I was hoping that she would decide if that was what she really wanted to do.

She is still working at McDonald's and enjoying it. She is also heading up the concession stands for the youth football league. It is hard to believe that she will be 17 one month from today. She is becoming a very independent young lady.

Larry - finished up his first year of High School and is now an 8th grader. He got a surprise this year. In order for him to be able to take his advanced science class and Algebra he had to take honors english. So his schedule is full of advanced classes as well and so far so good. Of course it has only been one week. He loves all of his teachers which is a big plus! We will see how the year progresses. He is doing cross country right now and loving it, of course.

He spent the summer playing baseball. He had a great time with that. He also got a babysitting job and watched a little 2 year old from church for a couple of hours 3 days a week. He is Larry's little buddy and I think it is mutual feelings. I think his first complete sentence was Where Larry go? They have a great time together! While Nicole and I were in Tennessee he went on a fishing trip with dad. They decided not to spend money on a cabin, and they could not pitch a tent where they went so they just slept in the truck. They had a great time.

Paul and I have had a lot of changes as well. We shut down our construction business. Paul was offered an amazing job opportunity with Jedele Enterprises. They own 6 local McDonald's and he was offered a General Managers position. After the government continually wanting more money for taxes, unreliable help, and a trip to the emergency room for Paul Kidney stones, (which he ended up having emergency surgery for 2 weeks ago.) he decided that it was time for a change. We always wanted the business to be a ministry and not a job and uncle sam never really allowed that to happen. Where he is now he can talk with more people and has a lot bigger opportunity for ministry there then he ever had before. He is really enjoying the change and the everyday challenges that come with the job.

Last year I subbed almost every day at the High School and worked here and there at Creative Designs. (the t-shirt/screenprint shop) This year I am reversing the roles. I pretty much run the production facility. I will sub mainly on Fridays since we only work 4 days a week up there. I enjoy it but it is not the same as being int he school. I really love being around the kids and talking to them. So many of them still come to me for advice or just to let me know what is going on with them. Now that school has started I am really missing it.

We are still at Lifebuilder Community Church. We are loving it! We are getting ready to move into a new building in Sept. This is a very exciting change for all of us at the church. Nicole sings with the worship team, and helps with Children's church. Larry helps with the little ones during worship. Paul is an Elder and helps with lots of other things as well. I help with getting worship music together and Children's church. the one thing I am really enjoying is the Youth Group. We have only meet a couple of times so it is a work in progress but I think it is my favorite thing right now. I am looking forward to getting it going stronger so that I can maybe start a women's bible study together. I went to a conference a few weeks ago and it just reminded me of how much I love working with women. Helping them. I miss that part of my ministry. There is just something powerful about being able to use the word of God to minister to others. It is a fullfilment unlike any other.

So that is about it in a nut shell for now. We are all doing well. God is working in our lives and doing miracles all around us.

May God Bless you all and your families!