Pumpkin Patch Post #2

Mommy and Shelby

Searching for the perfect pumpkin

Too heavy

Maria found one Shelby's size

Shelby was so excited about her own pumpkin!

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday, Shelby and I went to a pumpkin patch with some of my MOPS group. There were several activities for the children including Native American stories, touring an old home and schoolhouse, a nature walk, a hayride, and of course the pumpkin patch. Shelby had a blast! We hope to go as a family next fall.

Natalie, Shelby, and Maria

Story-time with a Native American woman

Talking to the geese and ducks

Having fun on the hayride

Fun on the hayride with Maddie

Family Fall-Fest (Year Two)

Sunday afternoon the three of us went to the Family Fall-Fest that's sponsored by the Children's Ministry at church. This was our second year to go. (See last year's post here.) The theme this year was Wild Wild West and there was even a chili cook-off! We dressed as Western as we could get, which wasn't much as you can see from the pictures. We made it just in time for a hayride, something we missed last year. It was a fun evening spent with our church family.

Getting ready to leave...so excited!

The extent of our Western-wear

Mommy and Shelby on the hayride

Shelby was SO EXCITED about seeing real cows on the hayride!
They were pretty close at times and she was cracking up!

The B-I-B-L-E

Shelby loves to read the Bible! She has three different Bible storybooks and has most of the stories memorized. This is a familiar scene around here; Shelby is already reading one of her books!

Carpenter's Kids' Fall Fair

I made a new post, but it's dated for the actual time it happened. Check it out here.

Update

Please read Stacy's comment in the post below for an update on her dad. Thanks to all of you that prayed. God heard and answered our prayers!

Prayer Request

Please be in prayer for Dick Rogers, my friend Stacy's dad. Mr. Rogers is in the hospital due to some heart problems. Today has been a better day, and hopefully he'll be out of ICU soon. Please pray that Mr. Rogers will continue to improve. Pray also for the Rogers family as they are of course very concerned at this time.

Beauty

Hiking Together

More Petit Jean Pictures

Funny Shelby

When we passed the fallen branch shown here, Shelby
said, "Dont scare me!" in a very serious voice.

A close-up of her face when yelling at the branch

Whenever we passed a large fallen branch with a hollow end like this,
Shelby called it a big mouth.

Petit Jean Pictures

Picnic at Petit Jean

Shelby loved having a whole apple all to herself!

Petit Jean State Park

Channing and I have always loved going to Petit Jean State Park. In fact, that is where we got engaged! However, we have not been back since I got pregnant in October 2004. It has been way too long! So after breakfast on Saturday, we packed a picnic lunch and spent the day there. We had a wonderful time as a family, hiking and enjoying God's creation. We hiked down to Cedar Falls. Shelby did great, going down and coming up. It took a lot longer than times past, but we sure had fun. We look forward to returning for a camping trip, with and without Shelby, as well as to do more hiking on other trails in the park.

More Pictures from Amber's Wedding

I found these two pictures on Amber's Facebook page and thought I'd share. Shelby had a ball being the flower girl!

Getting started

Saying "hi" to everyone she passed

Pictures Added

It took us a while to develop the pictures from Shelby's birthday party on June 16, and then I kept forgetting to post them. Go see them here.

Another Prayer Request

Tonight I went to a memorial service for a woman who attended Downtown. Letha Hatcher was diagnosed with cancer just two months ago, and went Home to be with the Father on Monday. I didn't know Mrs. Hatcher; I met her once in our Sunday morning Bible class, but was never able to get to know her personally. Mrs. Hatcher's daughter, Kimberly, and my old friend Stacy are good friends from Freed-Hardeman. Kimberly and her family also are a part of Downtown. The week Mrs. Hatcher was diagnosed, the family asked that people come to the hospital and pray over her. When I heard about the prayer time, I felt such a strong urgency to go. And I am so glad that I did. Mrs. Hatcher shared with all of us that she believed that God could heal her, but that He might not choose to do that. She wanted us to know that we shouldn't be discouraged if He didn't heal her. She just wanted God to be glorified in her illness and life, regardless of what the future held. Hearing that was such a tremendous blessing, and I sobbed on the way home that night because I was so overwhelmed by Mrs. Hatcher's faith. Tonight's service was so special. The family wanted everyone there to focus on the fact that Mrs. Hatcher is alive in Jesus, with the Lord, totally healed. After a few people shared memories about Mrs. Hatcher, we spent about an hour singing praises to God. What an amazing way to honor and remember this special lady! God was truly glorified tonight!

I have to confess that this week has been very difficult for me, because I don't understand why Mrs. Hatcher wasn't healed of the cancer. I have to remember that she is healed, that she is more whole than I am here on this earth! It breaks my heart when I stop to think that if I'm feeling this way, how must her family and friends feel!

Please pray for the Hatcher and Simmons family as they are mourning the loss of a wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother.

Fall Fair

Tonight we went to the Open House/Fall Fair at Carpenter's Kids. Shelby had fun showing us her work in the classroom, playing games, jumping in the moon-bounce, and eating refreshments. It was a good evening together.

Showing off her great work

Shelby loves her teacher, Mrs. Price!

Mae and Alyssa are Harding students who help out with Shelby's class.

Blake is one of Shelby's new friends from Carpenter's Kids.

Pray for Mikey

Please be in prayer for our friends Michael, Allison, and Elisha Mosher. Michael will be leaving for California on Sunday morning to prepare to leave for Iraq. Michael is a Marine. This will be his third tour.

Prayer Request

Please pray for our brother-in-law, Kelly Person, who is married to Channing's sister Angela. Last week Kelly had a mole removed from his back and today they found out that it was malignant. They will go to M.D. Anderson in Houston on Monday, where there will be some testing to learn more. Please keep Kelly, Angela, and their daughter Kelsie, as well as the rest of the family in your prayers during this scary time.