Weekends in Texas

Since we only have one more weekend living in Texas, I thought I'd remember some things we did on weekends here...

Bethany Lakes Park:




IKEA


Dallas Zoo


Dallas Arboretum




Plano Balloon Festival




MLK Parades




Trips to Escape


A little gardening




Dallas Heritage Park


Flying airplanes at the American Airlines Museum

Beautiful Collision

Please visit www.thearnnfive.com to learn more about what we are about to do. We've got a long way to go in ending racial and economic segregation and discrimination. Will you help us?

Not a waste of time

Guy: "I don't know why I blah, blah, blah I haven't really thought about it that much I guess it's because blah blah"

Dr. Laura (interrupting): "Sir... Instead of talking about how you don't know the answer, take a minute and think... I'll wait for you."

Guy: "I don't want to waste your time"

Dr. Laura: "You won't be wasting my time if you are thinking"

Countdown to our move

With everything coming together for our move to Little Rock, it is only 26 days until we head out. LOTS to do in that time frame but we're really excited. It's pretty weird leaving the place we've lived for over 9 years, leaving lots of great friends, leaving the place where all three of our kids were born.

But... Hills, trees, lakes, rivers, hiking trails, waterfalls, beautiful fall leaves, and wonderful people of Mosaic Church... here we come!

Reunion Church

I've blogged about them before but I have to blog again. We went there yesterday and I was again blown away by their authenticity, honesty, passion. You can check out messages, etc at their website but if you are in the Dallas area you really need to attend a few times to understand what I mean.

Interesting Apologies This Week

Jet Blue Apology

Virginia Apologizes for Role in Slavery

.

Today

Today we have an inspection of our house because we've accepted an offer after less than two weeks on the market!

We're also finishing up the shooting of our short film for our work.

More later...

How have a done without a mighty mouse?

I know I'm waaayy behind, but I'm using a mighty mouse (for the first time) on my parents new mac. Gotta get one!

In Arkansas for the weekend

We are in Arkansas for the weekend to have Christmas in February with some family from Virginia who couldn't make it to Christmas in December.

We're also going to shoot Sunday and Monday for a short film about our work that I'm producing. Should be fun and cool.

Susie has got a bad cold and isn't feeling well... please pray for her!

Pix from the Cruise

Our first look at the Disney Wonder


Preparing for the lifeboat drill


The "Sail Away Party"








On our verandah...





Nassau, Bahamas














Mickey and Minnie!!




Alex and Susannah brought some costumes to dress up for the "Pirates IN the Caribbean" party (or as Susie says "Carabeena")


Susannah sleeping on the deck through mega music and fireworks at the Pirates In the Carabeena party.


Some tired kiddos


On Castaway Cay - Disney's Private Island












These little yellow oompa loompas come out every chance they get to clean or work on the ship.


One of those many Disney "wows" when the waiter took time to squirt Susie's ketchup into the shape of Mickey.


Disney is truly amazing. I've felt this at the parks before, but on a cruise you are totally in their care. Their operations and customer service are virtually flawless. Food was great. Kids activities were excellent. Really great time... highly recommend!!

Back from our Disney Cruise

The last three days I've been shooting video for a CiCi's Pizza company celebration on the Disney Wonder. It was amazing. Yesterday riding bikes on Disney's private island in the Bahamas... today back to overcast 47 degree Texas. Debbie or I will have pictures up soon.

Creepy

Yesterday had the stupidest news stories, but here is the creepiest news story! I don't like snakes.

Unbelievable!

Two of the stupidist things I've heard in a while...

1) What in the world was Joe Biden thinking? If anyone doubts that racism in this country is alive and well, there it is. We must do something proactive about this.

2) How could the Comedy Network be so irresponsible as to put blinking packages on bridges, street corners, and subways? Did they think all this free media coverage outweighed their moral obligation to society? Or, are they somehow ignorant enough not to foresee the Boston chaos of today?

Developing my daughter

Emmaleigh and I had a great little dad/daughter time this morning. Every so often I like to make sure and spend some one-on-one time with each of my three kids. I couldn't decide where to take her so we just ended up at Starbucks for coffee, chocolate milk, and my favorite, Classic Coffee Cake.

On the way out the door I grabbed my binder full of notes from some life/professional coaching I received last year. These lessons have been priceless for me and I want to pass them along to others including my kids.

So... over coffee I shared with Em about "having an overcoming style" and "having consistent desires". I explained these concepts in a way a kid can understand with examples and also fun drawings. I wasn't sure how she'd respond to this semi-formal teaching from me, but she loved it. Later in the day we also got to relate one of these concepts to the scripture verse the kids are on today. As always happens, I sure later this week we'll have a chance to apply these concepts to real life together.

I love developing people!

Setting Priorities

A friend reminded me of a little tool to organize priority of tasks...



You just write down things in the correct boxes and the start doing the things in the HIGH-HIGH box first.

I've been using this tool this past week and it's been great!

The question which arises is the order in which you tackle the boxes. Like I said above, of course HIGH-HIGH is first. But what is next? I prefer to put HIGH_IMPORTANCE/LOW_URGENCY next. I don't want the tyranny of the urgent (but unimportant) to crowd out things like reading, thinking, family time, etc.

Have you ever used this particular tool before? Has it been helpful? And what is that big ugly smudge on the graphic from my scanner? Sorry...

Breakthrough

As a Monday morning plane begins to rise
the city skyline beautifully silhouettes against a hazy pink horizon on an otherwise
drab, overcast morning

One minute under the gray canopy
the next instant all white with a spot of light increasingly burning through
to unaccustomed eyes then breakthrough

An immense blue dome
A brilliant sun
Crystal clear vision
The gray of moments before
Long behind

Do you need a breakthrough?

My commissioning for ministry

I was blessed to be commissioned for ministry by Legacy Church last Sunday. story...

Peach Black

Dad: "Hey Susie did you sleep well last night?"

Susie: "Yes, but it was kind of scary. You know how I don't like it to be peach black."

Manage yourself, not the other person

There's only one person you can really manage... you!

Do you ever find yourself frustrated by the actions or inactions of others? Maybe someone isn't leading you just like you need to be led. Maybe someone does things that drive you crazy. Maybe someone has different work habits -- things like planning, organization, scheduling, priorities -- than you do. Often times in these cases we gripe and complain about that other person -- we try to "manage" that person into what we want them to be -- instead of managing our own lives.

If you don't like how someone is leading you, don't follow!

How can someone else actually drive you crazy??? Take charge!

If someone's work habits don't line up with yours, either make a conscious decision to be flexible for a season for certain reasons or say 'no' to the work.

Status quo is the enemy of truly managing ourselves and our situation. It's much easier to go with the normal flow (and gripe about it) than it is to make courageous decisions and manage our lives to a better place.

Don't let OTHERS keep YOU from doing what YOU are supposed to do.

Anxiety comes when we work on things that are not our business to work on (managing others)
AND
Anxiety comes when we neglect things we are supposed to work on (managing ourselves)

The Apprentice

I don't care who says what about Donald Trump! I like The Apprentice.

I had been looking forward to the new season which started last Sunday and I loved it.

I like the new twists in the show this season:

1) The winning team's project manager remains project manager for the following week's task. (in past seasons the project manager for both team changed every week)
2) The winning team's project manager get to sit with Trump in the boardroom and helps (along with Trumps daughter) advise him regarding who on the losing team should be fired
3) And the biggest change...... The losing team has to live in a tent for the week following its loss while the winning team lives in a mansion. It'll be interesting to see what effect this "haves vs have nots" has on the outcome. Will the adverse conditions in the tent motivate the losers to become winners or will the tent-dwellers spiral downward?

I miss Carolyn and the gentleman (can't remember his name) who advised Trump last year and were his "eyes and ears". Trump's daughter is now advising Trump and doesn't seem to have the leadership credibility that those two seasoned advisors had last year.

Initial thoughts:
Heidi is great
Frank is obnoxious and won't admit any mistakes although he clearly makes them

No more victim mentality

Bad things happen... you can choose to be a victim or you can choose to move on stronger to the next thing.

Victims think people owe them. They can even think God owes them.

I have to confess that I've acted like a victim sometimes since August. I've felt like certain people owed me and like God owed me. I had a lot of disappointment in my last job and I'm somewhat scattered from my friends... BUT this doesn't obligate the God of the universe to give me a new job and life that's easy and comfy. God is amazingly huge and powerful. I need to BEG him to use me... not EXPECT him to help me and use me.

I've been blessed with so many things...
Good family of origin
Awesome wife and kids
Good friends
Good health
Education
Food to eat
Comfortable place to live
More stuff than most people in the world would ever imagine having

I don't need to live in despair. I could get a job. Deb could. We have 3.5 university degrees between us. We have so much. As we beg God to continue opening doors for us to work in our passion, we must remember we are asking for a privilege or gift and should not feel it an entitlement.

One night I took Deb's mom back to her home while Deb stayed behind to get the kids to bed. On the way back I had an amazing time. It was a beautiful starry night and within the span of 20 short minutes I realized again how big God is and how small I am. He who flung the stars into space is not obligated to me. So what if I gave a few years of my life in an endeavor that didn't end up well... big deal......... Jesus left heaven and bore my sin.

Great Questions

Kathy Sierra asked these great questions for getting to know people. A little more thought-provoking than some I've seen... My answers are in comments... what about your answers?

0) What's your name and website?

1) What's the most fun work you've ever done, and why? (two sentences max)

2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did? (one sentence max)

B. Name one thing you've always wanted to do but keep putting it off? (one sentence max)

3) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max)

B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max)

4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?

B. Now list two more words you wish described you...

5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes-- three sentences max)

6) Write--and answer--one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)

[Bonus: What is one question you wish people would ask themselves?]

Baby Dolls

While our kids were with my parents the last few days, they went to the store so that each kid could buy a few little dollar toys. I was happy to see that Susie had picked out two dark skinned baby dolls. I'm so proud of our family that no one said anything silly to question her choice. It's a little thing, but it is encouraging to see our deep desire for our family to love all people lived out.

Randomness

I saw a church whose permanent sign had the church's name and the line underneath said...
"Fundamental-Independent-Old Fashioned-KJV"
must be an interesting place...


Found a website... If you want to find out where free wi-fi is available in your city, go to this site.


Like I said........ random today

Home repairs and risotto

We've been very blessed to have several days without the kids to focus on our last home repairs in prep for selling our house. Our old carpet and water heater are now in the dump and the last big building materials are now in the house. We also got the trickiest part of the house (high above the stairs) painted plus misc other things. Thanks Mom and Dad for keeping the kids for us!

On Friday night I tried making risotto. I had seen the recipe on food network... looked good. It's an italian rice dish. Arborio rice, chicken stock, butter, onion, cheese. it turned out pretty good along with some chicken fried in a little EVOO and garlic. (I love saying EVOO... that's what they say on the Food Network :) I might make risotto again but it wasn't THAT amazing... of course that may have been the cook's fault.

twitter is TOO much

I love online community, but www.twitter.com is TMI... not as in too personal, but TMI as in information overload... and boring!

But hey, I joined anyway. So... if I devote my life to posting mini-posts on twitter you can know what I'm doing at any moment of the day.

follow allentexas at http://twitter.com

The Tipping Point

I'm finally getting around to reading "The Tipping Point". I should have read it the moment it came out. Fascinating! Now, I just need to figure out how to best apply it.

If you want to make a serious impact in the world or if you just like learning more about how the human mind works, this book is for you.

New verse whatever

For anyone who is still following this... here is this obvious rest of the story. I stopped at about 2:6... will pick it up again hopefully when my life calms down. (or maybe that would HELP my life calm down) .... anyway.

Add the next verse, Ephesians 2:9.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:9 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-8 or add a second 3x5 card if needed.
2) Read through verse 2:9 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-8 with our new verse, 2:9, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

Add the next verse, Ephesians 2:10.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:10 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-9 or add a second 3x5 card if needed.
2) Read through verse 2:10 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-9 with our new verse, 2:10, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

What is it with my kids and mannequins?

My kids are always fascinated with mannequins.





If you notice Alex behind... he's probably more fascinated than he should be.

New Verse Thursday

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10, this is New Verse Thursday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:8.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:8 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-7 or add a second 3x5 card if needed.
2) Read through verse 2:8 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-7 with our new verse, 2:8, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.


1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

Memorizing

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.


TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:8 on "New Verse Thursday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:7 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-6 together with 2:7 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-6 while learning 2:7.

New Verse Monday... on Tuesday

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10, this is New Verse Monday... on Tuesday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:7.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:7 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-6 or add a second 3x5 card if needed.
2) Read through verse 2:7 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-6 with our new verse, 2:7, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.


1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Together with all the saints

I've been familiar with this passage for along time and I at one time even wrote a song about it. But, I had missed the importance of one key phrase.

Eph 3:17-19
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I guess I had thought "together with all the saints" meant "together as the global body of Christ, with all its races and ethnicities in congregations all over the world." That's fine for all over the world, but what about the people of different ethnicities just down the street?

I've come to believe that we can "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" better when we are actually sitting in a room "together with all the saints".

Wal-Mart is the place for moving boxes

Just got back from Wal-Mart. It's a pain to have to go there after midnight, but man you can get good boxes quickly as they are stocking the shelves. I just loaded up on the cereal aisle. General Mills boxes are kind of weak... they have a hole on the top and bottom. Kellogg's, on the other hand, now those are some boxes. Can you tell I'm getting excited about this move?

Turkey Tip

Wait! Before you cook the turkey tomorrow! If you always wish the white meat were more moist, consider cooking your turkey upside-down so that the dark meat juices run down through the breast meat. Yum!

OR...

Maybe you are more the tofu-based tofurky type... NOT ME!!

Heading for Atlanta

I'm heading for Atlanta tomorrow morning through Tuesday night to shoot a video. Should be fun, but we've got a really tight schedule for shoots all over the Atlanta metro area. I won't have a computer with me so I'll talk to you again on Wednesday.

Memorizing - Am I the only one behind?????

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

I'm still behind... Let's keep reviewing through verse six. I want to catch up and I intend too!!!

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:7 in a week on "New Verse Monday" since "New Verse Thursday" will be on Thanksgiving Day.
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:6 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-5 together with 2:6 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-5 while learning 2:6.

Wow... IM'ing with Los over the Pacific Ocean

I was just IM'ing with Los while he is over the Pacific Ocean on a Korean Air flight traveling to pick up his newly adopted son. Our internet connectness these days always amazes me.

Pray for Los and Heather.

Be praying for Los and family

Please be praying for my blog friend, Los, and his family. They leave tomorrow morning for Korea to pick up and bring home their adopted baby son.

It was cool... they had a prayer time at their home in California tonight. I joined in from Texas and IM'd in some prayers for them. I love the internet.

New Verse Thursday

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10 with me, this is New Verse Thursday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:6.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:6 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-5.
2) Read through verse 2:6 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-5 with our new verse, 2:6, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Our Big Announcement!

For many years, God has been growing our hearts for worshiping and growing spiritually in the company of diverse people. We are very excited to begin to live out this desire of doing local church with all people. After several months of searching, praying, listening, and thinking, we have been "officially" invited and have accepted the invitation to join the staff of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, an intentionally multiethnic church in Little Rock.

First, Mosaic is about reconciling people to God through Jesus Christ. But, secondarily, they are about being a local church body that is ethnically and economically diverse. In heaven, people from every nation will be worshiping together. Through working with Mosaic, we'll be helping to make that a reality "on earth as it is in heaven".

One difference from this and most other church jobs is that we'll be raising our own support like a missionary would. This is the normal mode of operation for staff who are joining Mosaic. Mosaic is a relatively new church, but it has grown quickly. Because of this growth, there is a need for more staff and leadership. Since Mosaic reaches a diverse population of new Christ-followers and not-yet-Christ-followers, the financial resources just are not there to support the things that need to be done. Mosaic isn't satisfied to simply exist as a small multiethnic body. It has the vision to do excellent ministry with people from all walks of life and all economic backgrounds and to propel forward the movement of multiethnic churches. Because our family is seeking support from our connections outside of Mosaic Church, we'll be able to work as a part of this ministry without being a drain on the finances of that local body. The multiethnic church movement is in its infancy and, like any new mission, requires support from the outside to sustain and grow.

We'll be building a team of people to support us financially as we work under Mosaic's leadership. We are excited about this support-raising aspect. We see these supporters as partners and co-laborers with us in this ministry which we believe is dear to the heart of God.

In the next few days we'll be setting up a family website and blog. We'll be sharing our heart for multiethnic ministry, our progress toward moving to Little Rock, and about our impact once we get there. Our site will also be the hub for our support-raising and for pastoring/informing our support team.

We hope to find financial backing relatively quickly, so that our work at Mosaic can begin by Feb 1, 2007 in time to help prepare for the church's 5 year anniversary.

Please pray with us about these requests as we begin this journey...
1. That our house will sell quickly and for a great price
2. That our support team will be raised up swiftly
3. That God will order our steps...so that we are not overwhelmed with all that has to happen in the next few months
4. That God will continue to provide for our family financially as we wait for our move to Little Rock.

Thanks for reading and praying!
Allen

Alex's 6th Birthday

I usually take my kids out for a one-on-one birthday lunch with dad on their birthdays. Since we were traveling on Alex's birthday on Thursday, we went to birthday dinner instead.

First, we went to CiCi's.


Alex listening to something with his new spy gadget...


Who wouldn't like seeing the whites in the bottom of Alex's eyes? Move that teleprompter lower!! (ok... that's an inside joke)


Then we went to Northpoint Mall to let him spend his birthday money from his aunt at a cool toy store (well... after he climbed on the sculpture)

Half way there

See this great post on using graphics to convey your point.

Memorizing - getting back on track

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

I'm still behind on this after my crazy week last week. Let's keep reviewing through verse five and add a new verse on Thursday.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:6 on "New Verse Thursday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:5 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-4 together with 2:5 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-4 while learning 2:5.

Very tough week

Man... this has been quite a week. We are close to a new ministry opportunity coming together in Little Rock, Arkansas and I think the enemy is taking notice. We are being hit on several sides personally as we get closer to finalizing that decision. So many doubts, fears, pains, great stresses, questions all surfacing at once. Awful...

I'm just trying to keep my eyes on what we are called to do and trying to do one thing at a time to knock through the barriers to doing it.

Gwen and others... needless to say, I'm behind on memorizing. Let's take a breather over the weekend and we'll start another run at it on Monday.


Please pray for us.

New Verse Tuesday

Sorry I missed posting on what should have been New Verse Monday... shot video all day Monday.

Anyway...

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10 with me, this is New Verse Tuesday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:5.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:5 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-4.
2) Read through verse 2:5 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-4 with our new verse, 2:5, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Big week coming up!

Monday and Tuesday will be big video shoots for some freelance work I'm doing.
Wednesday will be a meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas to discern whether I should come on staff with a church there.
Thursday we'll be back to Texas for more video work.
Friday will be video work and Alex's 6th birthday party.

Please pray for us for efficiency, safe travel, clarity, and wisdom as we work this week and as we talk with the church in Arkansas.

Ephesians dos:quatro - Do you know it yet?

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:5 on "New Verse Monday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:4 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-3 together with 2:4 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-3 while learning 2:4.

Online Photo/Video Montage Maker

I'm testing out an online tool I heard about...www.onetruemedia.com

these are some pix from the recent multiethnic church conference Debbie and I attended...

Make an online slide show at onetruemedia.com

My wife the baker

Deb has been experimenting for a while to make great bread in an old bread machine. Usually it tastes good but often the loaf is kind of short and many times the top looks like Tegucigalpa, Honduras (bowled out city with encircling mountains). This always reminds me of the time my Namaw (my grandma) made an angel food cake, which we all made fun of, that looked like a nuclear reactor's cooling tower.



Anyway... today's bread machine bread was the best yet. Thanks Deb for all you are doing to help us eat healthy and at the same time save money.

Pumpkin Pix 2006

We found this little photo spot outside of grandma's home...