Help Needed

I want to share a super awesome story! My hard-working man has been putting in some extra long, grueling hours trying to wrap up some major projects around The Barn. Monday he was singing "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength" and it surely was. He pushed through. Tuesday he started with a low tank, but he climbed the scaffolding and got to work, nearly completing all the new siding on the front of the house to the gabled roof.
Early afternoon, he comes in and I know he's wiped out bc I hear it in the rasp of his voice. He croaks out, "I told God I need help." I'd been telling him for weeks months that he needs FRIENDS because his wife and daughter aren't thrilled about manual labor. In our defense we HAVE put in a lot of sweat equity and heavy lifting too. Anyway, I told him "You're done for the day! Remember the heatstroke?!" So he goes to take a shower.
My niece and Olivia were in the front yard pulling weeds for their nanny when they came barreling into the house, locking doors and shutting down the garage. "There's a man with a wheelbarrow walking up the driveway." We live in the country and we seldom have unexpected visitors. I ran to the bathroom door and told Scott to throw his clothes on. The door bell rings. I tell the man, "One moment."
Scott goes to the door and I hear them chatting it up. He comes back inside with the man's cell phone number. This stranger showed up (sent by God as an answer to Scott's prayer) is looking for work and used to be employed by none other than The Home Depot. Are you kidding me? A lot of people that we see out here in the country are what we endearingly call "Meth-billies." This term came from a retired Sheriff Deputy. This stranger appeared clean. Desperate, but not drugged.
So, we decided we'd call him and offer him a job starting at 8:30 (today). The man showed up. On time. Ready to work. They are out there working right now. Scott will hire him tomorrow too. I am so overjoyed that the Lord sent help to my husband. He cares about our needs and He is our strength and help!

Hard at Work.

107 Corsicana

Scott recently ventured into the world of real estate investing.

This husband of mine has so many talents. He constantly amazes me.
We were out and about driving around Hillsboro, his birthplace, looking for properties and fixer uppers. We'd found a home a few weeks before that we all loved, and were heartbroken when someone made an offer just before us. We'd all been so in love with it that we didn't have the strength to go through the disappointment of loving yet another house. It's kinda like when your child has a girlfriend and you fall in love with her too. Then when they break up, you can't imagine loving someone new as much as you loved the last one? Can you relate?
That analogy held true for about five minutes until...we drove down Corsicana for the umpteenth time and I saw this lavender house. We parked the car and I {ran} up to the porch, read the sign on the door and peeked in all the windows. It wasn't until I walked to the far back of the yard and looked back that I had this amazing, peaceful feeling that this is the house where I would spend the rest of my days and where we would have our grandchildren over for sleepovers and Christmas!
This "feeling" has sustained me through the long, tiring process that is buying a short sale. This "feeling" has encouraged me as I do hard things like clean every horizontal surface that is layered in five years of dust. This is our labor of love.

How-To Become a Member of Young Living Essential Oils

In July 2013, I decided I wanted to start using Young Living essential oils. The most logical decision for me was to sign up as a member/distributor and get The Premium Kit locking myself into a wholesale discount (24% off retail) for future purchases. With 100s of uses for the 10 oils in the Everyday Kit I knew I would get more than my money worth out of the kit.

A lot of people are hesitant to sign up because they don’t want to sell oils. I didn’t want to try to sell the oils to my friends and I didn’t want to make a monthly commitment to get the wholesale discount. Thankfully Young Living doesn’t require a monthly commitment if you are strictly interested in just using the oils and not building a business. You are a member of the Young Living family and can enjoy the benefits of 24% off without meeting monthly requirements.

 I recommend buying the Premium Kit because it truly is the best bang for your buck. I will share the other kits below, but I want to share with you how amazing the premium kit is and why this really is the most valuable option.

The oils in the above picture are the 10 oils within the everyday oils collection + Stress Away which is part of the Premium Kit. There are 100s of uses for these 11 – 5mL bottles each, something you or someone in your family can use for one reason or another. The oils include: Lemon, Frankincense, Purification, R.C., Thieves, Pan Away, Peppermint, Copaiba, Lavender and DiGize.  This collection alone has a retail value of $159.54 and it’s not even all that you get in the Premium Kit.

The diffuser is a fabulous perk about the Premium Kit and was the tipping point for my decision to get this kit. This diffuser has a retail value of $98.68 which means you are basically getting this free with the purchase of the Everyday Oils collection. I love that I can use this to freshen the air in our home while also enjoying the therapeutic values of the oils I am diffusing.

Also included are several guides among 2 Samples each of 5 of the most common oils, a 5mL bottle of Stress Away plus a roller ball attachment and 2 NingXia Red samples (4 servings).  If your budget allows, the Premium Starter Kit really is the way to go. It is an investment in your wellness! 

As part of the Essential Living team, you will get to be part of a private Facebook group full of even more resources making your journey even more fulfilling. You can use our group to learn more about the oils, view online classes and gain support along the way. This educational group is a tremendous wellspring of info and I’m still learning!

Now that you are ready to sign up, let me help you along your oily journey.

Step 1: Go to this link to sign up on the Essential Living team!

Step 2: Make sure to check off “Young Living Independent Distributor” NOT “Retail Customer”. Don’t worry about the word “member” as discussed above.  This simply means you are signing up as a member to get the Premium Kit and the 24% discount from here on out.

Step 3: Be sure my member numbers are in the blanks for both Enroller and Sponsor, if you used the above link they should be but in case something happened please add it in. My YL Member# is 1488680.

Step 4: Fill out all of your information. It will ask you for your SS# which if for legal purposes so that if you choose to run this as a business they can send you a 1099.

Step 5: Write down your pin, user name and password. You will need these in the future to log in and place future orders and to track packages.

Step 6: Select the “Premium Start Living Kit”, this is the one with the everyday oils kit, diffuser and the basic starter kit. It is the one that is $160. You have additional upgrades with the diffuser or you can choose from the amazing Home or Dewdrop diffusers. 

Step 7: Scroll down through the “Essential Rewards Kits” and click “no thank you, I plan on enrolling in Essential Rewards later.” Don’t worry, you don’t have to sign up for Essential Rewards later if you don’t want to but if you do love your experience with the oils let’s talk before you order again because this is a great way to get money back and earn some free oils! 

Step 8: Click “I Agree” and “Next”

Step 9: Confirm your enrollment information (you should see my name as your enroller and sponsor).

Step 10: Add any oils or other products in addition to your kit if there is something else you were wanting. The labels for $3 are great for organizing.

Step 11: Check out! You are official!

Once I receive information that you have enrolled you can expect to see an email from me  to welcome you and make sure you have everything you need to get started using the oils. Your membership will stay active as long as you spend $50 in a calendar year. I have a feeling you’ll meet that $50 requirement though because you are going to LOVE these oils!!

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

"You've captured my heart with this love"

When I was in my early 20s, a local youth pastor (who will remain unnamed) asked me if I wanted to be loved unconditionally by a man that would never leave me. Um, yes! Isn't that what I'm here looking for in this dark room with you? I'm sorry. He had his own struggles too. Obviously.

Love from men. I had plenty of that. It was the unconditional and forever part they couldn't deliver. I was desperate. In the true spirit of the word.

When I met Jesus, I fell in love fast and hard.

2014 Christmas Letter

Last Christmas sucked. One of my favorite people in the world, Granny, took her last shallow breath the Sunday before Christmas. This is how awesome she was…not expecting to die, she had shopped for everyone in the family and we all had gifts to open at our family gathering. If I died the Sunday before Christmas, not everyone would have a gift because I put the PRO in procrastinator! She gave me a beautiful, blue scarf that I absolutely treasure.

I had the honor of giving the eulogy at her funeral. I hate when a person that never knew the deceased, gets up and speaks. I loved my granny and she was unlike anyone else I’ve ever known and I wanted everyone to have a glimpse of that. But anyway…I preached (mostly to myself) that we should all live a life that was worthy of the love she gave. So in 2014 that is what I set out to do. It’s December 16 and I’ve bought two presents and I’m just now writing my Christmas card letter. So, I obviously didn’t beat procrastination. I also still spend way too much time on Facebook. Dumb. Enough about how I failed; here’s what I accomplished that was cool:

1) I auditioned for a play. Steel Magnolias. I got a callback. I didn’t get the part, but that wasn’t the point, well, I mean it was, but I’m ok with rejection. I put myself out there and it did not kill me.

2) I went back to the classroom. I have an amazing bunch of third graders that I adore. They challenge me. Daily. I show up because they are so spectacular! Everything else about being a teacher is hard and ridiculous, but those gems are the reason I won’t quit at Christmas. My theme this year (based on Isaiah 43:19) is “try new things.” I’m kinda done with that theme! It’s an exhausting theme.

3) I walked 39 unbelievable miles in NYC in the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer! Some amazing folks sponsored me with real fundraising dollars, like $1800+! It was a proud moment, a defining moment for me. It changed my life. Crazily, they have alumni walkers that do this year after year. I’m like, “Nope. Checking that one off the list and moving on. Thank you! My feet hate me.” Don’t tell anyone, but I would walk it again with my momma, who’s also a survivor. I’ve walked like 3 miles since then.

So that pretty much sums up my year. I can barely remember what I did yesterday, so those are the memorable highlights.

HUGE thanks to my family for letting me hog this year’s letter and for cheering me on as I pursued dreams I’d put aside for far too long. I easily could’ve let this loss sink me, but I have such a peace knowing my granny gets to be in heaven with Jesus! Don’t think I don’t remember her daily or unexpectedly bawl when I’m stirring a pot of something delicious in the kitchen, or smell muscle rub, or hear “Ave Maria”, but I’m determined to make the most of my brief time here pursuing things that are worthwhile and joyful and matter.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

Hug the ones you love tighter.

Stace Hunt

The Joy of Generosity

"There are two times when you are most like God--when you are giving and when you are forgiving!" ~Craig Groeschel

Long, awesome quote from "Coffee with Chris" Podcast

Christine Caine," Coffee With Chris" Podcast

"The GOD Adventure—wouldn't trade it for anything. You couldn't make it up if you tried. Wherever you are and whoever you are, just keep hanging on! Keep being faithful. For some of you, the word of the Lord is “GO” and “fast.” You need to pray and fast to get your breakthrough. And for others it's just a step by step obedience—a daily obedience. And you don't know until you know. And until you know, don't try and make anything happen!" by Christine Caine, author of Undaunted and one of my heroes.

Be these.

An image from Pinterest.
Cannot find the orig. to give credit.
Be these.

Before Facebook, I Had Hobbies

Anytime I'm asked to list my interests/hobbies my canned response is always: reading, writing, cooking. 

I rarely spend any time doing these beloved pastimes. My wise partner always says, "We make time for the things we want to do." It's true. And apparently, I just want to read my news feed. Write tweets and look at recipes instead of engaging myself in the actual activities I claim to love. 

Enter summer break. Today is my first Monday off. I've decided not to waste my life away on social media. I'm going to set some goals instead. Today I had two: mow the side yard and put away all the folded, clean laundry I'd been stockpiling on a chair. Yep, I do that. I was successful before noon, so I started reading a book and took a nap. It was fabulous! And now I'm writing (well, typing) actual words...

What prompted all of this is that my Goodreads "to-read" list was about to exceed my "read" list--198 vs 236.  I've got a plan and a stack of delicious books on the nightstand at the ready. I'm excited about reclaiming my time and my life! I may even venture into my wanna-be hobbies: organizing and sewing. 

What are your hobbies? What's keeping you for doing what you love? You know, you make time for what you want to do! 

March on!

An old blogpost from March 2013

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday! xoxo But I think March is my new favorite month (well, maybe second to October aka my bday month). As I get older, it seems like time's flying past my face so rapidly! I'm trying to embrace all those special moments.

Anyway, March is the bday month to lots of my dearies esp. my little brother & sister who are born on the same day three years apart. And my daughter in law who's more like a friend. March is also Spring Break, which means a week off school. #perks And the 18th is my 13th wedding anniversary to the best thing that's ever happened to me besides Jesus' rescue. I'm excited!

March also means clothes month for my 7 (a la the Jen Hatmaker book we read last year) journey with my friend, Michelle. So when you see me wearing the same, stinky outfit please just smile & nod. I'd like to think I'm simplistic, but the volume of clothing in my closet reeks otherwise. I justify it b/c I love hand-me-downs, but truly it's excess. Husband asked me last night, "Remind me why you're doing this again?" I had to reread the chapter. He refused to read it because our friend Kyle Sherman said it sounded like a chick book. The quote from pg. 51 embodies my cause.

So...happy March, everybody! Spring is on her way and she looks promising!!


Addendum to my FB post above: for those that haven't read 7 (why?) undergarments don't count, she counted 2 pairs of shoes as one, I'm counting two as none.
~I didn't choose a jacket (it's March) but this morning I froze during parent drop-off and a kindergartener told me I really should be wearing a coat. HaHa! My sweet co-worker Katie asks if it counts when someone loans me one. Hmm. I gave her the book's spiel about the freezing (literally to death) homeless population and just put my hands in my pockets and endured.
~All the clothes I chose were black, except for my jeans. Scott says I must add color, so I switched a black Ponder tee for a gray & pink breast cancer one.
~Picking out my 7 garments proved to be more challenging than I'd imagined!

From 7, by Jen Hatmaker Page 51

Romans 12:12

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Love this! This is MY verse for 2013! Every time I become dissatisfied with my stage of life (i.e. living in The Barn instead of a "normal" house, husband's books not being published YET) I'm going to preach this scripture to myself.

I'm currently reading a YouVersion Bible study about surrender. I sought out this topic because being the control freak that I am, I often struggle with surrendering MY plan to God's plan. If you don't believe me, just ask my husband. He's so sweet though, he'd tell you how far I've come in the last 13 years. I have this timeline in my mind and reality just isn't matching up with it, which leads to frustration and some days even sadness.

This past Sunday was one of those days! I started barking out my plan to my husband out of no where. He asked me if I had prayed about it. Well, this was convicting (because of course I hadn't) so I responded with defiance and anger. It was bad, y'all, and he was like, "Where is this coming from?" Ironically, I hadn't read my Bible Sunday morning. Scott and I had this "discussion" Sunday night. Monday morning I woke up and didn't read my Bible. Again. Still being defiant, I suppose. I do my best deep thinkin' on my commute to work and realized that for some reason I associate surrender with weakness. This is a lie. Tuesday, I open up the study I'd skipped for 2 days and guess what?? Sunday's lesson was on SURRENDERING!!! Ha! If only I'd read it on the intended day. This fits the definition of irony, right?

I think a lot of this dissatisfaction is coming from fear too. This year marks the 10 year anniversary of Scott's quadruple bypass. I vividly remember sitting with him in Dr. Taylor's office and the doctor saying there was a 50% chance Scott would live ten years before needing another heart surgery. At the time, Scott said he refused to go through it again. Now that we're closer to that possibility, it is not unthinkable, but at those grim words we kind of came up with this TEN YEAR PLAN of our hopes and dreams. Well, it's crunch time and there are goals undone, unaccomplished. And I think that's where all this silliness is stemming from. How does that saying go... "Man can make his plans, but The Lord..." I never paid attention to the last part! I just kept making my plans.

So, in my study today the author asked the reader to ask ourselves what God is trying to teach us while we're waiting. I've never bothered to ask. I wasn't teachable. So, now I'm clinging to this verse in Romans because its a life-changer; it's life-giving. If I will just "Be JOYFUL in HOPE,
Patient in Affliction, Faithful in PRAYER" then God's plan for our life can happen and guess what?! It's a BETTER plan, exceedingly better than mine.

Are there any other control freaks out there? What is God trying to teach YOU about HIS Plan?
Any recovered planners that could offer us wisdom on our surrender-quest? Will you pray for me as I try?

40 Days

Surely. Surely. If Jesus can go 40 days without FOOD, I can survive 40 days without FACEBOOK.

Comparison is Lethal, Celebrate Instead

I will never forget the late night when I was dozing off in bed and Scott said these dreadful words, “What’s the worst thing I could tell you right now?” A surge of adrenaline had me sitting straight up, wide-awake responding, “You’re having an affair?” He chuckled, “NO! I got laid off today.” Biggest sigh of relief ever, because in my mind, losing his job I could deal with, an affair…devastating. So, I don’t think that was his ploy in sharing the bad news, but it worked because after I let my mind go there, I could totally deal with the idea of job loss. At that point, we decided as a couple that he would pursue his dream of writing. He’d already been writing in the evenings. He’d also had a quadruple by-pass a few years before, which significantly changed our perspective on the future. I had the bright idea that he should pursue his dream while I would be the breadwinner. My family (even today) think that's bizarre and some of them even say so. But I live with him and know how hard he works to write stories, homeschool our daughter and remodel The Barn. I believe in our church’s motto that “We give up something we love, for something we love even more.” So, while I support Scott’s pursuit of his dream, sometimes I question why he has yet to publish a book. I even question God, out loud, “God, if You are all-powerful, surely You can make this happen?” I am pretty sure this is me mocking God. As Francis Chan says, "Christians have amnesia." I forget His timing is perfect and does not conform to my plans. Ha!

This past month does mark exciting times in the lives of two of our family’s friends. A year ago I might, no, not might, but would have whined to the Lord, “Why can’t Scott sell a book? He works so hard. I work so hard. Why, God?” But I called that what it was, sin. And after one of those painful growing periods, I moved past the sin. Now, I’m celebrating their success because (1) they’ve worked hard too and we aren’t the only ones with BIG dreams; (2) their message of Truth is powerful and impactful; and (3) their success makes me believe it is still possible for us. Shouldn’t success come in threes?

Over a decade ago, we used to “act” in our church’s hellhouse each October. Brent McCorkle, was the quintessential Jesus actor.  “He looks just like Jesus!” the scared-to-salvation viewers would exclaim after seeing him resurrected at the end. He really was perfect for the part. He went on to pursue his lifelong dream—a film career, which we followed and rooted for. His directorial debut, Unconditional, hit theaters and hearts this past September. Personally, it helped propel me out of the funk I was in at school. I’d been having a rough start to this academic year and was cranky blah, blah, blah. This film reminded me why I do what I do as a public educator. I change the lives of kids and that’s pretty significant.

Our close friend Kyle Sherman is also enjoying an exciting milestone with the release of his album Hear Me on iTunes and in stores. I love this quote from his website: “Kyle’s life demonstrates what can happen when our timing is set aside for God’s timing.” Kyle and his sweet family have been pursuing this dream for the past decade, this did not occur overnight.

The point of this post is two-fold, first to shamelessly promote our buddies’ endeavors, but also to share my “recovery” from jealousy. Conviction first came from Beth Moore’s Bible study James. In week one, day four she discusses how comparison is lethal! It slapped me upside the head because I was doing this, comparing others’ success to our own, and I was toxic. Moore says:

“We talk as those who believe God is omnipotent and omnipresent, but we often act as if he can only work through one person, one method, or one kind of ministry at a time. If we don’t refuse ourselves the indulgence [of comparison], we can lapse into the mentality of a spoiled child who thinks that, if God shows [my friends] favor, He must hate me.”

Yep, I was that spoiled child stuck in a trap. Moore had us personalize Galatians 2:8, “God who is at work in the ministry of _____ as a servant to _______, is also at work in my ministry as a servant to ________.” God is BIG enough to do both!! I’m so thankful the Lord used her study to help me along the way so that I can now stand here in a place of celebration instead of comparison.

So, Scott, Brent and Kyle as you continue to pursue your dreams, as one who writes, as one who directs, as one who sings—remember I Peter 4 verses 10 and 11 (NASB): “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Pep Talk to My SELF!

This school year I have resolved to maintain a positive attitude and not gossip. We're two days in and all I want to do is stick a fork in my right eyeball!! #fail. Is it Friday yet?

I have lunch duty this year. Part of my time is spent with kinder, and the other half makes me really appreciate the independence of fourth graders. This is not the FUN part of my day, but I found a tender, silver-lining moment today. A little five-year-old boy asked me if it would be okay if he said a prayer to himself before he ate. Melt-my-heart precious.

A long time ago, Scott and I decided we were going to have a "So what!" attitude. Not the one where we don't care about anything. The kind of attitude where we give people the benefit of the doubt. Where we don't automatically assume that the other person purposely set out to get on our last nerve. Well, "So what?" is a phrase we constantly spout off to remind each other that: the only person hurting is our self when we harbour negativity. Well, lately I've been struggling to let some injustices go and I feel like letting out an all caps kinda scream...SO WHAT! It's hard to be positive, but it is better.

I cannot get all caught up in comparing and jealousy. It steals my JOY. It does not add years to my life. I have to let. it. go. Get caught up in the things that WILL matter in a 100 years and release the things that will not matter by week's end. I have to revel in those tender moments. I need to laugh more. Dr. Adolph Brown says, "If you aren't having FUN, you're not doing it RIGHT." I want to get it RIGHT this year.

Another area I #fail is self-loathing. Seriously, I have an impressionable tween daughter that is learning to love her self and I have to be a good example. She hears me. And then she repeats me. There is NOTHING more convicting than hearing your daughter talk badly about herself and then have the epiphany that she sounds JUST LIKE HER MOMMA! Forget the fork in the eye, try knife through heart.

Ok, so let me add LOVE SELF (or at least reduce self-loathing) to the short list of things to do. Especially since I just looked at pictures from my daughter's birthday party and thought I looked so hideous that I threw up a little. I am pretty sure I've nearly gained the 20 pounds my mom lost over the past two years.But that's a whole 'nother blog post.

Think of these as New {School} Year Resolutions:

+Maintain a positive, "so what?" attitude.
+Don't gossip. Build up others.
+Reduce self-loathing.

Any friendly advice for pulling this list off? Anyone else setting goals or making resolutions?

*All graphics have a tag to denote the website where they were discovered.

My Personal Relationship With Christ

Describe your personal relationship with Christ.

 

Recently, I was asked to describe my personal relationship with Christ. How do I put into words the intimate relationship I have with my Lord (who also happens to be the Creator of the Universe) in short form answer, especially to someone I have never met? It’s like describing how I breathe. Actually, that might be an easier task!

This question makes my mind hurt. I know I Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Since I knew the Bible told me to be ready to respond, I figured my response was also in the Word. 

As I was searching for the aforementioned Scripture, I came across a verse that embodies how I aspire to live: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,” Galatians 2:20. I realized this sacrifice at age 21, but over the past fifteen years, He’s been whittling away and there has become less of me and more of Him. 

I have adapted a quote from my pastor @CraigGroeschel that I jotted down in an old notebook to (partly describe) who He is to me: 

          When I am overwhelmed, He’s my Peace.

          When I am hurting, He’s my Comforter.

          When I feel lost, He is The Way.

          When I am lonely, He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

A Room of Her Own

For Christmas this year, our goal was to give Olivia her own bedroom. She's been sleeping in the living room (if you can even call it that:) since we moved into the barn in February.
We did not succeed, but she is gracious and understanding and a great actress. She's the BEST! Next payday, we'll purchase the flooring at REstore, Habitat for Humanity's resale store. She loves having her own space and it already looks lived in, aka messier than I'd like.

Our Family Newsletter--as a blogpost

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

My Liv before her Christmas piano recital.

Ethan at a play area I took him to this year. He thinks I'm pretty fun!

My 18 year old son, Andrew! He's so good-looking.

My beast, Cali before she broke her 1st ornament.

Scott, aka Honeybear, during our Dallas staycation.

I am so blessed to be her momma!

Hunt Fam
Special events in our family’s life:

• Andrew made it to 18!
• Scott finished his latest novel. Pray for publishing in 2012.
• Olivia knows all of her states and capitols, to a song, of course.

Home Sweet Home

This year we moved from our comfortable apartment onto my mother-in-law’s land into “The Barn.” We started with no electricity or plumbing. Weird, we know. It’s been an ongoing adventure and challenge. When I first brought my grandson Ethan over to see where we lived, he paused in front of it and asked, “You live in the shed?” My niece called it glamping= glamorized camping. It’s been amazing to watch Scott transform it into our home. Olivia’s Christmas wish was for her own bedroom so she could have “some sense of normalcy.” It should be complete by Christmas morning.  Maybe in a year you can come over for a visit?

Updates

Olivia is now a fifth grader. Scott continues to homeschool her and she’s thriving this year. She is an avid reader and writer too. She’s in her second year of choir and piano. She’s asked everyone to give her $ for Christmas because she’s saving up for a saddle.

Andrew spent some of the year living with Trey in Round Rock, but then moved back to Southeast TX. He has a driver’s license and is working hard at a refinery. I’m proud of his accomplishments, but still pray for him. 
 
Our grandson, Ethan started kinder this year and is learning sooo much. I got to visit him at school for a lunch with grandparents. We love being his GiGi and Pops and hope to have more grandchildren someday.

I am still teaching technology to little ones in Mansfield as well as volunteering at Lifechurch. Tv and Traffick911.

Life is very busy, but we are blessed!

Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.