Katie the Cutie

Well Katie has benefitted from the move as we've rediscovered toys we forgot we have...

Hanging out in the "exersaucer" and then "tuckered out". I had to find somewhere to put here where she wouldn't get stepped on!

Moving Day

Wow! What a day. We have our first home! God is so good and I have to wonder "Why me?" I am not worthy of His blessing on our lives. As I left Grady I am so thankful for our friends there...then we arrive in San Angelo to another great group of friends God has blessed us with. Again we just stood back and went "Wow" as we see the friends God has blessed our lives with.

With lots of muscle power, sweat and cleaning and lining of shelves...we got stuff in. And boy do we have lots of stuff. I see a MAJOR garage sale in the near future. It is so good to have our stuff here and Kimmy!! We have Kimmy here and I think she likes it pretty well. She spent the day running the fence with all the neighboring dogs.

Back in Grady

We got to make a fast and furious trip home to Grady on Thursday. We left Wednesday after church and drove late into the night but it felt SOOOO great to climb into our own beds. Then we got to spend the day with so many of our friends--it was so good to see everyone, to be loved on, encouraged, served and just see how God is moving in the church. It was also the first time I'd had some down time as I drove and got quiet time to think. It was weird as I remember it took a while for our house there to feel like home, but when I drove into Grady and opened the door...it was home. I know our new home will soon feel like home as well. But it was a great time to reflect on the MANY ways God worked in our lives and blessed us over the last 7 years. We have so much to be thankful for and we look with anticipation to how God will use us where He has placed us now.

I want to thank everyone who did so much to serve us. Friends provided food, goody bags for me and the kids (which by the way Denise--I'm already putting the fix it book to use haha), much needed girl time and girl talk, hugs, smiles, lots of muscle power as they moved things, vacuumed, then you spent the entire day watching and loving on my kids, opening their homes for us to spend the night!!! We are so blessed and I want you to know we appreciate it and love you!! It was so good to see everyone!!!

Waiting Expectantly

Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 NLT

Don't you love how God uses our children to teach us His ways! As I read this I thought "How often do I wait expectantly for God's answer to my requests and petitions?" More often than not I make my requests and then move on hurriedly to the next project on my list.
Yesterday my kids had money they had received from Nana for a prize. I told them we would go to Target and they could use their money. As they followed my every footstep and asked "now mom now?" I learned they were "waiting expectantly" to receive what they had asked for and what a great reminder for me to do the same when I seek the Lord and lay my requests before Him!

Almost forgot!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I have created a blog for Hillcrest. You can listen to the messages and see what is going on at church.

http://hillcrestbaptistch.blogspot.com

God bless.....

From the Preacher

Hey everyone. Sorry I have not blogged in a while. I was the one who started this whole thing and then I just fall off the face of the earth! The last 23 days have been very busy, but very good. God has led us every step of the way and we are so excited about what He is doing in our lives and in the lives of so many people that we are meeting. I have spent the last few weeks meeting people. That is what ministry is all about. Oh sure, there are programs, but the programs exist to facilitate introducing people to the Lord Jesus Christ and to one another. I have also spent a lot of time in prayer. I am seeking God for direction for my life, my family, our church and several good friends that are really hurting right now.

I wish you would pray for a friend. His name is John. He came forward Sunday morning and prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. John has cancer and he has been battling it for nine years. He told me today that he has battled this long on his own, but now he is ready to have Jesus Christ help him fight the battle. John is 69 years old and is heading to Dallas for several months of radiation and chemotherapy. Here is a man that is in a fight for his physical life, but now has the ONLY hope of eternal life - Jesus Christ. Isn't God good? Now John is ready for whatever lies in store down the road. Pray that God will heal him. Pray that God will grow him in his new faith. Pray that God will use him to witness as he goes.

I hope you know how much we love all of you and we want to keep in touch, so let us know what God is doing in your lives.

Only one life, 'twill soon be past.
Only what's done in Christ will last!

-Rody

Kings and Queens

In school Kyra and David have been learning about authority and obedience. And how God is our ultimate authority and we are to obey Him willingly and submissively. We began looking at kings and queens and their authority. Part of our lesson was to make "Queen Cakes" and have a tea party. So on Thursday night the neighbors (Jasmine and Michael) came over and helped us. Well the boys were much more interested in cooking than the girls. And to make the event much more well "eventful" I do not have any measuring spoons/cups. Well after cooking them (and having to divide them once they were in the oven b/c again I did not have a cake pan and was cooking them in cookie sheets :-) haha) we had a tea party. (It's okay to be laughing at me by now--I was).

So on Saturday we had Jasmine and Michael over for an English tea party! The cakes were TERRIBLE-- it required so much baking powder they were VERY bitter so we had chocolate cakes instead (after tasting the others of course). The boys received swords (b/c that is what kings receive at their coronation) and the girls crowns. It was a lot of fun!

Eating Ice Cream

After a long day of painting and washing clothes, dad and his kids cool off with a little chocolate ice cream. Now you know why she'll say "da da" first. :-) Isn't God good. He has blessed us in so many ways and we give Him all the praise and glory.

We Have a House!!!

Good Monday morning to you!! I hope you all had a wonderful day of worship with the Lord yesterday. God is so good! We got to see Him work as three people came forward yesterday to give their lives to Christ. Here is what we did this weekend. We went to the new house and worked on David's room. We're going to do a western theme so we painted the yellow and blue walls and I'm doing a technique on it in brown. It'll be really cute--oh it's a boy's room--it will be really macho! :-)

Prizes from Home

What an exciting day as the kids received packages from their friends in Grady. You know all of us like to know we are being thought of and remembered. As children of the King we can know we are on His mind, that He is thinking of us, and He remembers us. I love how in the old testament time and time again how God remembered His promises. He is so faithful. I also thank the Lord for faithful friends that love and pray for me and my family!

Check out Katie Bug--she is sitting up! I love her crooked little smile. I think she is going to be a ham. She has a smile that takes her whole body and lights up a room.

Swinging

Katie swinging and playing with her stuffed dog.

David's a WINNER

Tonight was "Brainiac" night at Awana's so the kids and I made a trip to the local thrift store to pick out outfits. Then at Awana's the kids voted on the most "brainiac" winner by class. David won in the Cubbies and brought home a whole bag of loot. Sorry I don't have a pic of Kyra--she doesn't stand still long enough to get a pic. They also got to ride the bus with their dad tonight to pick up kids.

New Friends in San Angelo

I've made new friends in San Angelo--aren't they cute? It was "brainiac" night at Awanas. This is David's teacher and one of his classmates. As you can see from his teeth, the water here is not very good. Haha.

Two Grinners

We had two bottom teeth break through this weekend (You have to look really hard). They are so cute when she grins! She and sister posing for the camera. Ky is a great big help and she and Katie have really bonded. Katie also has a funny new little thing--when she goes to sleep or is really hanging out...she bends one leg and crosses it over the other. Oh the funny little things they do.

Cool Down

There are a lot of ways to cool down on a hot day....with a little creativity and a little brother. All things are possible. That's water out of the spicket...don't you know that is cold. But it made me think how refreshing cold water can be on a hot day and how many times in His word God reminds us that "as a deer pants for the water our soul should long for Him" and He gives water that will quench our thirst. I pray that you have that refreshing pouring of the Spirit over you today!!

New Adventures

Well the kids and I got out and 'expolored' today. They have Art Thursdays here and since I'm "craft illiterate" we went to check it out. The kids had a great time. They made lion masks as you can see from their cute pic, a collage and then David did some water color masterpieces. Kyra worked diligently on her collage that had horses, cowboys and things you'd find on a ranch...telling everyone within earshot of the adventures they have at Granny and Grandads.

I SEE YOU...

Okay Rody should have never given me access to this thing!! The boys playing with a toy given to the kids last night. "My what BIG eyes you have"!!

Wednesday Morning Check In

Good Morning!! Okay one thing I'm having to get used to is that it doesn't get light here until after 7! The Chessers are all doing well! Kyra had her 2nd time at gymnastics yesterday and is loving it. She was on the balance beam and bars yesterday. Funny--the most exciting part for all of them was the chalk. :-) Katie hit a milestone yesterday--she sat by herself for about 5 minutes. Go Katie Bug! We had our first visitation at the church last night and had probably 16 people show up to visit--it was great!! The kids and I stayed at the church and sent out cards.

Please pray for the kids, especially David. I think reality that we have moved is starting to take place and he talks a lot about Grady and misses his house "where we have the fence that Kimmy is in" and wanted yesterday to invite friends over to house where Kimmy is. Praise is that the house we've made an offer on .. we could bring Kimmy so maybe that will help. By the way, Kimmy is the dog! God is good!! Here are pics of Ms. Carrot Face Katie and D and Katie in their PJs.

Update from the Chessers

Well it is a start to another week and God's mercies are so tender and abundant. (By the way, I don't do spell check on this thing so don't judge Kyra's educational possibilities by her mother's spelling). Anyway, we had a great first week and a great weekend. I'm posting pics of Saturday morning at the park. They have several really great park here!! Saturday night we went to the Christian homeschool picnic and had a great time. It too was at a park so we were able to burn off a lot of energy on Saturday! The people in the group were great and we met several really neat families so I (Wendy) look forward to getting to know them more and learn from moms who have been doing this much longer than I have.

Prayer requests--please pray for Katie. We spent all day yesterday afternoon at a clinic b/c she is sick (well she and I both are) but she has another ear infection and cough. So please pray for her....also pray as we try to find a pediatrician here. Other prayer requests--we've found a house and made an offer so please pray that it all goes through well if this is the house God has for us. Please keep in touch with us. You can still reach me at [email protected] and Rody at [email protected]. Talk to you later!!

Brother is practicing the "Oh Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear" with Katie.

1st Day of School

Well one down .... many more to go!! Today we had our first day of school and praise the Lord it went GREAT!! I spent a lot of time in prayer in the last 24 hours for today and God is faithful. Kyra did great and David sat with us and worked for over an hour--that is great for a 3 year old. We're studying obedience/authority so here they are in their crowns that will be filled with jewels and stickers as they memorize scripture.

God is so good. It is so cool to see them remembering the things we've taught. We also read Matthew 1 for our devotional and we are reminded 1) Thankfulness for the lineage God has placed us in (thanks for our families) and 2) Obedience as demonstrated by Mary and Joseph!! Oh Lord teach us to hear and obey!

Being Silly

We hope you are having a "Labor-Free" Labor Day!! We are hanging out today as you can see from our silly pics we've been playing with stickers! Kyra is preparing for school as she takes a math pre-test. Be praying for us as we start school tomorrow. Mom needs prayers that I will be a godly example before my children and like Paul can say "live as I live". Love you all and hope you have a great day!

More Pics

Moving is hard work--Kyra takes a little break. Our little casa until we find a home. I realized...I am a horrible photographer, but here are some pics of church.

Pics of San Angelo

Hello All! We're here and settling in nicely. I've got almost everything we brought unpacked. I didn't say it was put away neatly--but it is unpacked. It is actually quiet right now as all three are napping. Okay I'll do several posts with pics--a few are of us leaving, the trip down (just scenery) and our new home/church.

Oh and

I had to put the pic of the sign--they have a Carlsbad, Texas. (I am from Carlsbad, NM).