School has begun

School has begun and Tori is now in 3rd grade. Where has the time gone!! She loves school this year. She is excited to start basketball this year as well. I am excited to see how her school year goes. The top picture is the day that school pictures were taken, this past Thursday.

This Sunday is Grandparents Day. Since all of my Grandparents are in Heaven now, this is a little sad for me. I would always try to send my Grandparents a card every year, especially on Mother's Day and Father's Day. I had some of the greatest Grandparents in the world. My mom's parents, Tony an Inez Redell, were great Christian people who loved God and loved their family. I used to love as a child my mamaw would always have little snacks and treats for my brother and I no matter where we saw her at! And my Papaw was the kindest, most gentle man. I was 12 when he passed away but still have great memories of him. Then my Dad's parents, Roy and Catherine Gabbard, were two of the most special people I have ever met. I remember Grandpa telling me stories of how God had moved for him through his life and my faith would be so increased that I felt that I could move a mountain when I left his house! Then my Grandma was the sweetest, kindest woman. I remember as a child staying a weekend with her and getting really sick and she took such good care of me and would always call me Honey. These are all memories that I will treasure. Now I can enjoy watching my parents and Matt's parents be the Grandparents to my kids. I must say they are doing such a great job and I really appreciate all of the advice and help along the way with my kids. Happy Grandparents Day to all the Grandparents out there!

Summer

Wow! This summer has flown by! I can't believe it is almost over! I stopped working in June to stay at home with my wonderful kids. I have enjoyed every moment of it. Especially this summer. Just being able to take them to swimming and our weekly trips to the local library. They have a summer reading program with activities once a week. Preston and Tori both enjoyed the day that Ronald McDonald visited the library to talk to the kids about books and reading. Preston sat and listened the whole time, which is great for a 2 year old. We took the kids to Coney Island last week to swim and ride the rides. They had a great time!! I also enjoyed spending some time with my parents this summer. I was able to go to two tent revivals they had. One in Clinton, Illinois in June and the other near Hamilton, Ohio in July. I was also honored to sing again with The Gabbards at the Homecoming in August. It has been an amazing summer!!

We are so proud of Tori!!! The Adams County Children's Services has a Banquet every year to honor students who have gone above and beyond for a "Kids Who Care" award. Tori was nominated by her 2nd grade teacher for this award. There were around nine students from her school who won this award. Tori's teacher explained that she is caring and loving to all other students and would do without to make sure someone wasn't left out. That she is a great student and does things throughout her community to help pthers. We are so proud of you Tori!! Matt and I took Tori to this breakfast banquet and she received her award while they read the letter from her teacher explaining why she was nominating her. It was so nice to see that Tori takes to heart the things that she learns.

A few months ago Tori had her 8th birthday and she received some money for her birthday. We have always tried to teach her that whatever money she earns or receives that she should give 10% to God and save 10% as well and then spend the rest as she wishes. Tori came to me after her birthday and said I think I want to give all my birthday money to God! I couldn't believe it. We had never told her to do that. After she saved her 10%, she gave the rest of the money to Children's Church in the offering!! I think she ended up giving around $54.00. To us that may not be a lot of money but to Tori it was all she had. I am so thnkful that she is already learning the benefits to giving to God! I know that she will truly be blessed for doing this! Tori is a special girl and I thank God everyday for her!

Happy Easter!! We had an amazing Easter Sunday. The kids had so much fun hunting Easter eggs and dressing up for Easter. I am having a few challenges however with a almost 2 year old. Easter was a challenging day for me, but none the less wonderful!! Above was the best picture of all of us together that was taken. Not so great, but even our little yorkie made the picture!! (His name is Charlie)

Tori had a friend spend the night and went to church with us. Her name is Kylie. Tori and Kylie had a great time together!!

Cutest picture!! Matt, Preston and the Easter bunny! I don't know if I love Preston's smile or Matt smiling and looking at him the best!! I do love my boys:)

Mommy and Preston. Don't really love this picture, but I know in the years to come I will cherish it. Our church keeps growing and we sit back and are so amazed at what God is doing in this small town in Ohio. We had around 450 people in attendance Sunday morning!! We were almost filled to compacity! The alter was filled with people needing a fresh touch from God. I am still amazed at how wonderful God is. I know that what's happening here has nothing to do with us...it's all God. Thank you Lord for all your blessing this Easter Season. Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and for raising again! Thank for church and family. We are so blessed!!

My Grandma, Catherine Gabbard

On Tuesday February 9, 2010 I got a phone called that my Grandma, Catherine Gabbard, had passed away. I was very shocked. She had not really been sick, it was just time for God to call her home. I am going to miss her very much. On Friday February 12, 2010 we had a service to celebrate her life! And was it ever a celebration. Several of her children sang and spoke about her and how much she meant to them. She was one of the kindest, sweetest, happiest women I have ever met. I have never, not once ever heard her say a mean thing about anyone. She was always very encouraging and uplifting. I have learned many lessons from her about how to be a great mother and child of God. I wanted to share jus a few memories of her.

I remember staying at her house several times as a child. One particular time I stayed with them and I slept in Cathy's room. In the middle of the night I got very sick and the next morning she asked me, "Honey, are you alright. I heard you getting sick in the middle of the night." I wodered how in the world she had known that I was sick, but that's the kind of mother and grandmother she was. She always paid attention and loved each and every one of us. It always made me feel good when she would tell me how much she loved me and how she was proud of me for all the things I was doing for God. She just made everyone feel special.

About 5 years ago I had a gal stone and it was the most painful thing I had ever exprienced. Even after it was gone I was in so much pain and no matter what I ate it would still hurt. I went to Grandma's and she laid hands on me and prayed for me and when she touched me the power of God went through her and I felt God's power like I have never in my life felt before! What she had from God was real and I knew it!! The pain immediately left me!!

Grandma has told me this two or three times over the years since Grandpa passed in 1998. She told me that our life in like we are on stage. When the curtain goes up it is our time to shine for Jesus. So we must do all we can to further his kingdom. And when the curtain closes our time on earth is done. Reminds me of the scripture, Work while it is day for the night cometh when no man can work. Grandma and Grandpa certainly let their light shine for Jesus. I so loved spending time with them and especially talking to them about the Lord. They had such great faith and they made me feel as if I could do anything for Christ. After talking to them I could move the mountain with my faith!!

There are so many other memories of Grandma. Almost to many to share. But I am so thnakful to be the granddaughter of Roy and Catherine Gabbard. Their legacy lives on through their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Literally thousands of people are touched for Christ every week from their offspring!! From Kentucky, to Ohio, to Texas, to Missouri, to Florida there heritage lives on!! Thank you Lord for giving me such a rich pentecostal heritage. And thank you for Roy and Catherine Gabbard, who they were and what they stood for. I am who I am today because of them!

Christmas Play

Here are some pics from our church Christmas play called "A Jiminy Christmas". In the play Jiminy Cricket tries to find out the true meaning of Christmas. He asks all of his Disney friends who each have their own idea of what Christmas is really about. The "Cars" tell him that it is about the hustle and bustle, the "princesses" tell him that it is about parties (Tori was Cinderella), Peter Pan tells him that Christmas is about "Big Gifts", and Toys (from Toy Story) tell him that it is about friends, and Snow White and the seven dwarfs (Preston was a dwarf) tell him that Christmas is about Family. Then at the end an Angel comes and tells Jiminy that the true meaning of Christmas is about Jesus. Our children's pastors wrote this play and it turned out very cute. They did a great job!! Merry Christmas to everyone!!

Merry Christmas!!

These are pictures from our church Christmas Dinner. We had a Christmas karoake night. Here the kids are singing. In the second photo are my kids and my neice Alexis and my nephew Zane. The kids had a great time and also enjoyed a Christmas puppet show. I absolutley love Christmas and this year seems even more fun with two little ones. Preston just turned 18 months old and he is so excited about the lights and the Christmas trees!! It is so much fun for him. Our church Christmas program is this Sunday Night. It's a children's play about Christmas through the eyes of the Disney Characters. It is going to be really cute. Tori is Cinderella and Preston is one of the Seven Dwarfs!! Can't wait to see it!! Merry Christmas to all this year!!