Some Pictures

Here is a picture of Tori's first day of 1st grade. This was taken about 3 weeks ago. She loves 1st grade . Her teacher says he likes to use Tori as an example to class of good behavior, although he also added that she can talk a little to much. I have no idea where she gets that from!!!

This is when Tori lost her two front teeth. This was taken early in the morning and she looks half asleep.

This is Hannah Montana-I mean Tori. She wants to be Hannah Montana though. And always posing for every picture.

Here is a picture I caught of Preston when we went to a local fair 2 weekends ago. We were walking around and he was so content, just looking at everything.

Here he is last week trying to reach for something, although he looks like he is reay to fight!

Preston loves his aerosaucer. I thought he was to young for this toy, because he is only 3 1/2 months, but he loves it. He laughs out loud while playing in it. My batteries died in my camera, so I missed him smiling. He is growing so fast!

This last picture is from July. Tori went Bowling with the Daycare (we have a daycare at our church) as a summer activity. She had a great time.

More Gabbards Coming to Texas!

The "Gabbards" singing group is going to Texas. They are leaving on Monday and I am so jealous that I can't go. I really miss singing with the group. It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it! They however sound better than ever and I am so proud of them. Here is a list of who I know is going so far: Cathy, Adrain, my dad (Gary), Rob (not Robbie, anymore- I can never remember that), Charlotte, Galen, Nathan, baby Andrea and Zach and Taylor I am not sure about. Anyway that is a bus load! I know they are having revival at Glenn's church and they were going to sing in Port Arthur, but I haven't heard about that since the hurricane. I am having dinner with my parents tomorrow night and I will find out the scoop then. So, I hope Diane and Glenn are ready for the Gabbard invasion! haha! And I hope Diane is ready to cook, because all Gabbards like to eat! Diane- you are a great cook, another reason I wish I was coming. But maybe I will be able to come next time. Tell them all I said hello, when they get there!!!

Hurricane Ike!

Can't believe that a hurricane would ever affect Ohio! But yesterday afternoon we had high winds knocking power out. Our power at our house was only out a few hours, but most of Cincinnati will be out for around 4 days- last I heard. The power went out at the church around 5:00 P.M. Our band practices at 4:30 every Sunday night, so right in the middle of our practice the power went out. We decided to have church anyway- so we went to our old sanctuary (which is now our children's area) opened the doors, used some candles, some flashlights, and light from windows and had church anyway. We sang about four songs with Jason playing acoustic guitar and Matt preached and we baptized about 6 people in the dark! Pretty awesome. Really makes you thank God for electricity! The best part was that 1 person got saved! Just think, if we would have said- Oh, well, the electricity is out we don't need to have church- let's just cancel, then that 1 soul might not be saved right now! And the other 125 people that were there would have missed out on an experience from God!



Anyway, Matt and I were talking last night about how unusual it is that a hurricane would affect us this way, all the way here in Ohio. It was actually a little scarey because we have never had to deal with power outages this long. Then fearing that their could be a gas shortage and wondering what we would do when we weren't prepared. (I know those of you from Texas are probably thinking- boo hoo- you haven't seen anything compared to what happens here! but we are not used to this.) So, we headed to Maysville, KY (which is about 30 mile from us) to fuel up and get some groceries. I was even planning on going to my parents because they had electricity. So anyway, my point to all this rambling is that we realized this is just a sign of the times. The rapture really is going to take place and it could be sooner than we think! This doesn't scare me, but it does make me think of the scripture- Work while it is day-for the night cometh when no man can work! Whatever we want to do for God we have to do it now! There are millions of souls out there need to be saved and we what to do whatever we can to reach them. So no more going through the motions- attending church every Sunday just because I know its the right thing to do- No! I am going to work harder than ever before- get involved more than I ever have before- pray and seek God like I never have before! Why- because I want to see people saved- call me crazy, but if I have to sacrifice a dirty house every once in a while, to go door to door and invite kids to come to church with our bus ministry, or if I have to eat out less so I can give more in the offering to help pay for fuel in the bus so those kids whose parents are on drugs and don't care about them can come to church on Sunday and find out who God really is - then it will be worth it! God gave me his all and I want to give him my all as well! I am excited to see what God can do through us when we take of all limitations and serve him with our whole heart! He is wonderful!! With God on our side we can make it through any storm!!

Happy 3 Month Birthday to Preston!

Today Preston is 3 months old! Happy Birthday Preston! He is already getting too big. He weighs 17 pounds! If he keeps this up I won't be able to carry him much longer!! I forgot my camera today so here is pictures from Chuck E Cheese the other week. Tori had so much fun! We are planning to go to a local festival this weekend, but so far it has been raining all day. We will probably wait to go until tomorrow since Preston has been sick. (He is feeling much better today. Last night he slept better, until 6:30 this morning. )

Praying for Lori and Aaron and their boys. They had to evacuate toady because of hurricane Ike. Hope you all are safe. Keep us posted as to how things are going. I just can't stop watching the news about this storm. I am praying for everyone's safety!

Hello!

I have not been a very good blogger lately. So, here is what's going on in my world. Last Tuesday, Tori started 1st grade. She loves it! She loves riding the bus and loves her teacher. I am so proud of her!

Sunday she lost both of her front teeth. Eating lunch at McDonald's, she lost the first one. She had went home with a friend from church for the afternoon and called to tell us she lost her tooth. They have both been very loose for a couple of weeks now. Then at church Sunday night she was running to show her daddy where she lost her 1st tooth and as she was running another guy's hand accidentally hit her in the mouth and out popped the other tooth! So, she lost two in one day! I will post the pic soon! She was so excited and it is so cute! She is having trouble talking and eating, but I know the new teeth will grow back soon!!

Also, Preston went back to the doctor yesterday to make sure his ear infection was cleared up(he had a ear infection in both ears 2 weeks ago) and he still has an infection in the left ear. So, we are starting on the second round of antibiotics. So anyway I will post some more pictures soon!