Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11.15 (ESV)
Welcome to Friday
Good morning! Well, at least I hope it is still morning by the time I finish writing to you. How are you doing? How are things going with you and your family this week? What have you been up to and how are things in your neck of the woods? I am writing with the hope that you are doing well and that you have had an absolutely fantastic week with lots of joy, lots of gladness, lots of success, and most of all lots of love.
Welcome to Friday! I am doing well. I have had a very good week, all things considered. It was a little rocky over the weekend with a few missteps in a driving lesson, a bit intense due to a few missteps with being over committed, but all in all a great week. It was all in all a great week featuring fun, dancing, food, fellowship, basketball, daughter dates, driving issues, work, family, speaking at church, and the prayers of faithful friends.
Our weekend started with a Princess Ball with Paige and Ava at their school. We all got dressed up and headed out to walk the red carpet. Ava and Paige looked really nice in their dresses. The ball started at 6:30. Ava was so excited to go that she actually tried to get dressed at 4pm. Once we did get there it was really nice. The school laid out a red carpet from the steps into the lobby and then from the lobby to the photo boot area. Ava and Paige seemed to enjoy it all, and Ava especially enjoyed Paige's friends. Yep, everywhere they went it was Ava and Paige and Paige's crew. Ava got separated once of twice, but in those instances she didn't mind because she had two cupcakes or two brownies to keep her company. We had two dances together, but missed the third dance time because I was grabbing balloons for Ava and Paige and they wanted a red one. Each time I got one of them a red balloon, the other one let one of their balloons fly back to the ceiling. It was nearly an endless loop. After the ball we turned ourselves into pumpkins with some late night snacks.
Saturday found us adding breakfast at IHOP. We were all up early and made it downtown to join Momma, who had invited us out to breakfast. I had a good time chatting with Momma and my two sisters, eating pancakes and laughing with the crew of kids (mine and theirs). It was also a great time to just take a break and relax. The only downside of the breakfast time was the fact that Emma ate my sausage and then left. When she saw that I had sausage she came over and sat down beside me. Once it was all gone, she was no longer sitting beside me. She later returned to eat Ava's pancakes. The funniest thing is, Emma never actually touched much of her own food. I guess she thought everyone else had food that looked better. That is my child. I always think Trish's food looks better than mine. At least now I just order the same thing she does. Maybe Emma will do the same soon.
After breakfast we had some funny driving moments. I needed to go to the bank, and I got caught between missing my turn and not wanting to drive an extra block down the street. So I thought, since the bank and drive through are closed I would just cut through the exit lanes for the tellers. Surely, since it was closed it wouldn't be a big deal. Not! When we got through the exit lanes I realized that there were people staring at us through the window, and the green lights were on. The bank was actually open. Cassarra and Gabbi laughed. I told them it was not one of my best moments.
We spent the rest of the morning serving at Manna Station down at the church and watching the marathon runners conquer the steep hill leading up to our church. We had a smaller crowd than expected Saturday, but things worked out well, especially since we didn't have a lot of help to serve. And we ended our Saturday with the four oldest enjoying high school basketball championship games, fellowship and food. I enjoyed the games, even if some of the teams I expected to win didn't actually win. In fact, the one team I really thought would win got beaten down in the 2nd half, another team nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and then the last game I watched for the night turned out to be a thriller. Gabbi & Cassarra enjoyed the games and their friends. I enjoyed it all and the food. As did Paige and Sydney. The trail to my back pocket was well worn by the time we left.
On Sunday I had joy serving in worship and having my coworker and Bible study partner visit with his family. After church I took Emma on her daddy/daughter date. She was excited and then Ava got excited and invited herself to tag along. We went to a McDonald's and had ice cream and quite a time laughing, talking and playing with happy meal toys.
Afterwards I took Gabbi for a driving lesson. Let's just say that I really could use a do-over on that one. She didn't have the best teacher on Sunday and things should have been better. I had more than one forgettable moment, and Gabbi has probably lost most of her desire to go on lessons with me. That one was a misstep on my part. The next lesson will go a lot better. I made a deal with Gabbi on the lessons, every bad lesson earns a penalty payment. She seems confident that this will be easy money for her. I'm hoping it won't be, the reward is pretty high.
I guess I was batting a bit over .500 two unforgettable experiences and two that I wish I could redo. It was a busy weekend, and I think the busyness was too much at times.
Of course a great week got started on Monday. It was kicked off with Sydney and her student led conference. Sydney had prepared a script on her school performance and proceeded with leading us through her work. She showed us her grades, reflections, and goals. She even talked about her best success and a failure. In true Sydney fashion the failure was more like a 'B' instead of an 'A'. It was a well led conference, by a great conference presenter.
We blazed through the rest of the week, enjoying dinner moments and a late night teen trips on Tuesday. We hit Walmart and Sonic as I tried to catch up and enjoy the time. I did try to sprinkle in some father's wisdom moments and open up for growing teen's questions.
I surprised Sydney and Paige on Wednesday with a breakfast out. They surprised me by being dressed and ready for school by 5:30, and by having their little sisters dressed and ready too. Ava and Emma were too funny at breakfast. Especially Emma. After we said grace, Emma scoots up to her food and says, "Okay, let's get it." On top of that we all made it to school on time.
Thursday we managed to all have a blast taking photos for the church. Ava and Emma stole the show. And that was hard to do given all the beauty and talent in the room. They had adorable photos, cheesy moments, lots of excitement and energy. The funnest moment was when the pose of the two (Emma and Ava) with their arms around each other, led to a squeezing, pulling and bear hugging match. Trish and I watched in slow motion as the two slipped off their stools, arms still locked, falling towards the floor. No one was hurt,thankfully. Throughout, Emma acted like she was just a natural model. And Ava was not to be out done. Ava got her photos done in one sitting, one shot - perfect, done! The photos of Trish and the girls are all simply amazing.
Today is looking full of promise and I know that God is in the midst of it all. I hope you are doing well. I hope you had a great week and that your weekend will be strong and filled with great things. Have a fabulous Friday and wonderful weekend.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
I am thankful for:- Trish
- laughter and smile picking me up
- prayers on Monday for Monday
- prayers for work
- help over the weekend with the little ones
- help listening to the devotional process
- picking up Ava and Emma from Manna Station
- listening and then encouraging me to let it go
- Manna Station
- meeting Mr. Bernard
- talking with friends
- catching up with Mr. Eric Williams
- Date night and time with Ava and Emma
- Family
- Friends
- Bible study with Yuhui
- He prayed for our family
- It was an amazing and heartfelt prayer
- We are studying the Loving Father, also know as the Prodigal Son
- Retries, redos and forgiveness
- Good brakes and good tires
- Basketball
- playing well
- playing with wisdom and self control
- The opportunity to serve in worship
- Work
- Laughter and lots of it
- Children
- Fun
- A new day and the upcoming weekend
- Phone calls and reminders from friends
- Being given moments to do something great
- More laughter
- Birthdays
- celebrating with others
- Emma's and Sydney's upcoming birthdays
- planning and thinking about what to do for Gabbi's and my own
- Coffee
- Free coffee this coming weekend
- Good coffee last weekend
- Writing
May God, our strength and portion and hope, bless us to experience and fully enjoy this great day.
This will be a fine, fun, fabulous, festive, fantastic, and favor filled Friday!
Welcome to Friday!
P.S. Cassarra got a second job. Ask her about it when you get a chance. She is exited, even if she doesn't realize she will have to start paying taxes, paying for gas, and managing it with her first job, school! Love ya
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