Texas Christmas

Our Christmas turned out pretty special this year, when two very special people showed up to spend a week with us, here in Texas. My Mom and Dad, Billy and Lavonne Riley, came from KY to stay Christmas week, and the kids were thrilled! We had so much fun (if only Dad hadn't gotten the flu), and yet we also had some bad things happen as well. Matt contracted an infection in a small scratch on his right pinky finger, that got so bad while out on the rig they had to fly him back to a hospital. They flew in a surgeon to do a surgery on his hand in order to save it, and kept him hospitalized for five days. All around the world saints of God were praying for my husband (thank you everyone for your prayers!), and although the doctors told him he probably wouldn't be home for Christmas, God heard my prayers and they sent him home with three days to spare! So, Matt is doing good, and while it's still not pretty to look at, the doctor says it's doing really good. Anyway, here's some pictures of the past week....enjoy!

 My pretty baby

 Making reindeer cookies

 Of all the presents they got they still love the boxes!

 My handsome man

The kids got bikes for Christmas!

Catching Up

I know I haven't posted anything in a long time, and I'm sorry. Things have just been too hectic, and the short of it is that I was too lazy at the end of the day to bother typing about it. :) Anyway, we've moved into our new house, Matt has a new job on a huge oil rig, and school work.....well, we have some catching up to do. We also spent Thanksgiving at Bro Al Stowell's, so I'll just post some pics and if my computer will let me, I'll try posting a video of what we did at Bro Al's.
First, here's a link to show you where Matt's going to be working, on the Thunder Horse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Horse_Oil_Field

 I caught Paul feeding a cupcake to Gracie.

 MMMMMM

 Pickin' and grinnin'

 Sis Pansy coming back for more?

 Black friday surfin'

 Two sweethearts, Gracie and Sis Dorothy

 My kids and dirt and sand....need I say more?

 EEWWWW

 I think they're missin the snow, Mary's making a snow angel

Sis Nora finally sitting down!

We Have A Home In Jasper!

 The Lord always provides, and now He's provided a home for us here in Jasper, Texas. We've bought a beautiful home out here that we can move into after October the 29th, and we're all so excited! I thought I'd share a few pics of the place, since I know most of you won't be able to see it for yourself for awhile. The house has a large screened in front porch (which we've already set up our porch swing onto!), an 1.5 acre fenced in yard, hardwood floors throughout the whole house, and (the kids favorite) a swing set/fort in the backyard.

 This is the view from the back, did I mention it has a carport?

 The large tree on the left is a pecan tree! The "fort" as the kids are calling it is on the right.

 Master bedroom, I love the shutters in the windows!

 First part of the master bathroom, to the right of this is a walk in closet.

 Hallway coming from the Master bedroom, this is the laundry "nook". I'm gonna take the carpet out of the hall and put a runner in it's place eventually. 

Kitchen from the dining area. All cabinets are new.

 Sorry about the window, the sun was really bright today! This is the other corner of the kitchen.

 2nd bathroom

 Living room. I'm taking the carpet up since it's not tacked and has that wonderful wood floor underneath. The fireplace is gas, and the bookshelves are built into the wall.

 2nd bedroom. Closet is on the left.

 3rd bedroom. This one has two closets!

Homeschooling Paul

My blog is finally allowing me to post pictures, so here goes! I decided to homeschool Paul this year, and while it has it's moment's, it's been pretty fun. For Bible class I started in the beginning with the Creation and he was getting bored just reading about it, so I gave him lumps of Playdoh and told him to "make" the earth. He had a lot of fun doing that. Then for the creation of man, we took cinnamon for the dust and glue for...well, everything else I guess, mixed it together and used a cookie cutter! I thought he turned out pretty neat. As for Paul's school room, I don't have it looking really fixed up, but I figured we'd add to it through the school year.

 This is for Paul's science. He caught a little grasshopper and we've been studying it. It shed it's skin but you can't hardly see it just under the grass blade.

 Paul's Adam

More Pictures from our Trip

Paul playing with my brother, Justin's son Nicholas.

The kids watching a cartoon in Pappaw's "man cave".

 This was a man downtown Maysville, KY that was building a sand castle for an upcoming art show.

Eating a sandwich on the trip.

 And plow with the old thing all day and we had an old watering trough cut out of a--a log. Did you ever see one of them, when you cut the old log? Well, look at the country folks here, would you? My, that's fine. Well, I'll take off my--my coat and my tie now.

52-0810A  I Am The Resurrection and the Life

Jaylon Strite and my cousin Hannah Brandt. So happy for you guys!

Elizabeth Garret and Rosanna Sanger, wonderful to see faces from PA

Cousins chillin' out! 

Isabel my cuz Isaac Toy's daughter and Grace

Samuel Toy!! Celebrities really do hold babies! ;)

After the long trip, Sis Palmer still found time to make us a huge breakfast before we all headed home. 

Our Surprise Vacation!

Matt surprised me the week before by coming home and telling me that we were going to be going with Bro and Sis Palmer to Indiana! They were taking some young people from our church to the Still Waters camp, and they said they could use us (or rather our truck) to haul all the luggage. So, I packed up what we needed and we headed out Saturday, the 11th. I'm not going to post all the pictures I have from the trip right now as I'm a bit tired, but I'll put some of my favorites for now. I also want to say a special thank you to Bro and Sis Palmer, and the church of Believers Fellowship Tabernacle for giving us the opportunity to go! I was able to spend several days of the week visiting with family and friends that I haven't been able to see in years, and it was a real blessing to me (err us!).

 Melody celebrated her 4th birthday while we were at my parents' in KY. 

 I caught Dad teaching Paul how to shoot! At least it was a bb gun, but I still felt a little funny. haha Sorry, Daddy!

 This was a very special part of the trip for us. The wonderful lady in the middle is my Great Grandma Lonnia who I named our Lonnia Grace after. The other sweet faced lady is my Grandma Della Riley.

 While we were at the Still Waters camp, a brother took the kids for a ride, which I declined, only to find out later that they had ridden all around the camp! I won't decline that ride again!

This is my Great Aunt and Great Uncle, Sharon and Gene Toy of Jeffersonville, Indiana. They opened their home to us while we were passing through, and I really love them. I have to say that I enjoy talking to them and hearing their testimonies. If you ever want to hear true servants of God, just meet and talk to this couple. 

Anyway, I do have lots more pictures, but this is all I feel up to tonight. Good night!