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Kenneth's Laity Sunday Speech

Laity Sunday is a day when the entire church staff step back and the members organize and conduct the church services. Kenneth was asked to speak about why Grace Avenue is important to him and his family. He did PowerPoint slides that do not show up but he explains them in the speech. We also sang a special anthem with the choir but that's not online. It was such an amazing Sunday and I'm so glad we were a part of it.

If you'd like to hear Kenneth's speech, go to http://www.graceavenue.org/, click "Watch Online" and find the Oct. 26, 2008 sermon under "Latest Archives". He's about 8 minutes in, after the video and between the two ladies that also spoke. They all did a great job and have such interesting stories. Enjoy!

Gig 'em???

We had a blast in College Station! Friday night we went to Midnight Yell Practice...Whooooop! Then Saturday, we had lunch with a bunch of other athletic recruits and their families where we met with a few of the coaches. The Athletic Director and Coach Sherman came in and spoke to the kids. Then we got to go out on to Kyle Field and watch the boys warm up. It was fun to watch the stands fill up with maroon clad Aggies. They even gave us tickets to the game! We sat at the 25 yard line on row 5.

Yes, the Aggies lost but it was still quite an experience...especially for Michael. The schools can't really talk to him "Officially" until after February of next year but they sure seemed excited that he was there and is interested in being an Aggie. So, we'll see what happens and in the mean time, I'm sure there will be other collegiate visits. But, of course, we'd LOVE it if he gets to play for A&M. Gig 'em!!!!!

Quick Update

We're headed down to College Station tonight. Michael has been "unofficially" invited to the game and so they (some Aggie hoo haa's) are taking us to lunch and down onto Kyle Field before the game. Think they want him? We'll see. It'll be a fun weekend anyway. We're going to midnight yell practice tonight and the game tomorrow and just hang out 'til Sunday.

Then Kenneth is sitting on a panel at some conference next week so...darn...we have to go to Vegas. I'll let you know how that goes.

Big News...I got to go play with Baby Aven yesterday. He's sooooooo cute. He was so alert and he's just doing great! (Mom's better, too).

He's just precious.

That's all for now...more later...Suzanne

Oh My Goodness...An Update!

OK…Yes I know…I’m terrible at updating this blog. I don’t journal well either. So, let me catch you up.

August and September saw more projects completed with the Frisco House. The girls spent a couple of days with us and helped us build this awesome ottoman.

So the living room is finished except for pillows, pictures and accessories.

Before & After:

We even found a place for Hubert (alias Steve). This trophy represents the THREE sailfish the guys caught on our 2007 Florida Keys Adventure. They were all over 80 inches.

We finished the dining room with this really cool 4 step faux painting technique.

Before & After:

We hung this cool chandelier and antique mirror and it just looks great.

We also changed out the light in the entry to match the one in the dining room.

We still have a lot of dressing up to do but we’re knocking out the big projects. AND, so far we’ve done ALL the painting and installations ourselves! Who knew?

We are also full swing into Football Season. GO WOLVERINES!!!
Michael is #74 and playing Center this year. The coaches depend on him to lead the O Line and he does a great job. Like his Daddy, he’s a natural leader.

Kristin and Dusty have bought a house and are settling in nicely. I’ll have pix later. She’s still going to school and working at the bank and Dusty’s still with TXU.

Ryan is having fun at Starbuck’s. He’s freaking out that the Tornado will not be playing this season so he won’t have that added income but he’s done a good job saving so he won’t starve. Like Mama Cola would let her baby starve!

Kenneth and I are still running back and forth. We survived Hurricane Ike with minimal damage. Just lots of limbs down and a little water at the doors but the towels we put down soaked it up so the hardwoods are ok.

Kenneth has been asked to speak at church on Laity Sunday. He’s preparing to talk about his history with the church and what it means to our family.

I am involved in an intense bible study called “Disciple”. It’s a 34 week program and we’ll cover about 80% of the Old & New Testament. This is the first of a series and I am soooooo excited to be in a structured program. I’m learning so much about who God is calling me to be and really lovin’ it.

Have you read “The Shack”? READ IT!!!

The coolest news is WE HAVE A NEW GREAT-NEPHEW!!!!!
This is Aven Chase Ivey
He was born 10-9-8 (even his DOB is cute)
You’ll see lots more pix over the next few months, I’m sure.

So, that’s not even close to the whole story but it’s the core of our current existence. Check back again to see if I’ve gotten any better at blogging. Doubt it, but…you never know!

Love to you all and May God Bless Your Day!

Snowball fight in JULY?

Tell me again...Why do we live in Texas?




Earlier this month, we got the opportunity to share one of our favorite places with some very precious friends and family. Kenneth's brother is a minister and they brought a group of "kids" from their little Texas Hill Country town to the San Juan Mountains of the the Colorado Rockies. We are so blessed to have this place to share and my favorite part is watching the kids...young and old...flourish in the cool mountain air. I always wish they could stay longer and can't wait until next year.

We went hiking up into the mountains and saw beautiful waterfalls, wildflowers and trees.
Everything was so lush compared to the previous years. They had so much snow last winter, it is still thawing. And yes, we even had a snowball fight!

A fun time was had by all. We have precious new friends and made new memories with old friends.



Of course, I always love spending time with family but this was a relaxed, laid back, do what you want time and I really enjoyed being with K & S and the girls.


WHEN ARE WE GOING BACK?!?!?!?!

I've Never Been to Ohio

We spent last weekend in Ohio. Michael was INVITED to Ohio State's "Up and Coming Senior" football camp. Michael is just a Junior. Yes, they know that but they were very impressed with his performance at camp last year and would like to see him again. But, Ohio State typically does not recruit out of the south. True, but they feel it would be to Michael's advantage to attend this camp. So...we took him. He did well...got a coupla elbows to the face (no contact my foot) but handled himself well. A number of coaches/scouts form other colleges talked with him and he made sure they knew who he was (most already knew). So...I'm thinking full ride scholarship? I could hang in Ohio for a few years.

So, camp was just on Friday so Kenneth & I explored Columbus. We went to German Village (cute) and had yummy German food at Schmidt's, went to the fudge shop and looked around in the little shops. {Side note: they had a major crisis at the Houston data center so Kenneth was on the phone ALL DAY}. Then we went to the old School for the Deaf where they have created this topiary garden that looks like Georges Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle De La Grande Jatte.

I thought it was very clever. Oh by the way, the weather was great it was in the low 80's during the day and got down in the 50's at night. We rented a convertible. FUN! We toured the Statehouse which is the capital building. It's modestly ornate. There are some cool civil war relics and the rotunda is very nice. They had a really sad memorial of soldiers lost in Iraq. We got to go into the House and Senate Chambers. Nice but the carpet was atrocious. Then we drove around in circles trying to get to the Santa Maria, a replica of the ship Columbus sailed over here in, but with all the construction, we finally gave up. Kenneth got a call and we stopped in this parking lot and I got out to look around and found an old Presbyterian cemetery from 1797. It was on the site of the first church in the community of Franklinton which is now Columbus. It was just sitting in the back yard of some old mechanics garage. Weird. So we walked around there for a while then went to get Michael.

Meanwhile, back in Texas, Jay & Martha were heading up to Estes Park so we put Michael on a plane to Amarillo and Kenneth & I stayed 'til Sunday. We headed up to Holmes County which has the largest concentration of Amish people in the nation. Who knew? The ride out there was great! It was cool but we wanted to leave the top down so we actually turned the heater on and donned our sweaters. Hey...it's 100 degrees in Texas, I'm gonna enjoy this while I can.

We passed the Longaberger Basket Company. Yes, that is an eight or nine story office building. How cute is that? We drove through some beautiful country. Then it got really dark. Kenneth was trying to talk to Michael so he stopped the car on the side of the road. He told me to look out across the fields and he turned off the lights. I've never seen anything like it. The hills were sparkling. Lightening bugs, fire flies, glow worms, whatever you call them, they were out and it was incredible. We drove along country roads, some paved, some not, up into the hills and down into the valleys. We saw deer, racoons, possums, cats, dogs, cows, sheep, goats, horses and even the occasional buggy.

We FINALLY got to Grandma's Homestead Bed & Breakfast and got a good nights sleep. (NO PHONE CALLS at 2am). Woke to the sounds and smells of a busy country kitchen. Breakfast was great, the company fun and the scenery was spectacular. This is the view from our porch looking out across the valley. Everything was so green and peaceful. The farms were very well kept and the people, Amish and "English" (not Amish) were so happy and busy and relaxed and, well, at peace. The children laughed and played, the young adults at work seemed to enjoy what they were doing, the older folks had a sense of pride in their accomplishments and in their families. Cool Place!

We went to antique shops, quilt shops and even an Amish flea market. We ate lots of Amish food...just down home country cookin'. We toured an Amish Farmstead and saw baby animals. We just had a nice time. I wish Kenneth could have enjoyed it more but he is very good at living IN the moment. When he wasn't on the phone, he was soaking it all in. But he did say we could go back and stay longer next time. We had to leave when it started to get dark because we had a 9:30 flight the next morning and had to drive back to Columbus to spend the night. So, we said goodbye to our Amish friends and flew to Dallas, drove to Houston and here we are. Next is the Colorado trip. We leave the 3rd. I CAN'T WAIT! Maybe they'll leave Kenneth alone for a while and give him a MUCH needed break.

OK...I Suck

Yes, It's JUNE and I haven't blogged in over 2 weeks. Sorry. I know you have all been waiting patiently to hear the latest in the Kenneth & Suzanne story. I've been busy with road trips and such. Can't let my public down, you know.

So, Kenneth's neice, Leah graduated from Abilene Cooper last weekend. It was nice to visit with that part of the family again. This is Leah with her sister Beth. We are very proud of both of them. They are remarkable young ladies.

Then we went to visit Kenneth's brother's family. That is always lots of fun and relaxing. I love the Hill Country. It's so peaceful.

My S-I-L and I went to a crop at her church which was way cool and I made 4 really cute scrapbook pages and learned some new tricks. The guys stayed with the girls and played cards and stuff. It was nice to unwind. I know I say this every time I see them but, the girls are growing up so fast and they are doing so good. They are winning awards, getting honors, making drill team and cheerleader and just accomplishing so much. I am so proud of them.

Nothing new really on the house. Kenneth got the other entertainment cabinet built but I haven't finished painting it so it's still out in the garage. I guess I'll focus on that and on taping and painting the dining room below the chair rail. All that molding...yuk!

Kenneth & I have both lost over 40 pounds! I still have a long way to go but that's 40 I won't have to lose again. I'd like to lose another 10 by my birthday.

Got a big scrap day coming up. Friday I'm going to the Arlington Scrapbooking Convention. I'm meeting my anut and cousin and some of her friends. It'll be fun to see what's new. Then, I have to book it back to Frisco to set up for our church's crop that night. Hopefully, I'll get some things done. I'm so behind on my 28 Days class. Today is day 28 and I think I've finished 9 projects. I gotta get busy. Love to you all!

Making Progress

Well, we really made lots of progress this week! We are working on our Frisco living room. We decided to go ahead and do the surround sound thing so we had a LOT of prep work to do. First of all, we needed furniture. Done. Then, we needed to choose our color scheme (paint & fabrics). Done. Get the walls painted. DONE. We did it ourselves. I love the way it turned out! OK, so it's not perfect but it works and it saved us a ton of money (and you'll soon see why that is so important.)

Let's think about this: We need MUSIC so...We bought an iPod. Yes, thank you, we've joined the rest of the world and are slowly becoming fluent in iTune. I downloaded nearly 300 cds totaling close to 2700 songs which is 9.5 DAYS of continuous music. We still have 70 of the 80 Gbs available. Good Grief. We need a TV so...We bought a 52" LCD which is now mounted on the wall above the fireplace. We need movies so...We bought a BluRay thing. Whatever. The satellite is hooked up, the speakers are in and my butt vibrates when the Black Pearl shoots her canons. A true HD experience.

OH! And we needed a place to put all this stuff so we built an entertainment center. This is what we started with:
Built it into this:and ended up with this:So this is our new living room:
I also got my scrap room organized:
A word to the wise: Do NOT let your husband watch HGTV or DIY. You will forever be up to your ears in projects. Good thing I can swing a hammer!