More coming soon on our trip to Atlanta. This is a great pic of Jacob but, don't miss the sign!

King of Hearts on GodTube

Here is a drama that the group at First Methodist in Clinton did in Mexico and all over. (This isn't them performing it, though.)

I found this video of the drama on GodTube.com. Click on the title of this post to go there.

We enjoyed having the Hodges over for lunch today. They had a basset hound in the past so it was neat talking about their's. I cooked lasagna from a great recipe I found last night. We wanted it to start cooking while we were at church, so I looked for one that you could prepare the night before.
Here is the one I used: Overnight Lasagna
It was good. I changed it a little to just use ground beef instead of meatballs. I figured you were going to chop them up anyway.....
I also made chocolate cheesecake. I am glad that the kids haven't acquired a taste for cheesecake yet. :)

Tonight, we are having the Watkins boys over. Aaron and Ryan are good guys that our boys love playing with.

Anyway, that is my day. Thank you, everyone who asked about Coltrane.

Happy Sunday!

Thank you, sweet lady from the Oxford Animal Shelter, from the bottom of our hearts!

I am so happy today because our doggie was able to come home last night. He didn't have any major injuries from his accident. He is walking very slowly today, though, and probably will be for a little while. He is having to take an anti-biotic and pain medicine for a while. He would not even be here if it hadn't been for two nice people, the lady from the Oxford Animal Shelter and the nice man who helped her lift Coltrane into her car (he is a little large).

Thank goodness someone who worked for the animal shelter came by right as Coltrane was trying to cross Hwy. 7 (big, busy hwy. by our house). When we talked to her later at the vets, she said people weren't even slowing down to let him cross. They just whizzed by until someone hit him.

I just don't understand this. What is wrong with people today? Are we so busy and hardened that we will just hit a dog rather than slow down for 5 seconds to let him cross? Obviously, these aren't the same people who help out during hurricanes or 911 disasters, etc. I pray that something doesn't happen to me with these kinds of people around. OK, I am being a little dramatic about it, but, sheesh. Anyway, he is home now.

If you click on the picture or title of this blog, you can go to the website of the animal rescue. If you feel like it, you can donate to them in honor of Coltrane or adopt a pet, etc. They also have a wish list of things they need. I am indebted to them. They need volunteers, so I may go help out sometime.

We are getting ready to go out of town again. This time on a trip for all of us. We are going to the Georgia Aquarium and Six Flags. :) The kids just about can't even contain themselves. I hope I can take the rides. It has been so many years since I have ridden anything. I'm a little old, now. I think your equilibrium changes so that you feel rides like this more. I know I tried to swing a couple of years ago and really felt sick. Not like the days when I tried to go so high that I would flip around the swing.

OK, I've got to get over this and get young again. :) Matt and I were looking at the Six Flags website and saw all the rides and how tall you have to be to ride them. Matt and I ran to Claire's bed with the tape measure and measured her while she slept. Kind of strange, huh? I thought so, but we just couldn't wait. We were too excited. I think Mamaw has offered to doggie-sit her granddog. Thanks so much, Mamaw!

Happy Saturday!

"The Skid Row Man" Joe Shelton

We've looked for Joe Shelton off and on for the last few years and have even read other people's comments on the web wondering where he was. Well, we found out that he's not that far from our new home. This link has some writings from Joe.

On a sadder note, Coltrane-the-dog is in the doggy hospital tonight. He was hit by a car today, and we're hopeful that he'll pull through. The vet said that her "gut feeling" was that he'd make it. We'll find out more, tomorrow.

Matty playing guitar

Matty playing guitar
Originally uploaded by jonesrestoration

I was so proud tonight. Jontyler was out of town, so big Matt filled in for him leading worship for the youth.
He and Matthew were leading together. They sounded great and were such a great team. I pray that God will give us some really good times during these next few years. He has three more at home before he leaves the nest.
We have had our share of trying times together, and I know Matt and I have been pretty tough on him at times. He is our first born. We have learned, a lot of times the hard way, with him how to be good parents. Well, we aren't there yet, but maybe someday, like when we are 70.

I am so proud of how he is really using the talents God has given him. It is wild to watch your child become the person God created them to be and it has nothing to do with you. Cool....

By the way...Matt is FINISHED with his classes for the summer. These two classes were squeezed into 1 1/2 weeks. He had something new everyday to turn in and we are soooo happy he is done. Thank you, God!

Jacob and Claire

Jacob and Claire
Originally uploaded by eldickerson

This is Jacob and Claire at Nana's house while I was at camp and Matt was heavily studying. They went upstairs and painted a baby blanket for their puppet show. On one hand I want to say "Awww, that is so cute and creative of them", and on the other hand I am thinking "You mean they went upstairs and painted a blanket without permission?"

I think they were inspired by the "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" author. Should I call and confront her? :)

Today is Matt's big day of presentations. He has worked really hard and only has today and tomorrow left to go.

It is pouring down rain here today. Matt has been doing a lot of work in the yard off and on, and it has really helped. There are these beautiful streams going around our house, but not staying right around the house. :) He is so talented.

Happy Tuesday!

Camp II

I am so excited. I couldn't remember one of the songs we sang in worship at Centri-kids. I was looking and found a pdf file with all of the songs. What a great resource! Now we might be able to do some of these for worship soon. Yeah!! You can click on the title or the picture to go to the site.

I remembered two "pokey little puppy" stories from this week. We call them "Pokey Little Puppy" stories because Benjamin is like the PLP in that he doesn't say much (around most people) but he ususally finds something cool and then everyone around him wants to do what he is doing.

#1. He LOVES coke floats. In the cafeteria, B started going and getting a glass, filling it with ice cream and then coke. Yep, everyone saw what he was doing and started doing it. :)
#2. During our last night of camp right before we went into the dorms, B started rolling down this big hill. He did it by himself for a while, then slowly but surely, kids started to do it. He stopped and stood back and watched. I think he was really proud. He is hilarious that way.

Anyways, (my Nacho Libre reference) B and I leave this morning for Jackson, MS. We are going to get our family and bring them home tomorrow. :)

Hope to see a lot of our moms while we are there. Matt can't come to the reunion tomorrow because he has so much to do for school, but we may still go, or just be with Mamaw and G'ma dn G'pa this next weekend (if they will let us :) ). Not sure yet.

Just found out school starts for me August 2nd. This year it is actually the same for Matt and me. At least that doesn't sound as bad as Aug. 1st.

We gotta get a lot more summer in before them....oh yea!