Book recommendation

On Sunday mornings, I have been teaching the young adult class for some time now. The approach to the class over the last several weeks has been a question and answer format. The students turn in the questions to me in writing and we deal with them from a biblical standpoint. We have had some very intriguing studies about the laying on of hands, the authority of the eldership, demon possession, personal physical health from a biblical point of view, and a host of other topics.

As one would expect in a class format like this, the issue of instrumental music in worship was turned in to me. During preparation for this study, I read again the book by brother Dan Chambers entitled "Where's the Piano" published by the Gospel Advocate Company in 2001. I recommended this book at the beginning of class yesterday and would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to study the topic of a capella singing. The author deals with the topic in a down-to-earth and thorough way.

-J

Unusual sleep

I went the doctor this past Thursday for the second time this week. I finally got a good report from him. The doctor's assistant had to put some more glow-in-the-dark material on my cast becuase the bar had come loose the night before. It probably came loose because of the way I have been sleeping on my side (see the pic). The doctor was happy with my progress and gave me two high fives and an A+. He will be out of town this week so I will have to see him again first thing next Monday morning. Hopefully, I can make it through this week in good shape. However, I have been slipping a little bit so I might have to go see one of the other doctors if it slips down on my sore on my heel.

Thank you for the prayers and please, keep praying for me.

-K

Wii Fit

On Friday, my Dad bought Wii Fit. We have been playing it. By now, I have already played every game I've unlocked and, trust me, that's a lot. There are three people that have played it. The whole family has not played because of my sister's casts. My mother is playing it at the very minute I am posting this.

The white board that my mother is on is called the Wii balance board. It measures the body mass index and keeps records of the center of balance. I have already got 51 minuts of exercise in one day (or close to it). Right before I started this post, I unlocked a new balance game. It's called 'Bubble Balance.' Here is a picture of me playing it.

It has been a lot of fun and the family of N is trying to be more healthy. I hope you keep reading about the family of N.

-JT

My daughter, the "teenager"

The last two days have been spent at a college trying to get my little sister registered and her classes picked out. She wanted my help since I knew most of the professors. So this meant a trip with the kids to a college campus. This experience made me realize that Jeremy and I are in trouble when Kaylee actually does become a teenager because she is a flirt and already will talk to any guy. While at the campus, Kaylee befriended at least 6 different college guys as well as many of the professors. She doctored some of them, had some of them carry her up some stairs, and even gave one of them her phone number. We are going to have our work cut out for us!

-S

Phases of life

Do you ever have one of those moments when you realize that you have crossed over another stage in life? You know, like when boogers and toots move from fun to gross? I have had just such an experience this morning. Up until now, when the family left the house for a few days and I was alone, I would be bored, boo-hoo, and just want my family back. Apparently, not any more. Last evening, Shawna and the kids left town for the night. I came home and spent some time working. I went to bed around 11:00 and went right to sleep. I got up this morning (usually, at this point, I am missing the family so bad I make calls) and got ready and went to work. On the way, I was thinking I could handle them being gone another night. Then, I went into SHOCK! I remember my father saying the last time we were over seas that he enjoys his 'alone-time.' I guess I have crossed over.

Yet, another proof that nothing will stop the aging process.

-J

Another unexpected visit

Over the weekend, my cast slipped a little bit, AGAIN! My Mom called the doctor and the doctor said to bring me in. When we got there I had to go back to the x-ray room. The doctor said the x-rays looked good but he was still frustrated about me slipping out of my casts. He decided to cut out the heels in my casts a little bit more because of some blisters on the back of my heels. He did not want them to get any worse. Then, to keep me a little bit stiller, he had to put a bar between my knees. It is glow-in-the-dark. Now, my casts are green, yellow, and glow-in-the-dark. I hope I don't have any trouble sleeping tonight. I will not be able to turn and I am not sure I will like that.

-K

My Daughter Loves Hannah Montana

With the unusual week we had, we were finally able to sit down and have a family dinner around the table. With that always comes interesting comments.

Sissy: "Dad, why did you start a family blog?"

Bubba: "Actually, it was my idea."

Sissy: "Techno-brother say what?!"

-S

My Update

I went to the hospital yesterday for another cast change. They ended up having to replace the pins in my bones with plates so I had to stay the night. This will help my legs be still and not slip out of my casts. Also, if they have to do another cast change, the doctor can do it in the office without putting me out. I am going to have to see the doctor once a week now.

I got new casts and the left one is neon green and the right one is neon yellow. I was running a high fever this morning and I thought I might have to stay another night. But, they let me come home with 102 temperature. I had to miss Bible class tonight and I am mad about it because I wanted to see Sally and I couldn't. Sally is my friend. She goes to church with me.

Please pray for me.

-K

BND

This is the Boys Next Door. A team that fights girls with our weaponry--3 by 4 technology. My friend Jordan is the one in the orange shirt and I am in the blue shirt that looks black in this picture. I am the commander of the BND and Jordan is second in command. We just made a decision that we are going to have a weekly BND newspaper. We are getting a lot o new members but we will still need more. Here is a picture of us in a way that my mom will like.

I will probably write more about the BND in some different posts so keep looking for them.

-JT

Note to self: No Days Inn

Shawna had a professional exam she needed to take and it was offered in Cleveland, Mississippi at Delta State University. Being that it is a three hour drive from Ashalnd to Cleveland and she had to show up at 7:30 AM, we booked a night at the Days Inn in town. Shawna is supposed to get discount at Days Inn through a professional organizaiton of which she is a member. They declined the discount when we booked it the night before we left. Mistakingly, we booked anyway. We got in about 4:30 PM, checked in, and went to get something to eat. We returned to the hotel for Shawna to study and found no remote control. Shawna called the front desk and they said they would have one delivered. Never happened. Then, we noticed that the lamps would not work. I found they were not plugged into the wall. I plugged one in and there was an explosion. That's right. EXPLOSION. This caused the electricity to go out. I went to the front desk and told them what happened. They said they would send a repair man in a little while. I said, "give me my money back and we will be on our way." The Hampton proved a more suitable place.

I know that my Dad's thinking my 'destructive tendencies' are the blame.

You would have thought I would have learned my lesson after two unfavorable experiences with Days Inn during our last two family vacations.

Note to self: No Days Inn.

-J

VBS and a prayer request

Alright, just so you know, I do not have intentions of posting every day. However, there is a lot going on in the family of N right now, which gives us a lot to post about.

First, tonight we finished up our annual vacation Bible school. Finishing it is bittersweet with an extra emphasis on sweet. It was a good program. I taught the teenagers the last three nights and all of the members of my class were not members of the church (our teenagers helped in teaching this year). Here is a picture of the group I taught.


Also, VBS was doubly exciting for us as a group from Akin, South Carolina came in and directed it and did most of it for us. It was good fellowship and encouragement for both congregations. Here is a picture of the guests that have been with us for the week:

Finally, this is a picture of Kay and a new friend from church named Cadence.

Cadence is currently in temporary custody of a good family who are members of the congregation here. She comes from a very rough situation and the couple is trying to get full and permanent custody. Please pray for a good situation for this child.

Kay (who is writing this blog with me) says she is going to pray every day for Cadence.

-J&K

A long summer

On May 16th, Kaylee had surgery on the bottom of her legs and her ankles. This surgery was to help straighten her feet and help her walk better. The dr was happy with the surgery and the position that he was able to put her legs in. We thought that she would be in a cast up to her ribcage but we got a wonderful surprise when she came out and she was in two casts each only midway up her thigh. Of course, her cast color was pink, hot pink. She came home on Sunday and was doing wonderful. However, after a week and a half, she started slipping out of her cast. Her dr cut off the pink cast and looked at her legs and said she needed a cast change and to fix some of the pins. So they put on the second cast which she chose to be purple until she went for the official cast change. On Friday, May 30th we went back in for this procedure. She decided to get an orange cast this time. She did fine with the cast change and has had very little slipping this time. She went back to the dr yesterday and got a really good report. She will definitely have to have one more cast change before we are finished. There's no telling what color it will be.

-S&K

Family, parties, and a graduation all in four days

This past weekend was a whirlwind weekend for the family of N. Jeremy had a speaking engagement in a nearby town and from there we left for Missouri with a full slate of things to do. We stopped on the way and stayed the night in a luxurious Motel 6. Jeremy and J.T. had some late night father-son time at the Waffle House. We left early Thursday morning and arrived at our destination in time to eat lunch with family. J.T. says it was unfortunate because his grandfather (AKA Grampy) likes to mess with him.

Friday, we got to spend the evening at a restaurant with Shawna’s family. The biggest news there revolves around Adam who is just over a year old and doing well after his extremely premature birth.

Saturday, we had a party and party we did. We enjoyed games:


We enjoyed cake:


We enjoyed family:
(Chris and Chelle):


(Chelle and Kay):


(Four Generations: Charlie, Chuck, Jeremy, and J.T.)


(Brothers: Chuck and Jim:)


(The kids enjoyed the Wii but one guest was sure confused as to why Chuck would have a Wii:)


(And we enjoyed babies:)


Sunday, we enjoyed watching Russ graduate and receive the perfect attendance award:


Congratulations, you big ugly ogre!

One final surprise for all of us was watching grampy (Chuck) receive an appreciation award. He has only been with the school two years so it is rather obvious he is making a good impression.


Good weekend, good times, good memories. It’s great to be a part of the family of N.

-J&JT

The Four Individuals

I, the oldest child in the family of N wanted to do a special thing. So here is it is. I wanted each person in the family of N to write a little bit about what is currently going on in their lives. I, J.T., will go first...

Right now I am running a club and it is hard work. It's really tough because we do not have that big of a hide-out but we have enough members and it's really getting tough because I am running out of stuff to do with the club. Well, that's all I'm going to say for today. I will pass it on down to my Dad.

Hmmmm...what to write? What to write? The most exciting thing that has happened to me recently is watching my beautiful wife of 13 years walk the stage and obtain her EdS degree. Oh yea, and I got to meet some old friends from college today. They recently moved to the area and are we so excited. I am much looking forward to a week off from my main job and watching my brother-in-law graduate from preaching school. Good stuff. Blessed life. Now, at the direction of my son, I will pass it on to my wife...

For the third year in a row, I am moving grades AGAIN! This time, I am going back to Kindergarten which my son says I should be an old pro at but there have been some changes. I am a little bit nervous about teaching younger kids again because my expectations are going to be very high which is good and bad. I guess I will have the summer to fret about it. I'm done, here is Kay Kay.

Okay, well I have a pretend fabulous team. It is a team that is fabulous. I have casts on from my recent surgery. They are orange because it makes my daddy and Mr. Jon happy. They are Tennessee fans. I like Tennessee but I am not a football fan. I am a soccer fan because my brother plays it. Also, I have a friend from church. Her name is Sally. That is all I am going to say.

J.T. here again. I hope you enjoyed this post. Please keep reading the family of N.

-JSJT&K