AYR 2009

Today was the annual youth rally at the Ashland church of Christ. It falls on the last Saturday in January every year and everyone is invited. Here is a picture of some of the youth group at Ashland. They did most of the planning this year and did a great job.

Here is the first speaker of the day. He teaches in the high school in Ashland and preaches and lives in the Corinth area. He did a great job.
Also, during the day we had a break and a 'getting aquainted activity' so that the different groups could get to know each other. Here is some people (mostly adults, actually) getting to know each other.

This is Amber and Dylan. Amber designed the red shirts for the youth rally and they were a big hit. She was also in charge of taking pictures, which she did a good job.

Though we think she liked pictures with her in them. Here is Amber and Ashely.

The morning ended with our final speaker. He preaches in the area and did a great job. After they were done, we ate lunch and had a great time.
While we were eating, the young boys (grade school age) huddled around the Nintendo DS. J.T. is on the right, his friend Jordan in the middle, and Christian on the left. This is a common occurance at fellowship meals and other functions in the multi-purpose building.

It was a great morning and a great youth rally. Last year we had around 40 in attendance. This year we had 72. We hope it continues to grow year after year.

I (Kaylee) met up with my friends, Emma, Mary Kate, and Lilly. We played and had a good time together. I wish I would have got a picture of them.

Good day. Good times. Good memories. Please keep reading the family of N.

-J&K

From the Message Bin

"Good plans shape good decisions. That’s why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true" (Lester R. Bittel).

-J

My Kids ... What Are We Going To Do?

Yesterday, while Kaylee was at therapy, part of what she was doing involved the splits. She and a male therapist (who she flirts with quite often) were having a contest to see who could get the closest to the ground. In the middle of it all, Kaylee, in her dramatic way, says:

"Whoa. Whoa. Help. Gettin' a wedgy here!"

Then, on the way home, J.T. and Kaylee had a conversation about wedgies, atomic wedgies, swirlies, wet willies, and other such things that parents just get embarrased about.

-J

No Shoes

Yesterday, one of my little kiddos (school kids) decided it would a fun game to take his shoes off and play with his socks. I did not like the game. So finally, after about ten times of me telling him to put his shoes back on, I told him I would take his shoes and throw them across the room if he did not leave them on his feet. Within the next minute, he had them off again. So I made him bring me his shoes and go without them for about three hours. He thought it would be so funny to take them off all day. I thought it was funny to make him go without them. So did the rest of the class. I think he learned his lesson. This might be a good example of why my kids (J.T. and Kaylee) think I am such a mean teacher.

-S

From the Message Bin

"Boxing is just like the ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other" (Jack Handy).

-J

Diarrhea, But Not the Poop Kind

Kaylee got a toy guitar for Christmas. It is Hannah Montana, of course and it plays songs that she, as she puts it, "Rocks out to."

She has been rocking with it for several days now and tonight was casually talking to her mother. This is how the conversation went:

Kaylee: "Mom, do you want to know what the name of my band is?"

Mom: "Sure."

Kaylee: "Diarrhea."

Don't ask us where she got it.

-J&JT

My Children are Weird ... I Wonder Where They Get It?

For as long as I can remember, I have preferred to sleep in my own bed. I still prefer it. I cannot imagine being in my own house and sleeping for the night in anywhere but my own bed. Not so with my kids.

Kaylee has a air mattress that is of course decked out with Hannah Montana stuff. Since she has had it, she prefers to sleep on it. In fact, you can see on her bed in the background that we do not even keep linens on it. I think she prefers this becuase it gives her more independence than being in her own bed. Dad and I built her a bed that sits lower to the ground but Hannah Montana has taken its place.
More unusual than that is our son. He found that he enjoys reading in the bathroom (sound familiar, Li?). He says he likes the lighting and the privacy. The bathroom is usually a bit warmer than the rest of the house and lately, it has been cold in the south (at least for the south, it has been cold). Last night, he asked if he could sleep in the bathroom. We said okay, not realizing he wanted to sleep in the tub! He enjoyed it all night long. My kids are wierd. I think they get it from their mother.

Please keep reading the family of N.

-J

Report Card Day

Today, when the kids were in school, they got something very important, thier report cards.

I, J.T., got straight A's. I called my grandfather and told him and he made a joke and called them one-legged A's. Because I brouhgt my math grade up from B to an A, my parents agreed to buy me a new scooter (that was the deal and I did it).

I, Kaylee, made all A's except one and it was a B. I will be getting a reward also but I have not decided what it will be. There is so much I like at Walmart and Target.

I, Shawna, sent out my report cards today.

I, Jeremy, simply apprecaited my kids and my wife doing so well. We are blessed.

-JSJT&K

Here We Go ... Again!

Yesterday, Shawna sent me a text from work asking if I would call J.T.'s doctor and get an appointment set up. He was running a slight fever and was complaining of his throat hurting.

As it turned out, I took him to the doctor yesterday afternoon. He has some sinus trouble that should clear up in a few days. We were so thankful that it was not strep throat. He is currently taking some medicaiton and seems to be on the mend.

Sunday, Kaylee was running a fever and vomiting. Shawna ended up taking her to the doctor and she has an ear infection.

As it turns out, this is the most sickly winter we have had. Oh, what fun.

-J

From the Message Bin

"You have to stop the q-tip when there's resistance!" (Chandler Bing played by Matthew Perry in Friends).

-J

Follow-up Appointment

Yesterday, Kaylee had a follow-up appointment with the surgeon that performed her surgury on her legs last March. He was pleased with the results. He is very happy with the way one leg turned out. The other, not so much but there is little he can do about it. The right leg bows out a bit more than he would like but not enough to do another surgury, at least not yet.

She still has to have physical therapy once a week which she did yesterday. We also have to set up an appiontment to get her braces repaired. We talke to the person that takes of this yesterday as well.

J.T. was supposed to go with us yesterday (they were out of school) but got to stay the night at a friend's house. He liked the trade-off but Kaylee did not. She says she missed him while he was gone.

Thank you for all the prayers. We continue to be grateful for all of God's blessings.

-JJT&K

From the Message Bin

"If you want to kiss your honey and your nose is kind of runny, you may think it's kind of funny, but it's snot" (Unknown).

-J

A Tribute to My Husband

Although this is late in coming, I decided to go ahead and do it. I wanted to say a special congratulations to my husband. On Friday, December 12th, he graduated with his master's degree in counseling. He did not walk in the ceremony. Instead, he watched our children so I could go out to eat with some ladies from the congregation for ladies' night. He has worked so hard to get this degree. I am so proud of him and the work that he does. He is a wonderful counselor as well as husband and father. I know that he will excel in his PhD program that he is starting this coming week. I love you and am proud of you Jeremy.

-S

Yes, that is the Technical Term, My Dear

J.T. has not been feeling well today. He complained of his ears hurting at dinner tonight. This is how part of the conversation went:

Mom: "Dad, do you think you could do us a little favor after dinner tonight?"

Dad: "What's that?"

Mom: "Do you think you could go to the dollar store and get us one of those things Dr. Bill said to use to clean his ears out? You know, those baby snot suckers."

For those of you who don't know, she was referring to an ear syringe.

-JJT&K

My Sores

I got sores from a rug burn. It used to be on my nose and forehead. But, my nose has healed fairly well. My head hasn't as you can see. I was sitting on the couch at my grandparent's house and my crutches slipped so then I fell on the carpet and got rug burned. I started crying and my grandmother came to help me. My nose is better but my head is not. It doesn't hurt anymore but I still have a sore. This was on a Sunday before church service.

-K

Pittsburgh

As mentioned in a previous post, Shawna and I made a trip to the New England area. We visited four Hard Rock Cafes and, as you can see, one of our souvenir glasses did not make it back in one piece. We also visited Baltimore. Here is a picture of down town.

Here is a big boat right in the middle of down town Baltimore.

Our friend (Shawna's friend) took us to see a Christmas light display in Wheeling, West Virginia. This was one of the many neat displays. Great trips, great times, great memories.

-J

From the Message Bin

In the tradition of my family (you, chelle), I too will start something new on the blog. I do not know how often this will happen or if it will carry on very long but I collect quotes. Unusual quotes. Funny quotes. Memorable quotes. They are no good unless I share, right?

Since with the new year, the passing of time is the overwhelming point of interest, here it is...

"Life should not be measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments which take our breath away" (Unknown).

-J