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An Attempt to Update My Blog....FINALLY!

I am horrible at working these pics into my blog entry...so until I learn, there will be no rhyme or reason to how they go in...how do I get my words to be next to the picture that I want them to be by?

So for now just be thankful that I have began updating my blog....yippee!







It has obviously been a long time since I posted new "stuff" on my blog...a few of you have tried to kindly nudge me along, but to no avail! Sorry for not being more on top of it ~ I have just been busy reading other blogs and not updating my own....;-)

There is no way anyone will read this one entry long enough for me to post everything that has happened in the last 2 months, so I'll post a few pics and a few updates a little at a time.

The biggest news is that I went to Africa the first week of May and was truly blessed by who I traveled with and by the friends we went to see. I traveled with Kelly Christian (left) and visited Kelly Vaughn and her family (middle). We had a week that was full of laughter, tears, fun, exercise, eating, more laughing, sweating (is it tears or sweat?), hugging, meeting new friends, experiencing a life other than what I know, learning that "life hurts" aren't just American...Satan attacks all nationalities, loving the rain, and even feeling a bit adventurous when the power went out (try making homemade pizza in the dark and 4 little angels being excited, hungry and wanting to be a part of the fun all at the same time...nonetheless pizza was on the table and everyone eating by the time Randy (KV's husband) got home!), being surprised by lizzards at every turn...in Benin they run around like squirrels...except we don't get squirrels in the house.

There are so many stories and I am going to do my best to tell as many as I can, but for now, I'll just post a few pics and make a plan for my future posts.

Blessings to all 4 of you who read my "Praises"!

Easter Fun

Here are a few pics of the kids at Easter...we had a weekend full of fun with family and celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus! We started it off with an afternoon at Nana & PawPaw's house hunting eggs, eating dinner and having our annual kid's tea party. Saturday morning we got up and enjoyed watching Cal play in a soccer game and then headed to Dallas to Grandma & Papa Roy's house. There we loved being with our cousins and hunting more eggs and eating a great meal with the family. We also celebrated April birthdays and I got a wonderful frame full of pics of my kids that sis-in-law Angie took (she's a great photographer if you need some family pics!). Then Sunday morning we woke up to the baskets that the Easter Bunny left and headed off to church for a great time of worship. "Sr. Bunny" (Darrell) has wanted the kids to have cross necklaces for a long time...and this year was the year. If you can see them in the pics, the boys have leather necklaces with a silver cross and Cameryn has a silver and crystal cross...they were well received! We hope to keep the cross as a reminder of our redemption and salvation vs. a piece of jewelry that is hung around their necks.
"Thank you, Jesus for your death, burial, and resurrection that gives us a reason to live each day worshipping you!"

3 Reasons to Worship!

These are 3 of my reasons to worship and praise God! Cal, Cameryn, and Cannon bring such joy and delight to my life! While I'm sitting here quietly thanking God for these kids, Darrell, my home, our car, all the extras that we don't need, it's hard to justify the "rough" morning that I've had with "middle C" and "little C" while "big C" has been in school. I pray daily that I will keep things in perspective and discipline and correct wisely and patiently.

Mt. Sinai...what an experience!

What an incredible experience we had last night at The Summit (RHCC's Wed service)! Billy Gurley and Ryan Christian are walking us through several events leading up to Easter. Last night we were at the base of Mt. Sinai with Moses (Billy) calling us to be real with our God and experience his Holiness in a real way. The front of the auditorium was transfigured into Mt. Sinai with the peak being on the "big screen". The dry ice simulated the clouds and the room was dark with small candle lights spread throughout. When we were in the presence of God the room roared with thunder and lightening was flashing all around. The top of the mountain had a ball of fire and it stayed a blaze for as long as God was there.
The congregation was invited to the base of the mountain to worship in whatever way we felt moved to worship...we were in the presence of God! I pray that it was a night that changed the way we worship God in all His Holiness!
If the assembly was video'd (how do you spell that?!), then hopefully it will be on the church's website...be looking for it!

How many of us REALLY have it together?

Ok...so it has been a while since I have posted anything....I haven't felt like there was much to share with the blog world, so I'll just start rambling and see if there is anything that any of you relate to.

1. My hard working husband has been traveling way too much lately and the kids and I are missing him incredibly! We all have been in a funk and really can't explain it, other than we don't have everybody all together on a regular basis, and we are realizing how much we miss our family unit as a whole.

2. I'm struggling with my place in ministry...am I supposed to stay plugged into the Women's Ministry like I am or lay low and let someone else fill my roll? I have been throwing this around since before the first of the year and I don't know how long I'm supposed to hold out to know if it's just me or if the Lord is prompting me to move on.

3. There is a member of my family who is struggling and I can't do anything about it...I can throw my suggestions and "you otta's" around all day long, but it's not my life and I can't live it for them. I just pray for God to give them wisdom in all the decisions they make on a daily (minute by minute) basis. God is a bigger God than this problem and I need to let Him control it and not let it control me.

4. Raising my kids to be godly, respectful, polite, courteous, gentle, kind, loving, self-controlled, joyful, good, peaceful and patient (fruits of the Spirit with a few extra characteristics) is the hardest job I have ever had. There are days when I fail miserably because I do not portray a single one of the attributes listed and I'm "barking" at my kids to be respectful and obedient...hmm, let's see do you think that makes them want to have a good attitude. "God, please help me on a daily basis to be to my children what they need in order to be the Christian servants that you desire for them to be."

5. My good friend Kellye Stone just said goodbye to her mom, as she went to meet our Lord, Monday morning. What a bitter-sweet experience it was this week to know that Jan's body is restored to it's purest health, while she leaves behind a wonderful family full of grandkids and one on the way. I was talking with another friend of mine, Andrea White and we absolutely do not want to experience this pain...when I told my mom this, she replied, "Neither did I".
I'm thankful that God doesn't take our grief personally, and that he understands our pain and desires to comfort us with His love.

Ok...these are by no means profound thoughts or words to ponder, but I have been silent for most of February and I wanted to lay out there what I'm thinking about and struggling through. I guess I always want to portray an "I've always got it together" ideal, but this is more my reality at the moment. Owning up to these struggles could possibly say "I'm trying to get it together!"

I hope to post a few pics the next time...

RHCC....here's to many more great Anniversaries!

25 Years ago my parents decided that Tammy, Kenneth and I needed to be in a church where we would be fed spiritually and have programs to help us in our Christian walk. That decision led our family to Richland Hills Church of Christ and becoming a part of one of the greatest gathering of believers in the world!
This weekend we were able to celebrate RHCC's 50th Anniversary and what a joy it was to claim membership of such an incredible body. I was proud of the heritage that we were reminded of and I was challenged to not let the foundations of RHCC die. It was so sweet to see so many of the charter members and the original congregation gather together and still be so supportive of where we are today. Too often the groups that start a good work don't like where the later generations have taken it...but with this family of believers we have stayed true to our calling and have continued to do all we can to glorify our Lord.
Thank you to the past, present and future leaders of this church for knowing our God and desiring His will to be our will. May we all live like leaders and be examples of our brother, Jesus Christ.
P.S. Hats off to Jenni New and her planning committee for creating such a memorable event and for letting everyone take home a little bit of grace!

7 Years with Darrell Plemons

I'm a couple of days late in posting this, but it's been a busy 7 years! On Monday, January 16th we celebrated our wedding anniversary and I want to let you know what about this incredible man!
I married way over my head and I've been trying to catch up ever since...Darrell has showered me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, and (alot of) self-control. He is filled with the fruits of the Spirit and I couldn't have asked for more. He is an incredible Daddy and often goes over and beyond when it comes to watching kids. Darrell is the love of my life and I'm blessed in ways that I never knew to pray for....more times than not, he is giving in to the desires of someone other than himself when it comes to things around the house (ie..kids climbing all over him when he is physically and mentally spent; me wanting to watch "girley" movies; eating simple with the kids rather than the delicacies that he enjoys).
This man is the husband that I always dreamed of.
Thank you, God for bringing me this wonderful partner and thank you for the example he is to me and our kids on how to be more like your son.
"My prayer for you, Darrell is that you will continue to seek the will of God and that you will keep your heart soft for the passions of Jesus. I love you FOREVER!"

Cannon Jeffrey Plemons

Our smiling ray of sunshine....it is a rare moment that Cannon isn't flashing those pearly whites and making us all smile. I jokingly say he's running for office, because he doesn't let anyone get by without them seeing his smiling face.
Cannon is 2 1/2 years old and loves Cal and Cameryn incredibly. He has followed in Cal's footsteps by loving super heroes and running around like he is saving the world. And yet, can run into Cameryn's room and pick up a baby doll and be as gentle and sweet as she is with her "little family". I love this young man, and Darrell and I were blessed with this third little miracle.
"Cannon, may your love for Jesus be as bright as the smile on your face...and we pray that not one person can get by you without knowing that Jesus is the Light behind the smile. We love you!"

Calvin "Cal" James Plemons

Today marks the end of another 6 weeks at Cal's school. It's amazing how quickly the year goes by when marked by a report card. Darrell and I are so proud of him and how he represents our family and Jesus at school. It has been "reported" that he is the most respectful, polite, and courteous student in his class (insert picture of pride here). His teacher, Miss Rutledge says she would like a classroom full of "Cals". I have been able to observe him with his classmates and out on the playground and there is a difference about him. He is well liked by everyone (especially the girls)...he says they like to chase him, and it doesn't seem to bother him. (I think we're in trouble in the future with that one.) All the kids know who Cal is and I have found that the parents all know who he is, too.
I have the privilege of being the room parent for his class and I am so proud to hear parents talk fondly of my son. "Cal, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and we love you more than we can tell you! Our prayer for you is that you will continue being an example for Christ and that your sencerity will only grow as you grow and mature in your love for Him. We love you, Cal!"

Cameryn Elizabeth Plemons

We started 2006 by celebrating our daughters 4th birthday. Her birthday is January 3rd, but in order for family and friends to all be together, we had her party on the 1st. She was so excited and loved all of the attention. Her favorite thing to do is to get a microphone and sing like she is a Praise Leader, so in order for her to continue on this adventure, she received several amplified microphone type toys (guitar w/mics, piano w/mic, a mic stand). Needless to say the world is her stage. Her cousin, Addie and her two brothers, Cal and Cannon have joined her "band" and they have put on many concerts with the new "equipment". It's a joy to watch children be creative...especially when they are your own.
"Thank you, God for a precious little girl and please create in her a clean heart so that she will desire to praise you all of her days!"

I will definitely post more about my kids, but here are a couple of pics for you to get to know them. (I'm new at this picture thing, so I'm not sure if they posted or not...we'll see!)

Open for Business

Well, this blog has been set up for several weeks now and I just haven't had the "guts" to create my first post. I'm not a natural "journal-er" so it's a little out of my comfort zone to put things in words. My hope is that I will do this often enough that it will be natural for me to come and jot down a few happenings of the day and for all of you to be blessed by things I may share. May God bless us all in 2006!