- The summer's end was here before we were ready for it. We spent the last week of Anderson's summer break at the beach. We had lots of fun hanging out with Anna and Jackson. Paul continued to play golf, of course, throughout the remainder of the summer, and even Anderson joined in again for his summer golf league. He won the individual championship of his golf league, beating all of the age groups four out of six matches, and I think he may have won his age group every match. He was very excited about that. During his last match, he shot a legitimate par, which is pretty amazing for a nine-year old, especially when he rarely practices. He seems to share the same God-given talent for golf with his dad.
- Anderson started fourth grade. He really likes Mrs. Mitchell, his teacher, and so do I. We continue to be thankful for Cary Christian School. It has been a good fit for Anderson so far. It motivates him to work hard and do his best, and I see that producing great fruit in Anderson--being more conscientious and responsible. Fourth grade is not easy! We are also thankful for an excellent carpool where we only drive one out of three weeks!
- Anderson started football, and Paul is coaching as an assistant again. Our good friend, David Wagner, is the head coach, and his son and Anderson's friend, Wesley, is the quarterback. Anderson is playing wide receiver and running back, and I am happy to announce that he scored the first touchdown of the season this morning, with his team winning 16-0. Paul had to miss the game because he is playing in the Mid-Am tournament at Sedgefield in Greensboro this weekend. He shot one-under yesterday and is two strokes behind 2nd place, but that still leaves him in 12th place as of this morning.
- One of the highlights of the last month was when Paul Young, the author of The Shack, came to visit North Carolina and spent the night with us as he passed through Raleigh. He stayed with my in-laws for a couple of nights in Greensboro, and I can't tell you how much we have enjoyed getting to know Paul and building a friendship with him. He is precious. I'm sure I will share more about him in later blogs. In his short time here, he shared very powerful truths with us that have seriously impacted our lives.
- We started hosting the college-age family members at our house each Wednesday for dinner. Jordan (who just graduated in May with a CE degree), Ava Michelle (a sophomore in Engineering), and Ross (my cousin, a senior in Engineering) all come to our house for a home-cooked meal. We love having them here. The boys especially love their company and get so excited when they are here.
- My dad had a little health-scare in the last few months. Long story short--they found a blockage in his heart, but it turned out to not be in a dangerous area, and he has dramatically changed his lifestyle, particularly his diet. He has lost lots of weight and is feeling better and better. I knew the Lord spoke the Scripture to me immediately when I learned that dad was at the ER with chest pains--"I will perfect that which concerns him." PRAISE GOD! He is doing that...in His way...in His time.
- We continue to meet with Kim and Papaw and my parents on Monday nights. We finished studying John and are going to start Galatians. We love our time of fellowship--so real and open, relaxed, and unrestricted. Freedom!
- I continue to attend Bible study at Mom's on Wednesdays. We just read "He Loves Me" by Wayne Jacobsen, and that was a real eye-opener for many. Strange how you can go to church your whole life and not have a genuine understanding and experience of God's abounding love.
- Bennett continues to bring joy, joy, joy! He talks a lot, just like his mom. He talks to himself, loves to pretend to read, he sings and hums....just likes the sound of his voice, I think. He loves to play sports with his dad and Bubba, particularly golf!!! He loves to putt!! He also likes to draw, color, etc.--on bathtubs, toilets, walls, and right now--bedspreads. Yeah, my new bedspread.....so I must go take care of my boys. Pray that this stain comes out!!!
I tell you....I am so undeserving of being the mother to such precious boys, so I am particularly glad that God gives us grace--that which we don't deserve!! He has poured His grace all over me in countless ways, and being Mom to Anderson and Bennett and a wife to Paul are just two examples of that.
