Bible Quizzing Update

We just finishe our second Bible Quiz Tournament of the year and it was great. All of the kids quizzed so well and had such great attitudes. Of course, I think my kids did exceptionally well, but that's my right as a mom and I can be biased, right? I am actually going to go back to the first tournament and start my update with that. Last year the girls always quizzed on the same team, but this year we split them up and they each are the captian of their own team. Because of their age/current quizzing ability, we put them on teams that we felt would offer them the best opportunity to develop their own quizzing ability. Delaney is paired with other, newer quizzers, which means she really has to step it up on the harder questions later in the quiz. Darilyn is paired with another littler girl her own age that is a great quizzer like Darilyn, and they make a great team, but Darilyn can't rely on an older quizzer to do all the work. It seems to be working really well and we have seen great things from our girls so far.

So, back to the first tournament in January. Darilyn and her teamate took 3rd and Delaney and her teamate took 1st. Delaney was the scoring champion of her division with 144.5 points per quiz. She quizzed out every quiz (which means 6 correct questions) and only missed 2 questions the whole tournament. Darilyn was an honorable mention, and although she did not quiz as well as we expected, she did do a great job and learned a lot.

Darilyn and Kayla

Delaney and Bethel
Dallas, sitting with Korina

Darilyn, taking a break

She likes to swing.

Delaney, taking some time to 'chillax'

Denae sitting with our beginner Quiz Master as the 'honorary QM'

Delaney helping run the computer scoreboard, another thing the girls are learning to do.

Delaney and Bethel, 1st place beginner team

Darilyn and Kayla, 3rd place beginner team

Beginner all tournament team (Delaney is the champion in 1st place)

All right, so back to this past weekend. We flew down to Rialto, which was very enjoyable compared to a seven hour drive! We went with Kathy and Austin, and shared a room and van. It all worked out great. At the tournament, Darilyn and Kayla found their team rythm and did an awesome job. I was able to be their coach and enjoyed it tremendously (although I must give credit where credit is due: Kevin helped when he wasn't coaching Delaney's team. ) Darilyn and Kayla won their first quiz, and then lost to Delaney, Cali, and Breighlyn, although they quizzed well. They then got a break for a while, as Delaney and her team won four quizzes, putting their team into the championship position. When it was time for Darilyn and Kayla to quiz again, they turned up the heat, winning 4 quizzes in a row to meet back up with Delaney's team for the championship quiz. Darilyn and Kayla proceeded to win against Delaney, Cali, and Breighlyn in a very close quiz and had to then quiz each other again. (This is because the tournament is double elimination: A team has to lose twice to be out, so D/K had to beat D/C/B two times.) Once again, Darilyn and Kayla persevered, winning the quiz to take first place in the tournament. This was really a big deal as the whole tournament I was having to deal with Darilyn and Kayla feeling inferior to some of the older more experienced quizzers. For them to actually rise above the mental 'fear' and let God help them to do their best was a great thing. Of course, Delaney's team only lost twice, both times to her sister. Delaney's team ended up in 2nd place, with Delaney as the the scoring champion. Darilyn and Kayla were a great team, placing 3rd and 4th on the all tournament team with only a little over a point seperating them.

Delaney, Austin, and Darilyn - they were mistaken for siblings so many times it was funny!

Kevin helping the girls study on Sat morning at Starbucks.

Darilyn - ready to quiz

Darilyn and Kayla - what a cute team!

Delaney, Cali, and Breighlyn - All beautiful girls!

Darilyn and Kayla - excited about 1st place!

Delaney, Cali, and Breighlyn - worked hard for 2nd place

Beginner All Tournament Team - Delaney was 1st and Darilyn was 4th

Delaney, Cali, and Breighlyn after the tournament

Kayla and Darilyn after the tournament

And the year keeps marching on . . .

We are having a great year so far. It started with revival with Bro. Cody Marks and a communion and foot washing service. Revival is awesome. Already so many wonderful things have happened. Kevin and I have felt such a refreshing and renewal. We know that God has great things in store for us this year and the dreams we have had over the years are going to happen!! The girls have received some awesome touches, too. And that makes it worth it all. These have been the types of services that will be remembered for years, and not just with a "That was a great revival" type of memory, but the type that is a memorial in our lives, when things were changed and new things began.

The girls are back in school for a few more weeks. They go off track on Feb. 7 I think. They go to school the first week of Feb and then are out until they go back the second week of March.
They are doing great learing their Bible Quizzing verses. They will be through Luke 10:11 by the end of this week and next week they won't learn any new verses but will focus on better preparing themselves for the tournament on Jan 30 and 31. The tournament is over the 34 verses they learned from Luke 4 and 6.

I registered Dallas for Kindergarten last week. I was finally able to get his shot records from our "care provider" in Oakland. It's a long story, but Dallas was only a little overdue on his last set of shots, so we were able to get that done and get his Kindergarten paperwork turned in! Yea!!! Dallas is also learning Bible Quizzing verses. He is doing really well considering he won't be 5 until Feb 13 and he doesn't have someone to learn with like the girls did their first year. He just has me! But he has memorized 22 verses so far. And he can answer questions, too. He just hasn't totally caught the concept of putting the reference with the verse. But that will all come with time. This year is really just about letting him practice and learn how to memorize. He might quiz at the first tournament if I can get him through the 34 verses by then. Plus Kevin promised him a new pair of cowboy boots if he knows the verses for the tournment. I think the girls should learn a lesson from Dallas on bargaining for prizes!!

We've been sick around here the last week. It started with Denae coughing and running a fever for a few days, staying at around 103 for 2 days (when she didn't have medicine). She still has the cough and yucky nose but no fever. Dallas began coughing a few days after her. He hasn't ran a fever yet, but he has a yucky nose too. And yesterday I started coughing. Today it is really bad with a sore throat but no fever. So now a sick mommy has to try and take care of two sick babies. Fun times!! I do hope no one else gets it or the girls will be dangerously close to being sick when tournment time rolls around next week. They would really be disappointed if that happened. And I hope Denae and Dallas get over this soon. Not sure if it is just a cold or virus or if I am going to have to take them to the Doctor. I guess if Denae goes much over 7 days I will take her to the Doctor. Today is her seventh day of being sick, but with no fever anymore I am just debating.

Anyway, such is life in our house. Revival is great, the kids are sick, Bible quizzing continues, and through it all God reigns supreme, blessing His people, saving the lost, and showing grace and mercy to us all. Hope you all have a great day!!

Dr. Newheart's Christmas Cure

On December 14, Delaney and Darilyn participated in our church's children's Christmas production. They practiced every week since early November and it turned out wonderful. Delaney had a solo and also another part she sang with another girl. Darilyn was part of a sign language group and signed a solo. Both girls did fabulous. Sis. Tishauna Jones, who heads up the Music is for Kids program every year does a great job of using as many children in special roles as possible and then coaching them to their best performance. I am really glad to have been able to help out with the signing and as a chaperone in practices. I helped Kim a little with the costume stuff and although I didn't do much I was just glad to be a part. lol Seriously thought, it was great fun. I think I enjoyed it as much as the kids. Can't wait for the next one!!!

Darilyn's Baptism

On our way to church (yes, we walk)

Waiting to get baptized. Isn't she excited?!

Listening as Bro. Young explained the importance of baptism and what to do.

"I now baptize you the wonderful name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins." Just as in the days of Acts, our daughter is following the plan of salvation spelled out in the Bible (Repent, be baptized in Jesus name, and receive the Holy Ghost)

What a wonderful thing, seeing Darilyn speak in tongues after being baptized in Jesus name! There is nothing like knowing your child's name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!

Feeling Great!!

Darilyn was baptized on Nov 29, 2008. We are so excited that another one of our children has received the Holy Ghost and been baptized in the precious name of Jesus. She asked us about getting baptized, so Kevin wanted to make sure she understood the importance and significance of baptism. We had a family prayer evening after she asked and we discussed this with the kids, complete with an activity to keep the youngest two involved. It was a lot of fun. I'll have to post pics of that evening as well. Darilyn was excited to get baptized, but more important, she understands why she needed to be baptized in the name of Jesus. We were also glad to share the important event with not only Kevin's family here in town, but my mom and dad visiting for Thanksgiving. Truly a reason to be Thankful!!

Pics of Thanksgiving since the slideshow wouldn't work

There are a lot of pics, but not as many as I had in my slide show. They are also mixed up and out of order. Sorry about that. Hope you like the pics though.

Thanksgiving Slideshow

We had a great time with my mom and dad at Thanksgiving. They came in on Wednesday. We were all so excited to see them. I had already picked up most of the stuff for cooking, so Mom and I enjoyed making the Holiday meal together on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Thanksgiving day was great. I got out the kids Little People Christmas Village and they enjoyed playing with that ALL DAY!! How great is that. Of course, after Thanksgiving Dinner, it was a universal nap time. I think everyone had a snooze. Friday we went shopping. My mom and dad actually got up at 4 AM to go out!! Of course that is 6 o'clock Texas time, but still!! We were keeping them up late to visit. Anyway, they came back around 9 and we all went back out. The kids love to shop with grandma and poppa. They get way too much stuff lol!! We also enjoyed the lighting of the Christmas Tree at K-street mall downtown. The fireworks surprised my kids at the end as they were let off almost directley above where we stood. Very Loud!! My dad was holding Denae and he said when the first one went off she looked up wide eyed and shocked, and then just buried her head in his shoulder. I was really glad at how my kids took to my mom and dad, especially Denae and Dallas. The girls are old enough to remember the last time they saw them and all, but Denae hasn't seen them in 9 months, a pretty long time for a 2 year old. And Dallas hadn't seen them in 15 months, so he was only 3 last time he saw them. Any way, after the Christmas tree lighing, we took some pics of the kids at some holiday displays and went home to have Christmas with Grandma and Poppa. That was fun!! We lit a fire in the fireplace and opened gifts, listening to Christmas music. The girls got gorgeous dresses, including a set that matched for all 3 girls. Dallas got some much needed (and loved) 5 pocket basic bluejeans, his all time favorite thing to wear, and a new suit for church, his next favorite thing. The next day we went to Applehill for the day. That was fun. We got there pretty early and hit a couple a favorite spots before the crowd. We went to our most favorite spot last, and by then it was pretty busy. Lots of people out getting the fresh cut Christmas trees. We went to church, of course, on Sunday. I always enjoy the opportunity to be in church with my parents. Darilyn was baptized on Sunday night. I will post pics of that in another slideshow. All in all, it was a great holiday and we enjoyed my parents visit. Can't wait for the next one!!!!

(I created a wonderful slideshow of this visit, but unfortunately the aformentioned problem of the wrong slideshow posting is happening again. What is going on?!!!)