Prayers For Colorado

Many of our speech/debate/communications families live in Colorado Springs - in the area of the fires. They are pictured in this photo. We are concerned that one of the families may have already lost their home, others have been evacuated and are awaiting news. Please lift a prayer for these people we love so much! For their safety, for their homes, for their jobs, for calm and peace. Please pray for the firefighters, for wisdom and equipment and abundant supplies of water. Pray for rain, no wind, stamina, strength, and success. Thank you - we are drying out here in Florida from our floods. Our focus is now on our friends and family in Colorado.


(I made this collage to be my cover photo on Facebook. That would explain the open space towards the left bottom - room for my profile pic.)

Heritage Society Winter Ball, 2012

For a couple years now, Kali and I have wanted to attend one of the Heritage Society's balls.
Last month they hosted the 2012 Winter Ball and we were able to go! Yay!!!

The English-Country style dance began with the Grand March, where all the dancers walked in a large circle, and strolled the entire room.

I'm sure there is probably a better/more correct way to explain the Grand March.

It was beautiful! I got to see all the lovely gowns, and wonderful suits, but I also got to see so many of our
debate/speech family that I hadn't seen in a long time! It was marvelous!


Just as the serious dancing was about to begin - I saw this beautiful lady (Kali and I absolutely love her!) -
and she saw me with my camera! Hug-time all around!

Then it was on to the dancing! This wonderful lady (one of debate/speech moms) called the dances.
Doubt that I could ever do that, although I did get to start the music once so she could dance with her husband :).

One of the things I really liked about this group was that you had a number of dance partners. You could change every song.
And, the gentlemen are expected to ask the ladies to dance.

The dances are structured - choreographed, if you will. The caller tells you exactly what to do. And it's beautiful
because the entire ballroom is filled with dancers, all moving in sync, and having the time of their lives!




During the intermission we had time to visit with our friends - and snap a few shots :).

Another thing I like about this dancing is it includes all ages.

The young guys get a chance to be gentlemen, and learn social skills all at the same time - with no pressure, and in complete acceptance!

Good friends. Family really.

There's nothing better!

Kali got to attend her first ball! We can't wait for the Magnolia Ball date to be announced!

If you'd like to watch some videos from the Winter Ball, here is a link to my youtube page! Have fun!

Digital Journaling

Thanks to Pinterest, I now have an interest in journaling. This has in turn led me towards digital journaling.
Kali has been helping me get started. This was the first piece I made.

It was followed by this one.

This one came about following a debate tournament. We encourage the students to honor God
in their competition, to be a light to those around them.

This one came about as I was posting pictures of that tournament on facebook. I was actually posting a shoe album :)
and thought this was the perfect scripture to accompany those shots.

The simplest one so far.
I'm having a great time figuring this out. Now, if I could just get this zentangle thing down, I'd be in good shape - hahaha!

ICC 2011 The Future Is Now Evening Program

The 2011 Institute For Cultural Communicators Intern Team with the author and director of the 2011 The Future is Now Evening Program.


Yes, they are quite a serious, professional bunch :).
Their mission is to reach as many students across the United States as they can,
and equip them to get out the message of Jesus Christ through communications skills.

At the parents' commissioning weekend, we got to attend the national debut of the Evening Program.

One of the literary pieces they presented was Cindermaid - the original version of Cinderella.




(A birdie in the tree.)

The children's story this year is Barrie's Peter Pan.

Wendy, with Smee and Captain Hook. In the background, lost boys and a really cute pirate - who happens to be my daughter Kali :).

The last piece they presented was called Hope and Despair. 






It was a great program and the interns did a marvelous job!


God has much in store for this group this year. Praying for the team as they are touring across the country, teaching classes and presenting this program. For more information on a conference in your area, you can contact me or you can see the ICC website here.

Built on the Rock

A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel, located at Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusettes.

Kali, along with 432 other competitors, just finished the NCFCA National Championship which was located just outside Boston. This beautiful chapel was the site of some of our events.

Totally beautiful, no matter the weather, no matter the time of day. A blessed reminder that God is near, no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing. And we are to honor Him in all that we do. No questions asked. Complete obedience and honor. All the time. For we are in the shadow of the cross.