Leaving New Mexico...

Dan and I made a mad dash to see mom one last time in New Mexico. She is all packed up ready to head to AZ this next week. It was sad to see her home filled with moving boxes. We have so many good memories at this house....oh-well. Now we ready to make new memories!!
Of course we had our last meal at Pete's! I was so silly and forgot to get a picture of the delicious food. Oh well, it wasn't on our plates very long!! ha ha!

On our way out of town we saw this! Beautiful New Mexico! We will miss you!

We also went to mom's to pick up this. I love this lamp so mom gave it to me! She has had it for 44 years! Her mom bought it for her! I never knew that, I just knew it reminded me of "home". Thanks Mom! I love it!

A BIG shout out to my in~laws for keeping the boys for us!! They had a great time with you! It was a treat to pick them up and see them playing football in your backyard! XOXO

"The Case For Christ"

Last night on Facebook, I had a friend post that Lee Strobel, author of "The Case For Christ" would be in town at CrossRoads Fellowship speaking today! Dan has read this book so thought he would be interested in hearing him speak. He was so we went!

His story was very interesting. Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel, the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of nearly twenty books. His books are a tool to share with fellow atheists and those struggling with believing Christ was who he said he was!

His focus was on the Resurrection of Christ and how Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man and backed up his claim by rising from the dead. What a celebration of our Lord and King!

It was great to hear him in person! The church was packed, both services! And we even saw a lot of our friends from FBC!!

Rankin Family Reunion

Today was the Annual Rankin Family Reunion! Dan was out of town, but that didn't mean me and the boys were going to miss the fun!
Here is Dan's parents and Dan's cousin Brian!
After our yummy Mexican food dinner, we talked and played a few rounds of BINGO!!
Here is Teresa (Tia) and cousin Sandra!!

The boys are sitting with Uncle Forrest!

On the fourth and final game of Bingo, Zach got a BINGO!! Woo Hoo! He got a roll of gold dollar coins! Way to Go Zach!

During the auction, there was a clown there for the kids! She did face painting and balloons! Here she is working on a helmet for Drew. She told him she was gonna "spruce" it up for him!

Looks good Drew!!

She made Zach a spear!!!

Drew was sooooo happy because he got his new knife at the auction. It is an eagle knife! (Just what he needed!) I hope an eye doesn't get poked out!!
This is cousin Sherrie and her daughter Rachel! It was good to see them in person and visit! We usually have to rely on FaceBook to talk! I also got to see a lot of family that I hadn't seen in a long time. Kids have grown up new babies have come along! It is good to see Granddad Rankin's sisters each year. They are all very special ladies. This year was a special one because the sister that lives in CA was able to come out and be with us. She is a hoot too! Of course everyone missed Dan, but we are glad we were able to go keep up with the Rankins!!

So of course I had to come home, find a comfy spot and blog about all the fun!! ha ha

The White Hat

Dan had a big 5A game this Friday night here in Odessa at Ratliff Stadium! Not only did he have this game, he got to be the referee! (the white hat!)

OHS is one of the high schools here in town, so this was a pretty big game!!

(below) Here is Dan making a call with his mic. Zach was soooo relieved that no one boo-ed after the call.

While I am not much of a football fan, it was fun to go out and watch our dad! Zach and I were nervous for him.

The "white hat's" biggest fans!!!

Here is Dan with a few other officials as half-time began. (The man on the right is Dan's good friend Tom and the other man is Dan's cousin Wes Overton.)

It is good to see Dan enjoying his job!!

Happy 12th Birthday Zach!!!!

10/6/97
I thought it would be fun to take a look back at Zach in his very early years of life to celebrate his 12 years with us! Here he is on his very first birthday!! He was sitting on the floor in his birthday crown eating cookies I made for his class! Happy Birthday Zach! You are ONE!!
Here is Zach's actual first birthday party! We threw him a big party with lots of other little babies, cousins and friends! We love you Zach!

(he got some great gifts too!! Still does!!)

I had to include some other favorites of our Zach!

What a cute snow bunny~ (above) and what a handsome cowboy!!

I think this is his second Halloween! He still looks at his cousins that way! ;)

Yes, we loved you then Zach and we love you more each day and passing year! Happy 12th Birthday son!!!

PS...Please say a little prayer for Zach. He's spending his birthday sick in bed with the flu. Thanks so much! I'll post current pics when he is feeling better.

Let's Go Bowling!!

The week before school started, my good friend Erica asked us if we wanted to go bowling with her and her cute daughter, Mariah! It was the day that Zach got his braces on, and to my surprise he wanted to go!! (I didn't think he would feel like it) I think it was a nice distraction for him actually!
(above) Erica is helping Mariah bowl! I think this was the first time Mariah had been bowling...and she did great by the way!! A natural bowler!

(above) Wow, look at all that enthusiasm for bowling!! Calm down boys!! ha!

I tried to get a good picture of us....guess Zach didn't feel like smiling yet...

(above) looks like it might be a strike Zach!! X

Erica has a great swing! I'm pretty sure that one was a strike! X Go girl!

Finally, a sincere smile! We all had a great time together! At the end the boys were helping Mariah play some video games in the game room! Thanks Erica and Mariah for such a good time! Lets do it again soon!!! xoxo

Some Good Reads

I know some of you out there are members of the Good Reads website. It is always fun to get updates from my GoodReads friends to see what they have read (with a book rating) and what they are about to read!! I have forgotten how to use the website and can't figure it out again! So I haven't been able to update my "good reads!"
I am planning on picking up this book (below) The Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon soon. It is the first in a series and the latest book just came out this week. (book 7) I have a good source on the recommendation (thanks April!!) and it gets 5 *'s on Amazon. Plus I think it is a book Dan will be interested in too!!!

Same Kind of Different As Me is such a good book. I think this might top my fav. book list right along there with The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom.

When this book by Beth Moore came out (below) I wasn't in any hurry to buy it! I wasn't in a pit and didn't need it...but one day I decided to read it and was glad I did. It is a good book and Beth talks alot about herself in this book. It was fun to learn more about her! Plus at the back there are several really good prayers full of scripture to pray! :) It is definitely worth checking out!

But right now I'm finishing up this series by Terri Blackstock. I have really enjoyed listening to these books on my Ipod and have a few chapters to go on book 4!! I highly recommend these too!!

I always love a good fiction or non-fiction book to get carried away in. Have a great weekend!! And happy reading!!