Counting down the days...

...until we're together again!  December 19th is just around the corner.

Statehouse Prayer Service - Save the Date!

November Birthdays

It's fun to have four Turner birthdays all in one month.  This past weekend, we celebrated three of them all together:  Hannah's (Nov 15), Sarah's (Nov 20), and Samuel's (Nov 24).  

Hannah told me several weeks ago that she wanted "pink cake" for the party.  Since Sarah was also in agreement, and I knew that Samuel wouldn't really care what he had since he was only turning two, I fulfilled the request.   Here's the what the pink (strawberry) cake turned out to be: butterfly cupcakes!!

The chocolate covered pretzels made a perfect party favor.

Some little girls (or, should I say big girls since they are now five and seven?) were very excited when it came time to blow out the candles!

Big sister Essie helped Samuel with his....

Samuel is such a handsome little man.  He literally posed for this picture for me before diving into his dessert.  

Present time was a little wild with three children opening their gifts all at the same time! 

Here were Samuel's gifts...

...and Sarah's gifts...

...and Hannah's gifts.

There were plenty of smiles and squeals!

It's hard to believe that we are now on to the holidays!  Perhaps the moment we are all eagerly awaiting the most is Kathy's arrival home on December 19.  It will be a joyous reunion.  Stay tuned for more pictures!

Wisdom's Words

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; 

great is your faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, my soul says.

Therefore, I will hope in him.

- Lamentations 3: 22-24 - 

Wisdom's Words

The one who is born of God will have family resemblance to His God.

- Dr. Michael McKelvey -  

Visit to Jackson

This past week, Dad and I had the opportunity to spend several days in Jackson, Mississippi visiting Kathy at RTS.  It was SO wonderful to see her again!  We shared some good discussion over meals and during evening walks together.

The weather in the deep south was like stepping back several months.  I had to pull out my summer wardrobe when packing, and it felt a little weird to be wearing sandals the first of November!  The temperature was in the mid-eighties with no humidity, and whenever I commented on how beautiful it was, Kathy always said, "Remember, it's November."  Sure, I know they endured a brutal summer with record heat, but when one comes for a visit during the months of April and November, I say they get the better end of the deal!

We enjoyed attending her classes and meeting all her professors and new friends.  This is a picture from her Psalms to Chronicles class on Wednesday morning.  (If you look closely, you can find Kathy near the front in the far right corner.)

On Thursday afternoon following her morning classes, Kathy and I went out to lunch together for some sister time and then headed back to her apartment to work on some cleaning projects.  We cleaned the bathroom, washed four loads of clothes, dusted and vacuumed her room, reorganized and de-cluttered several areas, cleaned out the refrigerator, made a grocery list, and went shopping.  It's fun to work hard!  Here are some before and after pictures:

On our way home yesterday, the interstate was shut down for a brief time in northern Mississippi due to an accident.  The standstill afforded the opportunity to snap a shot of typical Mississippi landscape. Beautiful in it's own way but not necessarily anything to envy (at least in my opinion)...   

I'm so grateful that both me and Dad could take time away and see Kathy in her environment.  God has surrounded her with some wonderful people and godly professors, and though we greatly miss her, we know she is where God wants her to be.  Only about 5 more weeks and she'll be home for Christmas!  

Wisdom's Words

Faith is simply receiving a gift.  Faith consists not in doing something but in receiving something.

To say you are saved by faith is to mean you are saved by Christ.

-Dr. Dennis Prutow-