Weekend of Celebration

Hello family and friends!
I hope that you all are doing well.  This past week has been full of planning celebrations.  Our pastor, Scott Heare and his family are moving to Israel for the summer to study at Jerusalem University.  So, at the end of May, Pastor Scott, his bride, Cathi and their 4 children (ages of 3 to 12) will pack up for their summer adventure.   Traveling with children for any length of time can be challenging, so as you think of the Heare family this summer, please pray for travel mercy for them.  It is a privilege to be apart of the fair-well party planning committee for them.  I have also been blessed to be apart of the planning committee to help with our upcoming women's retreat this weekend.  So, needless to say it's been one planning meeting after another.  On top of those things I have been planning a early birthday celebration for Caleb and a baby shower for a sweet friend that took place this past weekend.  I'm so thankful to see this last week come to a close and to have been apart of such great celebrations and to move forward into the upcoming week.  Although, Caleb's birthday isn't until May 15, he wanted a Spurs basketball party (which included attending a Spurs game) and the Spurs regular season end's before his birthday.  So, we planned it for this past Saturday.  It was so much fun.  Caleb had 3 boys from his class and church join us for the Spurs game and a sleep over.  They had a ton of fun at the game.  Phil sent a special request to the Spurs requesting the Spurs mascot, The Coyote, make a visit to our seats to surprise Caleb.  It was for sure a surprise!  He was showered with all kinds of Spurs gifts and time with The Coyote.  A night I'm sure he won't forget!

Caleb and The Coyote!

Zane, Lane, Caleb and Colin

Niaya and Emily

Such a fun evening!  The girls had a good time as well.

Thank you for taking time out to keep up with us.  Our kids and community keep us going.  Never a dull moment here.

"Life's a garden....Dig it!"

Shalom,
Vicki

Our Community

Some of you already know that we have suffered some loss over the past few weeks.  Emily's hedgehog passed away.  He developed an infection that he just couldn't overcome.  Thank you to all who lifted a prayer for Emily.  She took the the loss really hard, but is adjusting back to life without her hedgehog, Orie.  Our community also suffered a loss on March 23rd.  A young man that attended our church and was involved with our kids in vacation bible school, was shot and killed.  To my understanding, Randall was attempting to be the peace maker in a heated situation.  He is survived by his parents and a younger brother in 9th grade.  We will miss Randall deeply.  He had a smile that was contagious and a laugh I will never forget.  Please keep his family and his friends lifted in prayer.

On a happier note, we did have some out of town guest come in for the weekend.  Robby and Rock Vaughn.  It was great to see them both.  The kids had a great time playing and keeping Rock entertained. We haven't seen them since Rock was a baby.  He's now 3 and a busy boy.  Caleb kept up with him well.

I discovered a talent that I've always wanted.  ART!  That's right, art.  Who knew that I could carry on my grandmothers gift of art.  My grandmother was an extraordinary artist.  I can still remember some of her paintings that hung in our home when I was a little girl.  Emily also has this gift, but she paints and draws effortless.  Hers is a natural gift.
My friend Jennifer and I went to a coffee, corks & canvas party that a friend put on.  My friend is doing this on a regular basis, and Emily and I will be attending a Mom and Daughter canvas party at the end of the month.  We are both looking forward to it.

Emily has started to play volleyball with the Mays YMCA with some friends from school.  She is doing really well.  She is also going to a sports camp this summer and has selected volleyball again this year as her sport.  She is also eligible to play in Spike Feast this summer that is put on by her school for 6th grade and older.  Yes, 6th grade.  Hard to believe that Emily will be starting Jr. High School this coming fall.  This also means that she will be able to play volleyball for her school.  I see a lot of practices and games in our season to come.  We are so very proud of her.  As for school, Emily continues to make high honor roll.  She has overcome her math obstacle and is bringing home 100 on most all of her math pages.  This is huge.  So, praise be to G-d for showing her that she is good in this subject.

As for Caleb, he still has a strong passion for all sports.  He is gifted at everything he attempts to play.  However, he is still not interested in playing on an organized team.  He is happy playing with his friends or his daddy in the back yard.  I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever seen someone throw their own pass and run and catch the football, until Caleb.  He loves the game...any game.
He is just now beginning to say that he will participate in upwards basketball for next season.  We will see.  We are so proud of him.  As for Caleb and his schooling.  He to continues to make honor roll.  We couldn't be prouder of both him and Emily.

We hope that you all are doing well.  We were really concerned for you all with the weather being so bad yesterday with all of the tornados.  We are so grateful that everyone is okay.  Thank you for keeping us informed.

Thank you for taking a moment for our family update.  Until next time.

Shalom,
Vicki

Spring Break Fun Continues!

Friday
We ended our friday with Emily's hair appointment and Lulu's Cafe and Bakery.  I know.  A hair appointment?  Well, not just any hair appointment.

Last week I had donated my hair and Emily couldn't wait to donate hers.  The minute we arrived home from school we measured hers to make sure she had the minimal amount required, and she did.  So we made her appointment that day.  She counted down the days until her appointment to get her hair cut off and to donate it.

Here are my before and after pictures.

Donated for a cause.  Emily and I both have cancer survivor friends, Molly age 11 and my friend, Veronica.  

After Emily's hair appointment, we caught up with some friends and headed to Freeb!rds for supper.  After that we headed downtown to Lulu's Cafe and Bakery, where we had a 3 pound cinnamon roll.  Yes, that's right, a 3 pound cinnamon roll.  Lulu's has also been featured on Man vs. Food on the Food Network.  It was great way to end our day.

Saturday

This morning we took off to Pedernales Falls.  We hiked and climbed up and down some really big rocks.  Everyone did great and had lots of fun.

This concludes our adventure for the week.  It's time for us to take a break and rest and ease back into the week to come.  I hope that you all have enjoyed our family blog.

Until next time.

Shalom,

Vicki

Spring Break 2012!

This has been an exciting week so far!
Monday
We started our week off going to Enchanted Rock for a hike.  We met some friends close by to car pool to the Rock.  We met at 9 am thinking this would give us plenty of time to get there, early enough to beat the crowd.  We miss calculated and waited in our cars in line for approximated 30 minutes or more, just to enter the park.  A park ranger came out and announced over the load speaker in her truck that the park would be closed for approximately 2 hours!  So, we decided to wait it out.  They don't allow you to wait on the side of the road, there is a place about 5 miles down the road that is just a hole in the wall place called "The Shiner Stop" that's where we went to for our picnic and holding place.  Typically Enchanted Rock calls this place when they re-open the park.  They didn't on this day.  After a few hours at The Shiner Stop we loaded everyone back up and headed back to the rock.  Arriving back at the rock to cars still everywhere, still waiting.  So, this time we drove down a ways and waited on the side of the road and took some blue bonnet pictures.   Hoping the park ranger wouldn't come ask us to clear out.

After about 30 minutes of picture taking, we loaded everyone back up and headed back to Enchanted Rock.  This time the park was open!  We sat in our cars for approximately another 30 minutes!  This time we made it in the park!  Yeah!  We were all so anxious to finally get it.

Entering the Rock!

Yes!  That's Emily at the top of those rocks!

Feet of Ibex!

Back down the rock and cooling off in the stream!

We had a great time climbing and exploring Enchanted Rock.  If you are wondering why there aren't many pictures of Phil, he had the camera!

Tuesday

Started early on Tuesday.  Liz, the sweet girl that I get the privilege of meeting with once a week for mentoring.  She also graduated from Emily and Caleb's school and has been apart of our family for many years.  Her dad was diagnosed with cancer and was having a 10 hour surgery to remove it.  

I woke at 3:45 a.m. to be at her house to pick her up at 4:30 to be at the VA hospital at 5:30 a.m.  It was a long day for us, but also a sweet day to see the Lord move through our day with us.  The Lord was so evident and we were so grateful.  The surgery went well, however, he will have to under go another 10 hour surgery in approximately 3 weeks.  So, if we come to mind, please lift Liz and her family up in prayer.  I arrived home about 8:45 p.m. to my sweet family.  They had ran some errands and just enjoyed a day at home, and watched movies.

Wednesday

Today we started off with some exciting closet cleaning!  Okay...not so exciting, but we ended it BIG!

We headed to town (San Antonio) around 11 a.m.  First stop, Clay Casa.  We all painted a pottery piece.  You wouldn't believe the artist gift in this family!  Caleb painted a basketball money bank honoring the San Antonio Spurs, Phil painted a mug in honor of the TEXAS RANGERS, Emily painted a pig money bank and I painted my mom a sweet gift.  I can't say because I know she will read this.  I love you mom!

After sharing our G-d given gift on pottery, we headed downtown to walk through the wax museum.  The line for everything down there was long.  All the spring break people came to San Antonio!  The line to go through the Alamo was unbelievable.  We got our ticket at the Believe it Or Not place and walked next door to the wax museum and escaped a several hour line at the wax museum just to get a ticket.  By passed all of that long line and walked right to the front of the wax museum and entered.

The "Duke"  Emily wanted her picture taken just to text it to Poppa.  John Wayne was/is my dad's favorite actor.

Caleb and David Crocket.  One of Caleb's favorite Alamo hero's

The museum was a lot of fun.  The day got more exciting and more exciting as we went.

From here we met Liz at the Quarry so she could join us for supper.  

Next stop!  Big Lou's!

 Big Lou's was recognized on Man vs. Food on the Food Network!

After we ordered our pizza we waited for it's arrival!

Our plates!

OUR 42 INCH PIZZA!!!

This explains why our plates were so long!

This was so much fun.  When our pizza arrived I asked "so, what was your high today?"  So funny.  Everyones high was the BIG pizza!  We had lot's left over.  Pizza for everyone!

Thursday

Just when we thought we have had all the fun we could have for the week.  We woke this morning and loaded up the car and headed to Corpus for the day!  We met up with some friends for a fun day on the beach.

Emily and friend, Abby boogie boarding

Jumping waves!

Emily caught some jelly fish along with some minnows.  The jelly fish ate the minnows, very interesting to watch.

More boogie boarding.

A fun day in the sun on the beach with friends!

Friday

We are starting our day with this house that has been neglected all week.  Phil is mowing the yard.  The kids are cleaning up their rooms and I am finishing up this blog.  More to follow soon!  We have a fun afternoon planned.  I will blog more this weekend.  

I hope that you all are enjoying your family's and this spring break!

Have a blessed day!

Shalom,

Vicki