Mother/Daughter Conference

This past weekend, Jordan and I had the opportunity to attend the "You & Your Girl" Conference in Carrollton, Texas (very near Dallas, Tx). It was all day Saturday and consisted of worship, some fantastic speakers, and some age-appropriate break-out sessions that were very interesting and fun. We had a great time worshipping the Lord together and learning more about our Biblical mother/daughter roles. I learned a lot about raising teens (and had a lot of "why?!" questions answered, too!) and some great ideas to use at home and in the youth group at church. It was such a blessing to get to go and spend that special time with Jordan. Hopefully, we can go again next year. :) **We also got to meet Vicki Courtney, author of "5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter" and the main speaker at the conference (see pic below!).
Well, Jordan and I don't get to go somewhere fun very often without taking the guys. So, Seth and Hunter accompanied us to Dallas. It was great family fun! We left on Friday at about lunchtime and drove...it was about a 3.5 hr trip. We found our hotel very easily and then it was off to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory! Seth's favorite dessert is cheesecake and since he had never been to the restaurant before, I figured it would be a nice treat for him......and it was! After dinner, we made our way over to the Galleria Mall there in Dallas. Hunter wanted to go ice skating......and he did for about 15 minutes. He soon realized that it just wasn't his thing since the skate boots were hurting his ankles. So.....we shopped! Everyone got a pair of flip-flop sandals and we ended the evening with some Starbucks coffee.
On Saturday, while Jordan and I attended the conference, the guys went and did "guy" things. They went to Bass Pro Shops, the Grapevine Mills Mall (where Hunter discovered a store filled with Airsoft guns and supplies...his new thing!), and ended the afternoon with a "guy" movie in 3D.
Overall, it was so much fun and a time we will always remember. Praise God for His many blessings!

I forgot to mention that Jordan had a pedicure the Thursday before we left. I let her pick the style/color and we had them done the same. Then we bought matching sandals! Jordan's are the tan and mine are the black.

Meeting Vicki courtney and having her sign a book :)

Jordan and I at the conference

Seth posing with the Old Navy store mannequins....a little creepy...

Hunter ice skating at the Galleria in Dallas

Track Meets....More fun when your own child is involved!

I never liked track meets in junior high and high school. I only participated in 7th grade hurdles and then never again after that. I used to say that I would only run if someone was chasing me or taking off with my precious babies, but that's a different story for a different day :)
So, I was not looking forward to 7th grade track starring, my dear daughter, Jordan. I will sit and watch anything Jordan and Hunter participate in, but I was seriously dreading track. Watching kids run and jump in organized chaos does not excite me. What surprised me the most was how excited I would become watching Jordan come in a close 2nd in the mile run and how interesting the high jump and triple jump could be. (Motherhood really changes your perspective on MANY things.)
We didn't get to make all of her track meets this year because they are all out of town (except 1) and they last FOREVER; but the ones we did get to attend were awesome! I cheered and rooted for my child and then sat and waited for her next event....which would usually begin 45 min - 2 hrs later. HaHa...at least I got to catch up on a lot of reading, visiting with my other parent friends, and relaxing. I also got to spend some time visiting with Jordan and her friends. They all became my kids by the last track meet and I cheered them all on like they were my own. (I'm used to only cheering team sports.) It's funny how something I used to completely not like at all became such a refreshing surprise...from a different point of view.
I think next year, I will volunteer at the Dragon Relays (Bangs' Track Meet). It is now something I will look forward to from now on.

Triple Jump

Getting ready to run the 100m hurdles

The end of my blog hiatus......

It's been awhile......ok, it's been almost a year...since my last blog post. I thought I would give it up, but I have come to realize that I can link my blog posts to my Facebook account, and then all of family and friends can read my blog if they want (thanks Facebook!). Anyway, instead of posting this HUGE note or really abbreviated status update on my family's activities, I can blog and then those who may be interested can click on the link and read it here and see pictures. I like to think of myself as a semi-pro in the technology department. So, it is to my amazement that I didn't discover this a lot sooner. Ha Ha Ha!

Anyway, we have been on the crazy train of schedules and busyness this past year. Jordan turned 13 and is in the 7th grade now. Yeah, we have a teenager in the house (yikes! lol). Hunter turned 11 and is in the 5th grade and is now attending school at the middle school. Bangs ISD puts 5th-8th grade at the middle school campus..hmmm. Anyway, adjustments aside, the kids have been going strong in school; Hunter played football and basketball this year. Jordan entered into the world of school-sponsored sports....She has done everything including Volleyball, Cross Country Running, Basketball (her favorite), and now Track & Field. Both Hunter and Jordan are playing baseball/softball right now. They competed in the UIL academic meet earlier this year and did really well and both play in the band. ...... ..Good thing all of these activities happen during school hours or directly after. Their schedules work out well with mine and Seth's right now. They are pretty much done with their day when I get off work at 5pm.

Seth is doing great in his college studies. He is still maintaining a 4.0 GPA and is still our Youth Pastor at church. He is awesome! All the reading and papers are getting old and redundant, but summer will be here in about 2 months! Then it's break time!!! :)

I work. And shuttle my family around to their various destinations. And do all the other "home things" that mom/wife does. But, I wouldn't trade it for the world! My family is my life and I love them all dearly. I love to see each of them succeed and enjoy what they do. Praise God for all He does in our family!!!


Jordan, Hunter, and Josh (Hunter's friend)

This is one of my favorites....Texting and fishing....Ahh, the life of a teenager!