Ron and Leisa

More than past due on an update

2009-04-05T05:13:00.003-05:00

I know it has been years - literally - since I updated this blog. I am going to try and do better. So many things are happening and just to name a few...Zach and Jade are in Kenya on a missions trip. Jade is graduating from 24/7 in May and getting married in June to Brack Watters who is also graduating from 24/7 in May.

Zach is in his 2nd year of 24/7, a team leader and incredible man!

Micah is about to be a teenager - 13!!!

Ron is doing great in his business

We need a new family photo!

Back to 24/7

2008-01-03T17:48:00.000-06:00

It has been a great Christmas and New Year holiday! We had Zach and Jade home for almost 2 weeks and had a great time. We were able to be together most of the time playing Hand and Foot, Rock Band, DDR, Guitar Hero III, Micah and Zach played Halo 3 and watching movies. We enjoyed having Brack, Jenna, Meagan, Lyndie, Mel, Adam, the Barnhill"s, the Godfrey's, the Tolliver's, the Gregory's, the Waters and the Wilson's over along with our annual Christmas Eve family and friend night...

We are blessed to have such wonderful families and friends...a great start to a great year!

The 24/7 group will be leaving for Mexico in about 2 weeks for their first mission trip this year. Please cover them in pray for safety and for God's annointing as they go to spread His Word and His love!

Guitar Man - Zach

2008-01-03T17:45:00.000-06:00

Our Babies...

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Part of 24/7 - after the kickball game

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Zach & his toe touch jump

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Isn't She So Pretty?

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Jade & Brack at Garvin Gardens

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Micah, Jade, Brack & Zach

2008-01-03T13:32:00.000-06:00

Micah & Jade Garvin Gardens Hot Springs

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Zach & Ron Garvin Gardens in Hot Springs

2008-01-03T13:21:00.000-06:00

The First Official Date

2008-01-03T13:18:00.000-06:00

A Few of the Cousins Christmas 07

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Poppa Gregg & Koston

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Ron - Christmas morning 07

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Early Christmas Morning - BEFORE Santa

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Meagan & Jade

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Jade & Britt

2008-01-03T12:32:00.000-06:00

Grams and Pops

2008-01-03T12:30:00.000-06:00

Zach & Britt Christmas Eve 07

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Grandma & Jade Christmas Eve 07

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Brack & Jade - sooo cute

2008-01-03T12:19:00.000-06:00

MOXIE

2008-01-03T12:16:00.000-06:00

Zach & Adam Performing Their Version of the 12 Days of Christmas - Funny!

2008-01-03T12:13:00.000-06:00

Zach & Jade - 24/7 Banquet

2008-01-03T12:09:00.000-06:00

Jade & Meagan 24/7 Christmas Banquet

2008-01-03T12:06:00.000-06:00

This is the last shot of the drama - hope you look at them all...

2007-12-19T07:06:00.000-06:00

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More to come

2007-12-19T06:46:00.000-06:00

This was soooo good!

2007-12-19T06:44:00.000-06:00

The Battle is Raging...

2007-12-19T06:40:00.000-06:00

Zach

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More - this was hard to watch!

2007-12-19T06:29:00.000-06:00

Part of the temptation

2007-12-19T06:26:00.000-06:00

Still In The Beginning

2007-12-19T06:25:00.000-06:00

They Begin the Dance

2007-12-19T06:23:00.000-06:00

24/7 Drama last weekend

2007-12-19T06:16:00.000-06:00

The 24/7 performed a drama last weekend at church - it was AMAZING and extremely relevant. There were no words only music (You're All I Want by Lifehouse) and acting and you totally got the message - the continual battle for our souls...

Everyone did an awesome job, Zach and Jade were both in the drama - Zach was Good and Jade was the one the battle was being fought for... they plan on putting it on youtube.com. As soon as that happens I will post it on the blog.

Danny and Melissa were with us Saturday night at the first performance and thankfully Danny had his camera and gave me the following pictures

Received this e-mail from Nana Ann -makes you think and steps on your toes (ouch!)

2007-12-07T09:53:00.001-06:00

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although, I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa's and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in Relation to you and what each of our tasks are. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember: I LOVE YOU. JESUS

Micah's Awesome Poem

2007-12-06T07:23:00.000-06:00

IN DECEMBER
In December all of the kids are happy
They're happy because they get presents
Right around the corner is Christmas.
Christmas is near, can't you hear?

In December all the bells ring and
All of the drums go rump-a-bum-bum.
Jesus is close by.
He is the Reason why.

In December the kids are making snow angels
All of the kids look like balls with coats on.
The kids are sledding down the hills
And when they fall, we all laugh.

I love this time of year
Cause all of our family is near.
We laugh and have fun
In honor of the Son.

By Micah
2007 - English 6th grade

Micah plays the violin and I Won!!!

2007-12-05T12:21:00.000-06:00

Micah had his first concert last night at school. He is learning to play the violin and the orchestra played a few Christmas songs. They were great. He told me he was sooo nervous - he didn't expect to see so many people there...cute!

We had our monthly bunko game last night and I won the prize for the most wins, which was a beautiful vase... such a change from my last two months where I was the person or one of the two people with the LOWEST scores...such a great fun group of friends! We cut the game short so we could all visit a VERY decorated house in Windsor Valley - funny!!! I will try to capture the true picture and put it on her for all of you to view.

Have a GREAT Day!!!

Monday

2007-12-03T20:20:00.000-06:00

Today has been a blur! Work was crazy... it is the very BUSIEST time of year for the Postal Service and it is just beginning. We had a wonderful weekend. Got the Christmas lights on the house and finished the inside decorations, went to church Saturday night (it was awesome) and afterwards had dinner with our friends Melissa and Danny and with Zach, Jade, Brack and Jenna - it was so fun to just sit and talk to them...

I have been working on the Hizwear blog - it is up and running and a work in progress. Check it out, I have linked it to this page.

I hope you all had a great day -

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www.HIZWEAR.com

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Brack and Jade...

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Check out my Slide Show!

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Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007

2007-12-02T10:10:00.000-06:00

Welcome to our new Blog!!! My friend Melissa Godfrey opened my eyes to the fun world of blogging... I hope you check our site often to keep up with the family. A lot is happening these days! Since this is the first blog, it may be a little long, but there is so much to catch up on...

Zach and Jade are in 24/7. It is a Leadership Academy that is life-changing and is through our church, New Life. This is Jade's 2nd year and Zach's 1st. We are so proud of their commitment and growth. God is doing amazing things in them and through them - this is just the beginning. They do a lot of community service, service in the church, classroom studies, chapel, camping, hiking and daily workouts.

They are currently training for an Iron man Triathlon which will happen Dec. 15th. In case you aren't familiar with this "activity" it consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile marathon...ALL IN ONE DAY!!! They have been gearing up for this since the program began this year in September. Jade did it last year in a little over 11 hours.. Zach is determined to dominate.

They will head to Mexico in January for a missions trip and then in March they go to Africa for their final missions trip of the year.

Micah is in MIDDLE SCHOOL... doesn't seem possible! He is an honor roll student in all AP Classes and in GT. He is learning to play the violin and loves all kinds of sports. He played football, now we are in basketball but his favorite sport is baseball (which will be next).

Ron's business is doing great - he loves it. He is coming up on his first year of self employment. God has been so good, blessing and growing the business. I have linked his website - go check it out.

I have started a new business with 2 friends from church, Emily Waters and Tahnya Palanca - Hizwear.com. It really was a "God Idea"... Christian shirts that are "fashionable". We had our first 3 designs printed in late July. We were on KARK (Ch. 4) by Sydney Hart -A Faith Matters Story, you can still see it at this link: http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/?cid=60542
that was followed with stories in in the Maumelle Monitor, Sherwood Voice and North Little Rock Times. (WOW) We had a booth at the Holiday House and did very well, but our primary "selling spot" is at our website http://www.hizwear.com/. We had our first international order from ITALY! sooo cool!

We will keep you updated as much as possible and we would LOVE to hear from you so post your comments...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!