Karlyn: Grateful in December!

Well I can't even thank all of you enough for helping with the sicklies this weekend.  I'm more than blessed to have all of you in my life and willing to help so much!  I think we are all better now, except mom.  Sorry you caught it.

And I'm grateful for surviving the race.  I wasn't sure I could do it and it happened!  I even think my legs can do it again!

I love all of you!!!!  I John 4:7-8

November 7: Thankful for Wednesdays

I'm definitely behind, but no less grateful. My thankfulness tonight is enough for the 6 previous November days that I haven't posted. I know I've shared with most of you already about my Wednesday night home group, but I just can't get over how much God is blessing this crew. Truthfully, I don't think anyone feels more blessed than I do to be a part of this group. Others of you may have experienced something like this before, but it is certainly a first for me. Imagine your best nights of church camp or a retreat or a revival, and then imagine how cool it would be to get that every Wednesday night, in the middle of your week, when life is stressful and you need something to get you through the rest of the week. A group of about 35 TEENAGERS (mostly seniors), not all from the same church, choose to meet together at a home and discuss what God is doing in their lives. And God allows me to be a witness to it. Now, I know you may be thinking, "We've all been a part of something like that! That's just a youth group meeting!" But no. This is different. It's like we all know God is going to do something really cool each week, and we all come expectant, and we are never disappointed. Maybe it is something that is experienced by lots of believers, but all I know is that I feel so incredibly blessed to know these students who love God and want to follow his direction. I believe it is an answer to my prayer to give Staci godly friends who challenge her in her faith and encourage her to grow stronger. And, as God has seen fit, the same is happening for me.Who is more privileged than me to be able to be involved with my daughter and her friends in such a meaningful way?

So, I'm thankful for Wednesdays. Anyone else?

Karlyn Day 2- 5

Happy Sunday night!

I'm grateful for a lot of things tonight.  I'm grateful that God knows my every day before it happens, that I live in a country where I have the freedom to vote for my government officials, that even on my hardest day I have the hope for an eternity without hardships, and I'm grateful that Joan is better!

Love y'all very much!

Karlyn, Sawyer, Knox day 1

GET BETTER JOAN!

Happy 1st of November.  I'm praying this month doesn't fly like last month!  Today I'm thankful to be home with Knox and Thea.  It was a fun day and I actually got the house clean!

Sawyer says he loves his whole family and his cousins that are far away!

Knox is thankful for his daddy's combine

OCTOBER is here!

I enjoy fall so much so I think I'm going to start my gratefuls in October this year!  Today I'm grateful for all the help I get from my family.  Joan and Mom thanks for all the help you've given me with the kids in the last 2 weeks!
Happy October 1st!

Life Lessons from Running...or Things I Knew All Along but Have Taken on New Meaning in a Less Sedentary Lifestyle

Get ready...I've been inspired...
1. Excuses are worthless.
    I used to think I couldn't run or do certain exercises because of my shape/body type. Since I started walking, wogging, jogging, and exercising a couple of months ago, I have seen ALL KINDS of people doing it. Who'd a thought?! Big people, skinny people, fat people, short people, old people, young people, tall people...I cannot excuse myself from doing what is good for my health. If THEY can do it, so can I! and why shouldn't I? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

2. Setting a big, hairy, audacious goal (B-HAG) is great, but it's the baby steps that get you there.
    When Joan was inspired to do the half-marathon, and I jumped on board, I don't know what I thought my plan was going to be to get there. I'm so thankful for Joan and Karlyn to set the smaller goals along the way so that this B-HAG doesn't just become words. On a smaller scale, as I run my neighborhood, I'm often dealing with some daunting hills. I have learned to look ahead at the crest of the hill for only a split second to see what's ahead, and from then on, I only look a couple of feet ahead of me at a time. Seeing the whole trek at once is scary and makes me want to quit, but when I focus on just a little bit at a time, I'm at the top of the hill before I know it. Such is life, right? "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." A light at the feet isn't a spotlight to show the whole distance. It's just enough to get us through the next little bit and keep going.

3. Accountability is SO IMPORTANT!
    God made me a VERY social being, so this change in lifestyle for me has been so much more enjoyable with the people He has given to me to hold me accountable. My friend Missy (who is 41 has 18% body fat but loves me anyway) has been such an encourager to me. We are an awful lot alike, except for the body fat thing, so she really understands how to motivate me. She is the one who talked me into the bootcamp class, and at the end of every class she says, "Wasn't that GREAT?!" and I say back to her, "NO!" and she is quick to reply, "But you know you love the results!" And she is right. I really do have more energy and I love that I'm stronger and in better shape than I have been in a VERY long time. In fact, since I quit playing high school sports, I don't think I have ever been in good physical condition. (It's a good thing God gave our family healthy genes!) Our instructor Brandon is awesome and ends each class with a prayer, asking God for us to honor HIM with our bodies and to never let us become vain about them. And again, my lifetime accountability partners are my sisters...thanks so much, Karlyn, for getting me past the first BIG baby step by running with me in the 5K. And Joan...wow...you ran with us 5 hours away even though you didn't have to. Your dedication has always inspired me. Ecclesiastes 4:12 "A cord of three strands is not easily broken." We can do this!!!

4. Sometimes we have to stand alone in a commitment.
   Now, I know that I'm never truly "alone,"  but the hardest thing for me to do in this new lifestyle is to exercise alone (see opening sentence of #3). There are some days when I know it is a day for me to run, but I don't have a buddy to go with me. On Sunday, our guest preacher Charles Lowery repeated something I've heard him say before: "You don't feel your way into action; you ACT your way into feeling." I know that if I just get out there and DO IT, I will feel better. So I go. Not all the time though. In fact, a few days ago, I knew I should have gone running, and I didn't. I fell asleep on the couch about 6 pm, waking up at 7:30, thinking it was AM and that I was going to be late for work! Oh, if only I had gone running! Then I wouldn't have taken a nap, my sleep pattern would not have been thrown off for the night, and I wouldn't have sent my heart into unnecessary palpitations thinking I was late for my class. But I have gotten better. I have learned some strategies for getting through the run by myself, and strangely enough, my best strategy is to sing children's songs. "This Little Light of Mine" and "Deep and Wide" have gotten me up many hills! I love how the Lord brings Scripture to my mind, too. So thankful that we were taught to "hide God's Word in our hearts." I will run by myself now...but I still like it better with a buddy!

I'm sure this is only the beginning of what God is teaching me. I prayed that he would help me live a more disciplined life in 2012.  A healthier lifestyle is just one way He has been faithful to answer that prayer. Looking forward to seeing how He continues to be strong when I am weak.

I love you, family!

Karlyn: New set of legs!

It's official Joan, Christy, Morgan, and I (and whoever else registered that I don't know about) are running a 1/2 marathon in December.  At one point yesterday I thought I had totally lost my mind.  This is one goal that I'm really stretching hard to complete. 

Running isn't easy for me.  I do it because I don't like to walk.  After a mile I start thinking very negatively about not being able to keep going so I'm trying to pray for other things instead of thinking about my pitiful legs. 

We can do this.  I'm excited to go through this with y'all and hopefully finish without needing a new set of legs!

St. John's It is!

We met with St. John's Tuesday and as soon as we walked in I knew it was where Sawyer was supposed to be.  The principal was wonderful and honest and it felt like home.

I got the call yesterday that they did have a spot for him so we will be enrolling Sawyer this week.  It's still gonna take some figuring out since I work in DeWitt 2 days but I'm not worried about it we will figure everything out.

I still can't believe it's time for him to go to Kindergarten and even though I'm happy with the school I'm not ready for him to be gone 5 days a week!  Knox isn't either!

Karlyn: Pray for direction and peace in a decision

I go to talk to the the principal at St. John's school tomorrow about Sawyer possibly going there.  We need some clear direction on where to send him and I need PEACE about it.

Mom and Dad I totally understand now why you sent us to Calvary.  The closer it gets to time to send him the more I realize that his education isn't what's the most important to me but his heart and how we are responsible for protecting him and training him, and giving him every opportunity to know Christ. 

So, right now it's do we send him to Dewitt Public or St. John's.

To all Hughes "grand-girls":

Attention, Holly, Morgan, Staci, Kaylee, and sweet baby Bee-ah:

After attending Tessa's wedding this past weekend, your aunties have made some decisions regarding your future weddings. For details, ask any of them.

Just sayin',

Auntie Christy

THANK YOU! - Karlyn

I absolutely could not make it without all of you.  Mom and Dad you've worked a lot at my house many times with us not here.  You have no idea how much we appreciate it.

Joan and Christy i know you don't mind coming but it's such a huge help to know I don't have to worry about my kids and I can go and do what I need to!

Love y'all tons:)

Vote for Kaylee's Product

Kaylee and two friends from her marketing class submitted a product idea to a competition Walmart is hosting (get on the shelf). The winner is determined by number of votes received; so we are asking you to help her by voting. Here are the details...

Product Name: The Ultimate Party Duo

Link to view their video: http://getontheshelf.com/product/4394/The-Ultimate-Party-Duo

Voting Instructions: Text 4393 to 383838

You can vote once a day from March 7 - April 3.

Thanks for helping her accumulate some votes.

Lent, 40 Days of the Fruits of the Spirit - Karlyn

OK so since we aren't Catholic are any other denomination that observes Lent I try every year to take these 40 days to do something to prepare us and the kids for Easter.  This year I read about a girl who instead of giving something up during lent she decided to purposefully practice encouraging others instead of just thinking nice things about people and not sharing them. 

So, it got me to thinking what can I practice for these 40 days.  So, we are doing the Fruits of the Spirit for 40 days.  I don't really know how to do this so I'm winging it (something I do a lot of).  So, if any of you have any suggestions on how I can teach the kids 40 days of the Fruits of the Spirit let me know!!!!

Thank you to all of you for all the help you've given us since Thea was born.  There's no way I could make it without all of you!

Thank you, Miss Thea!

Well, this baby sure knows how to make things convenient for Aunt Christy, even if it did shake up everyone else's schedules! If the weather does what the forecasters say it's supposed to, then instead of taking 2 and a half personal days later this week for this exciting occasion, then I will have to take ZERO personal days. Sorry, Staci...you have to go to school this Thursday and Friday. = /

It has been a whirlwind last 48 hours (and I didn't even go through labor!) We are so happy Miss Thea's cute little chubby cheeks have arrived! I'm so grateful for her perfect health and that Karlyn had no complications. I'm SOOOO looking forward to holding that sweet baby girl tomorrow.

So proud of Kyle and totally enjoyed getting to hear his first "church" sermons today. I wish all of you could have been there. It was a sweet moment when Grandad introduced him. Hopefully there will be many more opportunities ahead. Thanks to all of you for your influence in his life. His life is a product of God using you to pour into him for the last 22 years. You have sure helped out this single momma in ways you could never imagine. Your godly examples and support speak volumes to us.

Love, love, love you all!!!

Ready but not Ready!

Yes I'm ready for her to come on but the house is NOT ready!  We painted the living room so everything that was in the living room is now on the kitchen table and needs to be organized, thrown away, or filed!  Ryan is determined to get the cabinets for the office done, he started Saturday. 

So, it really doesn't matter.  What gets done will get done!  I would just rather have a clean house before I leave!

Who's ready for Thea to get here? ME! ME! ME!

So, has everyone made their plans to be in Little Rock in a couple of weeks? Well, don't get to comfy with those plans because I'm thinking Mz. Thea can just come on right now if she's good and ready. Ryan, will that toxin-removing-shake-your-legs machine help put Karlyn into labor? I think it's worth a try. I've pretty much got my classes lined out for a few days, so it would be a fine time to go ahead and have a baby. If you're busy, don't worry...I'll fill in (with the delivery room assisting, that is).

Ready to see everybody and meet sweet baby Thea!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MORGAN (tomorrow)  I can't believe you are 20!!!!  You should still be the lil 5 year old with huge cheeks and adventure around every corner!  I love you soooooooooooooooo much and hope you have a great day!

Lots of praises!

Just thought I'd share how cool things are right now. Last night Staci and I ended up hosting our Wednesday night group here at our house rather than the other house we're normally at. It was a very small crowd due to a Wednesday night Razorback bball game. Just me, Staci, 2 guys, one of my friends that is Staci's Sunday morning small group leader, and one of the youth pastors and his wife. Although there were just 3 students present, it was, in my opinion, one of the best nights we've ever had. We talked about God's Word for probably an hour and half...and it wasn't just the adults talking! I don't know if that experience will ever occur again, but that's exactly what I will pray for every week. Feeling very blessed to have been a part of that.

Also, I will be leading a new volunteer group at our church that will assist pastors and their assistants when special events occur at the church. Dad, it's because of what I've watched you do over the years that I know how valuable this group can be. I know how hard you work when special events are on the agenda at church, and you should be free to focus on the people rather than the "stuff." One of the purposes of this group is to relieve pastors of the extra responsibilities that spring up during special events. Our group will be on call to do all the "little stuff" that can add up to a lot of work for the men and women on staff who really should be ministering to people instead of doing all the extras. I'm really excited about this responsibility, but as you know, my distractibility and abstract-randomness can rule supreme if I don't keep things in check. Pray that God will give me some supernatural focus as I practice my delegation skills.

I'm so thankful for all of you and the encouragement that is so liberally shared among us. Are we blessed beyond belief, or what? Love you all!

24 Days!!

Thanks again to mom and dad for helping us on Saturday!  Thea's room and the "porch" are all painted! 

We got some really sweet things at the shower and I wish all of you could see them.  24 days and counting.  I'm trying to enjoy my sleep as much as possible.  One more add to the list of prayers for her....that she enjoys her carseat!!!!  Saturday night we went out to eat with Tara and Bart in Carlisle and Knox says the whole time "Ma, I WANT OUT"!!!  He's crazy. 

Love y'all!

Awesome Parents!

Thank you thank you thank you mom and dad for ALL your help today!  We are so grateful for parents like you!  And mom I love how God works!  Your meal was great and everyone had plenty!

NEED E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR EVERYONE

Granddad wants e-mail addresses for everyone. Please post so that we can e-mail each of you.

Not signing up for cruise director just yet!

Hello, family! After one week of my new classes, I want to say thank you for praying for me while I struggled so much last semester. I feel like God must have said, "Ok, Christy, you are going to get a little break now." I know it's still early, but I really like these kids I have now. I have small classes for the first time in a long time, and we have great discussions. I feel like we have covered so much material already! Even in this busy homecoming week, I have more energy and passion for teaching than I did all last semester. I just might stay in this profession a little longer = )

Love you all!

Christy

Thea will be here soon!

I've got less than 6 weeks before Thea arrives (yay we don't have to say baby no name anymore) and this morning I was complaining to myself because I felt so miserable and I was up going to the bathroom 4 times last night and then it hit me that I was going to have a newborn very soon!!!!!

So...These are my prayers for this baby
1.  Thea has No reflux or spitting up
2.  Sleeps through the night as soon as or sooner than Sawyer did (3 weeks old)
3.  Healthy at birth and beyond
4.  No complications in delivery or issues in getting to the hospital
5.  Knox adjusts quickly to not having my undivided attention all the time!!!
6.  Sorry kids but I have to say this one...breast feeding begins easily and that I have just the right amount of milk and a little extra and not enough to feed a nation like I did with Knox:)

Please feel free to add more if I missed something!

Love y'all and Happy New Year!

Kyle's Argentina blog

Here is the link to follow Kyle's team in Argentina. Might be a couple of days before they can post again.

http://shoresargentina.pinecove.com/

Happy New Year Kids and GRANDkids!

Thanks for coming home to make our Christmas great! This is my January 2012 prayer for you."How truly I love you!You ar the best of our friends, and I pray for good fortune in everytghing you do, and for your good health--that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!I am most happy when some friends arrive and bring the news that y hou prsist in following the wayh of Truth. Notghing could make me happier than getting reports that my childrfen continue diligently in the way of Truth!" III John 1-4 Have a great month! I love you. Dad

Happy New Year!

Well, family, I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a new year. I decided that my gripey attitude that ended 2011 can be fixed if I really practice the 2 verses that I'm claiming for this year: Matthew 6:33 and Deuteronomy 6:5. (I'll let you look them up if you don't already have them memorized.) This is going to be the year of me learning discipline. EESH!!! That scares the living daylights out of me! I've said before that the only thing I seem to be consistent with is brushing my teeth every day (and even with that, I know Karlyn wishes I would also brush them every night, but I'm doing well to do it every day!) So...my GOALS (not resolutions) for 2012 are to practice Matthew 6:33 and Deuteronomy 6:5. Those Scriptures demand discipline, and I believe that if I live them out, the rest will fall into place.

Love all of you and looking forward to our expanding family being together again soon!