Half Time

I just finished reading the book "Half Time" by Bob Buford. The book was actually given to Ricky by a good friend, but I picked it up one day and could not stop reading it. It's basically about changing your game plan from success to significance, and many things have made me stop and think. One particular section of the book I would like to share here with my readers.

Bob is reflecting on a very difficult time in his life when he was forced to lean on God for comfort. He mentions a simple Quaker prayer about giving and receiving. Because the Quakers use their hands as a type of religious symbol, the first part of the prayer is done with your palms up, visualizing yourself receiving all that you need from God. The second part is prayed with your palms down, visualizing all your cares and concerns being left in the lap of a benevolent and loving God.

"God, you have given my life into my hands. I give it back to you. My time, my property, my life itself...knowing it is only an instant compared to my life with you in eternity."
With palms down..."Father, to you I release the cares and concerns of this world, knowing you loved me enough to give your only Son in my behalf. I'm a sinner in need of a Savior and, once again, I accept what you have for me as sufficient. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Then, this morning as I was doing my quiet time, my devotion was centered around Ephesians 3:20-21 which says, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

If you have a chance to read "Half Time," you will not be disappointed!

Random Pics

Death Valley during the week.

Lizzie asleep with ball in her mouth.

Kids with Milton Jennings at Clemson Basketball Exhibition Game.

Kids with Bobo - 7 foot 2 inches

Kelsey & Coby's Swim Team (Coby not pictured)

Happy Halloween

Halloween morning we were up early getting ready for the Homecoming game at Clemson. We arrived early (9:45am) and got into our spot fairly easy.

Ricky's brothers and their families joined us as we celebrated Mr. Ben's 75th birthday. Ricky cooked BBQ and I made 3 different types of chex mix for my taste testers. I think everyone liked the one made with sweetened condensed milk!

Kelsey with her bib while eating her BBQ!

Ricky tasting the chex mix!

Doesn't he look like he loves me?

OK, so we didn't make Mr. Ben blow out 75 candles, but he sure did a good job taking care of the ones we did put on his cake.

After the game it was time to get dressed up for Trick or Treating in our neighborhood. Coby could not decide what he wanted to dress up as, so as a last minute decision he asked Ricky to paint his face from a design he found on the web. Kelsey had a leopard mask, but she wanted her face painted as well, so I ended up free-handing a design I found off the internet.
This blog post was edited by the one and only Lizzie the Labradoodle.

Trunk-n-Treat

Our church had its annual Trunk-n-Treat Sunday night. Ricky and I set up our trunk Zambian style. Of course, I was the only one that dressed up! You can't see my Zambian towels that are hanging from each side of the car. And we played "Amazing Voices" on CD so everyone could hear the beautiful voices of our Zambian friends.

Austin helped out with the games. He was in charge of the bouncy house. He wouldn't let me take his picture, so this is what happens when you're trying to hide the fact that you're taking a picture of him. (I think it turned out pretty good with the steeple in the background) We had such a large crowd, and in only 90 minutes 500 hot dogs were gone! I took a picture of almost every child that came to my car for candy, so you can see the other pictures in the slideshow.

Coby was a Clemson Tiger fan. Austin enjoyed painting Coby's face, and his hair is painted orange and purple.

Kelsey and her friend, Brooke, dressed up. Kelsey is a leopard (carrying her Lozi basket from Zambia).

Kelsey's First Swim Meet

Kelsey getting ready to race

Warm-ups before the race

Diving in for the breast stroke

Kelsey did very well her first meet. We are very proud of her!

Blog Neglect

I find there is not much to blog about these days. I spend time reading so many blogs that I sometimes neglect my own. And I really cannot stand to post anything without a picture! So, I took this picture the other day of Lizzie running around with the horses. They have become quite friendly with one another, and Lizzie enjoys being outside where she can run free for a change of pace. She is usually taking naps inside all day until the kids get home from school. She has really grown since my last post. We weighed her at home yesterday and she is all of 42 pounds now. Her favorite place to snooze is on the porch where it's nice and cool this October.

In other news...I (Niki) will be having surgery on Tuesday, October 20th to remove my gallbladder which is functioning at 8%, compared to the normal 35% or greater.

See You At the Poles

There were about 80-85 students engaged with God in prayer and connecting with fellow Christians in unity around the flag pole this morning.