2008 Candidate Forum

'Vote for my better tomorrow' Hannah Russell, 4

Singing the National Anthem: RFF Kids: Lily Huse, Jordan Russell, Jillian Sorah, Cody Littrell, Bailey Littrell, Colby Lowrance, Riley Huse, Emma Hewitt, Victoria Moffett, Allie Hewitt, Drew Littrell

Singing the National Anthem: RFF Kids: Lily Huse, Jordan Russell, Jillian Sorah, Cody Littrell, Bailey Littrell, Colby Lowrance, Riley Huse, Emma Hewitt, Victoria Moffett, Allie Hewitt, Drew Littrell

Color Guard performed by Boy Scout Troop 1136

Three of the young people who asked the questions to the candidates: Landon Bruce, Jonny Russell, Taylor Huse

Rep. Phil King, Texas House of Representatives, District 61

Candidates for Texas House of Representatives, District 61 from both parties answering the questions: Charles Randolph and Incumbent Phil King

Pastor Joe Bruce of Real Family Fellowship leading the audience in prayer over the candidates as instructed in I Timothy 2:1-2

(this is better as they are praying, but it is a little blurry.)

During the meet and greet some of the candidates and some of the young people from RFF had an impromptu jam session.

Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, District 12 Terry Smith and young citizen of Parker County, Joshua Youngblood

'Vote for my better tomorrow'. Daniel Josiah Russell 18 months

The meet and greet went for over an hour as local citizens got to know the people running for offices in our precinct, county, State and nation.
Darrel Russell (citizen) Clint Hall and Tom W. Clayton both running for Precinct One Commissioner (not pictured: George Conley)

Princess Hannah Ruth

We had a wonderfully fancy celebration in honor of our little princess Hannah Ruth who will be turning four on October 19th. A decree went forth inviting all the little princesses to come and celebrate with Sir Darrel of Russell at the Russell Chateau in the fifth hour after noon on Sunday. Each time a new princess arrived they were announced and taken to the royal festivities. The Royal festivities included photos by the Royal Photographers (aka Joshua and Queen Mom), making of a scepter, making of a Princess of the King bag to carry all your accessories and of course making of a royal tiara with the Royal helpers: Sarah and Jordan. They also had a royal banquet of hot dogs with all the trimmings grilled by the Royal grillers: Joshua and King Daddy. The royal grounds keeper (Jonny) had the grounds looking... royal and thus all the little princess and prince's could run and jump with joy. They rode the royal horse (rocking horse) drove the royal chariot (little people car) and burst the royal pinita. And most certainly they were tempted with delightful cupcakes and ice cream sundays. It was an all around fancy delightful time for all the little princesses.

Registering to vote is EASY

Registering to vote is EASY. Just click here: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml

You don't have to leave the comfort of your home, just verify your registration status online and if necessary, print out a registration application, sign it and mail it by REGULAR MAIL. Your registration form canNOT be submitted electronically.

Your conservative friends will be happy to verify their registration or to use this easy way to register before the deadline on October 6th.

Am I educating?

If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute, and can write with perfect penmanship, but have not been shown how to communicate with the Designer of all language
....I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade you with my stunning logic,
but have not been instructed in God's wisdom....
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I read Shakespeare and John Locke and can discuss their writings with keen insight,
but have not read the greatest of all books -- the Bible -- and have no knowledge of its personal importance
...I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables, and chemical formulas,
but have never been disciplined to hide God's Word in my heart
....I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can explain the law of gravity and Einstein's theory of relativity,
but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One Who orders our universe .... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus and species, and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award,
but have not been introduced to the Maker's purpose for all creation,
.... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can recite the Gettyburg Address and the Preamble to the Constitution,
but have not been informed of the hand of God in the history of our country
.... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments, and can write music that moves men to tears,
but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the universe and worship Him,
... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball and do 100 push-ups without stopping,
but have never been shown how to bend my spirit to do God's will,
... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can identify a Picasso, describe the style of da Vinci, and even paint a portrait that earns an A+,
but have not learned that all harmony and beauty comes from a relationship with God,
.... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I were to graduate with a perfect 4.0 and am accepted at the best university with a full scholarship,
but have not been guided into a career of God's choosing for me,
.... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I become a good citizen, voting at each election and fighting for what is moral and right, but have not been told of (or believe) the sinfulness of man and his hopelessness without Christ,
... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it, and come to know Him, Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me, THEN I HAVE BEEN EDUCATED!

August Newsletter

The August Newsletter is finished and online. So if you are interested or really bored you can download it and read it or look at the pictures.

The Rest of the Story or... the story behind the story

I didn't want to post these silly stories with the Archaeology post, but they have to be told.
The day that Jonny dug the hole for the project Hannah found it and came running into the house. She said "Momma, Jonny is going to bury me." I of course said oh no he is not and she responded with yes, he is, I found the place and it is just my size. The other kids came in and said she had laid down in it and thought for sure it was just her size. Jonny took her out and told her he was just practicing digging good holes.
A few days later Jonny had filled the hole in and it was ready for the project. Stephen and Jordan came up while I was talking to one of the neighbors and asked where Ginger was, I told them I am sure she was at the neighbors and they insisted that she was not, they had called for her and she was not anywhere. They started acting weird and then they came up and said, Mom, it's ok, you can tell us... we found the grave where Jonny buried her. Without laughing I assured them that she was not buried in that 'grave' and we went off to find our dog and assure the kids she was alive and well.
So I guess the moral of the story is, if you want to draw a LOT of attention to an area, dig a hole and leave it there for kids to discover!

Archaeology

Today was a fun school day. We are using a plethora of curriculum including: Mystery of History; Creation to the Resurrection, Eagles Wings A Complete Guide to Celebrating our Messiah in the Festivals, Greenleaf Press books including Famous Men of Greece, An Activity Guide to the Old Testament Days, several books I got from Israel; including Food at the Time of the Bible, Life at the Time of Jesus and the books that we got from each place we visited, along with several library type books. (Make sure you watch the you tube videos at the bottom of the post if you have time.)
After reading the intro to quarter one and lesson one of Mystery of History, we did an activity that I based off a project in the Activity Guide to the Old Testament Days "Dig your own Archaeological site". We still need to do a wrap up and the kids will write reports (varying with their ages and abilities, but I am excited and so I will write my report here.
We read a book "Archaeologists Dig for Clues" by Kate Duke. It took us a couple of days to read this as it was full of information and could not be read and assimilated by my younger ones in one sitting. In the back ground, Jonny was preparing the site for me. First he dug a rectangular hole that was about 2 foot by 4 foot. Then we got two different terra cotta type pots, broke them into a few pieces and Jonny buried them in sand in the hole and then covered them with a layer of dirt to make it look like the ground prior to the digging. Then Joshua went out and placed the grid using stakes and twine. Then the Archaeologist and volunteers went out to do the dig.
I first explained to them about the grid and we played a game of where is the grid and I would call out a location "A3" and they would find it or put Daniel into it.
I was amazed that I did not even have to explain much about this and Stephen new where they were immediately. Then I explained how to dig in order to preserve the integrity of the site and then they went to work. They were each so excited when they found a 'treasure'. Stephen was a little dismayed when everyone had found one or two before he found one, but then when he found one he was doubly excited. Though he cut his finger on the find. After finding what they thought were all the pieces and cleaning them off and logging them on their grid paper the pieces went into the house so they could be reconstructed into their original shape. Or as near to that shape as we could get with a hot glue gun. (Though a few hours later I was brought a new found piece with much excitement!) We will probably read the book again and they will do some sort of report to wrap it up, but that will be tomorrow.