We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas Season Kickoff brought to you by the Simmons' Family Dancers. You will have to pause the music at the bottom of the blog. Who said "Bible School Girls" can't dance?! Enjoy!

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God Bless America

I got this in an email this morning and even though the election did not go as many of us had hoped, I think the following article is very true.


Welcome, Mr. President
(by Kent Heaton)

Election Day has passed and the nation has elected a new president. Every four years our country is subjected to the grueling process of selecting a candidate to fill the job of President. He now takes the reign of leadership for this country. A great deal of people will be disappointed in the selection; more will be pleased. Save the coming of the Lord the sun will rise upon a new day and life will go on. Life is funny that way. When the year 2000 herald the coming of a new millennium people thought the world was going to come to an end. During this political year many believed that with the election of the president the country would disintegrate into a whirlpool of chaos. Life goes on.
After the flood the Lord proclaimed, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22 ). The circle of life goes on regardless of the political, economic or social upheavals of our time. This election will change the country as much as any election. At the days end man still has the same needs. The view one has of the President, his view of himself and his view of God will determine what life will be like.
Peter commanded through the Holy Spirit to “fear God and honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17 ). Rome did not have elections like we do so the king under consideration (probably Nero) was not the most wholesome person to have in power. However because governmental authority is established by God (Romans 13) then we have an obligation to be subject to the king; or President as in our case. The wise man wrote, “Fear the Lord and the king” (Proverbs 24:21).
Peter wrote in the context the manner of life of the Christian should be a model for others to follow. “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God” (1 Peter 2:11-16).
Whether we like the one elected President or not we are to be subject to them. People of God do not revile and bring accusation against those in authority (2 Peter 2:10 ,11; Romans 13:1-7). “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:7). Jesus taught the same lesson in Matthew 22:21.
The election of a President does not change our obligation to serve the true and living God. Peter proclaimed this truth in Acts 5:29 – “We ought to obey God rather than men.” We are to offer up “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). This is what is important in life. Welcome, Mr. President. All our prayers are with you. God bless America .

Halloween Pictures

Here are a couple of pictures of the kids from Halloween.

Jake's 1st Deer

Yesterday was the Juvenile Deer Hunt in Tennessee. Brent and Jake went in the morning. They saw a couple but couldn't get a shot. Kenneth took Jake back yesterday afternoon and Jake came home with an 8 point. This was his first deer and I missed it! We were at a Hayride and didn't have time to get home before they had to take it to be processed. Not that I wanted to be up in the tree with him when he shot it, but I would have liked to have seen his deer in person not just in a picture. I feel like I have missed his first steps! I'm glad Kenneth was with him though. That will be a special memory for both of them. Thanks Lynell and Lori for taking pictures for me!

Beach Bums

As if the news of Brian and Ginger getting married wasn't exciting enough, they decided to get married on the beach AND we were invited to go! I had not been to the beach in 15 years and Brent and the kids had never seen the beach. We had a great time. Jake and Annie especially. They now share my love of the beach. Brent and Jared... not so much. I still think they had a good time even though they were not crazy about the sand and water. The weather was perfect. Not too hot, but warm enough to get in the water. There wasn't a drop of rain the whole time we were there. It was a very relaxing trip to me. Hope you enjoy the slideshow of some of our pictures. Sorry for the sideways ones. I'm not really sure how to fix that. Becky??? We got some really good family pictures on the beach too, but I am saving those for Christmas cards. Brent says he has no plans to return but I definately have no plans to wait 15 more years to go back. Nana pack your bags!

Congratulations Brian and Ginger!

Brent's older brother Brian got married last week and in my opinion could not have found anyone more perfect for him than Ginger. She has fit into our family just perfectly. There has never been two people who I wanted together more than these two. They were married on the beach in Destin, FL. The whole family went down there for the wedding. It was the first wedding I had ever been to on the beach. It was beautiful and we all had a wonderful time. Thanks guys for letting us share in your special day!!! More beach picture later...

Way Back When...

I found the website www.yearbookyourself.com through one of the blogs I stalk. :-) I had alot of fun with mine and Brent's pictures. The kids thought it was hilarious. Here is my favorite of each of us! We make such a cute couple!