One of our most favorite persons - - - -

Alaina will be 2  in just a couple of days!! 
We can't wait to see her! 
Happy Birthday sweetie!!

Hooray!

Hooray, Hooray!

Congratulations Filmweavers!  

"The Penny" is the winner of the Best Feature Film Award at the 2010 SAICFF!

ALSO

"The Cripple Effect" is the winner of the Best Promotional Media Award

We thank the Lord for the many young film makers represented at this Film Festival.  These spiritually committed young people are rising up to challenge the anti-Christian, anti-family Hollywood film industry.  Their desire is to impact the culture while glorifying Jesus Christ.  I don't know about you, but this gives me encouragement and hope.  Let's support these folks with our prayers. 

Psst:  Nate was Recordist and Sound Designer for both of these films.  We are proud of you Nate. 

The Penny Accepted as a SAICFF Finalist!

                          

Filmweavers is pleased to announce that "The Penny" has been accepted as one of eight feature film semi-finalists at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival!
The film will be screening sometime during the festival October 28-30.  

If you are interested in the Festival CLICK HERE. 

Another film that Nate did the sound design for is also a semi-finalist  in the promotional category.  Its title is "The Cripple Effect".  Wow!  

 

To see all the semi-finalists use the link above.  There you can learn who made them and some production info.  Some even have trailers to view.  "smile"

What kind of a grandma would I be - - - -

if I didn't put up pictures of my grandbabies?

This one is blurry, but he's smiling at me! 

News on The Penny

It's here!  Woo Hoo.  The website for the movie "The Penny" is now up and running.  They have the new trailer up and all sorts of goodies! Congratulations Filmweavers!
Click here:   The Penny .  

“The Penny” is a drama/thriller that follows a series of seemingly insignificant events in a number of people’s lives. Hidden amidst their “bigger” problems, these disconnected pieces of their lives go unnoticed until they begin to fit together in a totally unexpected way. Suddenly these strangers are thrust together by what some would call luck, chance, fate, coincidence, or even destiny. But is it something even bigger than that?

You know I still haven't seen it.  ( it's not released yet)  I can't wait.

Howdy!

Whoa it's taken about a month to get over and recover from the virus I had. Believe it or not, my voice is still not back to normal.  Haley has had it for two weeks and two days and finally has no more fever! Still coughing though.  Hooray it is on its way out. 
So, what have we been up to you ask.  (you did ask didn't you?)

Well - - - - - - - - - nothing.  But I'm happy to report that I have pictures that I am finally going to post that confirm that we did have life before virus.  Now don't you just feel better??
(you don't have to answer that)

It's fall and that means pumpkins and corn mazes.  Here is this year's "Team Jones". 

Wouldn't you follow them through a 11 mile maze? 
Tom you remind me of Teddy Roosevelt in this picture.  

Each year the maze has a theme.  This year was the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America

They're off!

Uncle Tom, Aunt Karilyn and the "cousins". 

You can follow the maze in such a way that you get to punch all of your numbers.

 

Not where you thought you were??

At the beginning of the maze you could get a paper with questions.  If you answered it correctly then it told you the right direction to go. 

 

Our beloved Becca.  Does she know where to go?

Here they are on one of the three bridges throughout the maze.

 Beautiful Day!  Tall Corn!

Can you imagine how different it is to go through this after dark.  "grin"

 Notice who is NOT leading.  "smile"  She prefers to stand back and watch.

 

Looking down on the maze from the 3-4 story tower.  

 

 

They had a really long zip line that you could ride down from the tower, but that was expensive.  They had other lines that were free. 

Elli.

They had more options of things to do go karts etc. 
Great fun not to mention lots of chatting. (Haley's commentary)

Maybe next year we can get a big group again.  How about after dark?  "wink"

Yep we're home!

Haley and I have been home for almost a week now.  I haven't posted because I'm sick.  Some kind of respiratory thing.  I'll have to catch up later when I stop coughing and start feeling better.

Swimming on a hot afternoon!

Kyle came in this afternoon after working in the store and asked Alaina if she wanted to go swimming?  Oakland has a really nice community pool.  She was so excited that we could barely catch her to get her dressed.

Here she is all slathered in sunscreen and ready to roll!

Come on Dad let's go!!

After they got back she came running into the house with one shoe on and one shoe off. 

We had NO trouble putting her down for a nap!  wink 
Kyle you are a really fun Daddy!

Peaceful Morning

It's early early.  I can't sleep even though everyone, and I mean everyone (read baby Stephen) is sleeping.  I guess it just comes with age.  PTL I'm not even tired.  Hum wait until tomorrow.  I've cleaned everything that I quietly can.  "goofy grin"  Vacuuming is definitely out.  What a blessing to be serving those that I hold so dear!

I love this time of morning just before the dawn of a fresh new day.  And just think I have a head start.   

Just Noticing

There are some things that I am being reminded of while down with the grandkids.

• Parenting isn't for the weak of heart---or old people.
• Farm fresh eggs have very yellow yokes.
• I forgot about the fire hose potential of diaper changing.  
• Cats prefer to sleep under the cars on the gravel rather than under the bushes in the soft dirt.
• Toddlers have 3 times as much energy as grandparents.
• I still love to look out on farmer's fields they are my favorite landscape.
• There are few things as wonderful as the love of your family.

Talk to you later it is almost noon and I'm ready for a nap!!! 

Across the Generations

The last time Alaina came for a visit (before Stephen) she and Grandpa Sisson got to know each other better. 

She decided to climb up in his lap and make herself at home as only a toddler can.

She got a hold of a book and brought it over for his reading pleasure.
It seemed especially geared to the interests of a Great Grandfather.  It focused on the variety of modes of transportation available.  They had quite a discussion about that one. 

Then she brought yet another about puppies.  Grandpa Sisson has a vast knowledge about that subject!

Suddenly she discovered something else wonderful about Grandpa, he has pockets full of mysterious things.

At one point Grandpa said, "This is the first time that I have held a great-grandchild!" 

They had a sweet time across the generations.

More

Kyle came in last night and said that there had been a heat advisory yesterday! We had no idea. We hadn't even stepped outside. "grin" Our little world here is very simple: change diapers, play with toys, change diapers, eat/feed, change diapers, visit/hug/laugh, and change diapers. 

This is the life! "WINK"     (notice I didn't list sleeping)

Had to put in a few pictures of Bird since she's usually behind the camera.
Yes "T" this is hot enough for me!! Yikes

Happiness

Greetings from Oakland! Don't ask me about the weather or events etc.-- we have one thing--okay maybe two things on our minds. Stephen and Alaina. (Gretchen and Kyle occasionally too) I couldn't get the pictures to load the way I usually do since G&K have picasa so I tried a collage! It worked. Wow. I feel so accomplished.

Things are going well. Its wonderful to be here and be busy helping. S-M-I-L-E I love newborns. There is nothing like their smells, and their warm snuggly bodies sleeping in your arms.

Stephen

Haley and I are heading south.  The guys are holding down the fort here (and feeding the cats).  Yep we are going to meet Stephen for the first time.

I was thinking, we will meet him for the first time but he is an eternal being.  He will live now for the rest of eternity! Our responsiblity is to train him up in the fear/respect of the Lord, and his choice to pursue the Lord with his whole heart.  Our prayer is that he live his time here on earth totally devoted to the Lord. 

Big thoughts about such a little shrimp.  "smile"

The wonderful Jones kids, who were visiting Kyle and Gretchen when Stephen made his appearance, sent us this tantalizing picture from their hospital visit! (No . . . . . . they didn't send us any face pictures!!!) 

Yes he has his father's toes and we can't wait to see whose face.


PS Haley and I plan to take a million pictures and post them here!

Big Sister

 Alaina (who is impersonating a fish) is a big sister! 

Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stephen Christopher Phillips  

has joined the clan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He made his début at 1:00 AM this morning! 

He is 7lbs. 18in.

Gretchen’s labor  was about 3 1/2 hours long. 

He was born ten days before his due date.

Gretchen and Stephen are both doing well and Kyle seems to be just GREAT. ;-) 

Alaina seems well since she has our THREE Jones cousins for her to entertain, I mean to entertain her. ;-)

And WE are just, just so HAPPY, EXCITED, GOING WILD WITH JOY!!! Anyway we are hoping to be able to see him tomorrow!

For the clan, the very blissfully happy,

Auntie Haley 

P.S. His first name is pronounced with a long E and a V. 

Nothin' like it!

Nothin' like green beans and tomatoes fresh from the garden.  Well . . .  in our case . . . . tomato (1) fresh from the pot on our deck.  Smile

My Dad

Sometime last April we were able to bring Dad home.  None of us wanted him in a nursing home so we found an agency that has 24 hour live in caretakers.  After trying out a couple of different people we found the most wonderful young man, Louis.  He's a perfect fit.  Because of his kindness, strength and devotion Mom is able to have Dad at home with her.  We are truly thanking the Lord for Louis. 

So when the "Kids" were last up we headed over to Mom and Dad's house and brought lunch.  It was great to all be together.  Dad always loves kids and Alaina is no exception. 

The Phillips Clan won't be up for a couple of months now until after the baby comes.  (Oh we can't wait!)  So they spent some time with "Great Grandpa Bud". 

I'm not sure that Dad really wanted his picture taken, but I know that many of you who love him will be glad to see how he's doing. 

My Mom's Kiss

Haley spent the night with Grandma Glenna this week.  

She got up early to help out by doing some weeding.  She loves gardening.  

I called over to see when Haley was coming home and chatted with Mom a bit.  

Mom said that she was sending a kiss to me with Haley when she came home.

Okay --- I thought chocolate.

She said it was a BIG kiss.

Okay --- I thought big Hershey's kiss.

She said it was Pink!  Very Pink.

Pink is my favorite color.  Okay -- I'm stumped.  

Wow Watermelon!

This morning I came across this helpful post on Raising Homemakers.com . Perfect timing!  There's a big juicy melon downstairs calling my name. 
You bet I'm using this today! "watery grin"

How To Cut A Watermelon

Posted on 15 July 2010 by Courtney 

Have you been hacking at your watermelon for years? I have! Actually, I am a little scared of cutting watermelons – I feel like it’s dangerous – because the first slice is so difficult.

BUT 2 summers ago, my sister Kristen taught me this really neat way to cut up a watermelon quite easily! I shared it with a few of my friends and when I saw the amazement in their eyes – I thought what a typical blogger thinks – I better blog about this! lol!

Here’s How to Cut a Watermelon:

Step #1
Slice the watermelon long ways into four pieces.

Step #2

Take one of the quarters and slice it with your knife straight down in rows.

Step #3

Now take your knife along the side and slice it long ways making squares on that side.

Step #4
Turn it and slice it long ways on the other side – making squares on that side too.

Step #5
Slice along the rind while not letting the squares fall off. Then lift your watermelon over the bowl and let the pieces slide off into beautiful squares in your bowl!

Isn’t that gorgeous in the bowl! Serve and Enjoy!
Walk with the King!