Today, Kerry had a Thanksgiving party at HomeScholars Academy. (Every Tuesday at HomeScholars, he attends classes in Art, Spanish, and Music.) Check out today’s pics from HomeScholars…These photos are from his Spanish class and his Thanksgiving party:

Here’s Kerry, doing his Spanish written work:

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Working with these students is Bessie Brantley, who teaches Spanish.

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**{Other teachers not pictured are Traci Brantley (HSA owner/Art teacher) and Honey Beth Wiggs (Music teacher)}

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Austin and Kerry

(Kerry tells me that they are BFF or best friends forever )

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Most of the “crew” :

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Yesterday was our wedding anniversary…Scott and I have been married 13 yrs. (We first met about 23 yrs. ago.)  We had a wonderful anniversary.  We actually went out to dinner last night…just the two of us!! (Neither of us could remember the last time we’d done that, but we know it’s been years!! Can you believe that?! )

I’m very thankful for my husband, for our life together, and for our family.

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Scott, I love you, and I’m forever yours!!

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I haven’t slept too well tonight…woken up a couple of times…up now at 3:00 am.  Part of me wants to feel discouraged, but His Spirit encourages me.  He reminds me that :

• He loves me
• He’s given me a promise
• He’s always with me
• and He has a plan

My Lord keeps bringing the lyrics of this song to my heart and mind this morning, as I breathe a sigh of relief:

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“The Martins The Promise lyrics“

I never said that I would give you silver or gold
Or that you would never feel the fire or shiver in the cold
But I did say you’d never walk thru this world alone
And I did say don’t make this world your home

I never said that fear wouldn’t find you in the night
Or that loneliness was something you’d never have to fight
But I did say I’d be right there by your side
And I did say I’ll always help you fight

‘Cause you know I made a promise that I intend to keep
My grace will be sufficient in your time of need
My love will be the anchor that you can hold on to
This is the promise, this is the promise I’ve made to you

I never said that friends would never turn their backs on you
Or that the world around you wouldn’t see you as a fool
But I did say like me you’ll surely be despised
And I did say My ways confound the wise

I didn’t say you’d never taste the bitter kiss of death
Or have to walk thru chilly Jordan to enter into rest
But I did say I’d be waiting right on the other side
And I did say I’ll dry every tear you’ve cried

‘Cause you know I made a promise that I’ve prepared a place
And someday sooner than you think you’ll see me face to face
And you’ll sing with the angels and a countless multitude
This is the promise, this is the promise I’ve made to you

So just keep on walking don’t turn to the left or right
And in the midst of darkness let this be your light
That hell can’t separate us and you’re gonna make it thru
This is the promise, this is the promise I’ve made to you
Oh, this is the promise, this is the promise I’ve made to you

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*You may listen to this song here.

10/11/09–Got Scott’s dad to snap a few quick family pics after church…Hadn’t had a family photo in 3 yrs.! Little Kerry is now 6 and Sarah is 8…and Scott and I, of course, are getting younger and younger every day!! =-)

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Ah, there we go…the youngins are smiling a little in this one!

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Daddy thinks he’s SOOOO clever…but you can tell by my face that I’m on to something. I can tell by Sarah’s face that she’s bursting at the seams…trying to hold it in and not tell me! Little Kerry’s like “Hee, Hee, Hee! Mom’s got rabbit ears…I’m not going to tell her…I could keep this to myself ALL day!!” =-)

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Hee, Hee, Hee…it’s just the parents in on it this time…See how happy I look!! The kids look so innocent and unsuspecting!! Hee, Hee, Hee!! =-)

(Can you tell I’ve been w/ Scott a LONG time?! Yes, I’m certainly learning some of his ways and sense of humor!! =-) )

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Scott and I…I just love how serious he looks and how his expression hardly changes at all from 1 pic to the next!! How does he do that?!

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My gray shows a little more in this one. It was nice to be closer to hubby though….but he looks even MORE serious in this one!

…my little Kerry’s birthday!!  He will be 6 yrs. old…so hard to believe!!

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Little Kerry, Happy Birthday!!  I love you SO much!!

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Here’s a couple of links (from last year) about my precious little boy:

–“Five years”

–“Happy In Hats”

…my Mom’s birthday!

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Mom, Happy Birthday!! I love you!!

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Sometimes I start to wonder if I’m not bold enough in my witness to others.  However, I’m quickly reminded that I MUST be led by the Holy Spirit, and I cannot force such things.  In my personal relationships, God will lead me…He will give me the words to say at the right time.  I find when I try to “speed things up” and “take matters into my own hands,” that I can easily become self-righteous or at least come across that way.  The words won’t come out right because the focus was wrong from the beginning.  Our focus should always be on Jesus…His leading, His way, His timing, His power to save.  “Tearing people down” about their sinner status is no better than giving them a false sense of importance.  The point is…excessive pride or self-condemnation put the focus on the sinner, not the Savior.

Any good thing we do is for His glorification.  The sin in our lives is evidence of our need for a redeemer.  I thank the Lord that He didn’t come to make us feel good about ourselves, nor did He come to condemn us!! (“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” –John 3:17 )

He came to give us life and to set us free!! Now that is some good news worth sharing!!

“People don’t need to be beat on the head with the bad news that they are condemned for being a sinner. We should be telling them the good news, that Jesus loves them and died to redeem them from condemnation.”  –Mike Waters

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**For more Christian cartoons by Mike Waters, you may visit: http://www.joyfultoons.com/

The other day, we went back to the Science museum and spent a little more time. This time, the kids and I went w/ my friend Suzanne and her son Ethan.   Below are just a few of the pics I got. {The others haven’t been processed yet. (Yes, I did say “processed”…I know…how “archaic” is that, huh?! =-) ) }

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This is Sarah, Ethan, and Kerry in front of the bell (in front of the museums.)

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Quite a large bite on that one, huh?!

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Sarah, Suzanne, Kerry, and Ethan

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Cooh, huh?! =-) Ceiling of dino exhibit…flying Pterodactyls.

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