JAM Fest, 2008

JAM Fest....also known as the Jesus and Me Festival was held at First Baptist, Lithia Springs on October 31, 2008. The event consisted of music, food, and trunk or treat. There was a cake wall and an opportunity for parents to get pictures of their kids in costume. The contemporary and youth bands provided the music.

Our friends, June and Mike Strow.

Rachel, the old man, and her friend Katie.

Reed Bowman, David's co-leader with the Men's Ministry, and his wife Tweetie at the Men's Ministry booth.

David hard at work at the Men's Ministry booth. The Bowmans came for dinner a few nights before, and we devised a "fishers of men" fishing game for the kids to try.

Alan and Barbara Wilson....

The Harrisons, Jean and Danny, with their sliding board for the kids.

Even the dogs got into the event by dressing up.

From left to right....Jordan Nesbitt, Katie Joiner, and Rachel.

Seen below are Evelyn Brooks and Mark Sampson.

Arrrrgh! Dale and Vickie Pickens dressed as pirates.

The Youth Band performed early in the evening. The old man singing front and center is Rachel.

There's only a snippet of video, but you can hear and see her in the clip below:




No....this isn't some geriatric couple. It's Rachel and Emma Head on the way to party the next night. Aren't they cute?

Home Renovations

Here are some shots of our home improvements.

This shows the siding (about five years old now) and some of the new porch.

The front door with one of the very large ferns. Notice there is no porch railing on the side of the porch past the fern. The plan is to create a step down and extend the porch on to the end of the house......later. :)

Our Fall mums and pumpkins on the steps.

This one shows the bottom of the steps where we make a sitting area for bench. notice the copper cover on the post at the bottom of the steps. David is installing lights on each post down the steps.

A closer view of the sitting area....where a bench will eventually go. Notice the inset of slate in the sitting area.

The pampas grass out towards the street.

Standing in the driveway looking towards the front steps. Notice how much wider they are now. I love that.....

Another view of the steps. Notice each porch post has a copper cover.

Another close up of the mums and pumpkins.

Thanksgiving, 2008

Guess I shouldn't post anymore Christmas pictures until I finish up with Thanksgiving. Here is our visit to Nanny and Papa Cooper's for Thanksgiving, 2008.

Notice I refer to Matt and Rachel in the captions with our favorite reference to them...The Boy....The Girl.

IF YOU CLICK ON THE SLIDESHOW YOU CAN SEE LARGER IMAGES.

Deacons' Christmas Dinner: 2008

Christmas Tree: 2008

This year's version of the Cooper Christmas tree....a more skinnier tree since we renovated ourselves right out of our usual tree spot.

The comments from friends and family have been along the lines that the tree is elegant. Hmmm....I'm already thinking about different ways to decorate it next year.

This is actually two bows......one just looked a bit skimpy.

The tree is filled with glass ornaments of all shapes and sizes I've collected over the years.

I've even included a few framed images of the family.....

There are snowflakes of the gold, glittery kind.

Clear glass angels....Angels formed with gold wire.

Clear glass chandelier-type ornaments.

Clear glass drop ornaments along with cut glass snowflakes (to the right).

Old fashioned, elongated-type ornaments.

Spun glass angels....this one was actually a gift from a former student of mine.

Angels flecked with gold....

Ornaments in interesting shapes....

Golden globes filled with Christmas trees.

Old fashioned braided-type ornaments.

Jeweled golden snowflakes.

Balls formed from cranberries and grapes.

One of my new treasures I added this year....golden butterflies.

Another interesting glass ornament....

Angels with golden skirts....

Glass and gold ballerinas....

Irridescent glass snowflakes.

and finally.....our tour around this year's Christmas tree comes to an end with another full shot of it. Hmmm....there's still some time. What can I add to it besides some presents?