Big changes

Well, constuction has finally begun. The demolition crew made quick work of getting rid of the roof and the garage!

Freedom Bound

Garrett stared as Father in his 5th grade production of the story of immigration to the U.S., Freedom Bound. This is the staring character, with 3 solos, which Austin played just 3 years ago when he was in 5th grade. Garrett did a SUPER job! He looked so comfortable on stage, he smiled, he projected his voice, and he sang perfectly! We are SO proud of him!

Explosion

Austin was working on a science project yesterday when we all heard a loud BOOM! He was building a wind powered propeller by pumping air into a glass bottle and as the air came out the propeller spun. Well, he got too much air into the bottle and it exploded with a force that was very alarming! Thankfully, the glass didn't get into his eyes or on his face, but the shards of glass went EVERYWHERE! I wish I had a picture of Austin standing in the middle of his room, a few minutes before we needed to leave for school, with blood dripping from his arms and legs, and glass all over. This picture is what is left of the glass bottle with the propeller attached. His pants didn't survive the force of the glass, and the biggest and bloodiest gash was on his leg. He got a total of 15 stitches yesterday, spread out over many smaller cuts.

Brown family update

Thanks for your prayers family!

I wish you could see Bailey today. She is just amazing. So strong amidst her recovery.

Her legs and hips are really torn up. She'll be able to walk again but there's just so much healing yet to be done. Pray for God to ease her pain.

Pray for Hutton. He was driving when the accident happened. At the scene he kept repeating, "What have I done?" over and over. Pray for God to bring him peace and comfort and relief.

Pray for Tod. His heart is just devastated over the reality that he's got to plan a funeral for his precious boy.

Pray for Leanne. How do you measure the breadth and depth of a mother's heart?

Pray for Dale & Rita. They were the first family on the scene and the images won't go away.

Pray for Reagan--the little bro (10 years old). He wasn't in the car. He had traded places with...

Allison. Alan & Holly's oldest. She had her seatbelt on and was fine.

Tod, Allison & Bailey were in the middle seat of the Suburban when the accident happened. Hutton & Leanne in the front. Connor was laying down in the "Back back" without his seatbelt and was thrown from the car. He died immediately.

I wish there was a "re-do" button that could give us another shot at all this. I wish you guys were here. Love, bw

Last soccer tournament

Huntington Beach was the location of Garrett and Blake's final soccer tournament of the select season. They wished the cousins still lived that close! Blake's team took 3rd place, while Garrett's team posted a L/W/T from their 3 games. Garrett was the first one on his team to score in the tournament on a penalty kick.

Mike gets older and better

Any excuse for a yummy cake - this one is for Mike's b-day!

Final day of Anything Goes

Thank you everyone for coming to support Austin in his performance as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh!! You are the best!

Anything Goes cast

Brownwood Sunsets

I miss Paul & Paula--but can't wait for our time at the lake this summer! The sunsets are just so great! Let's hope the frogs are out in force in July!

Cute Babies!!

Here's the promised picture of Olivia & Ashley--and our daughter's tongue in full effect. She is absolutely adorable!

Snaggle Tooth

Ok, Alex is losing teeth like crazy--5 so far, and another tooth was loose today! I thought you'd get a kick out of our young boy growing up (and cashing in with the tooth fairy!).

Life in Odessa

I haven't blogged pictures in way too long, so now I'm blogging way too many pictures! I started out prepared to tell you about our day Sunday, then got carried away with pictures. More about Sunday later, but we'll just say for now that it was an incredible day! We had our "Grand Opening" of the new building and invited folks from the community to see what we've done with the old country club. SO fun, and so many new people we got to meet. One of those "wear yourselves out to the glory of God" kind of days.

Our little doll...


Showing his "happy heart"

Elijah--he does everything with all his might!

Alex had the part of Ham, son of Noah, in the 1st grade program. He had all the funny lines and ha!d fun making everyone laugh!

One special thing about Midland Christian is that every child gets recognized by their teacher sometime during the year. Alex's teacher, Mrs. Arnold, was my camp counselor long ago--a great lady. They were studying energy in science, so she said, "Alex Wall is an amazing form of energy. Scientists know that light, heat and sound are all forms of energy, but they obviously don't know about Alex. Energy can be defined as a will to work, the power to work and the capacity to work, and Alex demonstrates all three every day, in everything he does. This sharp and eager student shows great interest and enthusiasm for whatever he does, and he adds a most important fourth element to that definition--the power to shine for Jesus and light up his world with joy, laughter, love and fun! Way to "glow", Alex!"

Whatever else he accomplishes in this life, oh how we pray that he will always demonstrate that fourth element...
Here is Alex with his cousin Josh and friends after the Mustang Run. He ran 19 laps--not because he's really fast but because he's not a quitter!
Our Easter picture at church
Katy was so thrilled to be a candymaker in her school program. She was part of the song "Candyman". She loved it!

Two beautiful girls!
Olivia does very funny things with her tongue. It always makes us laugh!
Easter in Odessa. No kidding...

We had so much fun with the Giboneys! Our kids made special memories together and it was just too cute to watch Ashley and Olivia. I think great next-generation friendships are in the making...

Anything Goes

Austin's musical is in full swing! We look forward to seeing a bunch of you on Saturday for the matinee performance!

Music Concerts

Blake's advanced brass class performed recently, and Garrett's advanced woodwinds performed today. Grandma and Grandpa came to both concerts - very special!