Has it been THAT long?!?!?!?

WOW, I have been so busy this past year that I have NOT blogged at all! Well, all that is going to change :) I'm Back!! I have many many things to talk about so stay tuned!

First of all, Tristan graduated Salutatorian from ITT, and he will be starting UAB soon. He would have graduated Valedictorian, but he had to travel most of one semester for work, and in the processed miss a lot of class. He didn't even get to go to his graduation! This was due to Strep Throat :( Poor thing! We are still very very proud of him!

Also, I WAS pregnant. I say "was" because we lost the baby. We were not trying to get pregnant, yet it was still a very difficult trial to go through; but God is an ever present help in times of hormone dysfunction! Can I get an amen? Anyone who has been through such a hard experience knows what I am talking about - hormones are Crayyyyzeeee! I had surgery and have recovered...almost! I will return to the doctor on Tuesday to get a good report, in JESUS name.

Lorin has lost her two front teeth...she really did sing all I want for Christmas in my two front teeth! haha. She is also 5 years old now, and is as tall as a 7 year old! Yes, buying clothes for her is a challenge, to say the least!

I am also proud to announce that we began the home-school journey this year, and all is going well! Even though she is just in kindergarten, Lorin is on a 1st grade level. She has started to read, she is great in math (addition and subtraction), and she loves to write ALL the time. She even writes my grocery list out for me now! (I spell the words for her, of course; she isn't Doogie Houser!) I think she is mostly proud that she can count to over 100! lol I am in no way saying that every day is easy. Some days, it is a challenge to get her into school mode. I have even started dressing up in crazy outfits while we "play" school. Maybe one day I will post a picture. haha. Well, speaking of pictures, I am going to post a few just to catch you up on what has been going on in "the HOOD" . LOVE YA!!!!

Homophones

"Spell-check Fail"
By Natalie Hood

Every knight, when I was a child, I wood prey for my night in shinning armor. I wood remember all of the stories I'd bin tolled and would wonder if my prints wood come. I thought that if I were at suite as Cinderella, my own fairy tail wood come true. I new in my hart that I wood weight as long as it took, and in the meantime I would be as good as gold. I even ate all of my pees in order to grow up and bee a beautiful girl. As I grew older, I steel dreamed of a night on hoarse back writing along the beech on his way to save me from my toll and trouble. Thyme and thyme again, I would be vary much disappointed. Every time I thought I had found my night, he would be throne off his hoarse. I begin thinking that I may have to kiss a towed in order for my dream to come true! Of coarse, I never wood meat this hero. There wood never be a man alive in the hole world who could, single-handedly, meat all of my kneads. Every story Hollywood had soiled me had just been one wail of a tail after another! The years past, and I finally did fined a wonderful man who walked me down the isle. He may not bye me flours. He isn't a night or even a kernel, but he isn't a cereal killer either, and for this I am thankful.


Though this tail may not make cents, it steal has too morals, and those morals are this; the English language is crazy, and give your man a brake! Whew, do you realize how difficult this was to right? It really took patients!


alternate titles "The Homophone", "Debunking Hooked on Phonics" , "Spell-check Fell" and "I've Got Too Much Time on my Hands"

Lorin's 3rd Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!

Well, another year has come and gone. I'm having a hard time believing that Lorin is already 3! This year, since I am teaching, our annual beach birthday weekend is postponed until after graduation. Instead, I asked Lorin what kind of birthday party she wanted and she said, "I want a dress-up princess tea party!" When I asked what she wanted on her cake she said, "Candles and flowlers (Flowers)". So, we made invitations for all the girls in her Sunday School class, then went to Edgars and so she could pick out her cake. I wish everyone could have been there to see these 4 four little girls having a blast; I had a great time just watching them! Oh, to be a kid again. I would have dressed up if I had a princess outfit..but I guess at my age, it would have been more like a big, old fairy godmother!!! lol

Party day arrived and it was pouring down rain!! This really presented a problem since her birthday present from Mommy, Daddy, Nana and Papaw was a big slide/swing set outside. Lorin and I prayed that Jesus would stop the rain for her party, but it just started raining even more!! I looked at the national weather services hourly forecast, and it said 60%-80% chance of rain every hour of the day. Oh, no. Lorin and I prayed again and looked out the window and it had slowed down. We went downstairs and by the time we got outside it had totally stopped raining!! Thank you Lord! Lorin, Lilly, Graci and Elana were able to play outside on the slide.

I could not have asked for a more perfect day for my little angel. She was so happy to have all her best friends with her (who all brought her some wonderful gifts!). Tristan had a blast with Dad, Bro. Tony, Anthony, Gabriel and Shaun; and I had a blast with Mom, my sister, Sis. Kim, Sis. Carla and Mackenzie. I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people God has put in our lives. If you guys are reading this know that you are all loved and greatly appreciated!!

Ok, enough of the sappy stuff...on with the Photo's! (BTW, Thanks Sis. Kim for being in charge of the Camera for me!)

Random Pictures

I love this quote

“You encourage, you push and pull. You look out at your colleagues and say, 'Yes, you can.' To bring [performers] past the limitations of their own potential is leadership. All fine leaders conducting from the podium have that. Emotion is what it's all about. Music-making without emotion and passion is nothing. I'm never looking for a perfect performance, I'm looking for an impassioned performance.” - Lorin Maazel

GEAUX TIGERS!

Well, first all, I owe you all a huge apology for not being faithful to my blog. We've had a crazy fall season, first with the death of a friend of mine and then Tristan's mom's death following a week later. Crazy doesn't even describe our life lately! I do have a ton to blog about but I'm not going to try to put it all in one blog..that would just be way tooooo long.

When I received the news that my friend had passed away in Houston, Tx we packed up and headed that way. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ivan was also headed that way so our trip was cut short...stuck in Baton Rouge. I say stuck but it was actually the best time. Tristan, Lorin and I stayed with some old and dear friends from my childhood that I haven't seen in probably 10 years. Thanks to Myspace we have been back in touch the past few months and were able to hook up while Tristan and I were suppose to be just driving through Louisiana.

Eric and Michelle Stokes graciously opened their home to us while I was constantly on the phone and the Internet trying to find a way into Houston. Hanging out with them brought back so many memories of Michelle and I growing up together....we use to do the craziest things!

This was also a kind of memorial for Tristan because he is a huge LSU Tigers fan and this was his first time to visit the state. We arrived on a Saturday just in time for some Tiger Tailgating and some good Cajun food. Yes, I actually ate something that sounded very gross but it was delicious! I'll try anything once! After our reunion, we headed off to tour the campus and catch the Golden Band from Tiger Land before they went into the stadium for the game. Lorin absolutely loved seeing the band and the cheerleaders loved talking to her. Then came Mike the Tiger and the actual tiger that lives on the LSU campus in a multi-million dollar facility...lucky him! After all the pre-game festivities we headed out to Tony's, my favorite seafood place in Baton Rouge...the best Boudin Balls you will ever put in your mouth! After picking up our to go order we headed back to Eric and Michelle's to eat and watch the game. I should tell you that thy have two adorable sons that Lorin loved playing with! I also got to see Eric's mom for the first time in ages and that was very exciting. She is one of the most wonderful women in the world and Lorin took to her immediately. The next day, after I found out there was no way we were going to get within a country mile of Texas, Eric and Michelle took us to an awesome restaurant near the campus called Chimes....it was delicious! The best seafood gumbo I've had in a long time...since Florida at least!! Thanks, Eric and Michelle, for a great time in Baton Rouge and I hope we can visit again soon!

Cornerstone Revival Center - First Service

On Sunday, September 21st, our church had a big suprise. Church started at 10:00 Sunday morning at our old location; everyone was geared for what was to be our first "Official" service in the new church building that night. While Bro. Hampton begain to preach the last surmon at our Eva location, Bro. Wilbanks got up and suprised everyone with the news that we are going to the new building NOW! You could see the excitement and anticipation on everyones faces as they rushed to their cars and started a caravan to the building on Hwy 69. I could go on about it all day, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Enjoy!

One Last Sound Check................. One Last Usher

One Last Lap!



One Last Sermon













We're Here!!






Pastor Wilbanks and Sister Wilbanks arrive!

















Bus Kids Arrive!!!

Bathroom initiation performed by Anthony Alexander

Welcome to

Cornerstone Revival Center!!

Here Come the Troops!

Would you rather be a doorkeeper? I think not lol

Message Title

"Us, Here, Now, Why Not?"

Altar Call!!!!!!