New School Year Begins

Summer is gone and I haven't had time to blog! Joshua will be starting 3rd grade and Michaleh will be a sophmore. She will be at a new school - literally new! They just built it and I'm not sure that is 100% ready to go! And Joshua will be going to a different elementary school. We all have met the teachers, toured the buildings, bought the school supplies and clothes and so I guess we are all ready!
Joshua will also be turning 8 as well and we'll e celebrating it with five of his friends. Nothing big this year.
It seems that the economy has affected us so much that we didn't even take a vacation this summer! What going back to school means to me is that I get to go back to substituting at the high school - which I love - but doesn't really pay well.
The gym has been hard work - not a lot of business but we do have 4 young men who are training hard every night and are preparing for Battle of HTown (Houston). We're busy doing fundraisers in order to cover their expenses. In exchange for their hard work, no drinking/smoking and required community service, we agree to pay their lodging, transportation and registrtion as well as meals. Maybe this is what God is wanting us to do with them gym - but it would be nice to have 10 pay a monthly fee so we could cover our utilities!
Camp Season is over but I've signed on for another year of directing. I'll soon be writing curriculum, looking at registrations, and stressing! I can't wait!
Guess that brings everyone up to speed! Maybe I'll find more time once school starts to update the blogs!

Quick Update

O My - I've been so insanely busy that updating the blog has been last on my mind - but I realize that I really need to do it more often and so I've made a commitment to do just that (at least for the next few days). You can read about my summer insanity under my youth ministry blog and that will fill you in on all the fun I'm having.

We have also been working to get our non-profit gym up and running. And so I have got to spend the next three weeks really focused on just that. We would love to see kids from our town in the gym nightly so we know they aren't out making bad decisions. We have lost two teens to death this week - one from drinking and driving and the other one shot (unknown why yet). I'm busy looking for grants and anything else to help make this happen. It is also our chance to share with them about God.

We did take off Saturday and relax at Llano River for fourth of July. Here's a pic of Chris - you can tell he's really benefiting from that P90X!

Cub Scout Campout & 20th anniversary

We have definitely been busy - between the gym, summer starting, school ending, photography, and cub scouting - it is a rare day when I find time to blog. All my websites need updating - especially my photography website. We are hoping that the studio will get completed soon as I have a maternity shoot coming up - but in the meantime, we find ourselves on yet another scout camp out.

Chris and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary tomorrow. By doing nothing. Now hold on - it's a Tuesday and we live in a small town and run a gym where we have to be at every night. So this weekend, we are ditching the kids and heading to San Antonio for a long weekend with just each other. We were laughing because we cannot remember the last time we went somewhere for a weekend without the children.

I'd tell you what I got Chris for our anniversary but on the very OFF CHANCE that he might actually read my blog - I won't. I think it is hooky but I'm sure he'll love it. He's more of the romantic than I am - which I adore. I can't wait to see what he's been plotting and I know he has because he has had several covert conversations with our middle child. And if I ask, he just says - if you want, I'll tell you but then you won't be surprised - which usually shuts me right up! Not sure what we 'll do in San Antonio - but I'll have my camera and my best guy - what more could I ask for!

I'm Back!

It's been forever since I've blogged but I've been insanely busy - subbing at the high school, photography shoots, working at our new gym! About 8 weeks ago, Chris was "given" a part of a building to use as a gym. He really needed a place to work ot and a client who had a building just sitting there empty. Long story short, he had another acquaintance who was closing his gym and gave him a whole bunch of equipment. Then the church loaned him the mixed martial arts mats. We had a bunch of boxing equipment and when we got the space all loaded up, it became evident that we had this super cool fighting facility.
So, we put the word out - word of mouth advertising no print - and now we have about 30 members. Which might not seem like a lot - but it is limited space and only open for 2 hours a night. We also teach two cardio classes (or I do). We are planning on opening from 5 - 11 once summer starts which is in a week or two and so we suspect many more!
There is also a room in the building that I am using for a photo studio - we have to paint walls and floor but once that's done - it's good to go! So excited!!
I've also been looking into grants for teaching as I've about decided to go back to college and get my teaching degree, and I've been working on developing a professional photography website.
Add to that - the extras: Cub scouts, mom's taxi surface, businessman's paperwork woman, etc. I've included a shoot of our recent bridging over - where Joshua's pack bridges over into Bear!

A Night at The Rescue - Austin

Anna Lee and I headed to Austin Sunday, August 26th to reinforce those that were at the Rescue down at the Capitol. We were a little surprised when we parked and got to the camp as there were so few people! What happened to the 700 from the night before?
Maya Angelou was scheduled to come out at noon to Rescue everyone, but apparently she took ill and was unable to come. I guess lot of people got discouraged and decided to leave.



As night set in, Courtney Smith showed up to stay the night. We then laid out our tarps, and prepared for a long night. Then the cops showed up. Apparently, unless you have a permit, you can not sleep on the capitol lawn - and apparently, the protest permit had expired. Then we heard about the weather. Huge Storms with lightening. We debated for a while on what to do. Sleeping under trees with lightening was not a good ideal - we had to figure something out. Finally, after much debate, we decided to call it a night and head home. At 1:30 a.m.

I checked the website today and at 11:36, they were still there - in the rain, torrential rain, twittering and waiting.

I was so disappointed at the organization of this protest. Being my first protest - I just didn't know what to expect; however, I think it could have been organized so much better. I don't think it was a reflection on the invisible children organization - I just think that when you put 19 year olds in charge of such a huge event, it would help if they had oodles of experience! Our group decided they should have hired youth leaders to organize it!

I'll keep watching the website throughout the day - I've sent emails to various news channels (seen nothing on the protest on any channel) and even to Bill O'Reilly (why isn't anyone showing anything about such huge international event?). Hopefully those that are left (college students) will be rescued soon.

CubMobile Race 2009

Today was our annual CubMobile Race in Lampasas. It is one of the favorites!! Our kids are amazing as always. Last year, we took last place. But this year, we took FIRST!! Wahoo! There are lots of pictures at my picasa web page so if you want to see exactly what a cubmobile looks like, check it out at http://picasaweb.google.com/uthmama/CubmobileRace2009#. All in all, it was a great day - a chance to reconnect with friends, get a lot of sun and cheer on our favorite cubbies!! Whew - can't wait to take a break!!

RESCUE US!

This weekend, the Jackson Family will participate in an event in Austin called The Rescue. To learn more about this amazing event, check out an amazing website - www.invisiblechildren.com.

The plight in Africa is a burden that both Chris and I share, and so with our tshirts in hand, backpacks packed, and Joshua in tow, we will be heading down to UT where we will join about 3000 others and walk in silence to our refugee site (aka The Capitol). We will wait there until a mogul shows up to rescue us. A mogul is member of the media, someone with the government or a celebrity. Letters and emails as well as youtubes have been going all month in order to get the attention of this high profile types to bring them to our event.

If you are not in the mood to check out the invisible children website then the short version of why we are doing what we are doing this weekend is to bring attention to the plight of the 3000+ children who have been abducted by Kony and forced into the LRA (Lords Resistant Army). The LRA is the group of terrorists that are terrorizing their own - genocide. These children are the only ones left for Kony to brainwash into killing for him. He targets boys ages 5 - 12 and gives them a choice - to kill or be killed. Often, they have already seen their entire families destroyed by this man.

Add to that, the children that fear for their lives and become night commuters in order to escape Kony and his evilness. And then add the children and families that are forced out of their villages and into refugee camps (where they have been told their needs would be met) where they spend the entire day searching for food, building fire, walking miles for water (which most be boiled)and basically trying to figure out how to survive (and by survive - I mean eat 1 meal a day). Their basic needs are not truly met in these camps and most would rather go back to their villages and fend for themselves. Children are not able to go to school, yet their parents must pay a fee for them not going to school; however, their parents can rarely if ever get a job.

I get very upset when I think how powerful this nation of ours is and yet, we have not stepped in to put an end to such terrorism. When the war on terror was proclaimed, why did we choose to overlook the plight of 1000s of Africans? Is it because we have no oil interests there? Or because they did not directly end American lives? I know that America cannot super impose itself on every nation in need, but from what I have studied, we've been asked to intervene on this situation and we have not. My question is Why? I know this is not a politically correct commentary - so please don't send me a gazillion angry emails. I supported what Bush did as far as going after the SOBs of 9/11.

Today, I have worn my AK47 in remembrance of the children stolen by Kony, and as a why to share about the event on Saturday.

If you do not hear from us soon - please come to Austin and bring a mogul to rescue us! The kids really need to go to school Monday.

The Rescue!

Chris and I have committed to participating in The Rescue - a call to action for Invisible Children. The Rescue will take place in Austin, April 25th (not to mention about 100 other cities, both international and stateside). Invisible Children is about rescuing and putting an end to the children that are abducted by the LRA in Sudan, Uganda and throughout Africa. The LRA cannot find any adults that want to participate in their genocide war and have resorted to abducting young boys, ages 5 - 12, brainwashing them and either making them kill others or be killed. There really are no words to describe the brutality.

Several years ago, 3 college students went to Africa seeking the truth and documented it in this amazing video. They have since put together and promoted various outreach "activities" in order to educate not only us "lay people" but to educate the government of the US. How could we possibly continue to turn our heads when children are being massacred, and made to kill in order to survive? How is it that America watches 1000s of families, many children whose parents have died, being displaced into refugee camps for the sake of survivable, yet only to slowly die because of lack of food, medical care, etc?

Chris and I have always supported Invisible Children; we've bought bracelets (which the money goes back into the refugee camps) every year since we first discovered the organization. We give them as gifts, we share the DVDs we've bought with anyone that will pay any attention to them. We have always had a youth event during the big Invisible Children events, and so this year, we are delighted to be able to fully participate in the event.

The premise is that a huge contact campaign has already started by participants to the media moguls as well as political figures and celebrities in order to get the attention this cause needs. We all walk 1 - 3 miles to our "refugee" site, and wait to be rescued (media, moguls, celebrities). We can't leave until someone shows. And we all wear the same shirt. There are approximately 800 people registered and confirmed for the Austin event. We are so excited.

If you want to learn more, check out their website at www.invisiblechildren.com. If you want to participate, find a city near you and register. If you want to support, we encourage you to do so. $12 for the Tri Campaign will help us save about 3000 children who are currently working in the LRA war. That's a month. That's two fast food lunches you would give up, 2 ventis at Starbucks, or the money that has slipped into the cushions in couch.

MOVED

So I got the house all moved around, rearranged the Living Room and Bedroom, found a place for my home office (still no studio), and Chris even got a space at a building that he has put together for his gym. He calls it his underground gym - it's a big warehouse style space, where he is able to put the wrestling mats, the speedbag, punching bags, weights and machines, climbing ropes, tires and so much more. He is able to have clients come and work out with them, and he is going to begin teaching his classes next monday. Maybe this will get to be so big, that the owner of the building realizes what a great investment it will be, and will allow us to use the whole building instead of just the warehouse section! That would be cool.

I am hoping to get Chris for a photoshoot this weekend, as I think it would make for some great artistic pictures and business cards! Can't wait!

With the workout space no longer being an issue, and since I rearranged all the other rooms to make more space - I know have a space that I am hoping we can convert into a studio. I want to get the gym up and going first though, as most of my shoots can be done on location and I really don't want to do a lot of studio shoots anyway.

So that was last week, moving and cleaning and teaching. And then, the weekend hit. And we were host to 17 amazing sophomore girls for a weekend retreat our church hosted for the local youth called Disciple Now (aka DNow). We had Scott Venable as the speaker and the Justin Cofield band (check out my youth ministry blog for more links to these resources) lead worship. They were fantastic. Our youth pastor did a great job in putting all of this together. The Holy Spirit was obviously there - you could feel Him. Our youth did a prayer walk through town, praying for people at their homes, over the town. They worked various mission sites, and studied His word in Small groups. And they ate a ton (I do believe that teen girls eat more than football players)! It was exhausting and amazing. It was such a great gift to be on this side of it for a change - it has been years that I've been the one that puts everything together and worrying about every single detail (and there's always a ton of those). This was a great weekend where I got to enjoy the girls, the speaker, the missions, the prayers and the worship - with none of the worry! I might be able to get used to this!

The Weekend Approaches!

I know, it's only Monday and I'm already for the next weekend. I'm just in that blah mood. The week brings routines of school mornings, work vs not work, studying, routine evenings, study some more, blah blah blah (I said I was in a blah mood). But this weekend - this weekend brings DNow! Our church, Grace (aka the onion, the hershey kiss, that thing)is hosting Disciple Now and it is going to be amazing. Of course, I think anything with God involved in it - is AMAZING!! And then when you add youth - that just makes it AMAZINGLY AMAZING! We will hosting 10th grade girls - some of whom used to the church that I am no longer at - so basically, I know them all and I am so excited to have them here for a weekend. Chris is looking for creative ways to get him and Joshua away from the house as much as possible!!
For those that don't know, Disciple Now is based on small group studies, thrown in service projects, add a prayerwalk, super band and great speaker and you have a time for youth connecting with God! My kind of weekend!
So the other reason, I'm in a blah mood on this non event monday would be that our gym is closing. Yeah, we've known about it a while now but since it is the end of the month, well.... Chris walks in this evening and asks (ever so innocently)"hey, we may need to make the office back into the workout room (transition for this room = #3). So while, I love moving furniture (no, really I do), that means I have to figure out a place for my office - one where when my clients come to look at pictures, they don't have to be in my bedroom or closet! Hmmm, no clue how to do that so I'll have to percolate on that for a while!!

Spring Break has sprung

It's Spring Break here and I think we are the only ones in our town that didn't go anywhere! How sad! But we are grateful that Chris has work, and with the economy the way it is, we don't leave town when there is work because we never know...
I've been trying to be productive though; catching up on blogs, practicing my photography, developing my photography checklists (especially for weddings - those are long ones), studying some more, digging a fire pit (yes, I did), organizing Jacksons garage/shop (that's a huge project), putting together all my photo props into one big bin so I can throw it in my car for shoots, catching up on movies, started P90x (again) and the never ending process of job searching!
But other than that, I've enjoyed catching up on sleep with the kids (yes, I can still sleep till 9!), having a lazy breakfast and enjoying coffeemilk with Joshy, and watching really bad videos with Michaleh.
I'm trying to think of clever and inexpensive fun that we can have as a family before Spring Break ends but I realize that tomorrow is Thursday and Monday will be here so soon! Tim flies when your not doing much!! O who am I kidding - I'm always busy!!

I'm always looking for a cute, simple, inexpensive photo display or photo gift and I found one. I was surfing around last night and found an amazing blog with amazingly creative ideas from another mom photographer. These are jelly jars and obviously you cut the picture to size and just stick it in. They have them upside down, but I'm thinking you could do it with the opening up and then use it to hold pencils, safety pins, etc. I'm going to do this same idea for some mothers day gifts' for my friend Beth. You can see her on the photography page. You may remember she has an in-home daycare and I've scheduled a special photo shoot for the kids and thought how cute this would be in baby food jars.

I also got my photo jewelry kits in and since I'm not subbing today, I'll spend some of my time working on putting samples together for my next photo shoot! I'll post pictures if the products are any good.

Long Week

Aww, tomorrow is Friday and with brings my husband back to town - for at least a week! How exciting! Can't wait - I know he is more nervous about "bread winning" and the economy status in our town but we both have a lot of Faith and know that He will provide for us. It will be great to have the family together. Lots happening here in Lampasas, our superintendent has resigned and will be leaving us soon (date was discussed tonight in a closed door session so we don't know anything), parents are not happy about what they hear about school assignments for students and things here get blown out of proportion and no one really knows what the truth is until it actually happens! Frustrating!! took some pics of my nephew Aaron who plays for Jeffco - a small college in St Louis, Mo. I also got pics of 2 of my neices and our granddaughter Addy. Go to my photography page and check it out!!

We are in Oklahoma City this weekend visiting Chris. Have taken the kids to see the OKC Federal Building Memorial as well as across the way to this amazing neighborhood that held lots of photo opps. Our cousins, the Cummings Have been gracious enough to open their homes for us to use as Hotel De Cummings. Its great. Lots of room, great company and a chance to know the cousins better. Chris and his brother Rick have been using it as their home away from home during the time they are working in OKC. I can't even imagine how loud it most get when Tim, Chris and Rick are all at home. This picture is of the kids with our cousin Alex. Alex took us to the neighborhood across the way and we explored all over and managed to get some great shots.
It is very cold here - 39 was the official temp according to the car. We didn't stay long at the Memorial as we were all cold and only wearing hoodies. Silly us! We are looking for a packed weekend of ballgames, extended family, hopefully some old friends and catching up with each other. I'm sure there will be lots more pics!

Gratefulness

In watching the newest updates on the economy of our country, as well as watching the President speak last night, I am becoming very grateful that my husband has work. In a time when families are losing their homes, I am eternally grateful that we have ours.
I know I complain alot about Chris having to work out of state - basically I am a big baby without him - so I have decided to change my whining into a new mantra. "I am grateful he is able to work".
We realize that if we stay focused and work hard towards our goals during this time, then maybe we will actually be able to get ahead of the game and do better than just survive this time. We focus on what we have, the time we have together (when he can come home, or when we can go there)and the grace that has been extended to us from above.
It is funny how you begin to take each other for granted. Especially after close to 20 years. The little things that drive you batty about your spouse, suddenly becomes insignificant. You realize that it is about just being with one another, in whatever form that takes. He was able to come home this past weekend, after 19 days away, and it was so nice to just to have him around. It was almost as if I couldn't do enough for him - making sure he had enough clothes for the next time away, making sure he had some of his favorite foods to take, enough rest, etc. Things that once I would have suggested he take care of on his own. It is true that distance makes the heart grow fonder.
This time apart also makes me appreciate our military families so much more. I have always had a special place in my heart for our service men and women and have always admired the spouses and families left behind as they serve. Now, I have an appreciation for what they must go through on a daily basis. And yet, I realize that I can't fully have that understanding of what they go through. After all, my husband is not overseas, and he is definately not a life/death situation. But it does allow me to cheer a little bit louder when the military come home. And that is nice.
All this boils down to the same point I made earlier - when I want to whine this week - I will instead chant "I am so grateful that he gets to work". What are you grateful?

4th graders

Okay - so I subbed today for my friend who teaches 4th grade and this is not the first time I've subbed for her. But it was a lot harder today than it was last time. It is almost as if, after the 1st time, they figure out that your the "cool sub" and decide to see if you do have a push button. And that would be the push button to insanity. Literally. 3:25 did not come way to soon! Amazing how 4th graders can make you question everything about yourself and begin to doubt which one of you is in charge.

Hard Decisions

Today we had to make a decision about whether or not to have our upcoming scheduled weekend retreat. We have 6 of these in a row - that's right - 6 weekends in a row - with about 200 kids at each of them. I only have to direct one and mine is, er was, scheduled for this weekend.
We added two weekend plus retreats (a weekend plus a day) to our schedule and booked the favorite band and speaker for those, at the favorite location. So those are booked - leaving this upcoming weekend, not. My conference director has never had to cancel one before and neither have I. And we are not the kind of people who look at money as a major issue in such a decision - instead, we have to look at how it will work with what staff, and how to best manage groups, how to give campers the best experience, etc. But, eventually money does have to play a factor. Especially if as christians we are to be good stewards of finances - which we are called to do.
We ended up having about 48 people signed up - 4 of those our family members, 24 of those JCs and other staff, band and speaker, leaving about 20 campers. It was time to make a decision.
And so we let other big wigs make it - neither one of us like to use the word no.
So I have spent the day calling campers and parents to tell them the news and moving campers to another camp if they could. I started at 8 and when I stopped with calls, it was 1!
I took a break, ran to the gym, got kids, ran to a friends house to take pictures for my latest photography assignment and managed to even catch up on email!
Phew! I hate cancelling things - but I know that God must have a bigger plan than I can see.
And last but not least - I am counting the days till Chris gets home. I think all three of us are getting to that desperately lost with Dad phase. 3!!!

Weekend Events

It's been more than a busy weekend! Basketball game, cub scout skate party at the same time of the birthday skate party, followed by trip to Kerrville (2 hour drive), time at Midwinter 3, time with mewaw. Then Sunday was back to camp, drive home, do laundry, get kids ready for bed and school, then upload and edit pics, post, blog, blahblahblah! But it was a nice weekend overall. Only nice, it would have been better if Chris was home.

I think we are all in meltdown mode - aka "stick a fork in me, i'm done". Between fits, cries, and just moodiness, everyone broke down today to just exclaim "I just want Dad home". Me too. So the countdown has begun. Joshua says we can't count tonight because it is already here. I'm still counting tonight.

And to top it all of - I haven't done either of my photo assignments from last week! I'm off to get those done tomorrow - unless I have to work and then I'm not sure when those will get done! The picture is of Joshua explaining a skit to James and Spencer - which they let him be in!! Too cool!! I love my camp crew!!

MidWinter 4

I am getting ready to direct a weekend retreat for our conference that we call MidWinter. We have 6 in a row from January to February. I get weekend 4 - MidWinter 4. I love camp. I've been directing various church camps for 5 years now and absolutely love it.

Anyway, I'm concerned about this upcoming weekend as we only have about 40 kids signed up. So I'm spending alot of time praying this week that God will bring the students he needs and wants to this camp. And that if it is small, then to help us find the right vision for the weekend.