Dance Around the World

On Saturday, May 29, Angela Floyd Schools held their annual Spring Concert at the Knoxville Auditorium.  God has given Lily a love for dancing.  She has thoroughly enjoyed taking lessons this year and we have tried to teach her that she can glorify the Lord through her dancing.  We prayed with her and that she wouldn't be nervous and that God would help her remember her dances.  Lily was so excited to be performing her ballet and tap dances on stage.  I had to bring her to the Knoxville Auditorium in full costume, makeup and ballet bun before the performance. 

Lily's first dance was in Act II where she tap danced to music from Ireland, and her second dance was in Act IV where she danced ballet to music from the U.S.A..We were not able to use flash photography during the performance because it would distract the dancers.  I cannot begin to tell you how much we enjoyed the concert!  We watched all of the dancers dance to music from all of the world including Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, United Kingdom, Argentina, Columbia, Kenya, France, Greece, China, and the U.S.A.  There were also special musical performances by the Knoxville Children's Choir and Vocal Soloist, Tom Hacker, who sang "God Bless America."  It was amazing!  Here is Lily right after the recital. 

Can you tell how proud she was? 

She had 10 special people come to watch her and give her flowers! 

Little sister, Maddy, was so proud of Lily too!

 Grandma and Grandpa drove over 400 miles to see Lily perform!

Two of my sweetest friends, Kristi and Jen, spent their Saturday evening watching Lily perform! 

I am so thankful that Lily has such godly examples in her life to show her what it means to love and serve the Lord with all your heart!

We truly enjoyed our night and thank the Lord for blessing us with such wonderful opportunities.   

We are looking forward to another great year at Angela Floyd when Lily starts lessons again in August!  And may she continue to praise and glorify the Lord through her dancing!

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD.

Psalm 150

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Saturday, May 22nd was Girl Scout Night at the Tennessee Smokies Baseball game.  Lily's troop had the opportunity to not only watch the game, but they were able to camp out in tents on the field after the game!  This was the very first campout held at the field for the Girl Scouts.  I stayed home with the 3 little ones, and Jonathan and Lily shared some special time together.  Jonathan loves spending time with his girls and he is such a softie!  He and Lily got matching baseball hats! 

The girls enjoyed a hotdog supper before the game!

The Smokies played the Jacksonville Suns and they won 10-8!  Lily was really excited to see her first home run!

We love Lily's friend, Kaitlyn and are so happy that she and Lily are in the same troop!

Here are the girls and their leaders after the game and before the big campout:

The girls got to play on the playground after the game.

Lily was so excited watching Jonathan put their tent up!  Jonathan said she waited very patiently!

Here are all the mommies trying to set their tents up! 

Jonathan "volunteered" and helped some of them pitch their tents!

It was Webkinz night also, and the first 1,000 kids through the gate got a cute Smokies bear Webkinz.  Lily was determined to be one of the 1,000!  She has treasured her bear since it reminds her of her special night with Daddy!

No one was allowed to use stakes to secure their tents, so it was a little challenging.  Lily was so proud of her Daddy for putting up their tent.

Lily and her Daddy outside their tent.

Lily's troop camped out in the corner of Right Field.

Here are the girls in their pajamas.  Lily wanted to sleep in her Daddy's T-shirt!

Look at all of the tents! 

After the game they showed a movie on the big screen and finally turned the lights out at midnight.  Check out came early at 7:00 am!  Jonathan and Lily made a stop at McDonalds on their way home.  They both had so much fun and we hope they do it again next year so we all can go!  I praise God for giving me such a wonderful husband who loves spending time with his family! 

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

Psalm 89:15

We Are Not Ashamed...

to follow Jesus!
Our three girls participated in the AWANA Clubs during the school year on Wednesday nights.  Maddy and Katy were in the preschool program called Cubbies and Lily was in the Kdg. - 2nd grade program called Sparks.  On May 12th, we went to the Cubbies awards night.  Maddy was excited! 

Katy loves being with her best friends, Ella Grace and Rachel.

All the Cubbies said the Pledge to the American Flag and the Christian Flag.

Katy received her awards from Mrs. Kim for completing her first year and Hopper Book!

We are so proud of Katy!  Based on her birth date, she should have been in Puggles, but thanks to her wonderful teachers, Mrs. Ginger and Mrs. Wendy, she completed her book! She loves her cute little cubbie bear!

Maddy received her awards from Mrs. Kim for completing her second year and Hopper book!

Maddy is so excited that she will be going to Sparks in August with Lily!  We are already working on John 3:16 so she'll be ready!

On Wednesday, May 19th, we went to Sparks awards.  Lily worked so hard to complete her second book, Wing Runner.

Lily knew I was taking pictures, so she waved to me!  She was so proud of her awards!

Lily and Emma are going through Sparks together.  They are such sweet friends! 

We are so thankful that our church offers AWANAS and for all of the people that dedicate their time each week to come alongside us and help train our children to follow Christ! 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Bridging Over...

Tuesday, May 18 was Lily's last day as a Daisy!  Her Daisy Troop held their Bridging Ceremony and the girls advanced to their next level of Girl Scouts.  Each girl walked over the bridge as part of the ceremony.

Lily had to recite the Girl Scout Promise to one of her leaders, Carrie Kroner. 

On my honor, I will try:

To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Then she received a Certificate and her first Brownie pin!

I am happy to say that Lily is officially a "Brownie!"  Meet the new Brownie Troop!

After the ceremony, the girls ate brownies! 

We are so proud of you, Lily and all of your hard work serving God and others through your Girl 

Scout Troop!

 

We can't wait to see what God has planned for you as a Brownie!

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Heberews 13:16

Bedtime with the Beasts

Lily absolutely loves Girl Scouts! 

Her Daisy Troop did so well during their Girl Scout Cookie Sale that they earned a special sleepover at the Knoxville Zoo called Bedtime with the Beasts.  So after a fun day at her First Grade Luau, I got to go with her to this special outing!  The Daisy Troop arrived at the Zoo at 6:00 pm after the Zoo was closed and were met by 2 wonderful instructors who stayed with us until we had to leave the next morning at 9:30 am. As soon as we got settled in our cabin, we headed out for a private tour of the zoo. 

A thunderstorm came while we were out walking, so we found shelter and learned all about snakes and alligators!

God has blessed Lily with such sweet friends in her Daisy Troop.  I love this picture of her and Audrey holding hands behind Kendal!

After a long tour, we headed back to make some Trail Mix.

While the instuctors were going to get 3 animals for the girls to see up close, the Daisies played lots of animal games.

Here is the first animal encounter, an owl!

The next one was a rat!  Lily and the girls were so brave to touch it!

My favorite was the hedgehog.  Isn't he so cute?

The instructors kept the girls busy until after midnight.  We even took a walk with flashlights to visit the lions!  Then it was time to go to sleep!

The alarm went off at 5:45 am so we could get up!  Here are some sleepy girls!

After breakfast, we headed out for another private tour before the Zoo opened to the public.  The chimpanzees were showing off for the girls!

Lily and her friend Kaitlyn who she's known since birth! 

All 12 precious daisies together before we left!

What a fun and educational adventure!  We are so thankful for a wonderful Daisy Troop for providing lots of fun activities for the girls.  Looking forward to more!

With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the beasts that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. 

Jeremiah 27:5