I realized after I posted Kennedy's orchestra blog that I really haven't posted much on what has been going on over here in The Burrow. So here it is....

Yesterday Todd and I took Kennedy and Jett to Faith Promise. Faith Promise is a Baptist based church in Knoxville (for those of you that don't know this). For those of you on the left coast it is really similar to Saddleback. Todd had been before, maybe a year ago, and then went again two weeks ago. My experience was this. It is LOUD. Not loud bad, but loud good. I walked into what looked to be a normal church, took the kids to their respective Sunday school classes and then went into the main sanctuary. When the music started I can tell you I was pretty much blown away. The sound system is pretty amazing, the music is right out of a rock concert and the amazing sense that God was present was overwhelming. Definitly an awesome experience. After the worship we were blessed to see 7 people baptised. Always an amazing experience. I have to tell you when Pastor Chris came up onto the stage I was a little dumbfounded. No joke, the man looks like the absent minded professor. It made me giggle. He had weird curly hair, an untuck UT buttoned up shirt underneith a caramel colored blazer, baggy pants and some weird looking shoes I can only attribute to tree huggers...lol. Once I was able to get passed that I was amazed at his teaching. I understood him, I could follow him, and he made me feel equal to him. Not some sad sinner that no matter how hard I try I was destined for damnation. His message was awesome and oh so timely. It was all about waiting and patience. Anyone that knows me knows this is not my strong suit. All and all, I really do think we may have FINALLY found a home church. YAY God!
I am sure that all of you are feeling the pull of this 'recession' our country is going through. Just like you, we are stuck in the middle of it. Todds company is in a sense a retail business and of course mine is also. When times get tough in the money area....people don't spend it. We are constantly aware of this. Everyday I wonder if God will tell me to close my doors. It is His company first and foremost and I have to do whatever He tells me to do with it. Sales are down and the bills just keep coming in. We spend more time playing catch up than we do focusing on the future. I ask for prayer that if God wants Spirit and Soul Sports to continue that He might show me how to do this. God is ever present in Todd's company. I have watched Him bring payroll in, literally hours before it is due to go out. AMAZING! Honestly, how do some people NOT BELIEVE? Anyway, it is touch and go with both companies. We love these businesses. We would really like to see them continue but most of all we want to do what He wants us to do. It's painful some of the time....okay most of the time, but in the end...what good is anything that God is not in?
As far as the kids are concerned, things are pretty much the same but here's the latest info.

Michael has gotten his drivers license. He is very excited. I am excited for him but of course it makes me nervous. He is an 18 year old male after all. He is doing the same in school as past years. He likes to keep us all on our toes with his grades but records show he pulls it out in the end. He is taking 4 dance classes and loving it every step of the way. He really wishes he had gotten into it before now and I think is trying to make up for it. LOL. I enjoy watching him try to make adult decisions for himself. Sometimes this is very painful for me but as Stacie says...we are not raising children, we are raising adults. This is just the first one in a long line of kids I have to guide through this....Lord help me!
Maxwell is mostly just involved in school stuff. He is taking one dance class and is only able to go when he doesn't have tons of homework to do or sleep to catch up on due to tons of homework the night before. He is struggling a bit with the homework but hopefully it will even itself out. He is also still coping with being a teenager. Some of you know the details on this and for you that don't, honestly it is too hard to explain. Just try to remember being a teenager and the confusion, pain, and narcissisum (sp?) that went along with it....
Andrya is doing great! She has a very heavy work load at school but she is doing it. She has had to make up for the confusion of her schedule at the beginning of the year but she is doing really well. She is taking 4 dance classes and is pretty dedicated to them. She is learning what real friends are like and also what it is like to be a real friend. This girl....okay woman....has come a long way. You ROCK Ande!
Luke is also taking dance and has finally decided that jazz is not too bad. The owner of the studio we dance at requires the younger kids to take Jazz if they want to take Hip Hop. It helps them learn the basics of dancing. Luke really did not agree with this at the beginning. He still would prefer not to have to do it but he is atleast not complaining about it anymore..lol. He is doing pretty good in school and I think has finally found a way to be organized. Well organized for Luke. Today I will be taking him to see Dr. P because his right eye is very swollen. I'm thinking allergy but I will let you know.
Kennedy has recently made a decision that floored all of us. She has decided to take a 'break' from gymnastics in order to focus more on dance. She has picked up modern and tap now. So she is taking all forms of dance that the Academy has to offer. She LOVES it. I never saw it coming. We will see how it goes. She is doing fine in the transition from elementary school to middle school. Her work load had increased and she pretty much hates social studies but she is hanging in there.
Jett, last but not least is playing soccer...well for about 2 more days. His final practice/game is Tuesday. He seems to have enjoyed it but I am not all together sure it was the best soccer experience. They meet every Tues. and have half practice half game. I guess I just don't understand it. Anyway, he is adjusting well in Kindergarten and already has tons of friends. He talks to them on the phone, it is sooo cute. Other than growing like a weed, he is just the same old Jett.
Well. I didn't mean to go on and on but when you have 6 kids it just seems to happen. Todd and I are preparing for family to come visit. We have Eric (my nephew) coming in this Thurs. Guy (my father in law) coming in Nov. 7th and then Collen and Ellen (my mother in law and sister in law) coming Dec. 1st. Meanwhile Todd and I are trying to prepare for our trip to the Biltmore Estate. We are going for our 15 year anniversary....WOW... 15 years is a long time. I wouldn't change one minute of it....

Thanks for checking in with us.
Love you all!