"Super Brandon"

We recently visited our friends, The Walker's, and the kids got in some great playtime. They made lots of noise and a big mess, but they sure had fun! Here is a picture of Brandon dressed up like Superman that is priceless. My friend, Lori, took this picture and just emailed it to me. Isn't he the cutest Superman you've ever seen?????

"Super Brandon!"

Turtles and Fenceposts and Faith

As I was driving back home this morning after taking the boys to school, a song by Mark Schultz came on the radio. "Remember Me" is the name of the song. Tear rolled down my cheek as I listened to the last verse of the song:

"Remember Me, when the children leave their Sunday School with smiles. Remember Me, when their old enough to teach, old enough to preach, old enough to leave. And age to age and heart to heart; bound by grace and peace.

Child of wonder, child of God. I've remembered you; remember Me."

As I listened and remembered, God brought Hebrews 13:7 to my mind. It says,

"Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith."

He also brought some names to my heart and mind:

Margaret Rhodes - my high school senior English teacher who demonstrated God's tangible love to me as I struggled with my parents divorce. She took me in, nurtured me, loved me, invested in me, listened to me. She gave sacrificially of her time and herself.

Diana Jennings - an elementary school teacher at Ft. Worth Academy where I worked as a substitute teacher/day care worker/school janitor while I was in seminary. I spent a lot of time in her classroom talking about faith and family and life's daily challenges. She listened to and loved me and encouraged me through those long seminary days. She went the extra mile to help me. She was a true friend with a strong faith.

James Dawson - my children's church pastor at Terrace Hills Baptist Church. He shared "The Greatest Story Ever Told" with me. He led me to Christ as an eight year old boy. He served on my ordination council. He loved me and invested in me.

These are just a few of the persons on a long list of persons who've had a profound influence and impact on my faith. I'll add to the list in a later blog; but I'll leave you with this thought that I heard from the graduation speaker (whose name I don't remember) when I graduated from college. He said, "If a turtle is sitting on a fencepost, it had to have some help getting there." Who are the persons in your life who've helped you get where you are and become who you are today in life? Whose faith can you imitate because they spoke the word of truth to you and their conduct matched their speech? The Scripture implores us to remember them. I implore you to remember them, thank them (if possible), and thank God for them. Do it today. Every turtle needs help getting on top of the fencepost. posted by John

Brenna missing her brothers!

Brenna is really missing Brandon and Bradley now that they are back in school! She has told me this several times the past two days. She even asked me today if I would call the school so she could talk to Brandon on the phone. I told her that I didn't think they would let him come to the phone to talk to his sister. She can't wait for them to get home so she can play with them. It's just no the same for her without them around here. I have to admit that at times it is much quieter, which is good for Mommy, but for Brenna, she loves it when her brothers are here giving her all their attention. So, we went down to the neighborhood pool with some our friends, and went swimming for a while. After swimming, she, Bethany and I were in the van and she said, "Mommy, it's all about girls!" So, sometimes she likes it when the boys are not here. But for the most part, she really misses them! I pray that my children will grow up with a close bond and love for each other. I also pray that they will look out for one another, and teach each other to make right choices. They are a very special group of children that God has so carefully chosen and placed together as brothers and sisters, and I'm so thankful that they are mine! Ok, I'm getting all choked up just thinking about them, so I better go. It's almost time to pick up the brothers now! More later.....

1st Day of School

Today was the first day of school for Brandon & Bradley! They were excited but a little anxious about entering a new class, with new classmates and new teachers. I assured them that everyone would be feeing a little nervous today, but tomorrow would be much better. It brought back memories of my first days of school each year, and how nervous I would always get. My mom would always encourage me too, and assure me that everything would be ok. I prayed over my boys this morning that God would protect them in every way today. I also prayed that God would help them to make right choices even when it would be difficult to do so and that they would be an example of Jesus to others. I continue to pray for their teachers, that they would know God, and teach according to His truth! As I pulled up to the parent pick-up line at their school this afternoon, after waiting in an extremely long line, Bradley climbed into the van and said, "This was the best day ever!" So, I thank our Lord for giving them a very good 1st day of school.

Here is my very handsome 2nd grader, Bradley!

And, here is my very handsome 3rd grader, Brandon!

Here they are with their daddy before leaving this morning for school. John called them "The Blues Brothers" because they were all wearing blue this morning! Thought that was cute! I'll soon have some pictures of Brenna & Bethany's first day of preschool. They start in a couple of weeks! Thanks for reading our blog!

A Trip to the Circus

We took the gang to the Erwin Center in Austin to see the Barnum & Bailey Circus on Saturday! I just love the circus!!! The show is always so spectacular and I love to see the kids faces light up as we watch the show. What fun we had and what great memories we made! Papa John even joined us for the fun. He doesn't look very excited in the picture, but he really did enjoy the show!

My little clown the next day at home! Cute, Cute!!

Steven Curtis Chapman Concert, Astros Game, & Visit with Family

We had the opportunity last weekend to travel to Houston to visit my sister-in-law, Janie, and her family. The kids had a great time playing with their cousins that we don't get to see near enough! Now that we live a bit closer, maybe we can see them a little more often. I hope so! We also got to visit a little while with John's mom which was also a treat! While there, we went to Minute Maid Park to see Steven Curtis Chapman in concert, and then stayed for the Astros baseball game. The concert was emotional but awesome! We only wish it could have been a little longer. We had a very good time even though the Astros didn't play so well that night. Below are a few pictures from the concert and game. Bethany got to spend the day with Aunt Janie which was an extra special treat!

Are they cute or what???

I wish you could have seen my husband jumping on this pogo stick at his sister's house! He jumped for a really long time too! I was very impressed! Go John!!!!

He was also jumping this ramp with the kids! Way to go Honey!!!

32 years (and counting)

As you can tell from previous posts this month, August is a month with a lot of memorable moments and special days in our family. For me personally, this past weekend brought another of those days. It was on August 22, 1976 that I became a Christian. I was in Children's Church that morinng, and James Dawson, our associate pastor (who was essentially my children's pastor - even though he didn't have that title) shared the Gospel message and extended an opportunity to respond. God spoke to me about my need of a personal Savior, and I responded. I committed my life to Jesus that morning as my Savior and Lord at Terrace Hills Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, and He gave me eternal life. WOW! 32 years ago. I was an eight year old boy getting ready to start the 3rd Grade. Ironically, my son Brandon (who became a Christian this summer along with his brother Bradley) is eight years old and started the 3rd Grade to me. Some days the 3rd Grade seems like an eternity ago. Other times, it seems just like yesterday. We stopped by the church Friday evening on the way home from a day full of activities. I went to my office and found the old, worn out, wrinkled, weathered, well-used Bible that my mom and dad gave me two Christmases after I became a Christian. There are lots of notes in that old Bible. Lots of memories, too. In the back, written with eight year old cursive penmanship, are the dates of my salvation and baptism. Memories. The greatest memory. The most important decision. Eternal life. I'm thankful it is eternal. As I think back over all the years of being a Christian, I see God's faithfulness. In good times and bad times He's been faithful. On the mountain top and in the valleys, He's been there - working (on me). In the light when I could see clearly and in the darkness when I couldn't see at all, His gentle, guiding hand has led me. Through teenage car-wrecks, the divorce of my parents, college & seminary, the joys and perils of dating, marriage, the pursuit of having children, the death of two children, the adoption of four children, being a youth and children's pastor, being a husband, being a daddy and through many other circumstances and situations, one thing has remained constant - God, my Father, has been with me. His presence never leaves those who belong to Him. All this reminds me of two Scripture passages. Psalm 73:27 "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works." The second is Romans 8:35, 37-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Now it has all come full circle. My boys are now a part of the family of God. These promises that are mine are now theirs, too. And 32 years down the road when I'm a proud 72 year old grandfather and they're 40 and 39 year old parents (I can't believe I'm saying that :) respectively, God's promises regarding eternal life will remain constant and unchanging - just like Him. posted by John

True Confessions of a Grieving Dad

True or False: Time heals all wounds. Buzzzzzzz. Thanks for playing. The answer is false! Time can't heal anything. Whoever believes that time heals all wounds has never lost a child or children to this passage way into the eternal that we call death. The truth is this: only God heals; and he does it perfectly and in His time. My Jonathan and Jenny are perfectly healed. They entered the gates of heaven and the presence of God on August 16, 2002. They are healed and whole. But me, well, I'm an entirely different case. I'm still a grieving work in progress. This morning I reminisced about the day Jennifer and I buried our twins, Jonathan Austin and Jenny Diane. That was six years ago today (August 19). I read Psalm 139 this morning about God's handiwork at the inception of life and how he forms and shapes and crafts life. I read about how God ordains all the days of one's life before the first one is realized. And I thought about Jonathan and Jenny. They'd be six years old and probably starting Kindergarten this year like six year old Kendall Stephens, my Brenna's dear friend and the daughter of our dear friend Shannon Stephens, in Paris, Texas. What's the connection? Kendall turned six years old on August 15 (Happy Birthday Kendall!). She was born the exact same day as my Jonathan and Jenny. I see them in her. I see them playing and running and jumping. I see them hurting and crying and needing their daddy. I see them crawling up in their daddy's lap and going to sleep. I see them saying their prayers at bedtime. I see them, and I miss them. And I hurt deeply. Yes still after six years, my pain is real and my hurt is deep. I cried like a baby on Thursday and Friday - again - wishing it could be different and knowing that it can't be. I was and am much like the psalmist in Psalm 73:21-22: "When my heart was embittered, and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee." I'm so thankful God understands my hurt and pain even when others don't. Yes, I know all the right answers. I know they are in a better place. In fact, they are in the best place they could possibly be - in heaven with their Father God. And yes, I know I'll see them again and be with them again - in eternity and for eternity because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. And yes, God comforts and strengthens and sustains and is healing my heart and my hurts and my deepest wounds - and I'm so very thankful. But still I grieve, and I suppose I'll grieve until I take my last breath. Is that healthy? Maybe not, but it's reality. However there is one other thing you must know. I continue to grieve, but not like those who have no hope. As Steven Curtis Chapman says in his song "With Hope": We can grieve with hope. Cause we believe with hope. There's a place by God's grace; there's a place where we'll see your face again.
God has taught me innumberable things over these past six years. Here's just a few: 1. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I'm not exempt from pain. The Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust alike. 2. Life is not fair, but God is faithful. I've learned more about God and who He is with greater depth and understanding because He's allowed Jennifer and I to walk this path of pain and struggle. That wouldn't have been possible a part from this deep valley. 3. Life hurts, but God heals. As Wayne Watson, in his song "Home Free" says, "At the ultimate healing, we will be home free." Heaven will be the ultimate healing; and it awaits for everyone who has entrusted their life to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 4. Giants are big; but God is bigger. God is bigger than anything He will ever allow me to face or encounter in this life. And He is with me to walk through it (or carry me when necessary) every step of the way. Thank you, my Father. posted by John

In Honor of Jonathan and Jenny

This picture is worth a thousand words.

Happy 6th Birthday, Jonathan and Jenny. Your daddy loves and misses you dearly and deeply. I can't wait to see you again.

(Thanks MawMaw for getting these balloons, taking this picture, sending it to me, and honoring my babies and your grandbabies in the process. I love you!)

Absence does not make the heart grow fonder.

It makes it long for a swift reunion.

posted by John

Happy 3rd Birthday Bethany!!!

My baby girl is now 3 years old! Yesterday was Bethany's birthday. She started her special day with her daddy at Build-A-Bear. John started this tradition back in January when Brenna turned 4 and plans to continue it with our girls on their birthdays. Anyway, she picked out a very sweet bear with a Hello Kitty outfit, purse, and some silver flip-flop sandals, which Bethany loved. She even tried to put the sandals on herself. For those who don't know, Bethany loves shoes and purses. I'm sure that will cost me as she gets older! Ha! We celebrated her birthday here at home with a simple family party. Our friends, The Walkers, stopped by for some cake and fun playtime with the kids. Here are a few sweet photos of our little 3-year old.

What a sweet smile! I love my new bear!!!

Daddy and his girl!

Before Bethany's birthday, I asked her what she wanted for her birthday. Her answer was "Caaake!" It was too funny! So, here she is with her purse-shaped cake which she was very proud of.

One happy birthday girl!!!

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of this precious little girl. What a blessing she is to our family and to everyone who knows her. We love her dearly and can't imagine our lives without her! Lord, You are good!!!

Sea World & Tons of Fun with Aunt Kimmy

This week has been tons of fun for the Woods' family. Aunt Kimmy (my sister) came last Sunday and joined us on our trip to Sea World. It is certain that we will have many great laughs when Kimmy is here. She is lots of fun, and the kids love having her around. Plus, she was a tremendous help to me while venturing through Sea World for 2 days with 4 children. Thanks Kimmy for driving the distance to spend the week with us. We love you and we think "You Rock!!" Anyway, we spent Monday enjoying the great shows at Sea World and riding a few rides. The first part of day 2 was spent at the water park in Sea World. The kids had lots of fun sliding down water slides and playing in the wave pool. We spent the rest of that afternoon riding a few more rides and seeing the things we missed on the first day. Sea World has really grown since I last visited! There is so much to see and do there! Hope you enjoy the pictures below of some our adventures from the week!

Here are my "BMW"s posing in front of a scene at the water ski show, which was one of my favorite shows at Sea World.

Here is Aunt Kimmy taking a ride on the ferris wheel with Brenna & Bethany!

"Journey to Atlantis" was the family favorite of all the rides at Sea World. Brenna was almost tall enough to ride, but the worker doing the measuring let her on through. She ended up riding this ride about 6 times. She loved the big splash at the end of the "water fall" she called it. You can see it in the background of the picture above.

Brandon couldn't stop talking about the "Steel Eel" roller-coaster and how he wanted to ride it. He talked about it from the time we arrived at Sea World on the 1st day. It was a big metal roller coaster that went very fast! Bradley decided that he wanted to ride too, and they both measured exactly 48 inches tall which was how tall you had to be to ride. John cared nothing about riding, Kimmy didn't want to ride either, so guess who was left to ride the "steel eel"? You got it, "Mommy"! I certainly was not putting my boys on there alone (I guess that is a mommy thing), so I decided to ride with them. Neither of them wanted to sit alone on the ride, so I talked Kimmy into riding it with us. We decided when the coaster came to a stop, that it was no fun at all!!! It terrified Bradley, but Brandon loved it and probably would've ridden it a 2nd time if there had been time. So, Kimmy, Bradley and I gave the "Steel Eel" a thumbs down while Brandon gave the ride a thumbs up all the way!!!

A very tired family at the end of 2 very fun days at Sea World! Bethany didn't go with us the 2nd day. She hung out with her buddy Kenlie and her family again! Thanks a million Lori!

Children's Museum

After spending a very hot Monday at Sea World, we decided we needed a break before heading back for our 2nd day of fun with Shamu! So, we decided to head to downtown Austin to the Children's Museum. The kids enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of inventing, entertaining, creating, building, and just having fun! Below are a few pictures of the kids at the museum. Bethany didn't go with us because she spent the day with her sweet little friend Kenlie celebrating her 3rd birthday! Thank you Lori for inviting Bethany to spend the day with you and your family! You guys are awesome!

Brandon is creating at the Children's Museum. His goal was to make all these wheels turn at the same time, and he did it!!! Way to go Brandon!

Bradley and I spent some time building with K-Nex. We made this birthday cake since Bethany's birthday is coming up in a few days!

Aunt Kimmy was also along for the fun at the museum! We are sitting at a counter being served this yummy food by Brandon, Bradley, and Brenna, along with several other kids who were playing in the kitchen area.

My beautiful Brenna posing for the camera while playing in the kitchen area at the museum!

Keeping a 2-yr. old busy!

For those moms who have preschoolers, especially 2-yr. olds, you will be able to relate to this post. My precious little Bethany is 2 and about to be 3 in a week and a half. She is a darling little girl and I love her dearly. She loves to cuddle and snuggle up to you at bedtime. She gives the sweetest kisses and loves to be held and loved on. But, she is also my little "Curious George". She is into absolutely everything. And the problem is that she is very quiet so I have to keep my eyes on her just about all the time. I'm so thankful for older brothers and a sister who can help me watch. Anyway, one of my most challenging times is when I'm in the kitchen trying to cook supper, and she is loose in the house getting into things. So, the other day, I decided to keep her busy right in the middle of the kitchen floor. I took 3 sacks of dried beans that I didn't plan to cook any time soon, dumped them into a big bowl, gave her lots of scoops, cups, and bowls, and let her have a good time playing in the beans. She dug her little fingers all through them, filled the cups and bowls, then she would dump them back into the bowl and start all over. It was fun and kept her attention for about 15 minutes. And she actually kept them out of her mouth. Below is a picture of her playing in the beans! Ha, that sounds funny!

Brandon & Bradley's Special Day!

Hopefully some of you read John's previous post about our boys accepting Jesus as their Savior. We were so proud of them as they made their decision public in front of our church this past Sunday. What an exciting day it was to sit with them and explain to them how much God loves them. So much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die for them. My prayer now is that they grow up to love God with all their hearts, to know Him as they know their closest friends, and to give Him their very best. Below are a few pictures that I had to snap as their daddy explained to them what it means to become a Christian.

Brandon and his daddy sitting on the couch talking about what it means to become a Christian!

Bradley is reading from his "Faith to Grow On" book about salvation.

Two very excited boys! Aren't they handsome???