Pumpkin Patch 2013

Look at these babies growing up!

And then I uncovered this picture and realized NJ hasn't grown much in a year! At least in height anyway, but look at that hair. Wow it has gotten long!

This year we went out to the Pumpkin Patch in Flower Mound. I had heard from a few different friends that this one was really nice and fairly large so I wanted to check it out.  But I should warn you that there is a knock-off PP right next to the real one is Flower Mound and we were tricked! We turned in and paid our $5 for parking before we realized they weren't connected and we turned into the wrong one! I was furious. We stayed about 5 minutes, then loaded up and went a few yards down and got to the good one.

Fortunately we did capture a couple of good pics in that 5 minutes. Natalie was smiling AND looking at the camera.  We will work on JZ later!

The weather was 20 degrees cooler in Flower Mound than Royse City. We were not 100% prepared but I was thankful I randomly tossed in a blanket. I couldn't complain because it was perfect pumpkin pickin' weather!

This place had a ton (seriously, a ton) of cartoon cut-outs! I spared you and just showcased the best three. Your welcome.  Unfortunately for us, Barney has made a resurgence at our house and she wants to watch the same episode over and over and over, so she was thrilled to see him at the Pumpkin Patch. Can't you tell?

And this cutie just warms my heart with that little squishy face!

After our walk through the cutouts we set out to play in the hay maze, pumpkin field, hay ride and train ride. I told you this place was fun. Made me feel like a kid again!

Natalie really liked the pumpkin house.  We told her she could look around and pick one pumpkin, the perfect pumpkin. It took 5 seconds. She walked in, grabbed one and said here. Ha! Cracked me up.  Funny enough she picked a really nice one.  

Once Joaquin got to stand up in front of Brian on the little train ride, he was all smiles. The ladies standing to the side were having a fit over him.

And how could you not have a fit over this?! Gosh, he's cute.

We attempted a few family shots because we really needed an updated photo, but as you can see they weren't perfect. Not sure what the kids were looking at in that middle photo. Natalie was trying to be helpful and get Joaquin to look, but that irritated him and then she wasn't looking.  And the pic in front of the pumpkin house was great except that she was leaning over with a hand near her face. Oh well!

The 2013 Pumpkin Patch was a success and I would definitely go back to this one!

MOSAIC Update

It has been so neat to see God's hand in this ministry.  We have two very exciting events coming up in the next couple of months. On October 13th we are hosting Kim Brown, Director of House of Love. The House of Love is a home for the women and children of Thailand affected by HIV/AIDS.  Many of these were sold into prostitution, orphaned or otherwise ostracized by the Thai government. She is only in Texas for a week, and we are thrilled to be able to have her with us for an afternoon.

Our next event is on Orphan Sunday, November 3rd!  We have two incredible guest speakers coming to share more about foster care and how we, as believers, are called to care for them.  We have had several families express interest in learning more about foster care, but none of our Mosaic leadership members have much experience with it so we have set it aside up until now.  Through a series of really random connections (that only God could weave together) between two of my friends (who don't even know each other), I was led to two ladies:  Emma Casselton and Lauren Hudgeons.

Emma Casselton is currently the Administrator of James 1 Ministry out of FBC Greenville.  She is a retired Foster Adoption Specialist from the state of Texas and is a wealth of knowledge! 

 Lauren Hudgeons (http://webpages.charter.net/adoptionsforhisglory) is a local prosecuting attorney and practices law in the areas of adoption, wills, and probate administration.  Both ladies are passionate about their jobs and the care of orphans.  They will be teaming up to share their experiences and answer questions about Foster Care.  But above all, they are believers using their God-given talents to care for "the least of these."  I am more than excited about this event as I have seen God's hand directly moving!  I will begin praying now for the Lord to move in the hearts of our church members to join us in finding out how we can help care for those that need it.