Cats & Kittens

Back in August a neighborhood stray cat adopted us. She is an orange, tiger-striped cat and we call her Tiger. She soon gave birth to 5 kittens in our yard. We put the kittens in a laundry basket on our carport until they outgrew the basket and then put together an area on our front porch where the kittens would be contained but Tiger could come and go as she pleased. That worked until I got ready to leave for work one morning and found 2 raccoons eating some food that had been spilled outside of the pen. We had found a home for Tiger and three of her kittens with friends of ours. Andy told Jenny that she could keep a kitten at his house and Rachel ended up with the other kitten we had left to keep out there, too.

5 Kittens Rachel and Sunshine

Jenny's kitten, Mittens

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Here's wishing you and your's a Happy Thanksgiving from our family. We spent the day at Andy & Hannah's house helping Andy with his shed.

Sunday Fun

Last Saturday I found some Halloween masks on 60% discount at JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts. Here are David, Andy and Chastity trying them out.

Chastity wearing a George Bush mask Andy Hung Up!

Andy & David

David

George Bush plays the violin (Andy)

November Birthdays

Rachel - 13 Sara H. - 13 Gabriel M. - 15 Philip M. - 19 Ed M. - 28

Fall Retreat @ Seffner GMC

Tonight we are going to be attending the 3rd annual Fall Retreat at the Seffner God's Missionary Church. Our pastor will be preaching tonight and our family will be providing the music and special songs. As of now we plan to sing "Go Ask", "What A Prayer Can Do/God Still Answers Prayer", and "How Great It Is".

Happy Birthdays this Month

Happy Birthday in October to: Nathaniel V. - 2 Grace - 5 Michael H. - 10 Carl H. - 25 Jenny - 31

Drawing Names for our Christmas Gift Exchange

This year for Christmas we decided to draw names for gifts so that everyone didn't have to buy for everyone else. Aunt Esther, Andy and Hannah joined us in doing this. We each were given an index card and were told to put our name and at least three items for gift ideas on the card and then we folded the card in half and placed it into an envelope that had been cut down and placed the envelope in a basket. Before we put Aunt Esther's envelope in the basket, we had Chastity draw a name for her. Here are pictures of her drawing the name. Amazingly no one got thier own name!!!

AHD Ranch Update

Jenny talks to the neighbor's horse This baby was born just a few days after our youngest baby, Socks. Our cow, Flossie, smells Daddy's hand Our baby, Socks (the darker one in back) and Rick's newest baby (in front)

Skipper, our oldest heifer (the one on the left) David, Jr. (on the left) and our heifer Annie

David, Jr. is the calf that David helped deliver back in June

Natalie Brooke - Our Newest Cousin

Natalie Brooke The Happy Family

Pictures compliments of Natalie's Grandma M.

Seen Recently

Seen on a billboard I pass on my way home from work: It's a Small World. I Know...I Created It. --God

Birthdays this Month

Happy September Birthday to:

Grandma H. - 8th

Grandpa M. - 15th

Bill F. - 15th

Sarah S. - 18th

Our Newest Cousin

Congrats to Nathan and Sarah S. on the birth of their new daughter Natalie Brooke 9/13/08 6:45 pm 7lbs. 8oz. 18 inches long Check here for some pics.

Inspirations Concert

Last night, Grace, Rachel, David and I went to the Inspirations Concert in Lakeland. This group is my all-time favorite Southern Gospel Quartet and most of the family feels the same way. I appreciate the fact that they have stayed conservative in their music and haven't changed to more contemporary styles. We were surprised when we got to the concert and realized that another one of our favorite groups was there also - The One-Man Quartet. Matt Dibbler was not able to travel with the group this weekend and Chris Smith was traveling with them in Matt's place. On top of hearing the Inspirations singing 25 songs we were privelegded to hear Chris Smith and his one man quartet sing two songs as well.

Archie Watkins, Chris Smith, Melton Campbell and Mike Holcomb take the stage

Chris Smith and Mike Holcomb

Martin Cook - Manager, Pianist and Emcee

Jack Laws - The Old Bear Hunter sings with Archie and Melton

Chris Smith leads out on a song

Jack Laws shares a mic with Mike Holcomb and joins the group for part of a number

Reunion Pics from Sunday

One of the reasons we all got together this weekend was to surprise Grandpa by celebrating his 80th birthday (the 15th of this month). We put together a "dollar tree" with at least 80 $1 bills on it. We presented the tree to him and sang Happy Birthday after the noon meal on Sunday.

Julie and Chastity Uncle Bill & Aunt Marilyn with Chastity Entertainment after Sunday evening service and fellowship Grandpa and Grandma Ruth Uncle David, Aunt Roberta, Julie, Sylvia, Lydia, Grandpa & Grandma Ruth Uncle Bill & Aunt Marilyn with Grandpa & Grandma Ruth

Our family with Grandpa and Grandma Ruth Our Family those of us still at home

Andy, Hannah and Chastity Aunt Rhoda, Jonathan, Nathaniel, Grandpa & Grandma Ruth Aunt Esther's "family" with Grandpa and Grandma Ruth

Aunt Esther with Grandpa and Grandma Ruth Grandma Ruth and Grandpa with his sister Aunt Myrtle

the whole clan David and Andy Uncle David's Family Uncle David and Chastity

More Reunion Pics from Saturday

Instruments in a row Practicing for Sunday Morning's Special All the cousins ended up singing