Audra Jennings

It's opening day of the 2014 MLB season, so you know where I was today! The wind was blowing like crazy, so the balls were flying, much to the Texas Rangers' detriment. The Philadelphia Phillies out swatted us 14-10. This video of the National Anthem by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra doesn't do it justice. At the end, I was trying to find the 7 antique planes flying over. We couldn't see for the cover over the top of our section.

Don't get me wrong. I love these kids. However, sometimes I cannot wait for the bell to ring. I really do think it's because some of the lessons are way over their heads. Way. Over. Their. Heads. Knowing this train of thought was too much, I said that the priests in the Old Testament were from the tribe of Levi. Did anyone know what tribe Jesus was a descendant of? Let's just say the answers led me to say, "Jesus was not an Indian Outlaw. He was not part Cherokee and Choctaw." Of course, that part of Tim McGraw's career was over their heads too. I told them the best behaved child - the obvious one, and then one boy and one girl got to pick a song for the video. I didn't care which one, how many parts, or if we had done it for the video before. The boys lost out on their choice. Then, I had to beg the two girls to hurry up and pick a song. We didn't know the second choice too well. I just can't keep children under control. That's w

I FINALLY got my front door painted today! The weather was finally nice, I had some time available, and I did it! Of course, it's hard to see when the glass door is shut. And my camera on my phone doesn't show up right - there's more green to it for a deeper teal vs. blue. Not being much of a "clean the house" kind of person, at least with a lot of diligence, you'll be impressed to know I also cleaned the top half of the windows across the front of the house after cleaning the door. I wish I could clean under the screen. I don't know how I'm supposed to get that part clean. :/ Then, I went to see the girls animals be sold at auction. The have been the big names in the Corsicana Daily Sun  this week! Check out these links! They are quoted in at least two of them. UPDATE: Record breaking sale at Youth Expo Clagett takes top pen in Market Rabbits Division Jennings, Howard top Swine Division Between a track meet

Focus on the Family responds to parents’ media concerns with the new online membership As media use continues to explode among children and teens, parents’ concerns about what their children could be uncovering while online increases. On average, children get their first smartphone at age 12, and research suggests kids and teens are spending more than 7.5 hours a day with their electronic devices — and often without a safety net. That’s exactly why Focus on the Family is launching the Odyssey Adventure Club, a safe and fun environment where children can explore, create and imagine, all while developing their faith and learning biblical truth. For less than the cost of a monthly night out at the movies (membership costs $15 per month for up to six users), families will be able to stream the Adventures in Odyssey library, plus listen to exclusive new monthly episodes.  Busy families will find 24/7 access to the content through the Odyssey Adventure Club mobile iPhone app.

Today was the meat rabbit show at the Navarro County Youth Expo. Both girls showed, but today was Peyton's day. She had two pens in the top 3! It was very exciting as the pens were narrowed down. She took 2nd and 3rd place! Paige was not so interested in the whole rabbit thing, but Peyton was engrossed! We were all so excited for her! I did have to get one of Paige in... She's getting her rabbits into the cage. Paige and Brian listening to the judge after winners were announced. Thank goodness for the Corsicana Daily Sun and Youth Expo photographers, I snagged some pictures from Facebook. We had to talk Paige into trying for showmanship. Peyton was all about it! Paige did have to show off her Grand Champion Hog belt buckle to her great grandfather.

The majority of Christian women are familiar with the example of the godly woman described in Proverbs 31. Her characteristics are most frequently associated with a woman’s place within the home; however, in their book Real Women Leading: With Proverbs 31 Values ( New Hope® Publishers /February 3, 2014/978-1-59669-396-8/$14.99) , business executives Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder assert the qualities of the woman described apply to leaders in the workplace as well. “Whether we are homeschooling children — which truly is a full-time vocation — or leading the board of directors meeting at a Fortune 500 corporation, the Proverbs 31 woman has something to teach all of us.” Part 2 of an interview with Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder, Co-authors of Real Women Leading: With Proverbs 31 Values Q: To what areas of a woman’s life does your book apply — work, church, ministry, home? DY: It applies to all areas of life because it affects who we are and how we live. Who we are follows us

Tonight was "meat hog" night at the Navarro County Youth Expo... aka the pig show.  This is the second year that Peyton has shown and the fourth that Paige has (she took a year off somewhere along the way). Both exceeded their past best showing by leaps and bounds. I'm so proud of both. Peyton started off in Class 1 (the little piggies). Between being penned and unpenned, we weren't completely sure where she was other than top 7. Dad thought it was a bad sign to be one of two left out showing, while I told him I thought it was good because the judge was choosing between two. The speaker system was terrible where we were, so the judge might as well have been the teacher on Peanuts . (Waawawwaawwaaa.) What made us most nervous was the judge slapping on her pig. We'd never seen a judge so hands-on. It wasn't an obedient pig, so he just wanted it to walk around. If it hadn't been so ornery...  She came off with second place in her class and wa

Don't miss Denise Hunter 's latest Chapel Springs Romance, Dancing with Fireflies .  Reviewers have already labeled Dancing with Fireflies  "swoon-worthy" and "the perfect love story."  Join Denise in celebrating the release of her new book by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway and RSVPing for her April 10th Facebook party. One winner will receive: A brand new Kindle Fire HDX Dancing with Fireflies  and  Barefoot Summer   by Denise Hunter Enter today by clicking one of the icons below . But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 10th. Winner will be announced at the Dancing with Fireflies  Facebook Party on April 10th . Connect with Denise for an evening of prizes, book chat, and an exclusive look at the next book in the series. Don't miss a moment of the fun;  RSVP today  by clicking JOIN on the event page.  Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or  TWITTER  and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th! {MORE ABOUT  DA

I have no clue why they are laughing like they are. Unless it's that I was still videoing after they thought they had done such a bad job I would stop recording. Once one started laughing, they all did. I know they didn't like my song choice though it went along with our lesson from Hebrews 4-5. You also have to realize this was AFTER I had gotten after Peyton for being goofy and messing with me that I thumped her on the forehead hard enough to leave a mark. She deserved it though. (Nate asked why we always fought. I said she started it, but she argued that I was the adult. She may have had a point.) Then, I made them scoot from the table and reach out their arms leaving enough space that they could not more than the person next to them's fingertips. They had to hold their Bibles in their laps. Peyton dropped hers twice, and Kailey dropped hers once. Children! I lost count of how many times I used the word "STOP!"

I feel like the queen of procrastination when it comes to projects. I've been meaning to paint my front door for weeks. However, the weather has not been favorable for paint to dry. Or hair to stay straight for that matter. I don't know why I bothered straightening my hair today to go in public because I could feel it bush and curl upon my head. It was misty rainy this morning, but my parents and I are not ones to let that distract us from a trip to Home Depot. Roses like these tempt you to buy them, but I'm sure mine would literally wilt in comparison. No, I bought peach trees. Yes, seriously. Peach trees. We'll see if I get peaches in a few years.  Mom finally decided she wanted a letter, but dad decided it need to be painted two tone like their shutters. For the life of me, I don't know why they chose that hideous brownish green. It's a natural color. Like the natural color that comes after digestion. And the paint was so thick that it was terr

In Joyce K. Ellis '  The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman you’ll find strength, purpose, and perspective to balance your many roles—and gain insight into the roles of women around you. Want a helper for your modern-day journey? Enter to win a Kindle Fire in Joyce's "500 Hats" giveaway!   One winner will receive: A Kindle Fire The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman  by Joyce K. Ellis A Modern-Day woman kit (T-shirt and hat) Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 30th. Winner will be announced April 1st on the Litfuse blog . Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by the Litfuse blog  on April 1st to see if you won. {MORE ABOUT  THE 500 HATS OF A MODERN-DAY WOMAN } Strength for Today’s Demanding Roles In  The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman  you’ll find strength, purpose, and perspective to balance your many roles—and gain insight into the roles of women around you.

Billy Coffey  is celebrating his new book, The Devil Walks in Mattingly , with   a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway.     One winner will receive: A Kindle Fire HDX The Devil Walks in Mattingly  by Billy Coffey Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 5th. Winner will be announced April  7th on Billy's blog . Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Billy's blog  on April 7th to see if you won. Read more about The Devil Walks in Mattingly here! {MORE ABOUT  THE DEVIL WALKS IN MATTINGLY } For the three people tortured by their secret complicity in a young man’s untimely death, redemption is what they most long for . . . and the last thing they expect to receive. It has been twenty years since Philip McBride’s body was found along the riverbank in the dark woods known as Happy Hollow. His death was ruled a suicide. But three people have carried the truth ever since

Most Christians associate the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 as the ideal wife and mother whose place is within the home. However, are we not seeing the full picture? In her new book written with Dawn Yoder, Real Women Leading: With Proverbs 31 Values ( New Hope® Publishers /February 3, 2014/978-1-59669-396-8/$14.99) , business executive Lisa Troyer writes, “Often thought of as the ‘most intimidating woman in Christendom,’ perhaps the Proverbs 31 woman — this skillful, conscientious, creative, entrepreneurial, merciful leader — has been saddled with a false persona of perfectionism and unattainable achievement. The Proverbs 31 Woman is one whose success is predicated on living a life based on values — whether she's dealing with domestic issues, marketplace opportunities or relationships. Truth is truth no matter what environment we operate/live in.” Part 1 of an interview with Lisa Troyer and Dawn Yoder, Co-authors of Real Women Leading: With Proverbs 31 Va

The search for identity often leads us astray Tracy L. Higley’s The Queen’s Handmaid challenges readers to live their calling Sometimes the loudest voices in our lives are the ones we need to silence the most. In Tracy L. Higley’s latest novel, The Queen’s Handmaid (Thomas Nelson/March 18, 2014/ISBN: 978-1-4016-8684-0/$15.99) , the author explores the importance of finding our identity in God and not in the opinions of others — no matter how large of a presence those people are. “When we make people too ‘large’ in our lives — allowing them to define who we are — we become focused on achieving and performing to please them,” Higley explains. This is the challenge for her heroine, but the truth behind it is universal. “We are all trying to gain the love and admiration of others in our lives, to feel good about ourselves. The only way we can escape this self-oriented life and really live our calling is finding acceptance and love in the God who will never fail us.” Thi

  An Interview with Rachel Hauck, Author of Princess Ever After The best stories show ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and Rachel Hauck has captured that very essence in her new novel, Princess Ever After (Zondervan/February 4, 2013/ISBN 9780310315506 /$14.99) . The second book in the Royal Wedding series tells the story of an ordinary girl who finds out she’s a princess, a revelation that changes the life she’s created for herself. Like many of us, Hauck is enamored with the idea of royalty, and while she hopes readers are entertained and drawn to the modern fairytale of Princess Ever After, she has a deeper desire for this book and the entire series . “I pray readers find hope and encouragement,” she says. “Most of us are not going to discover we are long-lost princes or princesses in this life, but we are most sincerely princes and princesses in His kingdom. Right now! Let’s live like it and love as our King loves.” Q: In Princess Ever After , your heroin