Halloween

First Grade Hoe Down

After working on a unit about farmers and scarecrows, the first graders had a real live Hoe Down at school. First they created and stuffed their own scarecrows, then they showed of their square dancing. On the second dancing round, they got to choose a different partner and Ellie chose Katelyn.

Click here to see a video of the Hoe Down

Fall in the Smokies

Mid-October the Calhoun clan went on a getaway to the Great Smoky Mountains to meet up with Alan's parents. It proved to be a beautiful time of year for such a trip as the leaves were changing and it was the perfect weather. We ended up in a cabin in Bryson City--home of the Great Smoky Railroad. The view from our cabin was breathtaking.

The kids wore their costumes on a train ride to Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin Patch where they were participated in a variety of fall activities--trick or treating, bobbing for apples, hayrides, inflatable slides, smores, and old time festival games. It was a magnificent weekend and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit.  Some of the most special memories were of my girls curling up next to their grandparents to read to them. We were thoroughly entertained by the stories of Heidi Hecklebeck and the Littles.

Cross Point Child Dedication

After much unrest, we finally had Owen dedicated in church. We went back and forth between getting him baptized in Louisville where the girls were baptized and having him dedicated in our church. We finally settled on the child dedication so he can decide for himself when he is older if he wants to be baptized.

The life verse we decided on for him is

"And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him." Luke 2:40

We were asked to write a letter to Owen outlining traits we wanted to see in him when he grew up. Here are a few as they relate to this verse:  This verse speaks some of the things we pray for you as you grow up. We want you to be strong in body, but also in faith and mind. We want you to be grounded in what is right and wrong and display a wisdom with regards to the world. To me, wisdom also means having a deep love for people and knowing that if you love God and love people well, you will have a full life.

The final part of the verse is my wish that the grace of God would be upon you. That He would find favor in all you do and bless you abundantly—not with worldly possessions but with inherent joy, peace, love and an unwavering faith.  

Sherry also joined us for this special day. We were able to shower her with belated birthday love, dinner and cookie cake.

 Slide of Owen at church as they read his verse.

 There were nine kids dedicated that day. Owen was a wiggle worm the whole time. 

 Owen trying to read the new Bible they gave him.

Happy Birthday Sherry!