Groundbreaking

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Eric Hendrickson ~ (my husband)

The pastor said pray for sunny and 50 degrees for the "Groundbreaking" of the Pathway Church Goddard campus project on February 16.  On February 13th, with 6" of snow on the ground, it wasn't looking too promising.  But, as you can see from the pictuers, a few days of warm weather and wind melted the snow and helped dry up the land.  The Lord answered our prayer.

Click below for a link to Pathway Church.

http://www.pathwaychurch.com/

Above, I am talking to the head of the building committee and one of the elder's of Pathway.

The footprint of the new church building, which is approximately 26,000sf, was marked out in the field.  There were enough people to line the entire perimeter.  Each person who brought a shovel was able to take a scoop full of dirt of the perimeter where they stood. 

The kids were each given a balloon and they wrote a message on it. Our first balloon popped, so the kids all shared the second balloon. Sarah's side said, "Believe in God!".  Phoebe and Silas's side said, "Jesus Loves Me".  On the count of 3, they were released in the air.

Here is the unveiling of the "New Home" sign, which Hutton installed a few days prior to the event.  Pathway wanted a big sign so that is could be seen as people drive by it on Kellogg.  At 14'x10', it catches alot of wind.  We had to put in deep footings and big timber posts to support it. 

Each person took home a little bit of dirt with them on their shoes.  Thankfully, it wasn't a muddy mess, and we had Aunt Lindsee with us to help clean off kids' shoes.

I am excited for this project.  I have been involved with it from the initial purchasing of the land and programming of the space and will get to see it through completion.  I enjoy building commercial buildings, but building a building for God's people to worship Him is special.

Click below for a link to Hutton Construction.

http://www.huttonconstruction.com/

Daddy Daughter Dance

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Eric Hendrickson ~ (my husband)

In mid-February,  there was a special event at our church.  It was the first ever, Daddy Daughter dance.

Above, I am putting on the tie that the girls picked.  I also am wearing the pink shirt that the girls picked.  I did pick the suit, which was my first time to ever wear this suit.

Sarah picked to wear her "Belle" dress from Beauty and the Beast.  Phoebe picked to wear a pretty pink and black dress that goes well with my shirt.

Mommy had to get some pictures before we departed for the church.  Thank you mommy for making their hair look so nice.

I have some beautiful girls. 

The dance was in the church basement.  The Women's Ministry team that put together the decorations, cookies, and punch did an exceptional job.  I mentioned in church the following day that this was probably the best event ever put on by Antioch.

When we first entered the door we were directed into a room where there were many different types of fabric.  Each of us were allowed to pick one piece of fabric.  Then, they traced our hand.  After this, we were led downstairs where there was a photographer.

Above, you can see why we picked out fabric and traced our hands.  The ladies worked hard to cut and put all these together for us while we got to enjoy our evening together.  You also can see the pictures taken of all the daddies and their daughters by the photographer.  At the end of the dance, we were given the handprint and the pictures.

All the young ladies, anywhere from 3-35, looked beautiful in their dresses and the Dads, and a few Grandpas, actually cleaned up quite nicely.  We were energetic and out on the dance floor all evening long.

I love my girls and am grateful that our church put on such a great event that will forever be in mine and my girls memories.

Hastings Christmas 2013

I realized my camera battery had run down on our way to my parents house for the 2013 Hastings Christmas gathering. (I know, poor planning on my part, but in my defense, it is getting a lot harder for me to remember 100 things at once.  It may be because I am getting older and my brain sometimes takes a vacation, or it just may be because I am not mom, sister, wife, or daughter of the year.) So, this post is a little late, but because I did not have my own camera to use, I had to borrow one from my Dad and Mom, then I had to remember to borrow it again to get the pictures that I took off of their camera card.  Whew.  So, here it is over three months past Christmas and I am doing a Christmas post.  It is just starting to warm up here, but just north of us in my beloved Wildcat country they had snow this morning!  So grab some hot chocolate and let's sing some Christmas songs as we look at what kind of fun the Hastings had this time....

Of course we started off with homemade soup, because that is what we always do.  It has happened that way every year I can remember.  Except my Grandparents, Howard and Jo Hastings, always made Oyster soup as one of the homemade soup choices... For two years in a row now, there has been no Oyster soup. I am filing a complaint.  (Dear Hastings Christmas gathering host, Please bring back the oyster soup.  It is delicious, and Christmas isn't the same without it.  Thank you.  Sincerely, a Hastings who remembers and loves the yummy taste of the homemade oyster soup).  Yes, I miss it.  And, yes, I like it.  So does my cousin Josh.  I think he or I will have to make it for the next Hastings Christmas gathering....maybe he and I are the only people who like it....  There was also an abundance of other food, dips, appetizers, salads, and MANY desserts to eat along with the soup!  If you know the Hastings family you know they are some dessert lovin' people.  There can never be too many desserts.  I think we all ate all day long.  MMMmmmm, makes my tummy smile just thinkin' about it.

Christmas drawings on a paper plate....
This was hilarious.  We each had a paper plate on top of our head and a pencil.  Then the Host and game master, who happened to be my Dad and Mom this year, called out things that everyone had to draw on their paper plate while it was on top of their head.  Each person should have ended up with a beautifully drawn Christmas scene on their plates... or at least two of us did.  The others were more like lines and circles and scribbles.  The winner was none other than the talented artist and seamstress, Jan Hastings!  Who would have guessed that she would win a drawing game....

Minute To Win It games, here we go....

Rolling tennis balls into an empty coffee container -

Boys vs. Girls, except Phoebe, who wanted to be Popee's partner.

Carrying mini marshmallows on a spoon from one container to another -

Blowing Ping-Pong balls off the tray -

Flipping lots of  pencils off the top of your hand into the air and catching them in your palm -

 

Bouncing Ping-Pong balls into a group of metal cans -

Girls vs. Boys, again.
Sucking an M&M onto the end of your straw and carrying it across the room then dropping it into another container -

Blowing a set of plastic cups off the table before your opponent blows all of theirs off the table -

Fishing for keyrings -

 And finally, kid present time...

One of the best things about Christmas for me is getting to gather with family, the games we play, the food we eat, the laughing we all do.  Just being together.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  I love my Hastings Christmas memories and look forward to getting together for many many more Christmases with the people I love.