KP: Thanksgiving

KP Writes:

Wow, we had a fabulous Thanksgiving day!!! That is such an answer to prayer. When we moved to KC, I would never have believed that it was even a possibility that we would not be able to come back to GA for T'giving. Needless to say, in the days and weeks leading up to the holiday, I did not always handle that reality very well.



Early in the day we were able to talk/see Jack, Doe and Scott before they headed out to Mike and Cathie's for the big feast!! It was great to see the Price household all decorated for Christmas in the background.


We had a great day. We invited Val, a dear friend of ours from the Intro internship, to spend the day with us.


Mallory and Val trying to take a picture. Mallory what did you do with my phone??


Here are a few more snapshots of our day.I am not sure why, but whether it is a dew-rag or a bonnet, the napkins always seem to come into play on Thanksgiving with my family.


ALWAYS dancing!!


Apparently not a brand she prefers!!



Me talking on the phone to the Gabriel/Williams Thanksgiving gathering in GA at the same time that we were Skyping them!!



Two peas in a pod!!

A great day. Thank you to all our family who spent time on their holiday staring at a computer screen so that we could do distance celebration with them. It was great for the girls and us to see all the cousins, youngest to oldest!! We love you and cannot wait until Christmas!

Love,
Kristian

KP: New Tradition

KP Writes:

On Thanksgiving eve a major radio station in the area sponsors Christmas in the Park here in Grandview. It is a big deal and a major draw for people all over the Kansas City area, both in MO and KS. It is an evening to kick off the Christmas seasonal light exhibit they display at Longview Lake, which is very close to where we live. From now until New Year's eve they will have the display with over 300,000 lights and 400 figures all lit up. For those of you in Marietta, I guess it is sort of like the Life Chiropractic Christmas light display. (I will take pictures when I actually see it because we didn't do that part on this night because of the crowds.)


But on T'giving eve they kick off the festivities by having everyone (EVERYONE) drive into the park at 5pm and tailgate with their picnic dinners. Some people set up tables decorated with Christmas lights and everything. We invited a family we have grown to love to go with us. Paul did Intro with us and his wife is on Prayer Room staff. They have 2 younger daughters.


As you can see, the southern wimps decided to eat in the back of our van where it was warmer and the wind couldn't do anything but rock the vehicle!!


Then at 6pm we took our camp chairs and set them up in the beach front parking lot facing the large decorated stage where they had live performances with singers and dancers presenting holiday entertainment for about an hour and a half. We dressed very warm, but began to get chilled after a half hour. Then parts of our bodies began to freeze after an hour. By the end of the show, we were shivering. The temperature was not that bad, only at 30, but THE WIND. By the way, have I ever mentioned that the wind blows a lot here??




Then we all went back to our cars and turned on the heat and seat warmers and watched an incredible 15 minute fireworks display, set to Christmas music on the sponsoring radio station. It was terrific and we had a blast. It is definitely a tradition we will continue!

Happy Thanksgiving,
Kristian

KP: School Wardrobe

KP Writes:

I have been quoted as saying more than once, "Girls, get to work" during a typical school day. As you see here, it was time for me to speak. In this picture I am not sure who initiated this time of distraction. Did the cat jump up for a time of love (and snugly warmth) or did the girl call him up to her chair for a welcomed break from the assignment at hand??
One thing about home schooling, you definitely save pennies on your wardrobe! It is cool in the house, so we dress warm...and comfortable. Hey, look at it this way, your real street clothes do not wear out near as quickly when you only wear them to dance, from dance and on Sunday's.

Oh and by the way, we have the most educated cat in the world. He 'goes to school' with us everyday and even 'asks' to go down to the school room before we are ready in the mornings and on Saturdays and Sundays.

Love ya,
Kristian

KP: Post Out of Order

KP Writes:

For those of you who check our blog regularly, be sure to go back a couple of posts. I started a pre-Thanksgiving post on Monday and didn't post it until today, so it is before Ashton's Wordless Wednesday post.

So if you don't scroll down, you won't see the new post and think there is nothing new since the last time you checked. (I included pictures...)

KP

AP: Almost Wordless Thursday.....

AP writes:

I almost had to do a Wordless Thursday because I almost didn't blog today. But I made it just in time! (with 45 min. to spare!) I took another test today and I now have 24 college credits! Only 6 more and I will be a sophomore in college. And I took my first test on October 30! :)

In this season we are reminded to think about our blessings and thank God for all He has given us. I love going to the beach and being able to see God's handiwork in the sunsets. They are just one part of all that I am thankful for.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with THANKFULNESS."Col. 2:6-7

"Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." Heb. 12:28-29

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Col. 4:2

"Be THANKFUL." Col. 3:15b

I'm thankful even for the hard parts in life where we have to choose to die to ourselves

and carry ourselves as royalty modeled by our Heavenly Father, thus truly becoming......

purple myrrh.

KP: Thanksgiving Sunday with Our 9 Kids

KP Writes:

Sunday was our last day with our 7 OneThing children. They will graduate from their intership on December 18th so they will not officially come to our house again as a 'family group'.
Being that Sunday was the weekend before Thanksgiving, guess what the menu 'had' to be. Yes, I prepared my first full Thanksgiving meal. Jeff cooked the turkey and I even made dressing-'the wet kind', and gravy (another first). Our menu also included mashed potatoes in honor of Tuffy, sweet potato casserole with good ole GA pecans, green bean casserole, creamed corn, raspberry jello that Doe makes, rolls (to fill up all these teen/young adult bellies), pumpkin pie and pecan pie with cool whip.
Of course we had to eat in the real dining room on the China with my grandmother's glasses. It was absolutely fulfilling to me to hear each one gasp, and squeal when they came in the front door and see the table set. They were sincere with their surprise and their delight.I told them they are 'our kids', we are their family (away from family) and that is what families do on Thanksgiving-eat big and in the dining room.
After dinner we all sat around and talked. All 7 of our OneThing kids will be returning to IHOP-KC in January. Six of them will be back in time for the OneThing Conference Dec. 28-31. When they return, Jane, the oldest is going on full time staff and will be Allen Hood's administrative assistant. He is the Dean of the Bible School, Forerunner School of Ministry(FSM).She is 24 and has already graduated from college with a degree in education. She has taught school and ballet. (She and Ashton are always talking something about dance!) She has several sisters including 3 young adopted Asian sisters living in Connecticut with her parents. She is the one who will not be back until the first week the Bible School resumes. She is standing in the picture above.)

Sarah is going to attend a semester of FSM. Added to the 6 months of the internship she is graduating, she will have completed a full year's credit by May. Next fall she plans to enroll in college back east. She is the spark of joy of our OT girls. She was also the group appointed shopper for our gift of appreciation from them all. If her other plans don't work out, she has great potential as a personal shopper!! She is sitting between Jeff and Jane.
Here you see left to right, Ashton who is diligently sewing a pair of point shoes for her Christmas show. Josh and Tyler are in the middle. They are the 2 young men from Rockford, IL. On the right is Gabriel. This month is "no shave November" for the guys in the internship, thus all the facial hair.


This photo catches the last 3 in action. Left to right is Kelly from Blairsville, GA, our Mallory, and Dakota all checking out something on the internet. You never know what to expect from this group. They are fun, witty, and always keep you on your toes.

This day was and incredible time of good food, sweet fellowship, lots of laughs, and tender good byes. The Price family of 4 has thoroughly enjoyed spending our Sundays this fall with the Price family group. We have made many memories together, grown in the Lord together, laughed and cried together. I know the 4 of 'us' are so thankful that the 7 of 'them' are all staying in KC for then next season!

Love ya,
Kristian

KP: ATP and UMKC

KP Writes:

Well as a very proud moma I want to brag on one of my girls today. As you know, Ashton is a high school senior this year. However, Jeff, Ashton and I agreed she should begin to earn some of her college credits this year to get a head start. She was ready so we began to look around.
You might be asking what is UMKC?? University of Missouri Kansas City of course!

She has prepared for and passed the CLEP exams for THREE courses! Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, College Math, and Natural Science. Let me interpret....She now has EIGHTEEN college credits and is officially a second semester freshman, all during her Sr. year of high school! Needless to say we are very proud. She began studying mid October. When she knows the material, she schedules an appointment with UMKC, goes in and takes the exam which equivalent to a cumulative final exam for the course. Not bad for a months worth of work.

Right now she is preparing for American Literature which is not her favorite. She hopes to complete it and US History I by Christmas break. High goals, but we will see. She is also enrolled, on line, in the Bible school at the Forerunner School of Ministry. She is only taking one class, Excellencies of Christ. (She is a little busy with her other material you know. And she has to finish up her 4th yr of Spanish at home as part of her regular Sr. year studies.) The eSchool class is worth 3 hrs credit for FSM for when she officially enrolls fulltime, hopefully by Aug. 2011. At least that is the plan....

Love ya,
Kristian

AP: Wordless Wenesdays (Thursdays?????)

AP writes:

Well, I already blew the goal of trying to blog every Wednesday.....but I am trying to make it work so I'm doing it one day late. Now it is Thinking Thursdays!!!!

"In the beginning.......

God created.......

the Heavens and the earth." Gen. 1:1

"Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth....

You have set your glory above the heavens." Ps. 8:1

"When I consider the heavens.....

the works of your fingers.......

the moon and the stars which you ordained.....

what is man that you are mindful of him.....

the son of man that you care for him?" Ps. 8:4-5

"But the eye of their God was watching over them....." Ezra 5:5

Have fun pondering!!!

MP: The goings on of my life

MP writes:

Hey everyone,
How are you? Guess what? It snowed here for the first time this year. It was only a little but more than y'all are getting. Also I think that it absolutely absurd that it was gone by noon.

There is a IHOPU Student Awakening happening here at the International House Of Prayer. It is amazing and many many people are getting healed aka knees, backs, heads, dyslexia, cancer, tumors, and shame and fear is being broken off and people are being freed spiritually as well as physically.

Also our New Year's Eve conference is coming up here soon, in December. As some of you know we have people who are staying here with us. Even I strongly encourage all of you to up here for it:)!!!!! I love y'all and miss you!

Love ya,
Mallory

KP: Fresh New Morning

KP Writes:

Surprise! I awoke this morning to the freshness of a dusting of this fall's first snow. Noticing that my bedroom was exceptionally bright at 6:20AM, I climbed out of my snugly warm bed, staggered to the kitchen for coffee (it had only been a little over 5 hours since I laid down!), and as I passed the den window noticed through the slits called morning eyes a beautiful dusting of snow in our backyard.










I feel like this is a picture of what the Lord is doing in our midst, here at IHOP-KC as well as across our nation and around the world. The Holy Spirit is moving. He is healing and delivering many, not of just physical illness/disease, but also of emotional and spiritual issues. He is making hearts pure through the blood of Jesus, just like this fresh white snow. And just as this is only a sprinkling of the more that is to come in the near future in the weather, I am convinced the present move of the Holy Spirit is just an outpouring of what the Lord wants to do in and among His people.





Lord we pray that you renew our hearts to Christ-likeness. Refresh us. Come like the freshness of this fall snow. Create in us thankful hearts. Give us your joy. And Lord as you pour into, make us mindfill that it is not only for our benefit, but it is so that we can go....and transform the nations in the name and by the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Blessings,
Kristian