Music Workshop @ Church

This weekend was sure a busy one. Being active in our church has allowed our lives to be used for good. The girls love singing in their choir. They had a music workshop this weekend. SeKoixa and Cymmone signed up. I was asked to do the welcome for the concert/performance laster that night. So I had to prepare my little speech.

I went and took some photos of everyone and made a video for the church. The Pastor really enjoyed it. If it gets posted on the churches website I will let you all know.

At the performance Cymmone got picked at last minute for a solo. I wished I had recorded it, but at least I was able to get the rap they did recorded. I will see if I can get that posted soon.

The girls also had to perform on Sunday service at 1045am. They were so excited, because both of them had the solos this week. I recorded this one, and again, they have both been blessed with wonderful voices. Cymmone's voice is just now maturing, and with the time we spend singing, she will be like her sister in no time.

SeKoixa, she really draws a crowd. This time the Pastor jumped from his seat and ran up front to see who was singing. Everyone was amazed and so proud of the girls. I am glad the hours I have put into their singing, and their choir is paying off for them. They really enjoy doing it.

I finally finished my new member classes today, so it is official, I am a member of their church now. I joined right into the Youth Ministry, and also signed up to do the Audio Visual Ministry. I got my first taste of working in the AV department tonight. For the first time in our churches history we broadcasted over AM radio and the internet. I am sure we will do it again, I will be sure to let you know when. Here is the site where you can listen next time.

http://www.reggiegay.com/

The girls were supposed to perform tonight to, but they ended up not making the kids sing. However Reggie put the mic to Cymmone's mouth, so she did get on the radio tonight singing. Only for a few seconds, but it was sure funny. I sat in the sound booth controlling the audio that was streaming, so I did not get the chance to see her, she was just out of the camera's view that I also monitored.

High School Musical 3

A month ago at SeKoixa's birthday party, my friends and I decided we will take the kids out to High School Musical 3 on opening night. The kids were so excited. Each week they have looked forward to tonight. And it was too much fun.

Tyler, Alyssa, Tyranesha, Cymmone, Nichole, and SeKoixa went, and so did their moms, my friends. I have been so lucky to find such great friends who are committed to their kids as much as I am. We are planning on doing something at least once a month to keep the friendship with the kids going, and give us some mommy time together.

Here are the pictures we took afterwards.

Firefighter Challenge

Over the weekend the girls and I went to cheer on Clayton County Fire Department at this FireFighter Challenge event. We had a great time, and learned what it would take to be a fireman. The food was great, and the games and activities were perfect for the little ones. And personally, staring at all of those fine men in the uniforms, well, I think I went for me!!

SeKoixa decided she wanted to do the firefighter challenge for juniors. The course was interesting, and a lot of fun. Cymmone was not feeling the childrens challenge, but none the less, she and I volunteered and assisted in putting back the items for the course the kids had to run. It was cute seeing her pull the dummy back in place for the next person to drag them out of the fire.

Saturday night we went ahead and headed to the fair. We had so much fun. The rides were great, the food was awesome. We even won me a fish. The girls already had one, so I had to claim this one as my own. We named him Pharoh. Cymmone might adopt him if her poor fish dies. Her fish got sick this past week, and we are not sure what is wrong with him. So I feel bad. But here are some pictures for you all.

The New Me

Ok, so back in August I cut off all of my hair. Used to be to my middle back. Most people don't know, so I figured I would post some pictures of the cut, and how it has grown out so far.

Me, just after I moved here, with long straight hair.

Me, after I colored and now have long curly hair

The hair coming off


Me Just after the cut



Me now, with it growing out

ALL A's HONOR ROLL

This is one proud mom!!! Both of my girls made the All A's Honor Roll.

I am so proud of them. The girls enjoy doing their homework more now that they don't get thumped in the head, and don't get punished when they have a hard time coming up with the answer. (And NO, it was not me doing that! Want to guess who?!)

I went and had breakfast with them this morning for the award ceremony for the honor roll. In 2nd grade there were about 12 students with all A's. Cymmone was one of them!! In 4th grade there were about 17 students with all A's, and SeKoixa was one of them. I was the only mother with two children in the All A's Honor Roll. Proud moment I tell ya! I am positive they will keep up the same throughout the year. Just goes to show with positive change comes positive rewards. Getting sole physical custody of Cymmone, and her dad walking away from raising SeKoixa might just be the best thing for my girls!

Anyways.... I am proud of the girls. They have come leaps and bounds now that I am back in control of things with their education. Cymmone is in 2nd grade, but reading at a 3.5 grade level. She is also in a program called SCORE. It is for gifted classes. She is doing well there. Amazing how she thinks. Cymmone has showed an interest in Karate, and they offer it once a week in afterschool. I will sign her up for that soon too. They have settled into their new routine with me and are coming along well.

SeKoixa's reading has jumped back up. I was concerned about her reading levels, but we are back to reading every night together. I had done that since they were born. Read to them all of the time just before bed. I stopped doing it all of the time about 6 months after I moved here. The schedule got to busy to do it, and my drive time home from work made it difficult to find time for it. SeKoixa is also back on top of her math skills. She is getting those times tables memorized, and works really hard in school. She has even had time to take on extra activities. She is in the school choir, and will be performing in the Nutcracker this year as a doll.

Cymmone Lost Another Tooth

CYMMONE LOST ANOTHER TOOTH!
Cymmone has only lost two of her teeth on the bottom. She has the most crooked smile. It is cute. But she has been trying to get out this big tooth on top for about 3 months. It was just simply caught on her gums. We were up till 10pm trying to get it out. We used dental floss, and pulled as hard as we could, and finally it came out.

SeKoixa's Baptism

SeKoixa chose to be baptized back in August. One morning she woke up, and asked if we could go find a new church. We had tried about 10 churches since we moved here, and did not find one that felt like home.

This day, Cymmone was at her Dad's house. So SeKoixa and I set out again to find a church. We happen upon Travelers Rest Missionary Baptist Church. We knew day one that this was where we belonged. I was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Utah, and we missed going to church and Sunday school every week. It always kept me where I needed to be in life.

I was baptised myself as a baptist a few years back. What a great church, and such wonderful people. They kept me on my toes, and my head on straight. They were my second family. I miss them so much. So do the girls. They miss singing in the childrens choir to. My girls sure love to sing!!

So after SeKoixa and I went to church, before we joined, we needed to introduce Cymmone, and see how she felt about the church as well. Church to me, it's a family decision. Cymmone, she loved it. They asked SeKoixa if she wanted to be baptized, and she said yes. She was about to be 10, and I felt she was ready to make the choice. They asked Cymmone, and she was like - NO! It was funny.

So the day of her baptism, the day after her birthday party, we headed to church. The girls were so cute in their red dresses. After her baptism, Cymmone said she wanted to get baptized to. I asked Cymmone if she knew what it meant to be baptized. She said, "I think so". So I told her it meant that you believed that Jesus died for your sins so that you may be saved. And she said, "oh yes mommy, I do. I guess that means I can be baptized, because I love Jesus!!" But I feel like she needs to be a little older before taking that step.

So for now Cymmone will commit herself to God, and recieve his blessings that way. I am so proud of my girls for making good choices. Here is a video of SeKoixa's Baptism. She is just to cute! Both of the girls are going to join the childrens choir as well.