Let's Get This Party Started

Illinois basketball season starts today and the start of college basketball is always fun. Your team is undefeated and you have the anticipation of how well the team will perform. Alex and I met some friends for the first exhibition game at Assembly Hall to get a look at the team. While the competition in pre-season is sub-par, it was still fun to get out and watch Illini basketball.

It was great to see the new faces on the team and to try to get a gauge on how much the familiar faces have improved.

I think the Illini should be pretty decent this year. There are several Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25 that will prove to be stiff competition. Six teams made the AP Poll and five in the ESPN Coaches Poll.

AP Poll:
Michigan St. (2)
Purdue (7)
Michigan (15)
Ohio St. (16)
Illinois (23)
Minnesota (25)

ESPN Coaches Poll:
Michigan St. (2)
Purdue (7)
Michigan (15)
Ohio St. (17)
Minnesota (18)

Illinois missed the top 25 in the coaches poll but given the points for votes would land in at 27. Illinois tips things off tonight versus SIU-Edwardsville.

GO ILLINI!

Slobby O's

We had "Slobby O's" for supper tonight.  Well, you may know them as "Sloppy Joe's" but Nolan likes to call them "Slobby O's".  I guess maybe they are more slobby than sloppy. 

He also thought this whole month was "Octover".  It took us some convincing to get him to understand "OctoBER".  Funny the stuff kids say sometimes. 

We were homebound last weekend.  Emma was sick and the boys had a bit of a cold.  Heather wasn't feeling the best either.  There wasn't a whole lot going on so it worked out. 

Not much new.  We are taking the youth to Gull Lake for a retreat this weekend.  Our pastor will be teaching on Biblical Worldview.  Should be a fun time. 

Twelve

Today Heather and I celebrate anniversary number twelve.  It's always fun to have something to celebrate and anniversaries are especially fun.  It gives me a good excuse to take some time off work and do something with Heather.  Nothing super exciting planned for this year but we're going to go to Merrillville later this week for a movie and to go out to eat. 

Time just keeps passing by.   

Justified

Our church is in the middle of its annual Missions Conference.  This year, the kids, ages 5-6th grade, have a separate place to go for age appropriate teaching.  Tonight, when the teacher was praying with the kids, she asked if anyone wanting to ask Jesus in their heart to raise their hand.  Nolan raised his hand and met with the teacher one-on-one.  She gave him a "First Steps" booklet for Heather and I to go through with him.  We were shocked.  We didn't really expect it with him quite yet.

Both of the other kids were 5 when they accepted Jesus too, though.  So, if you think of it.  Keep Nolan in your prayers.  Us too as parents to be wise in the continued training and teaching as he grows in Jesus.

Chill with Phil

When I began as Youth Leader three years ago, I started a regular activity for the Sr. High teens called "Chill with Phil."  It started out a little slow drawing anywhere from 1-5 teens the first year but now we regularly get around 10-12 teens each time.  We do this about five times a year.  This year we decided to get t-shirts made for whatever teens want one.  They will be sold exclusively at Chill with Phil events.  You can check out the design below:

The back says, "Tri-County Bible Church Youth Ministry" and lists Proverbs 12:26.  The verse isn't printed on the back but the verse says, "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray."

We have this event to encourage development of Christian friendships and allow the teens an opportunity to spend a weekend night somewhere where they don't have to worry about peer pressure or getting involved in activities that they shouldn't be getting into.  Plus, it's a great event to bring unchurched friends to that's less intimidating.

Nolan's Turn

Nolan started pre-school this week.  He goes for two and a half hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  So far he's enjoying it.  He's glad to get to go having Emma and Alex already in school, he'd been getting bored without them.  Here are some pics of his first day!

 

No!  He did NOT get to take the cat with him to school.  Though maybe it would be a good way to get rid of it. ;)

Back to School

The kids started back to school on Thursday.  Emma in 2nd grade and Alex in 5th.  Things are off to a good start and they like their teachers.  They are in the same building this year which is 2nd through 5th grade.  Next year, Nolan starts kindergarten and they'll all be in different buildings!

This is such a busy time of year w/ school and our Youth Ministry starting back up.  We re-painted the youth room last week.  It looks a lot different from the previous look.  It'll be a fun change and nice to get a fresh coat of paint on the walls. 


Alex has helped a lot this summer with the mowing.  It frees up a lot of time to do other work around the house.  This particular day he decided to wear his snowboots to mow.  Not sure what was up with that but it was picture worthy.