Bubba's Blog: Quality Time with Courtney

This week my sister-in-law gave me the opportunity to have my niece Courtney stay with Ray and I the whole week. I don’t get to spend much time with her so, since I’m out of work for the time thought this would be the perfect time to make memories.

Her mom, my sister-in-law, Liane drove down with Delaney, a friend of the family Jessie to drop Courtney off Friday night. We had chicken/shrimp tacos for dinner with chips and salsa concluded with chocolate chip cookies for dessert. After catching up with one another it was time to play games. We started with Monopoly. The girls loved playing. They couldn’t get enough of it.

Saturday morning we started off with chocolate chip pancakes. Then us girls went to the pool for swimming, cannon balls, macro polo, and chicken fights. Delaney was scared to jump in at first but as once she did it she didn’t want to stop. Courtney taught me a new game called: Color. Color is a game played by two people, one person thinks of a color holding the other person into their arms, the person in their arms has to guess that color while going underwater trying to figure out what the person is say while she is above water, if you keep getting it wrong you keep getting dunked, when you get it right then she flips you in the water. It was fun.

After our fun time at the pool it was time to go shopping. What every girl loves to do. Ray suggested we go to Sandhill which is the outlet mall. Didn’t know we had one here but he did. Bonus points for him. We arrived and I was amazed how many stores they have. Liane was excited!

We parked and ready to go. The girls immediately spotted a Claire’s and in they went. Ray and I waited on a bench so we wouldn’t be that far ahead of them. They came out and Delaney had gotten a two new pair of shoes, which were adorable. Made me wish they made them in my size. She had them on already and carrying her bag like she was a little lady. And she didn’t want anyone to carry her bag and she didn’t want to carry anyone's bag. She had her new shoes, sunglasses, and her first purchase of the day, she was excited.

I went to Bath and Body Works to see what kind of sales they had. Before I went in the employees were giving away coupons for a free menthol lip gloss if you made a purchase of $10 or more. They had candles on sale two for $10. That’s what I chose. The vanilla coconut, sweet cinnamon pumpkin, and my lip gloss for FREE, which usually is $10 alone. I was very excited about my purchase.

I met the other girls up at Childrens Place where Delaney and Courtney were interested in their clothing. Delaney wanted everything she could touch and Courtney too. I can’t believe how cute little girl’s clothes are now days. Remember when I was growing up and I don’t remember my clothes being so in style as theirs are. They each got a couple of outfits. Immediately when we got home Delaney put her outfits on and was being our little model. She was very excited about her purchases.
We ended the night with a game of monopoly and sequence.

Sunday morning was another pancake breakfast. Ray and I went to Awaken Church for our second time. Our second visit was amazing. The sermon was on prayer. Hearing and listening to our pastor Jay was very encouraging and moving. He speaks real and straight to the point. He is not afraid of offending anyone but wants you to know the truth about Jesus.

Here are some of the notes I took from his sermon:
Our Father in heaven
Hallowed by your name
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day or daily bread
Forgive us our debts
As we also forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
God Answers
Yes
No
Wait
My gracious is sufficient

How to Pray
Pray Proactively
Pray to your Father

God says: Come to me and pray tell me your problems.

Prayer is allowing God to move us. It’s you moving to God.
We ended with prayer. He said if you can’t pray in church with Christians than where can you pray? Thought that was pretty good.