Start-up --

Last week was a blur of bulletin boards, lots of workshops and last minute major computer upgrades (which used up lots of time).

My Youth Alive Leadership team couldn't wait to get started and decided the first day of school we needed to kick it off.  So much excitement-- they've already chosen their theme for the year (an anchor) and are mentoring the juniors and sophomores.  They're living and loving Heb.6:19 --
              "but we have this hope as an anchor for the soul" 
 -- I love it -- it keeps us all grounded and holding tight to Jesus!

'Gonna be a great year!!!

Recess is Over . . . Time to Go Back to Class

DIDN'T WE HAVE FUN, NANA?

It was our last day of summer vacation and Terry and I wanted to spend the morning with our girls -- we took Campbell to Haikey Park while Bethany shopped for paint. Then we all met up for lunch at Bueno!
Don't think I'm ready to give up my Campbell time and go back to school --

My summer is quickly drawing to a close . . .          It's been WONDERFUL . . .
 . . . .vacation up in cool country -- getting to see my brothers and their wives --

                 June was about Kids University and getting our kids moved in.

                      Going antiquing and having lunch outs with Bethany

                                    Spending lots of Campbell Time!

Enduring the heat and drought, watering endless gallons of water trying to keep our  plants alive

                    July was all about projects and relaxing with  my favorite  hobbies--


Now it's time to
            Map Curriculum
                                Meet with my Youth Alive leadership team and
                                                   Set up my classroom

I found myself dreading the school year after a such a great summer -- I kept thinking -- 'don't know if I can do this three more years -- AND THEN -- I decided to ask God for the best school year yet ----
AMAZING how that one prayer changed my perspective on the whole year . . . I'm

                           thankful to have a job . . .
                                       thankful for a great school and administrators

                                                     thankful for such a wonderful best friend and co-worker, Marinelle.

                              

For I know the plans I have for you -- plans to prosper you and give you hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

Every "biggie" event in our kid's lives involves some sort of MAJOR project -- for Bethany's we always sew  -- she designs and I do the stitchin'  --


For Marshall --  he and I  refinish furniture or paint.

 So with Mat and Bethany moving into a new house and baby on the way, it was time, once again, to set up the dining room to SEW BIG TIME!

I love this fabric -- perfect for a soft bumper pad!

Start with two 17" circles

Add piping 1/2 inch from the edge  and attach a rectangle 51 1/2 inches by 9 inches to the outer edge of the circle

Turn inside out and sew the second 17" circle.  Stuff with 2 12-oz bags of stuffing and viola!!! Drum Pillows
for the girl's play table

Personalize by embroidering before stitching the circles

Ready for two little girls to use at their play table.

C thinks they're perfect and decided to try out Baby Sister's.

Proud of You Dr. Marshall T Bell -- Your Hard Work is Reaping Rewards

2005 White Coat Ceremony at OU -- it only seems like yesterday

 Seven years ago Marshall graduated OSU and began his career in medicine -- With a few more to go, Marshall is enjoying the fruit of all his labor (days on end studying for huge comprehensive exams, day after day of in research, making rounds and seeing lots of patients, operating on all sorts of cases) --

Marshall, do you realize you've already been in school 25 years since Kindergarten???
 
 -- Just yesterday he was notified that he is a finalist in the Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award-- He and four other finalists will present in early November before thousands of professionals in the field of surgery.  Late last week his first article was published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.  

We're so proud of you, Marshall -- God has blessed your efforts!!!



The American Heart Association Website on Dr. Vivien Thomas:
"The Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award acknowledges the accomplishments of early career investigator members of the CVSA Council who are focusing on fundamental and applied surgical research.  

The award is named in honor of Vivien T. Thomas, a key player in pioneering the anastomosis of the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery. The surgical work he performed with Dr. Alfred Blalock paved the way for the successful outcome of the Blalock-Taussig shunt in 1944.


Five Thomas Award finalists will be honored and a winner will be named at the annual CVSA Council Dinner at the AHA Scientific Sessions."
 http://my.americanheart.org/professional/Councils/AwardsandLectures/EarlyCareer/Vivien-Thomas-Yong-Investigator-Award_UCM_322607_Article.jsp

Dr. Mathew B.Good Joined Oklahoma Heart July 23

 Mat has kept a busy two weeks in orientation and beginning his practice with Oklahoma Heart.
We know Mat to be a wonderful and caring physician with a gift for his field of medicine.  To make it all official, Campbell and Mommy paid their first visit to his new Hillcrest South office yesterday.

Mat will be seeing patients at Cushing, Fairfax, Hillcrest and Hillcrest South.  He's one busy doctor!

Terry and I are thrilled that Mat and Bethany chose Tulsa as their home in this season of Mat's profession.