Catching up

Well, I don't keep up with this blog the way I should. I'm more of a quickie poster these days which is why Facebook is easier. But Facebook is also much less private so here I am!
Well, the girls are doing fine. We got their homeschool class photos back. They had fun posing at the train station and thought that was a cool photo shoot but what they are really excited about is their student ID!
They are getting so tall. Bethany surpassed me in height at just over 5'5" and Hannah has a little ways to go. Both are doing great at school. The curriculum is a bit too easy so I am trying to supplement it and work more on writing this year for both of them.
Halloween came and went and Hannah had a little trouble during that time. She went through some heavy duty battles of the mind with bad dreams, thoughts etc. Satan was hard at work through her thoughts that haunted her in a sort of obsessive-compulsive way and it was a helpless feeling. She really felt powerless and the more she tried to dwell on God, pray to and read His word, the more the bad thoughts popped into her mind. Plus, it doesn't help that she has a long term memory where she recalls things that happened years ago in every detail when she wasn't old enough to understand them back then, but now gets it. And of course, stressed over those thoughts and images too. It was hard and she was starting to question God. She didn't understand why He would allow her to go through this but we prayed through it and really got into His word. I explained how trials like this is where our faith grows the most because in our weakness, God is strongest. And as powerful as the evil one was, he is no match for our Mighty, Powerful, Faithful God!! AMEN!!!
She's finally beginning to understand and grow deeper in Him so that is all good. Romans 8:28 moments are good. :)
We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving at home. Grandma Joy and Grammy and Papa came over. It was nice. We look forward to a Christmas Eve at Joy's which should be quite wild with the whole family!
Bethany got herself a brand new Nikon professional camera and has really taken to her photography. As you can see by the photos above which were all taken with her new toy. In fact, our D.A. friend who was just elected Superior Court Judge in Ventura County has asked if Bethany would be his official photographer for his private and public swearing in ceremony! Not a bad first gig as a professional photographer huh? He saw her pictures that she shot on Facebook and was impressed with her work so we are excited to go see him get sworn in and Bethany will snap away! I hope he likes his photos.
The girls started basketball practice. Oddly enough, they are on different divisions in their league with Bethany in the Sr. girls and Hannah in Juniors but they both will wear purple this season as the LSU Tigers! That's gonna be a fun laundry day keeping their uniforms straight. I have visions of seeing Hannah's purple shorts falling to her knees during a game and Bethany's bunching up on her! Gotta make sure I check those tags carefully! ;) Hannah's been practicing her guitar and Bethany took up Hip Hop dance and has her first performance on Friday. We will probably give it up for a bit until after basketball though. She likes it. I'm not crazy about the song selection her insructor keeps choosing (not a fan of Lady Gaga and Hip Hop music in general but something tells me the teacher won't go for Toby Mac and his Jesus songs!).
Anyway, all is well here. I over-extended myself, and the girls for December. But God is good. We love you all and hope and pray you have an amazing Christmas and New Years!