Braces! What Braces?

I don't see no stinking braces.

bye bye braces

Caleb got his braces out on Monday. He was so excited!!! He did a great job wearing them. He only had to keep them in for 9 months. His bit has really improved. Before he couldn't use his front teeth to tear he food he had to use those back teeth.

Check out the before during and after pictures(just click on the picture). That's my handsome boy!

Murphy's Take Over Arkansas!!!

...but then we decided to give it back.

We had a great time. Fishing! Hiking! Playing Go-Fish! Cooking Out! Playing by the Dam (swimming in underwear)! Arkansas will never be the same.
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The Visit, the baptism, the fun -The Pictures

Click on the play button to watch the slide show. Or double click on the pictures to go to the picture collections where you can order them from shutterfly or other online photo developers.

Hair Update

I have been getting a bunch of comments on my hair lately. It is getting to the point that people are doing a double take to realize who they are looking at. So I figured I was due to share a picture with you.

1 and 2 Samual

We are reading 1 and 2 Samuel right now in our small group. These stories are a big bloody soap opera. Revenge, murder, marriage, sex, betrayal...
Here are some of the interesting things I have come across in these recent readings.
David actually trusted in God's judgment working itself out in his daily life. He had chance after chance to kill Saul and put an end to running for his life, but he wouldn't touch him. He wouldn't kill him in cold blood.

Also a number of times even while he was hiding in caves and in the wilderness he would get word about the Philistines attacking somewhere. He would pray and ask God if he should go attack. He seems to make that a habit, and God made it a habit of answering him.

David finally hits his peek of becoming king and getting to where God promised him, no more running for his life.... Before this point he seemed to lead every battle he ever was involved in. Then the one time he doesn't go lead the troops in battle... this is when his wandering eyes catch Bathsheba taking a bath, and then it is all down hill from here.

here is the reflections:
1. I need to trust in God's Judgment
2. pray to him and listen
3. Don't wander away from where God wants me to be

Zephyr Film Fest - Coming soon!

Well, we just finished making Backyard Guards 3. (the special effects always make the production take longer) I should have it uploaded pretty soon. But we are trying to find a date on the calendar to have our 2nd Annual Film festival where we invite all the neighbors and a bunch of friends to the house and watch the newest videos on the big screen in our garage. Microwave popcorn, folding chairs and Kool-Aid and great friends. Hope you can come.

Judges

I just finished reading Judges. This is a tough book of the Bible. Rape, pilage, plunder, worshiping other gods, Samson and his hair, Israel fighting amoung itself, then stealing woman for the Remaining Benjaminites.... One thing (of many stange things) that stands out is sometimes when the people of God made a vow they really didn't want to break it. Even when it makes no sense at all to keep the vow. See Judges 11. Jephthah makes a vow before God: "If you give me a clear victory over the Ammonites, then I'll give to God whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in one piece... I'll offer it up in a sacrificial burnt offering." First what in the world was he thinking when he made that vow. Then just a couple of paragraphs later after his great victory. His only child, his only daughter comes out to greet him. He let's her go morn for a couple of months, and then "He fulfilled the vow with her that he had made."
I don't think I will understand this one. Was God pleased with his vow, with this sacrifice? What am I supposed to learn from this chapter. This story has turned my stomach.

Now as far as the rest of the book of Judges goes I think I can relate to some extent to the people of Israel. They keep having these seasons of good, focused on God times, and then these not so good, turn their back on God times. I really like this quote from Ch. 13 "And then the People of Israel were back at it again, doing what was evil in God's sight." It is that whole ... here we go again feeling. But I feel like I go through those seasons too. I have those times where I am focused of Christ, then I have those other times.

Judges is just a tough book.

Pool time

Ethan is taking swim lessons along with one of his classmates, Reese from Montessori. I can't say he is having the time of his life. But he is doing it. Here are some pictures of Ethan, Caleb, Reese and his mom and sister, and Trevor showing off in the water.

Enjoy.

Zephyr Films again

Well, as soon as I hand out Revenge of The Ninjas DVDs to the kids in the neighborhood, they are ready to film again. I was out mowing the lawn, so the kids went inside and started making up a story. This one is going to be the 3rd episode of Backyard Guards. This one is going to be a classic: Bad guy escapes, and because he has been in jail he has had time to devise a new and better plan to take over the world...

we will be editing soon. stay tuned. Check out http://zephyrfilms.blogspot.com/

Of all the Zephyr Films the most webwatched one is by far Greatest Spies Ever Episode 1, and now Episode 2 has made its very late web debut. So be sure to check out Greatest Spies Ever Episode 2!!!

Zephyr Films

We are wrapping up production of Zephyr films latest movie. This one is about Ninjas!!! The kids in the neighborhood even brought in some acting and writting help from the outside. We invited Caleb Hurst to take part in this latest feature.



Since the neighborhood collection of short films is growing we decided to dedicate a new weblog just to Zephyr films. So here is your link to the new site.



http://zephyrfilms.blogspot.com/