I couldn't resist posting these.

Here is a picture of Meradeth's teeth the morning after. Her lip swelling went down so much. You can see the it is her right tooth (your left) and it is now quite a bit lower and pushed slightly behind the other one. I think it is way to loose to ever be able to heal, but we will see. She loved going to the dentist and just had a great time with Dr. Wells. They had their own little conversation and she told him the whole story. It was so great. He said that we should keep an eye on it and let them know if it doesn't firm up or if it shows signs of infection.

Allyson's 9th Birthday

Thank you...for all the awesome gifts!
Grandaddy and Grandmother came for Allyson's birthday, and then took us here for a night and two days full of fun!
(I am posting this from where we are staying tonight, outside St. Louis.)

Which one?

We went yesterday with my mom to help her find a Christmas tree.

Mera was the judge, and I think there was Christmas tree overload for her.

She did settle on the one to her right.We had a great time riding the tractor

and cutting the tree, but it would of been better if Kristinah and Kristen would

of been with us. They both had to work :-(

Amazing Grace

These men are singing Amazing Grace in the Roman Colosseum. This is the location where thousands of Christians were put to death for their faith in the Lord. In Fox's Book of Martyrs it states that most of the Christians killed here were fed to lions or stoned. In the video you will see that it is lit with huge spotlights. However, during the times of Christian persecution, when it got dark, the emperor would choose many of the Christians to be nailed to crosses around the stadium and rubbed down with tar and lit on fire to light the arena.
I don't know if the men who are singing this are Christians. But as a Christian, I can't watch this video and think about what happened here and what thousands of men and women were willing to do for the Lord and not feel ashamed.

Pray for us - Update

Some of you know that about a month ago we put a bid on the property in the above picture; but then we were over-bid by another buyer, and now we have learned that their contract fell through. So, the home is back on the market...we have a second chance to put another offer on the table.
Right now, we are doing just what Kevin is doing in the picture...thinking about it and PRAYING for guidance from the Lord.
We had a tentative meeting planned w/our realtor this morning. After thinking and praying over the weekend (and thank you for your prayers!), we have decided to not put in an offer at this moment. If the property is available after New Year's, we will rethink our options.

Silas got into a fight with a cupcake

How Very Sad

This is a sign that has been up in New York City.

A Cook-Off :)

Kevin and I are having a contest of who can make the best Gumbo Soup. Here he is making his version this morning...I'll be making mine either tomorrow or Friday. Allyson, Kaleb, and Travis will be the judges in this competition...so that will be interesting!
I'll let you know the outcome. :)

Well, I cooked my Gumbo soup this morning for lunch. Allyson voted for me, Kaleb voted for Daddy, and Travis ate my soup faster so I got his vote. When Daddy and Mama get here on the 9th, we will blindfold them, not tell them who cooked which soup, and hear their decision!
(In the picture, Kaleb is doing his school work)

Little Orphan Annie by James Whitcomb Riley

Sirloin roast w/au jus, scalloped taters, green been casserole, coconut cream pie, and pecan pie.

Activities consisted off BB gun target practice, playstation games, chillazin (the act of chillin and being lazy), watching old home videos, and of course eating leftovers.

A good day! :)

Lunch at Mrs. Barbara's

After lunch today, we went downstairs to play w/some of Mrs. Barbara's toys...the talking parrot, electric train, airplane, etc...

Awe I love roses!

Play date at Jean's :)

Saturday morning at the Children's Museum

Allyson and Daddy on the second floor of the doll house(notice in the same picture Kaleb and Travis on the first floor in the kitchen). Daddy having a conversation w/Ally and Kaleb in their doll house living room.
Kaleb in the puppet room. Ally and Daddy in the waterworks room.

Untitled from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

Leaves

I had planned on getting some pretty foliage pictures w/the kids this fall...didn't happen, although we saw gorgeous fall colors here. Now the leaves are finished and falling.
Yesterday Kaleb, Luke, and Travis had fun jumping in a leaf pile....while Allyson and Nicole played computer games inside.

Our week in Iowa

Relaxing around the campfire, going out to eat, shelling the corn that Papa, Daddy, Allyson, and Kaleb gleaned from the fields, cutting down a dead apple tree, and Papa's new cocker spaniel puppy. :)

Curious Cows

Papa rescuing Grandma, Kim, and the kids from the curious cows.

Trying to get Silas to show his teeth!

Untitled from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

Hard at Work

Here's a picture of Eric that was on the news for this manhunt. It was also in the Jacksonville newspaper.

Thanks for the shampoo money!

This is about one fourth of the post cards, letters and post it notes that I got from daddy and mama when I was at college. While looking through some of the letters I found a five dollar bill that had a post it note on it that said this from daddy, "Here is some shampoo $. It sure was good to hear from you the other day. This sem. is just about over. You are just about a junior! I love you-stay focused. I'm proud of you, love daddy." It was those notes that kept me going. I am almost sure that I kept it in there so that I would find it years later. And I did!

All of the picture have been posted on Shutterfly, so feel free to look. I will warn you though , there are over 700 pics. :-)

H.E.D.G.E. - Home Educators Developing Godly Examples

We had our monthly H.E.D.G.E. meeting today. Above is a group of 3 - 8 year olds singing a song before going to separate classes. Trisha and I taught the 5-8 year olds, and I had such a good time. The kids were a blast! We had a great day together of learning, eating lunch, and making crafts.

The Two Lovebirds

How time changes things.....

My favorite picture

This picture was one of my favorites that Kevin took. I am looking through them and almost all of them are just absolutely wonderful. I wish so badly he would have gotten a chance to take some of the hanna kids.

Daughters of Virtue - a progressive meal

This was the first progressive meal I had been to...and it was a lot of fun! Not only do you get to try many different foods, but also get to see people's homes and decor.
Hey! Mama, Kristin, and Katie, we four should do a progressive meal and fly to each other's homes! :)

Good ol' Canton

My pictures aren't as good as Kevin's, but they definitely show what a great time we all had last week at Grandmother's house!
Seven minutes long and over a hundred pictures. :)

Where did the time go?

Untitled from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

Thank you for a wonderful vacation...

H.E.D.G.E.

Yesterday we went w/our church home school group to Sweetwater Valley Farms. It was certainly something to see! When it was milking time, the cows would line up and walk by themselves into their machines...they are creatures of habit and routine! Of course all the milking is done w/robots.
We also got served a free lunch! :)

Our wounderful trip so far

Bath time!

Our Labor Day getaway

After church on Sunday evening, we headed south and spent the night in Athens, TN. Our first destination the next day was Murphy, NC. I was so overjoyed to find our beloved Shooks Marina and surroundings unchanged and just as we left it years ago. The church we four Bentley kids sang specials in was still there, Kristin's pet rock was unmoved, you can still swim on the boat ramp, and I sat on the rock steps where Grandaddy would sit for hours and watch his grandkids swim. I hope you all can make it back some day and bring your spouses who have never seen our Hiwassee Lake!
Then after enjoying some delicious juicy peaches from Mountain Man Produce, we headed north up through Bryson City and stopped at Cherokee to see Mingo Falls and tour the Oconaluftee Indian Village.
Below is a map of our travels...(A) from church Sunday night and (E) arriving home Monday evening.

A Walk with Mera

Untitled from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

Tiimmmber!

Travis thinks he's the next Paul Bunyan w/his new chainsaw. Thanks for the birthday gift card, Uncle Brandon and Aunt Annie!
He had fun running, playing and picking out a toy at Toys"R"Us today. :)

Worn out after Hurricane Earl

Candace asked us to post a picture because she felt that our life can't be that boring. So I took a picture of the most exciting thing daddy did today. He was really sleeping when I took this.

Who woke me up?????

And you thought that you could get away with taking my picture!!!!!!

First Field Trip

One week into the school year and the teacher of Hanna Research Center decides it's time to take a field trip. :)
We met Jean and Ben at the Knoxville Zoo today. I think the only time the boys stopped running was to eat an ice pop and drink a slushy.
We saw and learned many things. A successful day!

Friday blues

This afternoon, Kaleb and I were on the last book for the day - Letters and Sounds. He's tired and knows he's only got to read the word above before a fun carefree weekend begins. Kaleb sees the word and looks as if he's going to start sounding it out...but then decides instead to look up at the picture...and blurts out, "balloon!"

I'm so thankful for weekends...both the student and the teacher need them... :)

Step 2 of Phase 1 of Operation Pay Off

Here is a picture of our new (but very old) car. We own it though. We are now on step three of phase 1 in our mission to be debt free. Cant wait to get to Phase 2.

Our trip to Iowa

Over a hundred pictures! ...playing around Papa and Grandma's home, wedding rehearsal, many pictures taken on the day of the wedding and reception, fun times w/the Cope's and Porter's, Kevin helping Uncle Ryan butcher chickens(I took one picture of different size eggs inside a chicken), visiting the Children's Museum w/the Graber's, swimming at the hotel in Kentucky and eating breakfast in the morning.

My dashing little men

Mera and Silas playing

Untitled from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

Travis Denton Hanna

We had a fun morning celebrating Travis' birthday...opening presents and then playing w/them, McDonalds' playland, splashing around in the Clinch River, and Pizza Hut.

Grammie's Birthday

Kevin put this up before I had a chance to write the title to it. I had so much fun putting this together and planning this birthday part for my absolutely outstanding mother in law. The song that is on the slide show, "Midnight Cry", is one of Fran's favorite songs.

Frances Ast from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

Our Saturday

Today, Allyson and I enjoyed a day of shopping and sipping frappe mochas, and the boys had a great time fishing and swimming at Norris Lake. I sent along w/the boys a waterproof one-time camera...so, here is a slideshow of their results. :)

A fun start to our week

The Helterbran's, our good friends from Marion Avenue Baptist Church in Iowa, visited us today on their way through to vacation in the mountains. We had SUCH a great time together. Their four boys are the sweetest, most polite young men. Kaleb and Travis always have the greatest time w/them...I'm afraid Allyson was a little outnumbered today. :)
It was wonderful visiting w/you again, Sherri and Calvin! We hope you can stay longer next time!

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

Untitled from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

Birthday Day!

Thanks so much for the calls, cards, presents and special attention I received. I loved every minute of it.

Happy 28th Birthday, Kristin "Pit" - We love you!

A new park

Yesterday, we met Ms Lois and Ben at Lenoir City Park. I had never been to that park or Fort Loudon Lake, which has a very beautiful marina. We had a lot of fun playing on the playgrounds, feeding the ducks and geese, picnicing, and dangling our feet in the water...although Allyson warned us she might jump in at any moment!

Untitled from kevin whitley on Vimeo.

my money saving "things"

We made $12.46 for these and we only contributed a few cans and thankfully none of the beer bottles. (thank you to our neighbor for those)
just one batch of my baby food. All that you see are sweet potatoes, carrots and rice cereal. This will feed him for two weeks and cost me roughly 6 dollars. This would have cost me around 40 dollars if I would have bought baby food in jars.

Mera's pics

Kristinah took Mera for a walk and let her take pictures .This is what she came up out with.

She did most of the editing her self on photoshop. I just had to make sure she clicked the mouse right.

July 21st --> Mama's Birthday!

I hope you enjoyed all the calls and cards you received yesterday, Mama! Since you are extra specially loved, we want to keep celebrating your birthday! :) Here's your BIRTHDAY POST!

Yesterday at Jean's home

Pictures of the following: drawing on Ben's big garage chalkboard, Allyson and Mama playing Wii Fit, visiting the Grady's coffee shop, and eating supper at Mangia Pizza.

Day hike

We went for a drive up Highway 1 today, and we stopped at a spot (see pics below) where a waterfall comes out of the mountains to the beach. It was warmer than usual. Mama would have loved the hairpin turns that we had to take at the edge of 500+ drop offs to get to this place. We headed to another destination after this but the path to get to it was so steep and narrow (as seen in the picture above that we decided not to try it with the kids. We had a great day.

Birthday fun at the park

Lula invited Noah's church friends to the park today for cupcakes to celebrate his 10th birthday. Kaleb and Travis played some "informal" football w/the boys and Pastor Ray. Allyson had fun giggling w/all of her friends. The last two pictures are of our afternoon at the library.
Happy Birthday, Noah! :)

Sea of Galilee

Last Wednesday an interesting message was preached at church. Since then I have been reading over that passage several times and it has really made me think about a couple of things. They are very simple and everyone else has probably already thought of all this, but I thought I would share it anyway.

In the gospel of Mark it gives the account of the fishes/loaves miracle. It states that the disciples were commanded to gather up the remnants (12 baskets). Then Jesus commanded them to get into the ship and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida. The two points I found really interesting were:

1. Mark 6:48 And he saw them toiling and rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

I found it interesting that the Bible stays that the Lord "would have passed by them." But in the next two verses it says they cried out and immediately he talked with them and told them to be of good cheer and be not afraid. I just think about all the decisions, big and small, we have in our lives for which we never ask God for help. But he is always right there wanting to help us if we will just call out to him! Then he will immediately talk with us and give us guidance. Yet most of us will just "toil and row" through all the storms of our lives. Even though God is right there the whole time we just seem to insist on trying to get thru on our own. How sad.

The second point I found interesting was....

2. Mark 6:51-52 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Now the disciples had JUST seen the miracle of the loaves and fishes and probably had the twelve baskets of remnants in the boat with them! Yet, not a few hours later they were "sore amazed" when they called out to him and he performed another miracle. Not just surprised or amazed, but sore amazed! Basically had forgotten about the previous miracle and the Bible says their hearts were hardened. I think that's is exactly like us... when we do pray for something and God provides it we are usually just amazed! Why should we be amazed? Do we have so little faith in the Lord? Or maybe we don't pray very much and are not seeing the full capacity of what God could be doing in our lives so when we do occasionally ask him for help and of course he does, we are just shocked!

We should remember that:

I Peter 3:12
"...the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers..."