We're Still Cookin'

If you are wondering if The Sparks are still out there, yes we are. We're just very busy with school, work, church and with life in general. Not to mention, me trying to pass a kidney stone.

I have serveral post I want to share and I pray I can get to them soon.

But in the meantime, don't worry...

We're still cookin'!

I have been thinking and prying about putting an end to our family blog. For me, it has become one more thing on my "to-do-list" that never gets done, just like my laundry. For, me if there is something in the back of my mind that needs to get done, it stresses me out a little bit (OK, a lot) that it is not getting done, just like my laundry. And since, I can't quit doing my laundry, I had come to the conclusion that I needed to quit doing the family blog.

Well...I was reading in a magazine about an idea and I think it's what I'm going to try. For the year, I am going to try to post a picture each day of something that describes that day int he life of The Sparks Family. There won't be any kind of long explanation for the picture, most of the time there will be just a picture. I think this should be a great thing to look back on come December 31, 2010 and see what we have throughout the year.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Are you looking for us?

We're not gone...just having fun! We'll be back soon!

Don't Worry

Don't worry folks, The Sparks Family is doing well, we have just been enjoying our summer and haven't had much time to update the blog. I'm not making any promises, but one day soon, I will try to update you on what's been going on with us. In the mean time, feel free to email, call or just drop by and see us.

Staying Busy

Well, spring is here and we are as busy as ever. I know I am behind in updating the blog and it's not been just one thing, it's been lots of things. One big thing is that I haven't felt well over the past month. For the first time in my life I am suffering from seasonal allergies and it has really got me down. I think that I am finally getting control of it and have felt better the past week. Travis has started his travels and the kids and I have been trying to pass the time while he's away. Samuel is doing well in school and begins 7th Grade football "conditioning" next week. He is excited, but a little scared of the unknown. Faith is still just a happy as ever and just goes with flow. She is still loving ballet and has been preparing for her recital. Hannah Grace is playing Upward t-ball and last night was her first game of the season. The first two games were rained out. She is loving playing t-ball and is doing very well.

Singing the National Anthem

Aren't they a cute bunch?

Excited and ready to play.

Playing outfield

Homerun Hit!

I am going to try to best to catch you up, but I can't make any promises...

Happy February!

January went and February came with all of sick. We think we were the victim of peanut butter. We all are feeling better now and are ready for February.

Hannah Grace continues to enjoy basketball and Faith is loving dance class. Samuel is doing well in school, we are so proud of him and how his has improved his grades. Travis is gearing up for training season and I am trying to keep up with them all.

We wish you Fun Family Times in February!

New Friends and Family

I have added a couple new "Friends and Family" to the sidebar, if you have a chance go check them out.

Miss Missy and Family - this is one of the teachers at Faith's school. My girls love Miss Missy!!!! Faith loves for it to rain during the week because she gets to go to "Miss Missy's Movie Theater"

Tate Time - this is Dave, Shannon and Max. Dave, or Big Dave as he is called around church, is the Youth and Children's minister at our church. We have grown to love their Family over the past year and we thank God for their friendship. Speaking of growing - the Tate Family is getting ready to grow sometime this month. They are awaiting the call to travel to Guatemala to meet and bring home their son, Samuel Davidson. We are so excited for Big Dave, Shannon and Max and can't wait to meet Sam.

Chinese Graffiti - this is the blog of my cousin Jake who is studying in China this semester. Please click on over and say a prayer for his learning and safety.

No Game Week 3

We didn't get to have our soccer game this past Saturday because of all of the rain on Friday. The girl's were a little disappointed, but I would not be telling the truth if I said that Travis and I didn't enjoy the morning at home.

On Saturday night we were able to go back to the first first church we served in, Southside Baptist in Gaffney. It was great to go back and see so many familiar faces and yet great to see new faces too (that means there has been growth!). Travis and I were able to sing with some dear friends again and both he and I were able to sing in a combined choir of new and old choir members. There are so many sweet memories from that time in our lives - we thank God for them!

So that's about it from The Sparks Family, but don't let that fool you - we are busy, busy, busy. I turned my calendar over this morning and was a little overwhelmed with the month ahead, but I know God will see us through. Happy October!

Welcome to the Family

We would like to welcome Madison Renee Rae to the Sparks Family.

Travis' cousin Kelly and her husband Mike are the proud new parents a new baby girl born at 3:28pm, Wednesday, May 1, 2007, weighing 7 lbs 3 ozs, 20 inches long.

Grandparents, Aunt LouAnn and Uncle Chuck are doing great too. I hear that Grandpop is in LOVE!!!

Behold, Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Psalm 126:3

Easter 2007

The Sparks Family

Mommy and Her Sweet Children
The "Hat Girls" Ashley and William
Kerrie and Jerry
Grammy and Big Daddy
Uncle Rick and Aunt Cindy and Kids

Faith
Samuel
Hannah Grace
Three Sweet Kids!

What's Been Going On

Thanks to all who have been praying for us and the sickness that has run rapid through our house. We are all feeling much better, finally!

Here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks.

Samuel was part of the Science Fair at his school this week. His project was "Do Family Member's Have Similar Fingerprints?" He found out that yes, family members do have similar fingerprints. He had fun taking everyone's fingerprints. He was a little disappointed that he didn't win, but we think his looked great!

Hannah Grace had a great time playing basketball with Daddy last week, while we were waiting for Bubba.

And as always, Faith is all smiles!!!!

Again, thanks for your prayers and have a great week-end!!!

Fancy Footwork and New Hair-dos

Have a great day!

Final Christmas Photos

Alright, I know that I am behind again on getting you caught up on Christmas, I am just so busy, that I haven't time much comptuer time.

So, here it is, a few last picture from Christmas 2006:

We had a wonderful visit with Mammy, Popeye and Cookie. They were able to attend church with us on Christmas Eve, which was a nice treat.

They brought Granny Hill and Nanny Ray along with them. It was so nice to have them in our home. We had a great time! Granny wrote me later that she had a great time and it "didn't hurt me at all". I'm glad they both made the trip,
I failed terribly as a mother this year in getting cookies made for Santa. In my head I was going to make sugar cookies (from scratch) and let the kids use cookie cutters to make adorable Christmas shapes and then let them decorate them (again, with homemade icing). Can't you just picture it...Well in reality, I went out on Christmas Eve and bought sugar cookie dough, already in squares, for the kids to make Santa's cookies. They did get to roll them in sprinkles!

Thankfully, my kids loved the cookies squares and we all had fun and "Santa" enjoyed his cookies.

Here they are, ready for Santa!

That's it, no more Christmas pictures. I'm done. We had a great Christmas together and are having a great start to 2007.

A Visit with Memama and Granddaddy

Yesterday when I shared about the girls birthday's I forget to post a picture of Hannah Grace's school Birthday snack. The day of her Birthday snack, the church that I work at was broke into the second time in two weeks. That day they had made a mess of my office and stolen my computer. I was not able to go to Hannah's school for the snack, but Grammy went for us.

I did tell you yesterday that the kids stayed with Memama and Granddaddy for a couple of night. My mom captured some great pictures of the kids while they were there.

More tomorrow....

Happy 2007!

Happy 2007 to everyone! In this new year, I too, have my list of things that I would like to do and change in 2007. I was going to post it, but after I have thought about it, I think I am going to keep it between me, my husband, and my Jesus. When the Lord allows me to fulfill one of my goals - then I can share with you how He helped me. I pray that He will help you fulfill all your goals, also!

Now, I said that I would try to catch you up on what has been going to in our lives since Thanksgiving. We have been very busy with work, school programs, birthday's, anniversaries, parties... I told someone at church on Sunday, the best thing that my family needs is our routine back. We have enjoyed the time off from school and work, but we are a routine family and we need that routine back.

I think I will start with the girls birthdays. Faith turned three years old on December 15th and Hannah Grace turned four years old on the 19th of December. We had their birthday party early so that everyone could come - that was great, but I seemed like we celebrated birthday's for weeks. Bubba was such a good Big Brother with Princess stuff EVERYWHERE! That week-end, the kids went and spent two nights with Memama and Granddaddy. They had a great time and it was nice to have time for Travis and I during the busy times.

For their birthday's Grammy and Big Daddy gave them tickets to see Disney Princess on Ice on the 15th. Mommy and Daddy took them and we had a great time. Mammy and Popeye had given them Wal-mart gift cards, so they each bought a new Princess costume; Faith went as The Little Mermaid and Hannah Grace was Cinderella.

On Hannah Grace's birthday we got together with our great friends the Adkins and the O'Shield's at Chuck-E-Cheese. What fun we had!
So that's the girls birthday's - more of our busy month tomorrow.

Again, Happy New Year!