Grandparent's Day

Thursday night we drove from the chapel to Fredericksburg, VA to visit our son and his family in order to attend Grandparent's Day at our granddaughter's school Friday morning.

Our son had some awesome, fantastic, stupendous news to share with us when we arrived.  Granddaughter Anna invited Jesus Christ into her life yesterday!!!!  Praise the Lord!  All of our grandkids have now committed their lives to the Lord.

Friday morning we were joined by Anna's other grandmother, Norma, and drove to the Christian elementary school where Anna attends Pre-Kindergartner (PK) class.

Meme Norma, Anna, and Meme Margaret

The children went to their classrooms and the visitors assembled in the auditorium.  It was standing room only!

After the children had come into the auditorium we had prayer, praise and worship, and then each class went to the platform and performed a song for us.

Next we went to Anna's PK class room and met her teacher, Mrs. Sawyer.  We all had snacks that the children has brought in their lunch boxes.

Then the children sang a song for us and recited Scripture verses.

The last activity was coloring.

Anna then left for lunch with Meme Norma.  Margaret and I drove to the Christian High School to pick up Anna's big brother, Sam3.  The day before was Grandparent's Day at the High School.  We could not be at both events so we told Sam3 that we would take him out for lunch today instead.

Sam chose to go to Red Robin for lunch.

We had a great lunch together.
(more pictures)

From here we go back to our son's home.  Margaret is going to fix dinner tonight as a treat for daughter-in-law Liane.

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Unique TV Show ’Marriage Uncensored’

Just found the following information:

Marriage Uncensored, a unique marriage counseling TV show, was launched when someone gifted a year of airtime on a local cable station to Campus Crusade/ Family Life Canada. The show started as a local effort to provide creative programming for the family in the local Vancouver, B.C.-viewing area. The program is now aired on the Canwest Global network across Canada, and on PBS in the U.S...

Source: Read the entire article

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Sunday in Fredericksburg, VA

This morning we went to church with our Son and his family.  They attend Stafford Crossing Community Church which is also one of our supporting churches.  After church we went back to their home and Liane fixed a delicious dinner of corned beef and cabbage.  Then Anna Marie showed us what she is learning about playing violin.  Liane teaches violin.

Liane and Anna Marie.  Anna's violin is 1/8 size.  She has not yet progressed to using a bow.

Her dad missed the recital.  The combination of staying up last night to edit the video plus today's dinner brought on a serious nap attack. (Check out the rest of the photos)

We left Fredericksburg about 6:30 p.m. and got back home about 9:30 p.m.  We had a good trip to Virginia but it is always nice to get back home.

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Back to Virginia

We started today in Colonial Heights, VA which is just south of Richmond.  We were there to attend the wedding of our friend William Baker, Jr. to his bride Helen Marie. William used to drive truck and frequently visited our chapel.  We have known him for a number of years.  His health now prevents him from driving truck but we have stayed in touch via phone and email.

The wedding took place at the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

The alter looked gorgeous.  The white columns were tined green by colored lights.

Lighting the unity candle.

Kiss the bride.

Mr. & Mrs. William Baker, Jr.

Helen Marie, Margaret, and William

After the wedding reception we drove about and hour and a half north to Fredericksburg, VA to spend the night with our Son and his family.

Grandson Sam, daughter-in-law Liane, and Margaret.

Son Sam editing a video to be used at church tomorrow

Granddaughter Ann Marie watching TV.

Tomorrow morning we will go to church with them and then head back home to visit our cat.

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

NativityResources.com

 A good resource just made available:

The Nativity Story , releasing on DVD Tuesday, March 20 through New Line Home Entertainment and Word Distribution, will launch with a highly developed, user-friendly resource site, created by Motive Entertainment.  The website will feature downloadable leader’s guides, preaching/teaching tools, the official The Nativity Story trailer, web banners and more...

Source: View Press Release

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Worry Is...

This sign came with the new chapel.  I thought it was really good and plan to make copies available for chapel visitors.

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Latest News on Linda Kramer

We received the following update from Linda, wife of TFC Chaplain Tom Kramer (Elkton, MD).  Linda saw another Specialist last Friday, March 9:

Nothing new, they are sending me for more blood test and put me on another medicine.  I am getting so discourage because it seems like whoever I go to, they want to more test because they don't know what is going on.

Please continue to pray that the doctors will be able to diagnose and treat whatever is causing Linda's blood circulation problem.

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

An Unusual Funeral Service

As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a graveside service for a homeless man, with no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost; and being a typical man did not stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew, who were eating lunch, but the hearse was nowhere in sight.

I apologized to the workers for my tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave, where I saw the vault lid already in place. I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long, but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I poured out my heart and soul.

As I preached the workers began to say "Amen," "Praise the Lord," and "Glory!" I preached, and I preached, like I'd never preached before, from Genesis all the way to Revelation.

I closed the lengthy service with a prayer and walked to my car. As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, "I ain't never seen nothing like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

[forwarded by JR]

Source: www.mikeysFunnies.com

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins