It was Colt's first year at convention, and he won first in famous speech. He and a fellow student, Britney Schovajsa, came away with first on their science project. Britney had also been teaching Colt how to play chess, and after only playing for 1 month, Colt ended up beating some other players out for 6th place overall. Quite an accomplishment. But the highlight of the week was a drawing at the end of the awards ceremony. All the students, who entered 9 or more events, had their names placed in the hat, and one name was drawn to win the coolest, bright red, mini-chopper. Britney won it!

 
       
   

Mason’s pace bowl team won first. (Pace bowl is on the same order as Jeapordy.) They were a tough team and no one really came close to beating them. Tyger was entered in 10 events (pace bowl included) and out of that won 6 firsts, 3 seconds and 1 third. He won first in all his platform events as well as placing first with his short story and essay.

I was extremely proud of all our kids, not just for their ability to hold it together
under pressure, but for their quality as individuals. That is a testimony to good
parenting. There are some fine kids at Grace Christian School and their teachers,
Mrs. Gay Renfro and Mr. & Mrs. Burges do an awesome job teaching and
imparting into them.

After regionals, we headed to Murfreesboro, TN for the Volunteer Horse Fair.
We gathered up a group of young people there to do the human video, “What Did He Die For? We literally had to throw it together the last minute, but God really anointed it, and the kids came through with flying colors. I don't think there was a dry eye in the arena after their performance. I had several men come up to me afterwards, letting me know how they were touched by God in some way or another. One man said he didn’t cry throughout he whole time he was in Vietnam, and hasn’t cried since, but cried like a baby during the video; and literally had to concentrate to not cry even hours after the service was over. God opened up men’s hearts, as well as women, that’s for sure, but it was the men that were overwhelmingly touched. I don’t believe I remember a time where after a service throughout the day I was approached by so many men who were visibly touched and still feeling it. I thank God for His hand that has not grown short nor weak, and can cut through our wounds and touch our hearts. May He do more so through this year!

On our way home, our bus broke down half way between Memphis and Little Rock. We sat on the side of the Interstate for quite awhile, till we could get a tow into Little Rock. It takes a huge rig to tow a 40 ft. bus. Plus we had to have our horse and trailer towed in also. We were 3 days in Little Rock waiting to get home, but we received lots of help and hospitality from people we didn't know, as well as from old friends. Thank God for help when it’s desperately needed! It ended up being a U-joint and not as drastic as we first thought. The kids missed a week of school. (They sure hated that.) I felt as if I had been on the road for a month, and we were all (horse included) happy as pigs in a mud hole to get home!

  

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