Well, Natalie is officially in Bend, Oregan for a two week vacation visiting my sister Nicole, and her husband. I’m happy and sad all at the same time-happy she could go and sad I couldn’t; while I’m here in Kansas she gets to go mountain biking, hiking, floating on the river, and spend time with Andy & Nicole. And, what will I do if I need “blog” help etc.? I suppose I’ll just have to figure it out myself, call/email Natalie, or hold-out until she gets back. So if I run into problems, no post for you for about two weeks.

I do hope she will have a fun trip. But she better not have not too much fun without me!

posted on August 20th, 2008 under Family News | 2 Comments

The Entrepreneurship Seminar was INCREDIBLE! It was great to be able to learn lots of information about owning a business, starting a business, what you should or shouldn’t do when getting started, etc. - it was very insightful and helpful. I benefited so much from going to this seminar and out of the 300-350 people who also attended, I’m sure many of them did as well. Wade Myers (Keynote Speaker) has so much to share on this topic and it was good to learn it from a Christian perspective too. I not only enjoyed listening to Mr. Myers, but also the other local entrepreneurs. Hearing them continuously encourage us to make our business a family business was very inspiring.

I would like to thank the Hayden family for their vision they had to put on this seminar and all their hard work in making it a reality. And to God for letting EVERYTHING come together so well!

Side note: Now I’m really good at spelling E-N-T-R-E-P-R-E-N-E-U-R-S-H-I-P. Just thought I’d mention that.

posted on August 18th, 2008 under Conferences | 2 Comments

If you want to gain some practical insight on starting a business (and more)…
then the Entrepreneurship Seminar on August 16, 2008 is the place for you!

I, along with my family are very excited to attend this seminar. We know the people who are hosting this event and some of the speakers, and can guarantee that this weekend will be well worth your time and money.

Visit their WEBSITE for more information: christianfamilyentrepreneurship.com

Quick! You only have two more days for Pre-Event Registration. And space is LIMITED!

posted on August 12th, 2008 under Conferences | Leave a Response

My goal is to post at least once a week, so I decided to post these pictures in case I don’t get around to posting a longer one.
Hmm…this sounds like a good substitute. Hahaha! Just kidding.

posted on August 11th, 2008 under Pictures, Random | 2 Comments

It’s a bit rainy here today…so I felt like posting this picture.
This is kind of an odd reason isn’t it, oh well.

posted on August 10th, 2008 under Pictures, Random | 5 Comments

Praise God! Peter DeGraaf won the State Representative seat for District 81! Our family has been pretty involved with his campaign. I really enjoy election season - it’s so energizing!

-Peter DeGraaf =837 votes=51%
-Jeri Anderson (his closest opponent) =564 votes=34%

It was surely a victory for Mr. DeGraaf’s campaign last night. All of their hard work paid off-to God be the Glory!
There were some other races, however, that our family wish had turned out differently, two in particular:

-District Attorney (DA)
R-Phill Kline=22188=40%
vs.
R-Steve Howe=33260=60%

-United States House of Representatives 002
R-Jim Ryun=31234=49%
vs.
R-Lynn Jenkins=32241=51%

It’s sad to see that these godly conservative men lost, but we must always remember…God has a purpose for everything - Ecclesiastes 3:1. I think it is important, even though not every candidate won that we wanted to, that we still thank God for the conservative men he did allow into office.

To look at other election results, click on this link: http://www.kssos.org/ent/republican.html

posted on August 6th, 2008 under Politics | Leave a Response

I wanted to read a good book one day, so mom handed me the first book of a series she bought at our homeschool convention. I started reading it and could not put it down. (I, Naomi Wickham could not put it down!!! If you don’t know, I don’t like to read much and it takes a REALLY good book to keep me reading.) Well, Mr. Black, I guess your “Kingdom Series” books are REALLY good, because they kept me reading.
Here’s why I really like and appreciate these books:

­­-Chuck Black’s books are not ordinary fiction-no, his books are different; they are an allegory of the Bible.
-Mr. Black has done a great job bringing out his characters, events, and objects so it is very easy to decipher who, or what, they represent biblically.
-Because of his books I have a new zeal for the King, his Word, and the mission he has for me.

Chuck Black uses knights and maidens to bring you a captivating and exciting adventure!

Now, don’t let me spoil it all. Visit the Kingdom Series website to learn more and purchase your own copy!

“Be not afraid, for the King will always be with you.”
Excerpt from Kingdom’s Edge by Chuck Black

posted on August 5th, 2008 under Books | 2 Comments

On July 19, 2008 the Wichita Metropolitan Music Teachers Association hosted a Music Olympics Festival at Newman University for all music athletes.

After being in Branson for a week, Dad, Mom, Noelle, Joey, and I got up early Saturday morning to drive home so we could participate in the first “Music Olympics” (even though we hadn’t touched the keys in a week). Aren’t we dedicated students, Natalie?

Note: This post contains events that happened in the afternoon session, but the morning session was pretty much the same.

We arrived just in time for lunch & games

Natalie’s Piano Studio’s game booths

Poor me, I wasn’t able to play any of the games because Noelle and I were the only ones running our game booth.
Oh well, I had fun running our game anyway…Music Walk ‘step right around and earn candy by the pound’

After game time we headed downstairs for the opening ceremony. But before that…we had to practice “Balloon Pop Polka,” and snap some photos.

Natalie’s participating students

For the opening ceremonies all the studios walked in single-file to the designated seating.

The Festival proceeded as follows-

“Master of Ceremony” (aka: Natalie Wickham; If you didn’t already know)

Team Competitions:

1. Scale Relays

These two did an amazing job!

I must say the scales gave me a frightful headache after a while;
I believe I can still hear them ringing in my ears.

2. Speed Chording

3. Arpeggio Laps

4. Rhythm Marathon

Ensemble Play-Offs:

I’m not going to list all pieces played, just pictures.

It was through God, and only God, that we played this trio of “What Wondrous Love” as well as we did. Praise Him!

Addi & Holly Herndon

Amanda & Isabella did a super job with their “Dueling Pianos” duet

I had a great time at this Music Olympics, and I shall look forward to participating in it again. Thank you WMMTA!
To God be the Glory!

Trivia:

Q: What time did we have to leave Branson in order to be in Wichita by 12:00pm?
(Family, you can’t answer this!)

posted on July 29th, 2008 under Piano Events, Posts for Natalie! :) | 4 Comments

Over 2,000 like-minded people attended the conference. Praise God!

Ken Ham (President/Founder of AiG)

Doug Phillips (Founder/President of Vision Forum Ministries)

Dr. Voddie Baucham Jr. (Voddie Baucham Ministry)

Joey is very proud of the fact that he was able to get a picture with
Doug Phillips, Voddie Baucham, and Buddy Davis. His sister, however, was not brave enough to ask.

Dining at Lambert’s Cafe (The Only Home of Throwed Rolls). Mmm, yummy!
Purpose of this picture: To make my family members that couldn’t go jealous!

A Random Picture taken in Branson-

These girls had too much fun playing with Joey!

Sorry Joey I just couldn’t resist!

posted on July 24th, 2008 under Conferences, Pictures | 2 Comments

Okay, I guess it’s been about a month, but……fine! I don’t have an excuse; but now I have “great” things to tell about this past week - things that challenged me and changed my life.

Our family had the great opportunity of going to an “Answers in Genesis” conference in Branson, Missouri to listen to four very Godly men speak:

-Ken Ham  (Answers in Genesis President/Founder, answersingenesis.org)
-Doug Phillips (Vision Forum Ministries President/Founder, www.visionforum.com)
-Dr. Voddie Baucham Jr. (Pastor, Speaker etc. www.voddiebaucham.org)
-Carl Kerby (Speaker for Answers in Genesis)

Each evening I left excited to come back the next day to hear epistemologically self-conscious messages that challenged me to view every part of life in light of God’s Word–
1. Genesis & the Secularization of America, by: Ken Ham
2. A Family Vision of Victory, by: Doug Phillips
3. Jerusalem & Athens: The Battle for Christian Culture, by: Doug Phillips
4. Culture War, by: Dr. Voddie Baucham
5. Learning How to Think Biblically, by: Ken Ham
6.  10 Most Asked Questions about Creation, Evolution, & Genesis, by: Ken Ham
7. Why Believe the Bible? by: Dr. Voddie Baucham
8. How to Reach Today’s World with the Gospel, by: Ken Ham
9. Life’s Ultimate Questions, by: Voddie Baucham
10. The Devolution of Law, by: Doug Phillips
11. Biblical Manhood, by: Dr. Voddie Baucham
12. Take Every Frame Captive: A Biblical Response to Hollywood, by: Doug Phillips
13. The Person of Christ, by: Dr. Voddie Baucham
14. The Promise: The Power & Blessing of the Fifth Commandment, by: Doug Phillips
15. What Mean These Stones? by: Carl Kerby

I would love to share about all of these talks individually, but there is soooo much to tell. If they ever come out on video/audio I highly, highly, recommend them. I am sure the Lord will work in your life through these messages as much as He did mine. God is so good!
I have not experienced something like this past week in a very long time; little did I know how thirsty I was for in-depth biblical teaching! I truly believe God brought this conference into my life when I really needed it and could learn a lot from it. Although there are many, here are some things the Lord challenged me to do after the conference:

STUDY the Word of God to expand my knowledge and understanding of the Bible. Also, I plan to take advantage of some of the other Christian-based resources. My purpose for doing this is to effectively fulfill  1Peter 3:15, KJV  “…and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…”

Be careful to watch my TONGUE–Ephesians 4:29

Be more RESPECTFUL towards my parents, and HONOR them–Ephesians 6:1-3, Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 20:12
I was able learn so much about how to fulfill the roll of being a godly wife and parent that I am excited to refer back to when I get to that point in my life.

Be HONEST; show KINDNESS to my siblings– be SLOW to ANGER.
After thinking about these things the Lord convicted me to work better at upholding the meaning of my name, “Pleasant Spirit.”

I LOVED the conference, Praise God for letting me attend! It has been one of the most exciting, inspiring weeks of my life! (Pictures coming soon : )

“Anyone who still lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.”
Hebrews 5:13, NIV

posted on July 21st, 2008 under Conferences | 2 Comments