Back From Kentucky

We had a great time in Lost Creek, Kentucky with the Salem Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor Michael Wilder and his family. We were blessed with a good trip down, though it was interesting driving down a narrow, two-lane road in the fog. Bro. Wilder gave us perfect directions, though, and we made it to the church without any missed turns or detours.

I've known Bro. Wilder for several years without ever having the opportunity to really get to know him. Well, we took care of that this week. We hit it off right away. It's such a great blessing to get to know other pastors and their families who are earnestly contending for the faith. Michael and Katie got to know two of the Wilder's children: son Kristopher, who is a year or so older than Michael, and daughter Mikayla, who is a year younger than Katie. They had a great time!

The meetings were blessed with good singing and great fellowship, and I pray that the messages were a blessing to the church there. They have a Christian school as well as a great ministry called "Seedline". This ministry is all about assembling a booklet of John and Romans, and distributing them out to a lost world. It is fantastic! The folks at Salem Baptist are wonderful people and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them.

We came back on Thursday (4/3) and went to the Tiger baseball game on Friday to see the tigers lose to the White Sox. We haven't given up on them though; the season has just begun.

This is the view from the top of the drive from the road.

The church building

This is their "gym". On the left end is the new addition
they build to house their "Seedline" ministry.

This is the parsonage. The main living area is upstairs.
The prophet's chamber is down below - wonderful accomidations!

Kentucky Trip / Health

Next Thursday we are leaving on a trip to Kentucky. Sandra will be speaking at a ladies conference and I'll be preaching revival at Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Grayson. Meanwhile, I've been down with a bad cold (sort of pneumonia) since last week and it is getting old! This is the third time this season (since October '07) and I hope it's the last! Both Michael and Katie have been fighting off the soar throat and sniffles. Michael seems to be getting hit pretty hard with it right now. We're praying that the Lord will allow Sandra not to get it. I would hate for her to get sick at the time she's suppose to speak at the ladies conference. Please pray with us that the Lord will permit us to be "sick-free" during our trip. Our times away come too few and far between and we would like to enjoy ourselves. This is not a vacation, but it is a time "away" and it can be a time of spiritual refreshing. It would be good if we are not physically down.

Ready For Spring!!

The Hugans are ready for spring. Although the kids have enjoyed the several opportunities to go ice skating. Wednesday was a snow day, yet it was perfect for ice skating at the frozen fountain at the Flat Rock library. Michael shoveled off the ice and he and Katie and a few friends from church skated for what seemed like a couple of hours. Even Sandra got in on the action.

Over the last few weeks Katie was attending another volleyball class. She's getting ready for Jr. High volleyball at school next year. She's signed up for girl's softball through the city for this spring as well. Sandra looked at the uniforms and the shorts are modest. She ordered a size too big so that the length and fullness would make them look like culottes. Bring in the waist and they will be perfect.

Michael is getting ready for school baseball. This year he'll be one of the starting pitchers. The coach has been working with him a lot and he's even had a few private lessons from a former major league pitcher. The things that Michael has learned recently have really helped him improve.

The Bible Institute classes are going well. I'm hoping some of our high school seniors will consider taking some classes next year. I'm prepared to teach a specific "one year" study for high school graduates to attend prior to any secular school they may be planning to attend. I've always believed that even if a graduate is not going to four years of Bible college, they should take one year first, then go to a community college for their career. I have the right courses for them to take. I pray they will take advantage of them. The worldly minded would say that would be a waste of time. Truth says, it's a solid investment to help prepare them for what's ahead.

Anyway, that's the latest scoop from Bob and Sandra's place.

Pictures from Cabella's

A few weeks ago, while the kids were off school, we drove over to Cabella's. We looked around, grabbed a snack, and looked around some more. Here are some pictures from that day.

The Holidays Are Over!

Though the days went fast, we had a good break. We shared some good times with family and friends, and even took some time to have some time just to ourselves. As usual, the kids started to get a little board near the end.

<<<--- Buddy's a ham!

Now that the holidays are over, it's back to the grind. The kids are slowly getting used to the reality of getting back to work at school. Michael started right off today with a 6:30 a.m. basketball practice. With all the trips back and forth to school, I'm wishing I could win one of those "free gas give-aways" I hear about every now and then. It's worth all the sacrifice to be able to allow the kids to get a Christian education. As the commercial says... "That's priceless!"

4 By Grace in 2008

Thanksgiving Concert at School

Last week was Katie's Thanksgiving Concert at school. The whole theme was based on using the word "THANKSGIVING" as an acronym referencing it to creation. The singing and music was GREAT!
Katie sings in the elementary choir (along with everyone else in elementary). She also sings in the chorus and plays the flute in the band.
It was really nice seeing all the kids from FRMBC (6 in all) that participated in the concert.

Michael's 14th Birthday

Last Saturday we held a birthday party for Michael. He invited the guys from church and some guys from school over for an air-soft birthday party. What is an air-soft birthday party? It's kind of like paint-ball only with 6mm plastic BBs. The guys wear full protection with masks, gloves and, thanks to a little cool weather, a few layers of clothing. It's just a little "target practice" ;-)
The pictures pretty much tell the story.

We had a big cookie made instead of a cake. The image in the center is an "exact" replica of a Smith and Wesson Air-Soft pistol. Notice the red tip, signifying that it is not a real firearm. (I know... I'll keep my day job!) Our kids seem to lean toward these cookies. They take after their dad with passing on the cake thing. Anyway, Michael and the guys had a great time! Sandra's mom as well as my parents from Grand Blanc, were there as well to celebrate the occasion.

Katie's 11th Birthday

This past Saturday we celebrated Katie's 11th birthday with grandparents and a few of Katie's friends.



(Katie's basketball chocolate cookie)

Michael's 9th grade picture