Honors...

This past week Sarah had two honors given to her.

In April Sarah was invited to apply for membership in the National Junior Honor Society at school. She had to fill out an application and write an essay on why she should be included in this Honor Society. After a couple weeks of waiting to hear she was told that she was accepted as a member. The National Junior Honor Society is based on students leadership, service, citizenship and character. Throughout the next two years in middle school Sarah will be a part of chapter meetings and service projects that the Society performs.

On Sunday Sarah attended the JBQ Recognition Breakfast which they have at the end of each season. Sarah was recognized along with several other kids as a graduating 6th grader. JBQ is 3rd through 6th grade. They all received new bibles. Sarah started off in bible quiz in 1st grade and has stayed with the program all 6 years.

Sarah was also awarded for the second year in a row the "Christian Spirit" award. Mr. Rich, the program leader, spoke very kind words about Sarah. He shared that Sarah is a team player, friends to all those around her, has a whatever it takes attitude and willing to play whatever role her teams needs her to.

Sarah's friend Cayla also received an award for "High Scorer"

We are super proud of Sarah and what both of these honors mean. It is wonderful as a parent to hear that others recognize the special qualities that are girl holds.

Mother's Day...

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. I love being Sarah and Brayden's mommy. What a gift from God they are.

Me and my beautiful girl.

Yes, that is supposed to be a smile from my little bear.

Sarah made this precious card for me. Her kind words about me mean so much. When your kids tell you that you are doing a good job as a mom it means a lot.

My Mother's Day celebration actually started on Friday morning with a Mother's Tea at Brayden's preschool class.

One of my favorite parts was how each of the children one at a time came outside their classroom, gave a handmade flower bracelet to their mom and then took them by the hand and led them into their seat in the classroom. Not sure why, but it touched me.  

My special bracelet flower from Brayden.

After singing a couple of songs to the mothers we got to enjoy this yummy treat with our kids.

Brayden had a special placemat at his seat where he drew a picture of me on the couch watching a cooking show while outside. I can totally see the resemblance and it looks like I am watching The Pioneer Woman, my favorite.

There were several other gifts at my seat from Brayden. The first was a card...

A drawing on one side of Brayden and I playing "Break The Ice"

The other side had Brayden's thoughts on who I am. Makes me laugh.

There was also this handmade necklace from Brayden with his thumbprint on one side and his initials on the other.

My new favorite necklace and one of a kind I might add.

It was a special morning with my little guy.

BFFs...

Last Saturday Sarah was invited by her best friend Cayla to go to the beach with her family. It wasn't hot enough for swimsuits, but nice enough to relax, have fun and be silly.

Sarah took this picture of Cayla, she was proud of it.

This is the Brodeur Family. Melissa and I have been best friends since before the girls were born. Guess it was in Sarah and Cayla's DNA to be best friends as well.

Ordination...

This past Tuesday night Jason was ordained as an Assemblies of God Minister. What does this mean? There are three different levels of credentials to be a minister in the Assemblies of God denomination. First certification, second licensing and third ordination. For ordination you have to have been licensed for at least 2 years, as well as be recommended by the presbytery.  After testing and interviewing with the New Jersey District, Jason was approved by the Assemblies of God General Council to receive the ordination credential.

Jason loves his job as a pastor. It has been a long, but growing journey to get to the place we are at. Jason has felt called to full-time ministry since he was young. He is glad that in the past 4 years he has begun to walk out that calling. I am so proud of him and so happy to be able to walk along side of him to support him however I can.

The suit he wore for the evening is something our church family purchased for him. When one of the pastors is being ordained the church takes an offering to purchase a suit for the pastor to wear at their ordination service. Each of our four campuses contributed to the suit. We were so grateful for their generous gift.  

The ordination service concluded the two-day New Jersey District Council and there were 19 ordination candidates, the most ever in the state of New Jersey.

The speaker was Dr. Greg Mundis, who is the Executive Director of World Missions for the A/G.

After the message each of the candidates were introduced and Rev. Carl Colletti the New Jersey Superintendent gave them an ordination charge.

Our picture was on the screen, while they read Jason's introduction.

New Jersey Superintendent Carl Colletti

Proud Dad

Next they had the spouses and a prayer partner come up to lay hands on each candidate along with the presbyter to pray over them. Jason's dad was the presbyter and his brother John was the prayer partner. It isn't everyday that you get to have your closest family members pray over you as you are ordained.

Don, John and myself praying for Jason.

Afterwards each presbyter transferred an ordination stole to those ordained.

Family and Friends were there to celebrate with us. Here are just a few of them that we got on camera.

Our family of four.

Part of the James clan.

Close friends - Dan Rainville and Todd Sheehan

It really was a special night. I couldn't be prouder of my husband.

JBQ Regionals...

I can't believe it has been a week since we were at JBQ Regionals. It has been such a busy week and I have not had time to post about the weekend until now.

The back of our team shirts

Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. we hopped on a bus with 13 others and drove 3 hours to Binghamton, NY where Regionals was held at Binghamton First Assembly of God. Quizzing started right after lunch until 5 p.m. and then it was dinner and hotel. We were up early Saturday morning and ready to start quizzing again at 9:00 a.m. until we headed home at 4:00 p.m. Full, but good days.

Overall there were 16 different teams from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virgina and Pennsylvania. Each JBQ team has on the average 4-5 team members. Ten of our kids from Bethany attended Regionals and were separated into two different teams.

Our two teams with their coaches

Kicking things off.

Sarah's team "BC United Too" ready to start a match

Team picture - Coach Elwood, Emma, Sarah, Emmanuel, (front) Nathaniel and Luke

Our two teams had an amazing weekend of quizzing. Cayla Brodeur and Emma Moorman placed the 2nd and 3rd top quizzers for the region.

Emma and Cayla are on their knees in front with the "BC" on their shirt.

BC United too placed 1st in the region with a score of 13 wins 2 losses.

BC United placed 2nd in the region with a score of 12 wins 3 losses and one of the losses was to the other BC United team, it was a close match.

BC United - Garrett, Todd, Gabriella, Cayla, Luciana and Coach Peter

Both teams will be going to National JBQ Festival June 6-8 in Dallas, Texas. They will be at Trinity Church in Cedar Hill. Unfortunately Jason and I can't go with her as we have Brayden's preschool graduation. Aunt Melissa (a close friend and Cayla's mom) will be her guardian for the few days she is away. It was a tough decision, but we are happy that she will be able to experience this.

I was so thankful that I could be at Regionals with Sarah. The teams were actually changed up at the last minute and Sarah just went with the flow of things. I was so proud of her attitude and her desire to support her teammates however she could. Love my girl!

I can't forget some of the friends and funny pictures from the weekend.

Gabriella and her mom were our roommates for Friday night.

Amazing to see how Cayla and Sarah have grown up. BFF's since they were babies

The 6th grade crew - Sarah, Emma and E-Man (Emmanuel). They will be graduating from JBQ this year.

Do I look young? I thought adding the peace sign might help me. I think I just look weird. Sarah agrees.

Aunt Melissa

Dinner - Welcome to Moe's

These girls are so silly,

and so are these boys.

Ready to roll!