Our Weekend Presented by Facebook!

Friday: OTB Dinner Date with my husband. Burrito?!? Yes Please!


Saturday: Good morning at the doggy park at the Shops in Allen.


It was so good to get the dogs out of the apartment this morning before it was too hot to play. Toby always seems to really enjoy to explore the park as long as we are within eye shot. Mattie on the other hand typically looks for the first bench to hide under. She tends to enjoy people as compared to dogs and is usually looking for an escape route. After an hour of play, she was the one who told us it was time to go home as she kept trying to paw her way out of the gate exit to the park. After our puppy park date we enjoyed some dollar icees from Burger King and a/c.

That afternoon Ray and I enjoyed a subway picnic in the park.


Tonight we met up with sweet couples from our ABF honeymooners group at Splitsville at the Shops in Fairview.


The ladies enjoyed one round of bowling while catching up and chatting over sweet Pearson. He was such an adorable little cutie who did so well on our bowling outing. And of course all the ladies enjoyed loving on him as well.

The boys played two rounds!

Ray even won a free game for next time! For dinner we continued our night out and dinned at BJs. Ray and I enjoyed delicious burger, pizza, and sweet tea. What a fun and exciting night with friends. We absolutely love these couples:)

Sunday: This morning Ray and I served in the 4 year old classroom at church. We definitely had a rather small number of children but still had a great time learning about God's love.

Ray is so good with these kids. They love playing with "Mr. Ray" which included a story time, instrument parade while tooting our horns, and of course dressing him in a pink boa and put him in jail?!?!:) I have absolutely loved spending this past year watching each one of these adorable kiddos learn and grow and look forward to next year's lessons and play time.

Happy Weekend to all....

Chick-fil-a, AMC, Joyland, Fall Festive Weekend!

Our weekend was filled with wonderful activities from dinner and date nights out to Fall Festival work days to working several nights in Joyland at the church. It was definitely a busy but fun-filled weekend.

With very little food options in the fridge and with a gift card in hand (won at Minute to Win It), Friday night the hubs and I decided to grab food from Chick-fil-a. We dinned on the usual; however, I will have to say that this really is one of my favorite fast food joints... if you can call it that.

It was definitely a nice night to catch up with the hubs and to RELAX!

Saturday morning, the pups let us sleep in until 9AM. I mean this is huge. Toby's internal clock had kicked in ever since the move and since he was no longer sharing a bed with us. Typically between 6:30AM-7AM he greets us with his whining and impatience but on this morning we were given a gift of two extra hours. Hey I'll take it.

By that afternoon, with our other Minute to Win It gift card we left for AMC to see Hereafter starring Matt Damon and directed by Clint Eastwood. This film discusses death and of course the "hereafter" as described by the title.

After our matinee movie at Stonebriar, we spent a few more hours with the pups before it was time for me to head to the church to work with my kiddos in Joyland. But before I left for work I had to take a cute picture.

Zellner Family of Four

Tonight I worked with children from kindergarten through fourth grade. We colored pictures, put a few puzzles together, and watched a movie. I received the cutest comment from a second grade girl. She looked at me with a questioning face.

girl... "Um Miss Alicia. Do your lips hurt?"
Me... "No sweety. Why?"
girl... "Well you keep putting stuff on your lips and I didn't know why."

I absolutely love this age. They are so cute and inquisitive... and she was right. Sadly I don't even notice anymore.

Sunday morning, Ray and I met upstairs with our ABF and enjoyed a great small group discussion on the book "Radical" that we will be studying over the course of the next few weeks. It definitely will give us a lot to think about and to discuss. By 10:30 we went downstairs to our room in Joyland. Every fourth Sunday of the month, my husband and I teach a class of 3 1/2 year olds. I absolutely love it and am so thankful that we are able to share and serve children together. In class we told the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho. We discussed Joshua's army ... as our class portrayed this portion of the story and marched around the room saluting and tooting our horns... Joshua was so loved by God that the walls came tumbling down. In our craft project we discussed how God loves his people. The kids then colored pictures of themselves adding buttons, clothing, glitter, and so forth. In the very center we placed a red heart sticker. We relayed the message that God loves us! What a special message!

Upon finishing church, Ray and I quickly... well not exactly quickly as we waited in line for what seemed like forever... we grabbed some Great Outdoor subs... and returned to the church for our Fall Festival Work Day.

The Heights is providing a free Fall Festival that will be taking place this Wednesday, October 27 from 6-8PM. The theme this year is Once Upon a Time... and as you may be able to see... our ABF is doing The Wizard of Oz. More details and pictures shall be posted shortly. Just know that you are seriously in for a treat!

After our work day, I had a few hours at home then I would once again return to the church to assist with child care. Tonight I worked with the older children from second to fifth grade. From 4:45- 8:15PM we made mosaics, colored worksheets, played on the playground, and watched a movie. Within a short time I've already made so many sweet little friends.

Tonight I received the cutest picture. My little friend Matthew who I work with on Wednesdays gave me this picture to keep and to put on my refrigerator. I am unsure if you remember my first day in Joyland. We discussed being servants to God and the cleaning of feet. His picture says... (just in case you may be unable to read)

I like Alicia
Thank you for liking me Alicia!

Within the picture, he thanks me for painting his feet!

Uh Oh I guess the hubs has a little competition. Ha. But seriously this may be the cutest message ever. I absolutely love what I do and each day am so thankful for the change I made only a few short months ago. God really does have such wonderful plans for us. I am so thankful and look forward to all he has in store.

Love,
Alicia

A Land Filled w/ Joy and a Gold Medal!

This past Wednesday was my first day to teach in Joyland. I could not have been more excited about the opportunity to work with kindergarten through second grade children. This night's lesson was about being servants to God. Our craft included painting the bottom of our children's feets and making footprints on a towel that read...

"I am God's servant"

We discussed how Jesus washed his disciples feet as we did in our lesson. We discussed what it meant to serve others as well as the importance of serving others. You want to talk about a powerful message. It was such a wonderful time. A time to spend teaching children and a time to learn and grow. I am so thankful for this opportunity. I definitely look forward to each and every Wednesday I am able to spend with these new kiddos as I already have such a special place for them in my heart. I am already signed up to work this next Saturday night:)
...............

Tonight Ray participated in the Richardson Corporate Challenge Dodgeball Competition. After I was finished in Joyland, I received a call from the hubs that PFS had made it into the final game to determine who would be playing in the championship match. I quickly hurried to Sportsview where I made it just in time to watch the final two matches. With great skill, PFS quickly advanced to the final round. In the end PFS was victorious and won Gold!

The Hubs and his Gold Medal

PFS Team Picture: Gold

What a wonderful Wednesday:)