TASB - Final American Performance

Can you see Leah's head?
Dad's Last hug from Leah
Hannah B and Leah
Caleb and Leah




The concert performed Sunday evening was just breath taking...it was so impressive to know that these kids had about 5 days to work together before they start thise performances. I am really proud of Leah. She loves band so much. There are only 4 girls playing clarinet so they have become very close. She left for Germany on Monday and you can keep up with them thru this link http://texasbaptist.wordpress.com
Let me know if you have problems because the site doesn't always work. They are posting videos and pictures as well. They had a german church clapping, waving their arms in worship and stomping their feet for an encore!!! God is Good!

Update from Tokyo

Just in case you were watching CNN...
We wanted to let you know that there was an earthquake here in Tokyo last night. Our team slept right through it and did not even know until this morning. Earthquakes happen here all the time much like California.
We are not only safe and sound, but the students are doing amazingly well engaging the work here in Toyko. We had 5 people choose to follow Jesus yesterday in our first day out. God is doing amazing things in Toyko. The Flight 963 blog will be updated sometime today in Toyko so you should be able to see the first post by sometime Thursday morning. Thanks for your prayers.

Riley's Visit - Day 2 - Potluck at Cedar Shores

Riley, Evelyn Smiles and Bob
Paul Morrison
Honey and Riley
Preacher & Riley
Marie & Riley
Linda Stovall & Riley
Lorene and Riley
Keith, Dorothy, Dempsey, Karen, Riley and Marie
Evelyn & Riley
Karen & Riley
Wednesday night Potluck at Cedar Shores is always a good time, but we made it better by bringing Riley for our guest!!! Everyone held her and made note of her weight! She was hugged on and kissed on like she is special or something - she is you know!
We ate and the several of us sat around talking after eating because we were haveing such a good time and it gave everyone that wanted time with Riley to get it. Thanks Riley for being SO VERY GOOD = you are such a blessing to Preacher and I. We love you

Riley's Visit - Day 2 - Morning visit w/Bashams

Carla Basham brought her girls over to see Riley today. Shelby is in a volleyball/basketball camp and could only stay for a short time. Sydney and Rebekah has a very special friendship while Rebekah was in school. It was fun to see Syd interact with Riley. And if you cant tell by the pictures, Riley LOVED Syd.
Thanks for coming by guys - lots of fun

Riley's Visit - Day 1 - Waiting up for Preacher

After the walk around the block...
this was to keep her awake
Preacher walks in and realizes I did not keep Riley awake for him


Preacher don't care - he's wakes Riley up for some nite time FUN

Riley gets to visit with Honey and Preacher for a couple of days and we are so excited! She is a very good baby and takes nap and goes to bed very well. She like to get on her hands and knees and rock, but she doesn't go anywhere yet. She wants to sleep with any blanket that is soft against her face. She is learning to wave and place pee pie really well.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad (From Riley)

I just was 'calling' to wish you a Happy Anniversary!!! Love, Riley

Mission Trip, Round Three - Germany

Thank you Dara for going with us to DBU
What our packing looked like this morning...
aren't the clothes supposed to be in here?
Dad, Leah and Mom
Leah ready to go
A good bye from Smiley Riley

Today we set out with Leah to DBU. She will practice with the band until Sunday when they will perform two concerts in Dallas. The band and choir will leave on Monday for Germany. Leah was so excited and has been looking forward to this since last summer. I will have links later this week how to keep up with her in Germany.

Arriving Safely in Tokyo

Hannah and her team have arrived in Tokyo and experienced their first Japanese meal! Please pray for them as they are feeling the jet lag! They will began their ministry tomorrow morning. Also from an earlier post, 99.5% of the Japanese population have NOT heard the gospel

Pray for Japan - Hannah's Mission Trip

Ty, Leah and Hannah
Leah and Christa, a friend from SS
Praying over our kids
Hannah ready to go
Mom and Dad
Sisterly Love
Austin and Beth
Leah, Hannah & Austin

Sarah returned from India (pics soon, I promise!) safe and sound and very excited about the people there and what God is doing in their lives. Now we send Hannah off to Japan. We took her and Austin Phelps to Princeton TX on Sat. for their training. They will actually fly out this morning. She will arrive in Tokyo July 22nd at 1:05 pm. This is an exciting time for her. There are actually 3 kids from Clifton on this trip: Hannah, Austin and Ty Evans. You can keep up with Hannah on this blog and you can go directly to a blog that I Witness has set up. Please follow these easy instructions to see it
1. Go to http://flight963.org (do not put in "www" in front of this address
2. Click Japan
3. Click Texas SS
4. Click on Olympic 01
5. Find Hannah's post - she will use her initials, HEB, and then probably TX, or C-town, but there should only be one HEB. They will update this as often as they can. Only 99.5% of Japan worships our Lord and Savior!! Please pray for the 189 kids that will be in Japan to share Jeses with these people.

On another note, I was sick on the way to Base Camp. We pulled over several times for me to "toss my cookies". Our AC in the van didn't seem to be cooling very well and the van completely broke down on our way home, just a few miles from home!! I was very upset with how our day was turning out, and just began to pray. The short of it is this, I was MUCH better on Sunday, the Van was fixed Saturday night for a mere $30 and I am completely convinced that satan himself was trying to attack our family due to what we are doing. Prayer does alot people, so please, please, please pray for all us Blantons as the summer mission trips continue with Leah leaving for Germany on Tuesday....

Going Away Party

As Hannah and Leah prepare to leave for their mission trips overseas, we had a get together with some of their closest friends on Friday. They prayed with each other, laughed, played games, etc. I know that all of them will look fondly back on this time together.