The Jesus Storybook Bible

Reeves is a very active kid. He isn't a big fan of slowing down to read or write or do much of anything "school related" during the summer! Nope, according to Reeves, summertime is all about the fun!

Don't get me wrong, I love some fun, too. We have very few rules during these lazy summer days. I take each day as it comes and let them get away with a whole lot more than I should! I hope they'll look back on their summers with the same kind of fondness that I do. My mom made summer fun....big time! I want the same thing for my kids. We have sleepovers and playdates and pajama days and picnics and snow cones whenever we feel like it! We eat all sorts of junk and fresh produce (I am blessed with fabulous eaters.....summer fruit is at the top of their list), stay up as late as we want, sleep in as late as we can, and wear whatever we feel like wearing. Our hair stays wet, our feet stay bare, our beds stay unmade, and our plans are always ready and waiting for a new adventure!

But alas, school will be in session in a few short weeks, and I figure I better try to get in at least a few moments of structure before the first bell rings! Reeves and I have been searching and searching for a good book for him to read, and this morning we found just the thing!

Our pastor at a2 Church recommended The Jesus Storybook Bible to me a few months ago, and I made sure to pick it up when I saw it at Barnes and Noble. Every once in a while I have flipped through the colorful pages and read a few stories, but have been too busy to really dig in. I wish I hadn't taken so long to crack the spine! Let me just tell you....it is one of the greatest books I have ever read!

This morning my kids blessed me by sleeping in. I woke up at 8:45 and Reeves was soon to follow. We had about 30 minutes all to ourselves and I decided to take advantage of our quiet time. I was flipping through the book when he asked what I was reading.....I couldn't wait to share it with him. I got my pot of coffee going and cuddled up with him on the couch. We took turns reading pages, and by the time we got through a few stories, tears were streaming down my face.....it is such an amazing interpretation of the stories in the Bible! I loved when Reeves would retell what he had heard about a story or character in his lessons at church....I soaked in every detail of his recollections from his lessons. There is such truth and beauty and detail in every word of the book we were reading.....it is beautifully and intricately written. It's like no other children's story Bible out there, I can promise you that!

Just read this....

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne - everything - to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is - it's TRUE.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle - the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

And this is no ordinary baby. This is the Child upon whom everything would depend. This is the Child who would one day - but wait! Our Story starts where all good stories start. Right at the very beginning.....

~Sally Lloyd-Jones

Wow!

Simply said, it just might take your breath away. Could she have said it any more perfectly?

So for these last lazy days of summer, Reeves and I are going to dive into The Jesus Storybook Bible. We are going to learn more about the love of our great God and precious Jesus while we get a little reading in.

Nothing beats cuddling up with my favorite little man and a good book.

Looking for something to do tomorrow?

Join us at a2 Church!

We're goin' Cow Tipping....

Need more details?

click here

I've got the.....

Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy....

.....down in my heart! Down in my heart to stay!

How long since you heard that little ditty? I know, I know....it reminds you of Vacation Bible School and weak lemonade and piggy tails and sitting on cool linoleum floors and screaming and whispering and Bud's Best butter cookies, too.

What? It doesn't remind you of those things?

Oh....

...those must be my memories!

See, I'm finding my joy. my bliss. my peace.

moment by moment by moment by moment.

We finished an awesome series at church on Sunday....I think that's what tipped it off. I am embracing the good. the joy. the wonderfulness that is my life.

The wonderfulness that is my children. and my husband. and my family. and of course....

....my Jesus.

Yay!

P.S. The gawgeous curly-headed baby in my last post is my precious niece Olivia.....in case you were wondering.

Blessed Beyond Measure

This past week has been one of the most overwhelming weeks of my entire life.

Seriously.

Daddy's still in the hospital, and I can't be there to help my mom (who needs God's strength and our prayers most of all). While Daddy was still in ICU, I spent 8 hours in the ER gripped with pain from my ailing gallbladder and promised my family I'd take the time off to have the surgery I need......soon. On Tuesday, Greer had her 8th laser treatment. On Wednesday we both recovered. On Friday, Reeves had a fieldtrip that I couldn't chaperone (cause I had to get back to work) and Greer fell at school and hit her head and lost consciousness for a few seconds and had to go to the Emergency Room.....and I was working and couldn't take her myself. Thank God my sweet husband handled it with grace and calm. Now? Lucy is running fever and feeling puny. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

And yet, we're all Ok. None of it is major stuff (well, except for Daddy's recovery....he has a long way to go yet)....compared to what so many others are facing. It's all about perspective, and I know enough to know that I have it good. I know that it's not all about me! It's about growing and learning and trusting and believing. Through these challenges, I'm filled with a peace that passes all understanding.

Seriously....

....I'm sleeping well. I'm soaking in the love of family. I'm praying for my daddy and my precious mom. I'm eating meals with dear old friends. I'm napping and cooking and catching up on laundry. I'm watching football and reading with my kids. I'm running errands with my husband and buying birthday presents for my sister (NO Erin, I didn't forget your birthday :)....

and eating pancakes with bacon and Dreamland Ribs and homemade chicken salad. I'm screaming "Roll Tide"! I'm cheering for dirty little 7 year old football players. I'm helping babies come into the world and teaching new mother's how to breastfeed for the first time. I'm thanking friends for their prayers and support. I'm laughing when Greer spins around till she's dizzy. I'm playing "babies" with Lucy. I'm getting myself ready to lead a small group with Chris. I'm gearing up for football games and softball games and baseball games and dance classes!!

I'm soaking in the sweetness of my life.....

....and as my Pastor challenged me in his message yesterday (man, did I mention how much I needed to spend time in Worship!?) .....

I'm taking time to remember how EXTRAVAGANTLY GOOD God has been to me!

....because despite all the stress and issues and drama and fear and sickness and surprises....

God has blessed me beyond measure!

Orange...It's Brilliant!

I was asked to be a part of a new small group at our church, and this is the book we are studying. Our first formal meeting is on Sunday afternoon, and I cannot wait! I'm pretty pumped about the concept....and it's putting the recent stirrings of my heart into words. This guy totally gets it, and I can't wait to dig in deeper. I can't wait to see it's impact on our church and community.

So, what's it about? Well, I've only read the first few chapters, so I'll have to get back with you as I read more. Basically, Reggie Joiner, presents a vision of the church and the family combining their individual talents in a revolutionary way. What if we merged the light of the church (yellow) with the heart of the family (red)? Imagine the possibilities!

Wanna know what I love the most? The focus on Jesus....just Jesus. It's exactly what I have felt called to focus on over the past year, and reading the words on those pages is such affirmation that I am following God's will for myself, my marriage, and my family. When I made it about Jesus first, foremost, and absolutely....well, everything else makes sense.

But isn't it always just about Jesus? If we profess to follow Christ, isn't that what every Christ follower believes?

Sadly, for many Christians, Jesus is not always the first focus when it comes to living out our faith. Sure, we may say it's about Jesus, but is it how we live? What do we really believe?

When we judge others for the way they worship, is it about Jesus? When we worry about whether or not our best friend's son is going to believe in witchcraft because he loves the Harry Potter books, is it about Jesus? When we worry that the grungy teenager in the youth group (the one with the black makeup and the tatoo and the nose ring) is going to be a bad influence on our daughter, is it about Jesus? When we argue with our neighbor about politics, is it about Jesus? When we gossip on the phone with our girlfriends about the openly gay couple who have come to worship for the past month, is it about Jesus?

Something to think about, huh?

Dear Birmingham....

I promised to keep posting the videos from a2's latest series here on the blog, and I shall not disappoint (or like that awesome billboard just south of B'ham says...."The Devil Will GET Me!"). Check out Chris Goins' blog too....he posts some awesome stuff there. He even makes a cameo in the video posted below....see if you can catch him!

The guys did a great job with this one (did I mention that my sweet hubby, Chris, is filming and creating these videos....with the help of many more talented peeps at a2 Church)! This one is funny and nostalgic for those of us living here in the 'Ham!

***don't forget to scroll down and pause my playlist first!***

Dear Birmingham - Part 3 from Chris Goins on Vimeo.

This weeks' service was light and fun! A Rockin' time celebrating our youth, children, parents, and educators as we head back to school this week. I have more on that later, but we have a little bit of homework to get to tonight.....

Catch y'all later!

The Year Ahead, Part 2

****Update****

I'm starting this today, August 5th....

It will carry us through the first day of school, one week from today.

Please join us :)

Just like the morning last week when I wrote "Part 1" of this story, I woke up today flanked by 2 of my 3 most favorite children on the planet. When did it happen? Who knows. I've gotten great at sleeping through the comings and goings of my bedmates (that sounds terrible doesn't it?) and I am just savoring every moment of these last few days of Summer.

No, they didn't start out in our bed.

They started out here.....

All snuggled up, with wet heads and each other, on a big air-mattress in the den....watching "Shark Boy and Lava Girl" (I know, I know....)

Last night I made a declaration that I pray I won't live to regret (at least it has an end in sight!). After bathtime, I announced that if they wanted to, they could sleep on that air mattress every night from now until school starts.

Watch movies, eat popcorn, fall asleep when they feel like it, invite friends over to do the same.....

Crazy?

Maybe. But I don't care. We have 2 weeks of Summer left and I want them to have a blast!

And, I've made another decision. One that I have carefully prayed about, and that I am so excited to begin. I hope you'll join me, and if you do, that you'll share with me later what happened when you did it. I am so looking forward to seeing how this will impact our school year for the better!

If you're like me, you know that it is essential to pray for our children. But if you're like me, life gets crazy and you feel yourself saying short little prayers like this....

"Dear God, please keep Reeves safe today.... I'd really prefer to avoid a trip to the emergency room this morning."

"Dear God, please help Lucy remember to say 'yes ma'am' and 'no ma'am' while she's over playing at Emily's house!"

"Dear God, please keep Greer from pitching a fit in front of the pediatrician today..."

.....and so on.

Sure, you find time for a serious, meaningful prayer every once and a while, too. You pray that they'll make friends at their new school and thank God for giving them a gentle heart. You pray that they will stay safe from harm and that they will grow up to be faithful followers of Jesus with a servent's heart.

But do your children know you are praying for them? Do you say any of those prayers out loud, in their presence?

I'll admit, I don't do it very often. But I want to, and I'm going to.

Will you join me?

One week from Today, I will do exactly what Angie Smith has done for her girls (and if you have time to catch up on her story....you will be blessed). I read her "Pray for Your Child" post/challenge months and months ago, and when I was praying about the school year ahead, God led me back to it. I can't tell you how appropriate it is for this time of year and for what I hope and pray for my own children.

I bought my note cards yesterday, and I am set and ready to go. This week I am praying about it and for my children. I will start the 7x7 prayer challenge next Tuesday and finish it up the day before the first day of school. I can't wait to see what happens!

So, click on the link above or on the 7x7 prayer button below.....

and let's see what happens!!!
What a privilege it is to pray for our children!

Dear Birmingham....

(make sure you scroll down and pause my playlist before you hit play)....

As promised, here's the next installment in a2's series entitled, "Dear Birmingham"

Click here to watch the 1st video in the series, and click here to listen to the messages that go along with the videos. Pretty powerful stuff for us Birmingham folks.....or anyone who has a heart for their city. Shouldn't we all have a heart for our city?

Ready to Rock!?

Backyard Bible Club

Our House

This Week!

Monday-Thursday, 6 - 8 pm

Know where I live???

You're invited.....

....and bring a friend!

a ministry of a2 Church

The Year Ahead, Part 1

It's hard to believe that our "summer" will come to an end in just 3 short weeks. Where has the time gone....and whatever happened to heading back to school after Labor Day? I don't know why I ask these same questions every year, but I do. No matter, school days are quickly approaching, and I am starting to face the music! It seems that the lazy days of Summer are gone before we know it and we wonder what we did with all our free time.

Oh yeah, I remember!

We ate countless frozen treats from the icecream truck that visits our neighborhood every day after lunchtime....

We swam and swam and swam some more. I am blessed to have such little fish, and I love that they seem to have a passion for swimming like I have always had. You could say it's in our blood....

And he finally mastered the fine art of skimboarding. I am in awe of my big kid and all he can do.....and for what this year will bring for each of them!

We've stayed up late, cooked out burgers with friends, and stayed in our pajamas through lunchtime. We've had no schedule or rules (well, maybe a few) or homework. We've truly filled ourselves back up, and prepared our selves for what is to come....

And in less than 3 weeks, we'll be back in the swing of the school-year routine. One in second grade, one in kindergarten, and one in Mother's Day Out. After-school activities, fieldtrips, and projects. Fights over outfits, earlier bedtimes, and kisses at the bus-stop. Hectic mornings, busy afternoons, and homework! Sure, a little part of me is excited to have a routine back (and a few hours of "me" time each week), but there is a big part of me that will miss the carefree safety net that comes with summer vacation. That reminds me!

I have to share this story with you....

Chris' job requires him to get up with the chickens, and I think the kids sense when he has climbed out of bed. 9 times out of 10, I wake up with a little person lying next to me. Yesterday, I was surprised to find myself flanked by both Reeves and Lucy when I woke up. I have no idea how I could have missed that, but there I was.....

Surrounded by the heavy breathing of two precious little souls.

I found myself with the overwhelming need to pray for them. I prayed for their safety, for their spirits and for their happiness. I had an overwhelming sense that I needed to pray about this upcoming school year. I prayed a prayer for the teachers they would have. I prayed that they would bring out the best in my babies.

I kissed them and hugged them and vowed that over the next few weeks I would continue to pray like mad that this year would be one of the best years of their life. Oh how quickly the time is passing.....and oh what a privilege it is to pray for my children!

There's another big piece to this story....but I'm saving it for another day. For now, I encourage you to pray for your children's teachers in the weeks before they head back to school.....I can't tell you how much peace it has brought to my soul!

Dear Birmingham....

(make sure you scroll down and pause my playlist before you hit play)....




Wow, right? I can't wait to see where this sermon series takes our church and our city....or should I say, where GOD takes our church and our city. I'll be sure to post the videos as they come.....

Wanna read more about what's going on in the life of a2 Church? Check out Chris Goins' blog and the church website. Or ask me....I'll be more than happy to share.

P.S. Click here to listen to the message from week one (oh, and you can download it for free on iTunes. Just search a2 Church)

My Big Scare!

This is me...

MEGAN @ HOLD IT UP TO THE LIGHT
I'm a blessed southern girl, living a life of faith and thanksgiving. I hope that in reading, you may hear my heart. I'm raising my sweet (sometimes sassy, messy, and crazy) children with my incredibly patient and loving husband. I tend to see life through rose colored glasses, and I've been known to be a clutz. My family would tell you that I am a bit of a control freak, but I like to think of myself as a "work in progress". God's not finished with me yet!

So, this really shouldn't come as any real surprise to you.....

I am a clutz, and this clutz had a rough day yesterday! Here's how it went down pun intended:

Here in the south, we have some wicked thunderstorms. The kind of storms that pop up out of nowhere and put a stop to your day. Yesterday was one of those stormy mornings. The lightening and thunder started while I was putting on my makeup, followed by the torrential downpour. The kind of rain that can sweep cars away and flood basements.....

I made a quick call to my babysitter to tell her to take her time and get here safely. I told her I would open up the garage door so she could pull in out of the storm. When I went down to do that, I found that my garage was filled with water....water up to my ankles. At this point, I totally went into damage control mode. I rolled up my scrub pants, threw off my socks and shoes, and went to work getting precious/damageable things out of harms way....but I was moving too quickly.

Before I knew it, both feet flew out from under me and I hit the solid concrete floor.....with the back of my head (I swear it felt like it caught the total brunt of the fall)! The water filled my ears and when I opened my eyes all I saw was black....

it was only a few seconds, but it all seemed to happen in slow motion. I was soaked to the bone as I crawled into Chris' basement office. I tried to focus and seemed to have my vision back. Instinctively, I reached up to feel the back of my head. There was no blood, but there was already a golfball sized knot....that eventually grew to a softball sized one.

My heart was racing, and I went into "what if" mode. What if I started to lose consciousness, what if they couldn't find me. My babies are all alone in their beds....

My cellphone was in my pocket, so I quickly dialed Chris. No answer. Again. No answer. I knew I needed to go to the hospital. I knew it needed to be checked out. I called work, crying and afraid....to tell them I wouldn't be in. One more call, and Chris finally answered....he was on his way.

I prayed, I prayed, and I prayed some more. I wanted to live out the last line of my profile description.....I wasn't ready for God to be finished with me here on Earth....

Long story short, we made it to the hospital safely, the CT scan showed a large soft tissue hematoma but no brain bleed or skull fracture. The ER doctor joked, "The good Lord knew to make the front and backs of our heads the strongest so that we could endure these kind of falls..." He was a very wise man....and I am a very blessed girl!

I have a mild concussion and I am feeling VERY sore still, but I am so thankful to be OK. My family, friends and God are taking good care of me and making me take it easy. Counting my blessings is the understatement of the century. Thanks be to God, for He is good!

Be careful today, and know that I will be doing the same!

Life Changing....

....that's the best way to describe these past few weeks. I am in a place of freedom like I have never known, and I'm so excited about what God has in store for me and my family.

Chris Goins, our pastor at a2, wrapped up a series today that has been nothing short of incredible. The messages he has shared have spoken to my heart, driven me to deep evaluation, and challenged me to change. I have been poured out, broken to pieces, and filled back up to the brim (to overflowing actually).

There is a peace in my soul and I feel covered in grace.....especially after today's message.

And I would love to share with you the messages he has shared. I pray that each and every one of my readers has a home church that fills them up, and I am not in any way trying to steal you from your church (or denomination or whatever). This post is meant to only strengthen your faith and to give you extra fuel to fan the flames of your faith journey. I know that I get great insight from messages from pastors and teachers all over the world, and I feel a responsibility....an actual call..... to share a link to these messages I have heard this great summer.

That said....

if you are in search of a loving church home. A life changing, real, powerful, spirit filled church home in Birmingham....I would love to see you at a2 this Sunday. We're starting a new series that is sure to strike a chord ('specially if you live here in Birmingham). I've gotten a little inside scoop, and well....it's going to be amazing.

If you're not quite ready to make that jump, or if you live a million miles away....well, you're in luck (that is, if I believed in luck). All of a2's messages are available on iTunes for free!

Download, listen, absorb. Open yourself to freedom, and vulnerability, and the joy that comes from Jesus.

And, if you feel like it.....let me know what you think. I just couldn't not share it with you. The entire series is a message worth hearing, from a pastor who brings it and a God who is greater than anything imaginable!

Fear not!

For the past few weeks, I've been hurting.....there is a physical hurt, but there is mostly an emotional nagging that I haven't been able to free myself from. I've done everything I know to do to stop the pain, and it's still there....dull, annoying, gripping.

But this week (even with all the fun and the wild children and the lounging by the ocean), I've been praying through it. And reading scripture. And listening. And talking to friends. And listening some more. I've reflected on the messages I have been hearing at church and replaying the songs we've sung over and over and over.

For the last few days, my prayer has been.....

"Take it, God. Take it."

That's all. That's all I know to say.

The best part is.....

that's all He wants me to say. Well, that and keep praying. Keep working through it. Keep trusting him.

I woke up this morning, and there is no pain. I feel light and free and at peace. And I opened my computer and saw this tweet from Max Lucado....

"Fear is not a sin, but it can lead to sin." Agree? DIsagree? Why?about 1 hour ago from web

Then I clicked on a link to a blog I love to read, and her post put into words exactly what I have been feeling....exactly what Max Lucado was talking about. Click here and read it for yourself.

My God sure moves in mysterious ways.

Breakfast on the Porch

Wow!!!

Powdered Donuts

P.S.....I'm adding more pictures to this post soon!

The atmosphere has shifted here in Destin. The weather is gloomy at the moment, but our spirits are filled. Chris had to go home to work, but my dear friends Kay and Krista drove in last night with their sweet boys. We are having so much fun. Our kids play so well together, and we girls are catching up on our lives. What a wonderful week it will be!

No worries about not being who we are. Sharing our struggles and cheering on our victories. We can lay around in our pjs, stay up till midnight, and keep each others kids in line. We talk about our faith, and we are there for each other. Being with them is like being with family.....

Sweet Krista has had a hard summer, with the loss of her precious Daddy....but her spirit is strong and the light is shining in her. Kay is our "triathlete in training" who puts us all to shame. I envy how strong she is....in so many ways. I have a little one to chase around, and Krista has a daughter off to high school this year, and we are really praying for Savannah this week. She is down the road at BigStuf and we are praying for a life-changing experience for our girl and all the youth we know from a2 and Discovery.

Different stages, different places, but a friendship that is deep and true. I love these girls. Friendship is one of the sweetest blessings in life, and I am blessed beyond measure.

I declare today....

..... an Apostle's Creed day!

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty.
from thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

I need it to be about this today.

Wow....I'm Overwhelmed!!!

...with love and support! Y'all are the best!

Welcome to my little corner of the world wide web. I know that many (and I am amazed with how many) of you are here for the first time today. After a rather impromptu interview (and I DO mean impromptu) on the Rick and Bubba Show this morning, I never could have imagined that so many would click over. I am so honored!

So this is me. Consider this blog a work in progress.....just like me. I struggle like everyone else. As a mom, wife, nurse, sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, friend, child of God.....

I blog about the good the bad and the wonderful (and if I'm totally honest....the boring!). I host a giveaway every month or so to help my friends who own small businesses. I feed my love of writing. I try to show what Christ has done (and is doing) in my little life, and I take lots and lots and LOTS of pictures (no, Chris wasn't kidding....my friends and family DO call me the paparazzi)! I ask for prayers for friends and family. I ask for prayers for myself.

I post recipes, and funny stories, and pieces of my heart. I share tips that make my life easier and love when others give me ideas in the comments. I tweet a lot, too, and you can follow my day if you want to be totally bored! Only partly kidding....

I have no agenda, and I do it mostly for me. I want to chronicle our real life, and connect with my family and friends...in words, pictures, moments. I want to bring people to Christ and foster relationship. I want to grow every day! So that's about it.

P.S. Thanks for all the votes.....

I'm NOT ashamed that it would be great to win (not that I think I'll actually win anything other than bragging rights.....but hey, that's somethin'!)

Hope you'll come back soon. So nice to meet you!

Save My Sumatanga

I got 5 million chigger bites standing in the Chigger Bowl in a ring of candle-light after a powerful evening program. I know right where the jar of soggy cotton balls are that will take the itch out.

Jesus lives at Camp Sumatanga and every time I am there I feel like I am closer to Him. The view from the Chapel is more breathtaking than can be described in even the most beautiful poem. I hiked that trail up the mountain every year, and I have scars from all the rock bites I got along the way. I can't even count how many times I sat in that primitive stone Chapel looking out over the lake while enjoying a soggy peanut butter and honey sandwich and weak pink lemonade. Up there, the air is different.

I can still taste it.

I traded warm fuzzies. I waded in the creek. I painted on rocks and sent them home to my little sister. I waited to find mail from home on the pool table after lunch in the air-conditioned Dining Hall.....mealtimes were some of my favorite times. I sang my blessings and now my children sing all those old songs when we sit down for meals at home.

"Thank you God for giving us Food!!!"

I played four square in the breezeway and softball in the chigger bowl. I got sent back to my cabin to get my nametag before they would let me into the dining hall for a meal. I bent down to feel the cool spring water air on my face after a sweaty hike to Air Conditioned Rock.

I rehearsed interpretive dances to perform at evening program. I sat on the cool concrete floor in the Assembly Hall and listened to Nina Reeves (our son's namesake) say "Whammity Bang, Whammity Bang...". Oh the stories she could tell.....and the lives she touched. Seeing her at Jenny and John Paul's wedding brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful soul (and tough one) she is.....

I danced to Buttercup and Alley Cat and Amos Moses till I could do it in my sleep.

I prayed and prayed and listened and learned sooooo much about my Sweet Jesus. I got to share my faith with boy-crazy 13 year olds and prayed that they would "get it". I think about a few of them still and wonder how they are doing. Some of them are still my friends.

I get my best night's sleep on a top bunk in Cabin 7. I can still feel the dirt on my sheets from sandy concrete floors. I can still hear the hum of the massive fans that circulated the heavy Alabama night-time air. I prayed that there wouldn't be a spider in the shower and that the two toilets shared by 30 squealing 12 year olds would not stop-up.

I listened to great and powerful music and was introduced to David Wilcox.....my most favorite musician of all time. The sweet sound of music filling the woods would bring tears to my eyes.

At Camp Sumatanga.....I met my beloved.

This is My Sumatanga.

And it is in great danger of closing. I can't imagine my life without it, and I want my children to grow up there like Chris and I did. I want others to find Jesus there. Please pray for Sumatanga....

If you live in Alabama and are looking for an amazing place to have a retreat for your church (every denomination is welcome), I URGE you to introduce your leaders to this amazing place. You will NOT regret it.....and if you visit there or you have your own memories of Sumatanga, I would love to hear your stories. What is YOUR Sumatanga like??

And if you feel led to give to Sumatanga.....well that would just be amazing!

...."Let no one say, and say to your shame, that this was a place of beauty till you came."

Swirly....

I haven't really been around these parts too much the past few days.  In fact, the past few weeks have been a bit crazy.  I have so many things that are heavy on my heart....lots of little pieces of me that I want to share, but I've just been too darn busy to get my writing act together. 

I'm getting there though....stay tuned. 

The best I can do is post a few pictures of our days and some sweet commentary to go along with it.  I guess that's all well and good, and there's no going back, but I really want this to be about more than just that. 

Don't get me wrong.....

This blog is mostly just for me (and I mean that in a good way not in the totally narcissistic way it sounds).  I go back and look at what we were doing this time last year and it is so wonderful to have it all here in one place.  I know I am going to treasure this for a lifetime and that was my sole purpose for starting this blog.....

I don't scrapbook, and I am horrible at keeping my pictures organized.  Lucy's baby book is barely halfway finished, and Greer's is simply stuffed with hospital bands, footprints, photos from friends, check-up notes jotted by my pediatrician, and ultrasound pictures.  I have yet to write a single thing down.  Reeves, the typical first child, has a book that is filled to the brim with all sorts of details like "June 18th, 2003....the day I finger-painted for the first time"....Yes, it is sickening in a totally good way!

Erin, I promise to finish Greer's book.....I PROMISE!

Mom, I totally get it!  Totally!

So what have I been up to?  Well, if you really want to know....

I'm enjoying some time with my middle sister who lives far away.  I've enjoyed holding my almost brand new nephew and laughing with my nieces.  I'm snapping lots of shots of them, but not enough.   I'm leaving my cell phone in my mother's car and feeling naked without it.  Eating shaved ice and letting Lucy discover things like "Mr. Pig"....she thinks it's delicious.  I'm taking my kids to Costco and spending 3 hours discovering all sorts of awesome treasures (have you SEEN the new bandaid package?  It is amazing!!!).  Grilling steak, folding laundry, organizing toys, bathing Greer and tending to her bug bites, making Reeves and Lucy clean up their rooms, enjoying a glass of wine on the deck and talking to Chris about our day, watering my new flowers and taking out the trash....and those are only a few of the things I did today!

Other than that....

 I'm planning a going away party for my best friend.  Teaching her how to blog....since I gave her one as a going away present!  Don't worry.  She was planning on starting one anyway....I just wanted it to be gorgeous.  Danielle worked her magic!  Speaking of Danielle....I've been praying for her.  And Jen.  And Mary.  And Adrienne 

And I just found out that Sweet Stellan needs our prayers right now!

I'm diving into our new church head-on.  Singing in the choir, leading VBS on our block (later in the Summer), joining a small group, befriending new church friends on Facebook and Twitter.   Knowing that where we are is because it is where we were called to be.  ....a place that is:  Amazing.  On-fire.  Real.  and Right for us.  We have nothing but love for all the people at our old church and it will always have a special place in our heart.  We are grateful for our friends there and for all it has been to us and so many others through the years.  May it grow and prosper and bring people to Christ. 

I'm trying to keep up with all my dear old friends (not that they are old.....really, just forever friends).  Making a list of all the thank you notes I need to send and all the gifts I need to buy....but knowing that I'm really the only one who's worried about that.  Pacing myself is my new motto!  Feeling guilty about all the extended family that we need to visit, but knowing that they love us no matter how often we call or visit.  Grateful for understanding...getting away to ANYWHERE with 3 small children is a feat!

Working 2 days a week at the hospital, and trying to do better at my "paying" job every time I am there.  It's not too hard....since Nursing and Labor and Delivery are a calling for me.  I am so thankful to have a wonderful career that allows so much flexibility with amazing benefits and rewards.  God is so Good!  Not that I didn't know that already!

I'm reading to my children, praying with and for them and letting them enjoy a carefree summer.  I'm letting them stay up late and hoping they'll sleep late in return.  That isn't happening very much.  Well....except for Greer.  She is a sleeping machine.

and on the other side of the coin....I'm losing my cool more often than I'd like to admit, and doing my best to be more patient.  I'm asking my children to forgive me when I fall, and working on being more consistent in my discipline techniques.  I'm focusing on my marriage and praying every day for my precious husband.  What a blessing he is to me, and I am sooo very proud of him.

I'm trying to stay cool as the weather gets more miserable, but grateful that I have an awesome pool to go to every day.  I'm letting my kids eat ice-cream for lunch and breakfast for dinner.  I've fallen off the Weight Watchers wagon and gained 5 pounds back....Summer months are the hardest for me when it comes to dieting.....

This list could go on and on and on.  

I'll be done for now.  

Bet you'd prefer the pretty pictures and happy commentary!  Night dear friends....I feel better now!

Serendipity

We're finally getting into the groove of summer around here, and I'm finding that each day is full of surprises. Most of them joyful, some of them challenging, and occasionally they are fully ordained.

An unexpected phone call from my sweet boy in Florida (who is missing home a bit....say a prayer for him, will you?). A playdate with precious friends. A conversation about how wonderful my Jesus is, with a dear friend who feels like He is so far away. This is what I told her....

All you have to do is Believe in Him. Love Him. Let Him LOVE YOU!

It really is that simple. He just wants you to be in relationship with Him, and for you to be in relationship with others! To learn and grow with others as you get to know Him more. I'm striving to do that more and more every day. I prayed for her to find that relationship, and I think that just maybe, I gave her some hope. Will you please pray for my sweet friend? She is really struggling right now.

After I prayed with her....

I invited her to church. CHURCH! It is hard to even put into words how much we love our new church. There's a lot more to that story, too......I can't wait to share it!

But for tonight, I'll just share some pictures from our day.....

Our Serendipitous Day!

We just happened to meet up with our little friend Leah at the pool. I love this picture. I have a feeling that these two will be graduating high school together and will still be bff's! Won't it be fun to show this picture to them one day! I think they look like little old ladies. I laugh out loud every time I see it!

Sweet Emily was so patient with me today. So was Lucy. We had a rough start. Barely 20 minutes into our pool playdate, we got "thundered" out. It barely rained, and as you can see, the sun came out as soon as we got home. The girls spent the afternoon playing on the back deck and had a blast. The weather couldn't have been more gorgeous!

I have a feeling I might be showing them these pictures on the occasion of their high school graduation, too. Such sweet, sweet friends! Thanks for coming to play, Emily! You made our day so much fun!

Blessings abound, and I am happy. I love being happy.