She's Sun and Rain

So I realize this is a video and not a picture, but videos are fun right?! This is a video done about affordable housing, but it is about a guy that I work with named Freddie. Watch his story and be amazed at one pastor's decision to give a guy a chance. Now, all these years later he's still working here, educated, and going to Queen's college. Way to go  Freddie! He also has a similar story to my Dad's, and that is close to my heart. God works through amazing circumstances. This church is beautiful, by the way. Love the architecture! It is great to work in a place that does great things :)

Lord help me, I am reading the book Radical by David Platt. I am already an over the top person when it comes to radical thinking. I'd go live overseas in some remote area and help orphans if we didn't owe everyone else so much money. Which, is why we are getting out of debt. We don't want to be tied down by the things we owe people so that we can be FREE to go do whatever God calls us to do (not that he can't call you to do things while you have debt, but you are in some way in bondage to it). *Let me go ahead and be honest and say that I believe that health and wealth gospel, prosperity gospel, name and claim it gospel, etc....those are lies that devil has tried to make people believe and not the truth that our bible teaches. If you believe those, you seriously need to spend some time seeking the Lord and at minimum, read this book and a few others by Randy Alcorn on God and money.* While reading this book last night, I have come up with a new way to combat materi...

I was telling my friend Kristi the other day that we sordof feel like Fish on Land. Out of place, awkward, and not sure what we are supposed to do to survive. Our lives have been a whirlwind since...well...awhile. We left the church Adam was on staff with Easter Sunday. Since then, we have been praying and asking God what and where we are supposed to do next. Move to Charlotte, move to Wilmington, move to somewhere a church hires us. Do we look for church positions or look for secular jobs...do we look for student ministry jobs or another type of ministry? Do we sell or rent our house? What are we supposed to do? The answer to these questions are not yet decided. We have had some contacts for jobs but nothing has come through yet. We think we might want to move to Wilmington if we can find something. We pray every night asking God that we stay in His will. Knowing all along that what His will might be is that we just trust in Him and be patient. Trusting that He will provide. That H...

 For SALE! What a few weeks it has been! Adam and I had been praying that God would give us clarity and direction as to whether to stay in our current situation or move on to something else. Two weeks ago or so the Pastor came to Adam and they had a discussion and decided it was best for us to move on. We aren't exactly sure what that "something else" looks like yet, but we are trusting God and know He is in control. So, our last day at Abilene is April 4th, this Sunday.  Here's a pic of our house up for sale. We also worked planted flowers and put out pine needles. (They don't say pine needles in Augusta, they say pine straaaaw) The flowers are African Daisies and Verbena. So, here's to praying that our house will sell really fast and we will both find new jobs!

I have spent the last couple of days at the coast getting 'organized'. Haha. I've finally gotten all my photos downloaded and stalked all my friends for theirs, leaving with me with nothing left except to print photos, post them to facebook, and blog. What a world we live in, so much technology to keep up with! Here are some from summer to get started... Summer Camp with Team Church June/July . Looking glass falls The whole group in Hendersonville. Our historic Sonic runs. A yearly tradition. Rainbow Falls, so pretty Margaret and I on one of our many hikes down to Turtleback Falls. 4th of July @ Lake Tillery Greg and Brandi going for a ride on the Jet Ski Greg learning how to take the fish off the hook. Hangin out at the lake... At the Braves game in Atlanta with Abilene and Adam's family Adam and Ava At Joe's Crab Shack in Myrtle Beach with Abilene's Jr/Sr Retreat At Jeff and Jen Salisbury's wedding  More F...

The past week or two I have been doing alot of thinking, imagine that. My life is about to drastically change in many ways. Already this year I have gone from single to engaged, from employed to unemployed, from knowing I live in Charlotte to knowing I won't be, and soon...I will be a wife of a new husband living in a new state, Georgia, at a new church, in a new house, with a new (hopefully wonderful fun loving happy people) job. So, needless to say there is alot to think about. Since being engaged I have thought frequently about being a good, godly, loving, kind, patient, unselfish... wife. Haha wow what a list of adjectives. I feel like I have so much to learn and it's scary going into it. My cooking is okay, definitely not anything to write home about. I'm incredibly selfish most of the time and it's a huge challenge for me to constantly remind myself that I am not the only one getting married! My plusses are that I can clean and organize like a champ. Haha. Humblin...

Last night at the beach we had a cookout at the park in N. Myrtle with the college students for the last night of the retreat. After we had eaten and I had sadly lost in ladder ball we went over to the outfield of the baseball field and played soccer. There were 8 of us so we played 3 on 3 with goalies. It was amazing! Everyone playing was athletic and some had never played before and some had played a little or a lot. They all played so hard and we played to 10! The game ended at 10 to 9, and we were all giving 100%. In the van on the way back Mary said "will we make the blog?" Haha! Of course!!! I also got a comment from one of the college students...he said "You're pretty good for a youth pastor's wife" LOL. Such fun times. So yesterday I ran/walked with Leigh in the morning and then worked my butt off playing soccer :) I think that counts for my workout for 2 days. Still reading in Luke and last night Adam taught about Luke 14 and the parable of going to...

We're at N. Myrtle all week. I didn't fill you in on why :) I'm here helping chaperone Adam's youth group from Abilene this week. The first part of the week we have the High School juniors and seniors and then Wednesday he'll go back and drop off the HS and pick up the college students. Last night we had a great devotional time and talked about the amount of influence christian students can have in their schools and community. One of the girls, when we were on the trip to the Braves game Saturday found out her friend drowned. She didn't know if he were a christian or not so that was a topic of conversation last night. It's so important to be an example so people will know you love Jesus :) After the devotion, four of us sat up and talked about not knowing if someone is a christian when they die. We discussed Lazarus and the rich man and the rich man wanted Abraham to let Lazarus go back and tell his brothers so that they won't have to come to the place o...

There are at least 5000 reasons why I think this is important. I couldn't help but share. Friday, February 27, 2009 by Kenny Hibbard Problem With Porn Warning....I am about to go off! If you are easily offended when someone tells you the truth..you may want to not read this BLOG today! This past week I have had way to many conversations with parents or leaders about the on-going and rising problem that many of our boys and teens are having with Internet pornography. This week we heard from some elementary boys (4 & 5th grade) that they had seen porn on their computers at home while doing research for a school project. Others in that group said they had been to a friends house and saw it there. Unbelievable!!!! The issue is definitely huge with high school boys and we still have picture sharing on phones between girls and boys that of course gets passed around to all their friends. This is crazy...... If you read this as a parent of a boy......you should understand that your kid...

I have made many jokes about things I would do and places I would go depending on who was elected. I mentioned Hamilton, Montana a time or ten and that I would go there and hide out in the mountains if said candidate was elected yesterday. I received several texts last night from people asking if I was going to Montana or the Caribbean. Well folks...I have changed my mind. I will not go hide out in the mountains of Hamilton, Montana. Instead....my mission stays the same. I was reminded last night by a friend that, Our mission hasn't changed... That we have One Savior, One mission, One Home. No matter the circumstances, who is in power, what war we are in the middle of or what I have for dinner...our mission hasn't changed. It is to love Christ and love people. It is to share Jesus Christ with others. Amen. I will continue to pray for this Country, its people and our future. I will pray that Christ be shared in my backyard and to the ends of the earth. That I will be equipped wi...

Ya'll. Our bible study (The Girls in Hot Pursuit - G.I.H.P) started reading this book yesterday called Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. Straight up Amazingness. Go to http://www.therebelution.com/ and check our their blog. Really, go to it and read up on what they've been doing the past couple of years. It will light a fire in you! Kristi and I decided on this book after much reading up and many hours in New Creation Bookstore in Matthews. Katie R had read it once and said it was awesome so we decided....why not. I was completely motivated (at 27 no less!) by reading the first two chapters and the intro. The Intro is by Chuck Norris...how cool is it going to be to have Chuck Norris in heaven?! I love that there are teenagers and young people in the world who are wanting to make a difference in this world and not just sit on the sidelines and play videogames and sleep all day. It amazes me the motivation behind these two and how it has lead to the discovery of the moti...

GIRLS IN HOT PURSUIT! Last night we had our kick-off hometeam at Kristi's house and it was a blast! We had cherry lemon sundrop and a cookie cake of course. We talked about what book we might do for this semester and wrote out our verse for the year. We are focusing on loving people and shining in this world. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life— Philippians 2:14-16 We also played the Lyrics to Brandon Heath "Give me your eyes", which will be our theme song for the year. You can see the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OihvG607W-c Look down from a broken sky Traced out by the city lights My world from a mile high Best seat in the house tonight Touch down on the cold black top Hold on for the sudden stop Breathe in the familiar shock Of confusion and chaos All those peop...

This summer has been absolutely wonderful so far. I've been extremely blessed with the things I've been able to do. Hiking, beach trips, summer camp, mountain trips, really...it's been amazing. Last week July 14-18 we had summer camp, and then Saturday I had lunch with some old but great friends, and this week has been our Cheersport work retreat where you'll see some photos of me riding ATVs and doing the ziplines. We were at Carolina Adventure World and I highly recommend taking a day and spending it there if you ever get the chance! Some of our adult leaders at summer camp in Hendersonville, NC. Me and Shay! Thank you God for making waterfalls and rivers. Jumping off of Turtleback falls. I drove the one on the far left all week! Lunch with some friends from High School and their babies. Riding the ATVs. Loving the zipline. That's me going down a 1,500 ft zip line. AMAZINGness.

Had the high school ladies over to my house for dinner last night. We had spaghetti, salad, bread and then of course Ice cream! They thought it would be fun for Lynsey to put on my old uniform! haha We love ice cream. Hangin out on the porch enjoying the ice cream. Love this shot. We were taking a walk down to the gazebo! Thanks girls for coming over! Let's do it again real soon :)

Last year around the 4th I blogged about Traditions and starting new ones. Last year was at least a little traditional because I went down to the beach, stayed at my dad's house, visited with the Humphries and my grandparents, and then for the day of the 4th, drove to Raleigh and watched fireworks there. The 4th is such an awesome time of memories for me. Most of my life I spent the 4th with my dad, who was one of the most fun, amazing people I have ever known. We spent it at Badin lake in my younger years, until I was 14 or so, and then we would always go to his house at the beach, or spend it at Pine Lake CC with Pallie. Those are some great memories! At Badin Dad would get up early just so he could pull me tubing and skiing before everyone woke up and crowded the lake and our cove. There's something special about being out on the lake when it's smooth as glass in the early morning. There would be a boat parade and my whole family would be there, we'd watch fireworks ...

I love Summerpalooza! Katie, Me, and Margaret! Soggy Bottoms..haha, she was trying to get me wet! Elisha, being awesome. Lovin the glasses ladies! Serving up some dogs, chips, and drinks. Rob is cooking and Kelly approves of the chef! Pretty girls! A little soccer in the parking lot... The amazing slide built by the two Brads! Brad Anton & Brad Saab. Lots of hard work and linoleum. And lots of fun! After all the eating and playing we go have a lesson...answering questions the kids put in. SUMMERPALOOZA!

Summer is my favorite time of the year. Vacations, seafood, beach, lakes, mountains, baseball...it's all just wonderful. Work for me is more laid back, and I get to see friends more often. These are a few snapshots of the beginnings of my summer. More to come for sure! This is Greg's baseball banquet! He won most improved for Charlotte Christian this year. He's the one in the middle with his arms crossed. I'm blessed to have such a great brother :) These are pictures of our Hiking trip with the students from Charlotte South. We took the high schoolers to South Mountain State Park and had a blast. I climbed a ridiculous rock...there was a beautiful waterfall, and then we went to a little local place to get homemade ice cream that was delicious. This is the ridiculous rock...one of the toughest things I have done in a long time. The angle is insane. My most recent trip to Kentucky for work. It was beautiful. We went to the University of Louisville, University of Kentuck...