last post...

Hey friends!

I have decided to stop updating this blog and put all our blogging on our adoption blog. So please follow us there!

Baja or Bust!

Please keep us and 16 teens and adults from UCC in your prayers this week! We had been planning to go on a mission trip to Honduras. However, with all the civil unrest and political conflict going on, it was recommended by many - including the US government - not to go. So we are bummed, as Honduras holds a very special place in both mine and Logan's hearts. Please keep the Honduran people and government in your prayers. Especially one of my best friends, Nadia Aguilera, and her family as they are from there and are visiting and doing mission work there now.

Despite our disappointment, God has opened wide the door to join a group going to Vicente Guerrero (sp?), Baja, Mexico. We will be doing construction, food distribution, Bible studies and whatever else God has planned for us! Our team includes 9 adults and 9 teens - a wonderful group of blessings! I can't wait to see what God is going to do in and through us while we are there.

One thing that has been so cool as we have been making last-minute plans to travel to Mexico, is how incredible it is to be a part of God's family. We are staying in a church in LA tonight and next Saturday. We jumped on board with a team of people, of whom we only personally know 2 of them. People have been offering so many things in so many directions. We had opportunities available to go to Houston, Guatemala and Paraguay at the last minute. I love how Christ's Body comes together from all different places and circumstances. That is definitely my favorite part about traveling in the world. I have family everywhere - in every city and nation. It's awesome.

Until next week....Love you all!

new blog...

If you haven't yet heard our exciting news.... we are planning to adopt a child from Ethiopia! :-)

Please go to our adoption blog to read more and keep updated about this exciting journey!

I'll probably still update this blog with random, day-to-day, non-adoption-related things!

May God shower you with His love!

Impact

We just finished up day 7 here at Impact. (a youth camp held at Lipscomb every summer) The theme this year is "hidden." We're focusing on hidden sins and how important it is for each of us to share our struggles. It's been a perfect topic for all of us - actually it's nothing less than God's widsom and providence - because this is exactly what we've been trying to teach and exemplify as we lead this group. It hasn't been easy, but then, it never is. Satan feeds us so many lies that keep us hiding in our struggles, wearing masks to cover our pain. "You're all alone." or "No one will understand" or "It won't make anything better" or "they won't love you if you tell" among many other blatant lies of the enemy. Stand against His attacks. If you don't share your sin, it will master you. None of us are strong enough to live this life alone or in hiding.

God has really been working and showing His goodness. Praise His name!

A few prayer requests:

• unity in the body of Christ
• spiritual discernment
• healing for my sister, Andrea
• rest!

That's all for now... more later!

Love!

Summer Lovin

This past week has been action-packed and way fun. Here are some pictures to tell each day's story...

Sunday: Bible Class, Worship, Bowling night. Got Rolled.

Monday: Got 'em back




Tuesday: Fun with teens, summer snow

Wednesday: hanging out with teens, youth group at River Rd park

Thursday: Sandlot on the green - complete with Root Beer Floats and Popcorn!

Friday: (no pictures available - sorry!) day off - lunch with Caroline, Laura's lingerie shower and cleaning the house!

Tomorrow: Lake Day (pray for no rain!)

In the midst of all the laughter, playing, talking and praying, God's goodness and light are bursting forth into our world. I'm not exactly sure what He's calling, but we're continuing to ask and seek. We can't wait to see more wonders He has planned for this life!

"For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -Jesus (Matthew 7:8)

"Many, O Lord my God are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them they would be too many to declare."

Psalm 40:5

Be filled with His Spirit!

Kingdom of the Mustard Seed

"Again he said, 'What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when it is planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." (Jesus, Mark 4:30-32)

Isn't it awesome when God works through our shortcomings?

I have to be honest, I wasn't super excited about our youth group service week last week. I knew that I wasn't nearly prepared enough for it. I knew there would be at least 30 kids, along with our 15 teenagers at the park for 3 days - organized chaos is what I was picturing. And it was. But it was beautiful.

We ended the Bible School with a cookout Wednesday night, inviting all the families of the kids, our youth group and families, and Tuscaloosa Life Church who partenered with us through the whole thing. Talk about the Kingdom! Getting to know the families of these precious children and hearing their desires for their part of town; hearing about how the kids had loved, learned and looked forward to VBS each day; and watching the children present their scripture and hand motions to their parents, it was all wonderful!

The Spirit has continually reminded me of the racial division in this city. To illustrate my point, here's a story from this past week.


I was playing Duck Duck Goose with a group of kids, when one of the children - a 7 or 8 year old girl, wouldn't sit down. So I pulled her into my arms, tickling her to get her to sit. She looked up at me with a confused look on her face, studying my eyes. After that, she was like glue - wouldn't let me go. So as I'm trying to get people together for our next activity, I took her into my arms. She continued to study my face and then said, "I thought all white people were supposed to be mean." Talk about a heart breaker. I believe that had our races been switched, a white child may have said the same thing to an african-american adult. My point is just how sad it is that we have come this far, as a people, away from the ways of God. Even our children hold stereotypes and judgements. But to see her wall break down was an awesome picture. I believe God brings the ways of His Kingdom through the willing- inadequate thought we may be. My prayer for our Bible School is that walls were broken, Jesus was preached and hearts were changed. I know that God's Word does not go out and return to Him empty. So please join me in prayer for the families in Alberta City, just one mile away from our church building, who do not know the saving power of Christ. Pray that God will present more and more opportunities to touch the lives of these people.


I have more stories, and I could go on! But i pray that you're encouraged in knowing God is working in big ways. Seemingly small ways that turn into something big. Like the mustard seed, making it's way through the world.


Oh Lord, may your will be done and your Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.

Let the Summer begin!

So it's been a pretty busy life around here lately... but it's so good.

So Logan and I really enjoyed our Sabbath weekend! We did a lot of just hanging out at home, which is exactly what we had hoped for!

Logan grilled his first steaks on our grill!

I was hoping to get our beautiful flowers in this pic, but you can barely see them there under the window!

Grilled to perfection!

So that's a picture into our weekend!

Since then, it's been graduations, parties, out-of-school excitement and summer interns! Ted and Natalie are our wonderful interns this summer! They just got here last Saturday and have been jumping in feet first! It's cool to have Ted here, since I pretty much grew up with him, he's sorta like a brother and I love it! Natalie is wonderful, also! I'm confident that this will be a summer of transformation and community-building! That's what we're asking for and we know that the One we ask is faithful! Here are a few pics into the past week...

Yay! Ted and Natalie!

Taco Casa double dares! I love the girls' faces!

The dart game: it's everywhere you want to be.

Brooke's graduation!!

We had our senior graduation party on Sunday and it was very bittersweet! We are really going to miss our seniors, but we are so proud of them and where God has brought them! AND, we still have the summer! :-)

Doug, one of our elders, dressed up and read "Oh The Places Y ou'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. oh yes, and he dressed up for the part!

The cake and lovely decorations! I'll get more pics up here once I get Walter's professional pics!

Well there's an update on Lindsey's life! Gotta go get some lunch! Love to all!