The history of rap

I am loving this video of Jimmy and Justin from last night's show. Music makes me feel so good!

Sleeping babes

Caught

I want to blog....

but I don't.

The Claytons came to visit

Maja emailed me a month ago to tell me that she was bringing her entire family to my house for dinner this weekend....all the way from Birmingham! Actually, her family traveled to Marine boot camp in South Carolina to pick up their son, Jordan, and then bring the family down to visit with us and take in an Auburn football game (their Alma mater). It was so good to wrap my arms around Maja and her children. They have had such a huge impact on our lives. She took care of Mitch and me when we lived in Alabama and prayed for us as Mitch served on staff at the church.

I don't want Maja and her family to believe that I only think of them in terms of "the family that lost a daughter to a tragic car accident". They are so many things to me (laughter, love, God, community, Truth, honesty, service) ....but when people ask me to tell them of a moment when I have seen the Gospel most clearly in the life of another, I always tell them the story of Maja.

The very day of the car accident, Mitch and I were on vacation in Tennessee, a three hour drive north from our home in Alabama at the time. We got the phone call from our pastor that Maja and two of her daughters were in a horrible car accident and one of the girls didn't survive. We were shocked and deeply hurt for the Clayton family. We rushed home and were told by phone that the Claytons wanted their church family at their house as soon as possible. As soon as we got in town, we parked among many cars in the driveway and made the familiar walk to the Clayton's garage door, where everyone enters their warm home. Maja answered our knock and I'll never forget the image that I saw. She had one arm in a sling, enormous abrasions and cuts on her head and limbs, and some stitches an various parts of her body. Do you know what she did upon seeing us in her garage? She lifted her hands to the sky, looked up and said, "To God be all the glory." Then, she embraced us and cried hard tears in the crook of my neck. We soon entered her house where we found many of our church members. The value and authenticity of community was powerful. Here was a group of people that wanted to help the Claytons bear their burden. And here was a family that knew exactly where to run for support upon losing their child/sister.

Community is sweet and our Creator is amazing.
We love you, Maja and Scott.
We love you so much.

Carrie Underwood - one of my favorite singers

I love Carrie Underwood. I love her voice and think she's the best thing ever to come out of American Idol.

Here's her newest release, "Mama's Song". I cried while listening to it....it reminds me of my own mother who prayed that God would give me a godly husband if it was His will to do so. He did. I cried because I'm a mother who now prays for the same for my own children.

Thank you, Mom.
Thank you, Mitch.

Coming home

We five, my mother, and my niece, were able to be at the house when my brother and sister-in-law arrived home with their precious new daughter last week. Being there to welcome them was a sweet moment. I wish I had taken more pictures, but these will have to do for the scrapbook, Kristi!

Just getting out of the truck and then bombarded with family in their face, taking pictures and kids asking tons of questions. These three weren't operating on much sleep.


What was the first thing she did when she got home and put the baby in Grandma's arms? She watered her mums, of course!

Sweet baby girl.

Andrew holds his baby cousin. So sweet!

Abigail was more interested in playing with Einstein.

The guys just wanted to watch the SEC football game. It wasn't pretty....the game, that is.

My brother loves UGA football.....even on days when you bring your firstborn home, scheduled around the start of the game.

Glory is His

We have friends who are grieving the loss of their full term newborn daughter to still birth. It's sad. It's tragic. Yet, they lift their hands to the Lord and give Him praise.

A portion of an email from the father, Mitch's dear friend.

It's with a mixture of great grief and awestruck wonder in the greatness of our God that I'm writing this morning to let you know that [we] delivered our 3rd girl during the night, but [she] was stillborn. We need your prayers, love, and support. I believe we're grieving well right now, but will obviously be faced with various challenges and opportunities in the days ahead. Feel free to check in with us as you have opportunity…

Holding my dead infant daughter was a stark reminder that we are fallen people living in a fallen world. But in experiencing that grief I am still able to praise God. He has seen fit to take "our" girl to be with Him - and spare her the pain and sorrow this sin-filled world and our sin-filled hearts create. Jesus, the resurrection and the life, says whoever believes in Him, yet though he dies, will live again. Our hope is built on nothing less..

He is our God and we will ever praise Him. Be encouraged that there is hope...that hope is Jesus.



May my prayer like incense rise before You
The lifting of my hands as sacrifice
Oh Lord Jesus turn Your eyes upon me
For I know there is mercy in Your sight

Your statutes are my heritage forever
My heart is set on keeping Your decrees
Please still my anxious urge toward rebellion
Let Love keep my will upon its knees

Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You

To all creation I can see a limit
But Your commands are boundless and have none
So Your Word is my joy and meditation
From the rising to the setting of the sun

All Your ways are loving and are faithful
The road is narrow but Your burden light
Because You gladly lean to lead the humble
I shall gladly kneel to leave my pride

What day is it?

My days are shooting past me....I don't even know what month this is. Here are some random pictures from the past few weeks. I've been at the computer but haven't had time to blog. Can you believe that the reason is because I've been getting in bed sooner? Yeah, I know....it's hard to comprehend....but TRUE!

Andrew's class is across the hall from mine,
so I peek in on him often.

Andrew holds his new baby cousin, Stella.

Celebrating an upcoming wedding with the ladies at church.

Playing Mouse Trap with the cousins.

Who knew a $1 toy would make the road trip so enjoyable?

Funny little man.

Oh. My. Goodness....she's growing up.

It's a little late but we hope you had
a happy grandparent's day,
Gami, Meme, & Pop!

Eating at Daddy's favorite BBQ place.

Eric Carle week -The Mixed-Up Chameleon

Ever feel like?....

Do you ever feel like you're living in a life of "catch 22"?

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." - Romans 7:15 (Paul)

She has arrived

My niece has arrived and I wanted to post a few pictures of my time with my brother and sister-in-law that I took over the past few days. These are some of my favorites but there are many more to come....Facebook will be loaded with them soon!

Much is happening

My last living grandparent passed away last night at the age of 92.
She's living with Jesus now.

My brother and sister-in-law's first child is due this week.
They give praise to God.

Our ladies Bible study starts tomorrow evening.
The Lord has blessed me with these great friendships.

Our small groups at church start back up this weekend.
Our congregation is excited to see what God will teach them through His Word and through relationships.

I have much to be thankful for.

I think she likes it

I wish this style was on her head before summer started because it would have been more comfortable in these hots days we've had. Well, it usually stays hot down here in Georgia until sometime in October anyway....

She likes her new hair cut. She really does.

Pastors watch baseball

Mitch and Chris J. took a "man-evening" to Atlanta tonight to watch the Braves play the Cardinals. The Braves lost 11-4, but at least they got to sit behind home plate for a few innings. They sent this picture to me during the game so we could show the kids. The kids saw it and started doing the Tomahawk chop around the house. Too bad it didn't work.

Labor Day 2010

We had a relaxing Labor Day. It was spent hanging out with family and some friends from church. We ate well, soaked up some sun around the pool, chatted, splashed, and ate some more.

What did you do?

A shout out to a new friend & reader

HEY

HALEY!

Wordless Wednesday (breakin' the law!)

Well, here are a few words (excuse me)....why does Luke always make the Wordless Wednesday post? 'Cause he's hilarious!...all the time!

Dads, our families, & silly games

I can't explain how excited I was when Jennie called me this summer to tell me that her family was moving back to our city (Army) and would be here for a good while! I couldn't wait to wrap my arms around her and her sweet kiddos. Seeing her everyday (really!) is a highlight - especially in the car line at school as we wave energetically at one another across the parking lot. We giggle in the hallway at church as we wait outside the door for our kids to get out of Sunday school class. People think we're crazy, I'm sure.

Anyway, our kids have become reacquainted with each other, Jennie and I have had some great conversations, and our husbands...well, they have acted the fool!

It all started with two families walking to the park after eating dinner together last night. The Dads carried their little girls on their shoulders while the other children made a B-line to the playground.



With great excitement, the men discussed quantum physics & angular momentum (just kidding) while watching their girls play. Really....the topic of discussion was probably theology and college football....'cause they go hand-in-hand.

Next, the old men got a kick of energy and climbed
atop the rocking toys to "show off" to their sons.

Then, this happened.

Yeah, it's all fun and games until someone gets....well, you know the rest.

I like calling my brother my friend

For the past week, I've been editing the photos from the session of my brother and sis-in-law. It was an emotional editing session, I must say. My relationship with my brother has matured and grown deeper as we've gotten older (isn't that how it usually always works?). We were always close growing up since we're only 15 months apart in age, but I truly didn't get to know his heart until our mid to late 20s. I have enjoyed our conversations on the phone over the years about life, Jesus, theology, marriage, cars, music...and now, children.


Happy tears....they fall down my cheeks when I see these pictures. My little brother is a man. A man who is married to a woman who loves him deeply. He's now a man who will be a father in a few short weeks. I wish I could see his face when his little girl is placed in his arms for the very first time (maybe I can wiggle myself in the room as the family photographer!?!?!?). I remember watching Stuart's eyes meet his bride as she entered the sanctuary and walked down the aisle, arm in arm with her father. Stuart cried so hard! His face turned red, his nose ran snot, and his face was in a shaky, yet joyous, smile.

Anyway, I had fun taking their pictures. They are both hams to the camera so the session was hilarious....just another reminder of God's goodness.

I got a little happy and couldn't just choose 2-3 to post. I had to post A LOT of the pics...they are so in love and I wanted to show them off!