Drew's graduation

It's really summer and I am such a slacker! Really, we've been running from one thing to another and just loving the break.

BUT: I need to show pics that Drew DID pass kindergarten with straight E's (excellent). WAHOO!!! I never thought this day would come. This year has been crazy.

A pic of the proud parents. :) You can't tell but we were practically sharing one seat. Apparently, every parent wants to see their proud graduate. Who knew?!?!?!

Drew's class. Confession time: I don't know half these kids. This class was crazy and it grated on my anal self. So I spent more time in Aiden's class. Better luck next year....

I did miss Jupiter Christian especially on this day. JCS has such a wonderful graduation ceremony with full cap and gown. (Yes, it costs about $70 some compared to this measly $3 cheap-o cap.) Renaissance has 10 full kindergarten classes which rotate graduation times in a small cafeteria. ***Sigh***

But the deed is done and it is SUMMER!!!! YAY!

Randomness and Haiti

A little ramblings:

But first-some pics!

Drew is growing bigger and bigger. No longer a squeaky little voice. Almost done with Kindergarten! WAHOO!!!

But he's still our fun-loving middle child. He's his mother's child, what can I say.

Drew with Dax. Dax is now 6 months old and weighs close to 26 lbs. WOW. People ask me how I hold him. Well, I don't. Not for any length of time without sitting down. :) But we get plenty of cuddle time on the floor or in the rocking chair. What a sweet baby.

Dax just started baby food this week and is still getting a hang of it. He definitely prefers 'real' food over the canned baby stuff. (Who wouldn't?!?!)

I was digging through the bib drawer which houses about 50 bibs (no lie) and came across this one. I can't remember which baby this was originally given to, but I believe Heather gifted it to either Jackson, Aiden , or Drew. Love it.

Other news: Dave is heading to Haiti this Sunday night and won't be back until Thursday. He's traveling with 3 other guys from the church to scope out a couple ministries down there. One in which is an orphanage. I think Dave's a little apprehensive since he's never been out of the country. (I laughed just for my family's sake....hahaha!) I expect God to do some great things in the hearts of the men who are going. How can you not be impacted by the sights and sounds (and smells) of a third world nation?

Anyways, prayers are obviously appreciated. :) I look forward to spending some time listening to Dave talk on Thursday night/Friday morning as he digests the trip.

Tomorrow is also another day full of prayer as teams are hitting Port St. Lucie to participate in servant evangelism. I'm expecting God to do some great things tomorrow through the people of the church.

Talk about God doing great things, a friend of mine had one of her friends accept Christ this past Sunday. So neat. This girl has been coming to Financial Peace University and finally attended a service this last weekend. She prayed to receive Christ and has commented that this week has been a week of great peace. AWESOME.

This is the reason why we do what we do: to see people impacted by Christ. LOVE IT!!!

Time to party

It's over and it was fun!!! I can't believe how many people we had at the house. Had to over 100 crazy Floridians in this heat. One of my friends took pics and I'll try to get them up soon. I need a new version of iphoto or something. So we'll see.

We rented 2 bounce houses, had one HUGE slip 'n slide with tons of soap, and a little slip 'n slide for the little guests. Add some water balloons and shaving cream.... ahhhhh, the life. Plus one youth pastor veteran: Dave Carroll. He is crazy, did ya know?!?!? He even had some of the other men join him on the slip 'n slide.

Just from talking to Dave and my dad, it seemed like the objective was reached: to gather a mess of unchurched and churched together and let God work. Dad had the opportunity to talk to another father about raising children in love. Dave had the chance to talk to several about the Lord too. So neat.

But the coolest thing to me was Aiden's prayer right before we cut the cake. Dave leaned down and asked him in his ear if he would like to pray, and Aiden said yes.

What a prayer from my 7 year old. In the back of my mind, I was hoping he wouldn't say something about how he wished he would get tons of money or something! But he didn't.

He said something to the effect of thanking the Lord for all the people that came and for the opportunity to worship God. So awesome. It was truly a time where everyone was focused as he prayed loudly and unashamedly. Afterwards, the crowd murmured a quiet 'wow' and then broke into applause.

If people left and just had a taste of what God is like through my little boy.... then AWESOME.

On a lighter note, we had plenty of food and goodie bags. I asked God ahead of time to multiply and divide. He did! We had just enough of everything.

Thanks for those who were praying with us. We're looking forward to the next time we can do something like this. :)

Birthday Party

Just a quick post for people to pray this weekend. We're throwing a HUGE birthday party for Aiden and Drew on Saturday. In the midst of the partying, we're hoping to get to talk with some people about Christ. We've invited both boys' classmates, t-ball team, and also friends from church. I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew.... about 100 people have rsvp'd already!!!

I'm really excited about the cd's we're giving away. Dave helped each boy write a song. Drew has a little birthday jam and Aiden's takes on more of a country feel. Aiden's song really shares the gospel. Then Dave has a song he's been working on too. He kindly put me in the credits.... um, yeah. I just played keys and had nothing to do with the writing.

So if you think of us from 2-5 tomorrow, lift up a prayer that those who don't know Christ will experience the love we have for Jesus.

Restoration :)

Dave just jetted off to a church planting conference in Orlando yesterday. Exponential. There were so many 'God' details that went into this conference that it just gives me goose bumps to think how cool our God is. :)

After being encouraged to go to this conference, Dave asked for just Wednesday off from work even though Exponential runs about 4 days. He called the conference to ask about a single day ticket- but they were already sold out.

Hold on. I just got one. You'll have to find me to get it. And it's free....

Awesome.

Both Dave and I were praying for God to speak through the conference, plus looking forward to reconnecting with some other pastor friends. Dave said he thoroughly enjoyed the speakers, was encouraged through the teaching, and had opportunities to love on some college and seminary friends.

As he was sneaking out of the last session 15 minutes early, Dave prayed. God, if there is one more person you need me to see today.... it has to happen now.

Rounding the corner.....

There he was.

The church planting director from Cleveland.

We have not spoken with him since we left. Hurt feelings, confusion, dissolution. Dave had long time since felt forgiveness and release from all that went on, but obviously no restoration. And as he walked up to the director, the man turned and was shocked to see Dave.

The two stood there for 45 minutes, talking and sharing. Much of what we assumed to be true, was in fact true. This man had to act on directives in which he had little to no control. And as they were ironing out the past, this man encouraged Dave in leadership.

How awesome God is. HE is not a God of coincidences. HE is a God who controls and governs the timing of the universe. WOW. We're blown away after 2 1/2 years that this opportunity has come up to make a relationship right.

One thing that he said to encourage Dave was that he talked about humility in leading. The fact that we can lead with a limp (sometimes the whole Cleveland experience felt like a mortal blow to the head.... but I digress....) allows room for the Holy Spirit to work. We know that we have to rely on the Lord to provide, guide, and direct. Negative experiences can turn to positive ones if we step back and let God burn away the chaff.

Which HE did. Mega-burn.

He made us trust Him. Financially. Relationally. Spiritually. Psalm 34 will always resonate strongly as that scripture especially was given to me in New Orleans. God is not a God of coincidence.

Love it that He loves us. Dave. Me.

I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.

My soul will boast in the LORD;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the LORD with me;

let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Fear the LORD, you his saints,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles,

but the LORD delivers him from them all;

he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The LORD redeems his servants;

no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

pastors' kids and fun

Every other Wednesday is a great day of fellowship with the other pastors' wives. We just had lunch and were looking at the babies when I commented about how Dax looks just like Dave and how Bode looks just like Billy. Looking over at Taj, I laughed because he looks like his daddy Dale.

So here's the original shot. Ignore the fact that Dax is still in his pajamas. I am clearly lazy. (In my defense, have you tried to keep a 2 piece outfit on a kid with a big belly? The shirt always rides up.....)

Taj Dax Bode

And now the one of the dads, thanks to Billy's magic touch. Enjoy. And try not to pee on yourself.

Dale Dave Billy

birthday and easter and spring break

A quick post:

Had a FABULOUS time this morning at Treasure Coast High School where we had around 400-500 people at our launch. WONDERFUL. I was so amazed (although I'm not sure why since I meditated on scripture this week that talked about the power of the Lord-the same power that God demonstrated in raising Christ is the power that He has available to us) to see the turn out. Anyways, Dave said that we had something around 40 people accept Christ between the 2 campuses. Just totally awesome.

I'm not quite sure if the ladies I invited from Publix made it. I didn't have the opportunity to mingle in the crowd as much as I would like. I tried to scan the crowd in between songs without looking like a complete fool, but to no avail.

My birthday (32nd) was Friday and had an absolute perfect day with my men. We ate lunch with friends at the Food Shack-LOVE IT!!!!- and then off to the Jupiter Aquatic Center. Night was spent with some other friends, just fellowshiping and enjoying ourselves. If you ever are in Jupiter, Florida for a vacation or visit, you need to eat at the Food Shack. I'm just saying....

Spring Break: ahhhhh. Time to chill, love on my boys, and frolick in the sun. I love Florida.

Comment on your spring break-ery. What's in store? I'd love to hear. :)

Many blessings to everyone on Easter! Praise the Lord for those whose lives were changed for all eternity.