Beth

Beth, Happy Birthday!!  Brian and I hope you have an awesome day!  You're a great wife, mother, and friend!  You have a beautiful heart and a great sense of humor.  We always have an amazing time hanging out with you.  We talk about the four of you frequently.  Please come visit us sometime soon, we'll try and show you some good 'ol southern hospitality. 

I stole this picture from your blog, but I thought it was really cute of the both of you

Here's sweet little Noel - this picture is on our fridge, I think it's from fall of last year

 Here's precious little Elise - this picture is also on our fridge, I think it is also fall of last year

Happy Birthday! 

Ephesians 3: 17-20  "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Kara/Kares

Kara is a wonderful wife, mother and friend!  She very quickly welcomed me at church and included me in everything.  Some of my favorite memories have been skiing, weekend in Chicago for Cheryl's birthday, a couple of over nights in her old house, camping and helping with the Pine Valley kids.

This first picture is from camping back in 2004 in southern Indiana.  A small group of us decided to go on a hike.

Kara, Josh, Me, Julie, Erin, Leah and Andy

Carving pumpkins at Kara and Cheryl's

Julie, Me, Kara, and Lisa

I think this next picture was for Leah's wedding shower.  

Me, Cheryl, Carley, Julie, Kara, Lisa, Summer and Leah

Indianapolis Indians game with the gang- I don't remember everyone's names - but I do recognize Tracy, Cheryl, Tony, Troy, Nikki, Lindsay, Kara, and Me

 Waiting at our reception to go inside

The Happy Family

Kara, Shane and Sophie - I don't have any pictures of her new baby - her little girl is just too precious

Kara has always had a heart of gold and a great attitude.   She absolutely loves children and is an amazing teacher.  It's fun watching her with children, she's just so natural and loving.  She had my cousin's little boy in her class several years ago and he absolutely adored her.  I'm thankful she gets to stay at home with her two kids-that's always been her dream.  Kara has been blessed with the gifts of service and teaching. 

Kara, You are a wonderful friend and lovely person.  I'm thankful for you!

"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Colossians 3:17

Southland Christian Church

Southland has come under a lot of scrutiny lately over the new Richmond Rd  Lexington Mall purchase/expansion.  -Southland doesn't pay property taxes, so property values will plummet;  Why does Lexington need another church;  Why would anyone want to go to a mega-church;  Why not put the money into Africa;  Does it really need to cost $30 million, etc. With that said:  We live in a country that has 300,000+ churches and more wealth than any other time in history, and while America is in a terrible recession, we still have it better than most of the people of the world.  1/2 of the population of the world lives in poverty, 24,000 children per year die from starvation, over a billion people do not have access to adequate water supply, 40,000,000 Africans have HIV/AIDS, 1 million people die from malaria each year, and a large population of the world are muslim, buddhist, or hindu (info from compassion.org). We love that we are involved in a church that "Loves God and Loves People."  Southland's goal is not to give people what they need, but to give people what they're worth.  It's time for Christians to step-up and start living as Jesus, to cast nets out and fish for men (from Jon Weece).  I believe Brian and I are living in the right city at the right time.  I believe God has a plan and a purpose for us to be in Lexington.  It took me a long time to realize that, I was constantly looking at other cities around the country to move to.  The first year we lived here I was sad, and for 3 years I was miserable in my job, so I was really ready to move.  But I was absolutely in awe of what I saw God doing at Southland:  Jesus Prom, Bruised Reed, The Medical Refuge Clinic, the community garden, Room at the Inn, Helping Through Him, Feed My Starving Children, the supplies donated to Haiti, the backpack program, Celebrate Recovery, support of missionaries, etc. I believe God has opened several doors with the new location, and I know the leaders of the church and thousands of members have been praying about this for years, and I trust the leaders of the church to make the best possible decision.  We also believe that if we can get more people of Lexington to follow Jesus, it will then in return have a global impact.  So we're on board with the new Richmond Road expansion.   We're excited to help serve in any way needed.  We can't wait to see what God has in store for the old mall.  We're taking that step in faith. 

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

Golf date

Brian and I went to church last night so we could go to the driving range this morning.  We had a great time just messing around. 

The Kearney Hills Clubhouse is really pretty. 

Nice rockers to sit back and enjoy the view

I so do not look like a golfer.  

Some things I learned from today: 

1.  I like getting out and hitting some balls, but I am a terrible golfer. 

2.  I look stupid in hats, esp a Purdue hat. 

3.  I need to eat before any activity in the morning - by the time we were done, I was ravenous.  

4.  .  I need to concentrate more.  I was more consumed with people watching and the views than playing. 

5. When I play again, I really need an outfit.  The University of Kentucky Women's Golf Team was next to us on the driving range in their cute outfits and I looked like a hillbilly trying to hit balls. 

 

I love the water, but...

a reason to not love the ocean.

Happy Anniversary

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Melissa and Michael!!  We hope you both have a great day!  

The beautiful bride getting her hair styled.

 

The Happy Couple!!

Crazy Love

The Awe Factor of God -Francis Chan

My bible study has been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and I admit that I love this book!  It's an easy read, but also so...compelling.  Brian and I started our 465 People Challenge last month and have been trying to love people, so this book fits in perfectly.  Some of the points I have gotten from this book are:  Jesus wants us to love others so much that we go to extremes to help them;  we have to intentionally and consistently remind ourselves of Jesus and His love; some people waste their lives;  lukewarm Christians rarely share their faith with their neighbors, friends or coworkers;  Jesus wants all of me or none of me;  nothing should concern us more than our relationship with God;  people who are consumed with Jesus live lives that connect them to the poor in some way;  and what did I do with what God gave me.   I don't want to live a wasted life. 

' "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."  This is the first and greatest commandment, And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." '   Matthew 22:37-40