So it's been almost a month since I posted and yes- a lot has happened!! (Hence the lack of posting) Here's a quick (VERY quick) rundown:

We had graduation weekend, where all the public (and some private) high schools in Williamson County are having their graduations. Typically Jordan and I average about 4 each year, but thankfully this year, the only graduation we went to was Independance High School's. We filled up the rest of our weekend with graduation parties and open houses. Here are a couple of pictures:




Hope and Steve were also in town for a couple of days, headed to Evansville....then came back through for a couple of nights. We had a great time with them in the midst of the graduations and camp prep.

The next week was spent getting ready for camp! We had activities team meetings, worship rehearsal, scheduling, etc, all in the midst of our normal work/church schedules. It was busy, but wonderful!! Somewhere in there, Barry & Shannon O'Neal had their 2nd baby girl: Eleanor and she is BEAUTIFUL!!



Then last Sunday, we took off for camp! What an incredible week!! First off, here are a few pictures:









As always, camp included many memorable and enjoyable times: not-so-wonderful food, an eventful bus ride down and back, a lively dorm full of 9th/10th grade girls, hilarious morning activities, exciting team competitions and even me and JT taking a trip to the emergency room with one of our campers who busted open his knee!

There was also incredible transformation. While I would say last year's camp was marked with significant breakthrough for the students in regards to specific strongholds and addictions they were facing, this year was marked by significant growth and deepening of their relationships with the Lord and each other. I believe the fruit that will be produced from this week will be consistency in their intimacy with Jesus, and increased faith to see the Holy Spirit use them in amazing ways. I myself was prayed for (by Laurel) for healing this week and received it immediately! We are encouraged and determined to see more miracles in our lives and for the Holy Spirit to use each of us daily in the ways that the Bible instructs us to expect. I am so proud of all of the students, and so enjoyed the time with them...I honestly wasn't ready for it to end. I am excited though about what this summer and next year holds for all of them. I truly believe that we will see some amazing things in each of their lives!

Jordan and I had an opportunity to rest on Saturday, which was wonderful and much needed. Sunday we had a wonderful service and connection times, and then got to celebrate a dear friend and mentor's birthday in the afternoon.



We ended the evening with a movie and a great night's sleep! I am so excited about what God is doing. There are a lot of changes ahead, but I can honestly say that I now embrace and look forward to change! It is the very thing that keeps me pressing into God to hear the smallest whisper, His commands and His voice as we walk out the life He has blessed us with!

Praise the Lord for His guidance and love in our lives.

She's 18!!!

Happy Birthday to Miss Janel who turns 18 today!! It's been a fun (and eventful) morning for me, and hopefully for her as well!

I woke up bright and early around 5:45 this morning. No snoozing today! I showered, got ready, and then stepped into the kitchen to make some "birthday" whole wheat banana walnut pancakes and peppermint/mate vana tea for her. I wrapped the couple of gifts we have for her and stuck them in the front seat of the car. Jordan had picked up 2 dozen roses from Costco yesterday, and I was determined to smuggle them to school without her knowing.

After I dropped the girls off at school, I dropped off our recycling and headed into Kroger with the roses and large glass vase in tow. The lady at Customer Service came over to help me with the balloons and I arranged some baby's breath into the roses while she blew up a large "Happy 18th" and a couple of latex balloons. We had a funny time as she accidentally let a couple of them go, and they got caught on the rafters about 4-5 feet above us. We had to call maintenence to bring a ladder and get them down. Haha! It was comical. But finally, I left with balloons, chocolates, roses and a card!

I headed back to the school to take the goods to Student Services, only to walk in and find out that students can't have glass OR latex in school. I definitely should have known that! Boo! BUT, she can have her card and chocolates, and they promised to call her soon to the office so she can see the delivery.

I'm sure it will be an eventful day and I pray she feels loved and blessed!

Highschool infestation

We had a great time last night. Janel had a party and had most of her friends over. Even though it's exam week, most of them are exempt from exams and didn't have school at all this week since they are seniors. I cooked a whole bunch of homemade pizzas, hummus, sausage balls, tea cakes, buffalo dip among other things. They loved the food and spent most of the evening playing catch phrase, eating and talking. Then Janel and several friends BEGGED me and Jordan to play and sing. SO funny.....but they said they really wanted us too. We did, and then that kicked off some time of different people playing and singing. It was awesome for Jordan and I though- to have 20+ highschoolers in our home, only 1 of whom goes to our church. Totally our dream- to reach this community and kids who don't know the Lord...many of which were here last night. God has opened so many doors with the girls living with us. It was great for them, and great for us to see what God is doing!

Happy Thursday!

I guess I have quite a lot to blog about. Last weekend was a fun one! Jordan and I went to see Janel play in her powder puff game, which unfortunately, despite a lot of hard work and a lot of spirit, they lost to the juniors, but it was still a good time! Jordan and I had a dr's appointment after that- and then the rest of the afternoon was spent setting up for the Spring Hill Country Ham Festival. New Song sponsored a "farmer for a day" booth where kids came through and got to do all sorts of fun "farm-themed" things. As you can see- the youth AND youth leaders had a good time setting up! Friday night, Jordan and I went to the game and had a great time watching IHS beat whoever they were playing...haha! We all went to bed and crashed- big day on Saturday. Saturday we woke up, all had breakfast together and then helped the girls get where they needed to go for homecoming. I made it over to take some pictures of Janel and her friends before they took off- and to help them with last minute getting ready...a flurry of hair spray, curling irons, mascara and bobby pins, but they got it all done and made it in time! Jordan and I took off for U-turn on Saturday night. It was a GREAT night, despite a really weird game that we played....not quite sure what to think of it....there is no noise, but here's a sample of what it looked like....
And then Sunday was full of friends, worship, teaching, fellowship, rest, football and fun! We finished off the evening (Jordan, Laurel and me) watching Iron Man- I LOVE THAT MOVIE! All in all- a GREAT weekend! On another note- I never posted my results of how I think the Grocery Game works and whether or not it's worth it. Here's what I came down to. The list itself that is published on the grocery game is not the MOST helpful for the types of things Jordan and I buy, so although the concept was very helpful, subscribing to the list wasn't the best for me. BUT- I did learn a lot through the 12 weeks of trying it about shopping sales, combining with them offers and coupons to get the best deal. So, here's what it looks like for me...I still shop on a "stockpiling" basis, so I am still looking to buy things when they are on sale rather than when I just NEED them. I check out the Publix, Kroger, CVS and Walgreens circulars each week, circle things on sale and go through my coupons to get the best deal. So far it's working great with each shopping trip averaging a 53% savings on every bill. It's become a challenge for me.....my favorite recently was a trip to Walgreens where I stocked up on 2 packs of Zicam cold medicine, 4 packages of duracell batteries, trident gum and sony CDrs for $25, when it would have been $65. That's exciting! :-) So here's to saving!!!

Oh- and no news yet of Baby Rachel- we are anxiously awaiting!

It's Homecoming Week at Independance High School, where Janel & Laurel attend. If any of you remember Homecoming week, it consists of TONS of ways to show your school spirit, including dress up days. I LOVED this week in High school, and I always participated in the dress up days. The girls have been getting into it, and I loved their theme this year, which was "Decades." So, they started with 50's on Monday, 60's on Tuesday and then 70's and 80's. I didn't get to see the first two days because I was in Florida, but here they are dressed up in their 70's and 80's wear! I LOVE Laurel's shirt today....I might have to borrow that one!