Middle of the week...not too much to say

It's been a great week so far! Jordan is slowly but surely getting better, and (he says) coughing a little less each night. I still think that any coughing is too much, just because I hate to see him dealing with it, but, I am glad for the medicine!

We have our final Life Group tonight with Andy & Tracy Cole. We are multiplying our life group into two- one of which Andy & Tracy will be leading, and Jordan & myself leading the other. It's always bittersweet because it's been an incredible group, but it has definitely gotten a bit large for the ideal small group! So tonight we will pray for each other and enjoy this evening together. I am looking forward to it very much!

That's about it for the rest of the day. Jordan and I are both working hard- trying to get as much done as we can! I think we have a fairly mellow weekend coming up, which I am all about. It will be weird though- a Sunday with now football. I know we have one more- the Superbowl, but I always get really sad at the thought of the season being over...it's a bit depressing!

Oh well- have a Wonderful Wednesday- blessings to ya!

Birthdays

Last night we celebrated three birthdays. It's becoming the tradition in my family to pool all three into one evening, which makes sense because Jordan's is January 18th, Aunt Beth's is January 25th and mine is February 1st- all exactly one week apart. Mom had an appointment with her Oncologist (sp?) in the afternoon, and we had assured her that cooking wasn't necessary so she picked up Royal Thai and we had that for dinner. Mmm Mmm good! I always wear peeople out though with the dish I like- it's so spicy! I totally sweat the whole time when I eat it! We had a really fun time hanging out together, despite several of us being pretty tired, and Dad even delayed his 24 episode with his new Tivo. :-) I got another one of my crystal glasses I've begun collecting- I picked out this pattern a while ago and begun collecting them. They're so beautiful! Mom also got me a silver platter, this Wilton Armetale stuff is really the coolest stuff! It's so versatile and looks good! Jordan got a gift card to Basil, the Asian bistro, which we're excited to try. We've never been there, but I'm sure we'll love it. It was so fun to just spend time with family and enjoy each other.

Well onto REALLY exciting things, our COLTS WON! In the most amazing second half comeback, Peyton and the boys pressed through a depressing first half and went on to win against the New England Patriots, arguably the most difficult team the beat in the post season. The Bears beat the Saints, so we're in for quite the classic Superbowl, as the Bears and the Colts battle it out on February 4th! We're so excited our friends Nathan & Bethany will be here with us! Go Colts!

Well I am going to do some reading before I start work. Have an incredible Tuesday!

Jesse & Jessica Cupp

Today is a difficult and interesting day. Today one of my dearest friends embarks upon a new life and a new adventure. Today begins an incredible season for the Cupp's and the ending of a season for me.

My dear, amazing friend Jessica is moving to Hawaii unto becoming missionaries in Japan. Jessica and I have been friends for 5 years now, all beginning with me totaling my car in the middle of the night in Lewisburg after taking her home, up until this point and time- both married, both walking out God's calling on our lives and learning to serve our husbands in the Lord in whatever He calls us to. Our paths have been very similar over the years, from church at Newsong, being in school at MTSU, to getting married within a month of each other in the same year, and then to being part of churches planted from Newsong Cool Springs! She has been a friend beyond what I could imagine and someone I could never replace.

Jessica had taught me faithfulness and the power of encouragement in friendship. There is not a time when we are together that I don't leave feeling refreshed, uplifted and encouraged. Some time ago, she & her husband, Jesse began to sense that God was moving them ahead in His calling on their lives to be missionaries. Jesse has had Japan on his heart for years, and Jessica knew that she was called to Asia, just unsure of where. God began to reveal it over a year ago and they began to make preparations to go. This is what they were born to do! I know that and I believe, but it doesn't make it easy to say goodbye.

I love you, Jessica. I will miss you terribly, but I am so excited that I know my dear friend and I, albeit miles apart, are building God's kingdom together.

A not-too-thorough Update

It's 2:46 and I just fixed myself a black bean burger for lunch- I love those and I always tend to forget I buy them. I have been meaning to do an update blog all week but it's just been one of those busy weeks and I haven't had the chance yet.

I wanted to update on the weekend, but when it gets to Thursday, you're not really sure if a weekend update or week update is more appropriate. I'll just try to think of the most interesting things that have happened since my last blog, and I'll go from there!

We had a really fun & full weekend. A bunch of kids from Spring Hill came over Friday night to hang out. We ordered pizza, set up ping pong in the garage, and ended up playing a big game of murder. It was SO much fun. It's always great to just get to hang out with some of the students separate from Saturday nights. I think they all really had a great time too. Dylan came over as well, and hung out- so we got to hear all about the Passion conference he had just attended in Atlanta. Sounded pretty unbelievable!

Another highlight of the weekend was Robby's graduation party. He graduated on Saturday from the Student Internship Program at our church, and is a part of the Leadership Team for New song Spring Hill, that Jordan and I are also a part of. So, we spend a lot of time with him, and he's really become a brother to us. Here are some pictures I took to go in his "scrapbook" I had people sign in. It turned out really well.

Oh my gosh, and I almost forgot about Jordan's Sugar Bowl trip. Last week, he got to go to New Orlean's with his dad for the Sugar Bowl, which was LSU vs. Notre Dame. It was an awesome trip for him and he loved the time with his dad, even though Notre Dame lost, and lost hard. So- I'll put some pics above of that! Okay, well, it's not doing it very quickly, and I don't have time to sit and wait for it, so I'll try and get those up as soon as possible.

Last night was Life Group, which was amazing. Jordan and I have been leading a Life Group (small groups at our church) for about 5 or 6 months now. Something like that. We are getting ready to multiply into two groups. The ideal size is 8-12 people, and ours is something crazy like 25. We've had a lot of new people lately, which has accounted for all the Life Groups getting larger than they need to be. Last night we ate, I helped Andy with worship, and then went upstairs to play with the 4 elementary aged boys, b/c we ended up with 9 kids and the girl who does childcare couldn't handle 4 toddlers, a baby and 4 wild boys on top of that. So we had a Connect4 championship and then played Uno, which I came in second thankyou very much! :-)

Alright, well I have to jet! I'll update again soon, and I won't take as long this time- promise :)

Tea for Me!

My tea came in! I am so excited. Earlier today I was working, and I thought I heard someone pulling into the driveway. Like a kid at Christmas I peaked out my little window in the Bonus Room and saw the Fed Ex man bringing a small box up. I ran downstairs and lo and behold, there was a box with my Earl Grey Creme, Caribbean Breeze, and Rooibos Sweet Amore. (which I'm drinking now) Yum yum yum!

Just thought I would share today's little delight!

2007

A new year! Already. Wow! In a way it has snuck up on me and in a way I am completely prepared. Yeah, I know that makes no sense. I think what I mean is that I have been preparing mentally and spiritually for what God has for the Roe's in 2007, and I am ready to run with it, but very unsure of what that is, and what this year will look like. A few things are certain, it will be full, it will be amazing, it will be difficult, challenging, I will cry a lot, I will laugh a lot, there will be times of sorrow and times of unbelievable rejoicing. People will move in, move away, get married, have babies, quit jobs, begin new jobs, come to know Christ and have great breakthrough in their lives. But, we are praying for more of it all!

I wrote a few weeks ago about the book, "Passion & Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot. Since then, I have read "Through Gates of Splendor," "The Savage my Kinsman," and currently "Shadow of the Almighty." God just keeps speaking so much to me through her writings and the life of Jim Elliot. It was SUCH a life of obedience, such a life of selflessness. Is it possible that Jordan and I can truly live like that? Can we live with the same heart they had in the jungle with unreached people groups, here in suburban Spring Hill? I believe we can, it just takes surrender and a determination to lay down self for the Savior.

"The obedience God calls us to is costly, but the rewards of obedience are priceless- among the few things we CANNOT LOSE." -Jim Elliot

My prayer for 2007 can be summed up as this: "God, help me to rid my heart of affections towards things that can be lost, and to be filled with You, and affections for things eternal, that I cannot lose and no one can take from me."

Camellia Sinensis, a.k.a. "tea"

I have loved hot tea for a long time, but this Christmas I made some new discoveries that have propelled me into a whole new place of LOVING tea. While shopping in Naples at the new Coconut Pointe mall (which is actually more like a small city) we discovered a new store, Teavana, and one of my favorite places now! They sell cups of hot tea (the the tea version of Starbuck's) various loose leaf teas (which are the best) and various tea accesories. Check out the website and read up on the history of tea and all of the amazing health benefits it has!

If you want to order some, might I recommend the Rooibos Amore and the Caribbean Breeze! I, myself am enjoying at this moment, a cup of Earl Grey Green slightly sweetened with honey. Happy Saturday!

Sampling of some pics...

I'll add more later.....our Christmas is only half way done! We're at the Orlando airport about to go back through security to get on our flight to Nashville. We left Naples at 7:00 this morning- it was an early one for sure! We had an incredible time in Florida and now we're excited to see the other side of the family and get to do it all over again :-) I LOVE this time of year!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone. I thought I'd do a quick update from good ol' WARM Naples, Florida....we've been having a wonderful time. Jordan and I are down in Naples with his side of the family and it has been great. Mom & Dad are waiting for us, patiently, to get back to Nashville to do their Christmas exchanges.

It's been an amazing and fun-filled week/weekend, whatever it is. We got down here on Thursday and met up with everyone (Erin, Dan, Auntie Anne, & cousins Will, Caitie, Elizabeth) to go see "Pursuit of Happyness." Jordan and I just liked it, we didn't love it- a little too stressful for me, it was hard to watch. We had great sushi afterwards at "Tsunami" and all danced to the great 80's music they had playing :-)

Friday I worked in the office and that evening we spent helping E.D. (Erin & Dan) move into their brand new home that FINALLY got finished. It was originally supposed to be done before me & Jordan's, so you can see they've been waiting a while. We worked until all the boxes were in and everyone was too tired to move anymore. I'm so excited for them- the house is beautiful!

Saturday was our Christmas Eve, since we moved stuff up a day because E.D. were flying out on Christmas Day to go to IN. I spent some time over at E.D.'s house helping with a little more organizing and we went to the beautiful candelight service at First Baptist Naples that evening. It was a WONDERFUL service and I really really enjoyed the worship and the teaching. All the family came over aftewards for some chili and hangin' out.

Sunday Jordan and Steve got up early and hit a little bit of tennis, and then went to a church to sing a few Christmas songs for them. Hope and I started breakfast (I made Grandma Bertie's homemade biscuits) and E.D. got over soon after. We all had a big breakfast and started off with stockings and then exchanged gifts! It was a wonderful day that we finished up with a lot of family and a huge meal with ham, green beans and pecan pie! We played a rousing game of Catch Phrase which was so hilarious as games with family usually are.

Monday, actual Christmas Day, we headed over to Harbour Chase with Pam Schuler's homemade pastries for a little Christmas Breakfast with Gma & Gpa Chalker. We had a great time with them, Jordan played a few carols for them, and I lost it when I tried- sometimes you just can't quite make it. We then went for a walk on the beach that began as a nice stroll and ended as a fight against the wind and a rush to get back in time to get E.D. to the airport. We did in fact make it and had a wonderful evening "Rocky Balboa" (AWESOME MOVIE!), food (WAY TOO MUCH OF IT) Family, and an awesome game of murder! Elizabeth brought the house down with her 7 rounds of killing and complete confusion! Good job Eli!

Today is our final day in Naples :-( and we are about to go play doubles tennis, and then go out to the new mall, Coconut Point to do some shopping. We'll see Grandpa and Grandma one more time and go out to dinner tonight! It has been an amazing trip and I can't believe I still have Christmas to celebrate with my side of the family tomorrow and Thursday- I'm so excited!!!

Most importantly, I am blown away by our Savior. I've just been reading this morning in Matthew & Luke about Jesus' birth and thinking about the gift of God- the true meaning of Christmas in giving and sacrifice! It is amazing! God, thank you for your Gift- thank you for life! Thank you for the Holy Spirit that gives guidance, joy, life and peace all day and throughout! You are the only thing that brings true meaning and joy to Christmas and I love you!

Have a blessed day!

Today is a CRAZY day! It's so funny how the day before a big trip, there is so much to get done! Last night J & I made a stop over to the Maat's house- they are a precious family in our church who are moving to Lansing, MI on Dec. 28th. They have two daughters- one is in 7th and the other in 8th and boy are we ever going to miss them! So we hung out for a while and then after a confusing bout with Frank & Wendy on the phone, went home and Robby brought some dinner and gifts for us- he's so sweet. We had dinner and Frank Borst stopped by to give us something, then R & J took off to hang out a bit and I went into frenzy cleaning mode. I think I was up until midnight cleaning- I was just on a roll!

Today is awesome, but so full! I have been trying to work with the travel agent for Jordan and Steve's flights- they get to go to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Steve got the trip b/c Allstate is the main sponsor of the bowl and Jordan is SO excited- he's really been enjoying Notre Dame football this year! I'm so pumped they get to go! I'll just have to look for 'em on TV.

IGC Photography

Our dear friend & amazing photographer, Ian Collins now has presence on the World Wide Web! Check out www.igcphotography.com and www.igcweddings.com

He's SO GOOD!!

Dinners, Life Group, Chemo & Parties

What a weekend, really, what a week since it's been a week since my last "update." Let's see how fast she can go, folks!

Monday night last week, Jordan and I went to help Mom with her "Bunco" Christmas Party for the neighborhood ladies. I helped her set up and then Jordan played Christmas piano music as they entered. Needless to say, the ladies LOVED it and he was quite the hit. He sang "All is Well," which was incredible and I'm sure my mom will ask him to sing it time and time again from now on ;-) I won't complain!

Tuesday some friends, Ben & Michele Christy, came over for dinner and we had a fabulous time! They are just so fun to be around....do you have friends like that? That you just enjoy talking to and laughing with- that's the Christy's for ya!

Wednesday we had Life Group at the Cole's which was really really good! We are getting ready to multiply our group in January, so we talked about that a bit. God has really blessed us with a close-knit, incredible group and it will be bittersweet to multiply, but I am so excited about what God is doing!

Thursday, Dylan, Ferris & myself spent the day at St. Thomas Hospital with Mom for her 8th and FINAL Chemo treatment! YAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!! Mom did so well- actually slept part of the time, and the four of us enjoyed spending time together and marking the end of this season. Mom had me stop at Puffy Muffin for some yummy muffins and cookies to pass out to the other chemo patients, and they definitely got snatched up quickly. We had a great, but very lengthy, Launch Team meeting that night, I think Jordan and I got home about 12:30! That's not typical anymore, but there was a lot going on, and therefore a lot to cover.

Friday we had a Partnership Appreciation Dinner for those at NS Spring Hill who have served so faithfully over this past year and really helping to pioneer this congregation. I was in charge of it, so I had to oversee the location, menu, flow, etc. The night was wonderful, the food excellent and everyone had a great time!

Saturday we had a run through for NS Family Christmas in the morning, helped the Pearson's move in the afternoon (from our old apartment complex to the neighborhood across the street from us in Spring Hill- pretty cool, huh?) made icing for the U-turn party that night, and then ran over to the church to meet the youth to carpool up to Cool Springs for the Christmas Party in the newly renovated and re-done "u-turn" room at NS cool Springs. The night was so much fun and I think the kids really really enjoyed it as well.

Sunday's service was amazing! I had been stressed out in worship practice (I was leading worship) trying to get through the songs and then get the 5 "acts" of New Song family Christmas for sound check/staging. God's grace was SO there, though and worship was unbelievable and the Family Christmas AMAZING!! It felt so like home and so much like family. I am so thankful to the Lord- He is good. Robby, Dylan, Reese, Jordan, Josh & I all went back to our house for some lunch and then about 2:30 everyone parted ways. I headed up to Nashville for a "cookie" party at my friend Kelly's house, and enjoyed seeing some people I hadn't seen in a while! (Bethany Hawkins, Bayley, Jenn, etc.) It was so fun! I made a cute gingerbread house that collapsed as soon as I got in the car- oh well. We capped off the day and the week with our Launch Team Christmas Party at the Gee's home in Mt. Pleasant! It was SO much fun with authentic Mexican food (tamales, enchiladas, sangria) and a fun game of "Sneaky Santa" as Brian likes to call it.

This week is FUN, FULL & FURIOUS. We leave for Florida early Thursday morning, and I am SO excited about Christmas down there and then a 2nd amazing Christmas back up in Tennessee.

Blessings on your week!

Good morning! What a great weekend. I always seem to miss Mondays as blogging days, or maybe I still consider it part of my weekend. Who knows? Here you go, weekend recap:

Friday was fun and relaxing. After work, Ferris and Zach met me at the house and we went grocery shopping. They had to get stuff for Refuge that night and I needed stuff for U-turn the next night. We came home and cooked for Refuge and then they took off right before 7. Jordan and I ate dinner and relaxed for a while- reading and talking, then popped in "Pirates2:Dead Man's Chest." It was just okay....long movie so we got in bed way too late.
Saturday we woke up and read, and I chose my menu and made my grocery list for the Christmas party. I actually had my day's to-do list and headed up to Cool Springs. I had to pick up lavalier mics from a guy up there for us to use for our Kid's Production on Sunday. I ran various errands while Jordan did some reading and stuff around the house. I went grocery shopping and made it home ahead of schedule! I cooked and we did some things around the house and then headed out a little after 4 to meet all the kids to go up to see "Nativity Story" with the whole youth group. Afterwards they came back to our house for small groups. It was great!

Sunday was full of church (which rocked!) and getting ready for the party. Trish and Reese came over early and helped me, which was a good thing because I couldn't have gotten it done on my own. I made pb fudge, cookies, fondue, fruit pizza, stuffed mushrooms, spinach/artichoke dip, hummus, bbq chkn pizza, bacon-wrapped water chesnut bites, and a few other things. We had a little over 30 people and just had an amazing time hanging out, eating, playing "dirty santa," which did get pretty dirty b/c of me, ferris and ian's conniving ways, and Christmas charades, which the girls pretty much dominated.

It was such a fun time with friends and we are so thankful. Time to hit it hard though this week- there is a LOT going on.

blessings.

We Salute You!

I opened up my computer at 8:00 sharp this morning to begin what I was certain would be a great and very accomplished day of work. But alas, our internet was no where to be found! We battled, or I should say, Jordan battled with this all afternoon yesterday, when we finally left the go to It's a Grind for a couple of hours so we could both get some work done. The only, and I repeat only bad thing about working from home is that I'm SO dependent on our internet signal. When it goes, I go.

So needless to say, when I saw the lack of signal, I refused to do battle with Charter again and packed my stuff up and headed north to Brentwood to la casa de Warnock. I've been in Dylan's room set up with my printer and computer all day and it has been SO worth it. It's really quite and I've been getting a ton of work done, with the signal that hasn't dropped out once.

So, here's to parents who have strong wireless signals! We salute you!

Shout Unto God with a Voice of Triumph!

Good morning, good morning! No reason for the name of this post other than the fact that I am thrilled that our God is victorious and the enemy has been defeated! I am posting in a flurry because there is a bunch to do today- work is busy, busy even though the guys actually in the office have WAY more to deal with in the phones that ring off the hook- seriously!

The weekend was wonderful! It actually feels like winter here in good ol' Spring Hill now. We went last night to Columbia, TN (just south of Spring Hill) to watch the hometown Christmas Parade that a few of the girls in the youth group were dancing in. Our friends Aaron and Jenny and their 7 month old Ava and 2 1/2 year old Ethan came with us. Ethan was disinterested at first, but soon was mesmerized by the parade and sat on his knees watching each float go by in awe and wonder- he loved all the flashing lights! Ava just got cold :-)

Jordan and I had a very mellow weekend. Stayed home Friday night and Saturday during the day: read, chilled out, did some cleaning, Christmas decorating, baked cookies, worked on youth stuff, etc. It was wonderful. We had great youth group night on Saturday and an amazing service on Sunday.

The pictures above are from Thanksgiving weekend- my mother is ecstatic- we finally got a family shot after several years!

Alright- gotta get to work. Blessings on your day

Passion and Purity

The Lord led me to this book again a few days ago. My mom had encouraged me to and I had read it a couple of years ago prior to our wedding, but I was drawn to it again this week. I have read many books on purity of a woman, dating, not dating, christian living, pursuit of Christ, love, marriage, etc. but I quite honestly have never encountered a book that parallels to this one in honesty, truth and revelation.

The story of Jim & Elisabeth Elliot is remarkable, and one that many Christians are familiar with. It's a classic love story with it's own unique twists and turns, but more than anything, it's a lesson in patience, sacrifice, obedience, trust, humilty, seeking God and waiting. Waiting for something for which there is no guarantee. Waiting because you believe the possibility of attaining it, if it should be yours to attain, would be worth any price of time or energy or self-sacrifice you might pay in the process.

There are far too many truths and insights to write them all here, but I strongly encourage you, man or woman, married or single, old or young to get a copy of this book and read it when you get the chance. It is so helpful, especially for those entering a courtship or that time where you find your mate, but valuable to any walk of life.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"The problem starts when we make up our own minds what will give us happiness and then decide, if we don't get exactly that, that God doesn't love us." (in reference to self-deception and contentment)

"But the things that we feel most deeply we ought to learn to be silent about, at least until we have talked them over thoroughly with God....never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut."

"Thy will be done. Acceptance of whatever that means is the great victory of faith that overcomes the world."

"Women expect too much of men...I beg women to wait. Wait on God. Keep your mouth shut. Don't expect anything until the declaration is clear and forthright."

"If virginity [not just sexual] is to be preserved , lines must be drawn. Why put yourself in any situation where the lines become smudged and obscure? Why take the risks? Why accept the pressure of tremendous temptation when you can easily avoid it by refusing to be anywhere where compromise is possible. "

I could go on and on.....but I won't. Have to leave some things unsaid so YOU can read them for yourself!

Blessings on your day :)

Updates on eyes

It's a fairly good day today- it's been a pretty normal and uneventful week. Jordan and I are just working, planning, finishing our decorating and overall relaxing so that I can recover from my injury. My eye is doing okay. I've been fairly pain free and the swelling has been almost non-existent over the past couple days. I did wake up this morning though with a lot of pain- probably just part of the healing process. I look like I'm turning into the Grinch though- there's this nice color of yellowish green all around my eye- it looks like I don't know how to apply my eye shadow :-)

Other than that- we're doing really well. More later....

Where do I begin?? (Beware: LONG post)

No idea how to sum up the past week, but I'll sure try!

Thursday was a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mom brought turkey and dressing, Aunt Beth brought Ham and cranberry salad and I did rolls, pies, side dishes, etc. Everything was delicious and we had a great group of people. We spent the afternoon eating, watching football and finished the night out with Mission Impossible 3. Reagan played softball with my cousin Will in the backyard and Dylan was convinced we'd have a broken window by the end of it, but we made it with no breaks!

Friday we had a relaxing morning and went up to Brentwood for a little flag football action. It was Team Cool Springs vs. Team Spring Hill, but unfortunately us "country-folk" couldn't keep up with Tres, Reagan, Jesse Willits and the rest of the Cool Spring's crowd, so we lost :-) but had a great time doing it. I went to the mall solo while everyone watched the Arkansas/LSU saga, and got almost every bit of our shopping done. The mall was totally do-able, thought I almost lost my cell phone- oops! We saw "Deja Vu" that night, which is a great movie if you have the chance. Very rough though- not sure I'd have given it a PG-13, but hey- they're not asking me

Saturday began with a family picture that my mom has been trying to get us to take for a while. The weather was beautiful here this weekend, so we took full advantage of it and hopefully got a great shot. Jordan and I spent the rest of the day at home doing Christmas decorating and had an early dinner at the Rudd's house with the Cole's, and finished out the day with what else: football- USC vs. Notre Dame which was a very sad ending :-(

And then there was Sunday.... (duhn, duhn, duhn...drumroll, please.....)
The day began normal with an INCREDIBLE church service- Jordan led some strong worship and PR brought a great word. It was our first Sunday without serving lunch, so we went back home for a quick sandwich before frisbee. The boys (Jphen, Tres, JP, Robby) swung into Subway and came over to chill before all headng to the field.

The day was gorgeous- very uncharacteristic for typical November 26ths.....sunny, slight breeze and about 69 degrees. We had a great group and got split into 4 teams- my team trotted off to the second field for our first game. We went down 4-0, and then pulled it back together enough to score 2 goals.....but lost it on a long bomb from JP to Tres that we just couldn't catch. After a short water break, we went back for the second game- against Dylan & Ferris's team. As usual, Ferris and I were guarding each other and in the middle of the first drive, we had a quick turnover, so I took off to get open and get away from her as quickly as possible so Robby could throw me a quick one. In my attempt to "cut" behind Joey and his defender, I did in fact cut it, too close and mine & Joey's heads collided- a horrifying sound and sight followed.

Joey and I found ourselves both on our backs on the ground- Joey not being able to remember how he got there- me holding my head and feeling a lot of some sort of liquid coming out....I look at Ferris who says, "okkkkayy...time for stitches." I stand up and start walking with her towards the car, leaving a bunch of perplexed, wide-eyed youth, startled at the site of blood streaming from their youth leader's face and puddled on the field. Jordan sees me and all he can say is, "I have to go." Needless to say, we got me, Ferris, Jordan and Joey in the car- Joey slurring his words with a slight concussion, me holding a jacket to my head to slow the bleeding....we ended up at Williamson Medical and Joey got a CT scan, I got 16 stitches in 2 layers and we both lived to tell about it! My only regret is that I never got a good look at the wound. They say it was pretty big- and pretty ugly- a couple inches wide and the length of my brow...but, God certainly protected us from something worse.

In all the years of Ultimate Frisbee-these are the first, and hopefully only injuries to occur. What an end to a memorable Thanksgiving weekend!

Greetings from a lovely TN

What a wonderful world! This weekend, specifically yesterday was so much fun. It was wonderful and I cannot believe that I didn't get any pictures from our trip to Florida. I guess it's because Jordan and I both worked a lot. I did get to take off a little early to go to the best jewelry store ever, "Best of Everything!" I found some fun stuff so it was totally worthwhile!

We got back on Friday and caught up on work and church and house stuff. There was a lot to do to get ready for U-turn on Saturday, Worship Arts Gathering on Saturday and the Thanksgiving Praise service on Sunday. But, God's grace was there and the weekend was awesome!

Frisbee was especially fun yesterday!! Jordan put me on his team (of course) and our raggety little underdog team (Jordan always gives himself the disadvantage) took the whole thing, keeping Jordan's unbeaten streak at Ultimate:Spring Hill alive! Kudos to my husband for being really good and using his whole team- the boy knows how to lead a frisbee team! :-) The pictures above are courtesy of Erin Lawlor. It was definitely cold though- I had to bring out my hat and gloves for the occasion.

We spent the rest of the afternoon watching some football, I went to the grocery store for a huge amount of groceries (Tgiving is at my house this year) and then did a bunch of cleaning. We lamented as our dear Colts ended their undefeated season to the Cowboys. Ugh! Didn't they see it coming- the media had been all over it all week about the 3-4 defense and the Chargers taking them out last year. The Colt's have GOT to do something about their run defense! It's time for a BOWL!

More updates to come....got a lot of work to do :-)

Good Morning World!

We're having a great time in Florida. The weather has been beautiful, but it does look like possible rain tonight. Jordan and I have both been working hard- I've been learning a lot in the office, but it seems like the more I learn, the more I realize there is for me to learn...oh well!! I have something to look forward to, right? :-) I have been enjoying my time in the office with Steve and my brother in law, Dan and the rest of the staff there. It's a great office and a great group of people. It's nice to actually see them as opposed to just talking to them on the phone or sending an email.

Steve & Jordan are at the tennis courts and Hope is walking- I'm about to do a little reading before we head into the office. Today is our last day here, but we'll be back December 21st for Christmas. We've had a great time. Last night, Erin & Hope and I went to a women's Christmas Dinner at their church, which was so much fun. Each table was decorated differently, with each hostess bringing china and decor, as well as little treats for each of the ladies. We had dinner and listened to comedian/singer Kay Dekalb Smith, who was delightful- she's actually from Nashville. It was great!

Sorry I don't have any pictures. I'll hopefully get one at lunch today with Nathan and Bethany and cute little Jaxon. Talk to you soon!