Tired & Less Organized...

Perhaps the stress and emotions from these past several months have finally caught up with me. I've been in a relatively constant state of "tired"... I've also rediscovered that when the world around me is in disorder (like my house or daily schedule), that I don't function well... So, I am slowly but surely "getting my act together", ha. ;-) Meanwhile, here are a few pictures of what we've been up to...

This little park is around the corner from our house here in Wake Forest. I am loving being able to walk to so many places: the park, downtown, the historic district, etc...

Another thing we are enjoying is deer watching. Our little kitchen has a breakfast area with a big window. Despite the need to trim down a giant bush, it provides a scenic view of the back yard. The other night at dinner a family of deer were in our back yard. It was so fun to watch them nibble and frolic, especially the baby deer running laps around its parents...

The deer population has likely contributed to the tick population. You will be glad to know that I am getting a better handle on controlling it, ha ha... For some reason they completely gross me out?!. Our poor Titus has been the biggest victim, though the K9 Advantix seems to help slightly. We shall overcome, ha.

Once again, walking around Wake Forest is beautiful. We love to stroll down N. Main Street and pick out which house we'd like to live in. This is a game the kids and I play. Pictured below is the Wake Forest College Birthplace Museum.

One morning last week, I awoke to this little guy...

"Mama, can I wear this?!."

"Of course!" Then we loaded up and drove less than 2 miles to another park in Wake Forest, E. Carroll Joyner Park. There are barns for the kids to run around in and lots of trails to walk or ride on...

One day, when our bikes are all in working order, we may spend a LOT of time there. The kids loved running around, as well as walking the trails through the woods. They thoroughly enjoy looking at squirrels, bird watching and imagining what other creatures may be hiding in the trees...

On Saturday, the whole family went for a stroll around the 'neighborhood'. Tony took a picture of the sign in case you'd like to read the history...

Tony had his Detroit Tigers' t-shirt on and was stopped twice during our walk. It was hilarious. First, a man driving stopped his truck in the middle of the traffic circle and asked if Tony would sell him his shirt, with all seriousness. Later, a family sitting on a porch got excited and started asking him questions about what hospital he was born in, etc...

About three quarters into our journey, the skies opened up...

So, we had a comical jog home through the middle of the seminary campus...

Later Saturday, after we'd all cleaned ourselves up, we hit the road for Charlotte. Our sweet and generous friends, the Keathley's, came to get their "grand-dog" Titus. What a blessing to have a place for our "other child" to rest while we traveled! We had to strategize the timing of our departure in order to avoid the NASCAR traffic around Concord/Charlotte area. We thankfully succeeded AND even got to enjoy homestyle cooking at Cracker Barrel compliments of a gift card provided by generous friends back in Hattiesburg...

When we arrived at the hotel, we seemed to provide additional entertainment some others who were also staying there. Ha. Both when we arrived and when we departed on Sunday, the crew sitting outside the front lobby area had no shame in counting our "little ducklings" and wondering aloud what we were thinking. They were gracious about it though and we exchanged a few laughs. I've been asked a couple times as I've run errands here, if I "kept kids as my job"... ha. I suppose I do. It's a job alright. It is a means by which the Lord is sanctifying me, and I desperately need all the sanctifying work He will give me. :-) It is truly a gift of grace to have five precious children call me mom. There are days, I confess, when all I want is a vacation. Then, inevitably, one of my children will come around the corner with a picture they've drawn and I melt. My heart swells as I remember that,

"Children are a gift from the Lord... a heritage... Blessed is the man... Joyful is the man who fills his quiver with them..." Psalm 127

Blessed indeed.

Sunday, we enjoyed worshipping with brothers and sisters at Hickory Grove Church North Campus in Charlotte. Tony preached on God's adopting of us through His Son, Jesus in Galatians 4:4-7. We met new friends, including a sweet family from Ethiopia. We also saw old friends, which was a fun merging of worlds!

After making the 2 hours 45 minutes drive home, we all nearly passed out from exhaustion (hadn't slept well in the hotel plus 2 services Sunday). Dinner at CiCi's Pizza and we were done for the night - ha.

Today, Tony starts teaching. He is co-teaching a Doctoral Ministry class all week. The kids and I have already started on summer reading activities. I'm not completely organized on this yet, but we are working on it. Something is better than nothing, ha ha.

Friday, we look forward to hosting our first Imago Dei Church core team fellowship. We appreciate your continued prayers for our team in some of the following ways:

* Safety (travel), provision and guidance on where exactly to live for those still in the process of making the move here (a few have or are moving here from out of state)

* Location, as well as the provision for a place to start meeting in at the end of the summer

In a recent survey, we were told that less than 17% of Raleigh was considered evangelical. As I was out on an errand the other day, I was asked what brought us to Raleigh. When I responded, this man made no attempt to veil his cynicism towards us...

* Please pray that God would mobilize the Body here for His Name sake and draw souls to Himself.

* Pray that we would have boldness to proclaim His love and mercy toward us.

* Pray for hearts to be receptive.