Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Grace's Story

IJM has been protecting women like Grace in central Uganda for the past decade. This summer, help IJM open a new field office in Gulu, Northern Uganda to help more people. Learn more at: www.ijm.org 

I am grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to share about our God of justice at the North Carolina Embrace's Women's Prayer and Evangelism Conference. The conference will be held at the beautiful Ridgecrest Conference Center on September 7th-8th, 2012.  Here is an article recently posted for more details about the conference: www.brnow.org/News/July-2012/Women’s-conference-to-focus-on-God’s-redeeming-lov Would love for you to join us!


Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
(Psalm 103:1-5 ESV)

Monday, July 23, 2012

Where does the time go?!.

As I believe I've blogged before, I'm caught in a perpetual state of "catching up".  So here's the past couple weeks...
Joshua participated in basketball camp through Wake Forest Parks and Recreation (and had a blast!)...

 My girls started summer school (Title 1 program)...  First afternoon was a bit rainy so I waited to escort them inside after the bus dropped them off...

 It was actually a bit chilly that first day... which was a nice change of pace from this hot summer we're having...

 Here is the picture of my girls I'd meant to snap BEFORE school started.  However, when I was grabbing my camera to walk the girls down our driveway the bus came!  Instead of hugging them goodbye and having a nice photo opp, I found myself yelling for them to run to the bus!  It was slightly comical to say the least...
 This little guy is quite the entertainer... trying on papa's clothes.

 His sisters were dressing up and he wanted to as well...
 Then we were off to pick James up from Wake Forest Parks and Rec Woodworking Camp... He absolutely loved it!  Here are a couple of his creations:
 Off to school "take two"!
 James chiseled this for me...
 And this one for Tony...
 A little pre-dinner card game...
 Basketball camp awards..

 Free Throw Contest winner for 7 year olds!  He made 38 out of 50!
 A finished product from Woodworking camp...
 IDC Aspire group (interns/future church planters) gathering... love these people...







 Then we were blessed with a visit from some family.
Below cousin Noah watching the ever entertaining Joshua...


 Giggles with cousin Mercy...
 Joshua... still talking...

 Sunday after church... Tony, his dad and his nephew were off on their man trip (Cooperstown, NY - Baseball Hall of Fame; Gettysburg, PA; Washington, DC)...
 The farewell...
 Ready to go with their baseball shirts on...
Monday brought the first full week of summer school... we watched them catch the bus with coffee in hand from our front porch... 
 Some pictures Tony forwarded from their trip north...
Their Inn in Oneonta, NY (an exit down from Cooperstown)...



 Mercy helping Joshua with his morning Bible Study... these two were too cute and played so well together!
 A glimpse of my morning study...
(I highly recommend this book:)
 We took a little walk over to the campus bookstore.  The boys were in need of new Bibles and I got a study book for Mercy like the one Joshua was using.  Meanwhile, they enjoyed some 'recreation'... Below is my view from playing air hockey against Mercy.  Quite competitive, ha.




 Cute photo opp...
 Then we walked downtown to get some ice cream...  James is catching up to mamaw...

Meanwhile, a glimpse from Gettysburg...
 They stayed at a fabulous place that belongs to a friend of my dad's called "The Lodges at Gettysburg"... highly recommend this place.





 After a few hours touring Gettysburg, the guys were off to DC.  Tony's dad's first time on the metro.  They packed in Arlington Cemetery and a Nationals' game that same day!  Good times...
 Meanwhile, back at the ranch (ha)... we packed in a couple days at the swimming pool after summer school...
 Evening reading and journaling time...

 The boys had swim lessons...


 A little friend, Jonathan. He was too cute...


 Some of our pictures suggest we live in the woods, however, we actually live in the historical district of Wake Forest (i.e. downtown).  Our house backs up to a tiny wooded lot that belongs to the city.  Anyways, we have all sorts of critters that pass through, including this one.  I believe it is a red-shouldered hawk.  A beauty.


 The guys made it back Wednesday evening just in time for dinner.  I decided to put the leaf back into our kitchen table to accommodate us all.  So fun!

 Some gifts from the guys' road trip...


 Last day of swim lessons included going off the diving board and slide...




 Afterwards, James was of course drawn to some workers doing some repairs and construction... Inquisitive one that on is...
 Then it was time for a physical.  This guy is getting ready for 6th grade AND wants to play football...  He's healthy!
 Mr. "I love to make cannonballs"
 Mr. "Look at me I'm not afraid anymore"
 What a sweet time with my mother-in-law (or as some say, "mother-in-love").  It really was a restful week.  
 This past friday, the guys topped their week off with a Durham Bulls game.  We had just welcomed friends from Mississippi who made the move to NC.  While the guys went to the baseball game, we girls had a princess party...








 Costumes, princess movie...
 Painted nails...
 Meanwhile, the guys at the game...

 We girls had chocolate covered strawberries...

My little Durham Bull fan... 
 Random picture out of order from the guys' road trip...
 Saturday, the kiddos and I enduring the humidity with a round of basketball and bean bag toss...






 Tony's parents, niece and nephew made it home safely on Saturday back to Kentucky... Missing them and the rest of the crew who couldn't make the trip...
 We had a sweet time with our IDC family on Sunday.  These two were too cute running around the stage before corporate worship.  I had to snap a photo, ha.
 And thus, another week begins... off to school and work!
 Today, I continue my "perpetual state of catching up"...  Below, a snapshot of my laptop this morning while watching International Justice Mission's VP of Government Relations, Holly Burkhalter testify last week before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations about the issue of Modern Day Slavery.  Grateful for Holly and all the work these advocates (particularly at IJM) are doing to combat this injustice...
The day is winding down and there is still too much to do... Blessings to each of you.  May you draw near to our Great God and He to you...