New Blog

I have started a new blog due to maximizing space on this one.  You can follow our happenings at: www.shownmercy.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving and actually got to host everybody for the first time! Slightly strange not to be the ones doing the traveling. Tony's parents, sister, brother in law and kiddos all came to North Carolina.  Sweet times topped up with a night out for Ethiopian food and worshiping together at Imago Dei Church... My only complaint is that it was way too short.  Now that Thanksgiving has passed it is hard to believe Christmas is almost here?!. Oh, but I love the Advent season.  We celebrate the one who came and who will come again... Jesus, the hope of the world!

(Above: A collage from our evening out to Abbysinia Restaurant in Raleigh)

I have so many other pictures to post but blogspot is telling me I'm out of storage space.  I would have posted a blog sooner if not for that message.  Thankfully, I had room for one more picture (as seen above).  Meanwhile, I'm contemplating launching a new blog site.  So stay tuned....

Days Off

'Tis the season of days out of school and such.  The kids and I like to share Dairy Queen chicken baskets on special occasions as those, ha...

 Autumn is definitely here... we are loving the beautiful colors..

 What homework time often looks like at our house...

 Titus likes to feel a part...

 Our whole family, for the most part, has been battling the cold season.  I've been dealing with some other 'yet to be diagnosed' issues.  Dear friend, Shelly, recommended a home remedy to help: hot parsley tea.  Not too bad with some honey in it, ha.  Meanwhile, I've visited a couple doctors and awaiting some lab results.  I appreciate your prayers for healing, thanks...

 They say that laughter is the best medicine.  Well, these guys try to provide some of that from time to time, ha ha...

 Basketball season has begun...

 Quick Saturday outing with these sweet friends...

 Sunday, girls outing to share the STORY at the mall...

 Later that evening, our girls shared their experience with our growth group... precious.

 Slowly but surely re-reading Barbara Hughes' Disciplines of a Godly Woman.  Such a good read.  I highly recommend it.

 Monday class we had special guests share their journeys: http://saveoursisterstoday.com/pages/who-we-are-11 

 Grateful for what God is doing in and through these girls.  Check out their stories at: www.saveoursisterstoday.com 

 After class (since my kiddos were out of school for Veterans Day), Doc took my kids up to see his pet, 'Lucy.'

 My Ukrainians loved it... meanwhile, my little Ethiopian kept his distance, ha ha...

 I hate snakes but thought I'd brave up for my kiddos... eek!

 Now they all want one... um, no way!

I "Heart" My Church...

First, for anyone in the RDU area interested (order your tickets now):

 Last Friday evening we hosted the IDC elders meeting.  Chili and s'mores.  Here are the little ones:

 Saturday, after dropping Joshua off for a birthday party, Tony and I thought we'd go ahead and vote early.  We walked up to this:

 An hour later, it looked like this:

 Meanwhile, back at the house, a couple friends stopped by to check in on our other four kiddos... ha.  SO grateful for our church family, specifically Jenni Price and Kim Humphrey on Saturday for loving on our kiddos while we did our civic duty...

 Three hours later:

 We wore our stickers proudly...

 Later that evening, our smoke detector/carbon monoxide alarms KEPT going off.  Even after on call housing help arrived we ended up completely dissembling them.  Electrical issues.  We thought we had them all until 1:00 AM.  Alarms AGAIN.  We realized there were a few more detectors in our kids rooms.  So much for taking advantage of "fall back" day light savings time...

Sunday evening was a rich night of worship and fellowship as we hosted an ordination service at Imago Dei Church.  Dwayne Millioni (pastor of Open Door Church) and Dr. Akin (president of SEBTS, and consequently Nate's dad) gave the charge to three of our elders...

 Grateful for Nate Akin, Pastor for Disciple-Making...

 Grateful for Matt Sigmon, Pastor for Member Care and Administration...

 Grateful for his precious family (pictured seated on the far right), particularly for his wife, Shauna, who has become one of my closest friends...

 Grateful for Donnie Hollis, Pastor for Corporate Worship...

 Grateful for Donnie's precious family, particularly his wife, Meghan, a dear friend...

 A time of prayer as the Body...

 God is gracious to us...

 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen."  

Ephesians 3:20-21