On Tuesday of last week, Sept. 2 we signed the contract for our house. This week has been busy with packing and getting all of the documents that the lender needs from us to get us to closing. It's so exciting, but also so unnerving. This is all new to us and we want everything to go perfectly. Our house is full of boxes. I can't hardly wait until we're "home"!

In our "spare time" we have been closely watching the presidential candidacy. We were so thrilled with John McCain's choice for a running mate. Go Sarah! She is going to be a great addition to this race! We just pray for her as she has this private challenge with her daughter. I'm so thrilled that she is supporting her daughter through this.

Will update more as the days progress!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Well, the ball is rolling. We have found our new house!!!!! It is currently owned by the Phillips' and soon to be ours. The contract process started today. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. The house is all brick, tri-level with an inground pool! We'll have a living room, family room, sunroom, 3 current bedrooms, a garage that will be another bedroom, dining room, and kitchen. It has 2.5 baths and just a perfect home for our family. It is such a God thing! He's so good and I just feel like all our dreams are finally coming true. I hope this will be our home through retirement, a place the kids will always know as "home". I need to be packing, but want to journal all the details of buying our first home. Here are 2 pictures!

I am so excited! We spent an awesome weekend in Dunn, NC with the Spring Branch Baptist Church family. They treated us like royalty, I felt so blessed. When we arrived on Saturday, the Phillips' welcomed us to their home with a wonderful lunch. Then we went to the hotel where we had 2 connecting rooms and a large platter of goodies from Sherry's Bakery (Thanks Mr. Fred). After freshening up, we went to the church for a wonderful reception and met many nice people. I think I already got in trouble as Tammy W and I went to look at the youth room and ended up watching the teen guys rehearse in the sanctuary. On Sunday, we went to church. Allen preached an awesome message as usual and then we went to the Naylor's home for lunch (loved the chicken casserole). Allen, Sarah, and James went swimming for a little while back at the hotel. Then it was back to church for the youth led service and more from Allen. It was there that we found out that Pastor Greg (youth pastor) scratched his eye pretty badly, so he was unable to make it to church. After service, we had fellowship and pizza with the youth group and youth committee, it was great! I felt so overwhelmed at how perfectly we fit together. God is sooooo good! On Monday, we were treated to breakfast at Sherry's Bakery. We also were blessed to meet the members of the "Wisdom Table". That was so fun. The kids were spoiled. Afterward, we drove to Wrightsville Beach for a splash in the ocean. That brings us to waiting for the vote. On Wednesday, the church voted on whether or not to call Allen as their new pastor. At 7:45 Mr. Naylor called and extended the call and we accepted! So, Allen is now Senior Pastor for Spring Branch Baptist Church! We are so blessed! Today, Friday, we are going to look at some homes and change our phones. We received our pre-approval letter yesterday, and can't wait to find our 1st home!

What an awesome week! On Friday, July 18, Meredith and I left with 45 others from our church to go to Cornwall, ON for World Changers. We stopped in Pennsylvania on Friday night and arrived in Cornwall on Saturday. Our home for the week was St. Lawrence College, nestled right beside the St. Lawrence River. On Sunday we met our crews! I have to say, I had the most awesome crew ever. Our crew worked hard and we all got along. Our project was to tear down and rebuild a front porch and repair steps in the back. The homeowners were Joyce and Vic. They were great, Joyce is having some health issues and we continue to pray for her healing. We did go prayer walking through the neighborhood, and found out how lost the area was. There were people who told us not to pray for them, as well as people who wouldn't even speak to us. My prayer is that someone will be able to bring the gospel in and the people's hearts will be willing to hear. Members of our crew were from Wake Forest, NC, Canton, NC, and Huntington, WV. It was great to get to know each of them and to work along side of them. On Wednesday, we spent the afternoon in Ottawa, ON (the capital of Canada). We visited the Parliament building, saw many museums, and the Notre Dame Cathedral (not the one in Paris, but it was very close). We went to the Hard Rock Cafe for supper. I think one thing I'll miss besides my crew, is the Rolo McFlurries! Anyway, I am glad to be home!

It's Wednesday!

Well, it's Wednesday! We had a great 4th of July! We had fireworks here on campus on Thursday, and Sarah's friend spent the night. On Friday, we went to Burlington to visit our friends at Calvary Baptist Church. We had a cookout at Ernest's house, James had fun swimming all afternoon and so did Allen. Patti got a pontoon boat, so me and the girls road around the lake with her. At dark, Brandon shot off some cool fireworks. The rest of the weekend was just hanging around the house. I'm starting to get ready for school in the fall. James is going to have a great time in 1st grade, he's really going to like history. I'm in the midst of ebay bidding for the rest of the girls curriculum.

James woke up Monday night with a fever, and when he got up Tuesday am it was gone. I figured it was just some weird fever that came and went. Well, after playing all day yesterday when he came in and took a shower, he looked awful and his fever was back. So, all night and today, every 4 hours I've been giving him Tylenol. He's spending the day on the couch. I'm hoping his fever goes away and I won't have to take him to the doctor.

Meredith and I are really looking forward to next Friday. We leave for Cornwell, ON Canada at 10:00 am. Sarah's also excited, because she'll be turning 13! My kids are growing up so fast. I just hope I can keep this blog going to record some of our everyday events as well as our special events.

I've still been in the "Jesus, the One and Only" study and it is great! Monday, she was talking about how today's church is nothing like Christ. As Christians, we should be imitators of Christ and we're not. Her quote that I loved was, "Our church today is too pretty to be imitating Christ." That's so true, most churches are worried more about the color of carpet than who will be witnessed to on Sunday. She also mentioned that we should have Doctors sitting next to drug pushers in order to be fulfilling Christ's ministry. It's really convicting. We always want people who look like us, dress like us, and act like us to be a part of our church. Christ sought those who needed Him, and that is what we should be doing too. Well, until another day!

We had so much fun yesterday! It was a long drive, but it was so worth it! We left at 10:30am and headed to Virginia Beach. We got to my sister's house at 1:30 and picked up Marie and AJ and headed to the beach. James and Marie had so much fun, they stayed in the waves for 3 hours! AJ met some of the World Changers from our church and played football with them. The World Changers arrived around 3:00. It was so good to see Sarah, but boy did she look tired. She spent the afternoon walking around on the boardwalk. Meredith and I enjoyed watching the kids play, and Meredith helped to care for Solomon (Pastor Dave's son). She was to make sure he was safe. He got in the water and a wave wiped him out, and as she was picking up a huge wave came and got her soaked. It was hilarious because she didn't want to get wet. After we left the beach, we went to my sister's and had hamburgers, hot dogs and watermelon. Thanks Kim! We also played bowling on the Wii, we have to get one! Anyway, we got back home at 11:30 to find Allen burning up with a fever. He and I both feel like it was food poisoning. He's feeling a lot better today, and I'm sunburned! I put sunscreen on twice yesterday, and still got burnt. That's ok it was worth it! Sarah's coming home Saturday and I bet she'll sleep for 2 days. Not much else is going on. Looking forward to another day!

Well, it's day 2 of my blog. I had a good day yesterday, and so far so good today! Sarah is having a blast in Norfolk, and I'm looking forward to seeing her tomorrow. I'll also be visiting my sister and niece and nephew. We had good news here! Springbranch has scheduled to see Allen preach on July 13. Yea! After this it will be time to preach for the church. I'm so excited as I watch the events unfold. Of course, Allen is already preparing his message. I did walk and go play tennis yesterday and ate what I had planned. Today, I only had a banana and a small popcorn (I took James to the Free Movies) for breakfast, chicken, potato salad, and green beans for lunch. I've already had some sugar-free ice cream this afternoon. I plan on walking or tennis tonight too! I'm doing some work here in the house, so today's blog is not long! I will make a short comment on my Bible Study today. This study I believe is showing me so many things about my past, but also preparing me for my future. Today it was about loving your enemies. I need to remember to bless those who curse me, and do good to those who hate me. That is one hard lesson, but to become like Christ that is one I need to learn. I always want to get even, or carry a grudge, and that is sin. Christ has done so much for me and I am so blessed! Anyway, I keep learning and I'll keep trying, and praying!

This is something NEW!

Well, I decided to write a blog today. I'm usually no good at journaling, but I thought I'd give this a try. There's a lot going on right now, and the Lord is really working so I thought I'd write it down.
First of all, I'm going to journal as a way of accountability to myself with my food and exercise choices. I'm not going to diet, but I am going to live a healthier life. My goal is to get healthy and get off of high blood pressure medicine (losing weight will be great too). Anyway, I've put it in the Lord's hands and I know He'll help me everyday.
I'm also going to share what God is doing in my life personally. I'm currently studying "Jesus the One and Only" by Beth Moore. It has been great! Jesus is so awesome and I'm learning how much He was tempted, tried, and tested, and how HE overcame. It is really been a great inspiration to realize there is nothing new, and I can expect just as many trials as Christ! I should not dare think that I am better than He. If he was tried, and persecuted, then I too should be, if I'm following Him. We've been through so much as a Pastor's family, but I'm willing to endure more. I'll try each day to put a tidbit of what I've learned in the blog.
I have 3 wonderful children, Meredith, Sarah, and James. Sarah is currently on a World Changer's trip and is devotion leader in her group. This is a great opportunity for her to share God's love with others and to deepen her walk with Christ. Meredith and I will be leaving in 3 weeks for Canada for World Changers. We are so excited! I hope to find a way to blog while I'm away.
Right now, we're seeking God's will and path. My pastor hubby is currently in seminary and we are in the middle of talks with a church. It will be a great opportunity, not that I'm looking forward to moving, but to get back into a church will be wonderful. This church seems to be on fire and willing and able to grow, which is the desire of our hearts (to lead and disciple a healthy growing church). We're waiting to hear from them as to their next step. I'm leading Trackside Praises for our church's VBS, last night was our first night, and it was much better than I had anticipated. It's a different format than I am used to, but despite not having enough time, it did go well. James had fun!
Well, my health plan for today is: Eggs for breakfast, Pasta (Dreamfield's) and beef for lunch, an apple or grapes for snack, and chicken, green beans, and potato salad for supper. Something light and sugar-free for dessert. Allen and I will also be going to play tennis!