Summer is Near!!!!

 Summer is coming! and it is moving fast already. Jesse and Hadley have one week left of MMO. Emery follows close behind and will be officially a 1st grader! I can not believe how fast her first year of school went. She has grown so much and has become such a little person. I love spending one on one time with her, I feel like we are soul mates. I love her so.

Hadley is finally walking. At 14 months I didn't think she would ever start but she has. Today she walked around the entire house, just like Frankenstein, with her arms out stretched in front of her. I love it so much. She has been a blast. I'm not saying my days haven't been hairy,  LORD YES they have. But I am so glad we took the plunge and decided to add a 3rd into our mix.

All 3 of my kids constantly run their mouths. So no issue on the talking milestones. We've had a great start to spring with trips to Georgia to see family and tons of time spent here with friends.

 On a sadder note, our dear closest friends on staff at our church are moving (just 45 minutes away) so that David can be the senior pastor at a church near Clemson. I am so excited for them, its their hometown, he is an amazing talented, gifted pastor, can sing AND preach like nobody's biznas and is one of the funniest, craziest guys you will meet. The worst part about it is he is taking his wife, my friend, with him. When we first moved here and started at the church they were so kind and gracious to us. David took Benji under his wing and showed him the ropes around the church. Jocelyn took me under her wing and showed me all the great shopping stops! ha. No really she has been the most encouraging person in my life for the past six years. The role of Minister's wife is a role like no other. Pastor's work Dr's hours, are always, always on call no matter what. They have mountains of expectations and responsibilities thrown on them everyday. They are excepted to be everywhere at once, all while being an example of a Godly husband, father, friend, shepherd, teacher, disciplinarian, etc....it is sometimes OVERWHELMING.

All that to say we would have not made it these first 6 years without the love and support of this family. Benji and I are happy, settled in and more confident now after six years. We will be okay without them, and we know it is for the best and we also know it is apart of ministry. But I would be lying if I didn't say there is a tiny whole in my heart where my friends the Kay's used to reside. I wish them nothing but success, and I know that will come. God be glorified in His work through David and Jocelyn.

So that's about caught all my faithful readers up with our life. I'm still working on getting this stay at home mom thing down. The mundane gets to me and somedays are still bad days. But I am doing so much better mentally and physically. I'm about to start working with a Naturopath/Nutritionist to see if I can continue to heal myself from the inside out. I've been on a long journey and so has my poor family. BUT it is what it is. Everyone has their battles. Thing are looking up and I'm excited about the future. 

Obsessed.

HELOOOOOO KING GEORGE!!!! I am so obsessed with this couple. Seriously, she could not be more beautiful and perfect and well, he IS Prince William. I was so excited when baby boy was born. 

Also obsessed with The Hunger Games. I know, I'm like 3 years behind but I just started and don't think I will stop until I'm done with all 3. 

Obsessed with juicing! Suja juice (check out their website) is my juice of choice. I feel like it's really making a difference in my over all energy. I actually have two juicers somewhere, probably in my mom's storage unit....but ain't nobody got time to juice 7 carrots and lbs of kale when I have 3 kids. So for now I am buying mine at Whole Foods. 

Benji is back packing in West Virginia this week. Whatever. 

We decided, since we just got back from the beach, that now would be a good time to switch Jesse to a toddler bed. So far so good. 

 I want to paint our bedroom. It's blah to me.....  

We had an amazing, wonderful, way too short time at the beach and I soaked up every moment. I slept late, took naps, and played in the sand with my kids. Such a much needed retreat for our crazy, busy family. 

Emery turned 5 while we were at the beach. She starts kindergarten in about two weeks. I'm OBSESSED about this as well. I can not believe it. She was 2 weeks old when Benji started working at BCBC. Now she is FIVE!!!!!!! 

Jesse also starts MMO this year. my sweet baby boy will be in school at the church twice a week. He will have Miss. Kim and Miss Nancy. (Who Emery started pre K with). I swear. They are the BEST 2yr old teachers on the planet. I can't wait until he gets to spend time with both of them. 

Hadley has cut 2 teeth in the past week. I am OBSESSED with this baby! I love her so much and am so thankful every day that we decided to have a 3rd. I'll be honest, I was scared. And I still have days (like yesterday) that I wonder "what was I thinking?" but then I also have days that I truly wish we could have JUST ONE MORE. But I am convinced that the LORD has led us to stop at 3. We have not given up on the idea of adoption, but my body is finished producing off spring. 

I am also currently obsessed with reading again. I got to read a few books on vacation and like any OCD patient I am currently in the middle of like 5 books! ha. I did get to finish one entire book on vacation. I am now reading The Hunger Games which I am so hooked on.

I am obsessed with LOSING THIS DAG GUM BABY WEIGHT. Seriously I am sooo so sos so so over it. Once Emery starts school I will get things rolling with either a gym nearby or our YMCA. I need to lose at least 50lbs. Maybe even 80. I just want to feel good about myself again and it has been along 5 years having one baby after another and moving 3,4 however many times. I need a routine and I am hoping that this fall brings one. 

Well, Benji and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary this month. I seriously can not believe it has been that long. We have been through so much. I love him more today than the day we married, so that's good! We spent a blissful weekend in Buckhead at the W Buckhead Hotel. Ahmazing. Hotel. We had a blast. 

I am heading to sleepy time. all 3 kidddos are tucked into bed and Benji is somewhere sleeping on the dirt ground. Ha! I am climbing into our down comforter bed. NIGHTY NIGHTY!

I Hate Paris Anyway

NO REALLY, I don't. But Benji should be making his way now from Munich to Paris and then on to Serbia. 9 days and counting.

Emery cried tonight when I put her to bed because Benji always puts her to bed first, then I go in and say my prayers with them. They get a double dose of the Holy Spirit round here.

Anyway, I have two, three, request. Please pray for the safety of Benji and the group of graduated seniors/chaperons he has traveling with him. Pray for their travels and that they will see seeds planted among the people of Serbia.

Please pray that I make it through the next 9 days. YOU ALL KNOW I have a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a almost 5 month old. Today it basically poured rain all day. Which makes for a wild bunch running around like banshees.

I have tried to plan as much as possible for things that we can do "out of the house". I have also planned as much as possible for every meal for 10 days.

Today was a pretty good day. I had a babysitter come and help out for a few hours. Which really takes the edge off of the 4-8pm "Witching Hours" as I call them.

I really am glad for Benji to get to experience all the dreams I had of traveling......it's like he got my dream life. Whatever.

Love to you all, and PRAY for my sanity.

The Weekend Is Near

Life gets busier and busier doesn't it? I know my life is no different than anyone else's with multiple young children. Mom's who stay at home staring at the same walls day in and day out....panicking at the thought of even taking 3 to the grocery store alone. I mean where would the groceries go anyway??? Emery is definitely not old enough to walk around Walmart. Just the other day I was in there alone and a child was lost. Scary moment!

But I ain't gonna lie. We are T.I.R.E.D. Benji is working two jobs. Driving a special needs bus for Greenville co. Schools from 430-9am, then working his regular office hours, AND his never ending on call duties as mentor, discipler, counselor, hospital minister, mission trip leader, Sunday school teacher, best youth pastor ever, etc. WE LOVE OUR CHURCH AND HE LOVES HIS JOB, AND I LOVE HIS JOB. We just have a newborn and a 4 yr old and 2yr old and we are exhausted.

It is safe to say that we do not see much of each other. I am home most of the days still. The flu is STILL going around this area and I will not, NOT have another baby put in the hospital this young. (remember Jesse was in the hospital around this age)....But we have finally started back to Sunday mornings and I am so excited about that break and that time to worship with my church family.

I still am so thankful and so amazed at God's sovereign plan to bring us back to Brushy Creek. I have found the BEST friends I could ever imagine. I love what little I can do with the high school youth, (my kids just are my priority right now so i miss out on a ton. it really tears me inside because I want to be able to do both so bad)......

Any way. My 35th birthday is coming up in about a month and I am really having a hard time with this number! I do remember 30 being a difficult year for me as well, but I was Graduating seminary, about to have a baby...I had a lot of things to look forward to. I have been trying to focus on the positives about my 35 years of life. I have done most of everything I dreamed of doing. I've traveled, I've been educated, I've had THREEEEEEE kids! (i never thought i would have 3 in a million years). I have a strong, still funny and exciting marriage.

I just am feeling a sense of panic or unrest about the fact that realistically my life is half over. Another 35 years and I will be 70! I can still remember being about 12 or 13 and just wishing I was 18 so bad! haha. Then I can remember being 18, like it was yesterday. In a lot of ways I am still that same girl. Thankfully I am more secure and know that I deserve WAY more than I thought of myself at 18. But sometimes, driving alone, I feel that 18 year old bubbling up inside. That Kristi, she was so excited about the future, about GOD, about LIFE in general. I can honestly say that I have exceeded my own 18 year old expectations. I give all that glory to the GRACE OF GOD. Some days I want to stab my eyeballs out, (I'm just being honest here) but somedays I am so overcome with thankfulness and gladness that I feel my heart might burst. Our God is Faithful, friends. Don't give up. Don't grow weary.

YES we are exhausted! but we are exactly where we want and need to be. God's grace is sufficient.

2 Goals For The New Year. Just 2!

I realized this morning that I had not left the house since I got home on Saturday! ha. It's easy for me to do these days since I am so huge and lugging 2 two toddlers with me somewhere is a major chore. Anyway, this afternoon I decided I would venture out to Hobby Lobby and start (finally) preparing Hadley's nursery.

I only have 2 goals this year. 1. get this house AND ME MENTALLY ready for baby #3 and 2. start being more conscious of my budgeting. Last year we spent alot of time in Dr's offices, the hospital, car repair shops (hello new transmission) and eventually had to buy 2 new (used) cars. NOT a great year for financial growth. I realize many people have serious medical issues and horrible bills, so I am trying to keep everything in perspective. BUT, I would really love to pay off all our medical bills/ including Hadley's birth and then start REALLY saving a cushion for our future.

I enjoy this site, The Budget Diet, for realistic goals and tips on how to be more frugal. There are some easy steps to cutting spending.

http://www.thebudgetdiet.com/10-frugal-living-habits-to-start-this-year





Today we found out that a precious, dear family in our church and also one of Emery's MMO teacher's,(from when she was 2) lost their youngest son in a tragic, crazy accident yesterday. I am so heartbroken for "Miss Nancy". Emery LOVES her and her family and I can not imagine the pain they are experiencing. Please, please pray for this family. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 I have been so slack in blogging! It's not because I don't think about doing it, I do. I just have been so tired once I get the time. We celebrated Thanksgiving with the big family a few weekends ago. Then I celebrated with my friends, our 4th annual GNO Thanksgiving feast, such a fun time with girls that mean the world to me. Emery had a Thanksgiving feast at school on Monday, needless to say we have had our share of turkey this year! haha... so today Benji's mom and dad came up and helped us put up our tree. I cooked steaks! The kids were so excited about finally getting the tree out!

 I have been looking forward to this "time off" so much. I know my routine doesn't change much, but just having Benji home and Emery not in school takes half the load off my shoulders. I covet family time because Benji is SOOO busy. I LONG for the days that we are all at home, sharing meals and playing with the kids.

 Jesse is starting to say recognizable words, finally! I've been kind of worried for awhile that he may be delayed in speech but at almost 21 months he is just starting to really show some progress, daily. We have a hearing screening appointment in December so we will see how he progresses until then, hopefully we will cancel the appointment.

Benji had a busy day on Monday frying about a dozen turkeys for the Celebrate Recovery program at our church. I think they had a little fun out there, being men, cooking meat.

Okay! think we are mostly caught up. Hadley is doing great, 2 and 1/2 lbs already. I know how fast the next few weeks will go, which means she will be here before we know it. Can not wait!

Saturday, The Best/Worst Day Ever

 One of Benji's former youth plays in the band for USC. His parents have season tickets and had 2 extra that they so graciously gave us for the UGA vs USC game! It happened to be one of the biggest college games of the season as both UGA and USC were undefeated. ESPN Game Day broadcasted live that morning from the USC campus.

Benji's birthday is today, Monday, so we sent the kids to Georgia and spent Saturday in Columbia, SC.

Obviously, we lost, BIG TIME. :( But we had a great time with some great people from our church. They for realz tailgate in style! We ate lunch at Groucho's Deli, went back to our friends massive motor coach (I'm not even really sure what you call those) but it was air conditioned, had a bathroom and a couch for me to nap on. We watched other football games on T.V. then our friends shuttled us all over to the stadium. Where we experienced the loudest, craziest, game ever.....and watched Georgia get their rear ends handed to them.

We drowned our sorrows in hot coffee and hash browns at the Waffle House (at about 2am) on the way home.  The next morning my body rebelled against our long day and reminded me that I am indeed 34 and 6 months pregnant.

We had a Blast, even though we lost! This week was a long one! Jesse got tubes put in at the beginning of the week. Tuesday we found out the sex of our baby. Sunday thru Wednesday Benji had staff retreat about an hour away so he drove back and forth for Jesse's surgery and my OB appointment. 

Crazy week! but I'm getting used to our life being ridiculously busy. 

Listen....

Seriously, If I seem moody it's because I am. Not only am I moody by nature (what woman OR man isn't?) haha. But I'm also "pregnant moody". So if I post something like, nobody likes me, I'm gonna eat worms just ignore it. MMMKK?

Anywhoo. My nausea has passed thank the LORD! I'm stretching full into the 2nd trimester with much more energy and killer headaches.

Jesse is pitiful sick this week. Last night his fever spiked to 104.2. I don't do fevers well. They scare me. It must be all the meningitis scares my family has had. I am super paranoid of one of my babies having a febrile seizure in the middle of the night and me not knowing. (irrational I know, but I've never claimed to be rational).

Our schedule has finally calmed down from the whirl wind summer. We have, thankfully, a few days of down time before all the fall schedules start back up with Church and school. I am looking forward to a regular schedule and looking forward to Emery getting back to school. She loves the social part and she learns so much, soaks everything up like a sponge. It's only 9am-12pm so it gives me a few hours alone with Jesse but I still have the rest of the day with both kiddos.

Next year Jesse will start MMO two days a week from 9am-1pm and Emery will be in (gasp) KINDERGARTEN! Holy moly, glad I'll have a new baby at home to keep me from being too upset. The best remedy for being sad about kids growing up is to keep having more babies! Ha!

This picture may be my life for a few more years but I know I will have plenty of alone time once all my chicks are in school. I just want to enjoy every season and be thankful that they grow, mature and learn. I'm just thankful they are healthy enough to move on to their next stages in life! 

Obviously you all caught me at a good mood moment. Jesse's in bed, fever free at the moment. The dinner I cooked was a success and I'm heading to bed soon! The weekend is here for us starting today, that always helps me feel better. I know Benji has to work and I am thankful for his job, but life is just funner and easier with him here! It's a good thing to want your man home, right? 

11 Years

 I realize my post have been sporadic this summer. It's because life is cray cray! I'm still battling the every day sickness that comes with pregnancy. Some days are better than others. Some are just plain awful. Thankfully I have friends with pools so we have been swimming at least once a week the past few weeks. Swimming wears the kids out and makes for a not so boring day for me. I have loved getting to hang out with my friends so frequently.

We have been in full swing with birthday parties, ministry, celebrating anniversaries and more ministry.

Emery is FOUR!!!! I can not possibly believe that I have a 4 year old. She and Jesse are playing together better and better every day. I'm excited for her school year to start but i know Jesse will miss her terribly.

Benji was in charge of a VBS in an impoverished part of S.C. Joanna, S.C. It made for some long days for him and for me and the kids! Emery did get to go to most of it and she loved it. We were at the beach when our church did VBS so I was glad she got the opportunity to experience it.

We celebrated our 11th anniversary this weekend. HOLY MOLY I can not believe it's been 11 years. We have accomplished a ton over those years but some times it does feel like we just got started. 

We sent the kids to Georgia. Benji had middle school pastor's camp on Saturday but came home late afternoon so we headed out on the town. It was pouring rain just as we headed out so we joined the rest of Greenville at the mall for a few hours. It was fun just to walk around like the old days. We had dinner at The Lazy Goat , which was amazing. Definitely one of my favorites in Greenville. 

Today we are laying low and staying in the house. Emery is coloring and Jesse is being Mr. Destructo as usual. Friday I have another ultra sound, so hopefully I will have some more photos of baby #3 to share.

The 4th, Mufasa and Orange Beach

Well. We have been busy to say the least. 

We spent the 4th with some friends and their very large extended family. We had a blast, they had a little stage set up for the kids to sing some patriotic songs, which was adorable. We had tons of food and then ended it with a great fireworks show. 

It was Blazing hot and humid that night! The kids had so much fun running around with little friends, they were exhausted the next two days. 

 Later that week Benji and I put on our Artsy caps and went to see The Lion King downtown at The Peace Center. It was amazing. I am so, SOOO glad/lucky/blessed to live in a city large enough to  host Broadway shows but also small enough to have the small community feel. Greenville really is the best city on the planet. (Besides Paris, of course).

It was also the first time we had a babysitter put our kids to bed before we got home. They did great, went straight to sleep. I think this may be the beginning of something good.

Soon after that we found ourselves headed out yet again to the beach. This time is was with Benji's High School youth. Every year we go to StudentLife camp in Orange Beach, Alabama. WE LOVE this camp. The speakers are top notch. J.R. Vassar (1st year), David Platt (2nd and 3rd year) and this year we heard Matt Chandler. Matt Chandler, in my opinion is one of the most prolific, influential pastors of our Generation. It was amazing to see how GOD worked in the lives of our students. HELLO, Did y'all have summer camp like this when you were younger, because I sure didn't! 

 Fast and furious past few weeks in the Ladd home. I am 9 weeks this week in my pregnancy and so far this one has been similar to the last two. This time around I don't have the luxury of sleeping away my nausea or even stopping for that matter. I've pushed through and am hopeful that the 2nd trimester will bring a healthy baby and no more sickness. 

Shiny, Happy, Church Photo!

Aren't we adorbs??? Seriously I was so stressed out that night. No telling how many Xanax I "forgot" I already took.

I was SOOOO nervous that the kids would be horrible. But as you can see.

They were GREAT!

This is actually our first "family" photo not done by a friend who happens to be a photographer.

It's a little stuffy for my taste, A little to "JC Pennys" BUT I am glad we have it and I know I will be glad we have it years down the road.

When I look at it I just overflow with gladness in my heart for my family. With Thankfulness at how far the LORD has brought us and where he has planted us.

I'm honest (duh) this new chapter of my life as mommy and pastor's wife has been WAAAAYYYY more challenging than I expected.

Don't read that wrong. I signed up for it. I surrendered to ministry....on my own terms, before I met Benji. I knew I would be in ministry.

I also always knew I'd have kids. We want more kids, and more kids. Biological and Adopted.

I am one blessed woman. But it has been a hard 3 1/2 years for me. I feel like I'm just getting the hang of it. There is no rule book on how to be the wife of a youth pastor, help him minister, while simultaneously raising your own two, three, four, little "mission fields" that you have birthed.

I feel like sometimes I am caught in a constant battle between wanting to do everything I can with Benji in his ministry, to feeling guilty for sticking my kids down in day care for another "church event".....

I know my primary role in this season of my life is first and for most to raise my babies, my own "youth"...

But honestly, something that has caught me my surprise is how LONELY I am.

Really!????

I have a great group of girl friends/ a group that I have actually prayed to find for a long time. I know that I can (b/c I have haha) call anyone of the group up at any time and spill my guts about whatever.

But it just seems like so many days are so lonely in the house with the kids. I LOVE interacting with them, Emery talks like a 12 year old anyway. I just miss day to day adult interaction. I really did not expect that.

Any one else struggle with that same issue? Is it just SAHM's? or is is all moms?

OR IS IT JUST ME!!!!?????

Days Like These

 Today. I needed.

Benji's mom came up for two days while Benji's dad was at a children's camp not too far away from us. Emery and Jesse are worn out!!! Which is wonderful! I love when they can have full days and fall asleep easy at night.

Today at church was Senior Sunday. The seniors who were involved with our church get to walk in and be recognized during our services. They play a video of when they were babies and everyone cries and every year it makes me realize how short the time is I have with little babies.

I needed today. I needed to be reminded that the time is so fleeting. That the hours creep by but the years fly by.

I'll need to remember this when I'm holding down the fort while Benji is in Brazil.

I LOVE my family so so much. Every day I am so blessed to have a healthy marriage. A ministry with my husband that I can participate in.... thriving, healthy children, who WEAR ME OUT, but give me so much joy..... I give all the GLORY to GOD. I certainly deserve none of this.

This weekend, I needed and I am so thankful for our place in life at this moment.

God Bless America

MY MAN IS GOING TO BE HOME FOR 3 DAYS STRAIGHT!

What am I going to do??? Last weekend I saw him for like 4 hours.

This weekend I am soaking up the extra help and having lunch with a young woman who graduated out of our high school youth program last year and just finished up her first year at college.

I can't wait for a little break break from my marathon Stay at home mommying. I haven't left the house since Sunday.

This is his Law and Order  BDU (Biblical Defense Unit) promotion picture for church.   How serious! 

About That Time.....

Only a few more weeks until Benji travels to Brazil without. me....sighhhhhhh...... :( :( :(

I would give anything to be able to go with him. Anything except my kids.

So I will stay. Here with them. and wait. Wait for my gift from afar.......a new pair of Havianas. And maybe a cute scarf for pair of earrings.

Panic, Over!

Okay. I can breathe now.

A few days ago I couldn't.

For those of you who don't know my very healthy, never takes an Advil, never misses a day of work, husband came down with what everyone thought was meningitis last Monday.

It wasn't meningitis-THANKFULLY.

But....it wasn't the flu either, or strep, mono, MRSA, UTI, pneumonia, some heart virus??? and about 50 other things they tested for.

We were in the hospital for 3 days.

We left with no answers and he still had a fever.

Our family physician thought it would be best if we met with an Infectious Disease specialist since Benji is out of the country so much and hunts in the woods 9 months out of the year.

To rule out malaria and Lyme disease.

That's when I started freaking out. The appointment with the specialist went great though. He really helped calm my nerves and reassured me that all the test he ran would probably come back negative as well.

So Benji gave 9 more vials of his blood and we were off again.....

It will be funny one day I'm sure. Today is the first day he hasn't run a temp. He is feeling tons better.

Whatever this was really shook me up and knocked him completely off his feet for a week.

We are so thankful for our family that stepped in and took care of the kids, for our church family that prayed, sent meals, emails, etc.

Taking it easy this weekend and hoping that he will be back to healthy on Monday.

Mercy Triumphs: James

This week my church FINALLY started our Tuesday a.m. Bible study back. This time we are doing a study on James.

I swear, this 2 hours is my sanity. It is a time where I can fellowship with other mom's like me, SIT for an extended period of time, drink hot coffee- even 2 cups if I want....AND I get to learn from The Word.

I love the Bible study, but honestly I love the ladies in it more. I need this time more than anyone will know. (unless you are in my season of life, which a lot of you are!).

I can't wait to see what all we learn and experience through our study this session. I love the book of James so I am super excited!

Two Roads Divided

I can not even begin to explain what this picture means to me and the direction that my life took after this week.

THANK YOU Kevin Kilgore for posting this. I have no idea where you got it....

This week is the week that I quit running from God's call on my life. I surrendered my life to serve him in whatever capacity that he saw fit for me.

This was my first mission trip experience, in San Miguel Del Monte, Argentina.

Out of this week I started working with the church full time, with this cute boy I knew from the singles group (who felt God's call on his life for full time ministry).....

Of course, his name was Benji.

We worked side by side for an entire summer doing everything interns do for a church. At the end of that summer I was headed back to Argentina for a semester of studying Spanish and Biblical studies.

The week before I was scheduled to leave we went on our first "official" date.

Got engaged that week.

And then off to Argentina I went.

He followed me there.

That fall I was scheduled to study abroad in Italy to finish up my final year as a Studio Art major at Brenau.

God changed my plans. Instead of going to Italy to paint, he sent me to Argentina, with a fiancé.

We came home, worked hard, got married and moved off to South Carolina without a penny, a job or a clue!

We enrolled in North Greenville College, who was taking transfer credits from the school in Argentina, and finished up our degrees. Mine this time in English and Christian Studies.

After graduation we headed off again sight un seen, penniless, clueless and full of hope to Louisville, Kentucky to start our journey thru seminary.

I can say without a doubt our time in Louisville were some of the greatest times of our lives. We studied hard, worked SUPER hard and grew as a couple and as partners in ministry.

I graduated from Seminary 7 months pregnant with our first child. Benji graduated a few weeks after she was born. We were once again jobless, homeless, yet full of hope that God would again direct our paths.

He did.

He miraculously, graciously and unexpectedly brought us BACK to Greenville. BACK to the church we loved and attended while finishing college at NGC.

You know the rest......

I am thankful for our story. The story of God's faithfulness in seemingly chaotic situations he was always in control and directing our steps, just as he planned.

Disclaimer: I'd be lying if I didn't think about that semester in Italy I missed every once in awhile... :) but it was worth it! 

Going Thru The Big D

Backing up a few months...hey I'm scattered, I know.  Here's my reading material for the plane!

Benji and I headed to Dallas in November (I think, don't quote me on the date).

We headed there for a conference on small groups.

Well, mainly because Matt Chandler, Francis Chan and J.D. Greer were there to speak. And when you get an opportunity like that you take it.

It was a great get away. A great GREAT conference. Benji was very encouraged that he was not alone in some of the issues he faces and I was encouraged that HE WAS encouraged.

I LOVED getting to spend time with him. Just him. I know it seems like we have a lot of weekends with out the kids, BUT those weekends are usually filled with high school youth trips or Christmas missions, or something related to us actually not spending any time together at all and coming home with piles of dirty laundry, more exhausted than when we left.

I felt like our trip to Dallas encouraged us as a couple and encouraged us both in ministry. We came home feeling a little more like that couple we were before kids.

                                           Coffee in our hotel, they were waiting on me! 


                                              And our first taste of IN-N-OUT. Delish. 

 Every Christian stereotype has to wear TOMS. We thought it was hilarious they had a booth.

                      My main man, best friend, partner in ministry for over 10 years. LOVE HIM. 

Matt Chandler, Top, Francis Chan, Bottom. Both amazing speakers and humble men.

Definitely hoping I can join him in some more conferences. I love using that side of my brain every now and then. :)