The Little Graduate

Kylie Graduated from Kindergarten yesterday. I swore I was not going to get emotional...I mean it's just Kindergarten, right? But, sure enough - and true to form - as she walked up in her paper hat and shook her teachers hand and received her empty white paper rolled up with a blue ribbon, there were tears, and snot, and the attempt at an indiscreet eye/nose wipe...ahhhh....!

I did have the wherewithal, however, to capture a few pictures:

Kylie on her first day of Kindergarten!

Field Day 2009


Graduation Smile!
Graduation Curtsy!


After the Program...so Pretty!

Happy Birthday Micah!

Micah is 2 today...how time flies! We love you little man!....
6/2/07

6/2/08


6/2/09

Food Thieves and Storms

A little while ago, as I was planning our "menu" for the week, I had a startling revelation. It seriously takes me three days (not consecutively) and three different stores to accumulate all we will need for the month. Yikes...Now, granted, I usually take at least 3 of the 4 kids with me, so the prospect of going to all three stores in one day is absolutley out of the question, but still...it's quite the process. We go to the warehouse store - BJ's (like costco), Wal-Mart, and usually Harris Teeter because they have killer coupon deals. Anyway, this really is all a segway into why the following pictures caused me quite a bit of distress.

We had just gotten back from a massive trip to BJ's. I had found these whole wheat tortillas that I was excited to try with some hummus and veggies. The older kids were wandering around the back yard and Micah was playing inside while I unloaded the groceries. I came in to find this:

Apparently you should never leave a hungry-almost-two-year-old alone, even for a second, with a whole table of food....he's quite crafty, and very cute!!!

And just because I thought it was sooooo freakin' amazing, here's a couple pictures of an awesome storm that rolled in last night. I would have taken more pictures, but the neighbor was looking at me weird...I think he though I was taking pictures of his house. Anyway, the storm was loud and intense - such a beautiful, frightening display of the Creator's power - kind of like Him - Beautiful, Frightening, Awesome!

Risk

I've been thinking a lot about risk lately. Now, more than ever before in my life, I feel God is asking, and I am more aware, of risk. The unknown, the unseen.

I really don't like the "idea" of risk. I like to know what will happen: how, when, the definite outcome, how it will effect me and my family, what it will look like in the future. Kind of makes me think of what a wise man said once "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen." Ahhh...the unseen, the unknown. That's the hardest part for me. Kinda like taking a leap of a cliff, simply because your Daddy told you too and He said He would catch you.

I have been seeing risk in all sorts of areas in my life lately. There is risk in love, in relationship, in obedience. God asked us to move across the country and be part of what He is doing here...a bit risky by my calculations! There are other things God is asking us to do lately that sound just a little out of the box, a little unexpected in most people's opinions.

I am so grateful that God is not a God of the ordinary...He dwells outside of the box, He requires risk, He desires us to live in crazy faith! I love that there is blessing in obedience. I am more and more convinced that if we are truly seeking His will, His face, then whichever way we turn, whatever path we take, He will bless us!

So, bring on the unknown, let us walk in the unseen. If that is where You are, that is where I want to be...I want to jump!

A Huntin' We Will Go....

I've never had to "hunt" for a church. Granted, I've been a voice in the decision before, but the final decision has never rested mostly on my shoulders. When I was younger, I went where my parents went. When Jason and I were newly married, the transition from my parents church to his was natural. For nine years, we were happy, content, challenged, blessed, stretched, and HOME at The Bridge.

Enter: "the move." Honestly, I think leaving The Bridge, the amazing friends we had there and our superb pastors (Tom and Nadine) was one of the hardest things we had to do. But, we knew God was calling us, wooing us, moving us. It was clear.

So, we left our home and ventured to the great state of South Carolina. Thus began the hunting journey. We tried a couple different churches. Big and small; crazy and not-so-crazy! They all had different, unique "feels." None were "bad," but neither did they feel like "home."

We were given a word from a woman I admire and respect deeply before we left. "You are being given a new set of tools to use in SC. Don't look for the familiar, don't depend on the familiar." Hmmmm....what could this mean. How would it apply to churches. Were we to find ourselves in a huge, traditional, conservative church? Were we to not look for the "home" feeling? How would we know...when would we know?

A few months were spent at a big (Really, really big) church. It was annointed, it was moving with the Spirit, both Jason and I were ministered to, but for some reason we never felt it was right. This led me to think - what is important in "church." What is essential; what should or should not effect the decision; what are is just a matter of preference? Can you, should you, allow your kids comfort at church to be a factor, and how big of one? Do you look for a place where you can be ministered too, or is it more improtant to find a place where you can serve? Can there be a healthy balance of both? Can you compromise on some things - or on nothing? I'd be interested to hear other's feedback on these questions...?!

We have found a place - we feel like God is moving there, like the pastor has God's attention, and that God is excited about where He is taking this church. It is somewhat familiar - it looks like The Bridge, but in so many ways is so very different. The kids (even Caleb) enjoy going - they love Sunday school and are quickly making friends. I am being challenged in the concept of an organized, official denomination again...who would have thought!? We know this is where God has landed us for now, there is peace and great anticipation...that's gotta be good, right?

I still miss the Bridge - a lot! But, for everything, there is a season....and God designs each one to be beautiful and fruitful...

Until next time....

D-

Merry Christmas

In the absence of a Christmas Card this year...







Merry Christmas - may your life be filled to overflowing with the presence and peace of Christ!

We love you...

Jason, Danielle, Kylie, Caleb, Macey, and Micah!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! The Turkey (or as the kids call him, "Fred,") is happily stuffed and in the oven baking nicely! Kylie decorated our chalkboard with a "Tap Dancing Thanksgiving Turkey!" She has become quite the little artist.
The kids also started a ballet/tumbling class this week. A friend in the church is teaching our kids and our friends up the street - incorporating worship and dance and movement in the class. We love it - so do the kids!




Macey has got to be the cutest three year old ballerina I've ever seen!


Here's a couple more pictures - just for fun!

Life here is starting to feel more normal. The kids are adjusting well, though I'm not sure Macey fully realizes that we are here to stay- at least for a while. Micah made a mess with the fireplace the other day and Macey was panicking "Mom, the people that live here are so not going to be happy." Hopefully it will start to feel more permanent to her soon.

I've been learning a lot about who I am, apart from "doing" and absent of self-made expectations. I feel like I am seeing who I am, who I was meant to be - there has been a lot of revelation and chipping away of things that have been waiting in the back ground for too long. I know freedom is coming, I know healing is on it's way. And, though I do not enjoy the process, there is a peace in the purging of the old.

Well - the kitchen is calling once again and there is a parade to be watched....

We are immensely thankful for you, our friends and family - may God bless you to overflowing...

Happy Thanksgiving!