Seeing the World Through Gospel-Centered Glasses

A person who I just look up to and admire. . . a person who just oozes Jesus. . . a person that I tease with and say, "Never, ever have I wished I were a man except to be discipled by you". He's precious. I will leave his name free from this blog, but many friends may know him based on the description above.

I was talking with him at Chick-fil-A one day and he was just oozing Jesus as normal. The things that I caught that he said that have stuck with me were 2 things.

1) "I make it a practice of forgiving the moment of offense." (the Lord knew I needed this literally a week before I left for Guyana. . . I know, I know. . . I need to blog about my trip and SHARE). But this post isn't about this quote.

2. ". .. seeing the world through Gospel-centered glasses." I loved that!!! He was actually talking about a movie he had watched and it had nothing to do with the Gospel, yet he pulled it in and related it to the Gospel.

Well, I have been following the advice of my very wise friend, and both of these things have totally changed my vision and view of things. When I watch movies, Gospel-centered glasses are what I wear. When I hear someone telling a story, Gospel-centered ears are what I hear with. Forgiving the moment I'm offended. . . I've learned so much about forgiveness AND myself putting this one into practice. I've learned the longer I hold onto an offence, the harder it is to forgive. I've also learned for me I have to put my forgiveness into action. I just can't "say" I forgive. . . I really need to do something so that I know in my heart I've truly forgiven. I've also learned how to detect when my mouth is saying "I've forgiven", but my heart has not. What does that person's presence do to me? What does the mention of their name make me feel or think? If I'm at peace with a person who has hurt me, then their presence/mention of their name, etc. makes me feel no ill feelings or ugly thoughts whatsoever. . . in fact, I don't even remember the offence. After all, if we are suppose to forgive as we've been forgiven, then that means we remember no more, that the offence is as far as the east is from the west.

I'm so thankful how God uses people in my life to bring me closer to Him.

D-Now "Set Apart"

D-Now. . . I remember these days in my youth group. My youth group held some of my very favorite memories as a teenager. Since I've been working with the youth, when this weekend came up, I figured since the Lord blessed us with plenty of room, we should be a host home for the weekend. These girls blessed our hearts and our homes so.very.much. My girls, of course, had a BLAST! The older girls were so very sweet to them.

Love this crazy thing!

She was so very sweet. Crista had to be up at 5:00 a.m. to leave and go take the SAT, so Jessica got up with her and helped me cook her a good, hearty breakfast. Afterwards, Jessica and I sat down and had a sweet talk about her mother (she just died from breast cancer). It was a sweet talk and sweet tears. . . . one that will be etched in my memory.

Jessica and Hanna were cuddle bugs on the couch. They cuddled up and watched Andy Griffith until everyone else in the house woke up.

Not only is she sweet, but she's also a little sassy . . .

This sweet girl just fit right in. She isn't apart of our youth group, but you'd never know by the way she just eased right into the group. Her spirit is precious.

Now, this girl is no stranger to our family. She's actually one of my girls. My girls A-D-O-R-E her!!!!!!!

Each group had service projects. Our project was to fix and serve lunch to those working at different houses. Here's the guys that were helping us. . .

I really enjoyed getting to know Irish. I have Ingrid in my Sunday School class. When this first came around I told Todd I wanted my 9th and 10th graders. However, he put the 7th-8th and 11th-12th girls at my house. I'm really glad he did what he did. It allowed me to form and build some new relationships.

Ash was so sweet. The morning we were leaving to serve, I told her I didn't think we had enough room in the van. She didn't pitch a fit. Her little eyes just welled up with tears, tears that she was fighting back to hold in. Broke.my.heart. We MADE room!!!!!!! I just couldn't leave my heart back home :)

Ingrid DID NOT want me taking her picture!!!!!!!!

Love that Emily. She's my soccer girl and has such a sweet and fun spirit. She was so sweet Sunday morning on the way to church. . . "Ms. Michele, in case I forget to tell you, thank you so much."

Jaimie and Jessica

Here are my other 2 girls. Just love them to pieces!!!!!!!!!

Hannah and Katherine

Sweet Caitlyn

This girl in the middle. . . she taught me something this weekend . . . she looked at Ash and said, "She has grocery store feet." W-H-A-T????? Apparently it is really dirty feet. I think I'm going to start saying it all the time now :)

Back home, I camped out on the couch while the girls played Kinect. I enjoyed laughing at them. Y'all I was so sleepy!!!!!!!!!!

The soccer girls

Crazy Crista! Just love this girl. So glad I got to know her this weekend. CRACKS ME UP!!!!

Sweet Somara. . . she'd hardly talk at all. . . From what I heard she's a hoot, but she would hardly talk to me . . . she'd only smile one of the prettiest smiles I've ever seen.

Sunday morning getting ready to leave and take the girls back to church. My body is tired. My heart is full. My spirit is joyful.

Taking these pictures made us late! Oops! Jenn. S (Todd's wife) called me on our way to church to see where we were. . .

One thing that just warmed my heart so much was during the service. I sat with my family and during the meet and greet, the girls that stayed in our home came up to me with a "Set Apart" T-shirt and told me I needed to put it on and sit with them. Just filled my heart to the brim! My prayer is these girls will love and serve our Lord and others to their fullest and best all the days of their lives!

Breakfast before SAT - 5:00 a.m. Ash is so much like her mama. Doesn't miss a party, even if its a bad one or one at 5:00 a.m.

Cuddle bugs

Always time for silliness. . .

I saw . . .

Today. .

I saw a father, unable to breathe on his own, with oxygen strapped underneath his nose, wheeled down the aisle of a church to take one last look at his beloved daughter.

I saw a young woman who laid down her life for the sake of her mother. . . who gave up everything to be beside her mom. . . to care for her and take care of her. . . clothed with strength and dignity. I saw this young woman peer down to her grandfather with her face shining as if lighted up by the brightest light. Her face was radiant. Her smile was tender and loving and caring. She stopped down to pick up and help her grandfather's frail, fragile body out of his wheelchair so that he may sit in the pew beside her. I saw this same young woman rub the back of her beloved grandfather as he grieved for the loss of his daughter and her mother. I saw this young woman be strong for her brothers, sister, dad, and grandfather.

I wonder, as this elderly man, listened to the kind things being spoken of his daughter. . . if he thought back to the day he buried his wife and her mother of the same dreaded disease. . . breast cancer. I wonder if he thought, "This isn't right. Parents aren't supposed to bury their children."

I saw a little girl draped over her older sister's shoulder. . . sleeping. . . Here is a day that will change her life forever and she probably won't have any recollection of it. She felt peaceful enough to sleep. . . knowing her Mommy is now with Jesus. I saw this precious child wake up, put her feet on the pew in front of her. . . so free from all the grief and worry and fear an event such as the death of your mother would bring. This little one then skipped to her father's lap. His face lit up when she came up to him to be coddled in his arms. His smile was precious. . . as I know he sees his bride, his sweetheart in the face of this little one. I think he held her extra tight this day. My heart hurts for this little one. . . as she will not know her mother. . . she probably will not remember her. . . she will only know those things that people tell her about this wonderful woman. However, more so than knowing her mother and as heartbreaking as that it is. . . it is much, much more important for this little one to know Christ.

I saw the oldest of the 11 put her head on her husband's shoulder. . . knowing how weak and frail she must feel on the inside. . . . ready to break at any given moment. Yet, a little later she turns back and looks to her siblings on the rows behind her. I know the heart of the oldest (for I am one). . . making sure everyone else is okay. Being strong for her sisters, her brothers, and her Dad. . .yet, when it is safe, she will crumble. . . crumble into the arms of her husband and to her Lord.

I saw a father, a husband, stroke the head of his youngest son. Then, as the choir sang, he would lift that same hand and praise his Lord. . . and then that same hand would return to stroke his youngest son's head. . Absolutely precious . . . so.very.tender.

I saw a son close his eyes in worship, yet barely able to muster the words from his lips. Praising the One who gives and takes away. . .

I saw a daughter, bobbing her head to the beat of the music, singing songs of worship, praising the Lord, with such a look of peace through such a time of suffering in the life of she and her family.

I saw a couple of the children with faces so hard, unmovable, afraid that if they blinked an eye a tear would fall, and then they'd crumble . . . crumble into a million pieces. . . not knowing how they would ever pick themselves up again. May it be only their faces that are hard and not their hearts.

Diana Davis has touched more than just the lives of her 11 children and her husband. She's made a mark on all of our lives. She was an inspiration and a shining example of a Godly woman. She will be missed . . . for her seat is now empty. . .

Dear Booher

Dear Booher,

I promised you this post would be out by the end of this week. . . and, although I really am at heart a "wait to the last minute", here I am.

First let me say how your facebook post on my wall made me smile from ear-to-ear. I'm still a tried-and-true blogger, although from the lack 0f my posts it doesn't appear to be that way :) (**wink, wink** Lisa) However, I did browse around and found you have been quite the blogger. I'm so proud of you, my friend. Before Monday morning I hope to sit down and read your posts and see what has been going on with YOU!!!! You are so sweet to want to know what is going on with me and the fam. . . so here it goes.

Well, first of all you know the disease I have . . . "can't blog without a picture". Well, I have TONS of pictures, and I really just need to do a big 'ole slide show, but not today. . . coming soon though, pinky promise. I also am so anal I feel that I can't blog in the here and now. . . like last night we went over to the Cecils' office and ate pizza, hung out with friends, and the women got a beatdown in "Bible Outburst". . . sorry, I digress. . . I feel that I can't blog until I get all caught up on here. . . which may just take nothing short of a tiny decade. . . . so, I guess I'll have to get over myself and my analniss and start back on the "here and now" bloggy bandwagon!!! I'll go through a quick (well, as quick as this wordy girl can be) "catch-up" list.

**Hung out at the Cecils' farm one day and went on what my kids refer to "THE BEST HAYRIDE EVER". However, I refer to it as "THE DAY I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE". Seriously, the thing was so rough I literally texted Jon "Take out a life insurance policy on me NOW. Going on a hayride with John Cecil" I survived and we have great stories to tell from it. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Cecils. This deserves a post of its own.

**We celebrated Christmas with a bang. . . including a family game of "Minute to Win It". FUN, FUN, FUN. This, too, deserves a post of its own.

**I got to have lunch with my very favorite 19-year-old. She's precious, and you would just absolutely LOVE her!!! God is doing some really amazing things in her life. I'm just so honored she wanted to share them with me and have me praying over her. And, I've been going to the throne of God on her behalf. I served her my baked potato soup. We talked for 4-5 hours, but it seemed like only 30 minutes. It was a day of joy and delight and I hated for it to end. Oh, wait, you already know about that 'cause it was YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, I'm so looking forward to our next lunch date!

**Some friends of ours took us for a night out on the town with a Scavenger Hunt. It was so much fun and we made so many memories. . . more to come. . . you guessed it . . . deserves a post on its own.

**And, did you know about Shelby and Brian? They are now being homeschooled. They are doing a virtual academy online, but are coming here 3 days a week. It really has been good. Talk about true discipleship . . . life-on-life. . .The way this all came about was totally of the Lord and . . . everyone say it with me now . . . "deserves a post on its own".

**Oh, have you seen my really bad haircut? I saw you at a distance the other day. It is forever in the perpetual pony tail because I absolutely HATE it. When it is all down I look like Joan Jett. Don't worry, you don't know her. You were probably in the womb or maybe not even born when I was rocking out to her songs. Needless to say, in the 80s, it looked great on Joan Jett. Here, in January/February of 2011. . . it looks horrid on "Mama in High Heels". I've been dousing and dousing it with horse shampoo. Don't worry, it's not Natalie's fault, she did what I asked her to. My sister says I'm having a hair midlife crisis.

**Speaking of midlife. . . well, I hope it isn't midlife for me. . . but I've been celebrating my birthday. Normally I take a whole week to do this. However, this year, I actually just took the whole month of January. Now, before you go and start thinking I'm a narcissist and all. . . . hold your horses. . . there's a mighty fine reason for this. . . but, yep, "it deserves a post on its own."

**I also gave up on Trinitarianism. It got to the point where it made me cry. . . seriously. So confusing and philosophical. . . so I bailed out for several Wednesday nights and came home and worked. However, a new class is gearing up and I'm super excited.. . . Man and Sin. Now, THAT is something I can understand. :)

**Oh, I got another job too. . . transcription still. My company was losing work and it was such a blessing to get another job in a "dying field". The LORD has been so good to us. That is one reason why I haven't been blogging. It just takes a while to get used to working on a new platform. Hopefully I'm there now though.

**As far as running, well. . . if this weather doesn't stop acting up, my legs are going to forget how to run. That's all I'm sayin' about that!

**I've also been taking the kids to Spivey Hall to watch some plays. . . "All Around the World in Music" and "Twosome Seussical". We met the neatest woman there. Mother of 7, husband was in construction (which basically meant no work), ran up a lot of dept (unfortunately sounds so familiar I could choke J/K), sold their house, lives in a camper (yes, with 7 children), works from 1:30-10:30 at Chick-fil-A, and HOMESCHOOLS!!!! Now, if I ever go to feelin' sorry for myself because I'm a working and homeschooling mother, somebody SHUT ME UP QUICKLY!!! This woman was absolutely precious. I really wish she wasn't so busy because I want her to be my friend. Her story was inspiring and such a blessing.

**Oh yeah, I've also been showing my sister houses. We've put in a couple of offers, but nothing has worked out so far. Hopefully soon, very soon. I'm excited at the thought of them living nearby.

**Oh, and the Lord has been working on me about being honest in love. You know how I love for everyone to like me, even 14 and 15 year olds. I had to call one of the girls in my discipleship group out in some sin I was seeing in her life. Yikes, hated it. . had to do it. . .was so afraid she'd never enter the doors of my home again because she would hate me. . .but as her mentor and sister in Christ it had to be addressed. You know what? She still loves me. . . I think even more now, and she's still coming, and she wasn't angry, but very remorseful to first and foremost the LORD.

**We finished up 1,2, and 3 John in Sunday School. I have never learned so much in my LIFE!!! God is really teaching me so very much. And those girls. . . those 14 and 15 and 16 year old girls. . . seriously hold pieces of my heart. I'm praying they are taking hold of the truth that is being taught them. We're about to dive into 1 Peter. . .SO.VERY.EXCITED!!!!!!!!!! With that, I have to to tell you, one day a couple of weeks back I was talking to them about how we are always being watched. People are always looking up to us, watching how our walk with the Lord is, how we act, treat others, etc., etc. So, before I led into talking about THEM being watched, I asked them, "Tell me someone you look up to that you are watching. I don't care if you tell me Jennifer Lopez. Just be honest with me, and tell me who it is you are watching." Do you know that 3, yes, I said 3 different girls said, Booher? Yep, that's right. You are making a difference for the kingdom my sweet friend!

I love you, Booher! I'm so proud of you. I'm honored I get to pray for you and share in this life with you. God's fingerprints are ALL over you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, when are you coming over for lunch? Just mark your whole day off 'cause you know we'll get to chattin' and what seems like 30 minutes will go by and it will be almost 5:00 again :)

Operation Christmas Child

Since the time Alec was 3 years old we have always stuffed a shoe box. As we had more children, we'd add more boxes and let the kids pick out for themselves the toys to stuff the boxes with.

It's just something the kids know to expect that we are going to do every year. . . just like putting our Christmas tree up.

This year, however, we got a chance to serve this ministry even further. We got to serve along side our friends at a drop off location. We prepared the boxes to go to the distribution center in Atlanta.

221. For the ministry of Samaritan's Purse.

222. For healthy children who are willing and able to serve.

223. For friends to serve along side.
224. For all the volunteers that make this ministry possible.

225. For the children who will receive the boxes and hear the Gospel

Wordy Wednesday

This morning begin really bright and early for me. . . 3:45 a.m. to be exact.



A sweet friend of mine was going to have a decision made for her. . . by someone else. . .that could literally change the rest of her life. She was heavy on my heart all day on Tuesday. I decided I need to go and be with her, which meant leaving my house at 8:15 (makeup, hair, heels, and all). So, work had to be done. I was so glad I made the effort. This is true Biblical fellowship. . . not a potluck dinner with everyone socializing. . . Since studying 1 John the original meaning of the word "fellowship" means life-on-life. You hurt-I hurt. You rejoice - I rejoice. You're going through a trial -I'm going through that trial with you. THAT is fellowship. And, THAT is what took place this morning. Me and 3 other people went to stand alongside our sister in Christ. . .



The girls won a lunch with our children's pastor. With the homeschool students she just goes out to eat with them. It was actually Hanna who won the lunch, but she wasn't going unless Ash went with her. Sweet little thing. . . sometimes I think Ash is her security blanket. I dropped the girls off at Taco Bell with Ms. Renee.


Meanwhile, Alec and I went and got guitar strings for his guitar, then headed to Chick-fil-A. It was such a sweet time. I just love alone time with each of my kids and I don't do it nearly as much as I should. Alec blessed our food and said, "Thank you God for this time me and Mama have together." Just touched my heart so much. If you've been reading my blog from the beginning, you will know he has not been easy for me since about age 8. I was really hoping this would make the teen years easier since he's been hard for so long. It really has. He is very delightful and enjoyable. I'm hoping since we've had so many struggles leading up to this point, that our struggling is over and his teen years will be enjoyable. .. . so far, so good.



Alec and I headed back to pick the girls up. "Miss Chatty Cathy" Ashley wasn't finished yet. She'd spent too much time talking. Hanna only said a few things; therefore, was finished with her food.



We then headed home and started school. . . finished school. . . then headed to church.



I've been kind of frustrated with my Theology class. It is Trinitarianism and it is SO.STINKIN'.HARD. It is just so far above my head, which just causes me to check out. I've been tempted not to go (which I didn't last week). However, I decided not to abandon Jenn. G. and Jon and hang in there.



So glad I did. Tonight was our BEST discussion yet. So, guess I'm in for the long haul:)

152. For our amazing church!!!!

153. For Godly leaders.

154. For my husband's heart and desire to be more like Christ.

155. For the body of Christ.

155. For learning.

156. For true, biblical fellowship.

157. For dates with my son.

158. For laughter.

It's 10:10

Here it is 10:10 on a Monday night. I've almost turned into a pumpkin. . . a grumpy one at that. . . naaaahh. . . just kidding.

I did just get home from my core/grow group meeting.

The house is quiet.

My heart is full.

I go to my bedroom. There lies Jon, Ashley, Hanna, and Cookie. No where on the bed for me to lay my head.

I put Cookie in his crate, and wake Ash to go to her bed. I leave Hanna. She was actually in a position where I could get on the bed. Ash was sprawled from here to yonder.

I go check on Alec. His light is on. He is reading. . . . his Bible. Praise you LORD!!!

Tonight my core/grow group started out as normal. . . with gab, food, chattiness, and laughter. GREAT way to start an evening.

We are reading a book called, "What is the Gospel?"

I'm learning alot.

We finish and rather than just one person close in prayer, we took a few requests. Each person was to take just one request and pray over it. Choosing whether or not you would pray out loud was not an option. Each one of us one.by.one shared our hearts before our LORD and before our friends.

Have you ever been in a room and have 8 women pray before our LORD? To stand in the gap for someone? To cry out to our Father on someone else's behalf? To hurt for them? To mourn for them? To rejoice with them?

To say it was a precious time is quite the understatement!!! To say it was humbling doesn't do it justice!!!

To study God's word together will definitely draw you all closer. To pray before Him just brings you all the closer.

I'm so thankful for that group of ladies. I don't deserve to be apart of their core/grow group. I don't deserve their friendships. I don't deserve their investment into my life. But, I'M OH SO VERY THANKFUL!!!

I'm sure there are some in the group I've made mad.

I'm sure there are some I've offended.

I'm sure there are even some who I may have hurt their feelings.

We're women. We are emotional creatures. We can get mad, get our feelings hurt, get offended and sometimes friendships will end right there. Right where the heart got hurt. Even some of the longest, deepest friendships will end over a gnash of the heart. I know personally. I've been there.

God sent EACH of these ladies to me at just the perfect time in my life. He knows I NEED them! I'm learning so much from each one of them individually. I know I am very, very, very far from perfect, and I can't promise I won't make anyone mad, or hurt anyone's feelings, or offend them. However, for this season, I'm thankful they love me. . . warts and all. . .and they take me and accept me just the way I am.

If I can just take those things that I admire in them. . . things that I lack so much in. . . I pray God will plant those seeds in my heart and water them. I pray the iron I see in these ladies will sharpen whatever iron I have . . . even if it is just a dull, blunt, fragment piece of iron. . . that God will use us to sharpen one another and make us more and more like Christ.

91. For Faith's pure sweetness, sweetness in one of the purest forms I've ever seen. . . of her heart.

92. For Lisa's heart of service.

93. For Jennifer G's meekness.

94. For Angela H's knowledge and love for the Word.

95. For Jennifer S's humility and courage.

96. For Angela L's boldness.

97. For Patty's heart of compassion and tenderness.

What I Love about Hot Dogs and $5 Pizzas

Friday my friend Angela L. wanted Jon and I and the kids to come over after church today for lunch to celebrate something big (more tomorrow on that). Well, it was also a good excuse to get together. Doug just got back from Venezuela, and I know he and Jon were missing one another. These guys exercise together everyday and text back and forth all day.

Anyhoo, Saturday Doug texted Jon and said, "Are hot dogs okay?"

I just love that. I started telling Jon how when you get together with people with hot dogs and $5 pizzas (which we've done both with our closest friends), it indicates a certain degree of closeness . . . a closeness whereby you are no longer try to impress one another with your Southern Living cooking or your ability to entertain or host . . . not that I have any of those . . .

It says that let's just get together and fellowship and have a good time. It's not about the food. It's about the fellowship. It's about enjoying one another's company. I just LOVE that!!

When I was single and dating I had this silly little code. When a guy would open a door for me, if I wanted to go back out with him, when I got into the car, I'd reach over and open his door so he could get in. . . silly, I know. . .but I still do this to this day with Jon **smile**

I think now when we have someone over for $5 pizzas or hot dogs or fried bologna sandwiches or salmon patties (remember that, Lisa?), or something just so simple as that. . . it is a good indicator of a closeness and a oneness.

46. For hot dogs and potato chips, more importantly, the people we shared them with.

47. For a GREAT night at Wendy's with more feasting on good friends.

48. For a night of oneness and unity in the body of Christ.

49. For a great youth meeting about the upcoming year.

50. For old friendships that are still close even after 10+ years.

51. For new friendships in the making.

52. For friends that feel like family.

53. For people you'd turn your life upside down for in order to help.

54. For tomorrow, already known in our house as "The worst day of Hanna' life".

55. For laughter.

56. For friends that miss you when you can't make a girls' night out.

Words

Words carry such great meaning to me.

Words that are meant to hurt, hurt me badly.

Words that are meant to love, love me deeply.

Words that are meant to encourage, do just that.

I just want to share some words that have meant a lot to me lately.

** Jon's mom and dad came by last night. Jon has his 3rd interview with a company in Atlanta today. He is one of five being considered for the job. She said to him, "I no one one there can match you in integrity. Our prayer is that your integrity will show forth."

** A friend of ours was sharing with me some things. He said, "That's why we want _____ (their child) to hang around Alec. Alec is spiritually mature for his age."

**With this pending interview, we've had many people offer words of encouragement . . . words, texts, and emails of prayers being lifted up for our family.

**From Stephanie . . . a text that said, "Your blog is my favorite part of my mornings at work :) I hope you get to feeling 100%.


36. For our church family.

37. For a good run this morning after being sick.

38. For being over the summer crud.

39. For a husband who is true to his word.

40. For joy and peace during uncertain times.

Well. . . Finally. . .

Or, maybe some would say, "That's typical of them. They always take a long time." Others might say, "I thought they were already members. They're here every time the doors are open."

Wondering what I'm talking about? Today, we finally joined the church we have been visiting now for almost a year (we're about a month shy of a year).

Honestly, in the beginning, I really didn't think we would end up at this church. Our preference was a church that was a little farther away. But, God had something else in store. I'm so thankful He did and He's the one in control.

Over the last 11 months at our church Jon and I both have grown more spiritually than we have in years upon years combined. Jon and I talk about this quite often. One day Ash over heard us and said, "Yeah, all y'all talk about now is the Bible." Sweet, sweet words!!!

I never ever thought I would find as loving of a church family of what we came from. Dayspring, our old church, wasn't the biggest church, didn't have the best programs, but it had incredible music and people that would love the socks off of ya!!! I didn't think that would exist anywhere else.

Boy, was God going to prove me wrong!!! Dayspring will always have a special place in my heart. I made special friendships there that I still carry with me. I went through so much during our 8 years at that church. I learned, I grew, I fell, I scraped my knee a couple of times, but I was always surrounded by people who loved me.

After we left the people I missed the most were the older ladies. . . Granny, Lane-Lane, Nannie, Shay-Shay. . .those good Southern cooks who made me want to sit under them and have cooking lessions for hours. I still saw all of my close friends. Now, I've found me some new older ladies at our church to love on. . . Ms. Jean being one of my favorites :) She teases me about my high heels. . . Yes, me and my high heels have already developed a reputation at our new church.

I don't know when our now church started feeling like home, but I know it was very soon. When I was waiting on Jon to get finished talking so we could leave. . . I knew it must be love - hee!hee! It was amazing how these people wrapped their arms around us and loved on us. . . how everyone was so friendly in this big church (Dayspring was a really small church). Our kids love it, we love it. It is GREAT!!

Although there's great people, great programs, great Bible curriculum, etc., the thing that we love most would be our pastor. He's a man of great conviction. One of the most sincerest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. He preaches the Word of God. . . not just the touchy-feely parts, but the whole counsel of God's word.. . even the hard stuff. . .controversial issues, tough doctrine. He truly loves his flock and it is evident by his actions. Jon and I am so honored to call him both our pastor and our friend. I've alwyas been a girl who had favorite Bible teachers, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur being my top two. I've never been at the point where I could say my pastor was my favorite teacher of the Word of God. Now? Well, now, for the first time in my life I can say, without hesitation, that my pastor is my favorite Bible teacher.

We are so very honored and blessed to now be "home folk".