To be a bug...

Being a bug isn't as bad as one might think. I felt like a bug for a few days.... we tent camped for three nights and four days on a primitive site (no water, electricity or showers) at Lake Greenwood last week. It was a lot of fun. I spent my time in the same clothes (as a pact with another courageous and stinky friend) all four days and couldn't have cared less. Smoky clothes are smoky and a shower doesn't help much so I was happy. Isabella and Elissa changed and so did Adam a time or two. Not everyone can love adventure (or stink) as much as some of us.

We ate some of the finest camp food around. Steaks on our last night had to be the highlight. Or... maybe countless (although some kept count) marshmallows were another terrific memory. The Po Boys were fun and that first cup of coffee was a life saver. All in all it was a terrific outing and one we look forward to again sometime.

Happy 9th Anniversary!

This April 10th saw our 9th anniversary come and go. It was a lot of fun and was spent in the woods, camping with friends (post to come soon). It was as special as any anniversary and we both stopped to acknowledge how good God is and how blessed we are. A book I am reading explains (whether correctly or not) that love is the skin of truth and truth comes with knowledge. I think that is fun to consider when you think about your significant other. I still love him tremendously and definitely know him better and with all of his victories (thank God there are many) and failings (comparably small numbers it would seem) our love is still incredible. Knowledge has only made love better. Praise God!

Spring Break!

I love the Spring and our flowers are finally all in bloom. It is a yucky day but we probably need the rain. My dad recently reminded me that even if it isn't very pretty, God knows what He is doing so don't complain about the rain. He is an awfully wise man :) He should be considering he just had his 70th birthday, April 3rd. I was so excited about it for some reason. It means I'm getting older too so I don't know why I think it is so cool, but I do. He seems like a young 50 to me - still strong, smart and more loving, patient and full of grace and forgiveness than ever. He isn't perfect but he is pretty wonderful in my eyes.

We have been on duty for a few weeks now but it has been a nice time. Our girls in the cottage are all doing well for the most part. They enjoy time off from school (well not the older ones because they'd rather be around their friends - sad, I know). Today we are going to GattiTown and eating as much pizza as our faces will hold. It is a lot of fun and great for a rainy day! Tomorrow we go to Columbia to light up D's with 70 candles or so... glad everything is wet outside just in case of fire.

He is Risen!

He is risen indeed! I love Easter and I love celebrating our Savior! Unfortunately, (as goofy as it sounds) it came too fast this year and I am still surprised that it has passed. Maybe it is just me but I am shocked that it has come and gone. Anyway, we enjoyed some Easter egg hunts and talked about what it meant in an effort to acknowledge the tremendous gift we received. Thank you, Lord! Here was a picture of the girls at First Baptist.

Murrells Inlet Community Vacation

What a fun thing it is to have such easy going friends... to be able to live among each other for several days and have great memories all the way home. We had a great week last week with good friends as we picnicked on the beach, hid from the wind, played some incredibly insightful games, waited on the whims of fiddler crabs and small children, ate mounds of yummy eats, snacked into the dawn, devoured some Papa John's, tossed the football from the pier until we were booted, ate some overpriced seafood and grill food, watched one lady single handedly eliminate the crab population at Philip's, visited Klig's, watched master kite flyer's and rock climbing children. It was a great trip and we hope/think fun was had by all! Thanks again Nana and Papa

sun and fun

Well... not quite yet, but we are getting excited about a beach trip planned with friends next week. We are heading to Murrells Inlet for 4 days or so and will pile into Nana and Papa's house for some games, music and movies. Then eat out, go play in the sand and maybe fly some kites too. It should be another terrific memory to add to the many special memories we already have of that peaceful place.

This week has been interesting. Elissa had a fever of 102.6 on Monday night and we prayed (and worried a little) over her until that passed. The rest of the week she has been pretty cough-y but is doing much better. My sister Mona had her gall bladder removed yesterday - praise God she is doing well and healing already!

Last thing, a special friend of ours from Clemson is now working in Ethiopia and sends occasional mission updates. Her latest email had this quote inserted and it is part of their theme for the work they are doing there. Pray for her, Sarah Brown. As any of us serve the Lord, this quote applies and the verse with it makes it real! It was such a terrific quote and it just seemed really special to me:

"Royalty is my identity.
Servant hood is my assignment.
Intimacy with God is my life source.
So, before God, I'm an intimate.
Before people, I'm a servant.
Before the powers of hell, I'm a ruler,
with no tolerance for their influence."
~ Bill Johnson
"And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." ~Ephesians 1:22

Reedy Rive Race

We are so proud of Leah for training for and running in the 2008 Reedy River 10k in Greenville. She has worked hard to get in race shape and it paid off. She finished in the top 50% overall for women as well as in her age group. She ran with a friend from Thornwell, Cynthia, and they spurred each other on through their training and during the race. Our Berkele Cottage family came out to support them too! It was a beautiful day weather wise and after Leah accomplished her 10k goal we headed to falls park for a day in the sun - and grass! It was one of those days that you treasure and give thanks for.