perfect peace

Tonight I have been completely inspired by a single line on my 20-year-old cousin's blog....a young woman WISE beyond her years....much wiser than I was at 20 and still am at 28!!

"You will keep in PERFECT PEACE him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3.

Oh that I would trust in Him......that my mind would be steadfast on Him so much so that He would keep me in His perfect peace. As my life has been so full of ups and downs these last few months......waiting on God's perfect timing, and as these last few days have come to a culminating mountain of anxiety, this verse has come to my rescue!! For His peace is truly perfect.

The Hebrew phrase for "perfect peace" in this verse literally translates "peace, peace." My prayer tonight (and always) is that my mind will be steady on Him so that I too, might receive a double dose of His peace.

(Thanks Alyse!!)

the first day of school

Yes, you read the title correctly!! Today was my first day of school. Without Doug, things were a little wierd this morning (I was actually early). And even though I didn't see a whole lot of him during the school day when he was there, I still felt like there was a little piece of me missing all day today. No one to email, no one to eat lunch with, no one to stop in and chat with (if I wanted to). But I made it through.

My classes were great today! I am excited about getting to know all of my new students. I am also excited about getting to use my curriculum (by Carnegie Learning) all year this year (as opposed to last year when we adopted it 1/4 of the way through the year).

Oh, by the way, I am featured in a few of their online info videos on their homepage www.carnegielearning.com. (Check it out!)

And for those of you who keep wondering about Doug's job situation...God did send a tiny little piece of confimation today that our "time in the desert" (my new name for this long period we've been waiting) has not been in vain!! We'll keep you posted as He begins to reveal exactly what He has planned for us!! (Thanks for your prayers....keep them coming!)

a week @ the BEACH

We are enjoying our final full week of summer vacation on the Isle of Palms (in South Carolina) with our family and friends!! It's been a 5 year tradition that we look forward to every summer. Spending time on the beach, eating at all the local seafood restaurants, shopping our hearts out and just hanging out at the beach house has been SO relaxing!! We're here with Kasey's mom and dad and another couple (and their family) that we've been friends with for a long time (Don and Mindy Daniel). Here are some photos of the kiddos!!

Leah & Lex waiting to eat at Sullivan's Restaurant.

Leah on her boogie board....future surfer??

Lex actually smiling on the beach (he didn't like the waves very much), but he enjoyed his swimming pool!!
Ashton, Justin, Matthew, Amber & Derek

another great day @ the creek

OK - here are a few more pics and some random, uncut video from our camp experiences so far!! Eli & Hannah's blobs (on the video) are the best!! And I think I got EVERYONE in the group picture this time (hehe)!! Hope all is well at home with you parents as well. Your kids are angels and they are having an amazing time. We can see God working so intently in each and every one of their lives. They've even been praying for YOU as we're here!! Keep praying for them - that they'll grow this week and that it won't just be a one-time thing. That God will do a serious "life change" within them!!

Our WONDERFUL kiddos!!

Hannah playing the boat game!!

Dara Jo & Aaron after a trip to the mud pit and then the lake!




A whole bunch of random, uncut clips of camp life!! ENJOY!

having fun @ camp...

Well - everyone is having a GREAT time at camp!! Here are a few photos to hold you parents over for a few more days. ENJOY!

Our group after CHECKPOINT time!

Doing our TAWH (time alone with God) in the sun!!

Luke schoolin' some boys on the court!!

Jim -Molly and Shawna ran FOUR miles today!!

a much needed "week off"

Well, we have REALLY enjoyed this "week off" as we have deemed it since we haven't had any church, school or family stuff to do. We've all four just been hangin' out at the pool and at home!! Leah went to MBC's Power Lab VBS this week and Lex grew a tooth =) Doug and I just sat back and relaxed most of it.

We are headed to Crossings at the Creek with our youth tomorrow and then to Isle of Palms with Mom and Dad the next week!! (Can't wait for that!!)

Below are some pictures of us at the pool, Lex's new tooth and Leah's lovely "I'm going to comb my own hair mommy" experience!!

Doug throws her SOOOOO high she nearly flies!!

Lex chillin' at Nana's pool!

Lex's new tooth!! FINALLY!!

This is the result of Leah's first time combing her hair all by herself!! She yelled at me from the bathroom "Mom....I'm going to comb my hair all by myself" so I thought...ok, you're 4 now!! Three minutes later she was crying!! Evidently no one told her you can't twist the comb in your hair!!

Here's a shot from behind!! It looks bad, but her hair is so fine it only took me a few minutes to get it all out!

Mission Trip 2008

We're finally home from our mission trip!! We had a great week on Dauphin Island (close to Mobile, AL). We stayed at and worked for a small church there on the Island called Dauphin Island Baptist Church. We did some work at their ministry center as well as for some folks on the island who were still suffering the effects of hurricane Katrina. We also worked with the Lutheran Disaster Response in Bayou La Batre, AL where we helped paint, mud and pick up scraps from a new roof for a 60+ year old man who has been living in his kitchen since the hurricane!! We did services for a rehab center for men and a assisted living facility in Mobile and we got to hang out for a while and do devo at the International Seafarer's Center in Mobile.

We even got to hang out at the beach and eat some great local seafood on Friday! Here are some pictures of our trip!! We have this week off and then we're headed for camp and then VACATION!!

PS Lex grew a tooth while we were gone!! =)

Our GROUP (before we left)

Doug speaking to the guys at the Rehab Center!!

Kasey getting ready for a morning of painting!
Although I think putting paint in a sonic cup is a sin (hehe)!!

Leah singing at the Assisted Living facility.

Our family (minus Lex) at the local seafood restaurant!!