Beach 2010

We're here...

Three Summers...Three Camps

Sunday afternoon I returned home from camp. This was my third year at Student Life for Kids Camp. Our first summer was at Windermere Conference Center in Lake of the Ozarks, MO. We loved that location, but they stopped offering the kid's camp there that year, so we have had to change venues.

July, 2008

Camp 2009 was at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Funny thing...I had never heard of this college before, but it was the closest one to Little Rock...turns out that our former neighbor Austin went to school there. Small world.

July 2009

And here is our 2010 camp photo. Hard to believe that a couple of these kids who were with me in 2008 will be at youth camp next summer. Also hard to believe that four of these boys who were in first grade when I first came are now about to start fourth grade.

July 2010

I made my first purchase of boxes and moving supplies this morning. Yesterday I had one moving company come over to look through the house and another gave me a preliminary quote over the phone.

I also cleaned out our storage building and packed away what wasn't already in tubs or boxes. That part is now packed and ready to go. Can't wait to start this new adventure, but I am dreading my last Sunday with my kids.

Colson's Big Day

I think nerves, apprehension and excitement would best describe all of us this morning.

Katie and Jason, we are blessed to have you in our lives.

Jenny and Todd

Hillary and Josh

Laura and Brad

Sarah and Todd

Suzanne and Jim

July 4

I love looking back at pictures of the same events at different times in his life.

This is Benjamin's first July 4 in Jonesboro...he was just under four months.

This was July 4, 2009...Fifteen months. Ball in hand, of course.

And on my shoulders watching the fireworks.

We seem to hold tight to what we know...baseball in Grammy's yard, followed by fireworks.

Abby and Ben hanging out in the back of our car...mosquitos were strangely in ours, but not in my mom's...

Love their sweet little feet. Ben is about to catch Abby in shoe sizes I'm afraid!

Watching a smaller show in the distance before the main event started up.

Now just sitting in Grammy's trunk, waiting for the show

(why do we not take chairs with us????)

And once again...fireworks best viewed from Daddy's shoulders.

And Granddad's shoulders...

With Grammy there to help hold me up...

And Mommy to snuggle and kiss me...

Happy Birthday, USA...

Second Baptist Church, Conway

This was us at Second Baptist Church of Conway, Arkansas on Saturday, June 8, 2002. We had just graduated from college. One of Jenny's best friends, Sarah, was getting married. In the picture with is Katie, another of Jenny's BFs, and her husband Jason, though they were still a few weeks from their wedding.


We were all so young and thin...Katie of course looks exactly the same...even after kids. Jason managed his post-wedding weight much better than I. He definitely looks far more wise after eight years, though he looks pretty aloof in this photo. He must have been admiring the honeymoon getaway car and thinking about his own honeymoon departure, just days away.

And here we are, July 4, 2010 again outside the worship center of Second Baptist Church of Conway, Arkansas.

This time, not for a wedding.

This past Sunday, I accepted the call to serve as the next Children's Pastor of Second Baptist, Conway. (Ask Jenny about the wind, her hair, and the little man scurrying past)

Conversations began several weeks ago, and things moved swiftly and smoothly as they do only when God is at work. We had both been feeling - for some time - that God was preparing us for a move to another place of service. In November of 2009, a church in Houston was in conversation with me several times per week. We were terrified of the move...the city...the climate...the culture.

Arkansas is what we love. Central Arkansas, to be more precise. Our families are close. Our friends are closer. Benjamin loves Arkansas (Okay, he doesn't know what he loves yet - but he'll love Arkansas...he's bound to). Benjamin most definitely loves his family, and that's what matters to us the most.

Over the next few weeks, we will have to pack up, head out, and begin a new adventure. With that comes saying goodbye, closing a chapter in our life, and dealing with the mixture of emotions that come at a time like this.

We are definitely, undoubtedly excited to begin our next chapter. Conway is going to be a great place to live, and hopefully a great place to raise our family.

We can't wait to settle in and begin this new adventure.