Photos Courtesy of myPhone

 

Back-To-School and Such

Matt has been back to teaching since last week and I've been back to working on my classroom for the past 3 weeks.  It's hard to believe our summer break is over and it's this time again!  We love our jobs, nevertheless it is always difficult to say goodbye to summer.  I have had a big task in school prep this year, because I took a new position and a new classroom.  I will be the K-3rd music teacher (which you probably already figured out if you follow me on Pinterest...I'm afraid I'm a pinaholic).  I go from being super excited about teaching music to being extremely nervous.  Jude has been my "helper" as I organize, clean, decorate, shop, etc.  Today after working for 3 hours, I took him outside to play on the school playground.  Most of the equipment was too big for him, but he's been looking so big lately I was secretly kinda glad. ;)

 ^^^Thrilled about being my assistant...can't you tell?!?! ;)

 ^^^Slacking on the job.

 ^^^When you realize you are up really high and not sure how to get down.

 

A Fishing First

Sometime back...a few weeks ago...we took Jude fishing.  We love giving Jude the opportunity to get out and explore nature, especially since he and the outdoors are best buds or something like that.  We went to a creek that we had never visited before, and it was little bigger than Jude was ready to explore.  Nevertheless, after feeling safe, secure, and throwing about 50 rocks into it, he was ready.  We showed him how to fish and he gave it a go, but when a one year old doesn't get a reaction after about 10 seconds they are onto something else.  Jude found the live fishing bait and the tackle box to be a lot more entertaining.  We ended our fishing trip without fish, but who's to say it was about catching fish anyway?!?! ;)

^^^Because when a man is in the wild, he must flex his muscles a lot. ;)

Happy 6 Years!

Yesterday Matt & I celebrated our 6th anniversary.  Sometimes I feel as though it was just last week that I walked down the aisle to my groom, but most days it is hard to remember life without Matt.  Over the weekend we went out on a date to celebrate and visited the waterfall where Matt proposed (which is a total fairy tale story that I need to retell someday).  We also looked through a lot of our wedding pictures.  I picked a few to share today.  I am so thankful for the man God chose to lead me and our family.  I love you, Matt, and cherish this life we get to spend together!

 

Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  It does not demand its own way.  It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.   Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
I Corinthians 13: 4-7

Camp Elevate

Hello, again!  It's been awhile!!!!!!  A lot has been going on around here lately and we've definitely not had our normal routine, but for some really good reasons.  Last week we had a youth camp, Elevate, just for Haven (students from our church) along with their friends that they invited.  This was a first for us.  One of our goals for Elevate was to reach out to students that do not have a home church.  With God's help we had such a powerful week!  From the games to the worship to the messages to the baptism...everything that was done was definitely blessed by God.  Elevate ended on Saturday, but we began an impromptu revival on Sunday and it has gone on all of this week.  We had some dear friends (more like family to us) come from Alabama and stay with us.  The Farley family was an absolute blessing to our church.  Pastor Chris had timely messages and spoke with great anointing.  I cannot express all of the miracles that have happened, but here are few in a short list:
1. deliverance from fear, addictions, substance abuse
2. restored hope, joy, love
3. realization of Christ' love for each of us
4. renewed passion to share God's love
Most people search their whole lives for life changes like these.  I am just so excited to see how Christ continues to move in Haven and our church.  Here are a few pictures from Elevate.