11.30.2006

Youth Specialties

So Wade, the youth staff, and I are going to be at the youth specialties conference this weekend. I think it will be really awesome to learn how to be a better youth worker so we can come back and use the practical tips to enhance Ignite.

I am also really excited about getting to spend an entire weekend with my wonderful husband. No work for me on Friday, Wade's cell phone completely bombed so he can't get calls, and we get to go to the twinkling city of Charlotte. It is our mini-vacation!

I think it is awesome when your husband does this stuff. Technically I knew about the conference but had not said anything about going and sure enough I found out we had our own hotel room and all I needed to do is take off one day from work. I will say Wade is amazing at making sure that he never puts ministry above me. I know that God is first in his life and that the things he is doing for God through ministry are extremely important to him. But he wouldn't honor God by putting ministry above me...instead he would have a lonely wife.

And I will tell anyone that I am extremely blessed to be married to Wade. He is the most loving, humble, patient, romantic, passionate, humorous, nurturing, exciting, and adventurous husband that God has ever placed on the earth. I don't think any wife has it as good as I do. I can't believe I got to marry him. And I will always see Wade as my hero and best friend. How can it ever get better than that?

11.20.2006

Rescue an Animal

I was having another day of researching a totally random topic and decided to look up animal shelters. I found this documentary about a Las Vegas animal shelter that was pretty cruel. I got about 3 seconds into it and the camera zoomed in on the dog and the dog puts its paw on the cage door and then gets on its hind legs and paws for the camera man to let him out. So of course I begin to get teary eyed and I have to stop before I begin weeping in front of everyone. But soon I am going to finish the video. Video: Born to Die

I have no idea how many people look at this blog but I am hoping at least one person will read this who wants a pet and is making the decision between buying a dog from a breeder and adopting one that has had a shelter life. PLEASE pick adopting. There are so many of God's creatures out there that are in desperate need of a home and searching for a family. So if you aren't a show dog person then what better way to save a little life than adopting the shelter pet.

Just look at these adorable faces who need to be adopted here in Columbia, SC. I found all of these pets on the
Project Pet website.

11.16.2006

da hot tub

Over and over again I hear these words from my husband..."I wish we could have a hot tub." Well Wade (and any others who love hot tubs), I have found a hot tub that our friends the Dutch have made. Check this out to see how our life would be better with this amazing invention!

Well, hopefully you checked it out. I guess it isn't what we think of when we hear hot tub. It looks so weird and massive, but hilarious. But I do have respect for people who make these new modern inventions. If you check out core 77's other photo galleries you will find endless inspiring products that people are coming out with. And since I love everything modern it makes me wish that I could go to these shows and buy furniture...I will just have to check out photos instead.

11.13.2006

Missing Out

This weekend I went to visit the Ivester clan. We celebrated my mom's 50th bday! (HAPPY BDAY MOM!) And I got to see my sister who is pregnant with her first baby: Pressley. It was so fun to be there. You never really realize how much you miss your family until you get to experience being there and then have to leave. It is hard knowing that if I want to go see my family I have to plan this big event. I mean Sharlie is having all these baby things happening that I want to be part of but I miss out on a lot being here in Columbia.

I kind of had a realization with my relationship with God too. It had always been hard for me to just read the Bible through. I would start with Genesis every time and by chapter 5 I lost interest or forgot to read for a few days and then got in this cycle of trying to start over. However recently for some reason since it had been awhile since I had gotten in His Word hardcore I decided to give it a try again. And this time once I started reading I realized how much I was really missing Him. So now I am trying this reading plan that goes through the Bible how we believe it chronologically happened. So I finally finished Genesis, got through Job and I am now a little ways into Exodus. I am so excited that I am really getting into it. And I feel like God is really helping me retain what I have learned. It is so exciting. And on that note I am going to read some more of Exodus!

11.06.2006

Small Group

Well, it has been awhile since my last entry but I meant to write something in here after I had my amazing small group last Wednesday. I have been with this group of girls for 2 1/2 years along with the best co-leader ever...Wendy. Over the past few weeks we were having great small groups (discussion wise) but I felt like the group had lost the feeling of unity and knowing that they were all part of the body of Christ. So we had a foot washing. Wendy and I washed each of the girl's feet to show how much we love them. We read these verses twice to show what it means to be a true christian:
Ephesians 4
Unity in the Body of Christ

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

I felt like it really helped our group a lot. I then read the passage from John of what Jesus said after he washed his disciples' feet. Because Christ forgave us for so much it is our job now to forgive our brothers and sisters. Then the girls asked for forgiveness from one another and thanked each other and Wendy and me. They actually asked to wash Wendy's and my feet. I was so proud of them. It was a special moment and just reminds me of how much I really love each of those girls. If I was old enough I would think of them as my own children but since they are only 6 years younger than me it is more like a big sister!

So I just want to give some love out to my small group!
Wendy, Lauren, Leander, Olivia, Bianca, Brooks, Kathryn, Alex, Lexie....and Taylor who had to move but WE MISS HER SO MUCH!

I love you all.