Soulja Boy

Brace yourself for the following video as two white boys try to share with you a dance they learned from our youth. That is one of the many benefits(?) of spending so much time with our youth. The boys love hanging out with them, and being that we approach our ministry soo relationally, they learn things (i.e. songs and dances) that to some would see as a debatable issue. In this video, most is just the pleasure of jumping on the bed, but check out Griffin towards the end. Enjoy! or not!

Flat Stanley

Over the last month we have had a visitor in our home, Flat Stanley. He was sent to us from Isaac Barney of Kernersville, NC. Isaac's class at school had been reading the story of a little boy that wanted to travel. He became flat so he could travel in the mail, thus going to many places. He arrived in December and hung out with us around the house. We played games with him, baked with him, and then he went with us to the local fire station. We had made cookies as a "thank you" for all their hard work. Flat Stanley was shipped back home with a letter describing all our ventures. What a cute idea to get to know other places!

Christmas 2007

I know, I know....it's about a month past, but my mom sent some fun pictures from her camera. I only took my still camera to NC, so NONE of my pictures are develpoed yet. Sad I know. Anyway, her are some pictures of most of the cousins playing together. Hamiliton didn't get in any of the pictures, because he came later. In one of the pictures everyone is playing with some type of "RC" creature.

I don't have any pictures to share from Grandma Jo's house, but we had a great time there as well. We all enjoyed celebrating Christmas morning there. We spent a lot of time hiking, playing soccer, and enjoying our new Candy Land DVD game.

Our next stop was to Poppie and Yaya's house. The boys were troopers, but were getting weary as the trip went on, so unfortunately, our time with them was cut short. We did hear some great news while we were there......Aunt Jenna is pregnant!! Yippee! She is due in August, so we will have cousins on that side of the family.

We ended our trip going back to Chapel Hill and attended a Carolina game. What an exhilarating time!!!! Chad and I loved the experience and were completely jacked up leaving the game. Talk about energy. Soon after the game, we loaded up the kiddos and drove through the night to get home. Great time with everyone, but home felt so good!!!!!

Paring Away

Simplicity is the best way to narrow our focus, one which is most important

Stripping away the layers of greed, peeling back the material to reach the spiritual will bring great rewards, happiness, contentment, peace.

It is not the things we need, but inner joy

The joy that can only come when our eyes are not focused on earthly desires, but the desire to know God, to serve him, and to love Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls.

That should be our greatest goal.

*this was written by a friend's grandmother many years ago*