Surfside Beach with the Family

At the beginning of June we took a family vacation to the beach with Drew's Dad and his side of the family. We did this last year as well and we had a nice time. It is a great way to connect with our family since we live in another state and seldom have time to see everyone when we are home in Tennessee. The kids love it because they get to spend a whole week with their cousins.

 

We did lots of fun things from hanging out at the beach and the pool, going to Broadway at the Beach, going to a kids carnival and of course lots of eating.

Lucas has been lucky in that the past two years we have been at the beach for his birthday. This year my big boy turned 8 and we let him choose how he wanted to celebrate. He choose his birthday dinner of homemade pizzas and IBC root beer. He also requested we do Tye-Dye shirts for all the cousins and finish off with a water balloon battle. We finished the night off with a yummy ice cream cake.

We love you Lucas and couldn't be more proud of you! 

Haiti Love

I had the privilege of returning to Haiti this year with a team to share God's love. This year was very different for me in that I knew what to expect and had a vision of what our time would look like. I was part of a team of twenty-four and it was as you would expect crazy at times. Keeping up with each other, making sure supplies were were they needed to be and just the general logistics that comes with that many people in a third world county. I will say that we all had different talents and skills that we used to share God's love. There were many components to our days, such as Bible Time, Recreation, Crafts and Hygiene teaching. Thank you Lord for using us and allowing us to complete your work.

I was sad to leave this year and could have spent more time with the wonderful people in Haiti. I have had to really pray about my attitude since returning to the states and I find myself bitter and angry at the entitlement that I see in this country. As we were traveling in our tap-tap and I looked into the faces of those who have so little, I was overwhelmed with emotion as I thought this could be my life. There is no difference in God's love for his people just where he chooses to start your life that changes the circumstances of how you grow up.

 


I leave you with a benediction that was used as part of  devotion time by our team leader. It spoke to me in ways I still cannot put words to.

May God bless you with a restless discomfort
About easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice,oppression,
And exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for
Justice, freedom and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer
From pain, rejection,starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you
May reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that
You REALLY can make a difference in this world, so that you are able,
with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

Amen

1 of 34- Summer of Fun List

Sun, Sand and Sea. See ya in a week!!