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Amena will be at Lit Conference in 40 days! Amazing and I can't wait to meet her!

Out of Control Post...

Check out the blog Krissee posted entitled "From when I went to Cornerstone University..." It's hard to believe it's real and I think it's hilarious! If this is the "good wife's guide", I would go into the top 10 worst wife's of the year category. Thank goodness I'm a wife in the 21 century! Oh how the times have changed...

Thursday Random Thirteen...

I didn't jump on the "13" blog last week so I thought I would play along today! Totally random...these are in no particular order! 

1. I finally have cable at my house...we've lived here since May 31st.

2. I had a yummy lunch with Jennifer! Great to see her!

3. I'm excited to read "The Shack".

4. We're going on a date tonight. Yay!

5. All the laundry is finally finished. (12 boys were at my house for 3 nights)

6. Brewsters peach icecream is calling my name for dessert.

7. Kenzie and Jenna need to plan a trip to ATL to visit me! 

8. Lit Conference is coming in 43 days! Yikes!

9. I need to be at the beach! 

10. Cody and the internet guy on speaker phone are really distracting me from writing this blog.

11. I'm getting a new phone in 2 weeks! Yay for no more dead batteries! 

12. How can I have like 200 channels and nothing to watch?

13. I miss my friend HHH something terrible!

Join in, leave a comment with a link to your 13!

People shouldn't be bought or sold...

I just finished listening to a sermon by Steve Chalke and it spurred me to action. It was thought provoking, humbling and my eyes were opened to a great responsibility I have as a Christian. Every 30 seconds one person is trafficked somewhere in the world and an estimated 17,500 children were trafficked into the US last year for sex purposes. I've also read two books in the past year which educated me about modern day slavery (I know what you are thinking...didn't we handle slavery like 100 years ago?), "Ana's Story" by Jenna Bush and "Be the Change" by Zach Hunter.

I, like most of you reading this, live in the US, in a nice and safe neighborhood under the "picket fence" mentality. I travel all over the nation and run into people who I would consider to be underprivileged on occasion (like on my way to the Braves game in Atlanta or while shopping in NYC). I watch Fox news from time to time, I read the headlines (if they look interesting) when they pop-up on my Comcast account as I check my e-mail to see who has written on my Facebook wall and overall, I'm pretty up-to-date on the current events. I've never once seen or read anything on the news about a human trafficking case or raid and I wonder how something so astonishing could go unnoticed. As I listened to the message today, it suddenly dawned on me that we, as a country, are content with what the news media feeds us and, in all honesty, we would rather not hear all the "real" issues that surround us. My mind is totally blown! I don't want to live a petty life, oblivious to people hurting and in need around me. 

If "the church is not a building, it's people", and I believe this is true, then it is not the governments responsibility to take action, it is the churches duty! I hope you will check it out Steve Chalke's message on I-tunes under podcasts for Mars Hill Bible Church "Stop the Traffik". You can also check out Stop the Traffik for more information and to get involved. 

The Big Ticket Festival!

This is how everyone in MI shows you where you are in the state...with their hand. We had a great weekend in Northern Michigan (ya know, the top of the middle finger or the part of MI where you might as well be in Canada) for the Big Ticket Festival. The weather was perfect with the exception of the evenings which were a little too chilly for my southern blood. The people of Michigan are wonderful and every person we came in contact with was so sincere! We met some remarkably genuine people including Aaron & Michelle, all of our drivers (Kyle, Sarah and Ashley), Craig Gross (XXX Church), Jon Bell (with Heart Support), Shonlock (from Diverse City...Toby Mac), Leeland, AG Silver, Krissee Danger (also with Heart Support) and a bunch of other peeps. We also got to hear some amazing musicians which are in such large number there is no way I can remember or list them all. I love meeting new people from all over the world and building relationships. Cody did an awesome job sharing God's word and teaching about being/doing all God intended for your life. We look forward to our trip back to Michigan next year! We are home for 2 weeks to work and make preparations for Lit. We have a lot to do! Until next time...eat salt on your watermelon!

Happy Birthday!

Tomorrow, June 19th is Cody's birthday! I feel pretty bad because we will be traveling to Michigan and I haven't made a big deal about his special day! I'm so proud of him! So, here's the deal, go to his page and send some love! 

A little note to my babe...I love you bunches! Hope you have a Happy, Happy Birthday!! 

Kitchen

As promised, below are a few pics of our new kitchen! It turned out just as I had hoped. I guess I need to start cooking now! I love to walk into a house, get a vision, make the selections and transform it into something cozy and beautiful! We love our new place! I will post more of other rooms at a later date. 

Before

After

So, here's what we did (when I say we, I mean a team of the greatest sub-contractors on the planet...thanks North GA Contractors AKA: Dad)...re-finished the hardwood flooring with a darker stain, new stainless steel appliances, new tile on the back-splash, installed a granite countertop and re-finished the cabinets with an antique stain. 

I don't have to be me til' Monday...Friday, Saturday, Sunday...

The girls chillin on the curb, waiting for a table...obviously, the perfect photo opportunity! 

Cody & Brian, the "double chin twins"! Work it out! 

It's official, Cafe Intermezzo serves the largest, most delicious vanilla latte I've ever tasted in my entire life...seriously. I had the privilege of this latte experience after dinner, Friday, with a few of our nearest and dearest. Cody and I were also introduced to a new restaurant, which is customary on our nights out with these friends. The atmosphere was so fun and the music made me want to learn to salsa. Saturday, we spent the entire day shopping and enjoying time together. This girl loves nothing more than spending the day at the mall so, Cody and I did just that. Thankfully, Cody (after a few years of marriage) doesn't mind a shopping day. I actually think he enjoys it although I'm sure it's not at the top of his fun activities list. As much as he may hate to admit it, the man loves Nordstrom. 

After a packed service at VL we had yummy lunch with the family to celebrate Father's Day! We have so many things to look forward to this week including, Cody's birthday and a trip to Michigan. Hope you all had a pleasant Father's day weekend! 

Happy Father's Day!

Has to be my favorite pic of Dad. This was taken on the cruise last year and it's a perfect representation of him...chill. 

Cody always picks on me because I refer to my father as "Daddy". I've tried to explain to him that if we ever have a little girl he will love it when she calls him daddy. He's not buying it! Well, here's the truth, I'm quite a Daddy's girl so, I wanted to wish him a happy, happy Father's day! I once read that a girls image of her heavenly father is based on her image of her earthly father. If her earthly father was absent and showed no care or concern for her, she thought of her heavenly father as a distant, unconcerned being. I am so blessed to have a Dad who is a wonderful image of my Heavenly Father! He is kind-hearted, generous, hard-working man of integrity who loves our family with an unconditional love. Daddy (don't laugh, Cody) you are the best and I love you! 

It's Friday night!

I have to begin by saying how very exciting it's been to be in OUR home, with everything in it's place for the past few nights! My closet is officially organized, my dishes are finally unpacked and my candle obsession is going in full force. There is nothing I love more than a well lit house and soft candlelight plus, I have to get the new paint smell out of the house. Cody, who has never personally shopped for candles in his entire life, almost flipped when I paid $20 for the most wonderfully delicious smelling candle I've ever purchased. I tried to explain to him that good candles cost more and I couldn't live without this one. He wasn't buying my explanation but he did buy the candle (thanks babe)! Now, slowly but surely, my house is beginning to smell yummy. However, we may need to purchase a few more of those candles to achieve scent success! 

Tonight we are going to dinner with some of our friends and tomorrow I plan on hanging by the pool where I hope to meet some of my neighbors. We shall see! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

VBS at VL

Monday and Tuesday I helped out with VBS at Vinings Lake. I used to teach VBS every year but since we have started to travel so much, especially during the summer, I haven't had the opportunity to serve in that aspect in a few years. Monday and Tuesday at VL was absolute chaos with kids running everywhere and teachers trying to stay on schedule and keep order. I forgot how much I missed it! The first day I was there to do whatever and Tuesday, they put me in one of the rooms to assist with the 4 year olds. It was so much fun (and a whirlwind) to be with those kids. Of course I looked like a total goof in my attempt to teach the kids a song with motions. Wow, the things we will do! Pass the word, if I'm in town next summer, I wanna teach VBS!  

102 degrees!

This past weekend we were in Pinehurst, NC (my hometown) for an event with Fan the Flame. Our friends and one of the greatest bands we work with, the Jason Cox Band, joined us for an exciting weekend. It's always fun when we are with these guys...deep conversations and laughs all around! We were also joined by our amazing intern for the summer, Jessica, who had absolutely no idea what she was getting into when she joined us! She is already such a blessing to us and was so helpful. Since we were in my hometown, we got to see all the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents! It was the first time the church had ever hosted an event for youth with a speaker and band! It was 102 degrees on Sat. and Sun. so the outdoor activities were quickly moved inside. As we unloaded the trailer (actually, we watched the band unload the trailer) we were scorching. We couldn't believe how hot it was for the beginning of June. Ridiculous! 

I'm sure it was a little shock to some people considering the fact that Cody and the band wear jeans (exclusively), tees and all have hair that is totally out of control! The event went great and I know many lives were changed. My cousin, Morgan, shared her story about the change God has done and continues to do in her life. I was so thrilled to hear her share all God is doing in and through her! She was so nervous but she did great and it was so relevant to the group. It was a blessing to do an event in my hometown in an attempt to reach the area. As usual, we came home with a few stories to share about some of the crazy's we run into (Jessica, I'm sure, had a few of her own). We love our job and all the amazing adventures we get to be part of. It may be late nights and long days but I agree with Jessica..."this doesn't feel like work, it feels like vacation"! 

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks...or Chick-fil-a & icecream!

After spending the day working on the Lit Conference, we went to the Braves game with our dear friends January and Patrick! This is the first time we have seen them since they dropped the bombshell that they are having a baby (or a kid, as they put it)! We had to leave as early as possible so Patrick would not miss a single minute of the game and festivities. It was scorching hot in ATL tonight! We had some great seats (thanks to J and D), yummy Chick-fil-a and icecream.

The highlight of the night came when Chipper Jones hit his 400th homerun! That was pretty awesome. Everyone cheered, a video clip was shown and the music was blaring. Of course, Chipper acted as if it was no big deal as he waved to the crowd with no expression, whatsoever. I don't know who won because January and I caught up on all our chatting. We are so blessed to have them as friends and board-members. We can't wait to meet their little one in November! We are so thrilled for their new addition! We head to NC this weekend for a Fan the Flame event with our friend Jason Cox. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend in the sun! Thanks J and D for the tickets! 

Great Reads

I have a renewed passion for reading since I picked up "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers last summer. I love it! It is the greatest book I've ever read and everyone must read it! I read all the time and can't wait to pick up a new book. I've talked with some of my gal pals and I think we are going to start a book club! Can't wait for that either. Until then, I think I'll pass along some of my favorites. If you've read anything good recently, please pass some suggestions my way. Last week when we were at the beach I read "Sunday's at Tiffany's" and it was great. It is not one of James Patterson's murder mysteries, it is a sweet love story about finding true love within yourself and the people that give you confidence to be who you truly are. The story is about a girl from NYC (my favorite place) who goes from childhood to womanhood, her struggle with self-image, trying to please others and her attempt to find true love. It was very sweet and a good beach/pool read! I am now reading "The Last Summer of You and Me" and once I'm finished with that, I am excited to start "The Honeymoon" by James Patterson. Happy reading! 

We are finally moved in! It all started first thing Saturday morning and it seems we haven't stopped since. Everything is in it's place after about 4 days. Not too bad! Cody is thrilled that all the heavy lifting is complete and I'm happy the clutter is gone. They are coming to clean tomorrow and then I can unpack the kitchen (the cabinets need a thorough cleaning before any dishes are put away). There are a few small things that need to be done and I need to hang all the pictures. I need a little time to think on where I want everything. Due to the fact that all our belongings have been in storage for over a year, I had forgotten how much stuff we actually have...too much. The remodel turned out better than expected and it really feels like home (I will post before and after shots sometime soon). I can't wait to host my first gathering! Thanks Cody for all your hard work and for letting me go crazy with the renovation! I hope we don't move again...for at least 2 or 3 years. Ha! 

More from Santa Rosa

Mom & Matthew Shaggin on the Sand

A visit to the "Truman" house...Cody's favorite movie

Sunset

Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Me & Kensey doing what we do best...reading on the beach! 

Our gorgeous rental

Cody doing what he does best...acting crazy.

After flipping the kayak & having lots of laughs, we finally made it out to sea. So fun! 

Here's the thing...we saw a SNAKE on the beach & Dad is provoking it! I will never chill on the beach the same...ever!