Mamma Mia...the Dancing Queens are at it again!

Last night we had a fun girls night and went to see Mamma Mia! It was really cute with the exclusion of Pierce Brosnan's horrible voice! I mean, seriously, how can he be so cute and have such a terrible singing voice? Dinner was yummy with "all you can eat" tacos which of course was way more than we could eat. It was a fun time and we found ourselves singing all night! Can't wait until the Dancing Queens get together again! Yay for girls night out! 

Dinner with the Newton's

Tonight we had a yummy dinner with the Newton's, a wonderful family we met at the greatest church on earth...VL! The picture above was taken in Dominican Republic which was the first time we all shared a meal together. The scenery tonight wasn't as beautiful but the food was sooo much better AND we were able to drink the water with no worries! The Newton's are so fun and the children are cuties too! 

Thanks C and S (aka: shawty) for a good night! 

Can't wait for our DR reunion party this weekend! 

The Babysitters Club!

We spent the day with these two amazingly entertaining kids! The things that come out of their mouths are unbelievable..."my mom is hot", "is this a casual skirt?" (yes, she is 4), "this is annoyan!", etc, etc, etc! They are hilarious and we had a great day! Of course, we still aren't convinced that we MUST have children. In fact, Cody continually commented that our life would be totally different if/when we have kids (he didn't get his Sunday afternoon nap). We love these girls to pieces and we are happy to spend time with them whenever we can. However, it is nice to know we can drop them off at home and completely avoid all parental responsibilities. 

**We love you Hopie and Addie! You can come visit us anytime!**

BBQ, Besties and the ER...

Tonight was supposed to be pretty chill with a cookout at the Hixson's with some friends. After a yummy burger (thanks Pete), we heard a tearful cry and with that, the fun began! Our peaceful evening turned into a trip to the ER with brave Addie (the 4 year old who acts like she's 25), Hollie (the mom), Jenn and me! Thank goodness Children's healthcare wasn't busy so we were in and out before we knew it. Of course, we made the best of it by sharing a few laughs and chatting our time away. Poor Addie left with a tiny sling for her broken shoulder caused by the fall off the swing-set. For the rest of the evening we continued to hear these words from her little body..."I can't do that because I only have one arm now"! In the Hixson home there is NEVER a dull moment and it always seems we are there for the major health "issues" (like the time Hope puked all over the kitchen, etc). I guess you can say...we wouldn't miss it. 

We love you, Addie Boo! You were so brave and we hope you're better soon!  

Family Photos

When we were at the beach with the fam, at the end of May, we had our pics taken. We thought we should take advantage of the fact that we were all together with my grandparents. These are two of my favorites. I miss the beach! I can't wait for another trip to sit in the sand...don't know when it will be but, I can't wait! Hope you all have a great Friday! 

Why we do what we do...

Below is an e-mail I received recently from a attendee at a church we visited. As a ministry, we love to see people come to a relationship with Christ! We also love to see people, who are already in a relationship with Christ, come into a moment of awakening where they realize all it truly means to be a Christ follower. The letter below is a perfect picture of the churches we visit and the people we encounter. I was so encouraged by her note and thought I would share it. 

Hi Katie and Cody, 

I was in the Sunday service when you guys visited our church (in a undisclosed place). Can I tell you...[our church] needed to hear what you had to say; I needed to hear what you had to say.  I am amazed that someone my age has such an intense message.  I felt like my soul was lifted higher than it had been lifted in...well, a really long time.  If you don't remember, the service was about being in the world but not of the world.  It was such an honest service and I find myself thinking about it even 45 days later.  Some of those good ol' Southern Baptist folks had their religious ideas turned upside down that morning...but shouldn't it be like that more often?  It is bad when you can predict what the message is going to be before you even get to church.  When you can say, "Let's see, this is the third Sunday this month so, yep that's it: hell-fire and eternal damnation."  I think God has more than that and I think he wants us to wake up and find it. 

I am not one of those message-board-blogger kind of people and I like to keep my thoughts to myself (and those closest to me.)  I am not one of those shout-it-from-the-mountain-top Christians but I felt like you should know that you spoke to me that morning and you (or God through you) got my attention.  Even God's servants need encouraging sometimes.  Please keep doing what you are doing; keep speaking because the generation younger than us needs it.  Actually, I think everyone needs it.  Even the most devout, hard-praying, focused Christians need to be shaken every now and again.   

You probably remember our Pastor.  (Yeah, he was the one that tried to unspeak everything that you spoke that morning...bless his heart.)  Please pray for him and our Church.  Actually, I am not a member of [this church] but I go there with my husband who grew up in that church.  I cannot seem to let myself officially attach to a denomination; I feel like I am a member of the body of Christ which is much bigger than any one denomination.  Anyhoooo...our Church is going through some growing pains.  Please pray for God's Will because we need to be in the business of saving souls and reaching out to people...not social gatherings, gossip and stale sermons.   

Thanks again :-) 
EB

Generation Change

"Without justice, there can be no peace.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in

it as he who helps to perpetrate it."

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Many Thanks...

Lit Conference is rapidly approaching and I need to take a break to send out some thanks! Over the past few weeks we have been reminded of the wonderful family (who encourages us to press forward when we want to give up) and friends we have. They all have totally overwhelmed us with calls, texts, e-mails and notes, letting us know they've "got our backs" and we are covered in prayer. We are blessed and humbled by all the love, support, prayers and encouragement and we know we couldn't survive without it! 

To our family at VL,  you are amazing and words cannot express all you mean to us! We are engulfed by your prayers and love.

To our family, board and friends...you leave us speechless. We love and thank you! 

Take to the World...

go in peace to love and to serve
let your ears ring long with what you’ve heard
and may the bread on your tongue
leave a trail of crumbs
to lead the hungry back to the place that you are from

(chorus)
and take to the world this love, hope and faith
take to the world this rare, relentless grace
and like the three in one
know you must become what you want to save
‘cause that’s still the way
He takes to the world

go, and go far
take light deep in the dark
believe what’s true
He uses all, even you

I love Derek Webb and I've listened to these words 100's of times. On Sunday morning, I was putting on my make-up and jammin to DW and it's as if I'd never heard these words before. I repeatedly backed it up to listen to certain parts. The song has been in my heart all week and I thought I would pass it along. One of my favorite parts is "may the bread on your tongue leave a trail of crumbs to lead the hungry back to the place that you are from"! I've been praying all week this would be true of my life. Hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend! 

Theater Thursday 13...

13 Movies I have watched over and over again...I love movies and it doesn't bother me to watch the same one repeatedly! This list could have gone on forever! Join in and post some of your favs!

1. How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days

2. 13 Going on 30

3. Pretty Woman

4. Failure to Launch

5. Sweet Home Alabama

6. Walk the Line

7. The Four Feathers

8. Steel Magnolias 

9. Dumb and Dumber (ridiculous, I know)

10. You, Me and Dupree (makes me laugh for hours)

11. Notting Hill

12. Just Like Heaven

13. The Count of Monte Cristo

Enjoy a wonderful Thursday! We are off to Jacksonville for conference meetings. We also are gonna hang with some of the funniest peeps we know...Justin and Jason (and they know it)!!! 

Great Friends, great food, great sale...

Last night we had a yummy dinner at PF Chang's with our dear friends, Tony and Tammy. As we sat down to talk we realized it had been almost a year since the last time we saw each other. Time goes by so fast!! We enjoyed our dinner and conversation about everything that has gone on over the past year. Tammy and I started talking about reading, sharing recommendations with each other, and before we were finished I needed a good book. We immediately headed to find a bookstore and, little did we know, an amazing sale awaited us! I walked out with 7 books, 4 of which are written by one of my favorites...Nicholas Sparks. I think I'm set with good books for a while...that is of course AFTER I buy the Mark of the Lions series! 

T-N-T have been great encouragers and examples to us in ministry and marriage. They both are constantly sending us notes or texts of encouragement to let us know they are praying for us. Tammy seriously is super woman and I don't know how she does it all. God is using their ministry greatly across the country. 

**TNT, we are so thankful for your ministry, your encouragement and your support. We love you guys! 

Friends!

We had dinner with some great friends Saturday night! We laughed, a lot and ate, a lot! God has blessed us with some wonderful friendships!

We love you all (even poca)!

3G

Those of you who know my husband know he is a part of the "nerd herd"...a total tech geek! He loves Apple products and has me officially hooked on my Macbook. That being said, the new iphone 3G came out Friday at 8AM! That's where our story began. Our razor phones had totally kicked the bucket leaving us with dead batteries which, in turn, left us either hooked to the wall or car charger at all times. We might as well stick with our land line. So, we counted done the days to July 11th, rose early in FL (we were there for a camp which was awesome) and drove to the mall in ATL to get our phones. We stood in line, met some awesome peeps and after an undisclosed amount of time (I'm embarrassed to even say) we walked out with our phones. I guess you could say we are Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) perfect consumer. I felt kind of silly to be so excited over a new phone and then it dawned on me...I'm not the only one because the lines aren't getting any shorter! I echo Carrie Bradshaw when I say "hello lover"! 

Thankful Thursday

Hollie (who I'm very thankful for) had a great idea for Thursday so I thought I would join in and share some things I'm thankful for...

I'm thankful for the gorgeous weather we've had at the beach this week.

I'm thankful for the evening worship services at student camp that I've gotten to experience every night this week.

I'm thankful for an amazing speaker who shares his heart and is truly authentic...my wonderful hubby.

I'm thankful for Jessica (AKA: summer intern) and her heart for ministry. 

I'm thankful for VL and the blessing it is to me and Cody.

I'm thankful that Lit Conference will be here in less than a month.

I'm thankful that God is in control in every area of my life (even when I don't see it)

I'm thankful that God has shown His hand and lead me and Cody in the past year, drawing us both into deeper faith and relationship with Him.

I'm thankful for amazing board members that love us, pray with us, encourage us and speak truth into our lives every day! 

I'm thankful God continues to use us and allows us to minister through Fan the Flame.

I'm thankful for all our friends, near and far, thanks to FTF travels!  

I'm thankful we get to spend the weekend at our house...just us! 

I'm thankful for fresh belgium waffles with fresh strawberries (which I'm on my way to eat...right now)

Have a wonderful Thursday! Hope you all join in with thanks! 

Summer time favorite

One of my most favorite things about summer...

Tan Toes! 

The Shack

We are in Destin this week for a student camp which means I'm at my favorite place in the world...the beach! I spent the day chillin by the pool reading "The Shack". My friend, Jennifer, was raving about this book when we met for lunch last week. As we were saying our goodbyes, she reached into her car and pulled out a fresh copy of the book for me to read. Apparently she liked "The Shack" so much she is now carting around boxes of the book to pass out to random strangers! Anyways, it was already on my list of summer reads since it seems everyone I know (and lots of people I don't know) have been flipping over this read! I'm not going to share any thoughts until I've completed the book. If you've read it, give me your thoughts. If you haven't, pick it up! Thanks for the book, Jennifer! Can't wait to have lunch again! 

July 4th...AKA the 4th of Julie

We hung out by the pool most of the day and ate a bunch of yummy food...thanks to Mom! Every day is all about the amazing experiences we can be a part of and last night was no exception. We decided to meet up with some friends to watch the fireworks on the lawn at Centennial Park. We carefully picked our spot, put down our blankets and went to grab some dinner before the festivities. Little did we know, we would never make it to our blankets (after our yummy dinner at Ted's which is literally owned by Ted) because they wouldn't allow anyone else in to the jam-packed park! Who knew?!? So, we stood on the sidewalk, on the wrong side of the fence, so close to our blanket we could literally touch it! Oh well, the fireworks were good. Now, for the amazing experience, Cody decided that we had to take "the" MARTA into A-town for the fireworks! Brilliant (or at least that's what we thought until it was time to come home and we realized everyone else in ATL had the same idea). So, we all took turns carting the 40 & 50 pound kiddos through MARTA in the July heat which, in turn, means our overeating for the day is now completely justified!!! There is always a silver lining. Now, I've got to get back out to the pool! Hope you all had a Happy 4th! Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

13...Again

Since I decided to play along again this week, I thought I would attempt to have some order to Thursday's 13. So, below is a list of things I use pretty often. I always enjoy hearing about new products so if you have any you can't live without, share them! Have a great Thursday! 

Top 13 favorite cosmetics...

1. "Lincoln Park After Dark"-OPI polish

2. Ahava hand creme

3. Acacia's fine line "pump-it up" hair volumizing spray

4. Estee Lauder's "Bronze Goddess" (makes me have that sun-kissed look)

5. Burberry by Burberry (I can smell it a mile away)

6. "Softlips" lip moisturizer with sunscreen

7. It&ly hair & beauty's Pure design/Pure glaze (anti-frizz) 

8. Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion

9. It&ly hair & beauty's Advanced color protection chelating shampoo (I use it once a week and it cleans out the hair shaft from all product residue)

10. A bag full of lip gloss and colors for my choosing (depending on the mood for the day) my "lipgloss be poppin"

11. Nail Tek strengthening nail polish

12. "Chi" ceramic flat iron 

13. Reviva labs organic light skin peel 

The Big Announcement!

No, it's not mine and Cody's! Our dear friends, January and Patrick, called yesterday to tell us they will be having a BOY on Nov. 4! So exciting! The picture above was taken at Disney last August. Yes, we look like wet dogs (not because we rode a water ride) because we got stuck in a monsoon! We had to run all the way through the park, in the pouring rain to get to our cars and of course it stopped while we waited on the shuttle! Perfect photo opportunity. Anyways, we always have a blast with the Jernigan's. I guess on our next trip to Disney we will be accompanied by the Jernigan boy whose father has a mustache (on occasion) and wears t-shirts that read "more cowbell" and the same boy's mother has the middle name "sky" and gives out allowances...to his father! We love you guys and we are so happy for you! Now, let's pick out some blue paint!