Finally, a Day at the Beach!

Thankfully, my parents have always been the kind for family vacations. Growing up, we always went to the Outer Banks every year, usually for the week of the 4th of July. Those vacation spots have now expanded to Hilton Head or certain remote parts of Florida... all with the only requirements being that the beach be as relaxing and with as few people as possible. If you've ever been to the Outer Banks, you can agree that it's the most relaxing place on earth. Large beaches, amazing homes with hammocks and hot tubs, biking everywhere, lighthouses, no hotels in sight, and even the occasional wild horse.
VA Beach is not like that:-)
Sadly this year, I will be foregoing my vacation time for a missions trip in late July. So when the chance to go to the beach for a Saturday with the young adults at church came up, you can bet that I hopped on board. However much fun we had "riding the waves" and getting sun, this beach is different. I'd even like to go as far as to call it the Gatlinburg of beaches. Think hotels, boardwalks, millions of people, greasy food, and tourist shops on every corner. It was a great place to people watch and some of my favorites were the 300+lb woman "riding" one of those blow-up whales, the teenage couple making out in the water under the boardwalk... with their jeans on, the older ladies that probably shouldn't be wearing the diamond encrusted bathing suit they probably got when they were 20, and the millions of precious little kids shrieking everytime the waves crashed in on them. The best part of the day was that I even got to read a book for fun (I'm trying to get through "My Sister's Keeper" so I can go see the movie). Minus the missed sunscreen spot on my lower back, the day was great and much needed for this summer.

The Ultimate Youth Pastor

Check this video out about the ultimate youth pastor. If you have any part in youth ministry, you will definitely appreciate it:-)
(It's a little long, but well worth it:-))

Prayer Request for Bam

For those that don't know, my grandmother on my dad's side is affectionately known as "Bam". (My grandfather was "Doda" as if that makes any more sense:-)) She had a small bout with bladder cancer a couple of years and did really well with that. Recently, she has been feeling very nauseous and sick and her doctor actually found a lump in her groin. After the biopsy, we just got the confirmation that the bladder cancer was back and now it has spread to some other areas of her pelvis. The doctor wasn't very giving with a good prognosis, and the only option at this point is chemotherapy. Now I'm asking anyone that reads this to please pray for her. Of course I am asking for complete healing from the Lord for her body, but at the same time I am asking for strength for this new chapter of chemo. She is 81 years old and I know this is going to be very tough on her body. I love my grandmother and it's killing me that we don't live closer to TN where I could help out with things. This does, however, give me more of an opportunity to lift her up in prayer. Thanks guys.

In the wise words of my friend Courtney, you can't put the power of God in a box:-)

Catch Up Time

I feel like I can safely say that these past 3 weeks or so have been some of the busiest, most exhausting days since we have been married. Between graduations, graduation parties, cookouts, youth events, birthdays, work, church.... it has been a whirlwind. I mean, I can't say most of it hasn't been fun, but there is something to be said when I haven't cooked a homemade meal in over 3 weeks and the laundry that was washed two weeks ago is still sitting nicely in the dryer. I leave the house in the morning and usually don't come home until 10:30 or 11. Can anybody else relate to this???? Does it ever get better??? Maybe the more important question is-- How can we start saying no to things? (Any tips would be appreciated:-)) But enough whining....
We did have the opportunity to go home to Cleveland Memorial Day weekend for Scott's graduation and also for Katie's shower. I was so looking forward to this weekend because it was full of friends and family. Here are some of my highlights of the trip:


Watching my baby brother graduate from high school! I realize that it's expected this day and age to graduate, but I still think it's a neat way to end one chapter in your life and start the next. He is going to go to Lee next year for anyone who's wondering:-)


Watching Scott and Brandon's face as they opened their personalized Taylor Swift photographs. They message reads, "I love Scott" & "I love Brandon" Thank you Emily Evans!


Finding out that my very best friend is pregnant!! Courtney surprised all of her family and some of mine with their big announcement. It was so fun to watch everyone's faces! Congratulations John and Courtney!!




Getting to spend an entire weekend with alllll of my extended family (on my dad's side at least). I absolutely love the Douglas family and had a blast catching up with everyone







Getting to throw Katie's lingerie shower! I had some really great pictures from the day but I decided my friends would hate me if I posted them:-) Let's just say we got to use our imaginations that day:-)







Spending time with Katie before she moves to the far off land of New Jersey!! She won't be there anymore when I come home to visit but thank goodness for weddings and TN10 vacations!




Other highlights without pictures:
-Breakfast with the quad pod at the Cracker Barrel. We've had some crazy discussions at that place but it always reminds me of these girls.
-Getting to see Abby's NEW house and helping her pick out paint colors. I hope I wasn't too overbearing in my decision-making..:-)
-The best quote by Abby: "Your family is so great. They are just like mine except they cuss and drink beer!" :-)
- Getting a 4 day weekend from work!! Nothing could be better!

Never Give Up

We have a boy in our youth group who is autistic. I believe he is in 9th grade because this is his first year coming to youth. At the beginning of the year, it was rough- He has a problem cussing and saying inappropriate things, walking around during service bumping into people and chairs, and honestly just being very distracting. Alot of people don't really know much about autisum (I, for one) and I could tell it was very distracting to most of the kids. BUT, over this past year, I have begun to see a change. (And props to my husband for being so patient, working with him, and really looking out for him). The other night in worship, this boy actually stood next to me the entire time (which is a big accomplishment anyways), was still, sang the songs, and even raised his hands up to worship!!! I was blown away! Then on Sunday morning, he went down to the altar to ask for prayer for rededication/salvation! You might not think this is a big deal-- but I am so encouraged!! It just proves to me that we serve such an amazing and awesome God that loves EVERY SINGLE person and will never give up on us! Just because we think somebody is "different" than us, that they aren't the allowed to share in the glory of heaven. It takes you out of your Christian box and stretches you to think and be more faithful in sharing the gospel. That right there is enough to make me smile for a long time:-)



Disclaimer: For anybody reading this from Cornerstone, please know that I am not trying to point out/gossip about this person. I am simply sharing about the miracle I see transforming in someone!

A League of their Own

For the past couple of seasons, I have had the pleasure to sit on the sidelines and cheer Adam on in his softball games. Being the competetive person that I am, while supportive:-), I always wanted to get in there and play. So this is my year! We officially joined the Cornerstone Coed softball team. And let me tell you, it is a sight to see. The team is diverse to say the least: We've got men that are really good and are just playing because their wives convinced them (i.e. Adam), girls that are have trouble making any kind of connection with the ball, and then some in-between. We play on Friday nights and so it makes it like a fun date night for the weekend. Everyone is really laid back and since we're playing in a church league, it's mostly a friendly atmosphere. One thing we have realized, however, is the fact that our coaches are sticklers for the rules:-) We play back-to-back games and since we were late signing up for the season, we had to sit out the first game. Then, Adam forgot his glove the 2nd week and they made him sit out out the first game as well. It's definitely been a humbling experience:-) Not to mention the fact that I pulled a very large muscle last week running to 1st base (Nothing will make you feel older, huh?) But it's been great and we've had the opportunity to also meet people that we have never met from the church before. I'm having a blast and I would attach pictures if I had them. Mental picture: Our shirts are teal:-)

Marley and Me

So I think everyone knows by now that Adam and I are on the dog hunt. We know that we want some sort of an athletic dog, specifically a lab or labradoodle. Well my good friend Hannah told me that we needed to rent Marley & Me because it was about the story of a young couple chronicling their life with their labrador (Marley). Well, after crying my eyes out for the last 45 minutes of the movie, I'm not sure if I even want a dog anymore:-( This movie had the complete opposite effect of a feel-good movie for me! And we were even watching precious Ellie (the Franco's chocolate lab) that night. Basically, I don't do well when pets get old in age. (Don't even get me started on the movie Homeward Bound!!) In fact, I don't like watching movies when people get older either. I always end up relating the pet/person to someone important in my life and then thinking about how sad it will be when they'll pass away. Does anybody else ever feel like this or am I completely morbid??? So by the time Marley was going to the vet for the 2nd time, my brain and my eyes had had enough and I wasn't even sure that I wanted a dog anymore. Then, as if I wasn't depressing me or my husband enough, I got on my where-are-we-going-to-live-when-we-get-older/am-i-going-to-have-to-work-all-my-life/i'm-terrified--to-have-children spill. Adam definitely thought I was crazy and probably just wanted me to go to bed. I really did think it was a cute movie, but I think it just had waaaayyyy too much of a personal impact on me. Give me a week or so, though, and hopefully I'll be back to my dog-hunting:-)