Wedding bells...

I took these of my sister, Patricia and Geoffrey. I am not an expert photographer, but these are the best ones. :)

Our "bedraggled fellowship"...Salt of the Earth

"Minute to Win It" inspired games. Empty a tissue box...one at a time... in a minute!

Here is Brent flying through the box. Boone is on the floor mesmerized by the action.
In a minute, with your teeth pick up a variety of sizes of paper bags off the ground and run it across the room. Only your feet can touch the ground. Lynsi, is stretching to get those bags!
We were sticking out our tongue at Boone, my area director's little boy, and he was doing it back...it was sooooo funny! I love his little personality!
In one minute you have to move the oreo from your forehead to your mouth, using only your face muscles. No hands. Suzanne is strategically moving that orea on her 2nd try. It is really hard.
Drake and I lead worship and prayer. Andy, my area director had the names of our 3 clubs (Greenback, Lenoir City, Loudon) taped around their house for us to walk through during a time of prayer for our leaders, kids, clubs, community, their family and home. It was such a sweet time to pray over our mission and those involved in it!

"If there should emerge in our day such a fellowship, wholly without being artificial and free from the dead hand of the past, it would be an exciting event of momentous importance. A society of genuine loving friends, set free from self-seeking struggle for personal prestige and from all unreality, would be something unutterably priceless and powerful. A wise person would travel any distance to join it." Elton Trueblood

Intensive fellowship of affection, worship and work

"There is no person in history who has impacted all of mankind more than Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was deeply concerned for the continuation of his redemptive work of a small band of committed friends. He didn't form and army, establish a headquarters, or even write a book. What he did was collect a few very common men and women, inspire them with the sense of the spirit and vision, and build their lives into an intensive fellowship of affection, worship and work..." -Elton Trueblood

Acts 2:42-47

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common....And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

"Going to the chapel...we are going to get married."

Geoffrey's family +Patricia's family. It was a beautiful shower at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, TN.



Nana and Grandad, my grandparents who live in Maryville, TN. It was so good to drive down with them for the shower. Great conversations. They have been marvelously married for 63 years!!! And they still shower each other with love.
Patricia's Pampered Chef Shower...look at that yummy dessert!
My sister is getting married! June 12, 2010! It has been really fun to live to close to each other. Weekly dinners. Making invitations. Dress shopping. Bridesmaid dresses. Showers. Loving love. Great conversations. Sweet times to prepare the way for her new life with Geoffrey.

"Bow ties, beach conversations and sun burns"

Only here in Charleston would you see bow ties, seer sucker (its a type of fabric!), pastels on a man!
Some of my favorite pictures of the night!
Melissa's birthday...it was such a celebration. Happy Birthday, my friend. May this year be your year- full of joyful moments, sweet times with the Lord and embracing the moments.
Kari came to Melissa's birthday party, after we hung out at the pool all afternoon. It was so good to hang out and hear about her life. Kari and I taught together at C.E. Williams. So good to catch up with old friends.
Emily, Melissa and I went to my favorite restaurant, Basil, after an evening of pulling weeds, fighting with the dead lawnmower, finally mowing the backyard. I loved eating Pad Thai and my favorite Spring Rolls. Such a treat!
Alex, Briana, Becca and Emily. This is after we forced Emily to buy a bathing suit so that she could hang out with us. Briana totally knew Emily's debt card number! It was really funny- these girls share a very unique friendship, as it continues to last for many years. I love being a part of this group!
Briana and I at the beach. We hung out at her house at the pool later in the week.
Kelsy, Katie and Melissa...spending good times with my girls at the beach. There were intentionally hard conversations, laughter, jumping in the cold water, sunburns!!!, and me realizing how they are maturing into women. I have been with these girls since they were in 8th grade. We were hanging out and a group of girls I didn't know came up. My girls introduced me as there "8th grade teacher"...I laughed in awkwardness, as that seems really creepy. This was the first of many days that I spent with my girls. I loved that they had spring break the same time that I did.

I took a bike ride in the old village and walked the bridge. It was crazy windy, but so beautiful to be quiet and enjoy His voice.
Melissa and I hit up our favorite shopping. VEGETABLES. They sell fruit and vegetables cheaper than the grocery stores. We stocked up on tomatoes, cucumbers, oranges, bananas, strawberries, plums, sweet potatoes, kiwi. For like 17 dollars. Really I miss this!

Have I mentioned that I love SpRING!!! The flowers blooming. LIFE. Colors. Everything coming to life. I will take this with the pollen to see the beauty of life. Some really colorful buildings downtown. I love these pictures.
This is the oldest church in Charleston. The French Hugonot Church. They actually have services in French there still. The pews in side are benches with doors, you used to pay to have your seat up front.
When I first got into town, Melissa and I to the art walk downtown. We saw some amazing unique pieces and the typical "Charleston" art that every artist seems to copy.

Be still...

A time to sit and be still...

Spring break was spent just being...away...with...sunny mornings quiet before the Lord on the back porch of my roommates home in Charleston...spending quality time with my Junior high school girls at the beach...good converstations...authenticity...laughter...renewal...release...letting go...smiles and giggles...birthday celebration...digging in the dirt...biking to a windy old bridge...reading good books...getting stuck in scripture...celebrating Easter as evidence of His ressurection brought me to my knees...walking the bridge...tears...joy...pure joy.

My prayer was that everyone I know get the opportunity to get away, let go or just experience the pure joy that comes from being still enough to hear from the True voice.