Enjoying Summer.. while it lasts:/

We are trying to enjoy all of the warm weather outdoor fun that we can, while it lasts. Thankfully, it has been not quiet as hot lately as it was and Grace and I have been spending a lot of time at the park. The park in J'town is actually walking distance from our house so we walked to it the other day. Grace also is enjoyed being pushed in the stroller and pushing her stroller herself up our road:).

I let her get in the pool the other day while Daddy was working and she had a blast. I am posting a video too...







Today, we went to the zoo with a friend Leah Smith and her little girl Kendall. They are some of our first friends after coming to Louisville. Kendall is about 6 months older than Grace and unfortunately they haven't got to spend a whole lot of time together lately. They were very cute playing together today though, and Kendall was helping show Grace around the Splash Park. Grace was still not liking the splash park and was crying when the water came up and sprayed her but thankfully, as time went on, she got braver and braver. I was trying to get her to like it and not be scared:) I even went down the water slide with her a couple of times. She liked that. We all took a picnic lunch and ate in the splash park and then Grace and I even walked out of the park through some of the animal exhibits and quickly looked at a few of those. We saw the elephants, giraffe, hippo, and others. It was neat seeing some of those same animals (inc. a warthog!!!) at the zoo that we have just seen in their own REAL habitat in the wild in Africa! COOL STUFF for me!!

It was fun getting to catch up w/ Leah and we plan on seeing each other again soon.





Grace mimicking Kendall! LOL


Oh, by the way, see the elephant?? ROLL TIDE! :)

I have just some random pics from church on Sunday of Grace in her new dress from Burlington Coat Factory. I discovered that store just the other day, and LOVE it!



Grace is admiring her bracelet.. ALL girl:)

Crazy fun and crazy busy;)

Crazy busy:
Adam has been super busy in his new full-time work schedule and is taking 2 graduate classes this semester. His semester started this week. He is in information overload right now as our new semester of AWANA has also started back and Adam is the teacher for the 3rd-5th grade. He is trying to learn how to juggle it all, but we all know how the first week of school is.. He has a big project already due by tomorrow and teaches AWANA tonight and got the materials for it LAST NIGHT. So pray for him to be able to adjust easily to all of his commitments. We know it will get better w/ time, esp. come the weekend when he will be off!

Crazy fun..:)
Last Saturday night we had Isaac and Holly Frasure and Brent and Jane Dunn over for food and game night. We had so much fun! We just love both of these couples! They are so much fun to be around and so down to earth, we always have a blast w/ them! I got some hot wings, and boneless chicken chunks and we all did the sides and dessert. Brent and Jane had the Family Feud game on DVD and we all played-- girls against guys which was great! Both of these ladies are pregnant with their first child so very exciting times..

Combined Worship this past Sunday was AWESOME! It was the first time I have sang in the big choir at combined worship and it was so much fun!! The service was a major tear jerker and very much so a blessing. We had ice cream and bouncers for the kids after the service. Grace was having a BLAST in the bouncers. She just LOVES them now! It was so nice to see our mission trip team members again at this service!

In the pics; The guys are being super silly, since we were constantly on the baby conversation, they decided to act like they had their own baby and was nursing..:)

The last pics are of Grace on Sunday morning.. our pretty girl!

Great Friends,.. Great Times..

Last Saturday I went to a jewelry party for a friend Amy Helms, who is starting to sell Premier jewelry. Her and her husband have recently started the process of adopting a domestic child and she is going to sell jewelry to help raise the funds for the adoption. So, while Grace was napping this past Saturday, I was sure to go and help support them in their adoption. I am so happy for them and glad they have chosen adoption!!

Last night, our church started a new class called Mom 2 Mom. I am super excited about this too because it is a class for just us ladies who have so much in common and can share as 1 in our experiences. This is the first 'ladies' class I have been able to be a part of since moving to Highview. There is a ladies Bible Study at Fegenbush campus on Tues. but I have been unable to go on that day due to work. Last night, we all brought yummy finger foods and have a great time of fellowship and games as we kicked off this Semester. We had a great prayer time as well and we will be having some really great women speakers each week. Very thankful for this time...

As I am doing Mom 2 Mom, Adam is teaching Awana now on Wednesday nights (3rd-5th, I think). They also kicked off last night. Grace started Honeybees that is designed for 2 yr. olds. They have curriculum for them even with a lesson, craft, etc. etc. She brought home all kinds of neat stuff and she is suppose to practice learning a verse each week. She is doing Gen. 1:1 this week. Cool stuff, right!?! Of course, Grace loved it!!

This weekend, we are having some friends over to eat, play games, and hang out. It is Isaac and Holly Frasure and Brent and Jane Dunn. We just love both of these couples and can't wait to hang out with them this weekend. Both of those ladies are preggo with their first child so fun times for them too!!

We truly are blessed to have a wonderful church and beautiful friends to be surrounded by...

The Zimbabwe Ladies...

Last Thursday I went to a girls night with these special ladies... All of us are Highview ladies and were the ladies of our Mission Team to Zimbabwe. We go to 3 different campuses from our church so 3 out of 4 of us didn't know each other before our Mission trip meetings. We all went over to Sarah's new apartment and she cooked us dinner and we watched home videos of our trip and laughed, and shared our pictures, and our stories. Great food and it was a great time! I have grown to LOVE these ladies and we all have a special bond from the time we spent on the Africa trip together. We all have a heart for the nations and fell in love with the Tonga ladies and children that we spent SOOO much time with, while there.

I will forever remember our time together and I look forward to getting together with these ladies more. Until then, we will at least see each other at our combined Worship Services quarterly, that is at the Fegenbush campus THIS Sunday! So I am super excited about that! God Bless these special ladies...:)

Granny and Papa...!!!

Adam's parents came last Friday to stay for the weekend. Grace was VERY happy to see her Granny and Papa! On Saturday we took them riding around downtown and across the river into Indiana. Then we all went to the Louisville Slugger Museum. They had not been before so we went on the tour and Grace even got to try out some bats and swing at some balls:).

Later that night we went to Rafferty's to eat and came back here. On Sunday, we all went to church together and then they had to head back to Alabama. We all had great quality time together and it was great to see them!

FYI: I haven't figured out this new template... so if you want to see the pictures bigger you can click on the pics. I LOVE the one of Grace with Granny and Papa in front of the bat..:)

Quality Time...

Since we got home from the Mission Trip we have been intentionally trying to spend
quality time with Grace. Both Grace and us are 'soaking up' each other's attention. We went to Puzzle's Fun Dome one day after we got back because it was SOOO hot to play out side. We have spent some time out side too. Last Monday and Friday we went to the park by the house. On Friday, we decided last minute to have a picnic at the park. The weather was oddly milder that day and she LOVED the picnic and playing on the playground.

Sunday night, we had our Mission group/home group from our church over and I cooked dinner. Of course, Grace loved the company and our house was filled with kids.:)

This week, Adam started his new job at Charter Communications working Full Time so Grace and I went to Brown Park and saw the ducks, went on a walk, and played at the playground too. She liked going to the 'different' park and LOVED the ducks!!

Then, yesterday was Adam and I's 9TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY and we decided to take a trip to Shelbyville, KY to visit Claudia Sanders Restaurant (Colonel Sander's wife). We had heard good things about this place but had never been. It was SOOO good!! It is a large plantation looking house with great home cooking. Grace did fabulous too the whole evening. It was a great day!

Today, Grace and I made a trip to Kohl's to exchange some things of hers and we ended up picking out a new Dora GOWN for Grace. This is her first gown since she was a baby and she LOVES it! She picked out the Dora and has wanted to wear it every since! As you can see.. she is prancing around in it too...... I will leave you will this......

Zimbabwe Mission Trip 2010

I can't even begin to tell you how humbling and amazing this trip was. While we were there 12 people were saved and the gospel was told and preached to many others. We used the Creation to Christ story. We also was able to hand out tracks in the Tonga language as well as The book of John from the Bible in the Tonga language. They LOVED getting these "books" in their language!! Adam and I had the privilege to share Creation to Christ with 2 ladies that accepted Christ!! We were so glad to see them faithfully returning for the worship services after that day!!

Us women spent a lot of time with the Tonga women and children. We loved on these people, esp. the children and they just 'ate up' the attention we gave them. I already miss them so much!

The men spent a lot of time doing leadership training too with some of the African men that have really stepped up and are on fire for the Lord and want to share it with others. They are trying to start churches all around the area. It was very encouraging to see their hunger for the Word of God and to start churches.

We did get to go on a safari one day while in Hwange National Park and got to see Victoria Falls the day before we left so that was AMAZING too.

Of course, we missed Grace so much but were VERY thankful for my Mom and Step-Dad that took care of her while we were gone. I know she was glad to see us too on Friday!!

I have made a slideshow for all the pics. I have been trying to get it to play music but can't get it to work, so I am copying a you tube video for you to play while you look at the pics.. Sorry.. it's the best I can do=)...Hopefully, the pictures will tell the story because there is so much to say..

Zimbabwe Mission Trip - slideshow with music

On a Mission... Africa here we come!!

Mom arrived in Louisville yesterday around lunch time. She is here in Louisville to watch Grace while we go to Africa. We leave for Zimbabwe in 2 DAYS!!!! It is VERY hard to believe that this trip is here!! It has been a long time planning and preparing for this trip! We went to our last meeting on Saturday night with all the team members of our trip and their families. We had a cook out also and got to know each other better. I know that we will make memories with these people to last a life time. We are very excited about what is in store for us but also some anxious excitement of the unknown. It will definitely be hard leaving Grace but we know she is in very good hands and they will be fine!

We found out more about what we will be doing while we are there ministering to the Tonga people as well as we will get to have a little time at the end to see some things that are one in a lifetime opportunities. For example-- we are going to Hwange National Park and going on a Safari, and going to see Victoria Falls. I am glad that we will have this experience too since we are going to be in Africa, after all...

Please Pray: 1. For the hearts of the people to be changed forever.
2. That these Tonga people will understand the gospel and believe...
3. Pray for God's provision on these Africa people and for their health, etc.
4. Pray for our safety to and from and while in Africa.
5. Pray for Grace to do well with Nana and for all to go smoothly with them and
for protection of them.

Thanks so much to all of you that have given for us to go, and for all the prayers, and concern you have had for this trip. The LORD is going to do miraculous things and I consider it a PRIVILEGE to share HIM with others!!

Our family before church today...

Nana and Grace

Pool, Pool, and More Pool

It has been a very warm Summer in Louisville this year (I'm not complaining--- I will take hot over cold any day:). About the only thing to do outside these days is to get in the pool!! So that is just what we have done a lot lately. The first kiddie pool we got her this Summer apparently had a hole in it from day one and would be flat by the next day every time we used it so it was getting to be a pain to have to blow it up every time we used it. So we went out and got her another kiddie pool the other day. I knew she would love one with a slide so we found her one. She got in it for the first time on Friday and just LOVED it!!

We are LOVING these Summer days!!!







Random pics around the house...

Dancing?!?

Grace has been doing this little galloping move in our kitchen and says she is dancing. She turns the music on with her toy and does it over and over. Our neighbor (who is a dance instructor) says galloping is a type of dance. Not so sure.. but I told her she looks like she is riding a horse so that is just what she did yesterday. She got her horse and did the dance... =)

VBS, July 4th, and Quality Time...

Last week was Vacation Bible School at our church. It was from Sunday through Thursday at night time. It kept us pretty busy last week and tired but it was so much fun. I helped in the toddler/ preschool room (where Grace was) and Adam helped in the 4th and 5th grade room. Grace really got to know a new little friend that week too. Her name is Sierra. That were so cute playing together!!

The VBS week came to a close with a family night that included worship, and then bouncers, play ground, and ice cream. Grace just couldn't get enough of the bouncies!! She just LOVES them now!

VBS Highview Valley Station...

Grace and her friend Sierra... and their new found fun.. to push each other in the baby stroller. They did this all week!! (and Maddox eating a snack)

Grace, Caden, and Sierra playing in the tent..

Riley, Caden, Sierra, and Grace..

Wearing the hat she made at VBS..

Grace, Jacob, Sierra, Eric, Hayden, Riley, and Caden..

Grace and Sierra being silly!! They were trying to see how loud they could scream=)

The last night Isaac (our worship pastor and friend) got a pie in his face by the kids because the girls raised the most money for missions. :) Him and his wife did such a great job with the music also during VBS... they really got into doing the moves:)

Grace LOVING the bouncy!!! She just giggled the whole time she was in there.

In the midst of all our VBS time, while Daddy was working outside, Grace and I had some quality time together one morning last week. I took her on a stroll in the stroller (Grace wanted to be pushed) up the road and then we came home and had a 'picnic' in the shade on our front porch. Grace just loved being outside and eating her lunch!!....

For July 4th we were invited to our Pastor's house for a 4th of July cookout and pot luck. All the mission groups came and it was wonderful. The food was great and the kids has so much fun too because they have a lot of outside toys to play with. Grace really loved their trampoline.. she called it the bouncy=). We just love being with our church family/ friends!!

Ready to celebrate the 4th! (she looks like she is going to pick her nose=)

Grace and Maddy (the pastor's daughter-- on the Left) and Bella on the right with Lauren our Children's Director.

She just giggled on the trampoline too!!

Adam playing cornhole with the guys.. his new found fun!!

Playing in the sand box with Jacob and Paige

Random pic...

Holly (Isaac's wife) who is also our friend!! She is 5 months pregnant!!

Enjoying a popsicle

Grace with sweet and beautiful little Maddy:) and Daddy..

Ashley and Jennifer with the kiddos..

Pastor Jon Akin on the Left and his wife Ashley, and Isaac is in the red.