Check out our Anne Girl!!!!

I had Anne's photo taken at JCPenneys on her 2nd birthday. They liked this one so much, they had me sign a release for it. I'd been watching for it and after a while, I'd forgotten about it. This postcard showed up in my girlfriends mail last week! How cool is that?????

Uncle Marc came by today to mow the lawn and Anne thought she would hop on for a ride. It didn't last too long though - she thought it was too loud!

We leave for Youth Camp on Sunday after church. We will be gone until Friday. We thought it would be a wonderful way to get to know the teenagers in our church better - besides, Russ and I will always have a heart for young people. I'm doing a workshop on puppets this week and Russ will be doing a Bible Study. Jarod and Anne just get to be there and have fun. Pray that lives will be changed and relationships will be made. Continue to pray for our house to rent - the commute is getting old - and expensive! Until next time......

Russell's Sermons

Okay - it's only taken all week. But I finally had the time to upload Russell's sermons from last Sunday. I have created a link under our photo to the right called "Russell's Sermons" and you should be able to click on there each week and hear both his Sunday morning and Sunday evening sermon. Once we get a church website up and running, Russ is also going to create his own Pastor's Blog and we will link everything together there as well. Until then, click here to listen or download the latest. Enjoy!

What a Week!

Russ started his new job as Pastor of Ocean Park Baptist church this past Sunday. Thank you for all your prayers and words of encouragement. It was an exciting day! This picture was taken this past Sunday as Pastor Eddie Towers passed the torch to Russ. It is humbling to take over for a man who has been in the same church for almost 40 years. He and his wife, Janice, have been such an encouragement and help to us. We are so thankful for them and their wisdom.

It has been an overwhelming week. Russ and I started in the church office on Monday and we have not stopped! Lot's of housekeeping things to learn and get set up. I've had some long days. Working all day at the office and then doing Calligraphy at night. But it will all settle down in a few weeks as we get adjusted. I do know that I am already tired of the drive. It only takes 35 minutes if there is not any traffic - but hit rush hour and it could be an hour or more easily! Please pray that our house rents quickly so we can move closer to our new church family. Once I get used to my job, I will only have to be out here about 15 hours a week.
The church had a potluck dinner for us after morning services on Sunday. They also made it an old fashioned "Pounding". It the "old" days, when a new family would come into the community, everyone would get together and bring them a "pound" of something. A pound of sugar, a pound of flour, etc. I cannot even begin to tell you how much stuff we got! What they didn't buy, they gave us gift cards to the grocery store! My pantry could not hold any more food! I just kept pulling things out of all the bags! Soups, flour, sugar, canned goods, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, paper plates - you name it! All those wonderful staples you fill your pantry with! What an absolute blessing! Thanks Ocean Park for allowing God to use you in our lives already!
Of course, let's not forget all the fun beach stuff that the youth gave us! We are ready for a day in the sun! Now, if we can get our schedules calmed down so we can enjoy a day at the beach! I can see the beach from the church parking lot for goodness sakes! What a temptation! It won't be long though - the kids won't let me forget!!!!!

Thanks again for all your prayers. Pray that the adjustment continues to be smooth and that we can get to know everyone. Pray that our house rents so we can get settled at the beach before school starts. Until next time......

Our North Carolina Getaway.....

We were able to spend 5 nights in Ridgecrest, North Carolina this past week. Ridgecrest is a Christian Conference Center that has been in existence for over 100 years now. They offer Getaways for Pastors and their families. We had a wonderful hotel room, comporable to a Hilton. Only difference is they don't have TV's in the room. It was wonderful!!

Russ has had a nasty cold and now Anne has it as well. Other than that, it was a nice, relaxing getaway as we come home ready to face the new venture the Lord has for us. It was a much needed family time, away from our normal routine. Our days were spent exploring the mountains and at night, we stayed up late playing Uno. Anne can hold her own! I came home with 200 photos - but narrowed it down significantly for you. Here's a taste of our week......

Do we look relaxed?


Me and the kids relaxing on a swing near our room.


Anne and Jarod enjoying the view in the nearby Prayer Garden. It was so quiet and peaceful.


The Noah's Ark playground


One of the things we LOVE to do when we go to the mountains is hike. Anne has always been in a backpack or on Daddy's shoulders. This time she insisted on doing it herself. There were times the trail got difficult - but she did great!


At the top - She made it!


And she took this photo of Russ and I! She may take over my job as family photographer!


Coming down - she wouldn't let us help her.


Again - another photo by Anne! I just really liked it and thought I would share it with you. She has an eye for this!


We spent all day Monday at the Biltmore Estate. What fun I had - imagining out all my favorite Jane Austin movies! What a massive house! The house itself sits on four acres of land. 250 rooms - 43 bathrooms and 65 fire places. A bowling alley, indoor gym and swimming pool! Hot and cold running water. It's considered the largest house in America. It was mind blowing! But - I couldn't help thinking about how much greater our home in heaven will be like.


Our family outside of Biltmore


We paused here for a view of the back yard - all 8000 acres - before heading to the gardens.


Jarod and Anne in the Rose garden. I took several more pictures of the gardens, but like I said, I narrowed things down. We litterally spent hours walking through all the flowers....


Biltmore Barn - the kids got to sit on tractors and old wagons.


I think we do better in modern times!


Anne and Jarod got to churn real butter! They had so much fun!


This was one view from our hotel window. We just love the Smokies!


We did take some time to fit in 18 holes of golf.....


We drove over to Chimney Rock to do some shopping. We've hiked it twice before. Didn't attempt it this time. Russ wasn't feeling up to it and we felt like Anne was still a too small for this hike.


We did walk along the river below though.....


And let the kids pan for gems. They each came home with a bag full.


One of the other things we did was take the kids to The Cove - Billy Grahams Training Center. While we were there, we visited the Chapel. Such an overwhelming place.


Above the Chapel, on the wall in the Prayer Room, we found our favorite verse painted on the wall. What an awesome way to end our trip. God does have great things in store for us as a family. We are excited to be in this place and see what is ahead.

Please pray for us as Russ starts at Ocean Park this Sunday. We are excited and overwhelmed at the same time. We both start in the office on Monday. We still have lot's of things to do to get our house ready to rent. Please pray that the Lord will send the perfect family for our house and that He will guide us to the place He has for us at the beach. Pray for the kids as they adjust to our new schedule and a new church. Jarod is excited and nervouse at the same time - as we all are. We appreciate all of you and thank you for your prayers.

We will keep you informed as always.......

The End of an Era

Today I closed my portable door for the last time! It is the end of an era - four years teaching at Wilkinson Junior High. I have enjoyed my students and the interaction with my fellow teachers and faculty. Of all the jobs to have while waiting for the next ministry position, this was the best possible.

Even though I loved teaching, it is not the passion of my heart. God has put the desire to serve Him in church ministry deep within me. We are taking off for the mountains of North Carolina next week and I begin preaching at Ocean Park on the 14th. Please continue to pray that our home rents soon and that we will find as awesome home closer to the beach.

Until next time....