Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Last week (July 11th - July 16th), Eli and I had the privilege of chaperoning our church's junior high youth group on a mission trip to the Osage Indian Reservation at Pawhuska, Oklahoma. It was all the kids' very first mission trip, and it was truly an honor to see how God worked in their lives that week to teach them what being Christlike is really about. We all definitely grew closer to God and to each other through hard work and lots of fun!

Although, I have had a superbly wonderful pregnancy so far, I have dealt with a few "symptoms" like heartburn, backache, general tiredness, etc. However, I have to say that on this trip God gave me SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH that even my littlest of symptoms hardly surfaced at all! What an amazing God we serve that He knew just what I needed for the week.

Yet, His best prize to me was that our baby learned to kick and elbow me like crazy during the mission trip. Every night during our worship (Club) time, our little boy would just start dancing and moving around like crazy. Since then, we have discovered that he absolutely LOVES David Crowder Band. It gets him going like no other music can! Eli thinks we might have a little worship leader in there (only if he gets his daddy's voice and not mine though!).

Here's a photo of our whole group on top of Lookout Mountain.

Since we've been back, we have committed to doing daily devotional time of 20 minutes (like we did on the trip every morning) and we have been all keeping each other accountable.  It's been so fun getting texts from the kids reminding me to read my Bible and pray.  Talk about motivational!  

It hasn't been that long ago since Eli and I first moved here and being the middle school sponsors was first brought up to us, and we were both terrified of the idea!  I thought middle school ministry might be the last thing on earth I could possibly grow in.  As usual, God had other plans, and now I truly can't imagine us serving in any other capacity at this time.  Love these kids!  Love God for always knowing best!!!  :-)

4th of July Fun

Fun 3 day weekend!

Friday, we finished putting in a new patio in our backyard.  Now it's time to go shopping for some patio furniture and a fire pit for s'mores!  Before we know it, we'll be adding a kiddie pool back there too!  :-)

Saturday night was the Spring Hill car show at the local neighborhood hot spot - where else?  the Sonic!  Mom entered her 1956 Ford T-Bird, and although she didn't win, it was a pretty popular car.  Beforehand, Mom & Steve came over to add some fish to the nursery wall.

We're doing an underwater-themed nursery and friends and family members have been adding their custom fish creations to it.  It's becoming quite a work of art.  To see them all, check out my facebook photo album.

Yesterday, we went over to Eli's parents' house and got to see Caleb and his band perform some of their latest work.  Plus, have some great food and shoot off some fireworks (before the rain stopped us!).

I still haven't been feeling our baby boy moving around too much, but he did seem to enjoy his uncle Caleb's music, because he was moving like crazy last night.  He must have been dancing away in there!

I'll leave you with this video from the "Frog Prince" firework.  It's a little difficult to see, but his mouth and eyes light up every once in a while.  Of course, I loved it!  :-)