I have been in a funk.
There. I said it.
For those who don't knowI lost my job in August.
It was a shock to say the least.
I had been with the small, family-oriented company for over a year. Mark and I were talking about buying a house. Then, out of nowhere, I was called into the owner's office and told that because of our heart for missions, and our desire to one day leave this country, they didn't see me as a permanent employee. Thankfully I was so shocked that I handled myself with as much grace as I could muster. I gathered the things from my desk, loaded everything in my car, and cried the whole way home.
After a couple of days of wallowing I applied for unemployment and started exploring other options. A few short weeks later I had my first unemployment check and a fairly lucrative cake business.
God is good.
I decided that I would apply for jobs and go on interviews but that I would be selective until November (as my unemployment runs out at the end of December).
Well....it's November.
I have been on several interviews and nothing has really panned out. I feel like I'm fairly bright and capable of doing whatever is asked of me, but because of craptastic decisions earlier in life (mainly resulting from my selfishness) I don't have any experience to back those claims up.
It's no secret that I've struggled with my identity. As days turn into weeks, and the call backs never come, I have struggled with feeling inadequate, useless, and unworthy.
Unfortunetally these feelings have migrated into my relationships as well.
This has resulted in me wanting to crawl in a hole and sing:
"Nobody likes me,
Everybody hates me,
I Guess I'll go eat worms."
Thankfully I have a husband who calls me out on this childish behavior and encourages me with "Suck it up buttercup."
I hope that the handfull of you reading this understand what a huge deal it is for me to pour out my heart like this. I don't usually open up to people. I have not had good results with it in the past. More often than not my deepest struggles have been locked away inside another person to be used against me later. I just don't trust people.
I would love to say that there is a bright side to this depression narrative....but, alas, I'm still waiting for....something.
Right now I rest in the fact that God is who he said he is, he will do what he says he will do, and I am who HE says I am.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
The Way We Were
I saw a high school marching band for the first time in years tonight. Actually I saw 5. It's crazy how memories can be attached to sounds and resurface so quickly.
The second band that took the field started their show with Beethoven's 5th symphony.
Immediately I was 15 years old, my first season of marching band, with my hair pulled too tightly under my hat because I was terrified that one strand was going to be misplaced. Under bright stadium lights, pouring sweat, I stepped onto a football field for the first time. Y'all....my heart.
After that one show seemed to bleed into another. Football season lasted forever. But one memory remains so clear I can almost feel it.
District marching festival. 1997. Tommy Oliver Stadium. Panama City, Florida.
We lined up on the field like so many times before. The lights were blaring and the stands were filled with people. (This time our audience was made up of fellow musicians and exhausted parents.)
The show was like any other, only this time it meant so much more. We had 30+ years of tradition riding on our shoulders. Our band was 'superior' (the highest ranking that a marching band can get) and had been for years. Everything rested in our hands now.
During the last song (Ode To Joy by Beethoven) we performed a 'company front.' Basically the entire band formed a straight line, paused for a bit, and then marched 5 more yards forward in unison. During that brief pause no note was to be played. It was dead silence for a few seconds then we all came back in together and played our guts out.
Those brief seconds are forever burned into my memory.
We formed our company front. The music went silent. Seconds before we were to play the next note a voice called out:
"Come on band."
There, from the sidelines, the man that challenged us to be better, chastised us when we made stupid mistakes, yelled when we refused to listen, and praised us when praise was due was cheering for us.
He knew what we had inside and he compelled it out.
That's what he did. He challenged us to greatness. He taught us that there is no excuse for not being excellent.
Tonight I saw bands take the field running with their instruments and waving wildly to people in the stands. I saw musicians dance rather than play. I heard melophones "trying to save the world" and tubas who were trying to see if they could get their tongue to come out of the bell. And I heard Mr. D's voice in the back of my head, not being critical, but demanding more than mediocrity.
I have waited 11 years to be a band mom. As I watched not only these bands, but their proud parents in the stands, I silently prayed that Camber gets her own Mr. D.
Words can't express the impact that he had on my life. I will forever be grateful for his influence.
The second band that took the field started their show with Beethoven's 5th symphony.
Immediately I was 15 years old, my first season of marching band, with my hair pulled too tightly under my hat because I was terrified that one strand was going to be misplaced. Under bright stadium lights, pouring sweat, I stepped onto a football field for the first time. Y'all....my heart.
After that one show seemed to bleed into another. Football season lasted forever. But one memory remains so clear I can almost feel it.
District marching festival. 1997. Tommy Oliver Stadium. Panama City, Florida.
We lined up on the field like so many times before. The lights were blaring and the stands were filled with people. (This time our audience was made up of fellow musicians and exhausted parents.)
The show was like any other, only this time it meant so much more. We had 30+ years of tradition riding on our shoulders. Our band was 'superior' (the highest ranking that a marching band can get) and had been for years. Everything rested in our hands now.
During the last song (Ode To Joy by Beethoven) we performed a 'company front.' Basically the entire band formed a straight line, paused for a bit, and then marched 5 more yards forward in unison. During that brief pause no note was to be played. It was dead silence for a few seconds then we all came back in together and played our guts out.
Those brief seconds are forever burned into my memory.
We formed our company front. The music went silent. Seconds before we were to play the next note a voice called out:
"Come on band."
There, from the sidelines, the man that challenged us to be better, chastised us when we made stupid mistakes, yelled when we refused to listen, and praised us when praise was due was cheering for us.
He knew what we had inside and he compelled it out.
That's what he did. He challenged us to greatness. He taught us that there is no excuse for not being excellent.
Tonight I saw bands take the field running with their instruments and waving wildly to people in the stands. I saw musicians dance rather than play. I heard melophones "trying to save the world" and tubas who were trying to see if they could get their tongue to come out of the bell. And I heard Mr. D's voice in the back of my head, not being critical, but demanding more than mediocrity.
I have waited 11 years to be a band mom. As I watched not only these bands, but their proud parents in the stands, I silently prayed that Camber gets her own Mr. D.
Words can't express the impact that he had on my life. I will forever be grateful for his influence.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
I have found the one my soul loves...
I'm a math nerd. I always have been. Numbers just make sense to me.
So, here are some numbers for today:
So, here are some numbers for today:
5,113 Days
7,362,720 Minutes
14 Years
2 Kids
1 Cat
3 Dogs
25 Houses
4 States
9 Countries
In those numbers we have laughed and cried. Hurt each other and carried each other through tragedy. We've seen new family members be born and said good bye to others. We made made lifelong friends and watched relationships dissolve. We have lived with family and we have lived on our own. We have had much and we have had very little.
We have literally grown up together. We have learned to be adults. We have learned to rely on God in situations that we never dreamed possible.
14 years later I still do.
 |
| 1999 |
 |
| 2000 |
 |
| 2013 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Where Feet May Fail
I'm not good at expressing emotions. I spent most of my childhood hiding
the way I feel so that it couldn't be used against me.
'My heart' is a phrase that you will hear me use when I can't express the deep emotion that I'm feeling.
Y'all.
My heart.
Last night our small group had its last meeting for the semester. We grilled burgers and dogs and sat around chit chatting about baked beans recipes and the conundrum of ab workouts. (You workout your abs so you have a smaller waist, but the workout makes your abs hurt so much that you can no longer 'suck it in.')
I didn't realize at the time, but while I was downing Mountain Dew like it was my job, my childhood friend was losing his life.
Yesterday, in a freak accident, a boy that I had known since I was 2 years old was shot and killed in his home. His family was gathered to celebrate the birth of their first son.
On the way home from my last small group meeting I read the short article posted on Facebook by mutual friend and immediately started to sob.
A million questions started going through my mind: What just happened? Is there anything I can do? Is his wife ok? How is his mom?
I immediately remembered that this is the same boy that used to get blamed for pulling my hair...even though it was really his best friend.
I thought about baby Jax and how he will never his father.
Of course, in times like these people squeeze their loved ones extra tight and try to remind themselves that God has a plan.
If I'm being honest, as my head hit the pillow last night, I repeated over and over through cold wet tears:
"Lord, I believe but help my unbelief."
Today, as Facebook is flooded with pictures, and memories, and condolences, I am praying for Jess. I literally can't imagine what she's going through. I pray that the peace that passes all understand will be real to her.
I pray for Mrs. Sandy and Mr. Billy, that they would have wisdom in the words that they speak over their daughter.
I pray for Mrs. Vicki. That she would be comforted. That the pieces of her heart would begin, even now, to weld together.
I pray for Brian, Justin's best friend. That he would continue to draw close to God and that he would be a source of wisdom and strength for the family.
I pray for Emily, Jess' best friend, that just her touch would be a source of comfort for Jess.
I pray for baby Jax. That he would grow to be a man of integrity, like his father.
I pray for those who will feel Justin's absence in the days and weeks to come.
I don't have answers. I don't even have anything comforting to say. But I can pray, so that's what I'll do.
'My heart' is a phrase that you will hear me use when I can't express the deep emotion that I'm feeling.
Y'all.
My heart.
Last night our small group had its last meeting for the semester. We grilled burgers and dogs and sat around chit chatting about baked beans recipes and the conundrum of ab workouts. (You workout your abs so you have a smaller waist, but the workout makes your abs hurt so much that you can no longer 'suck it in.')
I didn't realize at the time, but while I was downing Mountain Dew like it was my job, my childhood friend was losing his life.
Yesterday, in a freak accident, a boy that I had known since I was 2 years old was shot and killed in his home. His family was gathered to celebrate the birth of their first son.
On the way home from my last small group meeting I read the short article posted on Facebook by mutual friend and immediately started to sob.
A million questions started going through my mind: What just happened? Is there anything I can do? Is his wife ok? How is his mom?
I immediately remembered that this is the same boy that used to get blamed for pulling my hair...even though it was really his best friend.
I thought about baby Jax and how he will never his father.
Of course, in times like these people squeeze their loved ones extra tight and try to remind themselves that God has a plan.
If I'm being honest, as my head hit the pillow last night, I repeated over and over through cold wet tears:
"Lord, I believe but help my unbelief."
Today, as Facebook is flooded with pictures, and memories, and condolences, I am praying for Jess. I literally can't imagine what she's going through. I pray that the peace that passes all understand will be real to her.
I pray for Mrs. Sandy and Mr. Billy, that they would have wisdom in the words that they speak over their daughter.
I pray for Mrs. Vicki. That she would be comforted. That the pieces of her heart would begin, even now, to weld together.
I pray for Brian, Justin's best friend. That he would continue to draw close to God and that he would be a source of wisdom and strength for the family.
I pray for Emily, Jess' best friend, that just her touch would be a source of comfort for Jess.
I pray for baby Jax. That he would grow to be a man of integrity, like his father.
I pray for those who will feel Justin's absence in the days and weeks to come.
I don't have answers. I don't even have anything comforting to say. But I can pray, so that's what I'll do.
 | ||
| Donations to support Jess and baby Jax can be given here. |
Friday, May 16, 2014
Dance Recital
Another year has flown by!
This past weekend Camber celebrated her 2nd year dancing ballet with Chara Christian Dance Academy. Y'all, she loves it.
This year recital was especially interesting. The ballet classes came together and told the story of creation through dance. It was literally breath taking.
To make the day even more special Camber was joined by her "friend" from school, Goku. (His parents are as weird as we are and named him after Dragonball.)
They spent the evening making googly eyes at each other and pretending the rest of us didn't exist.
I'm sorry, how old am I right now? How can I possibly have a child who is going into middle school and inviting boys to her dance recitals???
This past weekend Camber celebrated her 2nd year dancing ballet with Chara Christian Dance Academy. Y'all, she loves it.
This year recital was especially interesting. The ballet classes came together and told the story of creation through dance. It was literally breath taking.
To make the day even more special Camber was joined by her "friend" from school, Goku. (His parents are as weird as we are and named him after Dragonball.)
 |
| Is he not the cutest kid? |
They spent the evening making googly eyes at each other and pretending the rest of us didn't exist.
 |
| Aunt Amanda and Uncle DoDo |
 |
| Daniel and Elizabeth Clark (My office girlfriend) |
 |
| Grandma and Pop Pop (With flowers from Mema who couldn't be there this year) |
I'm sorry, how old am I right now? How can I possibly have a child who is going into middle school and inviting boys to her dance recitals???
Monday, April 7, 2014
Contentment
Contentment is a tricky beast.
Surely you know when you're not happy with what life is handing you. It should be easy to see, right?
Funny story. It's not.
I didn't recognize my own discontentment until my friend Elizabeth confessed that she's been struggling in that very area.
When she said those words out loud I remember snickering and saying "Yeah, I can see how you've been in 'fake it till you make it' mode."
I didn't realize that those words were true for me also.
Ever since we stepped foot back in the United States I have longed to leave again. (How's that for patriotism!)
I saw this season of our lives as "hurry up and wait." We were just biding our time until God got his ducks in a row and we could get to doing what he called us to do.
Please understand that I see, now, how horrible that sounds.
After sharing our hearts (and history) with our pastor and his wife we were encouraged that this season is not to wait, but to grow. We were in a safe place, surrounded by people who genuinely love us and are willing to speak truth into our lives with love. (Which is something we haven't had in recent past.)
I believe that the Great Commission is carried out 'as you are going.' I have continued to stay connected to the body and have been active in my local church. I invite friends to church, hold babies in the nursery so their moms can enjoy service, make coffee and set out communion, and have lunch with friends so that they feel involved and connected. I haven't stopped serving.
The issue with all of this is my heart. I never served begrudgingly, but it was just something to occupy my time until we moved on to something else. If God wanted me to grow in leadership I was going to show him just how ready for being a leader I was.
I feel like I've been saying and doing the right things (most of the time) but my heart was in the wrong place.
It's time for a re-boot. Time to speak my soul into submission and get my heart lined up with God's.
It's time for me to see this season for what it is and be willing to use up every second of the incredibly generous opportunity that God has given me.
During this time of growth I am learning to open up every part (yes, EVERY part) of my life with the people closest to me. I am learning that admonishment, when handled in love, doesn't have to leave spiritual and psychological scars. In short I am learning what genuine biblical community is really like.
Surely you know when you're not happy with what life is handing you. It should be easy to see, right?
Funny story. It's not.
I didn't recognize my own discontentment until my friend Elizabeth confessed that she's been struggling in that very area.
When she said those words out loud I remember snickering and saying "Yeah, I can see how you've been in 'fake it till you make it' mode."
I didn't realize that those words were true for me also.
Ever since we stepped foot back in the United States I have longed to leave again. (How's that for patriotism!)
I saw this season of our lives as "hurry up and wait." We were just biding our time until God got his ducks in a row and we could get to doing what he called us to do.
Please understand that I see, now, how horrible that sounds.
After sharing our hearts (and history) with our pastor and his wife we were encouraged that this season is not to wait, but to grow. We were in a safe place, surrounded by people who genuinely love us and are willing to speak truth into our lives with love. (Which is something we haven't had in recent past.)
I believe that the Great Commission is carried out 'as you are going.' I have continued to stay connected to the body and have been active in my local church. I invite friends to church, hold babies in the nursery so their moms can enjoy service, make coffee and set out communion, and have lunch with friends so that they feel involved and connected. I haven't stopped serving.
The issue with all of this is my heart. I never served begrudgingly, but it was just something to occupy my time until we moved on to something else. If God wanted me to grow in leadership I was going to show him just how ready for being a leader I was.
I feel like I've been saying and doing the right things (most of the time) but my heart was in the wrong place.
It's time for a re-boot. Time to speak my soul into submission and get my heart lined up with God's.
It's time for me to see this season for what it is and be willing to use up every second of the incredibly generous opportunity that God has given me.
During this time of growth I am learning to open up every part (yes, EVERY part) of my life with the people closest to me. I am learning that admonishment, when handled in love, doesn't have to leave spiritual and psychological scars. In short I am learning what genuine biblical community is really like.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Divine Appointments and Root Canals
Do you ever have those days where you just feel useless?
Last week I found myself smack dab in the middle of a mood. While I can usually feel one of these coming on, and respond quickly with chocolate, this one caught me off guard.
A friend, who is a missionary in Panama, posted the organizations promo video, and like a fool I watched it.
As most know, our time in Panama didn't end well. Honestly I was curious as to what they were up to, and hoping that they would show some of what they've been doing in the community there.
Instead I was bombarded with familiar places that brought tears to my eyes. They spoke of the opportunity to reach the nations through this one city because of it's diversity.
Something stirred in my heart and I started to feel like I wasn't living up to my potential. I allowed that voice to whisper to me "They're doing what you have failed to do." "You are stuck at home with your heart in another country, and God can't use you like this."
It was depressing.
It's hard when ever fiber of your being wants to jump in head first, but your heart knows that you are in the right place at the right time.
Now is the time for restoration and growth. I am SO thankful that God has given us a safe place to grow, but part of my heart aches for what is next.
That afternoon I left work early to go to the dentist. I was scheduled to get my second root canal. (Thank you Celiac Disease for ruining my teeth!)
At the dentist a new set of nerves kicked in. I don't love shots....especially not shots in the roof of my mouth.
After a few tries half of my face was completely numb and we were ready to get started.
About half way through the procedure one of the receptionists came by the room to let the dentist know that one of their patients had passed away.
At this news the assistant shared that she was terrified of death. The dentist responded saying "You're terrified to die because you don't have the hope of eternal life in Jesus."
Honestly y'all....I thought I was hallucinating. I was sitting there the whole time thinking "Is this really happening?"
The assistant would ask questions about this hope that was spoken of, and the dentist would answer, always reverting back to scripture.
They finished the procedure and I was just waiting for them to take bite impressions for the crown. The assistant were in the room alone and she looks at me and says "What do you think?"
I asked her to clarify what she meant, and she said "What do you think about what she was saying."
I got the chance to tell her that the dentist was SPOT ON. And that the hope of eternity is what drives away the fear of death.
Tuesday afternoon, March 4th, I got to share the gospel with a dental assistant after a root canal.
I know that God is in the divine appointment business, but this really blew me away. Not only did she need to hear about the hope of salvation, but I needed to be reminded that the Great Commission says "As you are going."
Last week I found myself smack dab in the middle of a mood. While I can usually feel one of these coming on, and respond quickly with chocolate, this one caught me off guard.
A friend, who is a missionary in Panama, posted the organizations promo video, and like a fool I watched it.
As most know, our time in Panama didn't end well. Honestly I was curious as to what they were up to, and hoping that they would show some of what they've been doing in the community there.
Instead I was bombarded with familiar places that brought tears to my eyes. They spoke of the opportunity to reach the nations through this one city because of it's diversity.
Something stirred in my heart and I started to feel like I wasn't living up to my potential. I allowed that voice to whisper to me "They're doing what you have failed to do." "You are stuck at home with your heart in another country, and God can't use you like this."
It was depressing.
It's hard when ever fiber of your being wants to jump in head first, but your heart knows that you are in the right place at the right time.
Now is the time for restoration and growth. I am SO thankful that God has given us a safe place to grow, but part of my heart aches for what is next.
That afternoon I left work early to go to the dentist. I was scheduled to get my second root canal. (Thank you Celiac Disease for ruining my teeth!)
At the dentist a new set of nerves kicked in. I don't love shots....especially not shots in the roof of my mouth.
After a few tries half of my face was completely numb and we were ready to get started.
About half way through the procedure one of the receptionists came by the room to let the dentist know that one of their patients had passed away.
At this news the assistant shared that she was terrified of death. The dentist responded saying "You're terrified to die because you don't have the hope of eternal life in Jesus."
Honestly y'all....I thought I was hallucinating. I was sitting there the whole time thinking "Is this really happening?"
The assistant would ask questions about this hope that was spoken of, and the dentist would answer, always reverting back to scripture.
They finished the procedure and I was just waiting for them to take bite impressions for the crown. The assistant were in the room alone and she looks at me and says "What do you think?"
I asked her to clarify what she meant, and she said "What do you think about what she was saying."
I got the chance to tell her that the dentist was SPOT ON. And that the hope of eternity is what drives away the fear of death.
Tuesday afternoon, March 4th, I got to share the gospel with a dental assistant after a root canal.
I know that God is in the divine appointment business, but this really blew me away. Not only did she need to hear about the hope of salvation, but I needed to be reminded that the Great Commission says "As you are going."
Monday, January 20, 2014
At the Cross
The other day I was reading one of my school books and read something
that I just found profound. Anyone that knows me knows that I enjoy
learning about the background history of the biblical times. They often
give a lot of insight, debt and context to the message that is being
told. This was just that sort of information. On Thursday at the
church I had these thought bouncing back and forth in my head but didn’t
share them, so here it is.
Back in Jesus’ day there was a word that was so nasty, so ugly, and so vile, that not only would you avoid using it in polite conversation but you would avoid it nearly at all to the point that people had terms to soften the word. This word would cause people to become nauseous just hearing it. This word was a constant reminder to the Jewish people that they were not free, but that they had been subjugated to the Romans. This word was a form of the worst torture. The word CROSS. Today we look at it far more different, at any given church you can usually see several; prisoners wear them as jewelry or as tattoos. To soften the blow they would say "he was lifted up” or “he stretched out his hands.” when talking about the cross and crucifixion.
The author was using this while talking about selflessness in Philippians 2:8 “…and becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross, he didn’t soften it with the typical “stretched out his arms” or “will be lifted up” in this instance, he gave the raw unfiltered word CROSS.
It had been just a few days prior that Matthew 16:24 caught my attention, it always does to some extent while reading though Matthew but for some reason it struck that this call to carry the unmentionable word CROSS happens right after Jesus’ foretelling of his death and resurrection but that this foretelling doesn’t mention the CROSS. The Amplified Bible version reads like this"
Matt. 16:24
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]."
Having read this bit about the repulsiveness of the cross I went back and reread this verse, it gave new depth and that is why I share this now, when you think of or look at the cross remember the ugliness of it, also remember that the King of all wasn’t above the lowest death on it and it is only for that reason that we see beauty in this inhumane article of torture and death.
-Mark
Back in Jesus’ day there was a word that was so nasty, so ugly, and so vile, that not only would you avoid using it in polite conversation but you would avoid it nearly at all to the point that people had terms to soften the word. This word would cause people to become nauseous just hearing it. This word was a constant reminder to the Jewish people that they were not free, but that they had been subjugated to the Romans. This word was a form of the worst torture. The word CROSS. Today we look at it far more different, at any given church you can usually see several; prisoners wear them as jewelry or as tattoos. To soften the blow they would say "he was lifted up” or “he stretched out his hands.” when talking about the cross and crucifixion.
The author was using this while talking about selflessness in Philippians 2:8 “…and becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross, he didn’t soften it with the typical “stretched out his arms” or “will be lifted up” in this instance, he gave the raw unfiltered word CROSS.
It had been just a few days prior that Matthew 16:24 caught my attention, it always does to some extent while reading though Matthew but for some reason it struck that this call to carry the unmentionable word CROSS happens right after Jesus’ foretelling of his death and resurrection but that this foretelling doesn’t mention the CROSS. The Amplified Bible version reads like this"
Matt. 16:24
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]."
Having read this bit about the repulsiveness of the cross I went back and reread this verse, it gave new depth and that is why I share this now, when you think of or look at the cross remember the ugliness of it, also remember that the King of all wasn’t above the lowest death on it and it is only for that reason that we see beauty in this inhumane article of torture and death.
-Mark
Monday, January 6, 2014
Happy New Year
December was a whirlwind! The holidays are always busy, but this year was outright crazy.
You see what had happened was:
Mark finished yet another semester. Five months older and wiser with scores of new information to tuck into his pockets for later. Who am I kidding, he managed to not have a nervous breakdown over Philosophy and finally finished his last English class. There was much rejoycing.
In his spare time, he managed to get some time in the saddle. He's looking forward to several big organized rides in 2014. More on that as they come around.
I (Kim) also managed to complete her first semester back (again) with a 3.25 GPA. I am working as a dispatcher/ customer service representative at a local HVAC repair company. I love the job!! Sometimes it's a bit like herding cats, but I really like the guys. Everyone in the office is a believer so there is an air of grace there unlike any other job I've ever had.
Back in October I had back surgery to correct some herniated discs. Thankfully the surgery was a complete success and I got out of the hospital bed that evening pain free! I am still doing well, and have have had no other issues with my back.
The second week of December Camber went to her first overnight camp. The fifth graders at her school traveled a few hours north and stayed at an environmental science camp for four days. She had a blast!! We missed her greatly and when she returned we informed her that she was never allowed to leave ever ever again!
She also got the incredible opportunity to dance during halftime at a Houston Rockets game with her dance crew The Noize. (You can watch it here.) Every Saturday the sweet people from Grace Community Church gather and teach a wild group of kids what worship looks like. They dance, they sing, they study scripture, and they pray. She LOVES it!
December is a special month for Cooper. This year he turned 9. Because this was an off year for birthdays we celebrated at a local Mexican Restaurant. He is now a proud owner of a sonic screwdriver (his favorite gift)!
Christmas started with a candlelight service with our church family at OneLife. Thankfully no one caught anyone else on fire!
Mema provided the kids with the opportunity for broken limbs in the form of a trampoline. The first couple of days they had it we could barely get them off of it. Now that it's about 30 degrees outside they have second thoughts about the amount of time they spend away from the fire.
While Christmas is traditionally spent lounging and eating, and eating and lounging this year was a little different. For the first time the ENTIRE family was in the same zip code. It was necessary that we take a family photo.
Because I think pictures should tell a story we headed down to the Kemah Boardwalk to snap some memories from this season in our lives.
Just three short days after Christmas, on December 28, 2013, we added a new member to our family. Jonathan married Amanda.
We traveled to the booming metropolis of Beeville, Texas to celebrate with them.
Camber and Cooper were part of the wedding party, although Coop wasn't super thrilled about it.
I made the cakes and handled the dessert bar while my best friend, Sam, did the catering. The food was amazing, and the cakes looked pretty good too, if I do say so myself!
We laughed, we cried, we danced the night away. And at the end of the day I had a sister and my brother had a wife!
We are WICKED excited to see all that God is going to do in 2014.
You see what had happened was:
Mark finished yet another semester. Five months older and wiser with scores of new information to tuck into his pockets for later. Who am I kidding, he managed to not have a nervous breakdown over Philosophy and finally finished his last English class. There was much rejoycing.
In his spare time, he managed to get some time in the saddle. He's looking forward to several big organized rides in 2014. More on that as they come around.
I (Kim) also managed to complete her first semester back (again) with a 3.25 GPA. I am working as a dispatcher/ customer service representative at a local HVAC repair company. I love the job!! Sometimes it's a bit like herding cats, but I really like the guys. Everyone in the office is a believer so there is an air of grace there unlike any other job I've ever had.
Back in October I had back surgery to correct some herniated discs. Thankfully the surgery was a complete success and I got out of the hospital bed that evening pain free! I am still doing well, and have have had no other issues with my back.
The second week of December Camber went to her first overnight camp. The fifth graders at her school traveled a few hours north and stayed at an environmental science camp for four days. She had a blast!! We missed her greatly and when she returned we informed her that she was never allowed to leave ever ever again!
She also got the incredible opportunity to dance during halftime at a Houston Rockets game with her dance crew The Noize. (You can watch it here.) Every Saturday the sweet people from Grace Community Church gather and teach a wild group of kids what worship looks like. They dance, they sing, they study scripture, and they pray. She LOVES it!
December is a special month for Cooper. This year he turned 9. Because this was an off year for birthdays we celebrated at a local Mexican Restaurant. He is now a proud owner of a sonic screwdriver (his favorite gift)!
Christmas started with a candlelight service with our church family at OneLife. Thankfully no one caught anyone else on fire!
Mema provided the kids with the opportunity for broken limbs in the form of a trampoline. The first couple of days they had it we could barely get them off of it. Now that it's about 30 degrees outside they have second thoughts about the amount of time they spend away from the fire.
While Christmas is traditionally spent lounging and eating, and eating and lounging this year was a little different. For the first time the ENTIRE family was in the same zip code. It was necessary that we take a family photo.
Because I think pictures should tell a story we headed down to the Kemah Boardwalk to snap some memories from this season in our lives.
Just three short days after Christmas, on December 28, 2013, we added a new member to our family. Jonathan married Amanda.
We traveled to the booming metropolis of Beeville, Texas to celebrate with them.
Camber and Cooper were part of the wedding party, although Coop wasn't super thrilled about it.
I made the cakes and handled the dessert bar while my best friend, Sam, did the catering. The food was amazing, and the cakes looked pretty good too, if I do say so myself!
We laughed, we cried, we danced the night away. And at the end of the day I had a sister and my brother had a wife!
We are WICKED excited to see all that God is going to do in 2014.
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