SUPRISE!!!!

My favorite sister spent the summer in TX and I missed her so. While she was gone my mom and I decided to update her room. These pictures do not do it justice! Especially if you've saw it before... shudder... We painted it tan with randomized pink stripes and got new decorations too. It is hard to get a decent whole room shot, but hopefully I can get one soon and post it. She had no idea waht we do, so when we brought her home from the airport she was a tad bit shocked, it was great! I am SO glad she's home!

David, Rachel and Emmie Jackson...

These are the Jacksons, they are a wonderful family of THREE. They also happen to be some of Alan and I's best friends and we love'em a lot. Rachel is about 71/2 months pregnant here.

My favorite thing about this picture is when Alan saw this picture he said "Whoa...where did they get that huge E it's like the size of David" Lol...silly husband.

Hallie's E made it into quite a few pictures.

OK, go easy on me, last week our computer got a huge virus, and didn't work anymore. So from that we no longer have photoshop (...for now) I am a little bitter at our dumb computer, so just don't judge to harshly :(

This is what I feel like every time I think of, go to , hear the word, dream about the beach. I love it all, I just want to jump for joy and run down into the water. So if you are going to the beach bring me!!! (Alan too)

We have had an awesome summer! God has been so faithful. I can remember a time not to long ago being so stressed that summer was coming because we had a zillion things to plan for. And while there have been stressful and overwhelming time, it was so good to trust God through it all. The only thing this summer needs is another trek down the hill and into the sea.

Lexi Frederick came to the beachday with the Jr Highers, she is one of my favorite little people. If you know her at all you are blessed by her. Her warm heart and love for people is so refreshing! I wish I was more like Lexi :) Not only does she have this awesome heart she is to stinkin cute!

Yesssss!!! I got one. Katie would not let me take her picture, but no worries I can be sneaky, I know you guys are shocked but it's true :) I had to take a lot of pictures of this girl to get one where she wasn't covering her face!

I love when Stacey comes on our beachdays!

Mikey the Mermaid

All in all it was a good trip, fun peoeple, awesome Lexi, Clue, catching seagles...or trying to, mermaids, texting, taking pictures, boogie boarding, and starbucks. Now thats a good day at the beach!

The Lord's business...

I feel like I have been thinking a lot lately, some of you say about time! What I mean is that I have been very contemplative lately about, about....well everything. Yesterday Todd Arnett gave a great sermon! And I don't remember what it was that he said but it reminded me of an "old" (when I say I old I mean 6 years ago when I was in high school...hehe) quote that I use to love (and still do). Danny Gardner once used it in a sermon and it had a very big impact on my life, way of thinking, and way of relating to people. Anywho here it is...

" Many Christian acts I do on earth I will also do in Heaven. I pray. I will pray in Heaven. I sing. I will sing in Heaven. I serve God. I will serve God in Heaven. There is one thing I will not be able to in Heaven: bring the lost to Jesus. I will be to late. My heart must be set aflame for the lost now. We must be all about our Father's business."

Now looking at it there are probably quite a few reasons this could have popped into my head yesterday. Could you think of some :) I jut wanted to share...We really do love you guys and are so thankful for your prayers!

Oh yeah... that quote is from Sammy Tippet's "A Fire in their Heart's"

Emmie Kate Jackson, we are excited for you to come!

Today Katheryn, Missy and I threw Rachel a baby shower. It was really fun and hopefully blessed Rachel. Here a some pictures from today...

She got A LOT of pink things! I don't think was a present that wasn't pink!

Emmie's Nursery is decorated with brown and pink lady bugs so that was a subtle theme. Missy made these AMAZING ladybug cupcakes that were so cute and a big hit!

Presents are so much fun!

Yay! We are so excited for Emmie Kate Jackson to get here! Rachel's due date is September 26th! Please be praying for the Jackson's as they prepair for Emmie!

New Blog...

Hey everyone, I have started a new blog! It's called "Stepping Stones to Wales"And the URL is http://www.waleswatching.blogspot.com/ I am still going to be posting on this one, the waleswatching one will be primarily about the ministry in Wales and the process of getting to Wales. Hope you like it!

Final Fling 08!

Five Days of Knights (A life of service to the king)

Final Fling was awesome this year! (Not that any other year wasn't) We had such a good time learning, growing, having awesome conversations, and just hanging out! We went to Lake Casitas, which is in Ventura. We had the best of both worlds, the beach and a lake! This years theme was pretty much awesome, Alan and Braden taught on how to live a life of service to THE KING, they picked out great examples from the Bible of people who dedicated their lives to following the Lord and taught on different things we could learn from each one. This is how a normal day went: Get up, sunrise singing, breakfast, game, worship, sermon, beach (or activity), lunch, continue activity/beach, dinner, worship, sermon, game, campfire, hanging out, sleep/talking in the tents (which was awesome!). Needless to say I had a good time, but I guess it helps that we have the most awesome Junior Highers ever!!!

Sand Angel...duh

She pretty much rocks... this picture was taken just after she won a arm wrestling contest with a guy staff member (cough Scott cough), who cares that her arm was numb for 15 minuets afterwards :) She still won!

Whoa...Alan is shrinkning?

Junior highers and sand... a lot of people got burried last week.

Such fun girls! Carly really got some air!

Thomas the shark :)

I love these girls!

Hannah and Anna...

Nothing says camping like fooseball!

Braden and Alan split the sermons. They did a great job!

We had a lot of fun on this trip! It was such a joy to watch kids grow closer to their savior, I know I had some awesome small group times with my girls. The guys did a great job of planning this camp!