tired

This has been one long weekend.

A. Successful Encounter Day (open house) at NGU.

B. Sally Ann, Adam, and I had great family time, along with my Mom on Saturday.

C. My Daddy is still hurting. For those of you who don't know Dad had some tests in May and since he has not been able to walk long distances and is in constant pain. This makes me hurt for him. I hate to see him in pain. Please pray for spiritual and physical healing. He is suffering and I know Jesus will set him free.

D. Homecoming in a really traditional church= need I say more?

E. AWANA ministry Sunday night=a very short Sunday nap.

But I am now with my husband and I am happy even if the golf channel is on right now.

little pup big bark

Just a few videos for my Mom to see what the puppy has been up too. Penny the small dotson was introduced to Toby the big mixed lab. They bonded. The picture shows Penny in Adams recliner this morning.

joy

Wednesday was another very hard day. Work was long and tiring. I try to leave work at work. The only work that is continious is God's. Tonight at church was great. Adam taught a lesson about David's character. It brings me great joy to see our new young Christians digging deep. Logan (who is 16 and young in his walk) could not get his head around God allowing David & Batheshebas baby to die. Why? He kept asking, why would God take Davids child-he didn't do anything. I know its a hard question but its so good because he is questioning and wanted Jesus to teach him. Logan is going to be a great tool for Jesus.

Then on the way home I was listening to a preacher on the radio which I normally cannot do. I came in at the middle but God used what little I heard. I have been struggling with where I seek praise and I have always been dramatic. Not drama queen whiny but just oh woe is me my day was bad even if it really wasn't that bad. This pastor was teaching on just having fun in God. Just take some time to laugh and love your Jesus. I have to learn to do this daily I know it will help take the edge off. I have learned that if I dance around like a crazy person when the stress comes on it will help. I have proven this many times. Try it just think about the SugarHill Gang ( i think thats the name of the band) song Apache and hum the Jump on it part in your head while dancing around and you will smile. :) God loves for me to smile.

tuesdays

1) Long day at work...I do work in a Christian University but sometimes it is so hard!

2) I have the greatest husband ever. I came home to small things done that come across as the biggest ever.

3) My sister is coming Thursday. I get three days with her and I cannot wait!

4) I get to see my family 3 weekends in a row. God is good!

5) The people in the above picture make me happy!

Love Comes Softly

"Love Comes Softly" is one of my favorite movies. I used to play Little House on the Prairie as a little girl with Caroline and we would have a ball pretending we had to live in this one room house, grow our own food, and plow our fields. Sunday I was home from church sick so what did I do to keep myself busy, I watched all the "Love" movies. Now these are Hallmark movies. that were originally books by Jenette Oak. As I am watching this love unfold on these movies I remembered playing with Caroline. I imagined what life would be like for Adam and I if we were pioneers in the west. Such a young family starting a new life miles away from your own family. Missy ( a character in the books/movies) leaves her family and travels with her husband in a wagon train toward their dreams! I panicked moving 4 hours away as a newlywed. I mean I wouldn't see my family for a month how could I make it? Anway...then I realized I am a pioneer. Ifelt empowered by my realization. I could grow my own food, take care of my husband, and maybe even have natural childbirth one day. At least try! I am trying to do life as Christ would have me to live. Which at times can make you feel like you are out in the middle of no where alone. But I can definitely say I would follow my Adam anywhere. I may not be a newlywed anymore but I am still a bride as my husband calls me. I am his precious and I am thankful he tells me I am precious at least once a day. I hope this wasn't too boring to read but I had to let you all know that in my head I am still playing house some times just maybe not Little House. :)

my children

Last night (Wednesday) Adam and I took our youth along with another church to a concert in Spartanburg. Our students were placed with students from another church at camp. Well they became fast friends and we try to do stuff together since they are from Greenville. The Calvary kids we affectionately call them. So last night we took off with a bus full of fun. PJ Burgess is apprently really my kid in fact more than once last night I heard mommy can I sit with you or mommy tell Brandon to live me alone? He warms my heart. I know God has given me these special gifts until I have my own kids to follow me around. Anyway, the concert was at Spartanburg FBC. The Hanger is what they call their student center. A multi-millon dollar building. Its amazing what God has done there. They average 400 to 500 kids on any Wednesday night. Its amazing. Our dear friend Jack Eason, who introduced Adam and I was there with his band along with Foster Christy. I love this man. Understand I really don't like to hug many men. Even men at church that I know. But Foster gives the best big hugs. He was a running back ( i think) at Auburn in the early 80's. This man is the best. Jack Eason is the lead singer for the Sound of Light band. The Sound of Light is a radio ministry out of Spartanburg. If you get a His Radio affiliate listen on Saturday nights from 7pm to 10pm. This is great music for youth and always an awesome message. Back to the night. Our kids were so happy because they were able to see Jack and Foster, who were at camp, plus their friends. It was a wonderful night.

At the end 2 things.
1) The best thing!! One of our on accepted Jesus into their heart. We have been investing in the young man for awhile and I couldn't be happier that he surrendered.

2) Jack had been to South Africa with Cross International over the summer and the night before had saved 100 orphans from a village through giving. Last night he challenged us to search our own hearts to give sacrificially toward saving the last 40. Well it would take 2800.00 to save the last 40 for a year. Oh how I wished I had 2800.00 I don't know what was raised but it made me wonder about our child Kinfe. How is he and what can I pray about for him. I just pray that I can continue to give as Jesus wants me to and I know that He will take care of these last 40 orphans.

Praise

On Sunday night I had a normal Hopper/McCraw meltdown. I couldn't explain it but I was furious with my husband over many stupid things. Adam has become my compliment giver. I almost demand praise from him and when I don't get I fall apart. I know sometimes your husband should be your encouragement but he had become my source. Attention please is what I tell him when I feel sorry for myself and I need something.

Today at work, I listened to one of Beth Moore's 30 minute online Bible studies. You can imagine at work I miss alot of what she is saying but today the end struck me. I want to be praised by my husband, my mom, etc. I am addicted to someone saying you are such a good wife, good co-worker, etc. I look for it. Everyday. I must not look for mans praise. I must seek God's approval only.

Lord, I only want you. Only your encouragement. May I praise you contantly. Help me to give you my all. All my worries and desires. Please fulfill my heart with your love. Amen.

North Greenville Football

Mom and I at the game.

This was Penny the entire game. We snuck her in...tucked in the bag.

Emily, Sally Ann, Adam-top row

Sarah and Hunter-black shirts-bottom row.

Last night was NGU football history! Our first televised game. God is doing great things there and I am happy and blessed to be apart of it all.

Date night...

Tonight was date night. We haven't had date night in so long...we have had lets go grab a bite to eat nights but not something fun and sweet. So tonight in the pouring rain my hubby and I went to the movies. I must tell you we are tight. I mean we hate to spend too much money especially when it comes to movies. I am not really sure if this is "breaking the law" but we definitely went to Eckerd and got Sour Patch Kids for Adam and Milk Duds for me PLUS some combos just in case. I stuck it all in my big black bag and off we went. Once in the movies, Adam needed popcorn and I need Dr. Pepper. Lets just say when the Nanny Diaries was over I was about explode from junk. Lots of junk. (btw the Nanny Diaries was cute especially for me since that was my job for 4 years.)

One of the first lines in the movies was "one thing you can count on in life is a suprise." Oh how true this has been for me these past few months. Don't get me wrong Jesus is my constant but I would be wrong in saying He doesn't suprise me. But what would my life be like if wasn't suprised? So bring on the suprises. :) Jesus will take care of me and my Ad.

Clarification

So my 8 random facts were about me but ADAM says we haven't agreed about "back up" girl names so...I am now tagging my husband. He can log on and blog his 8 random facts. :)

I love you Adam. Hope everyones day is fabulous!

8 random Facts

So I was tagged by Katie to list 8 random facts about myself... so here we go.

1) I wanted to be a Rockette when I was little actually I still want to be one. I have a killer high kick. (at least I think so).

2) I can move my bottom lip back and forth real fast to make a funny face. You really have to see it to understand but I taught myself to do this when I worked at Wachovia as a teller in the drive thru.

3) I am terrified to stay by myself at night. I have never stayed in our house yet by myself. When we lived in Fayetteville, NC I stayed one night by myself in the apartment convinced I would be fine because I had really close neighbors. Let me just say that late that night I remembered my closest neighbors were hearing impaired...I think I slept 2 hours. :) Would they have known if I would have screamed?

4) If my house isn't clean I can't really rest. Its a curse from my Mom.

5) I still clog daily around my house and if people ask about my dance career I tell them I am a retired clogger. Yep I really do. Even if my sister is better.

6) Speaking of my sister, Sally Ann. As a woman she has a great impact on my life. Sally and My mom are my best friends. I want to be like her. She has the gentlest spirit, knows that a boy doesn't complete who she is, is rooted in her faith, she's gorgeous, has her whole life before her, and is only 17.

7) I cannot wait...I mean cannot wait to have kids. I already have names. Anna Grace (I love double names) Robert Caleb (call him Caleb), and Emma Rose (just Emma). Back up girl names are Maggie, Ava, Ben.

8) I try to be tom boy for my daddy and Adam but really I am terrified of worms, fish, and anything else icky. But I do love my boys.

Am I just now listening?

Lately, I have felt like God has just started teaching me. Seriously I was riding down the road today and thinking gosh, its like I am just being taught by our Lord. Then it was like a brick wall. He has been teaching me. I was tuned out. I felt like my life had been wasted so far. Had I not thought about anything? He has shown me grace, strength, encouragement, etc. Basically I absorbed all that He has given my and hidden it in my heart. I realized today that I am not the best friend and I am not always the best wife, daughter, sister. As I was thinking about all this and beginning to beat myself up I realized that my life is an art project. I am merly the clay. I am the canvas.

Adam and I listen to podcast sometimes and a pastor that we have listened to was preaching on transformation from sin to purity. This was me. I am saved, I have been redeemed but did I live my life as if I believed in the truth. Of course I don't do terrible things but what do I do? I "work" for Jesus in the church. I teach Sunday school with Adam. "You cannot expect a non-Christian to act like a Christian," Adam tells me this all the time. What strikes me now is then should I expect a Christian to act like a non-Christian? Its the same accountability, which I know is a touchy subject. For instance today I work at a Christian university and sometimes I find that its easier to work in a secular enviroment. At least then people tell you to your face you are crazy or spoiled or rude. I am realizing more and more that Christians tend to blend. Or worse we don't do anything about the injustices that we see right before us. All this being said I want to be accountable. I want to live everyday they way Christ wants me to live, no matter the cost. I never want to tune Him out again.

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-and if there is any moral excellence and it there is any praise-dwell on these things." Phillipians 4:8

"Consider it a great joy, my brothers whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endureance. But endurance must do its complete work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4

Fall....

So I am no Martha Stewart but I wanted to share that from Fall through Christmas, I am a fanatic. I love seasonal decorations and since its September I went ahead and started decorating for Fall. Adam refused to let me bring out my pilgrams and turkeys but I do have somethings out. :)

Whew I am tired!

This weekend was an absolute blast. From being able to spend time with my honey to hanging with my sweet Sammie. (btw Adam just scared the crap out of me...Clemson just recovered a fumble....pray for me....he needs to come into the light....this is all thats wrong with him....Clemson.) Any hoo. I just wanted to share a few highlights from the weekend.

1) Penny. Penny came into our lives Saturday, at Tractor Day with my Daddy. Sammie (Sally Ann) spotted her from a mile away. She is the cutest thing ever. She can sleep anywhere and hasn't peed on the carpet yet. Sammie has wanted a dog for so long and between the 2 of us we got her to crack and say yes. Penny got to walk downtown in Chimney Rock and ride on the pontoon. She is precious and we all love her so much already.

2) The Braves game. We lost but Adam and I went to Turner Field without one student from our youth group. Something that has never happened before. :) It was great until we went home and were stuck in Atanta traffic. He was fine, me I was a nervous wreck.

3) Adam's favorite memory: Trying to roll his kayak. He has been able to "run the whitewater" but hasn't learned to roll the kayak. This was so scary. I am standing knee deep in water at the dock at the lake while he is purposely trying to flip over and come back up in a kayak. Meanwhile, I am not to help. Even Caroline...the really gutsy grandkid was nervous. Oh yeah she almost killed him while she was driving the ski boat and he was tubing. Oh yeah his life flashed before my eyes! Well Adam never was able to completely flip over. He would flip, be under water and have to pull the spray skirt and swim out. He still had a blast. By the way...this wasn't he FAVORITE memory from this weekend but I am not going to describe his fav...just use your imagination. :)

I was so thankful for this weekend. It was restful and inspiring. The mountains were majestic and the food was good what more could you ask for?!