Who is a smart squirrel?

Top 10 best things about a youth trip.

1- Staying in a dorm room at 25 years old. Not as much fun as 18 years old.

2- Sleeping on a church bus with teenagers who do not want to sleep...ever.

3- Your Pastor buying ear plugs for the worship hour. (The band was extra loud.)

4- Answering the same childs question every day twice. "Do we need our Bible?" "What time is worship?" This could be a form of birth control for some couples.

5- Seeing Mobile through the eyes of a teen. Teens who are craving to love, minister, and be a part of Christ's love.

6- Watching Christ work, love, and heal. Writing His song for their life.

7- Having teenage boys claim that a random pair of underwear is "not mine". Well it has to be someones. Apparently it grew legs and walked over from another room. (Adam has more details about this)

8- Having a new youth grow and become a part of the youth group. Which is wear my title is from. He is such a smart squirrel. Who knew he could even talk before this trip. Now he can't shut up and I love it!

9- Being stuck in Atlanta traffic during a 9 hour car ride with out AIR!! This seems to happen on every trip.

10- Being at home in your bed with your husband. Best thing ever.

Mobile or Bust

Monday morning at 5:30 am our students are leaving for Mobile, AL. There are 10 youth and 5 adults going and we are pumped. Please be praying for us as we travel, learn, and work. I have been very sick for a little over a month now and actually I am getting to go to camp. Pray that I maintain my energy, weight, and strength while gone. Adam and I both feel that I will be fine but we want to be proactive in keeping me healthy while we are gone.

I feel the Lord preparing our group for a fabulous time of growth. I love camp and being with our students. I love watching the struggle. I know that sounds mean but I do love watching the Lord work. Its a beautiful song when you can watch a person be broken before your eyes. Mainly because you can relate to that moment. Christ spirit moving is an amazing picture. Salvation is a sweet song.

So please be in prayer for us as we do the Lord's will and enjoy a time of bonding. Alabama Here we COME!

Took a little trip

Ok, so I took a long trip. I have had so many blogs in my head to start and nothing came. Even from giant occasions like my sisters high school graduation didn't spark me to type. Even now I don't really have a purpose for this blog. Beautiful. But I will catch you up on the 24th Annual Hopper Beach trip as easily as possible.

Saturday: Most of us left from my grandparents house at 8:30am. In my ride was Blair, Liz, Sam, and myself. Basically they put all the grandchildren in one car. It took 8 hours to get there. We stopped 3 times and one of those was to eat breakfast. I will say it didn't seem like 8 hours until about 3 pm when I wanted out of the car. Caroline, Ben, Adam, Lance, and Jim met us down there at all different times. At the beginning of the week there was 15 of us.

Sunday: First day on the beach and Pop Pop's 80th Birthday plus Father's Day. We had a great party for Pop Pop's. A luau. It was one of the best nights that week. (Pictures to follow)

Monday: Lots of on time on the beach. Caroline surfed, I watched. Caroline and Ben left. Which stunk completely because we didn't get any porch time to talk.

Tuesday: Beach, Broadway, sea food. Adam caught a sting ray deep sea fishing with Lance and we ate it. gross.

Wednesday: Caroline came back and we got porch time.

Thursday: Rode the rollarcoaster.

Firday: Super sad to leave on Saturday but got porch time with Debbie and Gibson! It was great to have a few extra Hopper's in the mix.

Saturday: sad day.

All in all the beach trip was great and I am forever thankful the Lord has given us 24 years of safe travel. I am not boasting in anything but Him but we have never had any one injured, no flat tires or travel trouble. Nothing. He has kept us safe for many years and I am blessed. Pics to follow soon!

Four beautiful years

Four years ago today,at this very time 11:13 am I was sitting in a hair salon with 9 of my closest friends. Preparing to see my groom. That day was the best day yet of my life. I am honored to be Adam's wife. Mostly because of who he encourages me to be. Adam is strong, dedicated, merciful, loving and loyal.

One of my favorite memories from that day was seeing him for their first time. I was so excited. Hours before he came to the room I was getting ready in and the photographer took that picture of the groom and bride with a door between them. When I heard his voice I melted. I couldn't wait to see him, to hold his hand and become his wife. After the ceremony you couldn't wipe the grin from his face. We were finally bound together in Christ.

Now four years later, we have been blessed beyond recognition. God has truly given me someone who challenges me with love and honor.

Adam, I cannot wait for the next forty years. We have a long ride ahead and lots of firsts still to come but I can't wait to share them with you.

God Tube

a frenzy

This past weekend was a blast. Sally Ann was presented to society (hehe) as a debutante. Something all of us Hopper grand girls have been apart of. The whole Hopper clan was there. Dressed to the nines and ready to party.

Sally Ann was absolutely stunning. She and my Dad waltzed beautfully and stole the show. Adam was her escort and they seemed to be a high light as well. Adam is not much of a dancer but he has embraced the fact that I love to dance and think it should be a daily activity for everyone. He even did the Cupid Shuffle. If you don't know what this is please go to www.youtube.com and search the Cupid Shuffle. Its another Cha Cha slide basically. Pictures are posted so enjoy them.

There has been so much going on. We have started playing softball at the church. I am not coordinated when it comes to throwing a softball or catching or batting but I try. My first game Adam pitched and had me catching...yes me! I was terrified. Some of these men show up in the baseball pants and gloves, swinging the bats like pros. Then you have 5'4 me, frail behind them squating. I will try to get a picture soon. A batter hit a foul pop fly, which apparently I am supposed to try to catch. Well, I scream at the top of my lungs, "I am not getting it!" Adam swoops in and catches the ball. Talk about my hero. I had the umpire rolling with laughter. I will let you know that I was able to hit the ball. I did however get out at first. Plus, I could throw the softball back to Adam everytime from behind homeplate.
Huge accomplishment. I will try to update you each week on my role on the softball team.

Graduation took place last week at NGU. It was such a fun time. Two of my favs graduated, Emily and Joe. It was wonderful to watch them walk across that stage and know that they have grown in their walk with our Lord and they are ready for life outside of NGU.

We are currently looking to buy a new car. Long story about the one we just bought. Here is a summary: We bought a car, had it 11 days out of 25 and we got our FULL money back. The car was a lemon, I am told. So, Friday we are going to possibly buy one that I love. If all goes well, the VW dealership will check it out, and we will drive home new car owners again, for the second time in a month.

Getting to know you

Here is a little tag I picked up. Enjoy getting to know my Hubby a bit better.

1- How long did you date?
Adam and I dated for 4 years.

2- Where did you meet?
We met in July of 2000 at camp in Panama City, Florida. I will spare you the high school details. :) But it was definitely the ideal love story.

3- What attracted you to him?
Lets see...he was 19. Tall, dark, HOT. I think that would be how I described him at 17 when I came home and told my Mom all about him.

4- How old is he?
Adam is almost 28 years old.

5- Who eats more?
Most of the time him but I do give him a run for his money on ice cream.

6- Who said I love you first?
I did! At his Mom's house at like 3 in the morning. We were always staying up talking really late. Since we hardley ever saw each other, we made good use of our time by staying up all night.

7- Where was your first date?
Haywood Mall, in Greenville, SC. We went to Ruby Tuesday and Adam ate his food so fast. I ate like 3 bites because I was so nervous.

8-Whose taller?
Adam by quite a few inches.

9- Who sings better?
HAHA Adam. My kids may cry when I sing.

10- Who is smarter?
I am going to go with Adam. He is so interested in everything. I tend to take your word for it and he has to prove it.

11- Who has a worse temper?
Me...by far. In fact through the years he has calmed me. Made me more aware of chosing my battles. In Adam's words, " some hills aren't worth dying on babe."

12- Who does the laundry?
We both do.

13- Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
He sleeps on the right side. Always between me and the door.

14- Who pays the bills?
Dave Ramsey Jr.or Adam pays the bills and manages the budget for us.

15- Who cooks?
We both enjoy being in the kitchen, especially together.

16- Who drives?
Adam

17- Who is more stubborn?
I have to go with Adam on this one. Loving but stubborn.

18- Who kissed who first?
Do you know the old horror film Christine? About the car that eats people. Anyway our first kiss was around 1am, watching this movie on the couch. Ok, so we made out...

19- Who admits when they are wrong?
Adam

20- Who proposed?
Adam did. Its a long histarical story for another post.

21-Who has more siblings?
Adam- I will try and explain. His mom married Randy. Nena, Adam's mom has Kayte and Adam. (Pay close attention to spelling of names it will help) Randy had-Ashley, Katie, and Adam. So when they married they had-Kayte, Adam Burgess, Ashley, Katie Barnett, and Adam Barnett.Now they are all married. Kayte is married to Kevin. Adam Burgess is married to me. Ashley is married to...Adam Beam. Katie is married to Michael. Lastly Adam Barnett, the youngest of the group is 18. You can imagine what Christmas is like.

I hope you enjoyed getting confused and learning more about Adam and I. I would love to hear about your husbands too!