Crock pot

I found this amazing blog today and just had to share. Some of these recipes are a little out there but I love saving time and having a delicous dinner. So check out www.crockpot365.blogspot.com to see what this lady has done.

She has made over 200 dinners using her crock pot for a year straight! Let me know what you decide to make and how it turns out. I think you will find her recipes easy and very informative.

Fall

I love this time of year. From leaves to pumpkins to candy corn. This is my time. Adam and I were talking tonight about life and the drains of ministry. I feel so blessed that the Lord fuels me each week to continue on this road. Changes are inevitable but even when I am sick and tired of loving on little ones He is there to make sure I don't screw up. I want to use this fall to grow and learn. Let all the bad fall off soak up a new happy time.

So, this fall when the leaves are changing and falling off I am praying that the old, sick parts of me will fall off and the Lord can be preparing the new happy excited me ready for the new changes and new blossoms.

sweet

I have been meaning to catch my blogging world up on my sister and her first boyfriend. Caleb and Sally Ann have been officially dating for 2 months. sigh. He asked her out at my grandparents house really late one night. Which is where Adam kissed me the first time. sigh again.

Caleb is my pastor's son and is a Sophomore at Clemson where he plays on the football team. sigh. We can't get away from cute Clemson boys. I never dated a Carolina guy. Ever. Her first boyfriend...is a Clemson football player. The Lord has such a since of humor.

Last Saturday, Mom, Sally and I went to the Clemson/Citadel game and with 2 minutes left Caleb played in his first collegiate football game. You would have thought he had thrown the winning pass in the superbowl the way we were carrying on. It was so amazing to watch. I know how hard he worked all year and this summer to get where he is now. It reminded of how hard our walk with Christ can be but how rewarding everything will be in the end.

So I look at Sally and Caleb as having a new start, a new found joy in each other. Caleb is a reminder of hard work and the pay off and I am blessed to have been there to be a part.

Pepper Jill Burgess

Our newest addition, Pepper, a miniature dachshund. Adam and I got her 5 weeks ago and she has kept us hopping since. We absolutely love her. She will be 11 weeks old on Thursday and can sit and almost has figured out lay down. Adam is determined to have her do all sorts of tricks.

jumping july

The whole month of July has been full of firsts. It started out with my continued unknown disease (that is still unknown). This kept me rom eating yummy BBQ on the 4th of July and from skiing, tubing, or anything else because basically my stomach hated me. I ended up having an endoscopy on July 11. Sally Ann came home from the procedure with Adam and I because I do not do well after being put to sleep and Adam had grad school that Friday night. The next morning Sally, Caleb (her Boyfriend-that I need to blog about in another post) and I were going to Gaffney for the weekend and Adam was heading to Nashville for a conference. Ok a little background about my house. Its old, we are renting, and if you lock the door when leaving and their is someone in there without keys, they are locked in. :) Well Adam locked Sally Ann and I in. Thankfully when Caleb arrived he could get in my house, unlock the door, and free us. That was a first. Who can actually say they had been locked in their house? I would love to hear about it.

Ok the reason for the rollercoaster picture. Yesterday we took some of our youth to Carowinds. Korrina is a foreign exchange student from Germany and she has been her about a week. She came with us, so excited to ride some rides.

So here we are standing in line for our first ride. Korrina began to complain about being hungry and dizzy so Adam and I decided to have one of the students who was not riding the ride come get her and get her some food. Well within minutes she said black- and buckled in my arms. So, here we are with a child who speaks little English, on the ground, and she was unresponsive. Next thing I know I am in the front seat of an ambulance praying that this child will be fine and riding to Pineville Medical in Charlotte. Come to find out she was too embarrassed to let her host family know she was hungry and had not eaten since 4pm on Thursday. She kept crying when the paramedics would ask her questions because I was not with her anymore and she didn't understand. Thankfully once we were at the hospital I didn't have to leave her side which was only because God allowed it. After fluids, some gatorade, and a turkey sandwhich she was fine.

Her host family came to Charlotte to take her home and Adam and I went back to Carowinds to get the rest of the youth and our extra chaperone who almost didn't come. Thank you Lord for looking out for us. Personally I am glad its August. I am back at a somewhat healthy weight, I can eat, and Korrina and I are going to eat a big meal soon together and maybe go back to Carowinds.

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!