YEAH!!!

Guess what, remember the giveaway I told you to enter on Inka's blog...well, I'm one of the winners! Go here to see all of the great stuff I won!!! I'm so excited :)

Thanks Inka for the great giveaway. You're awesome!

GIVEAWAY!!!

It's finally here! The quarterly Bloggy Carnival. I am giving away a custom made journal similar to the one pictured above that I made recently. Whoever wins can customize their journal and keep it for themselves, or have it done for someone else. My giveaway begins today at 9am Eastern and ends Saturday August 2nd at 10pm Eastern. International entries are welcome.

So, here are the rules for entering the giveaway...you must leave a comment to this post, and tell me what your favorite item from my Etsy shop is. I am going to try and update it this week...and I want some feedback from all of you! If you don't like anything I have then tell me what you would be interested in seeing! Please be sure to leave your name and contact information. If you would like to receive 5 extra entries then do a post on your blog linking to my giveaway...be sure to let me know you have done this.

*For an additional entry head to my sister's Etsy and leave me a comment telling me your favorite thing she offers. She is also hosting 2 giveaways on her blog, so check those out as well! Good luck to all!

I will draw the winner on Sunday August 3rd at 4pm Eastern. Thanks so much for entering!

Bloggy Carnival Coming Soon!!

It's almost that time again. Bloggy Carnival is starting up Monday, July 28th. I think I have decided what I'm giving away...but we will get into that starting Monday! Head on over to hear about the rules...and think up your own giveaway!

Join the Fun!

Inka is celebrating her blogiversary and she is hosting a super fun giveaway on her blog. You should hop on over there for your chance to win some cute stuff! Check out her Etsy shop while you're there...I bought the cutest little owl earrings from her! Good luck to all.

Super Silly!

Alexa is so silly lately! She will fall down and hit her head on something...and after she gets up she will do it over and over again and just laugh. It's pretty funny to watch. Here is one case tonight...she was playing with her car, and "wrecked" it. We all fake reacted and said oh goodness, are you ok? LOL! :) So, she started doing it over, and over...lucky for me I got it on tape! Tell me she isn't the silliest little girl. Gotta love it!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My Sweet Sister!

This past Sunday at church Jodi gave me the cutest owl slide. For whatever reason I really like owls lately, and I even bought a little jacket with an owl on it from Target. She found the greatest little shop to buy slides from, and this one is my favorite! It was a total surprise and I was so excited to get to wear it today. Go here and check out the different stuff Rachel has for sale. This is the one I am wearing...isn't it super cute?? She has so many to choose from, you are sure to find several you like!

Quilt Contest

Jodi wasn't kidding...this quilt is beautiful! Head on over to Old Red Barn Co for a chance to win, or click on the link in the sidebar. Best of luck to all, I know the lucky winner will be super excited to win the quilt, it's amazing!

The Gauntlet '08

What an amazing week! We left last Sunday night about 11:30 from NewSpring in Anderson, and arrived in Panama City about 8am eastern time. After stopping for breakfast, we hit the beach! The students played hard, and worshipped even harder. It was so awesome to watch them praising God! We had 4 days of the Gauntlet games, and in the end, the Red team pulled out the win. Both teams had a great time.

We had 50 students accept Jesus as their Savior, and Thursday morning we baptized 105 students and a few leaders on the beach. It was an amazing experience to say the least...there were people out on their balconies watching and worshipping along with us. After we finished the baptism, close to 400 students, and leaders stood on the beach and sang praises to God while the music resounded off the buildings. I am so thankful that I got to be a part of it!

I didn't take very many pictures because we were out on the beach most of the time, and I didn't want anything to happen to my camera...you know I haven't had the best camera luck lately! LOL!! All in all it was a great week, and everything was worth it to know that God's kingdom was increased. The high schoolers got to Panama City today, and I can't wait to hear the reports of what God is going to do this week! Please pray for all of the students and leaders who are down there this week. Satan certainly tried to attack last week, and I'm sure this week will be no different.

I really can't say enough about NewSpring and how impressed I am with the importance they put on children and student ministries! The last two Sundays at NewSpring Greenville, we have seen just how amazing God is. Opening Sunday we had over 1700 in attendance, and last Sunday we had over 1400. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in the future, and when Florence opens this fall!

My girls...Jordan, Roni, Nellie, Brooklyn, Stacey, and Lindsay

I finally got them to smile!

Kylie and me

Morning with Mama!

This morning when Alexa and I got up, Mimi and Pop were gone. We came into the kitchen and there was a note saying they would be back around lunch time. So, after we ate breakfast I decided that we should do something fun before I leave on my trip. I started thinking about what we could do and I decided it would be fun to do something so Alexa could help. She has had a great time helping me lately, and it's so cute! She will see me doing something and say "Lexa help"...just too sweet! I pulled out the cookbook, and found a quick, easy recipe for cookies that I knew Alexa could help with.

Watching the butter and cream cheese, creaming together

What a sweet girl!

Pouring the cake mix in

Now for the BEST part :)

Doesn't it look good?

Watching them cook

Tasting the finished product after lunch!

My sweet girl and mama

God is SOOOO Good!

I can't say enough about how great God has been to me! At this point I really can't go into detail either, but suffice it to say I have been truly blessed today. So, many things are happening and working out in my favor, and I know it's not because of anything I have done. I just want to praise God for everything He is doing in my life right now. I am blessed beyond measure.

On a kind of different note...this weekend is going to be AWESOME! Sunday morning we launch NewSpring GREENVILLE!!!!!!! I am super excited about this, it's gonna be amazing to see God do a great work through this campus. Then, on Sunday night at 11:30 we will be pulling out from the Anderson Campus and headed for Panama City and THE GAUNTLET! It's going to be incredible to see what God has in store for all of us this coming week. We are taking around 300 middle schoolers for a week of discipleship, fellowship, and fun. It should be a great time, and I can't wait to see what God is going to do this week and next!

Well, that's it...I'm headed to bed. I probably won't post again before I leave...and I know I won't post while I'm gone, so I hope you all have a great week, and I should have some great pics when I get home.

All Good things must come to an End...

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great sadness that I make this announcement. After much consideration and deliberation I have decided to change my sweet baby's daycare. As most of you know there is a great CDP where I work, and it comes highly recommended. I looked into it when I started in the business office, but because I was a contract employee it made it a little bit different. When I moved over to PBS I was no longer contract, so I put her on the waiting list. I found out a few months ago that they would have a place for her in August. This is truly bittersweet for all parties involved, except for the new daycare. I am sad because the ladies where she is now absolutely adore her, and she loves them as well. I know they are going to miss her, and she will miss them and the friends she has made there. However, there is no doubt in my mind that the teachers at the CDP will love her just as much.

I can't believe that she has been at her current daycare since she was 6 weeks old...that has led to some strong bonds. They know her so well, and they love her!

Today it all became much more real. I emailed the director of the toddler program yesterday to find out her start date, and she called me today to let me know she can start much sooner than expected. I was suddenly in a panic...how could I tear my sweet baby away from the women who have cared for her basically from birth and love her so much. After lots of consideration and talking it over with those around me. I have decided it is the best decision.

She will now be literally down the hall from my office, and I will be able to go see her during the day. It will also mean I am closer should anything go wrong and I need to get her. We will save lots of time and gas because her current daycare is about 15 minutes out of our way on each trip. Clearly that is a big plus. I am excited for her to make new friends, and for her to take advantage of some of the extras the CDP offers.

All in all I think it's going to be a great move, it will just take some time to get used to. Everything changes...nothing stays the same!

Alexa's new FAVE thing!

Alexa is funny, silly, and absolutely adorable! She has started something new, and she thinks it's the funniest thing! Remember this post a few weeks back...well this is similar. Unlike W, Alexa isn't interested in sitting in her bumbo in the chair, she is interested in having her bear sit in the chair.

Look at that sweet face...she told her bear to "sit down"

She has also started trying to put her bears and her baby on her car...and she tells them to "stay baby" She usually ends up behind them b/c they won't stay!

Weekend!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I LOVE three day weekends! There is nothing better than that...well, maybe a 4 day weekend, or working 4 tens every week. I worked over every day last week so I wouldn't have to use my PTO for Friday...so needless to say when Thursday afternoon rolled around I was ecstatic! Friday we started the day off down at the new house...Alexa and I mostly watched, while Mimi and Pop did all the work. We picked up a quick lunch at subway, and then got ready for our 4th get together.

We had the whole family over...minus Grandpa and Grace. They are in Florida for a few weeks and we sure do miss them! We had a great time in the pool while Pop was using his new grill, and then A&W played in the sand at their new table for a while. When the food was ready we all headed inside and had a great time visiting with everyone! As usual Alexa was a complete mess...she eats a lot! :)

Yesterday we worked a little more down at the house...Alexa and I mostly watched, but we did help a little, and she got on the bobcat with Pop while he did part of his work. She LOVES the bobcat...and any other piece of equipment she comes near! After that we headed to Spartanburg for a little shopping. I needed/need some different stuff to take on my trip next week...and I am running out of time. My main goal was shorts to wear on the beach in Panama City, and suitable bathing suits. I did buy two pairs of shorts, and one bathing suit, but I need a couple more so I'll have to keep looking this week.

I don't think I have mentioned on here that I'm going with the student ministry at NewSpring for their trip they call The Gauntlet. We are taking over 300 middle schoolers on the week I'm going, and it's going to be a BLAST! I can't wait to see what God is going to do in the lives of these students and everyone else involved. I am so blessed to be a part of this ministry. Also exciting upcoming event is the Greenville launch next week!!! YAHOO!!!! I am so excited to be a part of this as well. It is going to be AWESOME! Anyone is invited...our service times are 9:15 and 11:15 in Greenville, and our campus is off of 385 on Roper Mountain Road. Perry is starting a new series next week called "You asked for it"...it's where members wrote in questions and then we voted on which ones we wanted him to speak on. It's going to be awesome!

After shopping we came home and I made dinner. After dinner we headed out to the pool, but we only stayed for a minute because it started to thunder. I think Alexa was pretty disappointed, but we had fun inside nevertheless. Once inside it started to rain, and praise God for the rain, we desperately need it! We have had several showers yesterday and today, and we are so thankful for them. Today Alexa and I made our last trip to Anderson for Sunday worship, and I got to do check-in for the second service. I absolutely love volunteering at NewSpring, it is so fulfilling to know you are working where God wants you to be! For the rest of the day we have basically relaxed.

Here are a few pictures from this weekend.

Takin' a ride on her car!

Kickin' up their feet with some juice

Yummy watermelon!

Playin' in their new sand table

Alexa w/ her new swimmies on...LOL! She wanted to wear them