Thursday, May 23, 2013

Has It Really Been 5 Years?!?



TODAY, is a significant day because one:

 Me and my man are celebrating 5 years of marriage!

Seabrook Island - April 2013
5 Years Ago - Mount Pleasant, SC

8 Years Ago - Freshman Spring Break - Charleston, SC
 We are two stubborn, hard heads who are making it through life together one day at time. Thankful to God for his provision and grace over our lives. 
Couldn't be more blessed than to be doing life with this man! 




And two
Our dossier landed on Ethiopian soil this morning!


Best anniversary present!!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Summit...continued!

SO...I have to jot down a bit more about Summit, so I won't forget!!
Me and my Man!

Journey Together Ministries

Another highlight of the Summit was getting to hear David Platt speak. Jeremy and I have read both of his books (Radical and Follow Me) – both are great and very challenging. Sometimes you can only take in and process one chapter at a time. Both books struck us deep and convicted us of what we had turned Christianity into. We always tell people that 2.5 years ago, Radical was a pivotal book that challenged us to go back to the Word and pray to God about how we were living our lives vs. how HE wanted us to live. Since then our day in and day out life has taken a much more kingdom focused approach and the decisions we make are grounded in living out the Gospel!


Other highlights included:
  • Live broadcasts of the Family Life radio show featuring Michele Bachmann and Bishop W.C Martin – both were awesome! And let me just say, I would love to go to Possum Trot, TX (which is “just on the other side of Coonville” per Bishop Martin) and visit with Bishop Martin and his congregation. But seriously, both Bachmann and Bishop Martin have such an excitement and passion for foster care that it's contagious!
  • Attending two break-out sessions with Dr. Russell Moore – incredible teacher. We learned so much about adoption within the core of the Gospel from him.  Since after the Summit, we have become avid listeners of Dr. Moore's broadcast "The Cross and The Jukebox" it's quite fun and we always learn something.
  • Listening to the testimonies of Stephen Ucembe, George Dennehy, Jimmy Wayne – so powerful!! (Clip below is George Dennehy)


  • Listen to the testimony of Pastor Billiance Chondwe, Margaret Harawa, as well as hear Thokozile Muchimba sing - what an absolute blessing. All three of them live in Zambia. Please go watch Thoko's Testimony - it's only 7 minutes and features not only Thoko, but Margaret and Pastor Billiance too! What a priviledge it was to hug both of these women and tell them "thank you" for sharing their story and being an example to me! (Below is Thoko singing live at the Summit).



  • Attending a break-out session with Dennis and Barbara Rainey about how to keep your marriage and family strong throughout the adoption process. It was fun to see the Raineys in person and listen to them speak, especially because we have just recently completed to “Home Builders” bible studies (which is written/designed by the Raineys) with our small group at church 
  • Worshiping with Stephen Curtis Chapman and Nicole C. Mullen!



On my first post about the Summit, I talked more about what our hearts had been awaken to and how through this whole process of our adoption, I am gaining an insight and depth to the relationship that God created me to have with Him. But I would like to encourage you to read this post by an adoptive mom whom I have been so blessed to meet along this journey and who also got to attend Summit. She writes about, and conveys the “raw emotion” of Summit better than I could ever attempt to articulate!

And to top off an already awesome weekend/trip, we got to see and catch up with these great people!







We love y'all and are blessed to call you friends!