A Happy Post - Good times!

A happy post. We all need those! 

The past few weeks... although filled with anxious thoughts and prayers for that dern medical form... have also been filled with really great stuff! 

Over Thanksgiving break, we got to see our family! I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted to, but it seems like when you live out of town and come home... you are running all over the place to see everyone and hug every neck. So... sometimes my photography skills lack. 'Tis life.

Us with mom

Us with Nanny and Pawpaw.  

When Nanny saw this she said "Wow, I've turned into a little shrimp!" Haha. 

She also said no one told her it was Thanksgiving! So, I told her it was a surprise Thanksgiving party for her! She liked that... whatever works! 

Love them. 

Then, me and mom headed up to Nashville to meet lil' Grant and see my besties!! 

It was a fabulous time! 

Have you ever seen more handsome fellas? 

That night we went out to eat and I told Isaac Henry I was his date. He liked that. 

They said all the way to the restaurant he was saying, "Anna. date. anna. date." 

Yep... I like him. Pretty cute couple I might say. 

We finally got a family picture with Jubi in it!! 

I love our family.

I can't wait until Eric is smack dab in the middle of it! 

Soon... I hope.

When we got back home, we had our College group Christmas party.

These people are awesome! 

I know I've talked about them often... but they really are amazing. 

I've never seen such love... such unity... such transparency in a group that's so different. 

We played Dirty Santa... and Jacob got his beloved Christmas Tree Cakes! 

He's a happy man. BUT... he's so generous these days... he took all of them to SHARE with our new pelican friends at training!  

 Last week we were blessed to go to Praying Pelican Missions training. Although we haven't officially started with them, they want us to be equipped to do ministry WELL when we are able to start. So thankful for people around us having favor on us during all our chaos! It's good! 

Clearwater, FL for training... yep, I'll take it!  

We had fun. 

Thankful that we love each other enough that we are actually EXCITED about working for the same organization, in the same home, going to the same country, being on the same emails... it's good! 

Wanna laugh? 

Okay... we saw a pig... on a leash... walking down the street! Good stuff people.

Love doing life with this man. 

We also got to celebrate a marriage... one of my favorite things! 

It was a lovely occasion! 

Here we are with the lovely couple - Amber & Patrick. Patrick is a youth pastor as well.

There's just some things that only a youth pastor and his bride can understand. I've loved getting to know them and hope to continue to encourage them in their ministry. Pumped to see what all God does with them!

Here's Jenna.

I love thee. Don't know what I would have done without her in Troy this year. She is a blessing. I know God has LOTS planned for her. Love her heart - for Jesus, for girls, for missions, and for intentional relationships. She rocks! 

 Yay for good times. New things. Great friends. Family is always good. 

things i love

I have been a busy lady lately... not much time for blogging.  LOTS of clocks and LOTS of time with people - both are great things. I do wonder what we would do with all that time if we weren't clock-ing.

Lately... life is good. Busy and good. Challenging and good. I have been learning lots about how nothing but Jesus is good in me. Really... nothing. I have selfish and bitter so often... never just letting myself be satisfied by Him. It's a great thing He loves me greatly and wants to change me.

But here are some things my heart has SO enjoyed...

Black Friday shopping with mom and Margie... and Olive Garden 

NSYNC - the BEST Christmas CD EVER!!! 

Connection Thanksgiving meal! 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how Jesus knows how to encourage me. When I am feeling down and want to quit, He sends over 60 people to a Connection meal. Sigh... I just love Jesus. And I love these people. 

Decking the Halls 

When we decorate... we get to read our guest book from our wedding!! Love that people signed the ornaments for us! Reading them just makes me even more thankful for my man, our family, wedding day, and Christmas!  

Now... this group of people is so special. 

The ROPE College group. 

A community. Prayer Warriors. laughers. jokesters. Lovers of Jesus. Encouragers. Missionaries. 

I have never ever ever seen church done like it's done with these people.  So bless I get to be a part of it. Although I get discouraged at times with things... there is never a week I DON'T look forward to college time! I love these people... and all their quirks! 

So thankful Jacob and I are invited into their crap... their craziness... their joys... and their journeys! 

They like to make fun of me... I apparently do this hand thing when I recite the SHIELD OF FAITH each week!! haha! 

My lesson for the week: 

Maybe you are feeling discouraged like I have been... wanting to just back down at times. 

Well... READ THIS PICTURE!! 

Do you remember why you started it? When were you passionate about the Lord? About His people? About His purpose? What do you LOVE to do? Where do you need to focus?

GET BACK THERE!!!! Don't forget what He's done! Don't forget why you started! Don't forget He is faithful! Don't forget He has called you to a purpose! Don't forget He is in the miracle business!!! 

P.S. I am not talking about giving up on adoption! I am so overwhelmed with all God is doing through it! Can't WAIT to have Eric here!!!! 

Can I have MORE of you GOD?!?!?

Jacob went to a pastors' conference Sunday-Monday this week in Mobile.  I was left to protect the house and be entertained by Walter. 


God has really been working on my heart A LOT lately... about A LOT of things - obedience, listening, prayer, passion, resting, reading, teaching, and more. God had really been laying on my heart the power and importance of prayer, intentional/since prayer, and the fact that we don't do it. We don't stop and pray for people when we feel the nudge to do so.  Seriously... sometimes I would feel so strongly that I was suppose to STOP and PRAY over someone with my hands all over them (don't think like that) and just PRAY... but I just stand there awkwardly hoping that God will stop talking.  How dreadful. We don't seek God on our friend's behalf. We just do the expected, mediocre prayers for a service, a meal, a sick person - we don't SEEK and PLEAD with God.  






Sometimes I feel like we (Jacob and I) get so tired and worn out doing our daily routines and jobs, by the time we get home we just want to BE - God calls us BE MORE.  He has invited us to seek Him together. Now don't get me wrong - we do seek Him together, we minister together, we love people together, but we don't have intentional family worship times at home.  My heart has been longing for it.  I knew Jacob was going to be gone for a few days and I committed to praying for him - that God would shape his heart and my heart to the same desires for our marriage and our ministry as a couple.  He did... the first day! It was crazy. Jacob called and said he was learning a lot about PRAYER - WHAT?!? I was SO pumped. I love when I see God clearly and bluntly answer my prayers and He shows His power. He shows that I am asking in His will and that He is delighting in me. What a great thing... complete satisfaction.


I couldn't wait for him to get home to share. And share he did - with the youth group and the college group. WOW! 


He spoke from his heart, spoke truth to us as his students, and he led intentional prayer.  I am a proud and thankful wife.  


We learned about the importance of personal and corporate prayer.  And... as the Word says in James:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
We had a time of confession and prayer. Some of the youth were open and honest and it was so beautiful. It was so awesome to hear them pray for each other and for schools, church, and families. I think there's more, I think God wants to pull more out of his sons and daughters in confession.  It will come - I am hopeful.


Now... what happened last night in a small room in Troy, AL with 20ish college students from Troy University was incredible. I have mentioned this amazing group of people before - the immediate closeness, transparency, and community that just happened in the group. But the true intimacy, LOVE, compassion, honesty... I saw last night has been unmatched in all of my life. It was breathtaking.  My husband started the night of confession of after praying for the University and The Church.  He shared one thing in his life that has brought so much struggle, strongholds, tears, anger, closeness, confusion, and prayer. One thing that has weighed on my heart and mind for so long. One thing that I have spent countless days on my knees for. He shared it. He was so brave, bold, courageous. I was broken. I am thankful.  I am proud. The rest of the night was just as honest, broken, joyful, true, and beautiful. Chains were broken. Weight was lifted. Prayer warriors were invited into others' crap (as I prefer to call it). If you want the churchy version - into our struggles. We shared and prayed and shared and cried and prayed.... When we looked at the time again it was MIDNIGHT!!! What a wonderful night just wallowing and crying out in HIS PRESENCE!!! It just makes me wanna scream and do a victory dance! 


IT WAS THE CHURCH. As my husband has learned the truth that the early church was built and founded on PRAYER... we must do the same. Our lives must revolve around prayer. Chains will be broken. Lives will be healed. God's power and Word will be revealed. Freedom will reign!!! It takes us getting over ourselves, accepting Christ's proposal to continuously commune with Him. He listens. He loves. He pursues.  He makes BEAUTY from ashes.  I rested in Him last night.  I felt the presence of Jesus DELIGHTING in our group. In our worship. In our offering to Him. 


REVIVAL IS COMING. IT IS STARTING IN TROY, AL. I AM HOPEFUL. HE IS FAITHFUL. 


My heart is so full. Just resting in my Daddy's big 'ol hands.

Friday Fav!!!!

It's Friday!!!! HOORAY!!!

Tonight we are going to see the movie Courageous with our college group! We are pumped! I will let you know how it is!!!! :)

Tomorrow is the Troy vs. UAB game!!! Pretty exciting! Remember... I was a UABer, 

(Jess on the L is getting MARRIED next Saturday - woot woot!!!)

but now Troy pays my salary so I am definitely a Troy fan too.

Also, I wanted everyone to read the best poem ever written... b/c she wrote it because she loved me!!! READ IT!! :) It's from EMILY!! 

Dear Ann,

I'm a big fan.

You always make me laugh,

And you burp like a man.

You are quite loud,

But stand out in a crowd.

You're absolutely gorgeous,

Though not bosomly endowed.

We shared a bunk,

Til you married a hunk.

When we got back from Africa,

Your feet really stunk.

You moved to Troy,

Where you spread the Joy.

Now, you're a momma to Walter,

A hyped up little boy.

You rap in sign.

And it blows my mind.

You got mad skills,

And I wish they were mine.

You sure got class,

But ain't without sass,

If you don't visit me soon,

I'll kick your... bottom :)

Let's be neighbors one day.

We'd frolick and play.

Our kids would starve,

But we'd laugh the days away.

You're my best friend,

And apparently my twin.

With love from Emily,

I'll love ya to the end!

That's so fun!!! What a good birthday present! 

Now for the Friday FAV!!!!! What is my fav restaurant you may ask... well... there a few.  (To clarify... I have told you my fav food... but not my fav restaurant)

For breakfast it it: 

For a nice sit down dinner with my fam: 

My fav place with my fav tea and my fav chicken salad sandwich and just my fav:

And my new fav with my fav salad in the world (and the only fav I can get in Troy):

The end. Enjoy your Friday!! 

Invitation to crap and the friday fav!!

I know I often talk about the girls' Bible study and the youth group, but something that has really blessed be this school year is our college group - The ROPE.  

(The name -The ROPE - means Reaching Out to People Everywhere.  We know it should be ROT-PE, but life's hard and ROT-PE doesn't really roll off the tongue. We would really like to change it to CONSUMED... but everything in the church that's printed says The ROPE so... there.)

This picture was posed!! Haha!!! I had to capture the moment,
so I made them pretend to pray! :) 

Beautiful feet - ready to go, do and share... 

The ROPE started because our church is literally a block from Troy University and there had NEVER been a college ministry here... so... we did something about it.  It's funny because I graduated from college a year and 10 months ago and Jacob... well... Jacob hasn't graduated yet.  But... when you feel the nudge to do something, you have to do it, no matter how inadequate you feel.

Last year, we had a consistent 10-12 people who came each weekend to the ROPE.  It was a good group. We grew a lot from it, but I felt that there wasn't CLOSENESS, HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY, etc. in the group. I knew that's what our group was to be founded on... so feeling the nudge (once again), that's what we did this year.

The first week, I formally invited them all into my crap! haha! I know I could have said it more eloquently, but that's not me.  I invited them to know my struggles, fears, joys, insecurities, and I wanted to be invited into all their crap.  We changed the chairs from rows to a circle. Jacob was willing to change the format of the night from a full message to discussion.  It is good. 

Wednesday night, there was transparency and a sense of community that we all long for. Struggles and fears were shared. Encouragement was given. Blessings were received.  It was a night of worship.  So good.  It was a feeling of belonging... what a joy for all of us!!!  

 We are studying Philippians. We are being called to boldness, to joy, to surrender.  We can do it... together.  I'm so pumped for this group. This year. This movement.

FRIDAY FAV... SIGN

cHeRiSh

The man doesn't do it how I would... but it's my fav sign!!! I would use 2 hands and have a really passionate face on!!! :)

HaPpY fRiDaY!!!