Resurrection 2016

I am blogging from my warm and cozy bed this morning where I plan to stay for most of the day today.  After spending a long weekend in Pigeon Forge with 48 youth and 11 chaperones, I am physically oh so tired.  Late late nights, and early mornings have reminded this Mom that I am indeed 40 now.  BUT, as tired as my body is, my heart and soul are so happy and so refreshed,  Safe to say the 61 FUMC folks that attended Rez16 were blessed seeing so many youth on fire for God.  It was
amazing because over the weekend four youth gave their hearts to God for the first time ever!! My heart was so full!

 
I have officially only been on the job a month or two as the middle school youth worker for our church.  The senior high youth worker and I were a litte nervous taking SO many folks to Resurrection.  The idea is great but it requires tons of planning and work.  Then to add to our stress the blizzard of the century was forecasted which then led to us losing our bus driver because of his job obligations here, and we had to leave a day early to miss the snow which led to more money needed, extra planning and work.  Then our hotel called and declared our rooms would not be ready due to renovations they forgot to mention.  UGGH!!  It was so stressful but GOD as only as he can, made a way when there seemed to be no way.  We left Thursday night which gave the kids more time in Pigeon Forge.  The community center in PIgeon Forge has a great and cheap bowling alley that the boys took advantage of.

The rest of us hit the outlets malls of course.  We not only learned about Jesus but we also had some money management lessons as well:) Starbucks and candy outlets are not cheap at all!

Friday night was our first session of Resurrection.  We were all so excited!! The preacher, Fred Lynch was great, and the house band, Belarive provided a great kickoff night.  The preacher preached a powerful message Friday night and surprised us all by giving the kids a chance to come forward to the altar on the first night.  They had the opportunity to come forward to give their lives to God, they could come forward to pray for friends and family, or they could come forward to rededicate their life to God.  Friday night we had several go forward to pray but one of our middle school boys gave his heart to God.  I went forward with him, and to hear that sweet boy pray at the altar asking God to come in his heart for the first time made this youth worker come undone.  It was such a sincere and holy moment.  IT was also so beautiful and symbolic that as we came out of that emotional service, Pigeon Forge was a beautiful winter wonderland.  God truly takes away our sins and makes us white as snow.  Only God could have given us that moment of beautiful sparkly snow to remind us of his promises.

I know these boys are not showing their enthusiasm, but they really were!! Most of these guys were in Mike's room for the weekend.  They were angels and he so enjoyed spending time with them.  Titus' hurt foot kept him from getting in the picture.  This was Mike and Kyle's third year at Rez.  They have made some precious memories each year at this event.

The new LaConte center in PIgeon Forge is wonderful and it was a great venue for Rez.  There is simply nothing like hearing 6,000 people come together to praise God.

The hotel was going through renovations which meant that there was no common area for us to have breakfast together.  So, my room was food central  More speciically, Lynn's bedroom was the eating space!! The girls in our room were wonderful about being dressed and ready before the breakfast bar opened up,

some of our senior high ladies.

This little rockstar had a blast and blessed us all in the process!!

Saturday night was the BIG night because Chris Tomlin was coming to lead worship.  He is simply amazing.  We wanted to get good seats for his conert, so this group of ladies went early to stand in line in the cold for our group.  We were cold and Chris Tomlin's sound check went late which meant we had to wait longer to get in but it was so worth it.

Chris Tomlin is so amazing at leading worship and we were all so sad when his show was over.

The rapper B-Shoc was in the house as well and I not only got a selfie with him but I got in touch with the rapper side of me!!  HA!

All of us.  Sadly Heather and Heath couldn't make it down because of the snow.

The last two years The City Harmonic led worhsip and they surprised us by showing up for Sunday morning worship.

Every year Mike and Kyle take a Rez picture and it was fun to add me in it this year and we all smiled knowing David will be with us next year!!!

Rez16 you blessed us with laughter and memories as you refreshed our souls.  Thank you for giving four youth the opportunity to committ their life to God for the first time ever.  Thank you for challenging us to get strong and that we need to be under-takers for your Kingdom.  None of us will ever forget our time in gorgeous and beautiful snowy Pigeon Forge where we came face-to-face with our Lamb of God yall!

Christmas 2015

Christmas 2015 has been a good one for our family.  We have spet lots of time together at home which is a treat for us.  We are in the process of remodeling our living room, with new flooring and a new paint job.  

Christmas eve was spent in Radford.  We had a great afternoon with my side of the family and then we headed to my Great Uncle's home in Radford for an extended family gathering.  Here are our three on Christmas Eve.  

We did snap a family picture as well.  It was unseasonably warm this Christmas break! Mike even had shorts on! 

As always Christmas Day was spent at our home in Marion.  We love lazy Christmas days where the kids can play with their toys and spend the day in their pajamas.  GG and Pops were suppose to come down, but Pops had a rough night.  He has handled the chemo pretty well so far, but he has a pesky kidney stone that has bothered him since this past summer.  Here is Hope with her new American girl, Kit.  

This is one of my favorite pictures of Christmas Eve.  Hope and Clayton spent a long while on the piano.  Clayton has the talent to play by ear and has never taken a formal lesson.  He truly has a gift!  Hope has been in piano for several months now and is learning to read music.  I love their expressions in this picture!! 

I am not sure how many more years Hope and David will believe in Santa Claus, so I paused to take a picture Christmas Eve of the cookies that Hope laid out for him.  David, Hope and Kelsey had baked for Santa the day before Chirstmas eve, and so they left some of their cookies out for him.  

The weather has been so beautiful this Chrismtas that we thought it would be a great idea to head to Dollywood two days after Christmas.  It must have been a great idea, because 5 million of our closest friends were also there!  Ha!  It was sunny and in the 70s-we couldnt have asked for better weather for a family day.  

Pos even lasted  a full day at Dollywood!  We really had a great family day together at Dollywood.  Dave certainly loves his Pops. 

This was a first-these two riding a ride together!  Our kids are growing up to fast.  

Kyle was a good sport and rode rides with David.  

Kyle is a teenager, but there are moments of beauty when I see him caring for David and it melts my heart.  He is a good guy for sure.  

The year 2015 was a good one for us.  David had great UVA appointments which always gives us a big sigh of relief. We spent a lot of time with family including a cruise to the Bahamas that was a blast.  Kyle and i served the Lord together in Georgia this past summer on a mission trip, and overall our kids are happy and healthy. 

Looking ahead to 216, we are excited for the doors that God has opened when others doors were closed.  We always trust in His plan.  I am beyond excited to keep teaching preschool and to dig into youth middle school ministry at church.  We pray that God will bless you in 2016!! 

VT men's basketball

 Virginia Tech's mens basketball program continues to show that they are real winners on and off the court.  This past August David attended Buzz's Bunch basketball camp for special needs kids at VT.  Coach Buzz Williams is the real deal, yall.  Yesterday the campers were invited back to campus for a shoot around with the team plus tickets to the game for our entire family.  

Mike and Kyle were playing hoops in an AAU tournament in Christiansburg so they missed out on the fun, but Uncle Chad, Pops, and Clayton joined us for a fun day of VT hoops.  

Pops may have started chemo this week for his chronic leukemia, but ole "Spider" Gilmore still had some energy for some one-on-one before his energy ran out.  Pops is now taking two doses of oral chemo at home per day.  So far he is doing okay with the chemo, and we pray it continues that he can keep up with his grandchildren while in treatment.  We covet any prayers for our precious Pops as it appears it is his turn to fight the Goliath called cancer.  

David taking it to Ahmed Hill during a little one-on-one.  These players are so genuine and real with these special needs kids.  

Of course David had to go catch up with Coach Buzz and give him a handshake and a hug.  As a special needs momma I will never be able to convey to these players and Coach Buzz how much these kinds of opportuities bless my heart.  Because of stupid cancer and his ongoing kidney issues, David has a laundry list of things he cannot do now.  When Coach Buzz provides these kids an opportunity to be apart of this team through Buzz's Bunch my heart is so happy and thanful.

Yeah, even Uncle Chad fell in love with this precious little girl with Down Syndrome.  She stole everyone's heart!! 

David is getting too cool and old to pose for pictures for me anymore but he loves to take selfies on my phone!  Ha!  Even Coach Buzz took a selfie with David.  

Of course David has thrilled to see his Hokie bff, "Sef Alwen" (Seth Allen) and he stuck to him like glue.  Our whole family is rooting for this amazing and crazy guy who has such a big heart.  

After the shoot around, we all went into the game and cheered the Hokies on to victory over Grambling State.  It was a fun game because Dave's favorite "Sef Alwen" started the game and Justin Bibbs was on fire shooting 7 three pointers!  

After the game we hung around and visited with Seth's parents while we waited to say a final goodbye to Seth Allen.  As Coach Buzz was walking off the court to attend the post-game press conference, he yelled for David to come with him.  Uncle Chad followed closely behind, and realized that David was allowed to sit beside Coach Buzz during the post-game interview!!!  What a cool experience for our guy!  Coach Buzz even asked him to say who his favorite player was and of course he said "Sef Alwen!"  

Later that evening as I was scrolling twitter I stumbled across this AMAZING picture of our boy and Coach Buzz that some sports reporter had captured.  What an amazing moment for our boy and he announced to his Daddy this morning before church "Dad, I am famous!" 

Coach Buzz, you will never know fully the blessing you are giving these kids when you include them in the men's basketball family.  From a blessed momma I sincerely and humbly say thank you.  Go Hokies!!