headed to Orlando...

Class starts tomorrow (Spiritual Formations coinciding with a Eugene Peterson conference). I've got 7 hours of I75 in my near future...

2 weeks of 14 hour days...

...and we have a semi-setup house. We had a New Year's Eve party at the house with our Community Group friends. The deadline was motivation. Still much to do, but here's some pictures of what's here now, as per your request Ms. Cochran! Living on support makes me tend to give a defense for the expense (or lack thereof) of all the components to the addition, but I'll refrain and, instead, be glad in the provision of God and those that have helped!

The living room viewed from the door to the outside...

and the other direction...
and from the fireplace looking toward the pass-through to the kitchen...
dining room...
girls playroom...
and their revised bedroom...

Thanks for your prayers for energy and strength. The project continues, but only a few more big things to do. Happy New Year!

a break...

So, the benefit of campus ministry is that the school schedule is your schedule. After four days with the boss-man in Houston at a campus ministry conference, I have about two and a half weeks to be/think/pray (a.k.a. think and pray while I build a house!). These are my two big thoughts for the next couple of weeks...

how do you help a senior college leader who's passionate for Jesus be ready to face life in the church?

how can we change the church to accommodate a college post-grad who's passionate for Jesus?

I'd love to have your thoughts (in comment form!) if you have any contributions...

Family Birthday

Last weekend was the "December Birthday Celebration" for Carolyn's family. Emmaleigh's 4th is on the 28th, so she was a celebration recipient!
Blowing out candles...
Opening the goodies...with a grin!

wesley pics '09

My discipleship guys on staff: Mike Nakayama, Matt Whiting, Clark Waite, Thomas Hartley, Jim Towson, me, Blake Tipton, William Draper, and Craig Martin.

And my dL (discipleship/Leadership) staff in my office: Lindsay Allgood (Associate Director) and the interns, Ashley Plant, Keenan Klayman, and Diana Zylow (left to right).


I was driving home today, our last day, thinking about my staff and how much we pull off...unbelievable! Thanks guys. It's been a great Fall!

a story of 'the honesty'...

Carolyn is getting dressed to go into town yesterday and Emmaleigh wanders into the room.

"Mommy, why are you getting ready?" Emmaleigh says.

"Mommy has to go to the doctor to make sure the baby is okay," responds Mommy.

Very matter-of-factly, Emmaleigh replies, "Yeah, Mommy, you need to. It looks like you have a bottom on your belly. I mean...it looks like this," as she squats down and pushes her rear into the air, putting her arms out in front of her belly as far as she could reach.

We call it 'the honesty.'

**back-logged pictures to come...

a day...

As Mom says, "it's been a day." Subtly understated. Interpretation: "Today was too much to describe. I'm still processing. Talk to me after my nap."

I led worship this morning at Heritage Community, Carolyn's Dad's church. Then on to an Inner Healing training at 1 for Wesley and then Community Group Leader Training at 5 for Athens Church. Great day, long day...not much of a Sabbath.

Any helpful suggestions for life with two (soon to be three) kids under 4? A.K.A. any suggestions for having a life with young kids, as opposed to just coping? Do you have to cut everything? Just wait it out for 20 years? We've cut out a lot and today was really an anomaly in the schedule (though it made me aware of some bad life patterns). House will be done in January. Fall semester will be done in January! Jena's recovery is progressing well at this point. So, new beginnings are upcoming, but we'd like to start better life habits. Putting it out there to get some wisdom, if you don't mind posting a comment...