Joyce

Bert started working for Joyce in March of 2009.  Joyce owns several acres of land, and Bert was her handy man of sorts...he did all kinds of yard work, built fences, refinished her porch, moved a wall inside her home, painted most every room in her house, etc.  He started out working about 20 hours a week for her.   She was completely and totally flexible about when he went to work and how long he worked. Some weeks he would work a little more, and some a little less, but Joyce never minded either way.  As we were preparing for the arrival of Emily in April of 2010, Bert started looking for a more full time position so that I could say home with Emily.  He asked Joyce if he could possibly cut back to just working for her on Saturdays for about 6 hours a week (so that he could work at Archwood Tuesdays through Fridays).  She was, as usual, totally gracious and flexible and was totally fine with the new schedule.  So, for the past two years Bert has just worked for Joyce on Saturdays.  I can't begin to tell you what a blessing this sweet woman has been to our family.   Joyce was constantly sending Bert home with goodies and gifts for me and the girls.  At the end of the day she would ask Bert how long he had worked, he would tell her, and she would often reply with "surely you've been her longer than that....you can't count.":)  More weeks that not she would send Bert home with extra money.  Every few months she would take our family out to dinner.  We usually went to Red Lobster, but for our going away dinner we went to the Olive Garden in WF. We had a GREAT time, so I wanted to take a few pictures of the occasion!

Joyce holding Hannah!  

Joyce not only adopted us, but she has also adopted my sister and Bert's sister and their families.  The last several  dinners she has insisted on taking all of us out.  We always have such a great time!  

Joyce, we are thankful for the way that God provided for us through you., we are thankful for your kindness to us, but most of all we are thankful for your friendship.  We miss you and love you!

Graduating and Greenville

I finished my last seminary assignment on Saturday afternoon, May 12th, about four years and a couple of weeks after Stephanie and I moved from Dahlonega, GA to Wake Forest for me to pursue an MDiv at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. After more tests and papers than I care to remember, countless hours of late-night or early-morning studying, and 90 hours of course work, I will finally graduate on May 18th.

We moved to Wake Forest having been married for four and a half months, and as we are nearing the end of our time in Wake Forest, we're more blessed than we would have ever imagined, almost four and a half years into our marriage and now the parents of two beautiful daughters. It really has been an amazing, fun, busy and enriching season of life for us!

That was then...

And look at us now!

As we are winding down one chapter of our lives, we are also looking forward to starting the next one. We'll be moving three days after graduation to Greenville, South Carolina where I will begin serving as the minister of students at Mountain Creek Baptist Church. Although we're certainly going to miss the many incredible friends we have made in Wake Forest and our church family here, at the same time Stephanie and I are excited about this great opportunity to serve at MCBC and we're looking forward to the new friendships and partnerships that we'll be able to build for the sake of the gospel.

I'd like to say a quick thank you to all of you who have encouraged us, prayed for us and supported us over these last four years--we could not have done it without you. Also, the biggest thank you is reserved for my wife. Seminary for the married student is a family commitment. Stephanie sacrificed much more than I did, and I would not be receiving a diploma on Friday if it weren't for her continual encouragement and help in so many ways. 

Learning to Share

Emily and Hannah are already learning to share.:)  

Here they're both wanting Emily's bunny....

Hannah's not intimidated by Emily's size....

And....she got it!

Look at that smile!:)  

Don't worry, Hannah didn't keep Em's bunny for long.  I'm sure this won't be the last "sharing" adventure at our house, and I know they won't all end this happily!

Family Time

Last night we were enjoying some family time before we put Emily to bed.  We were all four playing on the floor.  It really is nights like this that are my favorite....so I decided we needed a family photo to capture the memories.:) 

 

I liked Hannah's expression in this picture...too cute.:)  

Emily likes for everyone to be together (in the same room), so when we're all playing on the floor together this child is in heaven.  Bert and I sat up for a minute after we had taken the pictures.  Emily pointed to where we had been laying and said "Mommy lays here....Daddy lays here....Hannah lays here!"  She was showing us where we were laying so that we could go ahead and lay back down with her.:) 

My Hannah just has the sweetest little smile.  She's smiling at her Daddy in this picture.  She laughed for the first time 3 nights ago.  I was in the kitchen and Bert was playing with  her in the living room.  When I heard her I dropped what I was doing and ran in there....it was just so sweet!

I'm so thankful for our family.  I love spending time with these three....wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.:)

Golfing

We met Brett, Katherine and Jacob at the driving range last week.  The mama's and the kiddo's all hung out on a blanket behind where the guys were hitting golf balls.  Jacob played with his toys, Hannah slept, and Emily just stood right beside us (wishing she were up there with her Daddy).  

Bert walked back to ask Emily if she wanted to come hit some golf balls with him.  She was so excited!  

After she (they) hit the ball she wanted to take off into the field and get it.  Bert had to hold her back and tell her they had other balls they could use.  I'm not sure the driving range is the safest place for a 2 year old, but we were careful and she definitely had fun!:)  

Two days later Emily was still talking about golfing with her Daddy.  She'd say "I golf Daddy...I golf Daddy!!"