by jeannie | Jan 31, 2012 | buildingaboat, Uncategorized |
A little over a week ago, we were blessed to go alongside the leaders to retreat this year to kickoff the season. Billy Suess, Andy Baxter and Michael Boone did a great job leading prayer, worship and guidance. The next morning, many of the leaders entered the main dining hall with blankets over them, and there was a giant huddle around the coffee. They were so cold from sleeping in screened in bunkhouses the night before, but happy to be together as a family. Billy gave a strong talk of renewal, challenge, and encouragement and sent teams into groups. While Friday was a beautiful night of play, worship, barefoot soccer & late night snacks, Saturday was spent in discussion and breakout sessions. Jimmy and I loved hearing from these leaders about their semester and preparing for the Spring Semester. Our kids enjoyed the time there playing alongside the College Leaders, too. Worship time was convicting listening to these college leaders pour out their hearts to God and seek renewal before heading back into the lives of kids. Thankful for our time there, and the impact it has on our community and families when they return. Allowing God to lead all things, surrendering each morning again and experiencing true joy in serving....
by jimmy | Jan 31, 2012 | Uncategorized |
In the movies it is pretty clear when God is talking to you. He shows up and looks like either George Burns or Morgan Freeman. But in real life? How do we know when we are walking in God’s wisdom or when we are led by God? Does he encourage us? We know he loves us and the bible describes Him as a small still voice. There have been a few times recently that I truly felt that God was speaking to me. He encouraged me. This morning was one of those times. I may write about the others another time. Last night Jeannie and were talking and I told her how I felt I was being disobedient by not pushing further into a place of “going”. By this I mean leaving the US and going abroad. It is something Jeannie and I explored before and after we moved from North Hills. But lately I could not shake that somehow because I had not left that I was not trusting God with my life or that I was somehow wimping out. This feeling has been on me for months until this morning. Every so often I wake at the same time for a number of days in a row. By the same time I mean the exact same time on the clock. A few times in the past I have been encouraged by God in these moments. This morning was one of those times. I had dreams of Daniel and lions during the night. I do not recall exactly what was happening but the context was lions and danger....
by jimmy | Jan 12, 2012 | Blog, Uncategorized |
For many months we have been adjusting to our move into a new house. It has been both a blessing and the challenge of our lives… We are trying to show the kids how to love their friends in the midst of strife but sometimes it just takes action to get the point across. Jeannie and I will be a little more open to new adventures in 2012 and we embarked on one Monday night. I though I would share the story and how our blessings come in the strangest of ways. My commute to work takes me around 183 to I-35 each morning and on one of those days I felt that small still voice nudge me to a place that I have not been in 25 years. Not since my parents would take my sister and I there out on SPID in Corpus. Red Lobster! Yes, the same thought went through my head and Jeannie’s when I told her we needed to go have dinner there. Needless to say, I let it slide. But each day, I would see the familiar Red Lobster sign and knew something had to be done….but what? We decided we would do something we always heard about but never did. We would go have dinner and select a family to bless with their meal…anonymously. So we loaded up the kids and told them of our adventure. They were very excited. We were seated in the center of the restaurant after a long pause at the tank full of live lobster. I told myself we need to wait and let God show us...
by jeannie | Jan 2, 2012 | buildingaboat, photography, Uncategorized |
This year we went to Hondo to a place Jim’s family has and ‘camped’ in RVs, spending time with his parents and my brother and niece. We sat around campfires each morning and each night, went on numerous rides in the Kawasaki Mule, wrapped the treehouse with lights that Jim built, rode the zip line and had a great time. The picture above was taken after Libby created ‘art’ with fire and an old styrofoam cup. As I walked up to her, my intent was to tell her not to do what she was about to do… sticking her sparkler into the cup. But as I walked over, I loved how the only light on her, her face and the cup was from the sparkler, and stopped to grab a shot first. Not my finest parenting moment, but I did kindly ask her to stop once I snapped a shot. She and her sister continued making ‘sculptures’ all weekend with sticks in the campfire, melting plastic forks, cups, and styrofoam into shapes. On actual NY Eve, my brother showed up with his daughter, and I was so excited they joined. My brother below with Jim in the Mule, gearing up for zip lines. As we sent each kid down the zip line, we laughed for over an hour. Kelli fell out of the chair at least twice at the end of the ride, while Beck kept getting caught up in the chair trying to get out and Libby kept trying to go with her feet up and upside down. I’m amazed at how different and unique each child...
by Hampton | Jan 2, 2012 | buildingaboat, photography, Uncategorized |
This year we went to Hondo to a place Jim’s family has and ‘camped’ in RVs, spending time with his parents and my brother and niece. We sat around campfires each morning and each night, went on numerous rides in the Kawasaki Mule, wrapped the treehouse with lights that Jim built, rode the zip line and had a great time. The picture above was taken after Libby created ‘art’ with fire and an old styrofoam cup. As I walked up to her, my intent was to tell her not to do what she was about to do… sticking her sparkler into the cup. But as I walked over, I loved how the only light on her, her face and the cup was from the sparkler, and stopped to grab a shot first. Not my finest parenting moment, but I did kindly ask her to stop once I snapped a shot. She and her sister continued making ‘sculptures’ all weekend with sticks in the campfire, melting plastic forks, cups, and styrofoam into shapes. On actual NY Eve, my brother showed up with his daughter, and I was so excited they joined. My brother below with Jim in the Mule, gearing up for zip lines. As we sent each kid down the zip line, we laughed for over an hour. Kelli fell out of the chair at least twice at the end of the ride, while Beck kept getting caught up in the chair trying to get out and Libby kept trying to go with her feet up and upside down. I’m amazed at how different and unique each child...
by jeannie | Dec 7, 2011 | buildingaboat, Uncategorized |
a few days ago, we decided to make posters of Christmas words and decorate them. The kids did this while Christmas music played, and enjoyed the time. Today, I had to test a few things for a shoot I have in the morning, so I just asked the kids to step in… actually, I had to make them do it… but anyway, they did, and as chaotic as it was with these crazy kids, and with a little help from our friend, Jordan, there were a few fun shots. Merry Christmas to everyone, and I hope each of you are blessed with Joy, and Love, and Jesus this season. Can’t you see the hope in their...
