7.25.2011

A Few iPhone Pics {again}...

Beautiful Watson Lake...one of our favorite spots to visit here!


kiddos:)



We went to Boulder a few weeks ago...you just never know what you might see there on the infamous Pearl Street...




The last 6 days, we have spent a lot of time in Moby Gym at CSU
{rockin out at our Staff Conference with 5000 other missionaries is an awesome thing}


You can't come to Ft. Collins and not get ice cream from Walrus!  YUMMMYYYY!!! 



7.24.2011

Campus Crusade for Christ

We are in the home stretch of our time in Colorado and we have spent the last few days at a conference held for all the staff who work for Campus Crusade for Christ (this is the organization we work for).  I don't talk much about our ministry on here and I'm not exactly sure why.  It's not because I'm ashamed.  I think it started that way because I was concerned about our security possibly with this blog being public reading material and I do show pics of our house and kids a lot.  Anyway, for whatever reason, I haven't talked a ton about Campus Crusade and what we do.  I'm sure it seems odd to some of you that we pack up and leave our home for weeks on end almost every summer.  Sometimes it's to the beach and sometimes it's out here to Colorado.  This is our normal though and it's something I really treasure about what we do.  It's not always easy to pack up and leave your home and figure out all the details that go along with that...but we always enjoy our time out here and our time on other various missions projects we go on.  It all boils down to being a part of the Lord calling people unto Himself and into His kingdom.  We feel like it's such a honor to invest the good news of Jesus Christ into college students lives and in turn send them out into the world to do the same.  God changed our lives with His gospel, and we want to be a part of Him doing the same in other's lives.  Now you may be confused and thinking that I am a stay at home mom!  Well, I am!  That's the great thing about working for Campus Crusade...I get to technically still be employed by them, but my full time job is to invest and disciple my children!  What an honor that is.  I still have some involvement with our ministry at Alabama but it is definitely limited by my 3 (and soon to be 4) little ones.  However, I am so thankful to be part of a mission organization who truly honors and lifts up the role of motherhood...because it is a calling for sure!

The last few days of our conference have been really good.  We have connected with lots of friends and we have been hearing so many stories of how God is at work around the world through Campus Crusade for Christ.  It's really amazing to be a part of such a movement that loves Christ and wants to make Him known above all else.  This year, we celebrate 60 years as a ministry.  The lives changed as a result of one man's (Bill Bright) vision in 1951 are staggering.  I love to see how God uses ordinary sinners like us for His glory around the world! 

We got to hear from Francis Chan (well known author of Crazy Love, Forgotten God, and Erasing Hell) a couple of times and God continues to really challenge me in my walk with Him, but also just how I am living out my faith.  I am convicted that so much of my life can be lukewarm and possibly not that different from someone whose life hasn't been changed by Jesus.  I want to be full of faith and open to whatever the Lord calls me to.  I do feel like God has grown me in this and I am humbled to see Him at work at some of the small steps of faith I have taken recently.  I am challenged to do even more...and to truly consider what I am doing or how I am living that requires faith.  Because when I take an honest look at my day to day life...not much of it takes a lot of faith or surrender. 

One of the biggest things that happened this week was that Campus Crusade for Christ unveiled the plan that we are changing our US based ministry name (we have segments of our ministry all over the world and they all changed their names a long time ago) to Cru.  We are dropping Campus Crusade for Christ and will just be known as Cru.  You may have heard about this on the news and we have all been surprised at the slant the media has taken.  If you want to know more about this name change, one of our co-workers has a great blog post on it here.  If you want to go to the official site from Cru to read about why we are changing our name then click here.

So, there you go....lots of thoughts and details about our ministry and what God is doing in my heart.  If you made it this far, yay!!  So many of you are faithful partners and prayer warriors of our ministry and we are so grateful.  We ask that you continue to pray for us as we look forward to returning to Alabama this week and gearing up for our 10th year in ministry (that seems so crazy to me)!  It's always an exciting time for us as we anticipate all that God is going to do in students lives in Tuscaloosa.

7.17.2011

Hiking

When my parents were here last week I guess it was, we went on a few hikes.  Now, I use that term loosely because remember we were "hiking" with a 8, 4, and 2 year old!  Ha!  We had a little picnic lunch before this particular hike which the kids loved.  Then we went on our short hike to the waterfall.  Since most of the snow has been melted around here for awhile, the waterfall wasn't exactly flowing a lot of water, but it was still fun!  The kids (and me and Jeff) really love exploring and seeing all that Colorado has to offer...















7.14.2011

He Will Be Missed



William "Billy" Benjimen
8.27.1913 - 7.12.2011

This past Tuesday, Jeff's paternal grandfather passed from this life into the next.  He was 97 years old and had lived a full life!  We are thankful that he is no longer suffering and is enjoying being in the presence of His Savior.  He will be missed though as a well beloved father, husband, grandfather, and great grandfather.  Jeff flew back to Alabama yesterday to be a the funeral today, and sadly the rest of us just couldn't join him with flights being $800.  This is amazingly, Jeff's very first grandparent to pass away (he still has 3 remaining that are alive). 

Here are some tidbits from Pepaw's obituary....

Graduating from the same high school as Jeff and his daddy (Lanny), Pepaw lettered in basketball, baseball, and football, and he also won the city tennis championship. He went on to graduate with a Bachelors Degree from Harding College, Searcy, AR in 1935 and Masters in English from Peabody College, Nashville, TN in 1940. A member of the Franklin County Sports Hall of Fame, Pepaw was also, at the time of his death, the oldest Russellville High Golden Tiger. He was also an avid golfer in his spare time.

He was a faithful preacher of the gospel working with churches of Christ in Knoxville, TN (1936-1944), Montgomery, AL (1944-1945), Maryville, TN (1946-1948), Sparta, TN (1949-1953), Searcy, AR (1953-1955), Phil Campbell, AL (1955-1980), Isbell, AL (1980-1992) and held numerous gospel meetings throughout the country. He also worked as a fill in preacher for various congregations in Franklin County, AL for several years.

Also a successful Russellville businessman, Pepaw was the third generation to run the family Printing Company and he also owned King Frosty (a fun hamburger joint) from 1952-1987 and a book Store from 1955-2001.



7.11.2011

Weekend Getaway

My parents flew out to Colorado last week so we have been enjoying time with them!  It's always great to have a few extra set of hands to help entertain my lively crew:).  They took Samuel to Winter Park, Co on Wednesday and then the rest of us joined them on Friday for the weekend.  It was a great getaway.  The weather was absolutely fabulous and downright cold at night!!!!  Even though Winter Park is a ski resort, it still has great activities for the summer and of course the weather.  It was high 60's and low 70's during the day which was just amazing.  I could live with that kind of weather year around I think!

We spent most of the day Saturday in the resort village doing all sorts of fun activies like the Alpine Slide down the mountain, rock climbing, jumping in a bouncy house, riding a zip line, eating yummy food, riding the gondola from the resort to the parking lot (this was one of their favorite things go figure), playing in the playground, riding the ski lift, and more!  I didn't feel like lugging my big camera around so I just took pics on my phone.  Here is a little collage I made...


Thanks mom and day for a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***************************************************************************

In other random updates, I am now nearly 11 weeks (tomorrow) and actually maybe feeling a tiny bit better???.  Jeff thinks that means it's a boy since I was so much sicker with the girls and was that way until nearly 20 weeks with both of them.  I still have NO energy which sort of stinks when you are in the awesome adventure state of Colorado.  However, I am just so very thankful and trying not to over analyze feeling a little better and not be anxious about miscarriage or what could go wrong.  That's a constant struggle for me.  On the flip side, I struggle with accepting that my life is going to change again and I am going to get big and uncomfortable.  That I have to get used to having a baby in the house again just when I was really getting exited about leaving that stage.  I have to figure out how to make the playroom a nursery (what to do with all the toys) without spending too much money.   I will have to sleep train, potty train, and everything else train another child!  If I'm honest, it's a bit overwhelming.   I don't want to complain because this tiny life is SUCH a gift and something I know many women would give anything to experience (I used to be that woman).  I am working hard at truly living Philippians 4: 4, 6 out... "Rejoice in the Lord, ALWAYS...Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition present your requests to God." 

I just finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and it was good in a way that was convicting and very thought provoking for me and is challenging me in my faith in a real way.  A couple of quotes that really stuck out to me in regards to my attitude (which a lot of days stinks based on my circumstances) is this...

"When I am consumed by MY problems - stressed out about MY life, MY family, My job - I actually convey the belief that I think my circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice.  In other words that I have a "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities...

Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified because this whole thing is HIS.  HIS movie.  HIS world.  HIS gift."

I don't know about you, but as a mom with many young children, I often feel I have the right to complain and have a bad attitude on these long long days of raising my little miracles.  I know it's wrong and yet I still do it because it IS hard to be a mother.  And yet, it's a gift.  A calling I treasure.  Most of all, it doesn't matter how bad my days or hours are, I am instructed to rejoice.  It doesn't mean I can't admit the day was difficult...I think it just means to look for the beauty and for the blessings amongst the chaos.  And that brings glory to my Father which is what my heart longs to do.  


7.05.2011

A Fun Filled 4th of July!

Our 4th of July was a pretty good day with some relaxing and lots of hanging out with friends! Of course, we had to get all festive with our selections from the Target dollar section:).   







We had a little parade in the apartment complex for all the kids.  It was a little chaotic but the children loved it!














Then we had a cookout with our friends with lots of yummy food and great fellowship!




After the cookout, we gathered together to get ready for fireworks. The kids ran around playing while they waited.  Abigail got comfy in the chair and played with my phone. 




Boys being silly!











Abigail didn't cry during the fireworks, but was very pensive and not a huge fan of them.  This morning she said "I didn't wike them...I was a wittle bit scared."  Ellie Kate liked them until the finale and then it even got a bit too loud for her! 

Overall, it was a fun holiday.  We are thankful for our great nation!!!

7.03.2011

Trip to the Mountains

We drove over to Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday.  We went with another family which made it so much fun! It's one of our favorite places to visit when we come out here!  Even though we have been I guess 5 times now, it still just never gets old.  The beauty is breathtaking and makes our hearts declare the glory of the Lord!  






And here is a comparison of Samuel the last 3 times we've been out here in the same spot....


New BFF's...Samuel and Brady!!!





 An attempt at a family picture did not go so well...


cutest girls, Maggie and Ellie Kate! 




 She actually posed and had a real smile!!!!! 










There was still quite a bit of snow around Bear Lake much to these southern bred children's delight! 










Driving on up to the top of the national park, there was still a LOT of snow and it was pretty cold too!










And just for fun...a look back at how our family has changed since we first started coming out to Colorado beginning in 2005 when it was just the 2 of us:).