Happy 5th Anniversary

We celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary this year and it was amazing! 5 years ago, December 6th, 2008 I became a Mrs. to Mr. David Patrick and I couldn't be happier. I never knew I could continue to fall in love, but I have, so much! The Lord has stretched us through things that others see as deal-breakers. The Lord has blessed us in ways we never expected. The Lord has paved a path that we didn't expect, but that has been so perfect. We are truly blessed. So, how did we celebrate? New York was in the plans at one point (and we got a lot of good ideas from some great friends) but it didn't quite work out this go round. Maybe sometime in the future. We did, spend the weekend downtown ... as in Downtown Charleston. Sometimes it's hard to believe we live in such a beautiful city. There is so much culture, history, beauty and FUN here. We love it! Friday night - Sunday afternoon we stayed in the Charleston Place Hotel (that I just can't quit calling the Omni, ha!) and just enjoyed Charleston - and ate a lot of food! Here are some pics of the not-so-far-away getaway! 

Under the Christmas Tree in Marion Square on Friday night

Brunch on Saturday morning on King Street - AMAZING!

 A Sweetgrass Basket Ornament for our Christmas tree from the Market purchased half-way through a LONG day of shopping! (David knows what makes me tick! LOL)

Waiting for our dinner reservations on Saturday evening. We were sitting on an authentic Charleston Joggling Board :)

 Dinner menu at Husk on Saturday evening - our actual anniversary is the 6th, but it was the 7th. Still a sweet sweet thing ... they sat us in the corner of a room next to a window overlooking Queen Street with a nice fireplace. It was very romantic!

 

 Still so in love!

 

AAAND ... since I wasn't at church on Sunday (which is rare!) my sister left me a sweet sticky-note message to come back to. Love!

As of late ...

I haven't posted in a while ... a long while. 

That's because life has been super busy in a great way! 

So, I thought I'd share some pics with you to keep ya updated! 

I hope fall (feels more like winter today!) is treating you and your family well!!

With love,

Kristen

I decided to paint our pumpkins this year ... first attempt wasn't too bad! It was a very warm Halloween and down here in the south, they would've gotten rotten!

My family at Trunk or Treat this year! Second Annual for FBC & CFA in S. Mt. P - it was twice the size o the last one, and so much fun! (My David was working and it was his b-day ... not a great day for him & we missed him, mucho!)

Not to worry ... we celebrated my hubby's B-day with his dad George's b-day at Hall's Chophouse, downtown Charleston that weekend. It was amazing! If you've never been, save up & go celebrate something there ... It's absolutely amazing!! (make sure to order the cream corn & some kind of steak with the black truffle butter!)

After all the Halloween festivities, we came home to leftover candy in the bowl we'd left on the front porch! This has NEVER happened before ... We have such a nice neighborhood with great (and apparently honest) families!

Speaking of our neighborhood, we're planning to leave. We have loved Summerville, our neighbors, and our first home, however, the Lord has called us to FBC Mt. Pleasant! With that, while living in "the 'Ville", has come a lllooooonnnnggggg commute to our friends, family, work, and calling. It's not sustainable, so we're headed back. Well, as soon as someone loves this house as much as we do! (Too bad it's impossible to transplant neighborhoods?!?!!)

 

One of the best things about FBC Mt. Pleasant are the kiddos! I walked into my office one morning with these notes from one of our pastor's kids. These girls love God and make my job amazing!!!

Recently I got pretty sick - fever for about 5 days - and went through all kinds of meds! I've also recently stopped biting my fingernails (Praise the Lord!) So, in light of these two things ... my hubby knows how to make me feel better: Candy & nail polish! I'm such a girl :-)

The best medicine, though, is time with Jesus! I'm so thankful to live right near the beach ... there's just something refreshing, healing, soothing, calming, and amazing about talking to Jesus with salt air in your face and the sun rising over the waves. It's also fun to find sand sculptures in November! I am amazed at the calling God has placed on my life as the Children's Minister at FBC and as a wife to David. I'm amazed at the redemption I see when I reflect on my life. I'm amazed at the plans and directions He keeps giving me for the children's ministry and for my little 2 person family. His mercies are new each morning, they keep me going and give me hope for what's to come and for the work He has planned for me to do. Jesus is alive and working ... in the big things and the little things in my life and those around me. I couldn't be more appreciative! 

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him."

Psalm 24:1

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 100:4-5

I think this will happen in Heaven

Everyone will worship God together. No matter what. Forever.

...for the Bible tells me so:

⁹ After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they were shouting with a great roar,

“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
    and from the Lamb!” 

(Revelation chapter 7)

He is

Here we go ...

Last Sunday I had a "Vision Sunday" for the parents with kids involved in the children's ministries at church. It was great! I planned for weeks, had a breakfast for them, and spent about 40-45 min sharing with them what the ministry is all about. I shared with them what we teach, why we teach it, the resources we have available, how the church wants to partner with them as they raise their kids to know Jesus, and all the events we have weekly and on special occasions.

I stood on the stage - with a mic like the pastors and the podium they use in preaching.
I had the chairs still arranged like the Sunday morning worship service for seating.
I saw a lot of parents out there - the children's ministry covers birth-5th grade.
I've ever done something like this ... and I was nervous.

Nervousness always hits me up in weird ways. Sometimes I can't eat, and then other times I feel like I'm a bottomless chocolate pit (because chocolate cures everything right?!). Sometimes I can't sleep, and then other times all I want to do is crawl in bed and go to sleep because that seems like an escape. Sometimes I spend my entire car ride (which is currently about a hour long) practicing my speech while passers by probably wonder who I'm talking to, and then other times I just ride in silence for the calming effect. This time, though, was different.

This time, my nerves lasted all of 5 or maybe 10 minutes and that was about 3 months ago.

Yes, I was nervous, but not for long. Why? God comforts with peace that passes all understanding. I can teach a class full of kids all day long everyday and not bat an eyelid. Standing up in front of a room full of adults makes my heart skip a beat - or two, or ten - even if it's just to literally say, "Welcome to church! We're glad you're here!" This meeting, this room full of people, this moment - it was good. He gave me peace last week that doesn't make sense to me based on my normal pattern of nervousness. He gave me peace that kept me going through planning, preparing, and speaking. He gave direction for our children's ministry that I simply delivered to parents. Did you read that? He gave peace - He gave perseverance - He gave direction - HE!

There have been multiple times in my life that I've known I was doing something the He wanted me to do. Teaching, for example, is one of those things. God gave me the desire to teach as a 6 year old when I taught my 4 year old sister to read, and again as a 3rd grader with a stellar teacher who helped me transition a move to a new town. God gave me the desire to teach as a high school student who met Jesus while volunteering at a kids camp, and again as a college student who loved the education program at Charleston Southern University. You see, he directed me to do what He wanted me to do based on circumstances, scriptures, and influential people in my life. It was good to know where I was going.

As a Children's Minister, for almost 2 years now, I've gone back and forth asking God why He took me away from teaching. I knew where I was going. I was confident that God had directed my path. I am also confident in where I am now. I know God brought me here. There was, however, a gap. It wasn't very big, but it was there. So, knowing that God is not a God of confusion, I resolved to pray about it. As soon as I knelt at the prayer bench in my office to ask the question I heard an answer. I think it was the shortest prayer time I've ever had. A word popped in my head as if I somehow knew the answer already ...

Preparation

He needed me to be completely sold out to teaching in order to learn all the ins and outs. That way, the experience I gained from a Christian university and an award winning elementary school would be invaluable as a Minister to Preschool & Children. I can't tell you how many times I've felt glad that I was a teacher first so that I knew how to handle something! He knew that I needed to be prepared for this job by having that job first. He knew that I needed 6 "Open House Nights" as a teacher in order for this meeting to not be so scary. He knew that the things I learned as a teacher would be essential for this role in this church in this town at this time.

I'm SO thankful that He chose me to follow this path so that He could teach children about Himself and draw them close. I'm SO thankful that the mistakes I've made in the past didn't completely break this plan. I'm SO thankful for His grace. I don't deserve to be in this role ... I don't deserve to feel these kinds of blessings ... but I'm SO thankful for them. And isn't that the picture of salvation? We are offered something we don't deserve. God's Son, who lived a blameless life, took on our punishment in order that our relationship with Him could be restored. God is more than good. He is more than smart. God is graceful - more than we deserve. God gives peace that we don't understand in order to fulfill His will in ways we never expected.

I'm SO thankful that He is.

For My Sister-Friends

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.” C.S. Lewis

 

This circle of women has meant more to me than they know. These ladies are wise. Wise from life experience; Wise from and education standpoint; Wise in knowledge of scriptures; and Wise in knowing how to be a true friend! These ladies know the Lord and they know me. They have seen some of my absolute worst moments and have shared in some of my best times. They have helped me grow. We've spent countless nights laughing and talking together, and countless hours discussing scriptures and praying with each other. I have learned more from them than I think I even realized ... that is until yesterday.

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

These ladies are all Christians. That means they each have decided at one point in their lives to follow Jesus. I have had the privilege to hear each of them share their experience of coming to know Him. I have gotten to know them and shared life with them for a while now. I have even known a couple of them since high school. Last night we went out to dinner at Vickery's on Shem Creek. We were celebrating Beth (second from the left) since she is about to move to Colorado. We got a chance to catch up. We talked about kids and school, moving and houses, new cars, new life adventures, and just about everything in between. I think the restaurant setting kept us from going until midnight like some of the Tuesday nights in the past! What a treasure they are! As I sat at that table, soaking it all in, it hit me. These women are not only true friends, they are my sisters.

 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.  When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. They sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. Job 2:11

I love them! You hear people say the phrase "brothers and sisters in Christ" at church a lot. You even read that in scriptures, but yesterday it came alive to me. I looked around the table listening to parents from all stages of children (a baby to a college senior and all ages in between) what great knowledge I've gained from these Godly parents. I saw wives committed to their husbands ... wow, what great advice I've gleaned from them. I saw girls that love Jesus and are committed to the scriptures; to reading, studying, and lifelong learning. I thought about missions and the girls at the table that I've had the chance to go out of the country with - man, what a growing experience that has been in my life! I thought about the intimate parts of my life I've shared with these ladies and they love me still. I thought about the things I've done wrong that they've called me out on and they love me still. I thought about the major life decisions I've had to make and how they were there for me in prayer and in person. Can I tell you? I truly believe that they would come and sit in a pile of ashes with me for days without speaking, like Job's friends, if I needed it.

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.  Proverbs 27:9

The closeness and trust that I have with these ladies is something that I've only ever experienced with my personal, biological sisters. I can trust them and go to them if I really need to. I probably should trust and go to them a little more than I do (being too kept to myself is something I'm growing in and as we grow up we are quickly becoming closer, yay!). I felt this kind of trust and love with cousins and parents before too. I really did have an awesome growing up experience as far as value of family is concerned. The bottom line, though, is that this trust and love is something I've only ever experienced with family. Yesterday I realized that I've got that trust and comfort and love in these friends. They are like sister-friends to me and it's so sweet! I wouldn't be the woman I am today without them. I know I have a long way still to go, but I know I'm not alone. I'm thankful for all I've learned from and with them and what's to come. The Lord created something good when He allowed friendships to form ... Praise Him! 

I love you Jennifer, Beth, Liz, Kristen and Jessica!

I will spend Eternity with him

and I'm so excited! He's one of 8 children I had the pleasure of baptizing from our children's ministry last Sunday. We used Isle of Palms county park for a church wide fellowship and headed into the ocean. All together, 73 people joined the family of believers at our church across two campuses. It was the largest number of beach baptisms to date.

My heart is full ... my cup runneth over!

Why I Cried

Why?

What a question. Presumably, you want to know why I cried. Based on the title of this blog, but please be patient. My response will come ... I want to address that question. Why? Those three letters and one punctuation mark spark SO much thought an conversation in SO many areas of life. Why? It seems like no matter how much you think, say, explain, answer ... whatever ... there's still room for one more WHY?

I've been reading this book with my fellow church staff members, and it's really been good at focusing challenging me on asking the right questions. I've recently applied it to my children's ministry and really to my life. Asking the right questions has given me direction. Well, let me rephrase that, it's pointed me in a direction.That's good!

Some of the "Why?" questions I've been asking myself lately are these:
           Why do you do what you do?
           Why do you want to move?
           Why do you want a family?

There are a multitude of reasons I could tell you about why I'm in the profession I'm in ... read back a few years to this post and you can see the way it all went down. I love my job. Most of the time it doesn't even feel like a job. That's good! There are lots of reasons I want to move back to Mt. Pleasant from Summerville ... that's another post for another day ... but the bottom line is that it's working out. That's good! There are probably a bazillion reasons I want a family. Here again, the bottom line is that it's all going to work out. We have a plan in place and it's good!

All kinds of things in my life are going great right now and I'm still asking myself questions. Why? Because I heard a sermon a few weeks back about "Suffering Well." Watch it here. (it's worth the few extra minutes, I promise!) One of the things our pastor said was that we should prepare ourselves in the seasons of good to be ready when the seasons of bad arrive. Our amazingly sovereign God knows what's in store for me. I think that he's choosing to teach me to consistently ask myself pointed questions
           so that when trouble comes I am prepared ...
           so that I can ground myself amidst a tornado of crazy ...
           so that when trouble comes I won't roll my little snowball of a problem into oblivion ...
           so that when trouble comes I will be prepared to stop, breathe, and remind myself ...

There's always an answer to that tricky little pesky question       WHY

Thankful doesn't begin to describe how I feel about my God. He's always in control. It's hard to lean on him and need him (i mean really really need him) when things are going good. I am working on that and learning how sweet my relationship with Him is during seasons of good. I am not being a "Debby Downer" thinking that trouble is lurking around the next corner, but I am recognizing that He's teaching me a valuable lesson that I can only PRAY I'll remember in the future. Life isn't always perfect. That's reality, so I'm so thankful for a God that helps us through struggles AND prepares us for them in advance!

I bet you're still wondering why I cried? Read this - I know it's long but seriously read it. Every Christian teacher I know (ESPECIALLY MYSELF) thinks this during the middle of August! This lady must have read my private journals for the 6 years I prepared for a new class of kids. I cried because I still have a teacher's heart. I love teachers - the chance I had to be one, the ones that shaped me, the ones I worked with, and the ones I've known over the years. I cried because I still miss the classroom sometimes. I cried because I know that God's plan to move me into my position here at FBC involved my whole heart loving being a teacher first. I cried because I knew I was called to be a Teacher just as strongly as I know I'm called to be a Children's Minister. I cried because I am overwhelmed with the love my Lord has shown me in directing my life. I cried because I thought I had the best of the best when I was a teacher only to find out the next step God had planned for me was even better! I cried because I'm not sure where the road I'm on is going, but I am sure that I'm on the right road ... 

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, 

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you 

with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 

so that Christ may dwell in your hearths through faith. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 

may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, 

to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, 

according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory 

in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 

forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21

... that's good!

Block Party, Camps, & VBS ... Oh My!

Getting used to working during the summer has been, let's just say, a transition. Last year was my first summer ever to be working! (I don't count high school summer jobs, or the one summer I was a dishwasher at Denny's - yes, you read that right, and that's another story for another post one day - because those weren't 'real' jobs). I've been either in school or teaching school since I was 5 years old ... from 5K to the 6th year of teaching, that's a grand total of 23 years folks! Old habits die hard. Naturally, it is still taking a little "getting used to." Don't hear me complaining though, I love my job! Seriously, I love my job. I'm not just saying that as a nice thing to say. I honestly LOVE my job! Here are a few glimpses into what my "summer work" has looked like: (be warned - the cuteness factor is immeasurable!)

Neighborhood Block Party:

Camp Kid Jam:

Living Inside Out!

 

 

 

 

Vacation Bible School:

Turn It Up!

Prayer and a little DIY

David and I like to spend time during our week praying for the needs of our friends & family. If you are a friend or family ... that's you! We love you and know that the Lord loves you too! Sometimes, though, if we're being completely honest, we have trouble remembering your needs. We don't want to be those people who say "We'll be praying for you!" and then really never do ... they just use it as a nice thing to say. 

We know there is power in prayer. We've seen it in our lives, the lives of our friends, and in the lives of complete strangers in foreign countries. Jesus taught us how to pray in the Bible (go to Luke 11) with a very familiar prayer ... The Lord's Prayer. Jesus promises that if we ask with a pure heart, truly seeking God's will in the situation, we will get what we ask for. That's not to say God is a fanciful magician living up in the clouds ready to grant our every wish; but if we truly seek after His heart and pray for His plan to be worked out in our lives, He will give it to us! He ALWAYS answers our prayers and we've seen three answers: Yes, No, and Later. Be encouraged that He hears you when you truly seek Him with your whole heart and He loves taking care of His children!

So, in order to present our requests to the Lord, and to honor our promises to our family & friends that we'll pray for them, we needed a way to keep up with it! There was also a nice empty space on the wall just asking to be filled! Since I just LOVE to use my great craft room and David is out of town this weekend, I decided that it was definitely time for this project! I have pics of the materials you'll need at the end of this post in case you'd like to make one of your own!

 

 I started with three small canvases that were on clearance at Tuesday Morning! Then I headed to Lowe's for some spray paint and finally to Wal-Mart for the mini clothespins & the cork board. I already had twine, chipboard letters & clear pushpins in my craft room. When I got home I glued the letters to the canvases with super glue and spray painted them green. While they were drying, I tied a little burlap bow and hot glued it to the top of the cork board. Then I tied 4 small single strand twine bows. I glued one on top of the burlap bow as an accent - it's hard to see in the pictures - and saved the others for later. Next, I glued the 6 mini clothespins to the cork board. Since the paint was still not very dry (I guess I can thank the lovely humid lowcountry weather we have for that) I decided to make little cards to match. I just printed them on cream cardstock on my home computer. Once the cards were done, I cut them apart, found a little accent bucket & placed them on the side of the nightstand next to the wall where the Prayer Board would go. Finally the paint was dry. I tied 4 strands of twine together 3 times and hot glued them to the back of the 3 canvases. I used these twine ties as a way to hang the canvases with a clear pushpin. The small twine bows I was saving were used to hot glue to the clear push pin to disguise it on the wall. the cork board is attached with 3M hanging strips centered under the canvases.  It was a fun DIY project for today's rainy afternoon. (don't worry, I spray painted outside between the showers and let the paint dry in the garage ... no fumes in this house!) So, here are the pictures! Maybe you can make one for your family! And remember, we're praying for you!

Materials you'll need: