The Wrong Word

July 31, 2014

I’m not going to lie; July was packed. I hesitate to use the word “busy” because I think I use it a lot, and it usually implies duty and a bit of negativity. Payton says that when I use “busy,” I’m usually worried (usually true!) or I don’t like that I’m required to do all […]

Fresh Air

July 31, 2014

All of Colorado air smells fresh, but the higher you go and the further you remove yourself from cars, the closer you get to vanilla pines, which means everything smells amazing. I’d bottle the scent and pack a few for Asia if I had the space. So, I was very thankful that we were invited […]

Flashpoint

June 14, 2014

Yes, it’s true, we went to Missouri (again). But, we had a great reason to go–the ABEFC youth missions trip at Flashpoint Adventures: “DiscoverNORMAL for the billions of unreached people around the world at Flashpoint Adventures- an immersive 45-hour program located on a secluded campus at the Lake of the Ozarks.” The “secluded campus” is […]

Summer Duties

June 13, 2014

“What are you going to do this summer?” Is a question I get often. Payton’s role is a little more defined since he’s the official “pastoral intern.” Payton has a job description, which includes meetings, teaching, youth events, office work, odd jobs, etc. What’s cool is that ABEFC is taking this time to invest in […]

A Less Creepy Surprise

May 29, 2014

If you didn’t know it, I like surprises. I do. I’d like to clarify that I don’t really like being surprised by people jumping out of the dark and yelling. So, last post, I mentioned two surprise eggs. This post also involves a surprise egg, but one with a cute little (live) chicky coming out. […]

Goodbyes & Surprises

May 22, 2014

We are blessed! I cannot tell you how good it feels at this very moment to be a part of a family (not just blood, but our spiritual family too), especially when I know they’ll always love us and never forget us even when we step on an airplane and travel across the ocean to […]

The Shepherds’ Swag

March 29, 2014

What does 3,500 men singing the “Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” sound like? Well…very, very deep. Grace laughed as she thumbed through the hymn book published for the Shepherd’s Conference that I went to last month. She described many of them as “all the man songs,” since they hit– and linger– at all those low, […]

The Vaccine Must Dance

March 26, 2014

In the event that you feel a bit tentative about taking a live virus pill, don’t worry, Viviotif will convince you with their brochure! I was convinced!–who wouldn’t want to take a virus that looks as happy as this one! Just about a two weeks ago, Payton and I ventured out in a snow squall […]

While the men were away, Part 2

March 24, 2014

I learned a lot while the men were gone. A lot more happened than just eating Five Guys or hanging out with ladies. Just before the guys headed out to the Shepherd’s Conference in California, my mom read a passage in Isaiah 58 about praying and fasting. There’s been a lot going on at our […]

While the men were away, Part 1

March 21, 2014

…the girls went wild! Nope. Actually, we kept the manicures and bon-bons to a minimum. Earlier this month, Payton got head to sunny, southern California for the Shepherd’s Conference with my dad. They attended the three day conference with about 2500 other men and got to hear from a variety of speakers. I was a […]