Christmas Time

Merry Christmas! Here are some fun holiday pictures:


This is a pretty accurate one of Benny and I...just kidding. We like to dress a little tacky for our Christmas party with our kids. Our leaders get really into it too...

This one's a little more normal... :)

In front of our new (since the end of May) house. Yes, those are GREEN leaves and GREEN grass...Louisiana doesn't quite have the whole "four season" thing down.

Jill and Dupree's Wedding

My great Friend, Jill Tanana, got married last weekend in Detroit. She was absolutely beautiful, and the entire weekend was spectacular. The rehearsal dinner was in the Clubhouse at the Detroit Tiger's Stadium (thanks to her dad, Frank Tanana...he played a little MLB a few years ago), and the wedding/reception was in the Henry Ford Estate. I had a wonderful time catching up with good friends from the Kanakuk Institute, and was blessed to be a part of the weekend. Congrats Jill and Dupree!

Lee, Kim, Ryan, Dupree, Jill, Jason, Cari, and me at the reception.


Me, Laura, Jill, Stacey, and Cari at the rehearsal dinner.


"The Front Row Four." (Cari, me, Jill and Kim)

Dupree serenading Jill at the reception.

Me and Kim!

Go Bearcats!

For those who don't know, Benny is the Varsity coach of the Ruston High soccer team. His season started a few weeks ago, and so far they're 7-1. Benny absolutely loves coaching, and he is VERY good at it!

A very blurry picture of their first game...I think they won this one 8-0.


Benny with the JV coach, Christian.

The studentLIFE Room

Benny and I have always known that our leaders are phenomenal, but this weekend they REALLY amazed us. For the past year and a half, the walls of the room where we meet with our kids have been beige and barren. Five of our leaders, on their own initiative, spent the weekend laboring to improving the aesthetic appearance of the room. Here are a few pictures of their works in progress and finished products.


Lainie, working on her tree.



James, sitting in front of the really cool "flourishes."


Seth, touching up a few places.


Christian created this one...it symbolizes that the
church is where we grow and secure our deep
roots in Christ.

Christian's work again... Another depiction of the church

on the right, and that we are called not to just stay

there, but to build bridges to our communities in order to

bring the Good News to those around us.


Charis, Sarah, Mary, and Aaliyah enjoying

the new room.

A Visit from Shaun

Two weeks ago, Benny's older brother Shaun, who lives in Phoenix, came to Ruston for a visit. We had a great time talking, hanging out, watching football, and just enjoying each other's presence. Shaun's such a fun, godly man, and we were so blessed by his visit. Come again soon, Shaun!

Benny and Shaun.

Ahhh...brotherly love.

Not quite sure what to say about this one. :)

Benny, showing his skills in the batting cages.

Shaun, putt-putting.

Benny being silly after dinner one evening.

Service Over Self

Back in September, Benny and I took our kids to Memphis, TN to work with an organization called Service Over Self. (I was able to go on a few trips to S.O.S. with Columbia K-Life in high school/college, which is how we knew about the organization.) It was a great, eye-opening experience for our kids, as many of them had never been on a service-type trip before. These are pictures from our evening hang out time. (All of our work project pics were taken with disposable cameras and are not yet on CD's...)

Tanner (who has crazy flexible joints), and Benny (who does not.)

Three of my small group girls...Emily, Sarah, and Katelyn.

Jake (an awesome college leader) and Benny.

Me and Katelyn.

No more night shifts!!

For the past year and 8 months, I have worked either two or three 12-hour night shifts a week in Labor and Delivery. This means two or three nights a week that I've been away from Benny during the evenings, and that I've had to sleep during everyone else's waking hours. But, Tuesday, October 2 marked my first "day shift". I'm now working three 12-hour shifts DURING THE ACTUAL DAYTIME. It's been a little bit of an adjustment, but we're loving that I get off at 7pm and can still hang out for a few hours in the evening. What a blessing!

Catching you up...

Since we're just getting started with our blog, I thought I'd share a few pictures from our summer...

We took our kids to Dallas at the beginning of August for an Unknown Destination Trip. (Except all the kids knew we were going to Dallas, so I guess it was a "Not-So-Unknown-Destination Trip.) Just a few pictures of all the fun!

Benny and Matthew (one of our awesome volunteers) at the Studio Movie Grill.


Me, in the black jacket, skillfully and gracefully playing Broomball.


A really fun game called "Whirleyball."

At the end of July, we met up with Benny's college roomates and their wives in Hilton Head, SC. They're such a unique, fun group of guys, and their wives are unbelievable. We had a great time hanging out on the beach everyday, and playing lots of crazy games in the evening.

Farmer, Jeff, Benny, Adam, Jonathan, Jared, Travis, and Andy.



Me and Benny.



Heather, me, L.A., Jess, Nicole and Leslie at dinner one evening.

At the beginning of July, we went with two families from our church on their family vacations to Sea Grove Beach, FL. (Near Destin)

Benny and Jeff.

Allie, Mary, Charis, me, and Sarah.

In June, we had the incredible opportunity to take 13 kids from Ruston to Kids Across America. It was an unbelievable experience, and such a blessing to allow these kids experience Christ in a new way.

I've joined the phenomena!

We'll, I've finally done it...I created a blog page for Benny and I! Stay tuned for pictures and updates from life in Ruston, LA!