30 Hour Famine

My song is love

Love to the loveless shown
And it goes on
You don't have to be alone.
--Coldplay's "A Message"
[our theme song for the weekend]

This past weekend our youth ministry, Elevate, participated in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine, where we raise money for the hungry by going hungry for 30 hours. This has got to be my favorite event that we do all year. Take 120 teenagers (and leaders!) who are surrounded by excess food, clothes, security, technology, STUFF...and expose them to the reality of hunger and pain that millions around the world face everyday--that's what I call a purposeful weekend.

my fabulous small group made these shirts

yep, that's butter--hey, we were hungry!
[even though this pregnant lady couldn't really fast]

Yearning...Scheming...Hoping...

It happens without fail. Every year, around this time, I get an intense craving. And this one isn't pregnancy-related. It's an overwhelming desire to see this:

SUN.

I've been able to satisfy that craving by taking trips for many of the past 10 or 12 years. In college, I traveled to Florida over Spring Break for 3 out of my 4 years there. Then while in Korea, travel was so inexpensive that my friends and I would just hop aboard a plane any time we had a break and head to such places as Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia, to name a few. And for the past several years, it seems that there's always been a reason to head south during the late winter months.

Last year, it was a trip to Gatlinburg, TN in early April to visit my college girlfriends and their hubbies. Oh man, was that fun.


We also made a stop in Lynchburg, VA to visit my brother at Liberty University.

*See us squinting? That would be because of SUN. Oh how I miss that beautiful word.

So it hit me the other day. Why not plan a trip down south? After all, my life is probably more flexible right now as a stay at home mom with only one child than it will be for a very long time.

So the scheming has begun. I've started whispering the words road trip in my sisters' ears. I've been counting up my MyPoints points to see how much free gas it could get me. (I've been saving them up for about four years, so it's probably about time to spend some!) I've been thinking about which friends we could visit along the way. (All you southern friends might want to keep your eye on your doorstep toward the end of April...you may find me there!)

So, what do you all think? Should we do it?

Love is in the Air

Valentine's Day was especially fun this year since Griffin started to understand a little better. We enjoyed giving him a little extra lovin'...which isn't especially hard with this kid.

Here he is opening his Pooh card from Mommy and Daddy. He loves 'mail'.

This year Griffin 'made' (with a little help from Mommy) his first Valentine's for his friends. We used special Valentine's baggies and placed a little container of play-dough and a sheet of heart stickers in them. Then we took them to church where I had a MOPS (mother of pre-schoolers) get-together and passed them out. I love this face...it's his courtesy smile.

And finally, Daddy decided that Griffin needed a Buzz Lightyear for Valentine's Day this year. (Mommy agreed. A friend brought her son over this week with his Buzz and Griffin loved it.)


So, what did Wes and I do for our romantic celebration, you ask? Well, when we first got married, we decided we would take turns planning Valentine's Day. This year was my year. I decided on Theo's. Before you picture an upscale, elegant dining experience, check out the web-site. It's actually a southern-style, greasy dining experience...and it's Wes's favorite. He introduced me to it and to be honest, I love it too. We got our usual...sweet and sassy wings (YUM!), sweet potato fries, baked beans, and corn bread. And to top it all off, they gave us a HUGE piece of chocolate cake for free for Valentine's Day.

Oh, and did I mention that there was NO wait? It was us and two other tables in the whole restaurant. Top that all you Olive Garden goers.

Welcome to My Front Porch!

Blogs. For quite some time, I've been a closet blog reader. I take great delight in getting into the minds of my blogger friends as well as learning about people who don't even know I exist. I think it probably has something to do with my fascination with 'people-watching'. It's like sitting on a bench in the mall, watching the crowds flow by, without anyone even knowing I'm there.

But I never thought I would officially join the blogging world. For one thing, I was afraid I would become addicted far too easily. And, whether I want to admit it or not, I think I was intimidated. Man, there are some talented bloggers out there.

First, you have the crafty bloggers with all their tutorials and tips. Then there are the photography bloggers who make my pictures look like they were taken in the 70's...with a polaroid camera...in the dark. And, of course there are the deep thinking bloggers with all of their...well...deep thinking. And, my personal favorite (as well as my secret aspiration), those bloggers that make you laugh out loud.

When the idea of blogging started creeping into my mind (thanks to much peer pressure from a certain blogging friend), I knew that I would not consistently fit into any of the above-mentioned categories and that bothered me. I felt like I didn't have a reason to blog.

Then it hit me. You all are my reason to blog. I have friends on just about every corner of the earth (thanks to my time overseas), and I am somewhat terrible at keeping in touch with them. It's not necessarily the most personal way to keep in touch, but it's better than nothin'.

So, that is why I have titled my blog 'My Front Porch'. In my dream world, you are sitting next to me on my front porch (that I hope to one day own), rather than in front of this computer screen. And we are sharing about our day. The sun is setting and the lemonade is flowing and we are drinking in the moment. (And maybe, occasionally, I might even make you laugh...)

And so, here is what I would share with you today. It's a little video that we made of Griffin a few weeks ago, sharing some fun news. Enjoy! Oh...and Happy Valentine's Day!