Fun in the Sun

Going to FL for a quick couple of days was a delight to my soul. I was able to spend time with some of my favorite ladies : my mom, Matt's mom and Bev Yates. Bev is shown here with a young coconut. If you haven't tried one I would highly recommend the experience! The trip was to celebrate a special birthday with my mom. We spent the whole day together. We had a sweet lunch out with Matt's mom and then strolled through antique and thrift stores and ended up at a lovely dinner by the river. I spent the night at my mom's house and she reconted how much fun she had. I felt so satisfied as I drifted off to sleep that she had been properly honored and had a great time. The rest of my time I was able to get time with Mama Dede, Matt's mom and do a small retreat. What a wonderful trip!!

Sweet Heart Party: True Love

"Greater love has no man than this that he should lay his life down for his friend" describes this year's Sweetheart banquet for the Pastors College class. We had a wonderful night of surprises and romance. I can't remember the last time I was so surprised and delighted. It was a celebration of the wonderful love that God has blessed Matt and I with. We were also struck by the many who laid their lives down to make it such a special evening. Some of whom are shown here. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture with the Purswells. The Ricuccis and Purswells labor over the care of our class. They have modeled for us what it means to lay down your life for each other in marriage and also in their care of all of us. Jeannine Harvey and her sweetie Craig coordianted the night along with a small army of volunteers (two of them shown above Lucy and her hubby)

"Januhairy for Gary"

It is said that mimicry is the greatest compliment. Well that's what the creative fellows of the PC class planned this year. They started plotting in the fall to spend January growing their facial hair to prepare for February to all have full mustaches in honor of their pastor and friend Gary Ricucci. To know Gary and his wife Betsy is to know care and grace. Gary also has a great sense of humor so the guys planned on donning white musataches along with tucked in polo shirts and white tennis shoes to have the "Gary look". The guys honored Gary with an official Gary day where posters where drizzled through out the Soverign Grace offices so that all would know of their love and appreciation of their fearless leader. If you want to see a picture of Gary and Betsy they are shown at the Sweetheart Party in the pictures above. I guess you do become like those you respect. In this case it could only benefit us to become more like the Ricuccis.

Yummy Pho Soup

One of Matt and I's favorite treats is ethnic food. This year at the PC there a few nationalities represented. The Nguyen family have Vietnamese roots. Teresa is not from Vietnam but has a Vietnamese heart. What I mean is that by God's providence and her desire to bless her hubby she has learned to cook mostly Vietnamese food. I find this so meaningful. They have picked up on our love for Vietnamese food and cooked for our family. We had Vietnamese soup called Pho this past week. It was noodles with sliced beef and herbs smothered in a tasty broth. The interesting fact is she made enough for 22 people. There was only another couple with their daughter Isabelle, who enjoyed playing with the noodles and there is 5 in the Nguyen family so so who ate the other 14 bowls of soup. I'll let you guess and maybe think twice before having the Slack family over for tasty food.

What do Twinkies, Dodgeball and Prophetic tears have in commom?

Well this is the amazing experience of being at the PC this year. One moment you are stuffing your face with Twinkies in a contest to maybe drop a quiz grade. The next moment you could be being attacked by oncoming balls in a friendly Dodgeball game. Then you are crying your eyes out as you experience the manifested love and care of God as a group of very gifted prophetic folks pray for you. We have not stopped being amazed at the kindness of God being shown to us this year in everything from a Twinkie to a very affecting ministry time.

The gift of LASAGNA

So what would you do if someone calls you late morning one Saturday after a very busy week and asks if they can come over and cook your family dinner? Well at first my natural response was "No, you don't need to do that." Then reflecting on the comments of my wise friend that shared recently that I sometimes seemed hard to serve, I thought "Sure, I am crazy to turn down a delicious meal and good company". Our family was out spending time together that day and came home to the delightful smell of lasagna and dishes all done. Hannah and Matthew were patiently waiting and we had dinner together and a great night. Once again I see that Matt is not the only one learning, except my classes many times are right in my home.

Creative Homeschool Art

Well as a homeschool mom sometimes I run out of creative ideas for how to teach art. So recently I let them do something they loved to do when they were little, paint each other! This is Mariah's homework for the week.

American History Museum with the Donovans

The Donovan family has adopted us this year at PC. They planned a day for us to spend together. Not only did they check on the details ahead, made provision for snacks but they had a delicious meal of burritos waiting at their home at the end of the day. It is this level of hospitality, kindness and care that continue to bless and provoke us. We had the pleasure of having our dads with us as well. They are not shown here because they were making the long trek back after scouting parking many blocks away. We will carry you in our hearts Donovans!