prayer square

This Sunday is our Women's Ministry Kick-off at church and I've been asked to share a bit about prayer triads. It has me missing someone in particular.... I've had the privilege of praying with these women regularly for the last 4 years. Melissa actually for the last 6. They are precious to me.

Lindsay, Carrie, Melissa, Mary

The Lord has been faithful to provide me with prayer partners ever since highschool, except for my lonely season in Georgetown. The names have changed over the years but those I've spent regular time praying with have become written on my heart. I'm so thankful for all of these ladies.

Anna, Katie, Kristen, Alise.
Ashley, Tracy, Alise.
Brandy, Molly, Kristin.
Kristi, April, Kristin, Allison, Kelley.
Kristen, Lindsey, Melissa.
Melissa, Lindsay, Carrie.

You have all carried unique burdens for me, and I have had the privilege of carrying yours. Thank you for love and friendship to me over the last 15 years. How faithful is He.

Philly friends

So it was the fall of 2000 when I first met these guys when their tour rolled through Columbia, SC. About 9 months later in May, at Justin and Meg's wedding, I met these beautiful ladies.

I love these people. Our lives don't intersect enough. period.

Dave, Mary, Sarah, Meg, and Justin

Justin and Dan were a couple of Dave's best friends at Kutztown; they stood beside Dave 10 years ago on our wedding day. Its been cool to watch their friendships evolve over the last decade. I've been thankful as well for these friendships. I remember being intimidated a bit heading to the Max wedding so long ago- this Southern girl in the midst of the city crew. They welcomed me with open arms. I've logged hours on the phone with Sarah in particular. They are dear to us, and I really wish we were able to live the everyday kind of life with them.


It was kind of a working lunch for Justin- He had to balance Camilla, fantasy football talk and a drum lesson. They were a part of the Jazz June back in the day. Justin is a crazy talented drummer; Dan plays bass- though to me it seems he can play everything.

Their children are beautiful. It was precious to see all the little ones together.

Sadly we weren't able to see the whole posse- life just is full and some live overseas. But this time was very sweet. I pray it won't be so long until our next visit.

We love you Kutztown crew xoxo

your newest CC tutor

Meet the newest Apprentice tutor at the girls' Thursday school program, Classical Conversations.

5 girls, 4 boys. I'm ready to rock.

Classical Conversations is a weekly meeting 9-12 (Foundations) for kids K4-6th grade. It covers memory work- lots of it, subjects included are timeline (Creation through Modern America), History Sentence facts, math (multiplication tables, equations), Latin, English Grammer, Science facts. Additionally there is a Science experiment weekly and fine arts as well. My favorite portion is always the presentation time where each child in a class presents on something. Anything. It can be as random as the creator of Atari or simply a classical composer.

We participated last year and quite frankly I was overwhelmed til maybe March when I decided I want to join the teaching staff. I tend toward the "all or nothing" side of the commitment continuum.

Honestly though it was great- There was a lot I had to get in order but it was worth it. We loaded the car at 8 and came home exhausted at 1. My students are hilarious. They are 6-7 year olds. Celia and Bennett are in classes on either side of mine, so I hope to have Bennett next year.


It seems like it will be a great year- we are very thankful to have some new friends at CC this year- the Garrisons, the Parrishes, the Raus. Community has been what I've prayed for since the beginning of homeschooling. The Lord is answering in abundance this year. I'm so grateful.

Its a gift to be entering my 3rd year homeschooling. I hope to share more soon on my day to day life schooling at home. Its what I do most of the time, but it rarely gets true airtime. I know some days it will seem more like a rant than a rave, but that's life. This year I can say without a doubt that my house will be messier than it ever has and I might never get the laundry folded, but He will carry us through. He is faithful.

potluck and pickin' part 1

Last night was magical.
After weeks of anticipation, Gillian and Dave's concert day arrived.
We pulled on our boots and twirled our dresses; then headed to the front porch on Ridgeway.

What awaited us was a southern summer feast and round 1 of Potluck and Pickin' on the porch.

Jalapeno pimento cheese with fresh cucumber slices.
Watermelon and feta salad.
Chicken right off the grill.
Rosemary Sweet Potatoes.
Buttery "brown" rice and one with fresh roasted peppers.
Sauteed okra spears.
We washed it down with mason jars full of peach-soaked whiskey punch, finished the night with peaches and chocolate banana-chip cookies.

Summer never tasted so good.

We spoke of bluegrass and songs we loved, then pulled out our instruments.
Jessica on mandolin.
Julie on fiddle.
Paul on bass.
I played the banjo.
Christy's angelic voice as Jeremy led us on guitar.

We sang our way through a book of old gospel and bluegrass songs.
We dubbed it the opening act.

Gillian and Dave played 2 full sets and then 2 encores. From the first twang of "Stillhouse" til the last boot-stompin' chorus of "Jackson", Ben, Liz, Dave, and I watched in awe of the "musical mindmeld (smile Dave and Wiz! I quoted it!).

That man is legendary. He ripped through "Revelator". Gillian, too...she hamboned and clogged through "Six White Horses."

What we saw left us wanting more.


Words aren't enough. I'll let the music speak.
opening act....


main event

best night of my summer.
hands down.

Why worry?

August is a FULL month for me. Its been too full....lots of commitments, lots of fun. Extremes on both sides. I celebrated my birthday this past weekend (one extreme) and I have started our school year (the other).

This Scripture greeted me this day-

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clohtes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"
Matthew 6:25-30

Often I end that post, sadly, to question His provision, asking "Will I like how He chooses to provide?"

Surely we're not to worry about food
sadly my heart responds more like this....



".....but can we please have organic, pastured meat/eggs and pesticide free produce? And can I have the milk delivered to my doorstep? And can I just go grocery shopping without my 3 kids in tow? And will they behave while I try to prepare a great family meal?"

Surely I'm not to worry about my body.
sadly my heart responds more like this.....




"...but when I can't run because of plantar fascitis its really frustrating. I have loved my dance class, why can't I find time to schedule it in? I really want to not change clothing sizes so exercise has to fit in somewhere. I know I'm getting older, but really?"

Surely I'm not to worry about my clothes.
sadly my heart responds more like this....




".....but can't I have a new pair of citizens? Can't I just overspend this month- and it will be worth it the next? Ugh I wish I looked as cute as _________"

Lord I confess my divided heart.
Change me and my responses.
Thank you for your grace!
Amen.

The Help

I cried all off all of my makeup.
Again.

I first read this book in the late winter of 2010.
My heart was broken with the pain of losing a friend and Kathryn Stockett gave me the gift of tears and space to cry.

18 months later I saw Aibileen and Minny again.
At Phillips place of all places.
My heart is reminded afresh of the universal threads of pain and loss woven through all of our lives. I found myself confessing sins of my own and generations past.

I'm guilty of not loving others well.
My husband.
My children.
My friends.
The lady I pass in Target with a wailing baby on one hip, a screaming toddler in the cart.

I'm guilty of judging others...of finding my identity in myself, my gifts, my talents.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father: We have sinned against you, through our own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all our offenses;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

-an order for Compline, Book of Common Prayer

Celia B. Kulp, 2nd grader

This year Celia is in 2nd grade.

2nd grade.
Its really crazy to wrap my mind around that.

Our prayers for Celia this year are similar to those from years past.
We pray that Celia will grow in the knowledge of the Lord, her Creator.
to know more of Him as she learns about His world.
to better understand grace and both receive and offer it well.
to walk in truth and love what is pure and good.
to learn the secret of being content in all circumstances.
to build into a community of friends that would encourage her and she could love well.

This is sometimes the prayer request that clouds my vision the most. My desire for her to have sweet friendships. Of my closest friends, I have the oldest children by several years. There seem to be many friends scattered between Bennett and Camilla, but its never been that way for Celia. In my homeschooling circles it seems to be harder for me to find great connections, or natural friendships for her. Would you join me in praying for this for Celia- she is content in this for the most part. Her love for her family explodes from her as she delights in her sisters. Still though we are praying for good friendships for her this year......thanks for joining us in prayer!

Camilla

My 3 year old Camilla

So Camilla is in that phase where she needs to drop her nap but its hard some days to let that happen, even though it will mean a much happier bedtime...the kind where she actually goes to sleep before 10pm..... This just reminds me that she's growing up so quickly. I'm really sad about it. I'm finally to the stage where I want to freeze her and keep her like this.

She will be in preschool this fall MWF at Carmel Pres. Thursdays she will join us at CC. Tuesdays I hope to attend a Bible Study at my church in the mornings. This will mean each weekday morning Camilla is not with me for a significant portion. I've agonized and prayed about this decision- what to do? We've landed in a spot that we feel this is best for our family as a whole. I'm praying for wisdom in how to be intentional with her when she's here. And I'm already picking out her skip-days from preschool....

I'm sadly counting down the days until we start this fall schedule......things are often quieter when she's not here, but they aren't quite as sweet.

playing catch up by months-

Where have we been?

Last time it was March- Camilla turned 3! We had a trip to the mountains for our church retreat and she was well celebrated. What a precious girl she is!

Late night fun at the retreat!

In April we finished our CC year- it was a transition for sure but well worth it- In fact next year I will be a tutor to first graders!

Celia's tutor, Mrs. Snapp- she was wonderful!

Celia and Gracie

Celia, Elizabeth, Laura Beth, and Martha Grace

the orchestra- C was a horn.....

And Cullen and Rebekah went to prom. Our Rosser girls. I'm dying to think what life will look like in 1 week when Cullen heads to college. Deep depression....

Also a trip to Lazy 5 Ranch where Camilla had her arm (up to her elbow) in an Alpaca's mouth. vomit. I still have PTSD from the feed the animals car ride- it was a trip to remember!

May came and it was hello Hunts! This time was so sweet- could not get enough of them!
Our prayer square with all our babies :)

June was a trip to Philly to see friends and family! We were able to stop by to see Aimee's grave. Still hard to believe at times. I was thankful to spend a few moments there.....sadly most of our Philly pics are on Dave's iphone... including Aunt Jean's amazing farm and our Kutztown friends....One day I might know how to access those.














July was the 4th in Charlotte and IOP beach time ...ahhh a full summer! Now back on track!



Now August- we've started school and we're starting CC in 2 weeks- back on track, folks!

sisters.

I love having girls all pretty close in age. Their conversations are precious (some of the time). Other times they make my blood boil.....thankfully today was a mostly precious day...

On Friday we'll officially be past the terrible 2's in our family. Our baby will turn 3! Still can't get over that one....I feel like we're just entering the middle season of enjoying our kids while they live in our home- past the babies, before the teens.

(I remember when taking this thinking "I wonder how many more dress up dances Celia will participate in...are we past her half-way mark? I hope not.)

I think I'm going to love this season......7, 5, 3.

Celia at 7- one minute she seems still so little, dancing around in a bathing suit with her sisters....then the next she's talking about how Arlo thinks she has a crush on James (she says she doesn't :) good thing- boys are not welcome on the scene quite yet). I love how she continues to burst with creativity. She's naturally nurturing and helpful, loves to get lost in her stories. She loves to rock the skinny jeans and still styles Molly's hair each night before falling asleep.



Bennett at 5- continues to surprise me. Typically known for her magnetic personality, she's also quite tender and sensitive- She wore blue pants to school one week because its Kira's favorite color. (Kira didn't notice and B was heartbroken). Her passion is people. She lives in her own imaginary land where there's sure to be lots of girls (she never plays with little people boys, or polly boys.....don't even mention Ken to her). She's the one with the most thankful spirit- She's quick to make a mess and the quickest to cuddle.



Camilla- two days shy of 3. She's feisty- a little Napoleon sometimes so she can keep up with her bigs. She my outdoors-y one. Loves flip flips or cowboy boots. Can be caught sleeping on the Colonel's dog bed some afternoons. She's imaginative and perhaps a budding teacher- re-enacting school regularly. She'll only drink milk if its chocolate. She sleeps with 3 purses on her bed and 4 stuffed dogs. She still seems so tiny to me, can't believe she's almost 3.



Today was a slice of heaven for us- with the warm sunshine lately we've spent most of our days outside. Today after lunch we headed outside with books and blankets. The girls put on their bathing suits and played in the sandbox. I read aloud to them In Grandma's Attic and then slept while they made sand castles. I wish every afternoon was this easy.

busy bee

Can't believe she's almost 3!

Brown Dog.

Dad called Dave this morning while we were having lunch with some friends. Dave took the call outside. They had to put Cooper down this morning.

13 years and 1 week.

That's how long she lived. Sweet Cooper- she was a great dog- but its not exactly how good she was but what she represented to me. See, I came home from college from freshman year in April. A month too soon- due to my struggles with depression- I was losing at the time.....and I remember thinking "what on earth am I going to do with all this time and nothing to do?" I wasn't due to work at camp til the middle of July- so after much deliberation my parents had agreed to get me a puppy. Sadly, our 2 Springer Spaniels both died on the same day just the August prior- about 2 weeks before I headed to Clemson. My parents, more than I, knew what puppyhood was like but I was just thankful for a distraction from the tears.


Fast forward 13 years later- my 3 girls love her- Mom and Dad kept my girls just this past weekend, and on Saturday when we picked them up to head back to Charlotte, we stayed a little late for Cooper's birthday- she was now a teenager as Celia pointed out. We decked out in hats knowing it might be her last birthday- she wasn't in the best health, but we weren't sure how much longer she had.



As we were leaving we had explained to the girls that they needed to make sure that they said goodbye to Coopy because she was old and sort of sick. The bigs were ok- but Milla sat by her and cried- "Coopy, you always die....I pray every night you (not) die." Milla loved that brown dog enough for all of us- sweet Cooper let her climb all over her.


All this week Camilla was asking about Cooper, more so than normal. We kept telling Camilla we didn't know when Cooper would die and just Thursday Mom was telling her that maybe she'd be with us a whole lot longer but God knew what was best....

Tonight we had to tell them that Cooper died. Clearly, Camilla took it the hardest- I hate how much she knows about death already- I hate that for 1/3 of her life death has been a regular topic of conversation in our home- yes it has its benefits- it keeps us eternally mindful, but its just sad to see my sweet almost 3 year old cry at death- really knowing what it means- thankfully not to the degree that some friends know but still, in her little almost 3 yr old brain she knows its finality on this earth.

So tonight I'm sad- thinking about that brown dog- how in my years since having children I didn't delight in her as I once did- and also wishing I was with my mom.

The timing is just crazy because tomorrow we are going to get our own brown dog- it was already arranged- its just that it doesn't make it all better. But that's life, right?

my brother, the doctor

About 6 weeks ago I talked with my sister in law, Elizabeth (Wizzy) who told me that my brother had a pretty rough week at work- He's an ER pediatrician and sees the gamut of illnesses so I was curious what it was.

Liz shared that he was there (not on the case) where a high school student had doused himself with gasoline and struck the match. The next day he helped diagnose a dear friends' daughter with cancer. It was a hard week to say the least.



I'm thankful for Ben. That is an enormous understatement. He's been a great example and encouragement to me most of these 31 years of my life....I'm thankful that we are actual friends. Real ones. Not the awkward-talk-to-you-maybe-twice-a-year-on-the-phone kind. I'm thankful to see him use his gifts in a way that honors the Lord.

I remember it firsthand when C was almost one he counseled me over the phone- Ben in Birmingham and me at the MUSC ER around 3am. I saw him shift from brother to doctor. I was thankful to hear him say he wasn't sure if Celia was going to be ok or not but God loved her and would hold us in this- We had great news- Celia recovered quickly from what proved to be a really horrible virus that left her speckled with petechiae. But after spending her first Christmas at the hospital we got to home and shake it off. 6 years later and I still seek his counsel for Celia's medical mysteries...

I'm sure I call Ben all to often for medical purposes and could leave him wondering if that's the only need I have of him- his medical expertise. It couldn't be farther from the truth. I'm thankful for him for who he is and how walks through difficult things with people. Its his character that comes through. He points others to Christ in the midst of pain. I want to do that too. I'm thankful for his example....

This friend of theirs has not had that same story. What started as terrible stomach pain was eventually diagnosed as cancer. She's 4. Ansley. Her parents are dear friends of Ben and Wizzy's. Her father is a doctor himself and her mother is incredible as she moves through life with grace caring for 5 children.


Please join in praying for Ansley. She has a long road ahead of her. You can follow them on their blog but please don't just simply read about her- lift her up to the Father who is able to heal her.

cousin christmas

The Jackson clan came up for our version of Christmas with them! It was so much fun to all be together!

We started the first night with gingerbread men.

followed by Home Alone

and Christmas morning presents

Thank y'all for coming to Charlotte to celebrate!