Smile...

We can't help but smile when we look at these little guys! How much brighter and happier our lives are with them around...

We saw an interesting health report on foxnews.com a while ago, talking about how the stress over the economy and the various pressures people are facing has made people grumpier and more unhealthy.

Here's one of the "tips" they offered:

Laugh. "It's been shown to boost the immune system," says Snowden McFall, author of Fired Up. Toddlers laugh several hundred times a day, but the average adult laughs just four times, she adds.

Between the funny things Isaiah says and does, and the cute smiles we constantly receive from Elijah, our family is full of laughter, giggles and smiles. We hope yours is too!

"All the statistics in the world can't measure the warmth of a smile." ~Chris Hart

July Prayer Letter...

July 10 2009 Prayer Letter

If the document doesn't load, click here to view it. We really appreciate your prayer and encouragement. It is such a gift for us to be able to serve in this way.

Elijah on the Move...

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Perspectives from Pizza Delivery...

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Hey Cutie...

Yeah, I'm looking at you.

It's rad to be a dad...

This morning we enjoyed an excellent pancake breakfast and then took the boys downtown to the River Market where we bought fresh blueberries, blackberries, and the cutest little watermelon you've ever seen. Then we took not one, but two trolley rides and just savored the moments with the kids (while trying to capture a few of them with the camera- so often we return from doing something really cool and say "we forget to take pictures!"). After sweating it out in the 95+ degree sun we decided to swing by the Purple Cow on our way home for a late lunch of fried pickles, cheeseburgers and milkshakes. Pancakes, Produce, Passengers, Pictures, Pickles, Parenthood,... it was a perfect day!

Peg-legged Pete's & the Purple Cow with our Parents...

We were blessed to have wonderful visits with both sets of parents in the last month.

Ross' parents bought a van in Florida, so we zipped down to meet them for a day at the beach and enjoyed Fresh Grouper at Peg-legged Pete's in Pensacola, and then drove to Mobile, Alabama to feed the squirrels (one hungry squirrel even bit ross!), New Orleans to eat beignets at the world famous Cafe du Monde, and finally Dallas, Texas to attend the Christian Alliance for the Orphan Summit which was a powerful event.

Taya's parents flew out to Little Rock and spent a couple of days on their own in Memphis before spending a week with us where we enjoyed purple milkshakes at the Purple Cow (a perfect way to cool down with weather in the 90's), wandering through the tranquil setting of the Old Mill, S'mores on the patio, and excellent worship service at Fellowship church.

Our love banks are full and it was wonderful for them to spend time with the kids. We are so thankful that they make an effort to stay close in spite of the miles between us. We are so blessed.

Summer is Here...

It's actually 3 more weeks until the first day of summer, but with weather in the 90's and the opening of the neighborhood pool, it sure feels like summer to us! Both Isaiah and Elijah are absolutely loving the water and Ross has been rushing home from work to join in on the fun. We wish you were here!

*if the video doesn't load, click here to view it.

Name-dropping...

Not to be a name-dropper, but... it just dawned on me over the course of three days I was at a conference where I heard from Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Matt Chandler, and Pete Briscoe, then enjoyed another conference with Rick Warren, and then at work I had the opportunity to interact with Dennis Rainey, Robert Lewis, and Al Mohler.

*photo via scottfilmer @ flickr.com

Sometimes I have to remind myself what a privilege it is to hear from and visit with these mighty men of God. They are best-selling authors, sought-after speakers, leaders of large organizations/churches/ministries, all-around influential men.

However, in the midst of being around all of these "famous Christians" last week the conversation that stands out the most was with a taxi-driver named Michale who fled from his home country of Eritrea a few years ago because he is a believer in Jesus Christ.

*photo via stevelyon @ flickr.com

Michale is a hero to me. Michale would not renounce his faith in Jesus, so he and a few family members chose to make a daring escape from the country. I've heard a few stories about the persecution Eritrean believers are facing, but to meet someone who has lived through it was incredible.

Michale told me "it is because of the name of Jesus that we faced death, but it is because of the name of Jesus that we live and have hope."

People may come from miles around to hear you speak, your name may be on the cover of a best-selling book, or maybe like Michale the only significant place your name shows up is on your taxi driver ID... In the end, there is only one name that matters.

Now it's your turn to be a name-dropper in the comments:

1. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

2. If you could hang out with one "celebrity" today, who would it be?

3. How could you be a "name-dropper" for Jesus today?

One Day of Momentum...

We could be called conference-junkies, but over the past few years we haven't had many opportunities to attend a conference that we weren't working at.  All of that changed these past few weeks as I (ross) have had the chance to take part in a few different incredible conferences.  Here are a few highlights from the most recent event...

I've wanted to attend a Catalyst conference for a long time and I finally got my chance on Monday when Catalyst One Day came to Dallas (these guys are the leaders at developing leaders) . I caught a cheap & quick flight on Monday morning and returned the same night.  

The event was incredible.  I've got pages and pages of notes and I picked up so many great concepts, quotes, and ideas, but it seems like more than anything, God used a few simple reminders to challenge and convict me.  

Pete Briscoe opened the conference with prayer.  He asked that God would make us "traffickers of grace and messengers of the mysteries of God."  What an excellent request!

FeeBand led worship:

*if the video doesn't load, click here to view it

The main speakers, Andy Stanley & Craig Groeschel, gave excellent messages on the principals of Momentum in life and ministry.  There were plenty of "aha moments", when I knew exactly how I could apply the concepts in my situation.

There was a continual challenge to step out in faith.  The verse that kept coming up was "without faith it is impossible to please God." ~Hebrews 11:6  I've read that verse so many times before and I feel like I know it... but I needed the reminder because I have noticed that lately I haven't been excercising my faith much.

One cool thing that Catalyst does at all of their events is to "plan" for a few times of "un-scripted and unexpected" activities and messaging.  For instance, right after lunch we came back to our seats and saw a frisbee on each one.  Within a few minutes the MC had us tossing frisbees all over the place and what should have been a post-lunch lull turned into a lots of laughter and boosted the energy level among the 2500+ conference guests.  

I could go on and on about the principles I learned, but I think I'll just close with the same statement that they closed the event with:

  

"It's not about doing what you have always been doing just a little bit better... it's time to do a new thing.  To reach people that no one is reaching, we must do things that no one is doing and we must refuse to do the things that are not making a difference."

What about you?

Would you say that you are experiencing positive Momentum in your life/church/job/relationships right now? 

Are you trying new things, or are you just tweaking old things and hoping for different results?

Do you embrace the "unplanned and unscripted" moments in your life?

Could your life be defined as a "trafficer of grace" or a "messenger of the mystery"?