September Happenings

I wanted to be more detailed in sharing our good news but (some news is better than super detailed news!) at the end of August a church in our area got Stephen's information from a mutual friend that knew we were looking for a full-time church position. Within about a week of this first initial contact, Stephen had accepted the position for a student/associate pastor at The Church of Chelsea-Westover. Pastor Danny (and his wife!) is/will be such a blessing to us. He has served as a pastor, president and dean at several colleges, and his heart's desire is to mentor young pastors. He is a true shepherd and loves people. We are going to learn so much from him, and we are so grateful for this opportunity. It was just a perfect fit for us and we knew that from the beginning. Less than a week after accepting the position, our house sold before we even put it on the market! God's hand was just all over this whole situation and we praise Him for giving us a church position that we didn't apply for and selling a house that we didn't list. He has been so good to us and given us exceedingly more!

Needless to say, we have been so busy with the new position and looking for a house. Our house will close on November 7th and we will be moving into our new house about 10 minutes from the church (right now our commute is closer to forty minutes).

Here are a few pictures from this past month, a mix of family and ministry (although I didn't even have a change to photograph half of what we've done) mostly on my iphone:

Talk Like a Pirate Day at Krispy Kreme. We got four free dozens but gave most away. James did not react well to them (lots of chemicals he can't have) so that will probably be our last time but still a fun experience dressing up. 

Previewing the lake with Pastor Danny and Susan before the Youth Lake Day the following weekend.

Last swim at our neighborhood pool on Labor Day. 

Dreamland with Nana!

James and some of the other younger siblings of youth at Lake Day being pulled on the Dragon. He was so brave and loved it.

James is loving our homeschool preschool. The All About Reading program (my sweet friend, Erin, let me borrow most of it and we just bought the consumables) is amazing!

Cardboard Box fun

Youth Service Day on the Ice Cream Truck - a great evangelism tool for our church.

Ice cream truck with a few of our youth!

I just loved their bed heads this day!

Big Machines doing construction at our park is always welcomed by our boys. :)

A volcano experiment!

Chelsea High School Homecoming game!

I had to snap a picture of the fact that one of my children fell asleep in a church crib/pack-n-play. They are not laid back sleepers, by any means, but this is how exhausted we all are this month!

McWane with Nana and Grandpa. 

James was a "safety officer" in a combustion experiment at the McWane Center. 

Yes, that is James' little hand holding the burning stick on the other side of this sweet lady conducting the experiment!