Kristy's 20 Year High School Reunion- Part 4

While in Mississippi for the reunion, we enjoyed some great time with the family. Before we left Georgia for Mississippi, Nini asked each one of our children what they wanted Nini to have waiting for them when they arrived. While Schaeffer wanted Oreos, and Ann Ferris requested Doritos, Sarah Wynn asked for (and received) a birthday party in July (her real b'day is in January) and requested a cake with purple candles, because (as Sarah Wynn says) purple is a "girl color." Nini searched far and wide until she did, in fact, find purple candles!  Another fun, memorable moment was the family playing Wii American Idol. Lots of laughs... and cheers. 

Lighting the candles 

Blowing out the candles

SWC singing for Simon

"Somewhere over the rainbow..."

The kids with cousins upstairs watching a movie on an air mattress (and a sofa).

Kristy's 20 Year High School Reunion- Part 3

While we were in Yazoo City/Benton, MS, for the reunion, our good friends, the Colemans, asked our kids to spend the night at their house in Money, MS, just outside of Greenwood. Here are some highlights:

Kristy's 20 Year High School Reunion- Part 2

Between the pool party on Saturday and the dance party, we enjoyed time in the country at Mamaw and Papaw's house. From calling cows to picking watermellons, here are some highlights:

Kristy's 20 Year High School Reunion- Part 1

Today we are at Kristy's 20 year High School reunion. Earlier today, classmates and their kids enjoyed time at the Yazoo City Country Club pool and tonight it is back to the club for a dance with popular 80s tunes. We are going to party like it's 1988! The kids have had a blast with their cousins and even spent the night with some friends outside of Greenwood last night. Between events we were able to spend some quality time with "Mamaw and Papaw" Luby at their home out in Midway.

Fun in the Sun

Last week we spent the afternoon with the Blounts at their pool in Laurel Springs. The highlight was making our own flavored shaved ice.

Tomorrow is Kristy's 20 year high school reunion. Looking forward to posting some really fun pics of that event! :0)

Friday Flashback

This "Friday Flashback" is from January 12, 2004, Sarah Wynn's birthday—as in the original!

Tennis Lessons and Bedtime Stories

This morning I took Schaeffer out to drill on the tennis courts and taught him a new forehand grip and backhand. By the end of the session, he was doing great. It is so fun seeing him enjoy tennis and get better each time we play or practice. Way to go, Schaeffer! The picture below is Ann Ferris reading a bedtime story to Sarah Wynn as Schaeffer listens in.

Sunday Reflection

It is dark, and I'm sitting on our screened porch under the overhead fan. A side lamp provides shadowy light while listening to the cicadas, tree frogs and other night creatures hum their evening song. This is a good place to reflect... while Kristy prepares for her algebra class in the den!

Yesterday was Saturday, the highlight of which was going to the pool at dusk to swim and watch "Bee Movie" with a bunch of folks from the neighborhood. Although definitely a "B" movie, it had its moments. 

Today was my first Sunday at Perimeter since early June, and my last, since I'm either out of town or preaching until I begin my year at East Lanier Community Church in Buford (on Aug. 10), a church plant out of Perimeter. The idea of the residency is that I spend a year at "the mother ship," and then a year seeing the philosophy worked out in a much smaller context. Anyway, this morning just reminded me how blessed we are to have the opportunity to learn from and partner with the folks at Perimeter. 

This afternoon was largely spent out back: put-put on the putting green, playing with Gracie, enjoying the trampoline, playing mini-tennis on the driveway, etc. Tonight after sloppy joes, I led the kids in lesson #5 of the church membership course for children and pre-teens. The topic tonight: evangelism and mission. 

Sorry no updates in pictures. Hopefully soon. 

The Velveteen Deer and Other Adventures

Yesterday, when I arrived home from a day in Dahlonega (trying to make our final decision on a planting location), I spent some time training "Gracie" out back. After I tied her to her run pole, I turned around and about twenty yards away was a really nice, 8-point buck in full velvet. Beautiful! 

Later in the evening, after Kristy and Ann Ferris made a wonderful shrimp and pasta meal, we watched what we thought would be the second half of Around the World in 80 Days, but at the end of the tape (no, it is not on DVD), it said to insert "tape B," which to our disappointment, we do not possess. Oh, well. I hear they made it. :0)

Today, Kristy took Ann Ferris out for her first real shopping event. A little while later, Ann Ferris had a modeling session in order to show me her new clothes. She is a beautiful young lady. 

However, all that activity does not mean we forsook pool time. Oh, no. We also got in an afternoon at the Laurel Springs pool with our friends, the Blounts. I may get some pics up tomorrow, but for now, I've got to run get some dinner for the kids since Kristy and I are going out on our weekly "date night" a bit later.  

Oh yeah, tomorrow night is "Movie at the Pool" in our subdivision (I think they are showing "The Bee Movie"). Folks are cooking hotdogs and will have lots of candy and popcorn for a movie that is showing on a big screen beside the pool. And yes, you can be in the pool and watch, or just sit in a lounge chair.  As much as we need rain, we do hope it will hold off tomorrow evening. 

Around the World in 80 Days

By popular demand, we had another family movie night. The film: Around the World in 80 Days (Best Picture, 1956, among four other Academy Awards). That is one long movie- a 3 hour epic (and according the Ann Ferris, a really good book!). Anyway, around 10:45 I called a time-out, and sent the kids to bed. We'll try finish it tomorrow for "Family Movie Night 2." 

Practicum, The Shack and an Evening Swim

Today Kristy attended the second of three days at a Classical Conversations practicum for parents and teachers (Kristy is planning to teach high school chemistry and algebra 2... although I think she would be an awesome worldview teacher- at least our kids get to have her as their worldview teacher!).  

I've been getting my new MacBook Pro set up.  Oh, my. So nice. :0)

And since the novel The Shack is taking the evangelical world by storm (amidst much hype and controversy), I got a copy today and began the journey. 

Anyway, we just got back from an "evening swim" after supper and the kids are getting baths. Kristy and I are planning to make some hot chocolate in July and watch a movie together once the lights are out upstairs.  Got to run... 

Sunday/Monday Update

Yesterday was Sunday and we received a great rain—a major downpour. 

In the morning, I preached at Christ Community Church in Acworth again (I love those folks!) and enjoyed lunch with Steven Woodell, their worship leader. I met back up with the family at home and took the kids to play tennis and to the pool, which was closed due to stormy weather moving in.

Today the kids have been over at Joseph Boehm's playing kickball with his cousins and swimming. Not a bad way to spend a Monday in the summer.

Tonight I led week 8 of TFL (Theological Foundations for Leaders) at Perimeter.

Oh yeah, speaking of Perimeter... The church planting department just bought me (this is a GREAT church) a brand new 15 in. MacBook Pro so that I can work mobile this year (since I will no longer have an office at Perimeter). As I make the transition into church planting mode, my primary "office/study" will be at home (thankfully, we have a bonus room) and in places like Panera Bread, Starbucks, or anywhere else with a Wi-Fi connection.

Friday Family Night

Tonight we are celebrating Friday Family Night by having burgers, fries and ice-cream (and the fun continues in the morning with do-nuts!). After dinner we are going to play board-games and then watch a family movie.

The owners of the home we rent are in town from Switzerland and so we had them over last night to hang out in their house. They are great folks, and have a son named Joseph (a big time soccer player) who really hit it off with Schaeffer.

For family back in MS, if I forget to post it, remind me to tell you about "The Lava King."

Full of "Cold" Air

While some folks are full of hot air, SWC is full of cold air. How you ask? She is standing over a floor air vent, and having a really, really good time. Never a dull moment... :0)

Preaching, Tennis & Swimming

Today I preached at Christ Community Church in Acworth, GA, and will be there again next week. The rest of the family opted out of the drive and attended Perimeter, and got to catch up with friends whom they had not seen in weeks. Afterward we met at home and watched the epic (greatest of all time?) Wimbledon final between Federer and Nadal. That inspired Schaeffer and me to go out and hit (but other folks got the inspiration, too, and the neighborhood courts were full- so we played "mini-tennis" in the parking lot!). I also spent about an hour at the pool with the big two.

July 4 Movie, Put-Put, and Fireworks

Yesterday, for the fourth of July, Kristy and I surprised the kids by taking them to the matinée of WALL-E, the new Pixar movie. The show was a bit slow, but the serious themes gave us plenty to talk about after the movie (issues like love, sacrifice, technology, amusement, calling, etc.). Anyway, they did enjoy it, and even more so after talking about "the issues." In the afternoon, we had the Caston World Championship Putting Tournament on the 4-hole green in the backyard. Lots of fun! And in the evening, after hot-dogs and watermelon, we went to hang out and shoot fireworks with the Melendez family. Below are some highlights.

Swimming & Meeting

Today while I had breakfast (with Patrick Johnson, you Tupelo folks will remember him and his crew) and a lunch meeting (with Alan Foster... then studied for Sunday's sermon at Christ Community Church in Acworth, GA), Kristy and the kids enjoyed time at the Laurel Springs pool with friends (the Blounts). Making plans for the 4th tomorrow. May do a movie, or go to the parade in Dahlonega. One highlight will be fireworks in our cul-de-sac, where the neighborhood gathers to hang out and make noise.

Monteagle Cottages

Just to give you an idea, here are some photos of some cottages at "the Assembly" in Monteagle, TN.

This is The McKay Cottage where we stay, named after my great uncle, Roy McKay, who bought the cottage in 1941 (it was built c. 1906 or so, while many of the homes were built in the 1880s and 1890s). My uncle, Doug Ferris (Memphis, TN), is now the owner. He has done significant updating outside (including the brand new screened porch to the left) and inside (though it is still a bit rustic, in order to maintain the antique, mountain feel).

This is the new addition.

Here are some other cottages of the over 100 on the grounds. There may be up to 150... not sure.