Easter Egg Hunt in Monteagle, TN

This past Saturday we experienced a super-fun Easter Egg hunt with friends in Monteagle, TN. Here is a picture of the crew.

Schaeffer Captures Big Snake

While in Monteagle, TN, this week to see friends, Schaeffer caught a pretty big snake with his bare hands. Not bad! : ) More fun pics of the week are to come...

Good and Wo' Out!

Since I have limited access to wifi this week, I am posting a fun pic to show how we arrived in ATL from our MS trip. They were good and wo' out! : ) Next week I hope to post pics of our recent adventure to Monteagle, TN.

Creek Walk

These are some pictures of a hike that I took with Ann Ferris and Schaeffer down the creek behind our house. The last picture is of our dog, Gracie, who got stranded on a boulder in the middle of the creek. Ann Ferris bravely walked out to rescue her. : )

Walk-A-Thon for Grace

Friends of ours who live in Dahlonega, Chris and Angela Belle Gamble, are trying to raise funds to adopt a precious little girl from Taiwan with Downs Syndrome, who not only will have parents who will love her well, but also three great siblings. They are naming her Grace. : ) To help raise these funds, they are hosting a Walk-A-Thon on April 30 at Yahoola Park in Dahlonega. If you are interested, here is the information. And if you can't participate, there is information below on how you can still help.
Thanks!

WHEN: April 30, 2009 (Thursday), 2pm
WHERE: Beautiful Yahoola Park in Dahlonega. (The walking trail will be 1 mile on mostly flat ground, accessible to strollers; so even the youngest of your crew can join us for the fun!)
GRAND PRIZE: Gift bag filled with gift cards and other prizes, valued at approximately $150 (including gift cards to Barnes and Noble as well as other stores and restaurants, a ticket to Zoo Atlanta, educational toys and other gifts...everyone in the family, from young children to teens to adults will find something wonderful in the grand prize gift bag!) Second and Third place prizes will also be awarded. And every child will receive a little something for participating. (Must be present to win)

Anyone interested should email the Gambles at gamblehome96@windstream.net with your name, address, phone number and the number of family members participating. Then we will email them a "Participant Packet" with more information, as well as a flyer and donation form to make it easy to get sponsors.

The Gambles blog is http://www.believingjames127.blogspot.com/

If you are unable to participate in the Walk-A-Thon, but still want to help provide financially, here are ways to contribute:

1) Tax deductible donation online (click on Grace's picture for a link)
2) Write a check to Reece's Rainbow and send it either to us or directly to Reece's Rainbow (address is on the link on the blog)
3) Give cash or a personal check directly written out to the Gambles. This option is not tax-dedeuctible. However, they do need direct donations because they have immediate fees due, and cannot touch the funds in their Reece's Rainbow account until they have a travel date (in about 4 months). So all donations given directly to the Gambles are a HUGE help right now.

The Gamble's address is:
130 William Grady Rd
Dahlonega, GA 30533

Rockin' H Ranch Pictures

To see the whole set of pictures from our day at the Rockin' H Ranch, click here. Below is a sample...

Rockin' H Ranch

Today we had a blast with about ten other families at the Rockin' H Ranch just northeast of Dahlonega. Hiking, horses, fishing, flying kites, ultimate frisbee, and Easter egg hunt... I will try to get the pictures posted tomorrow.

Fun Lunch at the Ueltschey's

While on our Tupelo leg of our Mississippi trip, Whitney and Marcus Ueltschey hosted a party for us in their home. It was a beautiful day, with great food and an Easter Egg hunt for the kids! Thanks, Whitney and Marcus, and all of our friends who were able to attend!




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Playing With the Robertsons

While on our trip to Mississippi, our kids enjoyed some play time with our friends, the Robertsons.

Schaeffer and Walker

Schaeffer and Walker (Coleman) had a ball playing together on our trip through Mississippi. They are genuine "blood brothers" from the days when we lived in Greenwood.

Pictures Coming Soon

Photos of our recent Mississippi Support Raising Trip are coming soon. : )

1,400 Miles Later

1,400 miles later, we are back home in Atlanta. We had a great time seeing friends and family during our Mississippi Edition of the Caston World (Support Raising) Tour. Thanks to all of our praying friends!

Mississippi Road Trip '09, Part 3: Tupelo

Yesterday, we attended Lawndale and had lunch with a group of friends at the home of Whitney and Marcus Ueltschey. Great time! In the evening, we enjoyed a dinner hosted for us by Lawndale, and then I had the huge privilege to share a mini-version of our church planting vision as well as to preach. Today I am meeting folks all day at the Atlanta Bread Company in Tupelo.

Our over-the-top hospitalble hosts for the weekend have been Julie and Steve Brister, close friends from back in Kristy's high school days. Yes, it's a small world... especically in Mississippi. : )

Mississippi Road Trip, Part 2: At the Crawford's

Tonight we had a really great meeting with friends in Jackson at the home of Libby and Jack Crawford, some of our closest friends. Libby made a wonderful dinner (and way to go Amanda on the desert- wow!), and allowed us to go way over in our church plant presentation. It was like a college reunion. Thanks, Jack and Libby! You served us so well. And thanks to those who made the sacrifice to be with us. We appreciate y'all so very much.

Mississippi Road Trip '09, Part 1

Tonight we had the privilege to share about the chruch plant to a group of friends in Greenwood, MS, at the home of Amy and Lee Coleman. Super good food (including some unreal deer sausage and mustard dip!) added to a special evening.

We arrived early this afternoon and the kids got to do some serious outside playing—even played mud football in the rain-soaked front yard. As a side note, we barely escaped a tornado that went over Benton last night. Thankfully, it did not touch down in Benton, but from what I understand, did destroy a few homes near the interstate and down trees.

Tomorrow it is off to Jackson... more to come. Thanks for praying as we seek to raise up a support team for the Dahlonega Church Plant.

Latest E-Newsletter

The latest Dahlonega Church Plant e-newsletter was published today. To view it, click here.

First Tooth Pics

Here are a couple of pics from when Sarah Wynn lost her first tooth recently. The video is below in a previous post.

Professor Ann Ferris

Ann Ferris, after seven years of Latin, is branching out into Greek, and having a great time. In fact, she loves it so much, she is teaching Sarah Wynn the Greek alphabet. : )

Two Birthday Pics

Okay, after a long wait, I'm finally getting around to posting a couple of pics from Schaeffer's 11th birthday.

Pictures... Coming Soon... Really.

Okay, no pictures last night. Sorry. Tonight... hopefully. : )

Schaeffer's Birthday Pics Coming Soon

Sunday was Schaeffer's 11th birthday, and he had a great weekend! I hope to post some pics tonight.

Chick-fil-A

We got home from Chick-fil-A tonight and saw this on Facebook. Another Tim Hawkins classic! : )

Facebook and Twitter

Are you on Facebook or Twitter? If you are, friend me, and be sure to join The Dahlonega Church Plant group on FB.

Flower Child Cowgirl

I could not resist posting this picture of our "Flower Child Cowgirl."

Superior... again!

Yesterday, Ann Ferris participated in her sixth National Piano Festival, and received her sixth straight Superior rating. She was very, very excited. I don't have a picture because she had to perform before a judge "behind closed doors." But I was at the door and heard her pieces, which I must agree, were superior! 

Davy Crocket

This past Monday, Schaeffer made a presentation of Davy Crocket to fellow students and parents. Wearing a real leather shirt and coonskin cap and carrying a powder-horn and real musket, he definitely looked the part, and did a great job with the presentation (with an authentic, country boy accent and everythang).

Tennis Lessons and Date Night

Schaeffer had his second private tennis lesson today with Tim at Laurel Springs, and is making huge strides. It is so fun to see him improve so quickly. Way to go, little buddy! : )  

Tonight, I enjoyed date night with Kristy at Jason's Deli. Decent food. Great company.

I Luv Yoo Mome

Sarah Wynn drew this picture for Kristy on the whiteboard at home.  : )

Sarah Wynn Loses First Tooth

Sarah Wynn lost her first tooth today while biting into an apple. She is very, very excited.

Weekend Update

This morning I spoke to the men's missions breakfast at Westminster Church in Gainesville, GA, and Kristy spoke (on Esther) at the women's retreat for East Lanier Community Church.  She got home this afternoon after a wonderful time in the mountains (even though it rained most of the time). I enjoyed playing a tea party game with Sarah Wynn, and watching and playing some basketball with Schaeffer. 

Tomorrow I am sharing about the church plant in 4 Sunday School classes at Westminster. They are also going to show our vision video and do an interview during the service. Chuck and Tom, the two teaching pastors at Westminster, are such great, gospel-loving guys, and such an encouragement to me.

Anyway, we hear it is supposed to snow around 3 inches tomorrow. I'll believe it when I see it. : )

Kristy Speaking at Women's Retreat

Kristy is teaching at East Lanier Community Church's Women's Retreat this weekend at Amicalola State Park.  She is talking on Esther, and it is going to be awesome. Wish I could be there!

Private Lessons and Drama Class

Schaeffer began private tennis lessons today and did great. Not only did he enjoy it, but he saw immediate improvement in his game. Way to go, Schaeffer! And this afternoon, Ann Ferris and Sarah Wynn both attended their weekly drama/acting class. Fun stuff...

CC, Lunch at Moe's, and Support Rraising

The kids had a great day at CC today. I picked Sarah Wynn up for a special "daddy lunch date" to Moe's, and then took her back home with me. She played. I worked on support raising for the church plant. So far so good. We have great friends who are passionate about the spread of the gospel. They are faithful. I am thankful. 

House Hunting, Etc.

Yesterday Kristy and I spent the afternoon with a realtor friend looking at homes in Dahlonega. What a fun day. We LOVE that area and can't wait to get up there. Today was a massive spring cleaning day. Not as much fun—but so needed. The house definitely feels clean and comfy. Tomorrow we are going to Christ Community Church in Acworth, GA, to interview for support. I have preached there many times, and have a great connection to our friends over there. Anyway, we will show our vision video in the service and I will have a few minutes to follow up, sharing more about the vision for the new church.

Church Plant Vision Video

This is the Dahlonega Church Plant vision video that was shown at Perimeter Church in Atlanta a few weeks ago.

Daddy-Daughter Pictures

These pics were taken before I took Ann Ferris and Sarah Wynn to the Father-Daughter Dance last week.

The Sunday Funnies

When we used to get the paper a while back, we really enjoyed the "Sunday Funnies." Well, here is a Sunday funny that is... well... well, you just have to see it to believe it.  : )

Father-Daughter Dance Video

Here is the video of last night's CHEER Homeschool Father-Daughter Dance at Perimeter Church. We danced the night away!

Recess/Lunch at Classical Conversations

Here is a short video from scenes of the lunch/recess time at Classical Conversations, which meets at Perimeter Church on Mondays.  Our kids love it!

Pictures from Vision Video Sunday at Perimeter

Here are some pictures from the Sunday that our church plant "vision video" was shown at Perimeter. Photos by Julie Melendez.