Six Flags

Yesterday I took Ann Ferris and four of her friends to Six Flags. Perfect Weather. Short lines. A GREAT day! To see photos, go to my mobile me gallery here.

Preaching at East Lanier

The next two Sundays I will be preaching for Alan Foster at East Lanier Community Church in Buford/Flowery Branch, GA. This week I am teaching from John 4:1-26, “Through Samaria.” I am giving the message that title because in verse 4, John says that Jesus “had to go through Samaria.” Hmmm… had to? Actually, there were other ways to Galilee than through Samaria. Jesus could have travelled east along the Jordan River, or on the other side of the Jordan (like the Pharisees would do in order to avoid Samaria). So I think that understanding why Jesus “had” to go through Samaria will shed light on the very heart of Jesus’ purpose and mission… and will provide plenty of grace-centered teaching on what a missional church might look like. Geographically, Jesus did NOT have to go through Samaria. Missionally, he did. As Steve Brown would say, “You think about that.” Okay, I think I will… and will tell you what I came up with on Sunday at East Lanier. :)

Sarah Wynn's Violin

Sarah Wynn was given her first violin this week from a friend at Perimeter Church. She LOVES it, and can't wait to begin lessons! Kristy took Sarah Wynn to a violin shop in Duluth today to have the violin tuned. The shop owner gave SW a book and taught her the "DAD" song, which she came home and played for me.

Night at the McDonald's

Last night we went swimming at the McDonald's neighborhood pool, and then to their house for a cookout. A great time was had by all... and we finally got the fire pit started for roasting marshmallows around 11:30pm. : )

Blogging Resumes Tomorrow

Hello friends and family,
Blogging will resume tomorrow. For now, we're headed to a cookout and pool party... : )

Wax seal, potential new home, friend, fish, etc.

Weekend Update:

1. Today I got my handy-man vibe going and replaced a worn out wax seal on one of our toilets. That is one fun way to spend a Saturday!
2. Ann Ferris had a blast at her friend's house last night.
3. We have a verbal contract on a home in the Dahlonega area, and hope to have it in writing by early in the week.
4. Right now, Sarah Wynn has one of her best buddies, Gillian, over to play. Mayhem and pandemonium... but in a good way. : )
5. I'm cooking lemon pepper Orange Roughy with rice and green beans for dinner. Hungry?
6. Have you been watching the NBA semi-finals? Wow.
   

The Picnic Cafe

This afternoon after looking at homes in Dahlonega, we ate at The Picnic Cafe on the square. Click here to see a picture of a very hungry Kristy, Schaeffer and Sarah Wynn. But hey, I was hungry, too. And we were not disappointed. Ann Ferris was at a sleep over at Allison Smyth's home. Fun stuff.

Highlights So Far...

Highlights of the week so far: house hunting in Dahlonega, American Idol, and the NBA semi-finals. A cookout with friends is planned for Friday night. Fun stuff. Hopefully, I can get some more recent pics posted soon.

Five Minute Shopping Spree at Publix

This morning we surprised our kids with a shopping spree to Publix. They each had one of those hand-held baskets and were given five minutes to fill it up with whatever food and snacks they wanted. We pretty much had the run of the store, and it was a good thing, since they literally ran all over the store. Anyway, it was one of those events that they probably will remember all of their lives. Here are the "before and after" pictures.

May Church Plant Update

To see our latest church plant newsletter, the May 2009 Edition, click here.

Downtown with Shakespeare

Today I am working from home with Sarah Wynn while Kristy and the big two are in downtown Atlanta with friends attending a Shakespeare play. Very cool. Anyway, I will report back when I hear how it went.

Happy Girl

Sarah Wynn as "Happy Girl." FYI: Mother's Day pics coming soon!

Two Chefs

I love this picture of Mommy Chef and Little Chef.

CFAF Dance

Ann Ferris attended a CFAF (Christian Fine Arts of Forsyth) dance recently, and had a great time with friends. The students learned English and Scottish dances that are depicted in the Jane Austen novels/movies. Here are some pics.

Game 7

Yesterday, I took Schaeffer to Game 7 of the Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat playoff series. We definitely made a great Fahter/Son bonding memory—especially since ATL won! : )

Cruisin' the Culdesac

Sarah Wynn and our neighbor, Nathan, cruise the culdesac. : )

Birthday Breakfast and Game 7 Tickets

This morning we had a fun birthday breakfast with Nini. The girls are going to the Mother-Daughter Tea while the guys hang out together at home. I just announced to the family that I have tickets for tomorrow's Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat "Game 7" here in ATL. He is flipping out excited (and I'm pretty excited myself!).

Date Night, Nini, & Parakaleo

Last night Kristy and I enjoyed our weekly date night at Tam's in Cumming, GA. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great time. Today "Nini" comes to town for 5 or 6 days! Saturday she will go to Perimeter with the girls for a "Mother-Daughter Tea," and then we will celebrate her brithday. We are also planning to take her up to the mountains—probably to see Amicalola Falls (the tallest waterfall this side of the Mississippi River). Anyway, the kids are bouncing off the walls excited. And today, Kristy gets to go to her monthly Parakaleo church planters' wives get together in Dunwoody. It is always a highlight of her month.

This Week's Top 10

What is going on this week?
1. Dinner at Karlene and Rich Cannon's home with their family group (Monday)
2. Kristy and I began the P90X workout (After only 3 days I am unspeakably sore!)
3. Ann Ferris has extra rehearsals for a play that she is in next week
4. Schaeffer's weekly tennis lesson (today)
5. Sarah Wynn finished a Kindergarten math book today... but she is only in 4-K
6. I continue to work on support raising (thanks to everyone who is on the team!)
7. Date night
8. Kristy's Parakaleo church planter wives meeting
9. Since I may not be going to Boca Raton this week after all, we may have a family day on Saturday
10. A Walk-A-Thon in Yahoola Park to raise funds for friends in Dahlonega who are adopting a precious little girl from Taiwan

Talladega Superspeedway

Driving back from Memphis last Friday I passed the Talladega Superspeedway on I-20. I had never seen the area on the weekend of a NASCAR race, and was amazed to see so many people in RVs and tents for the weekend. There are two big-time races in Talladega (and they have changed the name from the Talladega 500). The spring race, the Aarons 449, and the fall race, is the Amy Engery 500. Quite a scene.

The flags of Talladega

Folks camping on the grounds

No, I did not take this air shot.

Memphis Trip

I got back today from a short support trip to Elvis' hometown and my birthplace, Memphis, TN. I introduced the church plant vision at Independent Presbyterian Church on Wednesday night after their fellowship supper, and then spent all day Thursday at Republic Coffee, where friends dropped by all day to catch up. Here are some pictures from the short visit.

The first "real house" Kristy and I lived in (rented for 3 months in Memphis when we moved there in Jan. 1995 for me to work at Independent Pres.)

This was my grandparent's home before they died in the 80s. I practically grew up there. Imagine a 5 year old McKay rolling around in the front yard with best friend, Josh, thinking that giant trees were falling on us—a favorite game of ours. : )

My grandparent's grave site

Climbing the Rock Wall

Schaeffer climbing the rock wall at Mountain Outfitters in Monteagle, TN.

Twin Lakes

Last week I attended Twin Lakes Fellowship (at Twin Lakes Conference Center) in Florence, MS, just south of Jackson. It was a good time to see some old friends and make new ones. Here are two pictures, one from the front of the meeting room and the other from the rear.

More from Monteagle

Here is a bit more from our trip to Monteagle over the Easter weekend...

Playing in the creek

Just a swangin'

The crew at Shenanigans in Sewanee, TN

Best friends on a mini-bridge

Panorama of Dahlonega Square

I'm not sure who took this video, but it is a panoramic video of 1/2 of the square in Dahlonega. On the other side of the old Courthouse is the historic Holly Theater and a view of the University, which sits just off of downtown Dahlonega. It is filmed in the winter, so the trees are bare (much nicer NOW in the spring). But it will give you an idea...

Stu Keyes and Family in Town

Last week one of my best friends from high school, Stu Keyes, came through town with his family on their way to camp in the mountains. We met at The Patio Cafe for lunch with their four and Sarah Wynn (the big two were in class across the street at Perimeter). It was so great to see them and catch up!

Surprise Party!

Last night I surprised Kristy with a small surprise party the Macaroni Grill for her 39th birthday. So much fun!

A Very Special Day

Today is a very special day in the Caston household. It is Kristy's birthday! Um... well, let's just say that she is still in her 30s and will always be younger than me... and will always look younger than she really is. : )

Evidence of a Good Time

Evidence of a good time last week in Monteagle.

Monteagle Fog

One of the mornings on the mountain last week was defined by a thick fog that lasted until around 2:00pm. Here is a picture I took when driving around the Assembly.

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...