"Recent Visit with Friends"

We moved from a dear community in rural South Carolina alittle over a year ago to minister to a new community in Alabama. We made lasting friendships with many of the people in the town and church we left. I wouldn't pack up my 2 year old and drive 7 hours to visit with just anyone, but these are very special people who have etched their way into our hearts for a lifetime. These precious friends of ours saw us through many trials and many celebrations during our 3 years ministering in their church. They were the family that we did not have close by. Isn't that what the church is supposed to be? These dear people love with a deep and abiding love, and love unconditionally - with no strings attached. We did not think that the Lord would call us away from them so soon, but He did, and we trust we are exactly where He would have us for this season of our lives. We miss them dearly though. We were able to visit briefly last May when we went back for Jay's graduation, but it was a whirlwind of a weekend and we didn't feel that we were able to really get a quality visit. This time, we went to visit just because - there was no "event" to attend. We just wanted to go because we missed them.

Of course, I never had my camera with me when I needed it to actually take pictures of our friends - so here I am writing about my precious friends and I am posting mostly pictures of our son! In my defense, it was quite difficult trying to get pictures of families together while children were running everywhere - and we were trying to say hello to every person in the congregation at a covered dish supper - and watch my toddler. Don't you love how I just justified that?? I was just too busy running my mouth to take pictures. I will do better on our next visit :)

For now, enjoy my future farmer.


I just breathe better in the country. Never thought I would say it, but I truly miss living in the wide open.


Sunrise early Sunday morning - was about 17 degrees that morning. It was so quiet out there on the porch you could hear a pin drop. LOVE IT.




John Deere remains to be the latest fascination






When we arrived at sweet Brenda and Bill's house, this was waiting for Elijah Brooks on the counter. They know him so well and love him like he was their own.


I don't have enough words to describe this most precious person in my life - Diana. Her husband was on staff at the church we were also ministering in, and they are moving back to Mexico this summer to plant a new church. We were next door neighbors in that wide open field for 3 years. She and I cried many a tears together and shared many laughs. I always called her my "angel neighbor". She came to help me as a new mom (who was clueless, scared, and in pain from my wrists), more times than I can count. If I needed her, she was there for me - always. There was a never a time that I called and she didn't make herself available. The last time we made a trip to SC, she wasn't there because she was having back surgery in Mexico. When I took this picture, she had not seen EB in 14 months. She was overjoyed to see him and I was so thankful that he remembered her. He knew her face, her skin, her voice, her touch, and her accent. She always called him, "her handsome blue eyes" - and when she said it that night, you should have seen the smile on his face. He knew her. My heart hurts just writing this because I miss her so much.




Sweet "Mr. Bill". He and Elijah Brooks have a sweet relationship. He has him wrapped around his little finger and I honestly believe he would give him the moon. Elijah Brooks is the only baby who has sat in his lap! Here they are watching EB's "John Deere" for kids tractor video. The last night we were there, EB went to his room and brought Bill all of his tractor books, crawled up in his lap and insisted that only "Mr. Bill" read to him. Of course, it just melted his heart. We came home with a new John Deere tractor and Bill gave him one of his very own John Deere tractor pillows.