Spring Break 2011

We were really excited to have the opportunity to go on the spring break mission trip with our church's college ministry! We've prayed for a way to have our children involved in missions as early as possible, and this trip was an answer to that prayer! It was also a sweet getaway for our family. Alex and I served as house mom and dad for two houses of college students. He had 13 guys in his house, and the kids and I had 17 precious girls in our house.

Now I have to admit, when first asked, my response was not, "Hip hip hooray! This is what we were asking God for!" My gut reaction was, "Me, alone in a house with my kids for five nights?! Alex not with us!? Where will they sleep? What if their nap/bedtime is an hour or two off of normal?" And on and on with the type A, schedule-loving mommy questions. We prayed on it for a few days and I just had to give those logistics over to God, trusting that He is not bound by bedtimes, schedules, nor childproofing. As it turns out, He worked all of those logistics out and more. The kids slept great, our house had a playroom in the master closet and baby gates installed on the stairs, etc. He is such a God of details!

Now on to the trip. The college students took over an inner city neighborhood with construction/cleaning projects along with activities for children. They did crafts, games, and played with the kids at the local playground. My pictures don't do their projects, prayer walks, interaction, etc. justice. It was amazing to ride through the neighborhood seeing 200+ college students on every street -- such an example to our children!

Our children, Kirkley especially, loved getting to hang out with all of her "new friends." I had friends praying for a community to be formed with the girls in our house, and we did! We made such a bond with so many sweet girls new to our church! It will not be the last we've seen of them. Kirkley woke up our first morning home asking where "all the girls" were.

We even got to enjoy a night of seafood on the water!

Well, Gray and Jay ate crackers, but we all enjoyed seafood!

The beach was great -- secluded with seashells everywhere!

This was Jay's first trip to be able to walk around in the sand.

His first day out he stood and picked it up and dropped it over and over again.

The next time out, he ran into the waves a million times.
Thanks Stacy for getting him to sit for a quick second for a pic with the boys!Gray, Jay, and Eric are all within a few months of each other.

The girls couldn't resist the waves even though the water was chilly!

Our beach house with the girls was a great retreat!
So fun to snack and read looking at the waves.

Or nap on the hammock....

We were blessed to be a part of this trip in so many ways!


"...for whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?
And how will they hear without a preacher?
How will they preach unless they are sent?
Just as it is written,
'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!'
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ."
Romans 10:13-15, 17 NASB

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be My witnesss...to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8

"...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:28

"You, my brothers, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature;
rather, serve one another in love."
Galatians 5:13

"Even a child is known by his actions."
Proverbs 20:11a

"Let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16

"Expect great things from God;
attempt great things for God."
William Carey