It's The Little Things

You know those mornings where you notice the small things? I had one of those today! These simple, little things made me smile this morning and I thought I would share! 

1. Scarf in August. This beautiful, colorful scarf my sister gave me on the day before her wedding. I was happy to feel the cool breeze hit my face this morning that allowed me to wear it! 

2. The Gathering Place Coffee Mug. For 2 reasons. A. it reminds me of my sweet friends that started The Gathering Place Church in Costa Rica and the work they are doing there to spread The Good News. B. It meant that I was up early with my hubby enjoying a cup of joe before starting our day! 

3. The Booti Bear! Look at that cute face... how could you not smile? I love the joy he shows me every time he sees me but especially in the mornings! I love how much he loves his chicken too! :) I have to remind him that it will be waiting inside for him when he comes back from going outside - he would bring it everywhere if he could! 

4. Peace Tea. Any Flavor. So Good. Ran in to grab a Smart Water this morning at the gas station and a whole case of these suckers were nice and cold next to the register. I couldn't resist. $.99, 100% natural tea, no artificial flavors, no preservatives, no artificial colors, and 150 calories for the whole can!

5. Sunflowers. I have been growing some sunflowers on my deck in a pot for what seems like forever and finally they started to bloom earlier this week. This morning I came downstairs to find all of them but 1 blown over from the rain last night. It was sad times until Steven said "why don't you cut them and enjoy them in a vase inside!" Genius. The vase is from my sisters wedding. The lace is from my step-mom's wedding dress. The whole situation is just precious and filled with love. I might have stared at it for a while this morning just smiling and looking at it from all angles!

6. Follow Me by David Platt. 1 of 3 books I am currently reading. I smile just knowing that I get to read this book. I love that Steven and I are reading this book together (that makes my heart smile), I love that I am learning every time I open it, and I love that David Platt is doing a simulcast on it next week that I am going to attend.

7. Nora Bora. The cutest little thing ever. We had some me and her time this morning just rolling on the floor! She loves to be touched, held, looked at, anything where she is getting the attention. She sees a free hand and jumps for it! She is excited to go outside every time you ask her... sometimes I just ask her if she wants to go outside so I can see her turn around in circles while jumping in the air. She has skill.  

8. Thread Holder. Not sure why this caught my eye this morning while passing my arts & crafts room but it did. I smile when I see it because one of my best friends, Jessica... you might know her by now from all my posts about her, but she gave it to me. For no reason. She just knew that I had always wanted one and one day brought it over. Doesn't any gift for no reason make everyone smile? 

Here's to cherishing the little things! 

Come On Down, Come on Over....

Come on in to the LightHouse. A place where God's light shines, shines for everyone....playing in the sand, laughing in the sun. (sang with fun hand-gestures!)

So I know this post was supposed to come before the last one cause I left you hanging but here it is.... out of order but filled with love. 

A couple of weeks ago Steven and I, 5 leaders, and 16 high school students 

 

took a huge bus (where we all got our own row!) down to Santa Rosa Beach.

When we arrived, the 7 guys and myself (cause I am married to one of the guys) headed to a super awesome condo that they had for us to not only rest our heads at night but a big open area where we invited many others over for Spicy Uno, the name game, and charades. It was AKA....

After getting settled in, all of the volunteers for the week gathered for a meeting. There we learned that we would be serving 11 families who each had a child with cancer. They ranged anywhere from about 5 years old to 18 years old. All different types and stages. We were there to serve them and cater to their every need so that they could have a relaxing, do-nothing-kind-of vacation, but our number one priority was to love them as Christ loves us. 

And we did just that! 

Each of us had different prep teams we were a part of. 

I was on the breakfast crew. 

We were up and out every morning by 7:15am prepping for all of the families to be served a hearty breakfast. Most days we started the line off with fresh baked doughnuts from the Donut Hole! :)

Then it was off to FlipFlop time!! This was a time where the parents went to Common Ground (counseling sessions with a couple who had been through a child struggling with cancer) and we got to play with the kids (both kids in treatment & siblings). I was deemed as 1 of 3 Flip Flop assistants to my girl, Logan! So I got a little taste of each flip flop group!

Here are the JellyFish making their very own LightHouses! 

The Minnows got to finger paint a guitar that they auctioned off! 

Aby fell in love with one of her Guppies, Sissy, but don't worry, the love was mutual. They were attached at the hip all week! 

The Sharks had some quality pool time!

This is when Steven met Brian! 

A great guy with a big sense of humor and love for hockey! 

And then there was Conched Out Time - where we did exactly that! 

(Except for the 2 times that we made a trip to Frost Bites!)

(Stuffed pineapple, coconut, & lime was the bomb!)

Each night we had a themed dinner planned for the families! 

There was a Luau. 

Italian Night - where the volunteers sang "Be Our Guests" as they served the food!

Low Country Boil! 

And a pizza rolls/chicken fingers-kind-of-night with a "drive-in" movie on the big screen for the kids while their parents had a more than likely long overdo date! 

Can't forget the dance party that happened every time the music was on too! 

Now Featuring... Tangled! 

And then what would be a full 100 person retreat without a talent show one night as well?

Here are the JellyFish dressed as superheros about to perform the Ice Cream Dance! 

They looked innocent until they came out with whip cream pies and got the summer staff! 

Here are the Sharks about to wow the audience with their mix match up from Gangnam Style to Sexy And I Know It to Blessings sang by the oh-so-precious Noah! 

Speaking of audience... here is a snapshot of them! 

Valerie's guitar debut with her beautiful backup singers:

 Jessica, Taylor, Sydney, & Savannah!

and many, many more!! 

So between everything I have already mentioned, there wasn't much time left to do anything else... but that didn't stop us!

Caden continued to be his cute self every where he went and with everything he did... espcially kicking around the soccer ball!

Sheyana fell in love with Riley! 

And he even let her paint his finger nails! 

William found a fun, cool, easy ride who then became his best friend!  

Aby loved on Lake every chance she got!

There was ALWAYS a game being played on the 9 square set! 

Shoulder Dancing with our buddies Lake & Trindon! 

We even had a day where the Daraja Choir from Uganda came to visit where they greeted us with the BEST HUGS I have ever receieved. The joy on their face & in their actions shined like crazy! 

They taught us a new song & dance! 

Oh, happy day, happy day... you wash my sins away. Oh, happy day, happy day... I'll never be the same. Forever I am changed.

Played corn hole! 

Even requested to eat last so that they could serve us. 

And that they did - without complaints & with all smiles. They taught us that day what it was like to serve with unconditional love. 

Our group got to bond as a Watermarke InsideOut LightHouse missions team! We had a blast serving with each other and will never forget this experience we shared... here are some pics to prove it! 

So all in all - it was a pretty AMAZING week. It was eye opening, breath taking, laugh out loud, hold back the tears, let the tears roll, fall in love with kids, act like a kid, eat like a kid, perfect place to shine God's love - kind - of -week! 

Come on Down, Come on Over, Come on In to the Lighthouse!

Some of you are probably thinking.... why did you take the time off work, away from your families/friends, to serve others with sweat, labor, tears, and humility? ...Because I am not here to be served but to serve others as Christ has done for me. This is only a glimpse of what Jesus did with His time on earth for me, the least I can do is serve others in His name. To spread the love that He has shown me. To prove to others that giving up is not the answer... God never gave up on me. Plus - as you can see from my post & pictures... the sweat, labor, tears, and humility was nothing compared to the smiles, joy, hugs, and love that I received in return. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to do this so thank you to all of my supporters - both morally & financially! Until next year's LightHouse trip....