BUDDY Break!

Last night I had the HONOR of being a buddy at our church, Life Assembly, for Buddy Break.  Buddy Break is a program that offers respite for parents of children with disabilities.  The VIP's and their siblings come to our church once a month for 3 hours while their parents go on a deserving date, run errands, or whatever they choose. 

I have always had a special heart for VIP's (special needs children) and so this is a perfect opportunity for me to serve.  Selfishly, I am usually always tired from a long week of work and college classes and I have a hard time getting motivated to get out the door to head to church.  Once I get there, I'm glad I'm there.  Last night I was partnered with a sibling of a VIP and boy was she full of energy.  After about 10 minutes on the playground, I secretly found my way back to childhood games like tag, hide and seek, other playground games.  It was my chance to act like a kid without feeling foolish.  We did crafts, had story time, music time, jumped on a trampoline, watched a video, and much more.  Props must be paid to Chris Price and his family for heading up such an awesome ministry.  Sadly, kids are always turned away because we are full.  I encourage you to find something like this to volunteer your time to.  You'll be glad you did and it will offer some parents a much needed rest.  Shannon gladly watches Emme while I go volunteer my time, or it wouldn't be possible for me to go.  I'm thankful for a husband who is able and willing to take on extra responsibility ever once in awhile so we can serve others. 

If you are interested in starting a program like this at your church, or even volunteering at a program that is already in existence, click on the picture below to get more information.  You'll be glad you did!

Bunches of Updates

It's been a week or so since I've blogged and I'm determined to not let so much time pass in between blogs this year.  With that being said, it's about the time that things are going to get hectic around here.  So, here's a few updates on how we have been, what we have been up to, and what's on our agendas:

First, let me start with Mission Possible: Haiti 2012.  Last week I took the first official step to prepare for the trip.  I applied for a passport.  Since I am going without Shannon, I felt like it was necessary for him to get a passport too; just in case he needed to travel because of an emergency.  I had to take a half day off of work on Wednesday for a doctor's appointment, so we rushed to the passport office after that was over.  We should receive our passport sometime next month.  It's the first time I have ever owned a passport, I feel so official.

Next, we must talk about Emme Blu.  She turned 3 on Friday!  I was a little sad that we were out of school on Friday because of snow because I had special treats for her to bring to school in honor of her birthday.  Friday night we asked Emme's buddy Brenner and his family (his Mom teaches with me at SCE) to come over for pizza and birthday cake.  It was actually really nice NOT to have a birthday party this year.  Less stress, less clean-up, and more fun!  We had a blast catching up with Brenner and Griffin and watching them play. 

I started back to school last week myself.  I am working towards my Ed.S. degree right now with plans to pursue my Ed.D. after that.  I am taking my 5th and 6th class this semester which means I only have 4 classes to go to earn my Ed.S.  Once I finish my Ed.S., I will enter the doctoral program and will need to take 10 more classes to finish.  I am enjoying my classes very much, however, it is very time consuming.  I am excited to be in school again, and I will be excited to finish as well.

Shannon's birthday is coming up, I can't believe he will be 38 years old.  He says the only thing he wants for his birthday is fish.  For Christmas I gave him a fish tank and we have four fish in it right now.  Julius, Ack, Zack, and Sharkey are the newest members of our household.  I'll feel you in on any new additions soon.

I suppose that's all I have to update for now.  It's getting late and I have to work tomorrow.  I'll be updating again real soon!

Our Story

Today I was asked by a Southern Gospel column to provide mine and Shannon's story, how we met, dated, got engaged, married, etc. for a feature they are doing next month for Valentine's Day.  I just finished writing it and figured I should post it on my blog as well.  I mean you all do want to know, right? Anyhow, here's a wedding picture:

Weren't we cute? Anyhow here's the story if you really want to know:

            Whenever I’m on the road with Shannon, people always want to know where we are from.  When Shannon explains he is from a small town, Barbourville, in southeastern Kentucky and follows that up with I’m from Dallas, Texas it’s almost always assumed that we met while he was on the road.  In fact, it was just the opposite.

            In early 2002, Shannon took a break from full-time ministry to help his brother run a small grocery store and grill he had recently opened across the street from Union College in Barbourville.  At the same time, I took a position at Union as the Head Volleyball Coach.  I moved to Barbourville by myself and fresh out of college ready to tackle life.  I had a heart for ministry, so I immediately started working with our Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Baptist Student Union aside from coaching.  It was at an FCA meeting where I was introduced to Shannon.  He had come to provide a few songs of worship for the monthly meeting.  I was immediately intrigued by him but never followed up because I was so busy with work. 

            It was a regular occurrence for the coaches to go out to lunch a few times a week.  At some point, a few of the coaches decided to go to Shannon’s brother’s grill to try out the food.  They reported back that the food was good and cheap, so I thought I would give it a try.  I had no idea that Shannon was working there at the time, so I was surprised to see him when I walked in the door.  The coaches were right, the food was good and it was cheap.  I started frequenting the restaurant several times a week.  If I didn’t come for food I usually stopped in once a day for my drink of choice, Ocean Spray Cran-Grape Juice. 

Shannon and I always made small talk at the register, but one day he decided to follow me out of the store to my car.  He gave me a list of about five phone numbers to contact him, to which I replied “I don’t call boys, they call me!”  It was most likely the boldest statement I had ever made to a guy, and I have NO idea why I said it because I liked him!  Shannon likes to follow up this part of the story with this “I called her and she’s called me every day since!” 

It was at this point where our relationship began.  We dated until the fall of 2003, when Shannon decided he needed a break.  I was devastated!  Things seemed to be going perfectly when one day came along and he needed a breather, but we still remained the best of friends.  Early in 2004, I took another coaching position at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY.  As Shannon was helping me pack to move, I could tell he was unsettled.  Later he told me he was so overwhelmed with sadness he didn’t know what to do.  Shannon helped me move into my new apartment in Owensboro and then returned to Barbourville. 

Shannon made several trips to Owensboro to visit and we eventually decided to date again in January of 2005.  In May, he proposed to me in Cleveland, Ohio at Doloff Road Church of God.  I had a break from coaching and decided to travel with him for the weekend.  In the middle of his concert he came off the stage to propose.  I was so stunned that I really didn’t know what to say.  After I realized what was going on I eventually said yes, and everyone in the church went nuts! 

The same month, we bought a house in Gallatin, TN in preparation for marriage.  On August 19^th, we were married at a small private ceremony in Kentucky.  On December 16^th, we were married again at Eastern Hills Country Club in Dallas, Texas amid all of my family and friends.  I retired from coaching in August and moved to Nashville with Shannon.

Perhaps our greatest accomplishment in marriage so far has been the birth of our daughter Emme Blu, now three years old.  We now live in Antioch, TN (a suburb of Nashville) and I work as a physical education teacher at Stoner Creek Elementary in Mt. Juliet.  Emme and I travel with Shannon all summer and during fall, Christmas, and spring breaks.  Life can get hectic around our house sometimes; it seems we are all moving in different directions at different times.  We have definitely seen trials; Emme had a craniofacial reconstruction in 2009 and Shannon had brain surgery in 2010, but God has richly blessed our marriage and has never fallen short of providing for our needs.  Most of all, I thank God for a Christian husband who is committed to raising our daughter with the same values. 

Mission Possible: Haiti 2012

Yesterday I wrote about my plans to go to Haiti in 2012 on a mission's trip.  Well, I'm excited to tell you I have set up a page where online donations can be made to help me achieve my goal.  I am using a website called "Go Fund Me" to keep track of donations and provide a visual for my goal.  If you are ready to make a commitment, here's the website:

http://www.gofundme.com/c1xn8

I hope you'll join me in this goal!

Mission Possible: Haiti 2012

Earlier this week I wrote of some goals I have for 2012: Getting back in shape (again), running a marathon (again), and eating healthier (again.)  All of these goals are possible because of God's favor in my life and the blessings that I sometimes take for granted.  None the less, I have a REAL goal for 2012 and it's lofty but certainly possible.

In November, my neighbor Tim received a call that a spot was available for him to join a mission crew to Haiti.  He quickly jumped on the offer and I have to tell you, I was envious.  Taking a mission trip has been on my heart for several years now, but a few things have kept me from going.  You know; having a baby, my husband's brain surgery, finances, etc.  This year, I'm making no excuses- I'm going on a mission trip!  When Tim came back from Haiti, he vowed to take his own team with him in 2012.  Proudly, I'm accepting his offer and I WILL join his team in 2012.

Here's how you can help me with my goal:  Make a love offering to Shannon's ministry earmarked for Mission Possible: 2012.   Financially, I'm not sure that I can achieve this goal without some support of my friends.  We all have different abilities in God's Kingdom.  Some of us can't travel anymore, but we can send someone in our place.  Your gift can help! 

One story I will share with you that Tim told upon his return is about a young boy who was living on the compound where he stayed while in Haiti.  This child was found by the resident missionaries still feeding on his deceased Mother (who was laying next to her deceased husband- the child's father).  The child was still alive, clinging to his only source of nutrition, while his parents had perished to a disease.  My heart aches thinking about that child.  If I could, I would adopt every single child in Haiti and have them in my home.  If we ever do decide to have another child, we have always said it would be through adoption.  I sure do love and enjoy Emme Blu, my child naturally, and it's through that love that I have discovered I am capable of loving any child the Lord deems acceptable for my family.  Financially, this isn't something that is in our future just yet, but I haven't ruled it out. 

So, can you help me with this goal?  If you can't help financially, that's okay.  There are other needs, prayers in particular, that can certainly partner with this ministry opportunity.  As time gets closer to the trip, I plan to add more details.