so cool

I have got to tell you about one of the coolest sites I've seen recently. My friend Sarah discovered it and shared it with me. It's www.pandora.com. It's an online radio station that you create. All you do is type in some of your favorite artists. It plays their songs and songs of similar artists. If you don't like a song it plays you give it a thumbs down and it never plays it again. And the best part is, it's FREE! I've loved having it on while working or studying. And Baby Girl likes it too. OK, enough of the advertisement. Enjoy!!

gone fishing

This past weekend we traveled to Roaring River State Park for the annual family fishing trip. I'm not kidding when I say we look forward to it all year. We calculated that this was my sixth year to go. It seems like yesterday I was going as the nervous new girlfriend. I'll never forget how warmly Dan's family embraced me. And it didn't hurt that I caught the biggest fish that year. Who would have thought you could catch a lunker on a Tweety Bird button pole? My Grandpa Hank would have been so proud! You'd think I'd be a bit prideful but every year since then, the trout have bested me and I've walked away empty handed. It's proof that my lunker had nothing whatsoever to do with my fishing ability!

Most of Danny's family was there and it was their first chance to see Baby Girl in person. We spent the weekend fishing, eating, playing games and of course Pass the Reese. She was in heaven...and now that we're back at home she's wondering why she isn't held all the time. :)

3 month pics that didn't make the cut

So, you've seen Reese's three month picture. (If not, scroll down to see the previous post.) Now, I don't know what the problem was, but for some reason, Lovey wanted to look at everything in the room besides the camera. I think I took about 40 shots praying she'd glance my way. Here are (just some!) of the pictures I took before she finally complied with my wishes. And for kicks and giggles, I've added what I believe was going through her head in each shot.

I love ceiling fans!


Is that Oprah on TV?


Oooo, my outfit is cute!!


You want me to do what?


Um, excuse me, what is THAT thing doing in my picture?


Uh oh...


For crying out loud, quit taking my picture and help a girl out!!

3 months old!

Yes folks, it's that time again to bust out the lamb, and a killer bow. Can you believe how big she is? :)

dancing fans

Are there any So You Think You Can Dance fans out there? Reese and I LOVE that show. We try to watch every Wednesday night, and are amazed every week at what some of those dancers pull off. Our favorite dancer is Joshua. Every now and then, we get so into it, we can't help but get up and dance ourselves. (After all, we can't let the people on TV have all the fun!) The other night Dan snapped a picture of us getting our weekly dancing fix.

the dark knight

We went and saw this movie yesterday. I've got to tell you, I have been looking forward to this all year! Every time a commercial for it came on, I would tell Dan, "I can't wait Dan, I can't wait!" I must have dropped enough hints because yesterday he took me to the noon showing. Is it a sign of old age when I prefer an afternoon movie to avoid crowds and to pay less? I digress. Anyways, I don't know who I was kidding about the crowd thing, because the theater was packed! We had to sit in the very front row. And if it had been any other movie, I would have pouted about that for about half an hour. But I was at the new Batman movie. And after 6 months of anticipation, I was not about to let a little thing like a broken neck dampen my mood. No sir. And let me just say, I was not disappointed. It was incredible! It was the best movie I've seen in a long time and in my humble opinion, the best of all the Batman movies. If you like Batman Begins, you will love this! Heath Ledger's performance was superb. He creeped me out, made me laugh. He was unrecognizable. Now I will warn you that the movie is long. But it doesn't feel long. If you're thinking about seeing it, do it! You will not be disappointed. And who knows? I might just swallow the seven bucks and go back again. :)

if you're feeling blue

Let's face it every now and then we all have tough days. Life is just HARD! (Can I get an amen?) But I can't stay down very long when I have this little face looking back at me.



Here's hoping that if you've had a long day, Reese just made it a little brighter. :)

beached out but fired up

What do you get when you take 55 kids, 14 leaders, 3 band members, and a speaker, and throw them on a beach for a week? PCB '08 baby! Last night we got back from our biggest trip of the year. It was a full week of swimming, basketball, volleyball, sand castle building, crazy skits, team competitions, (are you tired yet?) small group time, worship, surfing, water polo, Bible study, and man alive, are we wiped out. Yes, Reese did join us on the trip. Thankfully Michelle, Danny's sister drove down to help with her all week. And she was a gift from above! I joked with her that this must be how rich people feel about having nannies. But for all she did, I could never afford her. Thank you Aunt Michelle!

Today we are in recovery. :) You never realize how much preparation, organization and leadership a youth trip requires until you actually run one. Our small group leaders can attest to the fact that this past week was in no way a vacation for the adults. It was a week of long, hard ministry to a huge group of teenagers. But it is some of the most rewarding work to be done. Praise God, He poured out His Spirit on us this week. He was moving, and He was working in the hearts of everyone there.

So, you know me, I just had to share a few of our favorite pictures from the week:

happy 4th

"Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
John 8:35-36

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Galatians 5:1

working late

Well there's only a few days left before our biggest youth trip of the year. And we are in full beach prep mode. So we're spending many late nights up at the church, cranking out what's left on the to-do list. I took a couple of pictures with the computer.

Here's Dan working hard.



Here's Lovey, who probably had enough of the office a couple of hours ago.



And, yes, she most definitely has had enough of us fools.

2 years

Well, today is July 1. Exactly two years ago, I made my way down the aisle and married Daniel Wayne. In some ways it feels like it was yesterday. I still find myself staring at him and wondering how I pulled it off. :) Since we tied the knot we've moved three times, changed jobs, bought a house and had a baby. We've traveled around the country, served internationally and started seminary. We've led dozens of youth trips and have carefully tread the waters of full time ministry. And all this for a girl who resists change like the plague!

When people hear our story, I wonder if they think we are adventure freaks. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. It's ironic how just when I've been tempted to settle down and get comfortable with where we are in life, something else comes up and the rug is swept right out from under me. I truly believe it's God's way of saying "Oh no you don't Rach. You get right down off of that high horse of thinking you can do any of this on your own!" Because every curve in the road we've faced these past two years has forced me to admit that to make it around the bend, I've got to hand over the role of navigator.

Don't get me wrong, God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. This is not the life I would have picked for myself...it's BETTER! He knows exactly what He's doing. And only God knew what kind of man I would need by my side to survive and thrive in all He has called me to do. That's why He gave me Daniel. He's the greatest friend I could ask for. He's a passionate believer, selfless husband, and courageous father. In this world that is so hard, he's my soft place. With him I'm safe. I've never met someone more fun. I don't deserve him.

"Thank you God for your grace. First in the free gift of salvation you gave to this screwed up sinner so long ago. And secondly, for the gift of my husband. Please forgive me for when I've been impatient and selfish. Give me the strength to love him as you have called me to love him. Help me to know how to encourage him daily and spur him on as a father and as a minister of the gospel. You are the Giver of all good things, including my family. Help me to praise You more for all You have done and for who You are in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen."