unplugged

I look forward to this time every year. It's the weekend of our student ministry summer camp. The title of this entry is 'unplugged' because I love the break I get from cell phones, email, internet, facebook, blogs, etc. etc. I just love to have a true break and get away from the day to day routine.

Youth camp is such an amazing time for me. I have the honor of leading students, growing closer to the Lord, and having TONS of fun.

I pray the Lord works in a mighty way over the 5 days that we are gone.

First 10K!

I must have a goal set for me to push myself...this especially is true in exercise and nutrition. After talking to this hardcore runner I was inspired to sign up for the 10K Labor Day race in Franklin. I have actually never run over 5 miles at once. My typical pace that I can't get rid of is around a 10 minute mile. I have two goals set for the Franklin Classic race.

1. To Finish
2. To average a 9 minute mile...finishing in under 56 minutes.

And I would still like to drop a few pounds too...but if I'm exercising regularly and feel good then its ok.

friends

This is Angie and I at the bridal shower last night. We've been friends for 7 years. I don't know what I would do without her. We can talk for hours, we laugh, we cry, we get in trouble with our husbands for running up our cell phone bills, and we can lay out for 5 hrs straight:) I thank God that she is in my life....and her amazing little children!

summer fun

Woah! This week has flown by. I'm so excited because I have the day off tomorrow. I'm spending it doing things I love.

-I love the early morning sunrise so I'll go for a run. I just thought this picture I found on the internet of a sunrise was pretty. Hopefully I can do around 3 miles in the morning.




-Going to Supperthyme to prepare some meals from a giftcard my mom gave me at Christmas! I'll be preparing these dinners which I'm excited about!
-Beef Bolognese & Pasta
-Balsamic Beef Kabobs
-Parmesan Pork Tenderloin

-I don't have time to layout since I work about 60+ hrs a week between my business ventures. So, I go to this place and get a glistening tan and relax for 20 mins:)

-Then I get to see these two friends for bekah's first wedding shower! I love them and it's weird that my little bekah who I've known since she was 14 is getting married.

Sunday has arrived.

I couldn't wait for this evening all week. Why? Because I had NOTHING planned. I actually have lots to do around the house as laundry, dishes, and cleaning needs to be done...but oh well. Blogs come first:)

After reading Jen's post the other day I could really relate to loving children especially our sponsored compassion child. I had written the following on my facebook note/blog thing a few months ago so I'm posting it here too.


Those close to me know that I went through a huge loss February 21, 2007. My sweet Emma Grace passed away at 5 yrs old from a rare genetic disease. I cared for Emma for several years starting when she was just 2 months old. She was like my own child...I loved her so deeply and cared for her through the many surgeries, therapy sessions, endless diaper changes, etc. etc. I'll probably never feel a love towards a child like I did with Emma until I have my own kids one day. I've been thinking a lot about those final moments at her bedside, about the final goodbye, or about all the times I said "I love you Emma" and she would smile at me and say "Kista!" When I said the final goodbye to her I gave her a picture of me and her dancing. Emma was never able to walk but she loved to sit and 'dance'. So I said "Emma, you go dance for Jesus tonight!" I know she entered heaven that night running, jumping, dancing, and laughing at the feet of Jesus.

I have realized what an honor it was to love Emma as my job for so many years. Seriously, to get paid to love a child and care for them is probably the best job ever!

I wanted to love another child and 'provide' for their needs again. I am now sponsoring Apodi Ambrose, an adorable 3 yr old boy from Uganda. He is just precious! I had a stirring on my heart to step outside of my comfortable Williamson County life to use my resources to help a child. I'll probably never meet him but I pray his life is touched on the other side of the world, just as my life is touched here in Franklin, TN.
www.compassion.com

After rereading this it just reminds me of how much I long for a child of my very own to love and pray that God grants that request again soon.

Here are a few pictures!


Emma Grace





One of the last pictures taken together before she died.


Apodi Ambrose-Our sweet compassion child that loves to play soccer and color!

need endurance

this week has been great. i've really used my organizational gifts to make the spring hill kids vbs week go smoothly. but, i'm just exhausted. last night i wrote up an offer for a client on a foreclosure. its a great deal but these kinds of contracts are a nightmare most of the time...its so stressful! i've been going to bed every night about two hours earlier than usual. i've been feeling pulled and stretched in every area-physically, emotionally, vocationally, relationally, spiritually, -hmm did i miss any?!! i left work early today and called my husband asking how i was going to make it through the next few days. i sat down and started asking the Lord for supernatural endurance to finish everything well. our bible study is meeting at pinkerton park tonight. i'm excited to be outside and with my friends. it's much needed.

dust dust dust

dust is everywhere in our house. when you are remodeling it seems to just accumulate no matter how many times you wipe down the floors or walls. oh well...when we are finally finished with the house i'll be so excited for no more dust!

here are some recent pictures. the following projects are not totally done but here's a preview of the almost (not cleaned) finished project...

BEFORE living room floor


AFTER living room floor (its diiiirty)


BEFORE master bath shower


AFTER master bath shower


BEFORE master bath floor


AFTER master bath floor

VBS '08 Spring Hill style

The TPC Spring Hill Campus is participating in VBS at the Franklin campus again this year. We had a record 63 kids today that we transported to Franklin for VBS. (Until we have a facility of our own this is what we have to do.) The kids are having a great time and so are us leaders! It's been a tiring few days already but I just have to think its so worth it! These kids will remember this week for a long time and I was able to be a part of it.

life is good 5K

Saturday was a busy day for us. As we continue to finish up the renovations on our house, I worked all day on our master bath tile. I finished the tiled floor and shower surround. After working most of the day on it, I was tired. Zach went to work at 4 and I didn't have anything to do for the rest of the night. At 4:30 I decided to go run in the Life is Good 5K in Westhaven. I haven't run in a week and it was HOT!!! I crossed the finish line and thought about what an idiot I was to do this race! Later in the evening when I finally cooled down I decided that not many people would attempt at 5K race in 90+ degree heat. I did and I finished. I slept so good last night too!

i love him

carson+jadd

The two little joys of my life are Carson and Jadd. These are my best friend's children. Carson is silly and we have lots of fun together. Jadd is 5 weeks in picture below. He will grow to love his 'auntie' krista too:)

2 Months of Silence

Wow...lots happened in two months. In this order...

-Found out I was pregnant
-Had a miscarriage 41 days into the pregnancy which landed me in the hospital
-Was in my dear friend Jess's wedding which was amazing
-Saw Jimmy Eat World Live!
-The birth of my best friend's baby boy
-Came back to reality of life...post miscarriage...with crazy hormones and emotions
-Ever so slow renovations happening on our house
-Ran a 5K in my goal time (28:31)
-Started having a weekly bible study at our house
-Planned a large community outreach in Spring Hill

Now...
-Enjoying the beginning of Summer in Franklin
-Looking forward to VBS next week at church
-Then the student ministry summer camp in a few weeks
-Trying to run more and lose pounds from the chocolate that I have consumed my emotions in..
-Pursuing another foreclosure property near us
-Walking day by day in this messy thing called life and learning to trust God even though its not easy