The Birthday Boy

This is always a fun week in our house since we have two birthdays just 4 days apart. Patrick is low key and certainly doesn't desire a big bash, but we think birthdays are special around here so we spent the day doing things his way. We started on Friday night with acorn squash at the Curry's. Patrick and Rusty have birthdays just two days apart so it's a good excuse to eat yummy food, good dessert and play games. We hadn't gotten to our acorn squash tradition during December so it lent itself nicely to another festive occasion. Plus this year even more of the kids enjoyed it!

Patrick's actual birthday was on Saturday, so we had a lot more freedom to do things out of the ordinary. First on Patrick's Top Ten list is sleeping in. So the the girls and I snuggled on the couch watching cartoons until Sleeping Beauty decided to get up. He also enjoyed a morning run which is one of his favorites. The girls surprised him with a balloon drop as we headed out the door for Duck Donuts. Bacon and peanut butter together has to be at the top of his list.

Next up was the USC Men's Basketball game against Texas Tech. He got tickets from a student for Christmas and it just happened that the game fell on his birthday! The girls were a lot more into it than in years past. It must be Anna's basketball career. Ha! She was yelling at the refs like a grown man and Paige enjoyed spotting Cocky. We lost, but it really was a close game all the way until the end.

These crazy girls got on the jumbotron for their robot dances. 

The girls kept Patrick occupied with fun yard games in the afternoon while I grilled steaks, made potato smashers and a Caesar salad. It's the ultimate Patrick meal. We capped it off with chocolate peanut butter pie with Reese's cups on top. Yum!

We finished the day all snuggled on our bed watching National Treasure. At the tip top of his list, Patrick loves spending time with his family. And we think he's a pretty awesome guy. Happy Birthday Patrick! We love you!!

Vision Night and Parishes

When Patrick and I returned from DC this summer we had been praying for several months about where God would want us to serve at our SC church.  We had the opportunity to come back to a blank slate and felt strongly about wanting to listen to God's calling before acting. Many of the things we had stepped away from where great "yeses," but we were spread too thin. So it was a unique opportunity to be intentional and respond to God's calling for us.

One of the biggest surprises about our time in DC was probably the one we least expected. Our DC church, The Well, adopted us in for a short time and we had the opportunity to learn about different church structures, grow closer to God and each other and become friends with some wonderful people. It was an amazing season and God is still using it to help us grow. I'm also so happy to report we are still connected to our DC brothers and sisters-in-Christ.

In God's providence, our home church in SC was going through some transitions and changes. They were attempting to implement a structure that we were in fact successfully experiencing first hand in DC. It was this very structure that quickly had us enfolded into the The Well church body and a community of believers. How amazing that God pulled us away from SC to actually live what He wanted to see happen in SC?!

So we returned home and after praying and discussing, we felt God clearly calling us to head the new Parish ministry. While there are many details, essentially our church has been geographically organized into smaller groups where we can discover, live and share the transforming love of Jesus together. Each Parish has Leaders and Patrick and I are pouring into and encouraging these people while also wrestling with the details of what Parishes look like.

Over the course of the last 6 months we have prayed, presented, gathered feedback, researched, organized, fleshed out, prayed some more, obtained approval, pursued Leaders, met, met, met and built Parishes with God's help. It has been a humbling, encouraging, exciting and challenging process, but we have seen God's hand and continue to take steps of obedience. I've loved working together with Patrick as a team which has allowed me to see how our strengths compliment each other. Most of all I am blown away by God's provision and leading as we step out in faith.

So Vision Night was an opportunity for us to present this as well as other church leadership to present other changes. Patrick and I helped with lots of logistics and then spoke. It was awesome to see so many of our people there, have a delicious catered meal and have kids taken care of by another church's child care workers. It was so cool to see so many others in our community come along side us to support this including an unheard of low cost for food and another church hosting us for free. It's really been a very tiring three weeks, but so inspiring too.

Now that we have communicated church-wide, we will be rolling out the Parish concept which involves more praying, meeting and training of leaders. This is very much in its infancy, but we are expectantly waiting as we watch the Holy Spirit move in mighty ways. How awesome that we get to be a small part of that?! And while we continue to strive for His kingdom, He is continuing to feed us through His word, like my study in Exodus this fall and spring which has brought such applicable truth. I'm constantly blown away by God's faithfulness for me!

The Birthday Girl

Anna had a great birthday, even if she had to go to school. The perks of homeschooling quickly came back to her when she realized you would not be able to take the day off like last year. Nonetheless, we made it a special day.

Patrick and I piled in her bed first thing this morning to recount her birth story and smoother her with our snuggles. She may act like she detests this when in reality she really adores it. She had a yummy breakfast and then opened her gifts before school. There's no waiting for this girl! Paige made her a chapter book titled Anna Potter which she has been sitting on for three months. I was impressed she kept it a secret!

At school she was able to announce it was her birthday and I got her a special Chick-fil-A lunch. While I wasn't in her class, I did have the opportunity to see her several times while I toured new parents around.

After school, we had a special ice cream treat at home and she played with her new gifts. We also had the chance to field several fun birthday phone calls. It was basketball night so we didn't have much time at the house before going to a competitive game.

Anna was matched against a girls twice her size who knew how to dribble well, but that didn't stop Anna from making the other girl work for it. Anna stuck on her like glue and was able to disrupt her game several times, in addition to causing her to fall a few times. I was proud that she went to check on her on the sideline during the game (but also the girl fell on purpose a few times). Anna also earned her first foul, a right of passage with that much defense. In the end, the other coach even commented to Anna on how fast she was against a much bigger kid. It was a tough game, but our team came out with the win 17-12. They are undefeated and will enter the tournament in another week.

We came home to eat some chili and read The Birthday Book by Dr. Suess (a tradition). While tucking my 10 year old in bed, Anna said she felt celebrated today. That's all this mama could want.

Happy Birthday Anna!

Anna,

Ten! Two whole hands!! What on earth?! How is it I have a 10 year old? That means a whole decade ago you came into our lives and turned everything upside down. It's hard to remember you as a baby because even then you were an old soul, always marching to the beat of your own drum. That still rings true of you now. Personally, I've loved seeing you at this age because you are right in the cross hairs of still wanting to be a quirky little kid and showing signs of the woman you will one day be. You are just as passionate about justice and fairness as you are about your crazy dance moves. It sure makes us laugh!

Your dad and I often comment about what a cool kid you are. It's fun to watch you pursue passions like baking and trying different sports. Who knew you would be a defensive powerhouse on the basketball court!? You just scored your first two baskets in the game the other day because you were persistent and took a risk even though it wasn't comfortable for you. And our tummies are extra happy these days with all your kitchen creations like Anna-doodles.

At school, you are happy as a clam to learn, listen to the read-alouds and hang out with your best buds. While I warned you kids would start changing right around now, you seem to have little time or tolerance for drama. This makes me happy because I know your main focus is on being a kid and loving others well. You absolutely adore your teacher, Ms. Blake, and we are excited you have made great leaps in your confidence with math. It makes my heart happy to see you get caught up in reading a book and dive deeply into knowing more about various topics. You do your work with diligence and take pride in doing it well, both qualities that will serve you well in your life.

This year you are learning more about the world and how it works. I struggle with this as a parent because I want so badly to protect your innocence. BUT I have been amazed at your maturity, ability to process and asking of tough questions. Our conversations at bed time have grown into great wrestling discussions between knowing the world is a broken place and having great hope in God's redeeming love for us. They have become some of my favorite times with you even though the topics are difficult. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit's work in your heart.

Gosh, to think back over this year, I can see so many wonderful qualities in you: adventure in going to new places (all over the DC area), tenacity in setting new running goals and smashing your PRs, love and patience for a little sister who sometimes gets on your nerves, being yourself in all situations even if others judge you for it, choosing the right way even when others around you aren't, asking to help or even taking initiative to help before it's needed, looking people in the eye and giving them a firm handshake to introduce yourself with confidence (like you did with the Secretary of Education all on your own!), your insatiable desire to tinker/build/create and waking up each day with a positive, if not loud, attitude as if this day was going to be the best day yet.

Yep, Dad and I are right. You are one cool kid and we are so blessed to be your parents. We also know Paige feels the same way about her Big Sister as you have lovingly looked after her at school. I know this whole growing up thing is not really your jam, but you are doing it so well. Ten will surely be an amazing year. Thanks for letting us be a part of it. I love you more than all the stars in the sky!

Mom

Anna's Birthday Celebration

Ya'll! It has been crazy around here. January is already a bit nuts, but these past two weeks Patrick and I have been full steam leading a new ministry at our church and assisting with putting on a Vision Night, occurring last night. I'll give more details about all of that soon, but for now I want to highlight some other big happenings in our house. A certain kiddo is turning 10 this week! Ahh!! 

I asked Anna a while ago what she wanted to do for her big day and her first response was, "I don't know." After a bit of prodding, we landed on a simple dinner with the Powells, baking a super awesome cake from scratch together and a trip to Ft. Sumter in Charleston during the Spring Break. I had to laugh when I asked Anna what she wanted for dinner and her main request was "something healthy." I mean what else could a 10 year old want other than her best friend for a dinner party, a salad and visiting an old fort?!

Here are the highlights from our celebration:

A sleepover with Caroline on Saturday night, followed by a pancake bar breakfast. The toppings were piled on, people!

Sweet teal and purple decorations with a hint of sparkle. Very sophisticated and mature.

A three layer neapolitan cake with chocolate and vanilla buttercream between the layers and an ombre vanilla buttercream frosting, topped with chocolate ganache. This child is watching way too much Food Network and has discovered Pinterest.

A fun and simple dinner party where we served veggie kababos, leftover chicken from the Vision Night (thanks Scotties Catering!), mashed potatoes and apple spirals. I also made some homemade lemonade.

Painting canvases which could have easily lasted a half a day.

Gift opening and eating of the yummy cake. It was delicious!

These two are best buds!

Anna's official birthday isn't until Tuesday and she has a basketball game that night so it was nice to slow things down and celebrate her before we start our busy week. She sure leaves us shaking our heads most of the time because she breaks all the molds.