Happy (Belated) Father's Day!

Jon and I are thankful for the great fathers we both have. We both love our dads and appreciate them. We consider ourselves blessed to have fathers who love us and who have invested so much in our lives!
I'm thankful to have Jon as my husband and father to our two kids! He is an amazing Daddy! Ava and Emet adore Jon and he adores them. I am constantly reminded that Jon is a great dad and that our kids (and I) am blessed to have him! He not only provides for our family, he spends time investing in the lives of our beautiful babies!

Emet, Daddy and Ava

We met Mom and Dad in Burlington on Father's Day...

Happy Father's Day Dad!

On Mission in Massachusettes

We left out almost two weeks ago for our youth mission trip to Worcester, Massachusetts. Our youth served faithfully at Pleasant Street Baptist Church and ministered to the people of Worcester. They worked along side people with very different backgrounds than their own (drug addicts, alcoholics, abusers...ect). The differences in the people we served did not matter to our students. We were proud of them for showing the love of Christ in a practical way to the people of Worcester. At the end of the week we went to Boston for a day and enjoyed being "tourists." Jon and I loved Boston! What a neat city...and so in need of the Gospel. We were reminded of the need the northeast has to hear the Gospel. We also enjoyed seeing the sites of Boston! To read more about the trip and see more pictures you can check out our Student Ministry Site!

Set Me Free

Some of the students did a skit in the Sunday morning service.

Teaching Children's Church

(We had more youth than children!)

Emet as we arrived in Boston

Ava, Brittney and Chelsie

On the DUCK...we took a Duck tour. The vehicle took us on a land and water tour of Boston. I was amazed that it drove right into the water and turned into a boat!

Jon, Emet and Money Mike on the Duck Tour

Our Group...we had our own DUCK

A view of a DUCK in the water!

Ava enjoying Boston!

Harvard!

Amsterdam, NY

We were blessed with the opportunity to visit with the Bonnetts in Amsterdam while up North! Kristen and Kenneth picked the kids and I up in Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon. We headed to their home in Amsterdam. Kristen and Kenneth were our first friends at Seminary. They lived in our building and made us feel welcome as soon as we moved in! Time with Kristen last week was great. I enjoy getting to spend time with her and it was GREAT getting to catch up. I'm blessed to have her as a friend. It was also great to see Vivian (aka Granna), Hayley and Bubby. Vivian (and Kristen) were Ava's babysitters when I was teaching and Hayley and Bubby were mine and Jon's buddies when we lived in the apartment. It is hard to believe Bubby was Ava's age when we met him! I'm thankful for my time with my dear friend and her family and hope to get back up to visit them soon! We certainly experienced Amsterdam...check out some pictures from our visit!

Emet, Bubby, Ava and Hayley

Ava and Josie

(I never thought we'd get this on camera. Ava has been terrified of big dogs and for the first two days at the Bonnetts...she was terrified of Josie. She slowly began to warm up to Josie and went from crying when Josie came close to her, to loving on her...giving kisses, hugs and even letting her out of her cage! I'm excited she has gotten over her fear of big dogs!)

Ruckus

Oh my...the BEST sandwich I have had in I don't know how long! Capicola ham with tomato pesto sauce and mozzarella and provolone cheese...on homemade bread...SO GOOD! It was a girls lunch out that Kristen and I enjoy without kids...which made it even better! Thanks to Vivian for keeping the kids for me!

Kristen and Emet

So Cute!!!

Ava, Vivian and Emet

Their Church

A view from the car...coming over a hill in town...isn't it beautiful?!

Kenneth and Kristen in front of their house!

The Girls

Nichole and Bubby

Hayley and Ava

Up North

We left Saturday with our youth for Worcester, Massachusetts. We had a long (15 hour) trip...but made it without too many bumps in the road. Our youth are serving at Pleasant Street Baptist Church this week. The kids and I were able to spend a good part of Sunday with them and will be back with them sometime tomorrow afternoon. The rest of the week we have been in Amsterdam, New York with my friend Kristen and her family. Kristen and Kenneth came to pick me and the kids up in Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon. I have pictures that I will post when I get home with more details about our week! We have loved being here with them!
Visit our Student Ministry Blog to see what our youth have been up to!!!

A Tooth and Taking Steps

Our 13 month old finally started cutting his FIRST tooth! Last Friday I noticed Emet's bottom left tooth coming in. We were beginning to wonder if he'd ever get teeth! On Monday he started taking steps...only 2-3 at a time, but he is walking. Two big milestones (well, at least I think so) in 4 days! Go Emet!

A Few Days Ago...

Our computer was out of commission for a week or so, so I am playing catch up with whats been going on! Last Thursday was a big day for us...we had Amber, Logan spent the day with us, the Richesons came over in the morning, the Amersons came over in the afternoon and we had dinner out with Amy, Nana and Papa...what a day!

We enjoyed having Amber at our house and will miss her as she starts her new babysitter next week. It is always a treat to have Melissa, Isaac and Caleb come play! Ava loves playing with Isaac and last Thursday was no different. They even rode the tractor. Logan was a big help with all the babies and kids running around and of course visiting with Melissa is always a treat for me! Tracey, Asheton and Bailey came through on their way to Wilson. It had been way too long since we had seen them. It was a short visit, but worth every minute! Amy came into town for the Advance the Church conference which Jon, Scarlet and Don attended on Thursday as well. (I was able to go with them on Friday and Saturday.) After the conference Thursday we had dinner out at Texas Roadhouse. Our day was slam packed, but a lot of fun!

Bailey enjoying the swing! I think she was glad to get out of her carseat!

Bailey and Ava

Me, Bailey, Ava and Tracey

(Emet was napping!)

Bailey, Tracey and Asheton

Ava, Amy and Emet

Family Photo Shoot

Last week we went to Duke Gardens for family pictures. I wanted to get Emet's one year picture, Ava's three year picture and some family shots. John Faircloth took the pictures for us. He is a friend of ours from church and does great photography work. Here are a few of the pictures from our evening in Duke Gardens. To check out the rest, go to John's website and click on online events then the family and children. Our name should pop up and it will ask for an email address. Type in your email and you can view the rest of our pictures. If you are in need of a great photographer for any reason, John does amazing work...we would recommend him!

An Evening in Rolesville

When Jon got off work yesterday we headed to Rolesville. We spent some time visiting Kate, John Allen and little Emma. I worked with Kate at Rolesville and had not met her precious little girl until yesterday. It was great getting to catch up with Kate and meet sweet Emma! We had packed a picnic dinner and went to the park after leaving Kate's. Ava enjoyed the playground and Emet had fun in the swing...he loves a swing! After dinner in the park we went to a softball game! We had been planning to go to one of Mary Elaine's games. Last night was her first time playing since she hurt her hand...it was good to be there to cheer her on! We also saw Haley play! Mary Elaine and Haley were in my first grade class two years ago, so it was GREAT to see the girls play again. We all enjoyed the game...even though it was a very late night!

Kate and Emma

Mary Elaine, Me and Haley

Love these girls!

Mitchell, Connor, Mary Elaine, Emet, Madeline, Haley and Ava

Help me win a free Wii and you can win one too!

Here's how it works:

1. Click on my referral link: http://www.bonuswii.com/?referral=24965
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3. Use the "your referral link" on the "Status" page of your account to give to other people to sign up for the site and also complete 1 or 2 trial offers.
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So, I can win a FREE Wii if I get 7 referrals (that means, I need 7 of you to click my referral link, sign up, and complete 1-2 offers, and then I'll receive my prize). I won't get credit if you sign up without clicking on my referral link. So if you decide to do it, please click on my referral link: http://www.bonuswii.com/?referral=24965

Examples of the offers that I completed:

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***There are other offer options that require you to pay a small fee but it is totally up to what you are interested in. The only condition required by the site is that you must be genuinely interested in the offer you seek to fulfill.***

If you end up doing this, shoot me an email and let me know so I can make sure that you are officially counted as one of my referrals.

Below are some helpful links and resouces:

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