Where Did August Go?

It's a good thing that blogging isn't my job, I'd be fired!  Let's play catch up, shall we?

 

We flew to Indianapolis on August 2nd for the wedding of Claire and Alex.  The days leading up to the wedding were filled with family and decorating.  Les and I did sneak off on Friday to spend the day at the Indy Zoo.

We were fascinated watching one of the orangutans.  He climbed up and was outside the enclosure - approximately 80 feet above ground.  This is a planned part of the exhibit called the Hutan Trail.

 

Saturday, August 7th was the big day!  Les' entire family was there.  Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of all of us.  The wedding photographer did, so hopefully someday we'll have them.  We had a perfect seat as Lance walked Claire down the aisle:

The ceremony was beautiful.  Mr. and Mrs. Alex Perry:

Claire's sister, Hannah, was maid of honor.  She gave a beautiful speech during the reception and I somehow managed to get Hannah, Claire, Lance and Dolly all in one shot:

After a bunch of hugs, the newlyweds were off:

Our night was far from over!  Clean up from a beautiful wedding is work and we were happy to help Lance and Monica get it done.  Sometime late into the night I enjoyed a chat with the wedding coordinator, Sis. Stephanie Gallion.  Sis. Gallion's parents (the Marshalls) were missionaries to the Philippines in the 1980s and they were there when a group of young people from California invaded!  It was such a neat connection to make.  Here we are after several hours of cleanup:

I did not dress like that for the wedding!  I brought work clothes for the after party!

Les and I were scheduled to fly home early afternoon on Sunday, so we didn't make it to church.  We were in the hotel lobby when Les' parents got back from church looking quite snazzy: 

We spent the rest of August here at home.  Les has been hard at work, both on the job and with a major sound equipment project for our church.  We celebrated his 58th birthday on August 19th with a wonderful date at Duke's in Malibu.  Free Hula Pie for the win!

We have been having incredible church this summer!  More than a dozen have been baptized in recent weeks.  Sunday morning a young couple was baptized and Sunday night an entire family (mom, dad, and two sons) were all baptized!  It's an exciting time in God's kingdom.  I finished the month off teaching in the Youth Sunday School class.  God is doing great things in our youth group and I'm so happy to be a part of their lives.

We've already zoomed through the first third of September.  Our annual Youth Alive conference is this week and it kicks off the time of year that just flies - the holidays!

Coming Soon!

I realize I've been quiet over here on the blog.  I seem to get in a summer slump each July/August.  I do have several posts in the works, hopefully I'll get to them this week.  We spent most of last week in Indianapolis for the wedding our of niece, Claire.  It was a wonderful time spent with family and a beautiful wedding.  But for today, domestic duties call...

I Lied

My last post said, "Next post will come from Indy!"  Sorry, I really didn't mean to lie.  We were having too much fun and I decided not to be a blogging Martha (fretting over blogging instead of being present with the family.)  We had a fantastic time in Indianapolis with the Lance McElhaney family.  On Friday, Les and Lance rode bikes while we ladies went to the Indianapolis Zoo.

Hannah's hand with an orangutan's

New Orangutan exhibit

Baby African Elephant

Hannah trying to get a butterfly to land on her finger

On Saturday, Lance had a Junior Bible Quizzing Tournament.  Les tagged along and sent updates as Lance's team went undefeated in round one.  They ended up taking second overall, which qualified them for the national tournament, and Lance was Coach of the Year.

Hannah and I went for a short run (she's FAST!) then we ladies headed out for some shopping and ice cream at Mrs. Curl's.

On Sunday, Les had to get to work.  One of the reasons we were in Indy was for the IASA Conference.  I joined him at the Marriott until Tuesday morning.  While Les was listening to former president Bill Clinton speak, Monica and the girls picked me up.  We went to the Indiana Museum for a while before heading back to the house.

I didn't get a single picture of Monica!  She is such a wonderful hostess and amazing cook.  No pictures, but I did bring home four new recipes!  I'm sure they'll show up on Friday Foodie in the near future.

I'm going to continue my non-Martha blogging ways next week.  Pacific Coast Camp starts on Monday so I know there won't be much blogging going on.  I'll try to check in, but no promises!

Girl Power

Pastor White preached a message entitled "Girl Power" on Sunday night. His text was 1 Corinthians chapter 11. My first thought was "the hair chapter." But his key verse was verse 10 "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."

The definition of the word power in that verse is privilege or delegated influence.

Pastor White had a bag full of magazines Sunday night. Each had a woman on the cover. A woman that was delegated to influence the magazines' readers. You know the ones I'm talking about ~ they're at every grocery store check stand. Women, who are deemed attractive by this world's standards, on the cover trying to influence other women and young girls.

As women, we have power. We have untold influence. The choice we must make is will our influence be godly or will it be ungodly. Will we lead others to God through our influence, or cause them to stumble. Girl Power or Godly Girl Power?

I couldn't help but think of the godly women in my life who have influenced me. Mom is at the top of that list. I think of women who were faithful. My Sunday school teachers. Ladies who I heard praying in the prayer room and watched making peanut brittle with a smile. They weren't afraid to worship. They were my youth camp counselors. Way too many to name, but powerful influences in my life. Beautiful, everyone of them.

At the end of the service, Pastor White had all the mothers come to the front with their daughters. The responsibility of influencing the next generation is great. I don't have daughters of my own, but I have nieces and young friends that I want to see develop into godly women.

I know I've already posted this picture, but here is what Godly Girl Power looks like:

Pure Beauty

Lance sent us this picture of Claire. It was taken at Youth Camp sometime during the summer.

There is so much beauty in this. Claire, at age 13, is growing into a beautiful young lady. But it's more than that. I see grace and mercy on her. Claire has grown up in a home that believes the truth. She is unscarred like so many girls her age. She hasn't known alcohol or drugs or abuse. Her life has been covered by the blood through many generations.

Pure.Beauty.

Happy Birthday, Claire!!

Our sweet niece, Claire, turns 13 today!!


It hardly seems possible...


Until you see the look of joy as she opens a new purse!!


As a teenager you are at the last stage in your life when you will be happy to hear that the phone is for you. ~Fran Lebowitz


Little girls are precious gifts wrapped in love serene. Their dresses tied with sashes and futures tied with dreams.


Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years. ~Author Unknown


How beautiful is youth! How bright it gleams with its illusions, aspirations, dreams!
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


I am every emotion times ten, I conform yet I'm rebellious, always obeying but somehow still an outlaw, always talking but never heard, I am a teenager.
-- Author Unknown


I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.
-- Maya Angelou


Happy Birthday, Sweet Claire!! We love and miss you very, very much!
Uncle Les and Aunt Kathy

Happy Birthday, Claire!

Today is our "sweetheart" niece's 12th birthday!


Claire, you are growing up too quickly! I loved watching you open gifts at Christmas - your delight over clothes, shoes and purses, instead of toys, was so fun to watch. I see lots of shopping trips together in our future! You're a wonderful big sister and quickly becoming a good cook like your mom!


Uncle Les and I love you very much! Hope your day is great! Only one more year until you're a teenager!!

Love and miss you tons! Aunt Kathy

Home Again!

We had such a wonderful time in Indy. The weather was cold, but it was warm inside! Most of my pictures are on Les' laptop (my memory card filled up!) but I've got a few from Saturday. We went to Perry Park and ice skated! Claire and Hannah are both good skaters and I was done before they were!


Hannah thought a "train" would be a lot of fun... Uncle Les thought it was a lot of work!

Here is my wonderful sister-in-law, Monica. She is a gracious hostess and fabulous cook! There are quite a few recipes of hers that I will be trying. Since Les and Lance are so much alike, it's not a surprise that their wives enjoy each others company.


Claire took cooking lessons this Fall and treated us to apple crisp!


On our way to the airport it started snowing, but we were able to make our flight without any problems. Les is back to work and I'm working on a grocery list.