"Home"

Exhausted but excited. Worn out but wired. We were on American soil. We stepped out of the airport tram tired from 24 hours of travel, and as we walked into the domestic terminal where we would board our final flight "home," the smells and sights of our dear homeland hit me. "It smells like weight gain." I said to Kate. She didn't understand. Her metabolism still functions at a high level. But between the smells of cinnamon buns, doughnuts, cheeseburgers and, fried chicken, I could envision myself staring down the gauntlet of shopping for new jeans. But even that would be ok, because I was now in the land of clearance racks and bargain shopping.

I suppose I didn't know what to expect landing in our passport country. We've heard reports about so much hurt and fear from so many people. Our news websites keep us updated on the marches, the riots, the fighting over flags, the decreased moralism, the selling of babies' body parts, and the racism that was supposed to be extinct by now. And when all you hear is bad news, you set your expectations low. So many ask, "What is becoming of our country?" I guess I was asking it too. But upon arriving in Atlanta, I didn't see hate. I didn't see fear. Maybe my eyes were clouded because of the extreme exhaustion, but what I saw was the same America I have always known and loved.

I saw people helping one another get through the airport. I saw smiling faces and helping hands from all races. When we finally sat ourselves down on the plane for our final flight home, I saw two men jump up to help a woman, not from their race or background, put her luggage in the overhead compartment. I saw an older woman give her number to someone she saw carrying a sewing machine she had inherited from her dying grandmother. "Call me. My name is ... I will help you learn to sew. Really anytime day or night. Call." Perfect strangers making connections and forming community. Genuine smiles. Kind words and gentle helping hands. This is my country. These are my people. I am proud to be here and count myself among them.

I'm not always proud of us. We're a country full of imperfect people. We're broken and lost. And those of us who have the Truth can be so ridiculously self-righteous and so painfully unforgiving. We don't always listen and we don't always welcome the broken and hurting into the same sea of grace that we have been washed in. But the strong black hands that lifted a white woman's large suitcase above her head spoke that very thing. Grace. And it was beautiful and slightly reassuring. I do realize the darkness is still ruling and the pain and fear are still real, but in the nitty gritty moments (i.e. the airport, because... really) I saw a somewhat strangely united America that I don't even think I would have noticed last time I was here.

We are certainly happy to be here where customer service is an actual thing and where we can enjoy family, friends and even the genuine smiles and kindness of strangers. There's football, falling leaves, family and food! We're enjoying the beautiful rolling landscape of our gorgeous state. We are cherishing every solitary moment with family. And church. Man, I love going to church! Balm for my heart!

But most importantly, I'm not sweating. Hallelujah!

It's Time to Go... almost

We are coming to a close of our stateside assignment.  We have had a blast hanging out with family, worshipping with our church family, visiting with churches and prayer partners, meeting new people, enjoying American cuisine and doing some fun things American style.  But the time has come to pack up and head back to the real work.  We have been cleared medically, and now we are just awaiting visas before we can fly out.

Right now we are just enjoying our last few days with family, Brian and Thomas are treasuring their last rounds of golf, and we are trying to prepare ourselves spiritually for what lies ahead.  God has placed us in a beautiful cabin in the middle of no where, with no internet, and I am sure it is for our good.  We have been able to spend so much more time in the word and in prayer without the distraction of the world wide web.  He is getting us ready, filling us up, reminding us that He never leaves us and that He goes before us. He always has and He always will.  He is faithful.  We are stepping back into a situation we haven't been in since we first hit the field 7 years ago. We are going to be without teammates in our town, and we just don't know what life is going to look like.  But we know that God does.  He will give us vision. He will give us the strength to obey Him every day. His love alone compels us, and His love is from everlasting to everlasting.


Mandi's song echos our heart.   "Go tell the friends and go tell the folks, my heart is torn but it's time I go cause these feet of mine were made for foreign shores.... I'm gonna let it shine."

Mandi Mapes | "Let It Shine" from AsiaStories on Vimeo.

Our Precious Dovers

It has almost been two years since we said 'goodbye'.  And a little over a month ago, we were able to say hello once again.  The day they rolled out of Ohrid with a very sick little boy, not one of us thought, this is goodbye forever. I know they didn't. And me? Well, I thought, they would be back in a few weeks or at most, a couple of months.  And then the phone call came.  It's cancer.  Our sweet Josiah was diagnosed with luekemia. We were broken.

If you have ever lived overseas for any amount of time, you know that the people you work with and minister with become your family. They become as close (sometimes even closer) than blood relatives. You do birthdays, holidays, church, prayer meetings, good days, and bad days together, all in one another's living rooms. Your kids become best friends. They see you at your best, in your element. And they see you at your very worst. They walk with you in the darkness. You fit together to form a brighter light than you could be alone.  You work with one another's strengths and show grace in one another's weaknesses.  They get you, and they get what you are about. You are knit together in the bond of the Holy Spirit, and people, there is no greater bond than that!  You are family. Everlasting family.

That is the relationship we had with the Dovers. It was deep. And when the word 'cancer' came, we were a world apart. We weren't there to hug their necks, hold their hands, sit with them, cry with them, pray with them.  We cried and prayed alone.  And it was almost 2 years before we would hug their necks and sit with them again.

Last month, by God's great provision, we were able to meet up with them and spend a few days catching up and loving on one another. It was wonderful, and for me it was very therapeutic. I was reminded how very much I love those Dovers! They are amazing people who love Jesus with all that they are.  They have been a picture of faith and perseverance in all that they have endured these last few years, and it is a pleasure to call them friends.  

Who says you can't turn a hot tub into a swimming pool?!  

Sweet Jennifer and me! LOVE her!

Thomas and Noah were just little guys when we said goodbye, but they reunited and became fast friends. They both share a love for rocks. What else do you need?

For those of you who have prayed for Josiah, thank you. He is doing good.  He has less than a year of treatment left. Praise the Lord. Continue to pray for them as they not only walk with Josiah through his battle, but as they walk with other families who have children with terminal illnesses in their new ministry role at Habit for Hope.  Pray that one day they will get a chance to come to Macedonia to say their goodbyes to all that they suddenly and unexpectedly had to leave behind.  And just because I know that God can do exceedingly more than I could ever think to ask or imagine, let's go ahead and pray big: pray that God would send them back to serve alongside us in a few years. :) It can't hurt to ask. :)

The Great American Fire-pit

One of my most favorite things to do is to sit around the campfire, eat yummy campfire food, and watch the sparks fly into the night sky. We got to introduce the kids to the wonders of the fire-pit last week while Brian's family from NJ was in town as we celebrated the freedoms we have in America and those who fought to secure those freedoms for us. 

Kate and Thomas loved it!

Brian got to play grill master. Hamburgers, hot dogs, delicious corn on the cob, and baked beans! YUM! YUM! YUM! YUM!

And after all of that goodness, Thomas and Kate got to make and eat their first real s'mores.  By "real" I mean s'mores that were not made over the stove-top's gas flame in our Macedonian apartment. By "real" I mean s'mores that were made with Hershey's chocolate and good old fashioned honey graham crackers. By "real" I mean the marshmallows weren't in limited supply and we could eat as much as we wanted!  

By "real" I mean marshmallows stuck on one end of a stick and shoved into the flames only to be charred on the outside and gooey on the inside. 

Macedonia, this is a s'more. Ooey, gooey, messy deliciousness, and you have got to try it!

And if you look closely, you can see the marshmallow mustache! Priceless!

It was super fun to introduce our kids to the great American past-time of the fire-pit and all the yummies that go with it.  

'God Bless America, land that I love!' 

So Much Fun

Spring is here, birds are chirping, sun is shining, grass is green and our kids are having a blast in our little neighborhood.  We live in a little culdesac of town homes near the school Brian is attending, and there are tons of kids everywhere. Kate and Thomas have made so many wonderful friends, and I have enjoyed the constant mommy fellowship, which is something I just don't have overseas. It has been wonderful and the Lord has used everyone of these people to bless us and love on us.  We are so thankful!

Yesterday, we celebrated Kate's half birthday. We aren't really those people who celebrate half birthdays, mainly because I forget them (see post below), but this year, we figured it was a great excuse to have some cupcakes and kill some time before Baby comes. Plus, we will be back overseas for her 6th birthday, so this was a way she could celebrate with her new friends in this neighborhood. She was so excited.  

Look at her being a good little Makedonka and serving all of her friends. :)

And as if any normal day playing in the big clean yard with all their new friends wasn't enough, one of the neighbors rolled out the hose and hooked up a sprinkler the other day. My kids were in heaven.  

The other night after I tucked in the kids and prayed with them, I was walking out of their room and Kate asked me to lay down with her. As I laid beside her and smelled her sweet bubblegum toothpaste breath, she told me about how much she loved living here and how much she loved all her friends here. I asked her if she was still excited about going back to Macedonia, thinking that I knew the answer.  Of course she wouldn't be now. She has fallen in love with having a yard and having friends constantly knocking on her door.  To my surprise she said, "Yeh. I still want to go back to Macedonia to live. But I am going to miss my friends here. It would be good to be able to be in both places. I wish we could do that."  God is good. He has given her such a deep love for Macedonia. It really is her home and I am so thankful that while it will be hard for her to say goodbyes in a few months, she has her heart set on home.  May it be a lesson to me.  

Stay-cation

Last week was spring break for Brian. We had planned on taking a short family vacation out to the western part of the state, but the weather was cold and icky out west. So we decided we would just "Stay-cate." It was so much fun and so good for all of us.

We started off at the Observation Deck at the international airport.  Thomas was amazed at all of the planes and I was amazed at all of the wealthy people boarding their private jets for a trip to what I am sure was some exotic vacation. Kate was fascinated for a little while, but her excitement wavered pretty quick. Thomas was thrilled at all of it the whole time. They have a great outside area with a playground and picnic tables. So we will have to go back once it warms up a little more.  

After the observation deck we grabbed some Bojangles (YUM!) and headed to a great park for a picnic and some hiking which was a blast.  Kate learned all about trail markers and had fun mapping out the way for us all around the park.  We were going to take the kids roller skating, but the place was closed to the general public, so we went bowling instead. We rounded out the day with DD donuts, and a movie at home in our pjs.  So fun!

The second day, we grabbed some breakfast in the car and headed downtown to the kids' museum, Marbles. It was fantastic! The kids had a ball, and Brian and I had a lot of fun too. There are tons of pictures of the festivities:

 Thomas was an ambulance driver.

 They were boat captains.

 Kate was the cutest fire-girl ever!

 They were big bad pirates.

They were architects and construction workers (Brian's favorite part).

This is her Rapunzel tower that she and Brian built.

 They were hockey players.

 They were carpenters.

 And gymnasts.

And so many other things! 

It was a blast and we will definitely be making a trip back before we head back overseas. After the museum, we headed to a different park to do some more hiking, although, there were no trails.  The kids had fun walking around the lake with Brian, finding hiking sticks and trying start a fire with two sticks.  They got some good smoke going, but it was a no-go on an actual fire.  

We took the kids to a pizza buffet for dinner, which thrilled them. As excited as Kate was about free refills on drinks, she was amazed that you could get free refills on pizza. She also found her new favorite pizza--Mac and Cheese pizza (Americans eat weird stuff).

We had so much fun enjoying each other, God's beautiful creation, and a little bit of America.

I Love To Tell the Story

This weekend we had the immense privilege of telling the story of our life in Macedonia.  Brian dressed up in his awesome old-school Macedonian garb, we set up our pictures and trinkets displaying the country, it's people, and culture, turned on some Macedonian background music, and told the story to every person that walked in our room.  Those people want to hear the story and yet, they have limited time and want to hear everyone else's story too, and so we get a small window of their time to tell our story.  This story can't be told in the three to five minute window that most people give you. How on earth can I tell of the culture and religion of our beloved Macedonia, of all the people we have met, of all the conversations we have had, of all the events we have hosted, of ALL that GOD has done... in less than five minutes???

But we try. We try to get it all in. We try to convey our love for those we have had the privilege to walk among for the last 7 years. We try to tell of the hopelessness and immense darkness. We try to explain the miracles we have seen and of all the ways God has glorified Himself. But we always feel like we walk away leaving so much out. I want to chase after people screaming, "I know you are busy, and you probably don't have time right now, but I forgot to tell you about... You've got to hear it all! The full story!"

The full story is beautiful, amazing, life-changing.  The full story is laced in the jewels of the gospel--the grace that changes lives. The full story will lead you to worship.

Were I to film a documentary on all that God has done to shine His light in Macedonia and of all that He has taught me in the process, it would take hours, and let's face it, it wouldn't be a worldwide premiere. There might be a few people outside of my momma who would buy their own copy.  Maybe???

I have a tendency to think no one really cares. I know that is a lie. People care. Those who sent us out and have welcomed us back--they care. Do they care as much as I thought they would? I don't know. What I do know is that it doesn't make my excitement waver. When I sit and think about the story of the last 7 years, a story that started long long before I gave my life to Christ, a story God has been writing since the beginning of time, a story He let me have the privilege of being a part of, I am overwhelmed with fullness of joy, excitement, emotion. If you will look into my world and listen, if you will walk those streets with me and just listen, if you will just sit awhile, have a little Turkish coffee and listen, you will hear grace, mercy, love, a journey of faith, and together we will worship the Creator and Giver of all these things.

I still love to tell the story of Jesus and his love- it extends to me and it extends to Macedonia. And so if you run into me with a Macedonian display in the background, or if you run into me in the cereal aisle, just know I have a beautiful story to tell.  If you know my Jesus, then you probably do too.

'I Love To Tell the Story'

Arabella K. Hankey

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;

I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true,

It satisfies my longings as nothing else would do.

Refrain:

I love to tell the story,

’Twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story, more wonderful it seems

Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams;

I love to tell the story, it did so much for me,

And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story, ’tis pleasant to repeat,

What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet;

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;

And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,

’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

Fascinated

The kiddos have been super funny as they have experienced America for the first time in their lives.  Kate's last trip to these ole United States was when she was two years old, and Thomas was a whopping two months old the last time he saw American soil.  At that point, they couldn't comprehend the differences between Macedonia and America. They lived the last three years in a second culture, hearing a second language on a regular basis. Kate learned another language, went to Macedonian preschool, sang their songs, danced their dances and played their games.

Kate's last day in Macedonian preschool before we left.

Kate and Thomas knew mommy as the only Sunday school teacher they ever had, and their Sunday school class was, well, their bedroom.  They knew "church" as the time on Sundays when everyone piles into our house and daddy teaches them about Jesus while mommy wrangles all the kids in the next room.  Church, among TONS of other things, is different in America. In Macedonia, ketchup tastes different, pizza comes with an extra sauce, water often has bubbles in it, kids' meals don't exist, playgrounds are virtually non-existent, cheese is only white. In Macedonia, we eat a lot of cabbage and potatoes and grocery stores have only... food. The grocery store, along with everything else was within walking distance, and we walked everywhere. It was all they knew.  It was normal and comfortable.

To say they have been fascinated by some things in America would be an understatement.  The first little while we were here, they were wide-eyed everywhere we went. Some of their observations being:

• We go everywhere in a car. "People in America don't walk."
• "Grocery stores are huge."
• Walmart and Target blow them away!  "The carts are GIGANTIC!" And they all look the exact same.  Thomas always thinks we are in the Target by our house even if we are hours away. Poor guy always thinks home must be the next stop.
• Free refills had Kate flabbergasted! "You can drink as much as you want, and then go back for more!"  
• "Gas stations are like restaurants and mini-markets and grocery stores all with gas." My eldest thinks Sheetz is the coolest place on earth. Bless!
• "There are real firetrucks here." We have to slow down and wave at every firetruck we see.  Thomas is convinced policemen and firemen are the heroes of the world and they save us from ALL the bad guys! I love it!
• "Church is SO big! And we have teachers that sing and teachers that talk and teachers that play." They love going to "school" on Sundays.  

This is poor Thomas getting over jet-lag. He was passed out like this for hours while all his cousins ran around him wide-open.  

The kiddos with their Granna and Poppa after celebrating Christmas American style.

Kate and her grandma doing their favorite thing together--baking. 

Grandpa teaches Thomas all about the game of golf.

We are so thankful for this time for them to experience American culture and to spend precious time with family. They have lots of friends to play with right outside our door. There is Sunday school (aka SummitKids) to reinforce what mommy and daddy have been teaching them at home (LOVE it!). And they have fallen in love with Chick-Fil-A chicken (the playground may have something to do with it). :) You know, the important things in life. 
But Kate misses her Macedonian friends.  She said "Why does everyone at daddy's school and everyone at my school know about Jesus, but my friends in Macedonian don't know about Jesus?"  We explained that no one had told her friends in Macedonia yet and that is why God wanted us to live there.  She said, "We have to pray for them and go back and I will show them my new Bible and I will tell them about Jesus."  I love her heart, and I love that God is making her ready to get back 'home' to boldly tell others about the love of Jesus.

Kate with two of her best friends in Macedonia. Be praying for all those kiddos that Kate loves and misses so much!

Reverse Culture Shock

If you haven't figured it out yet, we are back in America.  Our stateside assignment started the end of December which means we made it back to the states just in time to enjoy Christmas with our families, which was wonderful!!!  We have been back a little over a month and within that month we have been able to check out almost every one of our favorite American restaurants, hit up the clearance racks (how I have missed thee), see a couple of movies, worship with our body of believers several times (So incredibly wonderful!!!), enjoy the bounty of the superstore, and go through reverse culture shock.

Every time I think about it, I laugh at myself. I made it about 6 days before culture shock smacked me in the face and had me in tears.  Brian was sick, and I had gone out to navigate these wide, well-marked roads in search of the key to the apartment where we would be staying and food-- an easy enough task, right?! But that day, I might as well have been foraging through the New World with an axe in hand on the back of a donkey trying to find my way through the desert in search of food, water and shelter. I was a mess. At one point I had to call my dad to figure out how to start the van we are driving.  I couldn't get the key out of the ignition. I couldn't turn the ignition. I couldn't do anything.  My daddy asked me what seemed like an overwhelming amount of questions about the steering wheel and tried to comfort me with a story about this same thing happening to my 80 year old grandmother once. I'm not senile... Turns out, all I had to do was put the car in park and then everything worked just fine.  Good grief.  I laughed it off as a "blonde" moment, got off the phone and fussed about this country being so doggone complicated.  The van doors open with buttons, and they didn't seem to want to work for me that day.  Had I forgotten how to push a simple button in order get the results I wanted?!  I pushed the buttons. I tried brute strength, aka pull the door as hard as you can. It wouldn't move.... About the time I started to call my dad to ask him what I knew would turn out to be an obvious answer, the thing worked, and I was able to close the door and head on my way.  I was beginning to hate this land of the free. I didn't feel free. I was enslaved to a mini-van door.  I just wanted to go back to the land of "I (basically) know how everything works..."

And then came the journey for food.  The grocery store kind of made me want to throw up.  While I was excited about loading cheddar cheese, peanut butter and soft sliced bread into my cart, I couldn't seem to come up with an answer as to why there are 492 different boxes of cereal and 847 different variations of food... for dogs???  Once I got my groceries loaded in the car, and managed to get the car door shut, I thought I was deserving of some Chick-fil-A.  So, in hopes of returning to a bit of sanity and reminding myself why I do love this country, I headed for some yummy Christian chicken.  It didn't work.  I missed my Macedonia and no amount of chicken, waffle fries, or free refills was going to make it better.  It was time to get on a plane and head back home.  I called Brian in tears. Bless his sick little heart. He talked me down and managed to make part of his sick day a counseling session for his crazy wife. I made it through that day and the next. And I am happy to say that while I still have no idea why there are 847 variations of dog food and while I still have hard time in the cereal aisle, I can get the doors open on the mini-van on the first try almost every time and most days, I remember to put the car in park before I turn off the car.  I do love my America, but my heart still longs for Macedonia, the simple!

Reverse culture shock is no joke, people. It is painful and lonely much like the culture shock you go through on the other side of the pond, but in my estimation, it can be worse.  Reverse culture shock has you going in, well, reverse. The language, cultural taboos, greetings, slang, pop culture, etc., are all new or in some cases old, and you have to rewind and learn or relearn them or risk looking like a fool in front of your own people.  Overseas, you can chalk up your silly cultural blunders to the fact that you are a foreigner.  In America, not so much. You don't look like a foreigner, you don't talk like a foreigner.  So why on earth would you take your shoes off at someone's door and kiss them three times on both cheeks when you meet them???  Cause it cultural... somewhere.
It was the sheer grace of God that got me through culture shock overseas and sustained me there every day, and it is the grace of God that gets me through reverse culture shock and sustains me here as well.   I need thee every hour, O precious Lord...

For my colleagues and fellow expatriates out there here's a little navigational guide for reentry into what we once called home:
1. Check your expectations at customs. That basically sums it up, but if you want specifics, read on...
2. America is busy, therefore Americans are busy. They will have to work you into their schedule, and after about a week, you will have to do the same. Don't be offended or hurt. It's just how things operate around here.
3. You will need a calendar and you will need to actually use it. Deep breaths everyone.
4. If texting isn't your main form of communication, you will need to figure it out and quick.
5. You will get laughed at.  That sense of humor that got you through language school and cultural learning overseas will need to be back in full swing over here.  You must laugh at yourself.
6.  Church will overwhelm you. It may overwhelm you in a different way than it did me.  Our church is large and wonderful, tons of people, and yet little interaction with anyone on Sunday mornings.  Coming from house church where everyone just sits around and loves on one another for hours after worship, this was hard for me, which leads me to my next point...
7. Plug into a small group or SS class.  Our small group is wonderful and that is where we have found community and fellowship. It is a must!
8. The temptation to judge and be critical is huge. Don't give in.  Give grace.  Share truth, humbly and in love.
9. Do something fun.  Show your kids and remind yourself the great fun that can be had in America. Go see a movie, enjoy some over-priced coffee and doughnuts, go play with all the new toys at Best Buy and in the toy aisle at Walmart, sing the national anthem at the top of your lungs, go to a ball game, walk around a park, spend some precious time with extended family and take lots of pictures of the festivities. Just enjoy yourself.
10. Remember home is heaven.  Home isn't here or there.  Home is upward.  The longing that can't be satisfied overseas or upon return isn't meant to be. It will only be satisfied when we are with our Jesus, face to face in heaven.  We know this. We preach it, and yet, we can so quickly forget it.

Stay-tuned for the kids' perspective on America, and let us know if you want to get together. We are here till the summer and we would LOVE to meet up for a coffee!

Love Across the Blue

Kate just got a special little package all her own from a little girl about her same.  The little girl is a GA from Waxahachie, Texas, and she and her class of GAs decided to love on girls like Kate from across the world.  She made a beautiful little bracelet for Kate, wrote her a letter and drew her a beautiful picture.  What a special gift of love to our sweet Kate! Thank you for loving on our baby girl! She is thrilled!

Thank You!

When we get packages from the states, it's like Christmas all over again. The kids get so excited to pull the little slip of paper out of our tiny little mail slot in our building that says, "You have a package." We are so grateful to those of you who have recently sent us a package. 

A very special group of people from Georgia sent us a wonderful package with some yummies, a tumbler just for me (It had an "M" on it, and I LOVE it), and some special little things for the kiddos. Thanks guys!  

Another group of people, whom we have never even met before packed up a great box full of American chocolate, stuffed animals and other toys for our babies, and other goodies for us.  They shipped it all the way from Lake Mead Baptist Church in Nevada. WOW! We are still enjoying the chocolate and the kids love their goodies. Blessings!

Our parents are all the time throwing money at the post office workers and confusing the new employees when they say they want to mail a package to Macedonia (most people don't know where that is).  We are so grateful for all the fun little thoughtful things we find in those.  

Those precious Dovers even packed up a couple of boxes of fun things for us and the kids.  LOVE!

Another group of precious people from Philadelphia Baptist Church in Connelleys Springs, NC sent us 4 boxes, that's right FOUR boxes of goodies (most of which are not on my diet, but I have decided that American calories don't count over here).  PEANUT BUTTER, giant jars of peanut butter, and gold fish, and mixes and cookie dough bites and on and on and on... What a tremendous blessing! 

It is more than a box of goodies from home. It is the reminder that even though we are far far away and can sometimes feel very disconnected from a body of believers, we are remembered.  People do care. People are thinking about us and praying for us. It is not fun to feel forgotten.  It is tremendous to know you are both remembered and loved by people you know and also by some you have never even met. Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE the Body of Christ?!  Thank you all for blessing our hearts and the hearts of our kids by taking some time, spending some (ok, a lot of) money just to say "We care and we've got your back."  We are so beyond grateful!

Pics from America

My momma and daddy made me a basket of goodies for my arrival. She also had white chocolate covered strawberries, sausage balls, and other yummies for me to enjoy.

My sweet BFF and me at her bachelorette party.

Amanda made all the bridesmaids shirts with our nicknames on them.  We were showing them off.

Bridesmaids!!!

Luta boy is a cuntry boy through and through.  He and all his groomsmen wore cut off plaid shirts for the rehearsal.  "You might be a redneck if..." ;0)

One of the most beautiful moments in the ceremony. A few of the pastors that have been really influential in the couple's life gathered around them for prayer.

My daddy and me at the reception.

My dad-in-law dressed to impress... Luther at the wedding. So great!!!! 

My sis and me. I was showing off my boots. :)

My dad making one of my favorite things in the whole wide world--his famous BBQ chicken.  YUM!!!

Check that goodness out!!!  

My sweet nieces and me. They are so beautiful!

I got home and Kate and I compared "bling."

I brought Brian a chicken filet biscuit with seasoned fries from America. Taste of goodness!