Moving update

Several large decisions have to be made before the move up north (currently and tentatively scheduled for early/mid August). One of such decisions is where to live. Thankfully, we have been blessed with friends who are leaving a wonderful apartment. (Thanks Drew and Meg for finding it first!) It is a great place that will be very close to the school.

Most of all, I'm grateful that Holly doesn't have to look at hundreds of apartment listings anymore.

Traffic update #2

CRACKUP REPORTER: Jennie Stencel, an improv comic, was hired six months ago to do traffic reports. (Journal photo by Lauren Carroll)

So, my friend sends me an email today linked to an article from our city newspaper. It's all about traffic girl! Check it out.

After reading this, I retract my previous statements. Anyone who can laugh at herself is allowed to be awarded Traffic Reporter of the Year!

Summertime!

Summer fun with our First Pres friends! We realized that we don't have a ton of pictures of our Winston-Salem friends. So, our mission before we leave is to get snapshots of their lovely faces!

Father's Day fun

Yep. There they are. Two of my favorite men doing one of my favorite activities in one of my favorite places. Justin and Dad. On a boat ride. At Smith Mountain Lake. How fun!

You did what?

Holly told me about this, but I just found a picture. I'm fairly certain that this billboard has nothing to do with the "Don't make me come down there"-type billboard campaign.

Erwin

I just listened to Erwin McManus on his podcast  Thought I’d write down this quote that I couldn’t help rewinding and making sure I heard it correctly.  If this is true, then it affirms something in my heart that is almost impossible to ever put in to words:

“[Our church is] not trying to advance the cause of Christianity…we don’t have a long term strategy.  Local churches come and go.  Institutions are just remnants of movements. The moment we’re no longer about people and alive in God’s spirit…as long as we’re not a fresh gift to humanity…we don’t need to exist.  We don’t’ deserve to exist.”  --Erwin McManus, May 28, 2006

In memory of

This has been a hard week. Our family lost our special grandfather. My "Papaw" (as we called him) was beautiful. I remember his laugh, his smell (Old Spice + sawdust + ?), his affection for the Atlanta Braves. When I was younger, all the men in my family would go fishing. Whatever we caught, he would fry. I was never a big fan of fried trout, but for some reason I would give anything to sit with him and enjoy the latest catch.

Read his obituary or enjoy this short video/slideshow that honors his life.

All day

Yep. This is what they do... all...day...long. Looking at chipmunks, rabbits, people jogging. It's a non-stop, action-packed life.