Thursday, October 7, 2010

Catalyst Catch Up...

Brent, Kevin, Veresa, and I are at Catalyst.
We are in the Compassion Sky Box. Which has been super fun and waaaay more comfortable;).
On top of that we have been treated to the XP3 tent which means no standing in huge long lines for food, and fellowship with other Student Pastors.
I'll try to leave a few of my favorite quotes on here if I can remember them (I mean I did sit there for 11 hrs.).
I left my notes in the car along with my SIX new free t-shirts! :)
Who can resist a swag bag full of freebies?
The worship leaders have included the most incredible talent: Aaron Keyes, Eddie Kirkland, Kristina Fincher, Carlos Whitaker, John Mark McMillan, and many others.
The speakers this year have just been anointed and aren't here for "shock" value but for the VALUE of truth.
The social injustice issues have been tear jerking and MOTIVATING!
From a former night club owner realizing God's call on his life and raising millions for clean water around the world, to a woman rescuing girls taken in to the sex trafficking industry....it has truly been humbling.
FYI-An estimated 17,000 people, primarily women and children, are trafficked to the U.S. annually. Atlanta is a huge hub for sex trafficking.


Quotes of the day:
"If what you say about your God is true, why didn't you come sooner?"-A girl rescued from Sex Trafficking

"It's not about where you are called but WHO you are called to. Be prepared to follow God not the Ministry."-Beth Moore

"Because if you read in the book of Acts that someone switched churches because someone was a better. communicator or music style or getting in a fight with one person, we say that person’s an idiot."-Francis Chan

"Do we (Christians) just look at the Bible and say, "Oh, I don't have to take this stuff literally. It's for someone else."-Francis Chan

"I can’t name two people who have lost their ministry because of bad theology, but we can name countless people who have lost it because of their inability to manage their appetite."-Andy Stanley



"There are opportunities you should never take advantage of because they’re going to pull you away from what God has called you to. There are places you should not go just because they’re bigger and better.  You’re going to get there and realize you never should have gone because they’re bigger and messier, not better."-Andy Stanley


"Self loathing is just as selfish and prideful as self loving"-Beth Moore 


"Pride is the graveyard of all good leaders. Insecurity is the psych ward."-Beth Moore


The scriptures are NUMEROUS and I will post them on a later blog! :)
To bed I go.....Learning and growing come early in the morn!
Missing my gals, but loving time with the most incredible man.
The cutest one in plaid.
Yes. 
In a see of Student Pastors there is a lot of Lumber Jack plaid.
You can tell the Lead Pastors by their kaki tucked in shirts, and worship leaders by their tight pants/Froto Baggins Hair/excessive use of black and gray;).




-Excuse any typos...learning comes at a price;).

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Unleash the Momma Beast

After going to see the wonderful Robert Garren play soccer tonight The Metcalfs headed on over to our beloved 
Chick-fil-A. 
Don't roll your eyes. It's family night. That means free food!
 We went to the one in Hville bc it was closer to where we were. 
Well, much to the girls dismay they didn't have a cow or balloon fairy like the one on Hville Road. 
It was close to bed time, but we gave in and let them play on the play ground. 
The place was packed and there were two eight year old boys who could have passed for sumo wrestlers dominating the play ground. 
These two clowns were tripping each other, screaming in each other's faces, and shoving...the works.
As Brent and I sat there and observed the obnoxious behavior Brent said, "I'm getting ready to talk to these guys if it continues".
It continued.
I was stewing on the inside.
After one of them let a big yell to the little girls climbing up the stairs...
It came out.
"HEY.
GUYS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU TALK AT HOME, BUT AT MY HOUSE WE DON'T SPEAK LIKE THAT. AND YOU MOST DEFINITELY WILL NOT SPEAK THAT WAY IN FRONT OF MY CHILDREN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
The momma bear was unleashed.
Realizing that my hand was all up in attitude, I put it down and turned to Brent.
His mouth was wide open.
Not nearly as wide as the two has-been-bullies.
Where it came from I have no idea.
I am usually very laid back when other kids are misbehaving around us, and take on the whole "kids will be kids" attitude, bc it most certainly could be my kids acting crazy one day.
But something inside me just said, "ENOUGH!" with these two jokers.
Those tough guys were so terrified that they were in the corner devising a plan to come over and get their shoes with out unleashing the beast again.
I am pretty sure I have never heard Brent horse laugh the way he did walking back to the car.
"I was just gonna politely ask them to hold it down a bit", he said.
Promising myself I would never be one of those griping over protective moms just didn't do the trick I guess.


Thursday, September 16, 2010

A PICKIN' WE WILL GO....
We picked apples.
They were a wee bit excited.
So off we went down the hill....
Nana came along.
Mommy is smart and doesn't take on a task like this with out her;).
PS- She has lost 40lbs.
GO NANNA!!!!
It was a PERFECT day for picking.
The sun was spectacular and the temperature was delightful.
Nana taught us how to feed grass to the goats.
Then thirty minutes later at the end of their fence...
we found a food dispenser.
Oh well, the grass was free.
The goats liked it.
Marley Ruth wanted to be the momma as always.
Picking on the hills made us look like we needed to drink a little V8.
She's sitting so pretty for just soaking her Dora underwear while walking down the bamboo path near the goats.
"Hey, mom! I'm peeing!"
Great.
And...
guess who didn't bring the diaper bag w/extra undies?
Oh well.
Good thing she wore a dress.
And nothing ends a day of apple picking better than fresh apple juice and an applesauce donut.
Mmmm....
(or your mom and Nana making you pose for the camera and the 6 old woman watching;)

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

LABOR OF LOVE
I love my parents.
Bruce and Donna are unique that's for sure.
They are both incredibly hard workers.
I'm not sure what happened to me, but we'll keep that for another post.
Mom has been teaching me to sew this year, and dad has been busy as always rebuilding cars.
For years I ignored their talents and didn't spend the time I should have learning from them.
Now, I have decided to soak up this time with them and learn.
Life is a vapor.
Right?
Dad asked me to take some pictures of "Marley Ruth's" car (the Camero) and his Malibu SS.
Enjoy :)....
Yes, my mom has a bear shirt from Wyoming.
I can't control her people.
"Marley Ruth's car"...
right.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

ROAD TRIP!
Here are some tid bits from our trip down to good old Myrtle Beach.
baby on the breathing treatments :(.
don't feel too bad for her.
she likes them.
druggie.
we stopped at moe's.
cause it is vacation.
right?
a train came and ruined brent's short cut.
he's thrilled.
thank you little einstein's and veggie tales for making our trip a quiet one:).

Sunday, July 25, 2010

SUNDAY SNOTS
It is Sunday.
They are sick, but oh so cute.
Looking at them helps me forget that I missed out on playing outside, listening to my favorite song being sung for the first time at worship, and going to church.
BUT, I praise Him for these precious ones.
We are all together in this little cottage.
Snotty noses and all.
A Sunday nap for Dad.
FB donning a snotty nose, orange marker face, glasses, and THE pocket book that they fought over ALL day.
"But mom, when you're sick you HAVE to watch cartoons!"
So I let them,
bc of that stupid pocket book.
Who can teach sharing and reason with two grumpy sisters?
Frankly, they were just too cute.
Look at that mullet, glasses, chubby thighs, and her hand me down onesie that Jessie bought MR!
So so sweet.
Praise doesn't just happen at church.
I'm prompted to praise when I look at these three faces.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

EIGHT AND TEN
Eight years ago I walked down the aisle to marry Brent Metcalf.
I have NEVER regretted that choice.
Can I just tell you how wonderful my husband is?
While at the beach with 80 students, after one of the sessions, he surprised me with a dozen roses.
He called me up and embarrassed the crap out of me.
I even cried.
Yep.
I cried.
One of the MANY reasons I married him was his love for students, and his desire to tell them that they have hope in Christ.
I can't think of a better place to receive roses
(okay, maybe on a remote tropical island w/ just the two of us;).
For 10 years we have been at BCC.
Over 95% of the leaders that were in that room have been students in the youth ministry.
We now call them friends and fellow partners in ministry.
These students knew me before I was known as "Mommy" to two little gals.
We were available to them 24/7.
Now that we have our girls as our first priority these students are filling in the gaps along with some other INCREDIBLE leaders.
These leaders busted their rear ends and loved on students even when they were exhausted. They rarely saw each other on this trip.
The college leaders were able to experience what we felt when they were in the ministry.
They were overjoyed when their students grew, scared when they couldn't find a student, overwhelmed with the details of a trip, blown away by "teen issues", and united when Christ revealed Himself to the body.
They maybe the best collective group of leaders we have ever taken in terms of working as a team and doing relational ministry!
(and that is saying a lot!)
Sound, lighting, videos, pictures, decorating, recreation, finances, food, and counseling are just a few of the things these leaders did.
I hold high hopes for the MS/HS students that went on this trip.
I hope they grow in their faith and become a true reflection of the King.
Also, I pray they grow into students who dig into God's word and have the opportunity to lead my girls in the Truth one day.
I pray for a heritage rooted in The Word.
(We know even our best efforts are worthless.
This can't happen apart from Christ)
I am blessed to be in a marriage that is unified in purpose and that my husband is at a church that allows Him to practice Incarnational Ministry.
Happy Anniversary Honey!
10 years of Student Ministry
AND
most importantly....
8 YEARS OF LIVING WITH MY BEST FRIEND!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Free Vacation? Yes Please.
Bruce and Donna offered a free vacation to the girls and me while Brent was in the Dominican.
Who am I to refuse a free vacation?
We are HUGE and I mean HUGE fans of the OBX. I have been there almost every summer of my life. We needed a change.
Since we have seen many of the lighthouses there we decided that we would go to the Cape Fear coast for the fist time and check it out. Kure beach was where our condo was located right beside Fort Fisher. We were at the very tip of Pleasure Island. It was alright, but definitely no OBX.
When we got there we were under the impression we would have wi-fi....
nope.
It turned out to be one of the best things for me. I knew I needed a retreat and got it, even if it was unplanned.
Being disconnected from church, friends, and other distractions was such a relief in a way.
Even though all of those things are good, nothing compares to the extra time sitting silent, reading, and allowing God to readjust some things in my life.
I'm thankful for my parents allowing us to go. It allowed some great conversations with my dad which is always a great thing. Vacation is never the same with out Brent though!
See? This is how we feel when Brent is gone.
Oh. The aquarium. I'm makeup-less, in air conditioner, and still sweating. Precious post child birth hormones.
The Board walk at Carolina Beach.
Marley Ruth was kind of like Sarah Dupree.
She couldn't move she was so over whelmed with excitement.
Her first big girl ride.
The first time mom's heart stopped.
Be still my heart.
Farrah Blake would run straight into the waves, even if it meant getting beat down by the waves.
She made me a nervous wreck.
Marley Ruth (I know you're shocked) ran the ENTIRE time.
She chased every seagull in sight, rolled around in the sand, and begged to stay in the water even when we were taken under.
Scott L. always says Farrah Blake looks drunk in her pics. The above of MR shows she is not alone :).
You have no idea how thankful I am for that yellow bucket.
This is one of few where Marley Ruth is still enough for a pic.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Marley Ruth
Marley Ruth turned four and had her first dance recital all in the same week.
Her recital was precious and I was actually quite shocked that she did so well during her ballet number!
Tap?
Not so much.
Let's face it.
The only reason kids like tap is because of the annoying shoes.