VBS!

What do you get when you mix Atlanta and Athens churches together for an awesome weekend? VBS retreat!

hungry for a bite of casserole?

I have a new role model: Anne Mansfield Sullivan. She is the coolest. Hellen Keller is from Tuscumbia, AL which is only 1 hour away from Athens. So, we went to see her birth place and watched a live play of "The Miracle Worker"...Anne being the one working the miracles. Since the play, I have been fascinated by the whole concept of language, discovery, and senses. I'm now reading Helen Keller's autobiography, and it is phenomenal the way she experienced life. In most ways, she "saw" much better than me. Anne is extraordinary in that she not only brought Helen into an entire new world through "tactile signing" (sign language felt in the hand), but she remained Helen's constant teacher and companion.....for the rest of her life. Wow. That kind of dedication is truly inspiring.

Here is me trying out tactile signing. I know all the letters, but it was still hard!

Then, on the way home from BASIC bible study, Jessica/Amber/Myself discovered a sunflower field. The pictures are the only way to minutely represent the awesomeness of it all:

Not only to stand tall.....but to stand when alone: that is true courage:

Baseball players aren't the only ones who like sunflower seeds:

Patiently waiting to burst forth into full bloom....not unlike a teenager awaiting the chance to embrace adulthood:

 

Can you find me?

 

We also went to an 8 year old's birthday party, and it was fun and wet:)

At Dreamland BBQ, they cook the ribs in front of you. It was tasty...and messy;)

For the 4th of July, there was much to do: volleyball, BAGGO tournament, sparklers, fireworks, etc, etc:

 

-God bless you and shine His face down on you-

It's hot here

Bamber and Jean sporting the "breakfast club" shirts. I have one too:) Wanna join the club? Wal-Mart. 7$.

Amber stayed with me all weekend, and we had a lot of fun. We even played monopoly......which......I lost so badly at as evidenced by the disproportionate property distribution seen below:

We also ate at Casa Blanca for Ros and Liv's birthday. It was fun and tasty:

Welp, it's confirmed that my brother Zach has stage 4 colon cancer. He starts chemo Tuesday to shrink the tumor before surgery and help with the pain. Average life expectancy for stage 4 cancer is 2.5 years. He's 27 now. Seems tragic, but God knows best. And I think I really trust Him on this one. You can learn more by checking their blog. It's on the right if you wanna check it out. 

Ryan texted me something that I think CS Lewis hit on the nose: God whispers through our pleasures, but trials are His megaphone to yell at us:)