Monday, September 29, 2008

F.O.A.

When I was eleven, my family moved to a ministry called Friends of Alcoholics, a Christian drug and alcohol rehabilitation center just outside Jackson, Mississippi. God had brought us there to be a part of this ministry, and He used my dad's experience to help them rebuild their main building, which was also the dormitories for the men who were a part of the program. We lived on the grounds, nextdoor to where the men in F.O.A.'s two-month program stayed.
Aaron's parents had already been ministering there for 13 years when we arrived. Actually, they lived on the other side of the men's' housing facility. He had lived there since he was two years old, and though I was older than that when I came, I still would say that we both grew up there. (I have pictures, but I can't get to them right now, maybe a future post?)

FOA is an amazing ministry, its focus is teaching the gospel of Christ to all who come through it's doors. Recognizing addiction as what it is, bondage to sin. Showing the way of freedom from all sin through salvation Christ and the new life one has in Him. And spending the necessary time teaching them, and living in front of them, and with them, the life of a Christian growing and maturing in his faith.

Aaron and I are so grateful for the unique experience we had growing up there, being a part of that ministry as children, then adults, and then even as fellow ministers (when we took our youth group there for a missions trip).

At F.O.A. I learned that these men are just that-men. They are dealing with a sin issue, as we are all. Their sin, addiction to drugs and alcohol, has affected their lives, their families, their future, as has mine and your sin. A difference can be seen in some of the consequences of their sin, but I think the biggest difference is not that their sin is worse than mine, but that my sin struggles are not as visible as theirs are.

Aaron and I (and our siblings, and now even our nieces) have grown up with these men; our families have befriended and cared about them. As much as we have ministered, we have been ministered to. Since I have been a part of F.O.A., it has also been my experience that everyone has loved someone that has, at one time or another, dealt with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. This is really something that affects us all, our culture, our families, our lives. The battle with drugs and alcohol is worldwide, just as the struggle with sin is.

All this to say, this weekend is Friends of Alcoholic's 50th Open House. We are going to drive down and be a part of this special time! So please pray for us on our trip, and for the time there. I will put something up here when we get back!

Friday, September 19, 2008

HaHaHaHa

How funny! A great picture of the Papa John's delivery guy in the Taco Bell drive through. I guess at some point even I could tired of pizza-but it is still funny! Haha.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Grandpa's fish!

For those of you who remember my dad's amazing catch-
here is what it looks like mounted in his dining room!
Very Cool.

Genesis 1:1

Luke as "Ninja-boy"! Ninja-boy says his verse a bit...different. haha.

(anybody notice he left off the word, "created"? yeah, he does that-we can't seem to get that one word!

Okay, that should have me all caught up! whew.

Another Video!

Another video of Luke saying the books of the Old Testament-nearly flawless and without any helps! Good job Luke! If you want to see how he has improved, click here to see the last video of him saying the OT.

Amazing Video of Luke

This is a video of Luke singing Jesus Loves Me, we only got the last two verses, but its still great! Enjoy!

New stuff

Recent winner of the sweetest Luke picture (lately) award:
Our thanks to Aaron, who took the amazing shot.

Luke loves his "cars on tv" and he loves his bath...

a combination is the perfect idea!


Learning our colors

look, two green, then two orange!
Great job Luke!

My Menfolk

Don't they look so handsome?! I just HAD to share.



And! I get another one of these guys in January! ;)

Labor Day

At the park in Oswego on Labor Day!





Its always fun to explore a new park, we may have to go back to this one!

Buddies

A few cute pictures of Luke and his friend-also named Luke!


Aren't they adorable??

Our Visit to Texas, Part 6

The Wedding!

My brother Cody, and my sister-in-law Courtney's wedding in Pearland, Texas.
This was actually the reason we went to Texas, but we turned it into a big, fun, family vacation as well! These are all the pictures I have right now, but I am hoping to have more in the future!
Enjoy the pictures of their special day.

Sibling pic: Cody, Amanda & Brittany!





Sunday, September 14, 2008

Our Visit to Texas, Part 5

THE HOUSTON ZOO!
a cute baby giraffe
Luke, Tre, and my cousin Hayley with my dad (and a seal); Luke and Tre in an eagle's nest!
Tre with a fish-is that Nemo?

Luke and Hayley, Tre and Amanda: being Prairedogs!

see the fishes?
My Aunt Julie and her daughter Hayley spotting the monkeys;
The Jenkins family

All the menfolk
sweet hug by the boys;
Addy is already bored. :D

Tre and Amanda "doing the iguana"
My men! that is a baby giraffe-VERY TALL!
Good smile from Addy

My parents with Hayley;
a baby elephant learning to play with the ball

Luke and Tre watching the seals
My dad buying out the Zoo's gift shop;
Tre and Luke testing out some of the toys
I love my new camera!
A good picture of all of at the zoo exists, but I don't have a copy of it yet-it was good though-take my word for it. We had lots of fun and then that afternoon we got ready for the wedding! Part 6 (the final section) coming soon!

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