Dec 17

Hi, this is Melanie! Something interesting happened this weekend, y’all. No, Perky’s not engaged or anything, but during her wonderful SURPRISE visit to me I discovered that she has quite a handsome admirer!!!!!!!

Perky went to the H’s bonfire on Saturday with us. We walked in the door and little Neal H. (who is almost 3 years old) just about tackled my friend with smiles and shouts of “PERKY!!” Apparently at Family Camp Little Neal had decided he really liked her. He was ecstatic when he heard she was coming to the bonfire! From 3pm-10pm, he followed (or dragged) her everywhere, talked with her, ate her dinner, and cried when he couldn’t find her among the crowds of people. Later we heard about the following conversation he had with his mother while he was getting his pjs on:

Mama: Perky’s a nice lady, isn’t she?
Neal: Mama, she’s not a lady, she’s a gurrl…
Mama: Ohhh…
Neal: …and Mama, I wuv her.

Neal’s mama said to Perky, “You’d just have to wait a few more years!!”

Here are pictures of the happy couple… :-D


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To see a super-short-video of the cute-little-man, click the link below!
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Dec 15
*happy sigh*
icon2 Life and Times | icon4 December 15th, 2007| icon31 Comment »

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Oct 21

I’ve been planning on posting pictures and thoughts from Family Camp all week. And – at last – here I am. This particular event is particularly hard to post about. Some things are just too huge or amazing to capture in a post. :-P

Father did a mighty work in the planning and carrying out of Family Camp! Words are not enough to express it. But here…I’ll list the 10,000 reasons why I love the International ALERT Academy’s Family Camp (for the sake of your time, I’ll abbreviate)

1. The “campers” – all 1,200 of them

78. The feel of FAMILY

142. The adorable kiddos

390. The mass quantity of bicycles that invade the campus – by the hundreds

654. The energy

995. The music

1,356. The craziness behind the scenes

2,413. The peace behind the scenes

3,594. Everyone that I work with – and others – coming together for one great cause

4,631. The goofiness

6,787. The discovery that I really do work with some of the BEST people on Earth

7,847. The stars that come out at night

9,002. The smiles and hugs of friends

10,000. The fact that you can plan and think and imagine – AND STILL – Father God blows your socks off and surprises you with His creativity and goodness

For those of you new to Family Camp, our theme this year was “The Tabernacle”. IAA brought in a full-size recreation of the Old Testament Tabernacle and conducted a biblical times living history (complete with crafts, games, foods, costumes, demonstrations…). In keeping with Family Camp tradition, Lew Sterrett did an amazing job out at the corral teaching using the visual of horses. And there were enough activities and tournaments at other times to keep things “hopping”. Alrighty..Here are some pics!

Lew’s horse gets registered…

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Capt. Mandreger: Keeping things safe and secure on campus :) …

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People I am honored and delighted to work along side…

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The ALERT way of relieving a head ache…. ;)

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My dear friend Sharon – She’s meant SO MUCH to me since I arrived here in Big Sandy!

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I think they are making the “b” in rabies. If Brett K ever tells you about his squirrel bite, immediately find ME so that I can tell you my version of the story… :)

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Me and the ENTIRE IAA Graphic Arts Dept….

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Co-workers come in so handy!…

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Friends…

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Me and my girl…

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Here’s loving FAMILY!!!!…

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Sharon keeping things running smoothly in the campground..

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Cassie and Cole….sweetness!…

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Kerzdenn K. tells (and invents as he goes) the story of the Red Riding Hood (me) and the Bid Bad Wolf (Josh). It turned out to be QUITE the unusual version :) ….
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Grace learns the proper way to take flight…

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Jon… (so glad you came, Jon. It was a treat just seeing you around!)

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Shayna working the Tower…

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Scenes from Living History…

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Jumping Jehoshua!!!… :)

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Battle scene… Trust me – it was QUITE the event :) …

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Me and My Mel…

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SO…there you have it. Wish you ALL could have been here!!!! I praise the Lord for bringing me here to ALERT (and it IS “bring”, J – because He brought me here and is still at my side)! I am honored to work alongside such faithful and joyful people – staff, volunteers, and battalion. Words cannot tell you how precious the people and environment here are. Thank You, Lord!

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Father is doing amazing things! If you’d like to join our team, call me! 903.636.2000 ext 2271 :)

Loving Texas, IAA, and being in the center of His will…

Sarah

Sep 22

My Father is SO faithful! He put together the perfect team to reach out at Calvary Baptist in Gladewater last Wednesday night! I am amazed at His goodness! AND praise Him for providing the crew pictured below!

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Meet Aaron, Sam, Me, Josh, Kevin, Brooke, Cherith, and Grace! These guys are the bestest!!! Thanks y’all for everything!

His strength is made perfect in our weakness. To God be the Glory!!!!!!

Wow! We had an amazing night! I wish y’all could’ve been there! The Lord did a truly beautiful work! We all left SOO excited! :-)

We’ll be at Calvary again this coming Wednesday (with a couple of changes in our crew) – prayers appreciated!!!!! :-)

Sep 16

They say that “home is where the heart is.” Well, I’ve given my heart to Jesus – so wherever He is, is my Home. That said…….There is no place like HOME.

For the next week and half or so, my home is at the Col. and Mrs. Tanner’s. They are out of town for their son’s wedding in D.C., so I am official house sitter, dog sitter, and hummingbird feeder filler.

World, meet Tasha: My foster dog. Actually, I am more of the “foster” since I moved into her house. :) She and I are getting along quite well. We haven’t run into any trouble. Well, ok except for last night. I locked myself and Tasha out of the house. Yup, there she and I were with no way in…I needed a key (mine was inside). Made a couple of calls to potential rescuers – but all I got were answering machines :-P Fortunately, of all people, my own brother-in-law had a key. I think he’ll remind me of this incident for the rest of my life. So…one weekend down…a ways to go (Note to self: Check the knob before you pull the door behind you.)

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Following a really tough week (tough from every direction, it seems), this has been such a nice weekend! Friday night, my department here at ALERT went to Olive Garden for a little time together away from the office. Capt. Herring’s warning was basically that anyone to mention work would die. :) We had a great time…One day I need to introduce y’all to the people I work with. They are all so great! We have fun. God is building a super team! Here is a not-so-great shot of most of us from Camps and Conferences…

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Yesterday morning, I went to the Rotary Club’s waffle breakfast. T’was fun and delicious t’boot. After that Catherine, Savannah, and I shopped. Wow, that was so nice. Just being together, doing something girly and sisterly, not having to hurry or have a point, was just like…like…perfect. Thanks for the sweet afternoon, Cat! Love you oodles!

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Last night, after I was let back into the Tanner’s house, Chris, Cat, and Savannie-Annie came over to watch a movie. :) Sometimes, doing nothingness is grandness :)

‘Bout lunchtime today, I headed to Longview – bound for a grande, raspberry (1/2 pump, please) mocha, extra shot frappachino. Lately, I have been having in my bones to travel a new way to get to a known place. So far, I have done quite well braving back highways rather than the standard Hwy 80 to get to Longview. There is just something about getting in my little car, driving down a new road, riding its curves and hills, feeling the sunshine or the breeze…Does my spirit good. :) Even if I am only going to Walmart or back to ALERT.

So that’s what I did today…took a new road…Next thing I knew, I was in Gilmer. Which isn’t exactly on the way to Longview :-P, but the drive was lovely…And I bought I map there… :) Lord, thank You for sunshine, breezes, and rolling Texas countryside. Thank You for little roads hidden below a canopy of green trees. Thank You for the way the sunshine peeks through on those roads and then bursts out on the other side.

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There is something exciting about a new road, a new scene, a new patch of sky, a new ray of sunshine that has never touched my face before. There is something about me that loves to think BIG things, beyond what I can see with my own eyes. To believe in great things happening because I serve a Great God. To HOPE, because HE IS.

The other day, I had a funny conversation with one of the guys here on campus. In case y’all don’t know it, I am slightly visionary and optimistic. :) In talking with this guy (who is…well…great…but different from me :) ), I was explaining that it is not good to get stuck in a rut – that we must be faithful where we are, but keeping looking ahead and moving forward. I quoted to him, “A rut is nothing more than a grave with both ends kicked out.” He said, “Yes, or a ‘path well travelled leading to a sure destination.'” Sigh – I have my work cut out for me. :)

The next few weeks are gonna be FULL. The last weeks already have been. :) This coming Wednesday and next Wednesday, I am organizing children’s programs at Calvary Baptist in Gladewater. The plan is to do a CI-style large group each night – making it last an hour and half. Funny doing something like this without having CI folks around me – Guys, I miss ya!!!!!!!!! :(

I’ve talked to a few folks on campus who’ll be helping me and am trusting the Lord to do something glorious! Prayers appreciated!!! Lord-willing, I’ll have Aaron Miller (a cool guy here who has great personality), Grace Moulton (sweet gal with the heart of a world changer – I can see it in her face), Josh Wychopen (a dear friend who loves the Lord and loves people), Cherith Hendrich (very sweet and joyful, I am looking forward to working with her), and Kerzdenn Kowalchuk (great guy, friend of Jorgie’s, who I’m hoping- hoping-hoping can come and tell the Captain of My Ship story)

Y’all things have been SOOOOO busy – with work, living, and everything else. I am ready for a vacation!

Family Camp is just around the corner – and that corner is coming at me faster that I would like! :-O We are planning for about 1,400 people this year – exciting stuff! I am a bit overwhelmed and very excited all at same time. Father is doing AMAZING THINGS!

Ok, I think I have this post out of my system :) Hmmm…I’d rather if it were a “sit-down-over-a-warm-cup-of-joe-with-each-of-you-one-at-a-time” visit. But alas…..SO, here’s me thinking that y’all should all come visit :) How about tomorrow? Ok? Ok. :)

So, what is the Lord working in you? What have you been up to? How is your heart?

Lord, encourage my friends and family, I pray. May they sense Your Presence, know the delight of Your Countenance, and have their “socks-blown-off” by a realization of Your Love.

May HE be your Home…

Have I mentioned that I love this little gal…She amazes me :) Is “Little O” cute or what?? :)

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