March happenings....

So...here are a few pics from Battle of the Bands @ UAFS!!! Our youth worship team, "ONE WAY" submitted a recording to be chosen to compete in the battle of the bands. Out of 19 only 9 were chosen...and they made it! I was sooooooo proud of them!!! They are practicing and giving so much of their time to be their best to bring glory to God! It was a great learning experience for them...first time to ever play outside of the church. Now...they may be playing at a fundraiser/benefit sometime in April, and they are going to be our worship team for camp! They are ages 15-19. I love these guys! :)

Ok...so here are some newer pics of Noah!!! He's such a sweetie!!! He has really brought a lot of joy into our lives! He is such a "part" of all of us now...can't imagine life without the sweet boy! Enjoy!!!

Ok...so we took the youth to Young Christian's Weekend @ Silver Dollar City in Branson this past weekend!!!! We had such a GREAT time...despite the CrAzY weather! :) We got to see Leeland & KUTLESS in concert on Sunday! They were AWESOME!!! We got there Friday evening, checked into the hotel and went to eat dinner...then just back to the hotel...where of course, craziness & prank calls occurred! haha :) (nothing ever changes in youth groups!) Saturday we got up (it had rained that night)...so I'm thinking, "ok, good the rain came last night instead of today." Well...right when we got in the vans to head to SDC, it began to rain. But...we braved the weather!!! We were determined to see Kutless! So, we got to the park, took a bus up to the front...where then I told the group to get under some shelter and I would go get the tickets/arm bands. I stood in line (very short line...thank goodness!!!), paid and got my packet which included the tickets/armbands. So...I find the group, open the packet AND there are no armbands!!! Ok...I'll go stand in line (in the rain!!!) again and get the armbands. Of course when I go back...the line is much longer! Oh well! We finally get in, give the instructions of when and where to meet and send them on there way to try and find a ride that is actually open! Oh...did I mention it's below 40 degrees at this point! So...we are wet & freezing!!! haha :) But...like I said, we were determined to see Kutless!!! (and some of the kids actually braved a water ride!!!) The concert is at 3...at 2:30 we were a rumor...Kutless is snowed in at the airport and won't make it today (saturday)! So...we search for the TRUTH!!! Nope :( not a rumor! So...we left the park and went back to the hotel...oh and at this point...it was SNOWING!!! By Sunday it was dry and cold...but then warmed up and we actually all got red sunburned faces! And we got to see KUTLESS!!!! Even though it was CRAZY weather...we had a GREAT time!!! That's the great thing about teenagers....doesn't take much to entertain! :) Hope you enjoy some pics!


Kutless...

Leeland....

Crazy times in the hotel...

Sleepover!!!

We had our "annual" CrossTraining Girls Sleepover this past weekend!!! :) It was a blast! We did that while the boys had their own party...video game tournament night...which they loved! We had tons of food, High School Musical 1 & 3, HSM dvd board game, learned HSM dances, did facials & make-up, and just acted like crazy teenage girls!!! :) GOOD TIMES!!! Well...here are a few pics from the night...ENJOY!!!


They did my make-up...OH DEAR!!!

I did their make-up!!! hehe :)

FACIALS!!!

Learning HSM dances!!!

Watching High School Musical

Time for about 2 hours of sleep...

BREAKFAST....yummy!!! Pancakes & Sausage

Ok...so I work at an Animal Hospital. So...of course I love animals!!!! I wanted to share a little bit about my own animals. :) And...I posted a few pics, so you would have faces with the names. First...there's "Mama Cat". She is the old gray one. We have had her since I was like 8 or 9 years old...I don't even know. (she was a stray) All I know is she is OOOOLLLLDDD!!!! :) She was an outside only cat forever and you couldn't touch her, but all of a sudden one day she walked in the house (you still couldn't touch her). Now....she can't get enough love and attention! She's a sweety!

Then there's Tabby....the dark orange (outside) cat. He came to us about a year ago as a stray and is the most laid back, gentle, loving, BIG, cat we've ever had. Notice...he's in pictures with Chip...my doggie :) They were BEST BUDS!!!! They even slept in Chip's dog house together. My Chippie....he was my baby!!! It started out a little rough around here with Chip (haha), but we all grew to love him so much! I got Chip when I was 12 years old. He was suppose to be an inside dog, but that only lasted about a year....after he destroyed our carpet and brand new doors! He was always in trouble, so we decided he HAD to go outside!!! So...dad had a very large pen built. Well...we soon realized that Chip LOVED to dig and HATED to be outside away from all of us! So...we put a stake in the ground in the middle of his pen and connected a tether to it and he could reach all around the pen, but couldn't dig out...so we thought! The first night it stormed...reallllly bad!!! (Did I mention...Chip HATES storms!!!) Next thing you know, Chip had managed to pull the stake out of the ground, dig under the fence, and was barking/scratching at one of the back doors. We didn't know what we were going to do!!! Well...after a while, we finally "rigged" something up, and Chip fell in love with the outdoors! :) He never liked storms...we had to give him Benadryl...haha! But...he LOVED the snow!!! (have some pics below) Chip was my sweet baby, my Chippie, Chip-A-Roonie, the Chipster! He always greeted us with a bark, a wagging tail, and so much excitement! He loved his home. His face was very expressive. All you had to do was look at his eyes and know what he was feeling. :) We had to put Chip down back in January...he would have been 13 this April. He lived a long happy life. I miss him every day, but am so happy to have had him those 12 years, and wouldn't trade it for anything!
I LOVE YOU CHIPPIE!!!

Ok...so on to Cecil aka Cecil the Weasel!!! 3 words...HE IS CRAZY!!! hahahaha :) We found him at the church in a flower bed about 1 1/2 years ago. Dad brought him home...so, naturally I'm thinking we are keeping him. I get home and dad says...we'll try to find him a good home. I'm like excuse me???? So...needless to say...he's still here! He is always into EVERYTHING!!! He climbs and jumps on everything....Christmas was crazy, the tree looked horrible after he got through with it!!! (no joke!!!) But....I love him! :) Not sure about everyone else...but I do! It's funny...it's kinda like Chip....started out rough, but I'm sure everyone will grow to love him. I plan on having him around for a long time!

Ok...so that's all about my animals!!! Sorry, if this bored you...but I love them...they are my babies!!! :) So...enjoy the pics!

Chip & Tabby...BEST BUDS!!!



Me & Chip playing in the snow...

Mama Cat & Cecil

The Chipster :)

Tabby...I love this pic!

Mama & Cecil

Cecil....his first day at the Brown's

I told you...HE'S CRAZY!!!

Here we go!

My nephew...Noah :)



Teen Camp (below)

Kids Camp (below)

Well...I am now entering the "blogging" world!!! aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!

I'll just start by telling you a little about myself. I am the Youth Pastor at my church. I've been doing that for....going on 5 years. It has been the BEST thing for me! I love those teenagers...yes, I said I love teenagers!!! haha Anyway...you know all the activities that you loved doing in youth group? Well...now I'm an adult and I still get to go on the youth trips! How could it get better than that??? Right now is a very busy time for the youth group....we have the Girls Sleepover, Boys Video Game Tournament, Young Christians' Weekend @ Silver Dollar City, Prayer nights once a month followed by some kind of activity, and the best event of the year....CAMP!!!!!! We have been doing our own camp for 3 years now, this year will be our 4th. We do Kids (1st-6th grade) at the 1st of the week, and teens the 2nd part of the week. It is soooooo much fun and relaxing!!! Yes...I said camp was relaxing!!! It is on an "group campground" with old wooden or stone cabins, a "mess" hall, old tabernacle with wooden pews, softball field, volleyball, hiking, swimming (lake/pool), canoeing, kayaking, paddle boating, etc. I love it! I could live out there! Oh, and one of the best things is....NO CELL PHONE SERVICE!!! So peaceful! Ok, ok...enough about camp. I also work at an Animal Hospital. Let's just say...there is never a dull moment! I never know what I'm going to see when I go to work each day. It's a great atmosphere and I love the people I work with. I've been there about a year now...wow...I can't believe it's been that long.

Well...a little bit about my family. THEY ARE THE BEST!!! My mom and dad are the best parents anyone could ever ask for!!! I have wonderful siblings: one sister and 2 brothers. And one sister-in-law. Oh...and did I mention my nephew, Noah!!! He's a sweety!!! I love him sooooo much!!! And oh no...he's not spoiled at all! (yeah right!)

Well...I guess that's a little bit about myself. I've posted some random pics from "my world."