Swing That Bat And Bust That Ball!

Mom, remember chanting that at Lou & Aaron's baseball games? I can't remember the rest of the words, but that phrase just jumped into my head.

We went to a Norfolk Tides game last month. The whole Johns Family went - remember the Father/Son Wiffle Ball Tournament? This was their prize for winning. We chose this particular game because the Tides were playing the Toledo Mud Hens - The Tigers' Farm team. It was a good game and the Mud Hens won!

Here we are on our way. Cai stayed home with the babysitters and Katie & Sean met us there.
The gang at the game.

The Newlyweds! We love you!!

Of course Kris and the boys had to have treats - - Funnel Cakes, again!!!

I love this picture of Trevor using Grandpa's binoculars to watch the game. So sweet!

At the end of the game the boys were able to run the bases. They thought that was really cool. My pictures didn't turn out so great - sorry.

Revive '07

Revive is a conference that our church went to along with 4 other SGM churches in our area. It was a weekend of excellent teaching and fellowship! The topics we covered were reconcilliation, adoption and being Christ's ambassadors. All the messages are available for free download. If interested just visit sgconline.org and look for the link.



We met a really cool couple that was visiting the conference (not members of a SGM church). It was very fun getting to know them and our kids had a great time with theirs. How cool that God put them in our dorm!

Aunt Katie kept Cai for the weekend, if you are wondering where he is in the pictures. What a blessing this was for me! (Though I missed him).

Here is my favorite Revive picture.




Anderson on his way to class - in previous years he was too young. His favorite part of class was getting to go into the gym where there were lots of balloons to play with.

Ryan, Trevor and Riley after class. Ryan's favorite part about Revive was singing Your Love and eating breakfast at the cafeteria! Trevor doesn't know his - "well actually, it was night class".

Grandma and Grandpa stayed in the dorm with us, to help out. We are so blessed! The boys loved sleeping in their room. Here Anderson is telling them about his class, while eating breakfast in the cafeteria.

Ryan LOVES french toast and here he is eating his fourth piece!

One of the highlights was talking after meals with our friends!

Here are some of the ladies fellowshipping in our dorm.

Glamarama and the Peruvian Princess :)

My friends Amy and Sarah. OK - there were several key highlights and one of them was sitting in the dorm (late at night) reading out loud "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards, with several friends from care group - these ladies included. If you have never read it, I highly recommend it! It is a true reality check on what we truly deserve and where we would be/are without God's saving mercy and Christ's great sacrifice on the cross. Check out "Considering Lillies" below.

Kris, Jonathan, Rob, Jason and John - friends and care group members.

The love of my life!

"He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." May your life be lived for Him who died for YOU!

Happy Forta Jewel Eye!

Back where we's come from that's how you say, "Happy Fourth of July!"

Sorry I didn't get these posted sooner, but we have been out of town this weekend. Before I post our pictures from Revive '07 I wanted to share these! We went to the parade on the fourth, it went right in front of our friends' house. They live in South Norfolk and it felt like home - very small town feel.

Here is Anderson and Nate.

Ryan

Cai

Kris, the boys, Rob, Riley and I all walked to the Chesapeake City Park to watch the fireworks. Here's the older kids walking.

THE FIREWORKS WERE AMAZING. The best this small town girl has EVER seen!!! We sat literally 200 yards from where they were launching the fireworks. The fireworks were exploding right over our heads. We sat and watched while eating our kettle corn and funnel cake. (Kris couldn't resist the smell). It was a beautiful summer night - actually cool, another reminder of home :) Such a fun, memorable night!

Here's the backs of Trevor and Kris' heads, to show you how close we were.

Riley, Anderson and Ryan standing and watching the fireworks.

I am so thankful for the blessing of freedom. What a dear gift we have because of so many people who have served our country through the years. Thank you! And most of all Thanks be to God in heaven from whom all blessings flow!

No Big Bellies, No Infants, No Fearful Swimmers - - No, Not This Summer!

The Rowlands have a wonderul community pool and they are so kind as to invite us to join them. Lauren and I have been taking the kids there for several years, now. We have had very pregnant summers, new born summers, fearful swimmer summers, but this year has been by far the BEST. Why? No big bellies, no infants, no fearful swimmers, in fact we have enjoyed the pool ourselves this summer. We actually got in and swam during adult swim - a fun memory of this year. But my favorite memory of all the years, by far happened almost three years ago after one of our pool days, Lauren gave birth to their baby, Eowyn - just hours after!

Anyway here are some pics from our days this summer. Our goal is to go once a week and so far we have done just that! All of their favorite thing to do this year is to jump off the side. Last week I took the big kids to the deep end and we all jumped in, but unfortunately I didn't have the camera :(

Here's T:

Avril:

Ryan:

Lauren holding Cai while I take the pictures.

The little swimmers in the kiddie pool.

The gang eating lunch.

We have been going to the pool a lot this summer, so watch for more pictures coming this week from our other friends' pools. And I have been getting better at timing the "jumping shots".

MOM AND DAD JOHNS CELEBRATE THEIR 35th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!

Last Saturday we took Mom and Dad out for their anniversary (on their anniversary). We, being their children - Katie & Sean, Matt, Kris & Amanda. They had never been to PF Chang's, so that is where we went.

Here they are downtown Pembroke.


A little kiss - how sweet !

Their first taste of lettuce wraps - yum!

The whole gang outside of the restaurant.

Mom and Dad thank you for your excellent example of marriage that you have demonstrated to each of us through the years. Thank you for your humility and pursuit of sanctification that you emulate. Thank you for the COUNTLESS and I do mean COUNTLESS ways that you serve us. Thank your for your prayers for each of us. We are so thankful to God for YOU!!!