We are here.

We are here in beautiful Minneapolis, Minnesota helping Antioch Community Church minister through outreach and other projects. Antioch is a wonderful church plant that is a lot like Fellowship (our church).

Here are some facts about the Twin Cities:
-there are more than 3 million people in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas
-over 300,000 gay/lesbian and transgender people
-extremely large wiccan influence
-the largest Somali population in the world other than in Somalia
-less than 5% evangelical

The point is...these people are in need of Christ. We are here as THE CHURCH (the body of Christ) to help Antioch Community Church spread the gospel. It's not easy, but the people of Antioch have begun to build relationships with people in the surrounding areas in order to share the love of Christ.

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. -John Piper on the supremacy of God in missions.

By the way, I am tired and I miss my girl. But, this experience is worth it. I know that God is using our time here to show us that people, right here in the states, are completely lost and in desperate need of Him. Please continue to pray for us and the people of Minneapolis.

I'll take the Cons

I haven't had much going on in the last couple of days that is blog worthy. However, I have been going through some pregnancy cons! I am coming close to the end of my first trimester, but I'm still feeling yuck! When I was pregnant with Ava Grace, I was not nauseous and I felt beautiful--healthy hair and clear complexion. This pregnancy has been quite the opposite. I am nauseous all day and I look awful. It is the weirdest thing...I always feel hungry. The kind of hunger that makes your mouth water and stomach growl. Then after I eat, I feel as if I am going to vomit, but never do. I have even lost a couple of pounds. I know that I only need about 300 extra calories a day, so when is this feeling of hunger and nausea going to end? I have found one item that has really helped tame my nausea--Preggie Pops.
Doesn't the pregnant woman on the package crack you up? I know I feel like walking in a meadow while looking like a pregnant Anne of Green Gables!

Anyway, do any of you moms have some advice? I'll take it! Were your pregnancies completely different?

My little gymast

For the summer, Ava Grace is taking gymnastics. Graham gave this to me as a gift for Mother's Day and I have been so excited to go and see Ava Grace in action. She absolutely loves it! We took so many pictures that I had to make collages to get them all in.

Thanks, Graham. We had a blast!

Ava's Birthday Party

Instead of a birthday party, Ava Grace is getting a new swing set. We are so excited for her to have something to play on in the backyard. She loves to swing and climb. So, this is the perfect gift for her. Since we have several family members helping to make her dreams come true, I wanted to post a picture of the actual swing set we bought tonight.

Uncle Corey

On Monday, Graham's brother came to visit us. Among other things, Corey is a fabulous writer, photographer, harmonica player, teacher, and blogger. With him, he brought his camera and some cool toys for Miss Ava. She loved her new harmonica that he gave her and I loved the great shots he captured of my little girl. Please check out one of my favorite blogs, Say Cheese? A blog of sorts, to read a little bit more about Corey and his time in Arkansas. Trust me, it is much more interesting than this blog.

Good day for the park

There was such a nice breeze today which made the park a lot of fun!

Only Because We Have To...

Because Ava Grace climbed out of her bed, we were forced to turn her baby bed into a toddler bed. I am nervous to see how she will handle the change.

Ava Grace's News

Ava Grace is happy to announce that she will be a a big sister around January 24, 2010.

This is how we told the news to our family a few weeks ago:\ I set up a blog and had them look at the pictures of AG in her new shirt. It took some of the fam a while to figure it out...I won't name names!

Long story short, we wanted to wait a little bit longer to spill the news.  We did not tell our news that we were expecting Ava Grace until we were 10 weeks along and heard her little heart beat. We had planned to do the same with this little one, but the news leaked. It's okay though--it is exciting news! We are so excited and still a little nervous, considering I'm only 7 weeks or so. Please keep us in your prayers!

Here is the proof. I took a blood test at the clinic plus this test to confirm that I am, in fact, pregnant!

And so it begins...

I heard a loud boom at nap time followed by an even louder scream. I ran into AG's room to see her laying on the floor! Oh my goodness! I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to see her figuring that one out. By the way, she was not injured and now she is happily reading books on the couch and NOT napping. Mission accomplished!