The newest addition to my garden!

Can you see him???

Jon named him Curtis. He is living in my Burning Bush plant in the front yard. I noticed him while I was shaping the bush today. He started calling out to his frog friend across the street, who mimicked his call. Wonder what else I'll find this year!

I've come that they may have life...

...and have it to the full. ~ John 10:10

I've always loved that verse, mostly because I believe it. I believe that the time Jon & I just spent with 2 of our most favorite people is what Jesus means by life to the full.

Yesterday Martin & Jani B showed up at our house around 9am and we headed to Kansas City. Since we've been gone so much this spring, we've been missing our friends.

We went to the zoo and got rained on! But we saw some lots of animals and an IMAX movie on the Deep Sea.



Jani & I resting in Australia


A sweet little koala


A meek lion


A lazy tiger


Jon & I in front of the roos!

To the Plaza for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and shopping at the Apple Store, Gap, Barnes & Noble and Restoration Hardware. To the Comfort Suites (thank you Choice Hotels points) for laughter in the hot tub and a long night's sleep. To the Pier 1 Clearance Store for a new coffee table for the Bravenboer's, and finally the Independence Center for more shopping.


I'm incredibly thankful for our true friends. We were realizing on the way home that this time last year all four of us were traveling with Believe, and we never would have imagined that one year later our lives would look completely different; all four of us making job transitions, but still living in Joplin.

Thank you, Martin & Jani, for sharing life with us. I can hardly wait to see how God will allow us to live life to the fullest during this next year.
We love you!

Wow.

I feel like life has been flying by too quickly.

I have 3 days left of full-time employment at CIY. We've just finished the 5 busiest weeks ever. I'm not even sure life has existed outside of a CIY van or venue. It's been awesome, but everyone in our Conference department is exhausted...and summer is almost here!!

This past weekend was the last Jr High Believe of the tour, and my last CIY event. As Johnny said, it was too busy to be emotional. Thank you, Lord. I was surrounded by some of my most favorite people who have become my closest friends.

It was all very bittersweet, as Jon & I are letting go of a huge part of who we've become. Everyone has been so kind to me, encouraging me and loving on me. I can't say how incredibly thankful I am that God has allowed us to stay at CIY. Our hearts are here. And I'm so excited for Jon's opportunities. Today, more than ever, I feel God's hand heavy on CIY. Sometimes He prunes and sometimes He allows fruit to flourish. In both cases He is at work, and I'm overwhelmed.

We've been so busy that I've hardly had to time to think about how much our lives are changing. I'm trying to get through all of my self-created to-do lists at work before Monday, while trying to not be overwhelmed by a huge to-do list I've started at home.

I'm excited about what my future holds. I'm praying hard that God will help me find my place in a real world that I've never really known here. I want to rest. But I don't want to get so comfortable and used to being at home that I miss out on actualizing the passions that God is developing in me.

What I do know is that my yard needs a lot of work. The grass is already too tall and it's been raining for 2 days! At least I know I won't be bored!!!