Thursday, January 17, 2019

Our Story

To get this blog started off, I thought I would introduce myself and my family in a little more detail than the first post.  For instance, Greg and I have been married for 13-1/2 years now and have three beautiful and wacky kids who put up with us, most of the time anyway.

It all began....::cue cheesy love music:: when two VERY young Christians caught each other's gaze across the piano in the college gospel choir and they lived happily ever after....::record screech!!!:: Okay, maybe there were some other things in between, but you get the idea.  We met in college in the gospel choir, got married two weeks after Greg graduated with his bachelor's in psychology, we bought our first home together two years later, then came the kids!

The Big Kid

No, not the one on the left, silly....



This is our first born, Benjamin David.  He goes by Benji. Not Ben or Benny. Sometimes Benj, sometimes Wenj. NEVER Ben. Just try him. This year he's in fifth grade, he joined the school band, playing percussion and he joined the wrestling team to add that to his love of sports.  He also plays soccer and loves to watch NFL football (finally!!!).

He's a kind, gentle, goofy soul that will help you when you ask, although sometimes it's begrudgingly....what fifth grader DOESN'T drag his feet to do the dishes or walk his sister to the bathroom at a                restaurant??  

He's also very excited to serve on his first mission trip to Monterrey Mexico this summer with mom and dad and a group of people from the States.  He has a great work ethic and I can't wait to see him dive right in and learn something about himself, God, and another culture on this trip!







The Middle Kid/Goofball/Batman


This is Josiah - he'll also answer to Jo, Jo-boy, Boo, or Bub.  He is his mother's child, that's for sure.  Full of sarcasm, wit, goofball tendencies, anxious, impulsive, intelligent, and sweet just for starters.  He will surprise you on a daily basis if you take the time to get to know this seemingly quiet kid.  

He has been a comedian since he could utter words and forever has idolized Pig Pen from Charlie Brown (without even knowing it) as you can always tell where he has been!  

He's in third grade this year and has stuck to playing soccer since he was barely 5 and he was hands-down the best player on his team these past couple of seasons, it's been so great to watch him develop as a player and a teammate.


The Girl

There is only one Calah Joy in this world.  She is sweet, sassy, helpful, anxious, ambitious, dramatic and super cuddly all rolled into one - and then some, but I only have so much room here :)


Our baby is in first grade this year and she has been playing soccer for two years now and is loving it.  This year, she was brave enough to try goalie when her brothers won't even go near it!  

She's intelligent, loves to read, loves to play with friends and just be with people overall.  She is also very intuitive and can tell when you're not feeling well or when you're upset and will always try to comfort you.





And last but not least, the parents....


Well, this was definitely more than 2 years ago....13+ years ago as a matter of fact.  We have been together for close to 17 years (half of Greg's life!) and have been through many challenges in that time but also good times as a family and ministry partners and we are looking forward to what God continues to teach us and how He will continue to use us for His Kingdom.

01/04/2019

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Welcome!

Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico 11/2018

Well hello there! Welcome to our first blog post of this brand new 'Travel Blog' we're doing.  I say that in quotes really because this blog serves several purposes, not just documenting our travel!  I am so glad you are here, following along with our journey in this next season of ministry and life. So, what IS this blog for anyway?? I'm glad you asked :)


1. Our Family
First of all, this blog will follow along the adventures of our family which consists of Erin (the writer!), Greg and our three kids, Benji, Josiah, and Calah Joy!  Here's a sneak peak at our family  but if you read this blog for any amount of time, you'll get to know us pretty well ;-)


2. God's Kingdom Work
We are a ministry family.  That has looked different depending on the year that you met us! We have done ministry ranging from junior high to college to children's ministry to music and worship ministry to local and international missions.  I believe that God has put missions back in the forefront of my mind and heart this past year, so as I pray through what that looks like, would you pray too?  I am excited to be visiting Monterrey, Mexico again very soon and am praying that my entire family can come back with me this summer. Will you pray for that trip as well as consider supporting us financially? This will be a huge trip for our family and Greg and I are both very hopeful to show our kids what it looks like to be Jesus to others in this way.


3.  Travel Blog
Alright, travel IS part of this as well! As part of my rekindled love for missions, I have started to truly see the beauty of God's creation in both nature and His people.  Not to mention exploring new foods and a new language, espanol!  I've always been an extreme extrovert who loves meeting new people and exploring new places, so I'm hoping to share my travel shenanigans with you here as well!


Empty seat next to me, whaaaa???
My traveling companions :)

Descending into Monterrey!