when at the lake.

Because you can't go to the lake without doing a little tubing, of course. Can I get an "amen"?

sugar pie, honey bunch.

I love my nephew, yes, I do! I mean, seriously, just look at that handsome face. How could you not love him? I, also, loved being his go-to-gal this weekend. He took care of Aunt Anna's every need, and my heart is still skipping beats!

sunset cruise.

The Bargerons went to Lake Greenwood to celebrate Independence Day this year, and it was, as usual, such a blessed time. Teesh and I only stayed for one night, and the sunset that we arrived to was enough to stop us all in our tracks right where we stood. Candie + Trent + Teesh + me hopped in the boat for a little tour of the water at dusk, and we certainly were not disappointed. The still of the evening was overwhelming in the best way, so much so that I drifted off into dreamland wishing that every night could be just like this one. 

"Take refuge in silence."

-Ramana Maharshi

the sixth of july.

Today is a day that will be filled with both tears of sorrow + tears of joy. Two years ago, my brother-in-law was killed in a motorcycle accident. A-Dub was a man of few words, but whenever he opened his mouth, the usual thing to follow was laughter from everyone around. It doesn't seem real that seven hundred and thirty days have passed since he breathed his last breath, and sometimes I still find myself wondering why it happened at all. Those moments of questioning are always answered by the confidence in God that I have been granted access to through Jesus Christ, and His grace has been + will remain sufficient for even my deepest doubt and despair. The struggle has been hard for so many these past two years, but it has been so refreshing to see eyes begin to light up with thankfulness instead of mourning whenever Andy's name is mentioned. Sure, we all still mourn, each in our unique ways, but we have all been learning how to be more intentional with our time + with the people who mean the most to us through the loss of our beloved family member + friend.

That dreadful July night was filled with a lot of things many of us had never experienced before, and I never thought I would ever look back on the sixth of July without feeling the heaviness of despair. That all changed last year, only one year later, when my mighty, merciful God showed me, yet again, how great + good He is when my little brother, Dustin, after years of wanting nothing to do with "religion" or "God" sat on my couch and prayed with me with a sincere heart for the very first time. The previous two months before his confession were overwhelmed with satan's schemes, but they were no match for the Author + Perfecter of our faith. It was then, on the same day that I never imagined I would ever be thankful for, that Dustin confessed Jesus as Lord and became a follower of the risen Savior, Christ Jesus. Once again, my Father took the ashes and made something beautiful from them. Once again, my Father showed me that no matter how hopeless a situation seems, He is bigger + more powerful than them all.

There are still many people that I pray salvation over throughout each day, and though it gets rather exhausting to be faithful in those prayers (especially when my eyes behold such little fruit), I am constantly reminded by my God that it's worth it. The tears I cry are always wiped away by the One who loves me enough to cover me with His feathers + protect me from every single lie that the enemy tries to get me to believe. Yes, death is hard, but praise be to Him who declared that death no longer has a hold on us. Because of Jesus + His love for us, our bodies will experience death, but our souls, the souls of His sons + daughters, never will.

On this day, a day that our God has replaced hopelessness with hopefulness in just two years' time, my prayer is that more eyes will be unveiled + more voices will cry out to the God of salvation in repentance. I believe that the King of Heaven can take your ashes and make them beautiful, just as He did for Dustin just last year. Do you believe it?

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved."

-Ephesians 2:4-5

hands + feet.

Today, a group of men + women from Capstone Church will begin their two-day journey to Port-de-Paix, Haiti for a week of loving on the precious kiddos at Hope Vision Ministry. For some, this will be their first experience, and for others, it will be like returning to their home-away-from-home. There will be nerves, as there usually is, but there will be much more excitement + thrill as they eagerly await all the hugs + love they will be giving + receiving over this next week.

I invite you to join with me in praying over this group of obedient followers of Christ as they go where they are being led by our great God. I ask you to join together with me and many others as one voice in the presence of the Lord to ask for favor + mercy + changed lives + transformed hearts in both the ones leaving today + the ones they are going to be with. Our God loves to hear our voices crying out to Him, and it is my prayer that some voices He hasn't heard in a while, or maybe ever, would be lifted to Him in confidence + trust. In meekness + humility.

May we come together to lift up TJ Bargeron + Sarah Dukes + Katee Marlar + Lindsay Marlar + Cameron Bagwell + Chuck Bishop + CJ Bishop to the feet of the One who is enthroned on high in majesty + splendor. May we not delay in making our requests known before our Father. As Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

May the Kingdom of God come like rain + may the faces of all the ones the church is preparing to serve shine like the sun.

baby maddox.

Sunday afternoon was such a sweet time as we celebrated the upcoming arrival of baby Maddox + his adorable mommy-to-be, Stephanie. When a group of ladies get together, you know there will be plenty of chatter, and I'm blessed to be a part of a community in which the chatter is a joy to be a part of. We all loved showering the Haltiwanger Wolfpack, and I know I speak for the whole crowd when I say that we can't wait to meet their precious bundle of cuteness soon!

"There is such a special sweetness being able to participate in creation."

-Pamela S. Nadav

table rock | year three.

Our family tradition of hiking once a month has been quite successful, and we've been blessed to have numerous friends + family members accompany us on many of our trips. This trip, in particular, is always the toughest one we make all year, but it's also our favorite one, because this is where it all began. On June 23rd, 2012, the Bargerons took up another hobby, and Table Rock was the place we started. Last year, we did it again, and this year, we had the pleasure of trekking alongside of the Stanfords as we celebrated our second anniversary of being on the trails.

The clouds provided a nice overcast for us, but the humidity was heavier than usual. In spite of the routine aches + pains you feel as you climb up + down rocks, it always feels so great to reach the 3,124-foot summit + look out over the rock to see miles + miles of green stretched out in front of you. Yep, it's worth it every single time, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't already looking forward to year four!

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure some of them are dirt."

-Unknown