18 Holes for Haiti | 3rd annual.

The sun was high + bright, the clouds were thin, the trees were green, and the atmosphere was electric at Carolina Springs Golf Course on Tuesday, April 19th. Many of the people who joined us last year and the year before came back again for another round of golf, but it was very exciting to have some new faces in the mix, too. Volunteers came early, served throughout, and stayed to the very end, and it was so thrilling to see all of the long-distance love being poured out on our friends in Haiti. Hope Vision Ministry is something that TJ and I are very passionate about, and we love locking arms with others who are committed to providing for them, too. We may not look like much, but God continually blows us away with His faithfulness, attention to detail, and love for His creation.

This day was full of great weather, great fellowship, and great success, but the greatest part was getting to do work for the Kingdom ruled by our Great God. It really is amazing how far a smidge of obedience goes when the Author of grace is fueling it. He blew us away by the way He brought a group of men and women together, and reminded us (especially TJ) that all the blood, sweat, and tears is always worth seeing the finished product come together so beautifully.

One of our mottos at Capstone Church is He>me, and this day was proof of the truth in that simple phrase. Another motto that we don't necessarily claim but most certainly live out is we>me, and it's an honor to sacrifice the "me" with a Gospel community that makes up such a beautiful "we."

See this man pictured above, cheesing beside me? He is the most organized, mission-minded, diligent, determined (okay, you get the point) man I've ever known, and he worked so hard to make sure this day went off without a hitch. He got up early + stayed up late for months crunching numbers, writing emails, making phone calls, working on spreadsheets, etc., and we all knew that we were in good hands with him being our fearless leader.

Next time you see him, make sure you give him a big hug or high five.

Just leave the smooching to me.

lake conestee nature park | hike it baby.

We went back to Lake Conestee Nature Park again earlier this week with our Hike it Baby friends, and there was a whole lot of excitement on this adventure! We spotted several turtles, both big and small, an inchworm, ducks, a family of geese (including sweet little goslings), and even a SNAKE! On top of all of that, two huge airplanes flew right over our heads. See what I mean? So exciting! The mamas were just as excited as the kiddos, and none of us were shy about showing it.

My cousins (Laura, Luke, and Micah) joined us on this adventure, and it was so much fun to be out on the trails with them. We walked a portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail on Leap Day a little over a month ago, and we decided right then and there that getting to raise our boys together is one of the greatest gifts we have ever received. It was very special to me to be able to introduce them to my new friends I've met since joining this incredible group, and I hope that they will join us again soon.

This was, also, the first hike of the year that I've been hot. I'm pumped that warm weather is here to stay, but I am going to have to get used to this thing called "glistening" that I haven't done in a while (hehe). The green all around us as we blaze through creation is so beautiful, and I promise that it's worth every bit of the "glistening" in my future!

Tomorrow is Earth Day, and we've got big plans to soak in all the beauty at our fingertips.

What are your plans? How will you celebrate this special day dedicated to loving our planet?

cara turns five.

I love birthdays, I love my family, and I love pretending like I'm still a kid. All three of these things that I love so much were what our Saturday afternoon was full of as we celebrated our precious Cara turning five! It's always the best day ever when the Phillips clan gets together, and this day was no different...except it was even more fun than usual because we were all walking on air!

Josh + Jennifer made their baby girl's dream come true as they always do, and the only faces Cara made all day were the happiest, cheesiest ones. We all smiled when she smiled, which means that we all smiled for two straight hours. Braxton had a blast, too, and it was so crazy to think back to her party last year when he could barely hold his head up. This year he was in the action with all the rest of us!

Happy birthday to our precious, Cara!

just pitch.

She used to be the one cheering for the pitcher (the handsome pitcher, might I add), but all eyes were on her this time.

She had practiced before the game, was confident in her ability to throw the ball through the air and into the catcher's mitt, had a moment of frustration when the pitch didn't turn out like she'd hoped it would, threw her hands up as if to say, "Oh well," and walked off the field with her head held high while wearing a smile on her face.

I couldn't help but notice a striking resemblance between that pitch and the current trial she is in the midst of.

She had her life planned out and was steadily on her way to reaching many of the goals and dreams she had made, and it hasn't turned out like she thought it would. But although she has grieved over her circumstances and experienced a roller coaster of emotions since receiving her diagnosis, she has walked with her head held high while wearing a smile on her face.

She didn't throw a strike, but the crowd still cheered. Similarly, her life isn't what she had planned, but people have been moved by the testimony that she is living out and are doing more than cheering: their support is reminding her that just like a bad throw doesn't determine the end of the game, a tough season doesn't mean that life isn't worth living.

She pitched the ball, which is exactly what she set out to do. She is living her life as fully as possible, which is a testimony to the determination in her soul. And she is inspiring thousands of us to hold onto hope, to keep our eyes above the waves crashing around us, and to realize that life is a beautiful gift, even when it doesn't feel like it is.

In the face of disappointment, my prayer is that all of us would learn from Angie and simply raise our hands, say, "Oh well," and keep going. No matter what, in the face of hurt and loss and frustration, just keep going.

And smile. Whatever you do, don't forget to smile.

fight like mimi.

Most people know that our Mimi is a modern-day superwoman, and she put her super powers to work last night at Hillcrest High School when she threw out the first pitch at the varsity baseball game. More than twenty family members and friends-turned-family gathered in the stands to root her on as Pops stood by her side and TJ waited behind home plate, glove in-hand. People applauded all around us, and my mind immediately retraced how far she has come in just two and a half months since surgery. She has shouted her fight song in the way she has relentlessly refused to give up through discomfort, exhaustion, pain, and more, and we are all so proud that we get to be the ones who stand by her as she sings it. More than that, we are all singing it with her.

Oh, if only we would all fight like Mimi.

We are so proud of the incredible progress she has made, so thankful to God for how He has been actively working all things together for her good, and so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from countless people.

The meaning behind the name Angela is "Messenger of God," and He is certainly communicating to us and through us during this season. Though our current season may not look the way we thought it would or even wish it would, His voice has never sounded so sweet. Her story is being told, and His faithfulness is being proclaimed as a result.

Mmm, the steadfastness of Jesus. There is no better message than that.