In Need of a Late Easter Basket?

If so, we've got just the delivery for you! We have a beautiful woven basket, a soft, plush, pink baby blanket (from the Gap), and Riley Grace sporting her flowery pink Easter wear.  I'm assuming anyone this late on Easter goodies is probably far enough in the dog house that they'd need a pretty good peace offering to win themselves out. And in that case, we've held onto a winner!

Good Morning!

A wiggle of the head and a squinting of the eyes; "It's morning!"  How about a good stretch before the games break loose, a lift of the legs and a long, slow arching of my back.  I'm off... kick, kick, kick, flailing of the arms, kicking incessantly, and an intermingling of baby talk. 

"If only I could last all morning, oh but my eyes are getting sooo heavy."  Then begins the sucking of the thumb, and the inevitable happens.  A morning doze.

"Am I dreaming?  Oh, nope, I feel something."  Eyes slit open and brows crease before another long stretch.  "It's mommy!  I know that face and voice.  Yeah!!!  It's time for breakfast."  Lifting my legs to help, that diaper's been on way too long.  "Yuck!"

Nothing like being clean, full, and a good cuddle... but that patting is going to put me to sleep again.  "Oops, there goes a burp."  Buddies, I missed my lambie and elephant blankies!  "Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, I LOVE play time."  A slow big smile emerges and off to the races again, but this time with her pals.  Kick, kick, kick, flail, flail, flail.

Riley Grace with lambie on the left and purple elephant to the right

The Voice of an Angel

An Overdue Thank You!

To all my lovely friends and great support system at The Cove.  It has only been a month since we moved to Kentucky and I (Kelly) already dearly miss my work buddies.  When we moved to Asheville, almost 3 years ago now, I was told about the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.  I decided I wanted to work there and applied for the only opening at the time.  It was for a "call-in" position proofing and editing their intensive training material.  Though I had no idea what I was applying for, and with a resume catered toward my people skills, I got the job!  And what a blessing it was.

Over the past two and a half years, I have been in four positions at The Cove, most often serving in two coexisting positions at a time.  The Lord knows how to provide though Brenton and I had no idea how we would make ends meet with my working a part-time position.  Every time an interim position would come to an end, the Lord would allow enough time to make us fidget before providing extra hours through the next part-time position.  As a result of the Lord working, I was blessed to serve alongside various teams, become more well-rounded and develop relationships with most everyone at The Cove.

Each department I served with has taught me its own special lessons; whether, it was working with the intensive training material, overseeing and coordinating Seminar volunteers and registrations, helping coordinate administrative and on-sight aspects of the Schools of Evangelism, or simply putting nametags together with Reservations.  Though most time was spent working with the Seminar volunteers, I ended my time with the Reservations team working a few hours a week with basic office tasks.  This lovely Reservations  group, that you see in the picture, was the inspiration for this email and so kind in our parting.

Let me back track to say the Seminar Department and all the other wonderful Cove connections threw us the most generous baby shower where even guys attended; unheard of and so wonderful to see all the support! Brenton was encouraged to see ten plus guys offering him a little masculine support amongst all the estrogen.  And back the present, I wanted to send a "THANK YOU" to the Reservations team for helping with the shower and then going out of their way to throw a going away gathering a few months later.  Along with the continued follow up with emails, texts and calls, I have never experienced a work environment where the employees were so supportive and warm, all across the board.  To all my lovely friends, I think of you daily and constantly count my blessings from my time with you.