Homeless Care Kits 2K16

Praising God already for how He will use our Cru Inner City Homeless Care Kit packing party tonight and the subsequent HCK distribution to Milwaukee's homeless population which will take place over these next few weeks of cold. He knows every need and sees each heart...I am so thankful for that--and also for our awesome partners with whom we get to work!

City Life = Great Opportunities/Soccer

Really thankful for the soccer program that Tom (and Neil, when he is able) gets to be a part of! Big shout out to Coach D and his staff for their investment in the lives of these kids! #lifeinthecity

...and we're off!

Our sweet little Beth had her first official modeling gig today...what a girl! We had such a fun and girly morning...I'm always amazed at the gift that God gave my heart when He gave me her!

TRAINS!

We are back from Christmas Conference, and this is the first thing he wanted to do this morning...all day, every day, it's lots of Choo-choos, lots of cars, and a little bit of coloring. He's growing up so fast! We are SO thankful that our friends passed this very-loved and oft-used train table on to us!

Why?!!

Year after year, I never understand why the bathroom trash cans at this hotel are so tiny.#tcx15

Lovely Days at the Hilton

There's something about leaving your normal surroundings and stuffing your family of seven in a standard-sized hotel room for a week.

There's just something about that.  And despite what you might think, for our family, that something is good.  Maybe it's the lack of "stuff" to distract us.  Maybe it's the change of scenery, including the beautiful skyline adorned so beautifully at night with fancy everywhere-Christmas lights.

Or maybe it's the near 24/7 access to the Disney channel.

I'm not sure what it was, but I know that the result was lovely.  It's been restful and tiring all at the same time.  Productive and lazy, chill and crazy. All those fun opposite words...it's been all that.

But at the end of the day, we have made memories.  And had the privilege of watching God work. Both of those are great ways to spend your Christmas vacation.

Today, Rex and I walked through the skyline to get some lunch and some medicine from Target, and as we went, we met Tim, a homeless guy trying to collect enough money for a shelter for the night. We were able to talk to him for a while and pray with him before we left.

One night this week, I stayed up late downstairs, taking surveys and talking to a group of students about North Myrtle Beach summer project.  We bonded over 2nd Avenue South, and more, over how much God changed each of us during our summers there.

Speaking of North Myrtle, another highlight was getting to spend an hour or so with my Bible study leader/staff woman from that summer. Linda has been out of the country for 12 years, so catching up with her was quite special.

The life of a Cru staff family....what a privileged life we lead!  Thank you, Lord, for being over all...may I seek your face more each day this year than I did the last and learn to trust you more, move more quickly out of my comfort zone, and follow your Holy Spirit's leading more sensitively.  I don't want to be the same a year from now...take me deeper!

A New Year, a New Year

What will 2016 bring?  I don't know, but I am so glad that I know the One who does.

It's quiet here at the Hilton, Christmas Conference having once again come and gone.  Such a privilege we have to be a part of this little ministry called Cru. Such a valuable place to have spent so many years.  I have grown, I have been changed, I have loved it.

Not that it's over or anything; I'm just feeling sentimental.  No surprise there.

2016........here we are.  Let's do this.


Kasey, Kara, and I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR from the TCX ballroom! (Jeff Hoffman not pictured because he fell asleep at 10 pm while trying to get the baby to sleep. What a guy!)