Uplift Week 2: The Snellvile Army.

Week 2 of Uplift is always wonderful. I have a group of ladies (and a few of their husbands) that come from the Snellville church to help me do whatever I need done. They are awesome! I just give them a list and I don't have to worry about a thing- registration, t-shirts, Uplift Central, snacks for the counselors, sitting with Claira when I had to do something, filling out annoying dorm forms, mowing our yard(Brandon really doesn't have time for that right now)... the list could go on forever. They come in a day early and get it all done and then today, they helped get stuff ready for next week before they leave in the morning. If only I could convince them to stay for three weeks.
Just wanted to say thanks to my Snellville Army for spending their vacation time helping me make week 2 a wonderful experience for about 900 teens.

Uplift week 1: God is good.

For those of you who don't know, Uplift is a summer youth camp at Harding that Brandon runs and I help out with. There are three weeks of camp, the first two have over 1000 people each and the third week is around 500. Needless to say, it's a crazy time of year for us and we just added a baby into the mix (another ball to try to juggle). I was really worried about how we were going to get everything done while at the same time tending to our little girl's needs. I can only say that God is good and as always, knows how much we can handle. The two days before camp started were a little rough- there is just so much to do and I hadn't figured out how to fit Claira into all of that stuff. Since camp started she has been fabulous. She has been carted around all over this campus and even slept through an entire Acappella concert all with a smile (and dimples) on her face. Last night she slept for 8 1/2 hours!!!! It was a first and I was very thankful for it. I even got her up out of her bed, went to Taco Bell and back and she never opened her eyes. God has blessed us so much with an incredible life where we get to spend our summers watching teenagers grow closer in their walk with Him- and now we get to share that life with our precious 8 week old. God is so good.


So, while I was writing this, Brandon was baptizing an Uplift camper. She came with a group that didn't have any male sponsors and told Brandon she was ready if someone would baptize her. Brandon jumped in and baptized Sydney into Christ. Once again.... God is so good!

The Astros and an Angel.

Friday we went with a group from Harding on a recruiting trip to the Houston Astros game. I was so worried about taking Claira on her first plane ride, to her first baseball game, to a whole day of never getting to lay in a bed. She was an angel the whole time. The only time she cried was when she was starving (I couldn't stop to feed her one time for an hour after she was suppose to eat and she didn't cry until a few minutes before we could sit down), worn out, or dirty diaper. I was so thankful for our new sling. She loves being close to mom and getting to see everything going on while we walk around. She fell asleep in the sling for most of the Harding event before the game. Our friends Tyler and Kelly Wiggains met up with us and spent the night with us in the hotel. It was so great to see them and their adorable boys, Keynan and Parker. We had a great time- I think I worried for nothing.
Claira is such an angel. The angel is very happy to be home in her own bed. She has slept most of the morning and when she is awake, she won't stop smiling.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! 5 days until Uplift starts!!!!










Claira's first flight.












Claira and Mom on the plane.












Tyler, Brandon and their babies.












Tyler & Kelly at the game.












Claira's first baseball game.
She was really enjoying the game.












The happy girl back at home
and in her bumbo for the first time.