Spring Seminar

Last Saturday, our church hosted it's 4th Annual Spring Seminar Event. It was my third time attending this wonderful event. It is a fun-filled day with music, seminars, food and chit chat. The seminars I attended were Kim Hill's "Fashion for the Everyday Woman" and Maja Clayton's " The Art of Hospitality". Both are gurus on their topics. Not only does Kim run the 5K bootcamp (which I've been MIA) she is also our church's fashion police. Just kidding, Kim (really, I am). Kim is just known for her great fashion advice.

Maja is also known for her (and her family's) great hospitality. Shortly after we joined Community Presbyterian, The Clayton's invited our family over for lunch after church one day. It was encouraging to see how she and Scott handle their large family. Jason and I only have three but constantly feel out numbered. We really enjoyed our lunch with the Clayton's, they are a very special family.

I was asked to host a table at the Spring Seminar, which means to prepare place settings for a table of seven. Each host is responsible for decorating and providing the plates, glasses, utensils, etc. for her table. It was so neat to see how different each table was set. They were all inviting!

Here's some pictures of the tables and a few others from the event. I'm not sure who hosted each table so if you know, maybe you can comment.

In our Sunday school class we have been studying what ministry to the church means. What a day of ministry this was! Whether it was organizing the event, preparing the food, decorating the church gym, teaching a seminar, hosting a table, blessing us with beautiful music or the sharing of wisdom among women, a big thank you to everyone who participated. It was a beautiful day and one I'll look forward to again next year!

Oh, and don't let me forget to mention another great ministry to our church....Paige sporting the "Mom" jeans. Way to take one for the team, Paige!

Spring has sprung!

Although you wouldn't know it from this week's weather.... Spring has sprung! I love this time of year. God decorates the earth with beautiful, colorful, eye-catching flowers and trees. It's awesome to watch them blossom. Here are some of my favorites around home.

This past weekend the girls and I visited my family in Georgia. It was great to see my niece and nephew. I miss them so. Audrey, my niece, turned 1yr old and we celebrated at a beautiful park with burgers and cake, playground for the kids, fishing for the men, eating and chasing the kids for the women. It was fun! Afterwards, we went back to my brothers (for more eating) and played "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?".....well, let me just say, I have a new found respect for 5th graders.
Sunday was a very girly girl day! Me, McClain, Macy and Emma went to lunch with my mom, sister-in-law (Jill) and my nephew (baby Cole). That's what the girls call him...."baby Cole" as if it is his first and middle name. Lunch at Olive Garden was delicious.....I don't care to know the calories. After lunch, we went to North Pointe mall in Alpharetta where one of the few American Girl Doll stores are located. McClain was beside herself. They have a bistro where you and your doll can have lunch and ice cream. The dolls have a chair that clamps onto the table so she can sit right beside you. In the bathroom, they have doll holders right beside the toilet paper. They also have a salon so you and your doll can have matching do's. Very girly.

Later we rode the carousel and then Emma got her other ear pierced. Long story short, about 6-8 months ago Emma wanted to have her ears pierced, like her sisters. So I took her and after the first one she decided she didn't want to have her other ear pierced. I tried several times since but she wasn't having it. Well, Sunday while in Claire's boutique (appropriate given Emma's name is Emma Claire, anyway) I'm helping McClain and Macy spend some money they had saved up when Jill tells me that Emma wants to get her ear pierced. I said, "Sure she does, see if she'll even come in the store". Well, next thing I know she's sitting in the chair waiting to get her ear pierced. So we took out the one pink one and she chose a set of blue sapphires, her birthstone. She did not even cry...she did not shed one tear. She told me right before the lady did it...."Mommy, I know it's going to hurt just a little bit". I love her so much! God has blessed me with three wonderful girls.

So on the way home, I pass an 18 wheeler....very dirty, you know what I'm talking about. It usually says, "Wash Me" or something. Well, on the back of this truck someone had drawn a hill with three crosses. Under the hill it said, GRACE. Beneath GRACE, it read Eph. 2:8-9. I thought to myself, "Huh, wonder what that verse is? Eph. 2:8-9, Eph. 2:8-9...I can remember that until we get home and then I'll look it up." Then I remembered that McClain's bible was in the backseat. I got the bible and as I'm driving with one knee, I'm looking for the verse. There it is.....

It is my new favorite bible verse.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.

I got home and was later telling Jason about it and he said, "You're not going to believe this but we read that verse in Sunday school today." So I guess being away in Atlanta this weekend, I didn't really miss my lesson. I think of it as God's way of keeping me in the loop!

Easter pics

Here are some pictures from Easter. Click to enlarge and view the slideshow. Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!