• My time at the office is winding down - I anticipate being here through this week and then probably mostly part time for another week. I keep trying to arrange this with my awesomely amazing brother, but he’s ignoring me. Like if we don’t talk about it - it will all just go away….

• There is still a list a mile and a half long at the house to get done before Rylee’s arrival. Which, by the way, is only in about 3 1/2 weeks! I never imagined that trying to keep a small house organized and clean would be WAY more difficult than our big house we were in before, but it is and it’s driving me crazy! It doesn’t help that Don’s work environment and schedule is really hectic right now which limits his ability to work on “the list”.
• More and more people are finding it appropriate to comment on my size. I just have to say…when has that ever been OK? And it’s not just from men who don’t know better - women who have HAD BABIES and know what it’s like to feel HUGE are saying things that they should just keep to themselves. But - if you look like this, I guess it’s just inevitable…

• Steve and Indy Dixon came and led worship with us yesterday at The ROCK. We had such a great time with them - thanks, guys for coming and joining the team for the day!
• WOW - that storm last night was amazing. We had a meeting at the church last night in the dark because the lights went out half way through! That was interesting… And when I got out to my car afterwards, I discovered I had left the sun roof open and the inside was soaking wet! Arrggghhhh. You know ,the funny thing is, that was the first time in three years that I had ever used that sun roof - wouldn’t you know it..
• GAFA starts back up next week. Our summer enrollment is pretty decent - I think we’re up to about 55 students for our two month session - a ton of new students, too! We hired a new teacher last week - I’ll post about her soon, but I’m SO excited about it!

That’s all for now - have a great week, everyone! Love you all!

It seems like forever since I have posted something! I’m in some kind of time warp, I think…

Anyway - it’s been another very full week and weekend and I just don’t see where it is going to end!

• Last week I tried to recover for a couple of days after the “Creation” show was done. I took Monday and Tuesday “off” but ended up working quite a bit from home. Things still have to get done! I did go Tuesday afternoon for an hour and a half pre-natal massage and a pedicure (since I can no longer reach my feet on my own). Thanks, smoochie, for the gift certificate to Ki Spa! (I have another one to use next week from my amazing GAFA staff!) <smile>
• The weekend was really nice. I spent the whole day Friday with my Reagan and we had a wonderful time. He is the best thing ever… Saturday I went to Lauren’s wedding shower and then to Johnny and Helen’s house for my baby shower. Thanks so much to everyone who helped with the party - I was truly honored and blessed by my wonderful church and GAFA family and I definitely feel much more prepared now for Rylee’s arrival. Thanks!
• Yesterday was Memorial Day and I was so glad my smoochie got to take the day off. We had a wonderful family day - Castle Hayne Park in the morning and downtown Wilmington for lunch and a stroll on the boardwalk. We ate lunch at the Pilot House and then had ice cream at Kilwin’s. Reagan had superman ice cream and, as you can see, enjoyed every lick
• There are a lot of cool things happening this week around here. I’m excited to see how things start to take shape as we continue on this crazy path we’re on!
• Only four more weeks until Baby Rylee shows up! (I would be happy with about two more, if you ask me). The nursery is almost finished and I am feeling more prepared every day.
• Make this week a great one, everybody! Have some fun…

This weekend was the culmination of months of work - nine months to be exact. Glory Academy began it’s 10th year in Wilmington this past August and for the past nine months, 65+ students have been working their little patooties off in technique classes and discipleship training so that they could use their gifts for the glory of our Lord. All year - every month - we minister out in our community through the gift of dance - then it all builds up to one HUGE show in May to end our season.

I have to say that I am speechless when it comes to describing how I feel about what took place this weekend. We have some of the best families on the planet at Glory Academy that are dedicated to restoring integrity to the arts in the church. They are amazing and I feel so honored to work with them every week. I also have the most incredible staff anywhere…Melanie, Casey, Lynne, Carolyn, Ashely, Rachel, Elaine and Tim - thank you from the bottom of my heart for your dedication to this ministry.

Now for some pictures…I know that’s what you all really want…Millie Holloman and Matthew Ray came to shoot the show and they captured some really nice shots. These particular shots are from Millie. Thanks for letting me re-post these. You are the best, Mills!

This first set of shots are from the first scene - when God separated the light from the darkness…

This is several of our ballet classes - “Water”

Hip Hop 1 & 2 - “Light”

Pointe “Animals”- this is Victoria Jarman

Kristin and Kenna - “Sun and Moon”

Beginning Tap - “Penguins”

Beginning Ballet - this is Serenna Eason - isn’t she adorable?

Pre-Ballet “Butterflies” - Isabelle Carillo

Jazz “Earth and Sky” - Hannah Jarman

Adam and Eve - Melanie Haulman and Christian McCullen

Thanks, everyone! More pictures to come!

Matthew took this picture yesterday at Aunt Jen’s House - and I couldn’t help myself - I had to post…

I think I have the cutest, most incredible boy in the whole world!

When Don and I made the decision for me to step down as Creative Arts Director at The ROCK, we knew it was because our children were the most important thing in our lives. Reagan is the best gift I have ever been given - more than I could EVER dream to ask for. Rylee is coming in seven weeks and I can only imagine how much more love my little heart can muster. God’s gifts are always perfect and I can’t wait to finally see this little girl face to face and kiss her about a million times. This is why we made our decision - so I could stay home more and focus my attention on them.

Since deciding to make this change, I have realized that God’s intentions are far greater than we first thought. They usually are…

He’s been keeping me up at night - bombarding my heart and my mind with new ideas and big fat dreams. I was worried that my ability to create would be severely limited when I gave up my full time “payed” position and that I would be relegated to the nether-regions of mommy hood for the rest of my days. What I have discovered is that giving myself the room - clearing my mind of TOO much - has given me the permission to start thinking again and believing again in what I could truly accomplish if I decide to make it happen.

• I did it! I actually remembered to brain dump on Monday - thanks, Tim for the reminder.

• Last week was CRAZY! So much is going on in every area of my life right now - I am almost overwhelmed, but then I remember that God never puts more on us than we can handle and so I trust in that grace and carry on!
• I’ve been trying to put together budgets for GAFA’s upcoming 08-09 season - trying to predict some unpredictable things has proven to be quite interesting to say the least. When God starts putting BIG, FAT dreams in your heart it requires you to think outside the box and plan with lots of faith. (tempered with a good does of practical reality, though) I can’t wait to see how He provides for this vision He has put in my heart - I can’t see how it will all come together but I am excited…
• Reagan spent the night with Nana and Papa on Friday night so Don and I got to go on a date. That hasn’t happened in a while and we had a great time. We went to the opening concert of the Airlie Gardens summer Jazz series. This is my favorite thing to do during the summer - every 1st Friday of the month they have a big concert under the oaks. Everyone brings a picnic dinner and the kids run around and have a great time. Two of my dear friends are playing the next two months. Benny Hill (I went to college with Benny at UNCW) will be playing the 1st Friday night in June and David Pray (a wonderful friend to me and to this ministry) will be playing the 1st Friday night in August. Be sure to go check them out. Don and I will be there!

• Saturday, we had our second Saturday tech rehearsal for GAFA’s upcoming show, “Creation”. The girls are doing an amazing job and you do not want to miss this event! Be sure to purchase your tickets from any of our students, at The ROCK, or on line HERE. You can also stop by the church/studio offices anytime and pick up tickets for the Friday night, May 16th show or the Saturday afternoon, May 17th show. They are $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Thanks to Alpha Mortgage, Perry’s Emporium, Beth Simcha, Jeff and Judy Spedding and The ROCK for their generous sponsorships of this event

• This was the picture at my house Saturday night after a full day of work and punching off the honey-do list. Molly thinks she is a lap dog…and despite what my husband may say about this, he likes it…

• Yesterday’s service was really great. My team did such a wonderful job leading the people into worship. I am always so honored to work with this incredible group of men and women. The set list was

1. Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin
2. The Time Has Come - Hillsong United
3. For Who You Are - Hillsong
4. Hosanna - Brooke Fraser (I never get tired of this song - and Haley, you rocked it, girl!

• Dad continued to minister about the upcoming transition. He always does such an wonderful job of walking our people through something that may initially be difficult - he has wisdom beyond my ability to comprehend and I am thrilled that he and mom will continue to be a vital part of the life of this house even after PB is set as the senior pastor in August. I hope you are all communicating both your support and your observations to him and to Bryan. This is an exciting time and I pray that all of us will get on board and support this new season of ministry. You can download an MP3 of last week’s as well as yesterday’s message HERE by the end of the day tomorrow.
• This week promises to be another CRAZY one! Pray for us as we countdown to next weekend and as I make preparations to welcome Baby Rylee into the world. There is much to do and I need the grace of God and the support of my family and friends to make it happen! Thanks, everyone - you don’t know how much you all mean to me!

I can’t seem to stay in the habit of actually posting my weekend brain dump on Mondays…Tuesdays seems to be a much more realistic goal -

• We had our first Saturday tech rehearsal for the GAFA production, Creation. With three weeks left before the real deal it is easy to get overwhelmed with all of the things that have to get done. But everyone did a great job and it was obvious that they have all been working very hard. This is truly going to be a beautiful show - full of the wonder and creativity of our God. I want to honor Him with what we produce in this show…
• If you haven’t made plans to come to the show, DO IT NOW! You don’t want to miss it, I promise you. There are two shows - one Friday, May 16th at 7pm and one Saturday, May 17th at 3pm. Tickets are only $5 and can be purchased from any GAFA student, on-line HERE, or at The ROCK the next two Sundays.
• If you want to make a financial contribution to Glory Academy so that we can continue to impact this community with excellence in the arts, give us a call in our office. (910-602-5302) You can purchase an ad to go in our program or just donate as a sponsor. Either way, you are supporting an amazing ministry in this community!
• Sunday was incredible. So many new things happening all at once and my head is spinning! The stage looked amazing. You can go here and see pics of the transformation. Carolyn is doing a great job - as always - and we are so honored to have her on our staff because she always goes above and beyond what is expected and gives her absolute BEST to whatever she sets her hands to do. (Thanks!)
• Pastor Ron made an BIG FAT HAIRY announcement Sunday morning. In August - on our church’s 20th anniversary - he will set Bryan as the new senior pastor of this church and step into a new role and new season of ministry himself. If you weren’t in the service to witness this, you MUST listen to the MP3 of the message so you can be a part of helping us spread the excitement! Carolyn should have it posted sometime today.
• God is really stirring some things in my heart concerning GAFA - HUGE things that scare the heck out of me - but I know that there is provision for all things that He puts in our hearts to do. I will be sharing some of this with you later - too much to put in this post. Just be praying for me and my staff as we navigate through the waters of change and expansion. It’s going to be a fun ride!
• 8 1/2 weeks to go before baby Rylee arrives! Time is flying by…

Yea - so Reagan spends three days a week with this family and they teach him to fight with big sticks… Watch and laugh, people! I stole this video from Matthew -

He’s the love of my life - and in 10 weeks there’s going to be another one to get completely lost in…

Wow - what a weekend…

My team led worship Friday night and Saturday for a conference held at the church - it was a ton of fun and, as always, my team did an amazing job! I have to say that I am always grateful for the grace of God - leading worship three times in one weekend is not easy even when you aren’t 31 weeks pregnant!

The announcement of my job transition was made Sunday morning. I was humbled by the response of our people. Thank you, everyone, for your support and understanding of this decision. I am so looking forward to serving GAFA in a BIGGER way and continuing my involvement in the volunteer arts teams of The ROCK. Ya’ll are not going to get rid of me yet!

The lights are in and training begins this week! Carolyn, you are amazing and this church is beyond blessed to have you on board with us. Thanks for all of the extra time and brain power you put into this project!

The painters arrived this morning to transform our stage. The awful pale beige is leaving us and in it’s place is this beautiful black wall! I am SOOOOOO excited!

I would like to congratulate Johnny Fuller for being the only human on the planet that can break a wireless microphone just by the sheer force of his vocal volume. (thanks for the comic relief during worship yesterday..)

The excitement continues in the halls of Glory Academy. I snapped this picture today of little Serena as she tried on her Giraffe costume for our “Creation” production next month. Isn’t she adorable?