Wrapping Up the Summer

Summer is coming to an end. It wasn't the most eventful time of our lives, but it seems like it was quite short. My internal clock went off about the end of last week saying it was time for me to start thinking about school again. However, before we both start school again and say goodbye to the carefree days of summer we made a couple of treks for the big finale.

We went to the annual Powell on the Lake at the to great Shangri-La on Lake Ouachita. It was a small crew, but we enjoyed it. The G3s as they call us seem to be taking over the place. There were a lot of the cousins and their spouses around and we enjoyed paintball and game nights with them. David's dad came up with the great idea to play paintball on a little peninsula (which everyone thought was an island apparently) on the lake. Curt worked hard to make a lovely paintball course and 6 of the guys got to play. I got in on the action a little bit, but I'm quite the wuss when it comes to getting hit, so I surrendered quickly when a charge is made towards me. I got the perfect amount of sun and David got the perfect amount of exhaustion.

Then we made a super short trip to San Antonio with our friends, the Harrisons. It was the first time I had been. We stayed close to the riverwalk, so that's where we spent most of our time. We had some good food and enjoyed the live music. We were disappointed that we didn't see Tim Duncan walking the streets of SA, but at least we got our picture taken with the Alamo.

4th of July

David and I got to escape Fort Worth for a couple days and go to Edmond, OK for the 4th. We got to ride on an antique fire truck in a parade. People just came out in droves to see the Powells. Karen's company had it in the parade and we hitched a ride around the block. Later that day we went water skii and "bun busting" as the Powells dubbed it. It took us a little bit to make out to the lake, but we got a good story out of it. Last but not least the day ended with a round of fireworks from the family pyro, David. I got to do the sparklers or sprinklers, as Jenny calls them, which was my only request. It was a fabulous and quite traditional 4th of July.

The Title

I did change the title on our blog. I guess I want it to reflect our lives (or mine (Erica), since this is my little project. I want to have a life that is compelled by the love of Christ. If I truly believe in Christ and the sacrifice He made then I will be compelled to live a life devoted to learning and living for Him. You will see stories and pictures of what David and I do, but I hope much of what you see is a life compelled by the love of Christ.

Our 1st Anniversary

David and I made it one year! Woo Hoo! He got to start a new job at a day camp today, so we weren't able to take a short trip anywhere. We still had fun playing tennis and eating at fun places like Texas de Brazil. I even convinced him to let me get a pedicure. It came complete with a hot stone massage on the calf muscles. Absolutely wonderful. :) Above are some pictures that David humored me by standing in the pics. I wanted to have pictures of us on our first anniversary and David so nicely allowed me to take them.

Student Life Camp 2008

We made it back yesterday from our first camp with David as the one in charge. David has been nursing a horrible sunburn, but I think he'll pull throuh. There were some discouraging moments before we left for camp, but we left on faith knowing that the ones we took were the ones that God really had something in store for them. Faith has been one of my big prayers lately. I just haven't been expecting much from our experience with this youth group, so I've been aking God to increase my faith. Why can't I just realize that God is much, much bigger than I make him out to be. Well, God did some great work.

We left Sunday after church for Roach, Missouri. We went to Student Life Camp at Camp Windermere on the Lake of the Ozarks. It's a typical youth camp, high energy, lots of activities, much life a Fuge camp. David and I were both blessed by the speaker they had, Thomas Young. He had some different angles of the Gospel that we hadn't considered before and he we very thought provoking. The kids we took really responded to it as well. The Spirit seemed to be burdening and convicting them quite a bit. Normally that's something we may not rejoice in, but this was God helping them realize how much they needed Him. It's hard to watch, but we just kept praying that their grievances would turn them to Him. For one, it did! On Tuesday, June 24 DJ confessed Jesus as Lord and believed that God raised him from the dead! Praise God! We ask that you all pray hard for her constantly. She lives in a troubled home now as the only christian. She has been forced to grow up quickly, now pray that she will grow up quickly in the Lord before things of this world distract her from the commitment she made. Pray for David and I to have wisdom and diligence in discipling her.

I was excited to be able to see my family, even if it was just for a moment. They graciously hosted our little group as we split our travels there and back. I have included a picture of me and Henry. I didn't let go the whole time we hung out with Todd, Crissa, and Dad at Rick's Bakery (one of the Fayetteville treasures). He managed to get the hiccups out of him and fall asleep on me. Wish I could see him more.

P.S. I would still like to have a little better blog page. I'm not hard core with this stuff, but a new name might make it a little snazzier. You might see me experiment with this page as I have not much to do during July. :)

Wii!

David and I are still pretty boring at the moment, but we have been able to enjoy being a part of others' exciting lives. We got to hang out with the whole Powell clan when Katie and Jimmy came to Fayetteville for Jenny's college graduation. Congrats, Jenny! We also got to see David's crazy cousin John marry his wonderful wife Julia this past weekend. Then we come to Memorial Day weekend without any plans. That sounds great to have a free weekend, but David and I get bored really quick. So we decided to go buy our anniversary present early and we got a Wii. We now have two characters that are getting pretty good at tennis, golf, boxing, and baseball. We would like for some sort of skiing game to come out. We have to watch out for how close we get to the T.V. in order not to punch a hole in it. Our Wii characters need friends to hang out in the Wii plaza with them. Come play!

We have also decided to start looking for a house along the route to our church. We went looking on Wednesday and I (Erica) got pretty discouraged. We're still looking and considering, but it will be a lot of work if we do decide to buy one of them.

Welcome Henry!

This is our nephew, Henry. He was born on Tuesday, March 11 at 12:48 p.m. at 7 lbs 13 ounces. He wasn't quite expecting to meet everyone that day so he was breathing a little hard and had to be put on oxygen for a little while. These are the only pictures I have of him at the moment, but I will post more when I get them. This was the first time since I (Erica) have moved down to Texas that 7 hours seemed too far away from home. I wanted to be there so badly for my sister, Todd, and to meet this little guy. David and I get to visit home and play with him next week over Spring Break. We are overjoyed for Todd and Crissa to have this little one join them. What a blessing he already is to them and I'm sure it will increase every day.