Christmas with Grandpa

Last weekend Jeff's dad, "grandpa" got to come into town so we could celebrate Christmas. We had a great time. Most of the time we played with the Wii he gave us and let all of our competitiveness come out---seriously we had to calm Emma down a couple of times :)

Ty opening a present
Emma opening the Wii

Grandpa's masterpiece of presents and stockings, Great Grandma helped with all of the supplies and sent her presents too.

VANCOUVER!!!!

For those of you that haven't heard, we are going to be planting a church in downtown Vancouver Canada. God began laying on our hearts church planting around September, confirmed that and showed us we should do it in downtown Vancouver, in November, and now we have begun our journey to make it there. Our goal is to be there by June 2010 and these next 18 months will be spent in preparation for it. We have put our house on the market and annouced to our church our plans, however, Jeff will still be doing youth ministry there while we start fundraising, unless we need to go do an intership somewhere before June 2010. We are so excited, about what God is doing and I will let you know what our website is when Jeff gets one up and running (he's working on it now). In the meantime please pray with us about all of the details, that they will fall into place.

Jeff and I at Stanley Park with downtown in the background.
Driving into downtown.

Another view of downtown.

New Years Eve 2008

For New Years Eve, our friends, Jimmy and Leisha took us out to The Melting Pot. We had such a fun time talking and enjoying a meal without kids!! Afterward we went back to their house, where all of the kids were with a sitter, relieved the sitter, and let the kids play till about 11pm. Then we went home and put two tired kiddos to bed!! It was a very fun way to celebrate!!

OK, I don't ususally just write, but this story was just too cute to not share with everyone. Yesterday, while the Jenkins were here, Emma, Ty and Corin were all dancing to some Hillsong Kids Worship. Emma turned off the music and said, "y'all come here we need to talk about something." So Ty and Corin followed her to a corner of the room where she continued to share with them how to ask Jesus into your heart, it went a little something like this:
Emma: Do you know who Jesus is?
Ty and Corin: Yes
Emma: What do you know about Him?
Ty: (mentioned Jesus' name and then something about a four wheeler)
Corin: (I'm not sure, b/c I went to share with Jeff what was going on)
Emma: Would you like to ask Jesus into your hearts?
Ty and Corin: Yes!
Emma : Then pray this after me (she prays a prayer and they repeat it)

Then Emma came to me and said, "Mom, Ty and Corin want to ask Jesus into their hearts" I told her, "great, but they're pretty young so I think we should still talk to them about it some more."
Then Emma said, " OK" and was waiting for me to talk to them, so I said, " What I mean is we need to talk to them over time" She said, "OK" and off she went to play some more.


I am so thankful that even in that cute and funny situation, God is already developing in her a heart to tell others about Him.

The Jenkins Girls Come for a Visit!!!

The last couple of days the Jenkins ladies, Paige, Halle, and Corin, all got to come for a visit (John was on a mission trip). We had such a blast. We went to the Children's Museum of Memphis, made cupcakes, made pizza, opened presents, and played and played and played!!! We loved having them here.

Ty on the Firetruck at the Children's Museum.
Ty and Corin on a motorcycle

Halle and Emma on the motorcycle.

Ty checking out at "Kroger"

Emma checking out--this was all of the kids favorite parts!

All of the kids licking the spoons after making cupcakes.

Ty and Corin zoned in on the tv.

All 4 of the kids right before bath time!

Post #2 of Gatlinburg

Jeff got the great opportunity to speak at a youth retreat in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge again, like he has the past 2 years. So since it was during Christmas break the kids and I went with him and we had so much fun. The kids and I went on a nature hike, we got to see the Sprays, who we hadn't seen in forever, went to Dixie Stampede, where Ty was asked to chase a chicken in a race, but being the sweet brother that he is, let Emma and she won. We also got to go to Ober Gatlinburg, ice skate, and ride the Alpine Slide. It was a wonderful 4 days and we loved every minute.

Jeff and Ty before they went down the mountain on the alpine slide. Just to make sure everyone knows, Emma and I won, the boys got behind a slow lady :0)

Emma and I on the chairlift.

Jeff and Ty on the chairlift before we rode down on the alpine slide.

Emma and Ty ice skating. They had so much fun.

Ty by one of the riders in the Dixie Stampede.

Winter Retreat in Gatlinburg 2008

Bennett kept us laughing by doing all sorts of funny things!!!

Leah Grace, Emma, and Ty playing Foosball. They had so much fun seeing each other.

Emma before she started the race.

Emma chasing a chicken down to the finish line. She is the tall one at the front. I have to say she was the fastest!!

Emma waving to our side as everyone cheered because they won.

Emma by the waterfall that was going down the hill

Ty on one of the bridges.
Emma hiking back up the hill.
Ty hiking up the hill.