the hunt is on

Aren't these kids adorable?! Our co-leaders at Canvas are currently living in an apartment complex in West Asheville and had a great idea to lead an Easter Egg Hunt there. A lot of kids showed up... in fact, they kept coming! We had to have 3 hunting sessions when all was said and done. It was a lot of fun! As the summer season sets in, we are spending a lot of time grilling out in the middle of the complex- meeting lots of young families.

Make a Home from Rented House

Another day is almost done at 200 Bartlett Road.

Pete and I have enjoyed this stop on our journey for many reasons. Among them, we've enjoyed living with Pete's parents and the way they can make a house a home. We've enjoyed the adventures in gardening as we've battled cucumber beetles and the reality of too much rain. We've enjoyed being snowed in, the glow of the wood stove, the endless shades of green this hill can offer. Scout lived her last days here- pouncing in the river, laying on the wooden floor beside our bed to protect us. We had no idea this would be her last stop.
Unfortunately, after 17 months, I just figured out the best way to arrange our living room furniture! But really, that means it's about that time to move again.

On Pete's 21st birthday, he was moving for the 21st time. That was 10 years ago. I lived in 2 houses the entirety of my life prior to college. Since our marriage of 5 years, we have set up house in 7 different structures (and I use that term loosely:) Seriously, Pete and I often wonder why our friends and family didn't stage an intervention at the Buckingham house. The mold in fact, "really was that bad"!
8 if you count our vehicle which housed us for the majority of our first summer married.
We have had such an adventure together...
And we are moving again.

We are so happy to be moving closer to the city of Asheville. We will find ourselves surrounded in the relationships we are desperately attempting to steward. We will be making four walls a home in the sweet, quaint Oakley community. It is way too close to Target's Dollar Aisle as well as the Screen Door (a local antique store), but we will make due.

We will head out of Weaverville May15th, so the move is on its way! A nod to "Mushaboom" lyrics..."I've found a man to stick it out, to make a home from rented house! Oh oh oh oh oh oh Oh!

We have a lot of life planned for the next stop... chickens, a community garden, artistic endeavors. Time will prove what will unfold of our adventures there. We'll be sure to keep you updated!

Nori's Dedication

We recently had the privilege of attending our niece's dedication at my home church in GA. My Dad and Pete conducted the event, reminding us as a family and their church community of our responsibility to continue to point Nori to the truth, love and grace of God. Nori was absolutely beaming. She just smiled at the crowd and basked in her moment!

Launch

Canvas' launch team...
Left to Right
Bottom Row: Kassie, Gabe, Patsy, Amelie, Lindy
Top Row: Pete, Travis, Steve, Heather and Todd

We love these people!

Camp Brackenhurst

So much has happened since our last post, and among the happenings, we were able to attend Brackenhurst's 10-year reunion last weekend at Berry. There is so much to be said about this that really cannot be captured in words... so many emotions surround our time in Kenya. We were able to look on camp representatives from each of the 10 years since its launch. I know Pete and the initial team were not even thinking that one day a 10-year reunion would take place. Both Pete and Kim said many times this weekend that they "didn't know what they were doing"! Wow, God really is and does bigger things than we could ever imagine.

The pic above is the 2001 camp team minus quite a few important folk! (Thank you Amanda for the pic)! It was wonderful to relive hilarious memories and even some we wonder how we are still alive! Brackenhurst of course stemmed from our roots at WinShape. We share so much history with all of these friends. It just simply cannot be replaced.

Though, we look forward to the history that is in the making now through a faith community developing here in Asheville. Who knows, maybe in 10 years we will look back on beautiful people with changed lives as we did this weekend.

Camp Brackenhurst is now referred to as Camp Blue Sky, and is operated by a remarkable staff. You can find more information about the work they do here:
www.campbluesky.org

the farm

These were taken on my grandparents' farm in Bedford, Indiana. (Thank you Mom for the pic. of me and Pete.) Thank you Pete for the shot of the field. Let me tell you, this is one of my favorite places on earth. All kinds of memories seem to flood my mind whenever we arrive. Actually, whenever the drive turns familiar again. It is just 8 hours in driving distance, yet it just seems like a world away. I so easily think of life based on what I have on my to-do list for the day. So much so, it is even difficult to comprehend that the townspeople of Bedford, IN have to-do lists that day as well. In fact, they run errands, have meaningful relationships, tackle hardships, farm land, gather in church buildings and meet for coffee. Isn't it so easy to live life with such blinders on, or is it just me?

Anyways, I'm thinking of our Gran and Papaw tonight. I pray they are resting well together on their farm in Indiana.

snow

A few images from the big snow in December. It keeps coming, which has been a pleasant surprise. It makes us enjoy this part of the world even more!