Emma and Eli: April 2019

5 years ago today. Eli is one of the most precious gifts of God’s Grace to our family! So thankful for our son…truly a gift from God! #7000days#ThatSmileSavesHimEverytime

Lots of fun with friends at dinner after a great day at the beach. Excited about all that God has in store for our @cedarcrestchurchmission trip serving here in PCB this week. #7000days #CedarcrestMissions#Gospel

Off to a great start here in Panama City Beach on our @cedarcrestchurch family mission trip. We got to get a jump on our landscaping today with 80 bags of mulch to get Cedar Grove Elementary looking sharp for the school side carnival/cookout we will be hosting tomorrow. Will you join us in praying for lots of opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ as we learn the stories of these precious people? So many reminders all around of the catastrophic hurricane that came through back in the fall. May the hope of Jesus overcome the weariness this community feels. Grateful for the opportunity to be here with our awesome Cedarcrest Church family. #FindSomeFriendsWhoWillSitFourDeepOnABenchMeantForThree#IfWeWentToChilisWeWouldAlreadyBeHome #ReaganCantEatPopcorn#7000days

Such a treat to serve our new friends at Cedar Grove Elementary in Panama City with our @cedarcrestchurch family. I heard some powerful stories today of God’s faithfulness in the midst of the storm. Today was about having some fun, eating lots of hot dogs, jumpies, facepainting, tattoos, and more. All so that people can know that Jesus is the source of HOPE for all people at all times. #HurricaneMichael #PCB2019#CedarcrestMissions #7000days

We dodged the rain off and on all day yesterday, but it was still a great day!

The Strange crew and a friend spent the first part of the day over at the Tent Community that a lady set up in her backyard to provide a place for people who had lost their homes in the storm. She is very particular about the Tent Community wanting to make sure it is a safe and healthy place for everyone. One of our groups went there Wednesday, so our return was to take lunches as well as to deliver some Bibles and stuffed animals that had been donated. One of the ladies was so grateful because she didn’t have a copy of the Bible to read after having to pack up all of her belongings so quickly when the storm came. She and her three children are living in one of those small sheds that Home Depot sells for yard equipment. She was so proud to have organized it and made a home for her family. Thank you for praying for Octavia and her sweet children and everyone still living in the Tent Community.

We spent the rest of our time dodging rain and cleaning debris from a family’s backyard. We were honored to have the opportunity to pray with the man of the house for him and his family.

At dinner last night, lots of us on our @cedarcrestchurch team were talking about the fact that there is still so much to do. I hope other churches may be able to find a way to come join the work here in Panama City. Several months later, there is still so much to be done. And the good news is that people are pretty open to being helped and open to hearing the gospel. Some of the situations we have learned about are hard to believe they are taking place in America. Let’s keep our “YES” on the table to how the Lord might use all of us to help bring HOPE to this community. John 17:20-26 #CedarcrestMissions

It’s a beautiful evening for softball at KSU! Cheering on the @GeorgiaTech Yellow Jackets against @ksuowlssb with Emma’s softball team. #GoJackets ? ? #7000days

Thanks so much to @atlutd Goalkeeper @bguzan for coming out to meet the Acworth fans at Logan Farm Park this afternoon. Super fun for my two favorite soccer players! Emma was so excited to have him sign her goalie gloves. Eli was star struck and didn’t say anything at all. So fun! Thanks @visitacworth and @amfamilymarvonwilliamsagency for hosting this great event! #ATLUTD#7000days

HUGE Congratulations to all of our @NCCSEagles Visual Artists on an amazing Spring Art show! I continue to be so impressed with the great work that comes from our kids and the exceptional leadership of Mr. Rupp, Ms. Lawler, and Mrs. Rupp. I’m so grateful for the way that our kids are challenged to learn more about their talents and gifts so they can use them for God’s glory. I loved ALL the artwork, but am particularly fond of the pieces by this cute 10 year old and my little 6 year old wild man. Thank you @nccsarts for your great leadership! #GoEagles #WeAreNCCS#NCCSFamily #7000days #ProudMom#ProudPrincipal

Special evening of worship with our church family @cedarcrestchurch. Grateful for the opportunity Good Friday provides to remember the cost of our salvation. It was such a blessing to be with so many people that are so special to our family. I was so excited to see lots of people that I have never seen before in my life. I hope they will be back! These are exciting days at Cedarcrest! Sunday’s coming!

Happy Easter from the Strange crew! #7000days#Strange2019

What a day for a triathlon! A beautiful day to kick off the @tritheparks race series at John Tanner State Park. So many moments of inspiration this morning watching people complete their first triathlon with their family and friends cheering them on. It’s such an honor for Emma and I to be a part of the Tri the Parks team with our friends as we host and serve these incredible athletes. The Lord provided a great morning all around! Come join us June 8th at Lake Lanier Rowing Park for the next race! #7000days

I’m so grateful for the vision of Mrs. Swank, Ms. Speck, Mrs. Romeo, and the Upper School Girls Group @NCCSEagles! They have been praying, planning, and preparing over the past few months to host “Abide Together” as a special night of worship, fellowship, teaching, and service for our Upper School Ladies. Emma and I had a blast! I’m so thankful for the high school girls and all the ladies that helped make this a special evening of encouraging each other and pointing to the truth of Scripture. Erika Garcia and Rachel Turnbough led us in worship and Jessica Hidden brought a powerful message about who we are in Christ. We learned from several ladies in our breakout sessions and wrapped up the evening learning about and putting together Purses for Possibilities from NCCS Mom Melanie Dempsey. It was a treasure to be with all these ladies this evening! #GoEagles #WeAreNCCS#NCCSFamily #7000days#AbideTogether #GirlsNight