College Life Camping

This past weekend we went camping in the Wichita Mountains with the college group we do ministry with. It was so fun! It was a great time to relax and hang out with the students off campus and just have a good time.

We went for a hike to the highest point in the mountain range to watch the sunset. It was beautiful.

This is Michelle, my good friend and the wife of the college pastor. She is 4 1/2 months pregnant and so close to finding out the gender or what we like to call, flavor of the baby.=)

Eric waiting for the sun to set.

This is Jeremy and Arash. Jeremy, on the left, is the college pastor and Michelle's husband. Arash, has been attending Wildwood church for 6-7 years now, plays the electric guitar for the band and works with us in the College Life. They are both great guys.

From left to right: Lindsey, freshman) Katherine, (freshman) Michelle, Abby, (freshman) Lauren, (sophomore) They are such precious girls and I love them to death!!

We saw buffalo!!! They were so cool! The baby one was adorable. They crossed the street as we were driving to the place we were going hike. They are such big animals!

From left to right: Sarah, (sophomore) Abby (freshman) Katherine (freshman) Darby, just graduated in December but still hangs out us in the College Ministry, and Katie, (sophomore) This was before our hike.

This is Rick and Carla. Rick does a camping ministry at Wildwood and he was the one that brought all the food and prepared all our meals while out in the woods. His chili is A-mazing!!! They are such a great couple. On a side note, Rick is also my boss. He is the director of the Norman Arts Council where I work. It is such a blessing working for a believer.

Here Rick is making biscuits over the fire. Its incredible how he cooks when outside.

Eric and I hanging out at the campsite.

The girls of the trip. So cute.

Lauren, on the left, and Sarah in the middle are 2 of my 6 Biblestudy girls. They are so much fun and such a blessing. I have loved leading a Biblestudy. It has been the highlight of this year.

This is Darby. She is so much fun and a complete blessing. She is going to be living with me for about a month while Eric is deployed. She is getting married the beginning of August and her lease runs up end of June. I'm so excited to hang out with her and get to know her better. And help her plan her wedding! Always fun.=)

Andrew Babb. The first born of 12 children and our worship leader. 90% of this air mattress was blow up by his lungs.=) He was pretty winded.

Crazy dog

We are teaching Ellen to sleep on her bed, outside of her crate. I think its best that she is sleeping next to me by the bed rather then caged up in her kennel for when Eric is gone. It definitely makes me feel safer. Well, this is where and how she has slept the past couple nights that we have tried it. I think its adorable. For some reason, she just loves under the bed! I think its because its cave-like and she loves anything that feels enclosed.

St. Louis

Due to the fact that Eric will be in the desert during our 3rd year anniversary, we took our trip early this year. We have a tradition of going to a new city each year to celebrate. We have visited Houston, Kansas City, and this year, it was St. Louis. Its a wonderful tradition, one because you dont have to worry each year what you're going to do, you just have to pick the place! And, you don't have a chance of getting stuck in a rut, cause there are always new cities to visit.

We had an absolutely wonderful time being together, with no distractions, and it just the two of us. The weather wasn't the greatest, except for one day, which was all we needed to go see the Arch and attend a Cardinals game. We even got in FREE, thanks to military discount. Below are the pictures of our time together this weekend. We are so so grateful for the time the Lord has given us with eachother.

My own arch.=)

Eric getting ready to take a cruise on the dinner boat on the Mississippi River.

Being silly, therefore, being Eric.

We did quite a bit of shopping on one of the days that it was raining. And yes, those are all HIS purchases. Ok, maybe only a couple. Okay, maybe only one.

We ate at IMO's, apparently the best St. Louis style pizza there was. It was pretty delicious, but then again, I am ALWAYS up for some pizza. Really thin and crispy and they used mozzerella and cheddar cheese. It was fun to go to a local place and try the cuisine.

Sushi for dinner! So so yummy!

The St. Louis Cardinals. It was so fun to go to a baseball game with Eric. And all-American sport and of course I teared up when we sang the National Anthem. Can't help it when you're taking next to a soldier.=)

Waiting for the game to start.

Pujolas, their best player, hit a GRANDSLAM! It was incredible!!!!

We had a mullet sitting right in front of us. Couldn't help but take a picture. They're becoming a lost art!

Dinner at Maggiano's. So good.


Our massive bowl of Chicken Pesto Linguine with pine nuts that looked hardly untouched after we were finished dinner. Never never get a full serving - always order half.

The Grad Student

This is Eric's new hobby. Studying and writing papers. He has just completed his first Masters class with the final grade of an A. I'm pretty proud of him. He is enrolled in the Human Relations Program at the University of Oklahoma, which officially makes him a Sooner, but only secondary to being a Duke. (GO JMU!!!) He has really enjoyed it so far and will be doing some online classes when he is in the desert. The classes are set up so he goes to class Friday, Saturday and Sunday, for two weeks in a row, and thats it! It's a blessing that is doesn't span out over a long period of time and doesn't take up free week nights that are hard to come by these days.

Worshipping

I"m sorry its been so long. Life has been busy, but beyond that, I've just been in a rut with what to write about. We don't have kids to update on every day and my camera battery is dead with no way to charge it (I lost the charger) so I have had no new pictures to post. But alas, today, I recorded an everyday occurrence for you all to see. This is the latest command that Ellen has learned. She is fully aware of the fact that she will not be petted or touched when she is let inside until she is "worshipping." Sometimes its a little bit more dramatic then others, and today was a mediocre day. She will prostrate herself on the floor, little stump of a tail wagging, waiting for the moment you bend down and pet her. So here it is... Ellen worshipping.

Johnny Appleseed... haha

I miss John. He came out last week to go on the College Life Ski Trip with the college group from our church out here in Oklahoma. We went up to Winter Park, in Colorado and had an amazing time together. He is such a man of God and I respect him so much. It was so cool to see him in his element, on a board in the mountains. Man, that boy can snowboard. I was giddy the whole trip having both him and Eric there. He also just got accepted to the University of Oklahoma, which I am STOKED about. I pray that the Lord leads him to where he's suppose to be, but, secretly, I REALLY JUST WANT HIM TO COME TO OU!=) He is such an amazing brother and I am so honored to be his sister. Love you John.

LA to see Max... Vegas to see Eric!

He's such a cute! Little Max-man was such a joy to hang out with. He slept quite a bit, as babies seem to do,=) but the few times he could keep his eyes open, it was a treat. I had a wonderful visit with my mom and just being available to help settle into having 2 children was great. Phoebe was so precious to Max and couldn't stop kissing his head. Her and I had some fun together. I love the little forehead wrinkles! Here he is trying to get a glimpse of his Nana.

We painted our toenails and she got her fingernails done as well, which she showed off to everyone that came over.

Little Max sleeping away.

Nana with her new grandson.

Phoebe and I were attempting to take a picture together and this is as close as we got. We look so mad at each other, haha! She was not cooperating and so we ended up with a stare-down pic.

Love it.

Phoebe wanted to do everything Max did. Sit in Mom's lap, suck on the binky, and get the car seat. She was so adorable.

And then I headed to Vegas where Eric has been for the past 3 weeks for a string of training missions. He's been pulling 14 hr days and its been a long ride. He comes home tomorrow, which we are both SO excited for. One of my best friends, Sam and her husband Jordan, who live in L.A. were able to drive up and hang out with us for the weekend. We had a wonderful hanging out and having awesome conversations about ministry and life. It was amazing the fellowship we had in such a pagan place.=) It was a great time.

Me and my AF Stud.

Sam and me... or affectionately known as "Shuga & Spice"

Hanging out with the Ballards! We miss you!!!