Hello All!! I am a very very excited and happy Chapman today. Tanner and I got engaged this past weekend! We are so excited to be in this new stage of life and are thankful for all of your prayers for us and our relationship. Please continue to pray for us as we plan and prepare for "the big day." It is our desire the the Lord will be glorified and praised even in the smallest details of planning! God is so good!
This weekend was so much fun. One of my favorite events of the year, that takes place in Franklin, was this weekend...The Main Street Festival!! I have so enjoyed going to this festival ever since I was a youngster. This weekend I was able to attend the festival with three little cuties! I decided to take Shaoey, Stevey and Maria off of my parents' hands for a bit. I took the three girls to the festival Saturday afternoon! It was a blast, but I was certainly worn out after a long stroller pushin' day! This picture captured a petting zoo moment. The girls loved the ducks and bunny rabbits!
How was that for some crazy alliteration? Tabby (Tanner's little sister) celebrated her birthday earlier this month and I was so blessed to be included in the Red Lobster dinner tradition! It was such a blast! Oh, and if I may take the time to say Tab just finished her first 1/2 Marathon today and I am SO proud of her!!
Well...I am just hanging out in my office today dreaming of ways to engage the younger generation to really care for orphans!! My younger bro stopped in earlier for a meeting, and I am thrilled to see where God takes us! Please continue to pray for Shaohannah's Hope!! Thanks...as High School Musical says, "We're all in this together..."
As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, I had the amazing opportunity to speak in Sarasota, Florida today! I spoke at an orphan care event and I was so encouraged by Sarasota's passion to care for the millions of children living without a mother or father! In the picture with me is my co-worker, Wendy Cosby, on the left, and my good friend, Deb Gangemi, on the right! Deb coordinated the event in Sarasota! Her passion to follow hard after God's mandate to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27) is so inspiring. During my time spent in Sarasota (which is a BEAUTIFUL city if you ever have the chance to visit) I was encouraged and excited as others began to catch the vision and the passion to be the physical hands and feet of Jesus Christ to those hurting in our world today! To God be all the glory for what He began and accomplished at the Sarasota event!
Well friends, I have a confession to make! I have found a new drink at Starbucks that is extremely tasty!! Let me introduce you to the Honey Latte! I'm not sure if it has been on the menu for awhile or if it is new BUT I really like it! I had one this morning...with an extra shot of espresso! It was an early morning as I was up preparing for a speech I will be giving tomorrow at an Orphan Care event in Sarasota, Florida. If you would please pray that the Lord would communicate exactly what he needs to through my feeble words, I would be forever grateful :) Thank you friends!
Today, I opened my fridge and I found these two little goofballs. I know it has been awhile since I last blogged. I am sorry and hope you can accept my sincere apology. A lot has happened since we last talked...I've graduated college, started a new job, and turned 22!! Whoooo that is a lot. But I have missed you all and am glad to be back at this blogging business :) Enjoy the picture of Stevey and Maria...I hope it makes you laugh as much as I did when I cam across this scene!
If you guys have been reading my Mom's blog you might know that Tanner and I had a blast taking the little girls to see Hannah Montana in concert...or was it a Miley Cyrus concert? I'm not really sure...haha. But one thing I am sure of is that Maria Sue eyed the cotton candy AS SOON as we walked in the doors. So, what was a good big sister to do? I think she enjoyed the cotton candy more than the music!
Over Thanksgiving break I visited with some dear friends who just returned home from China with their second little bundle of joy! The Oatsvalls are dear friends! In this picture with me is their first little baby from China! And yes, we share the same name! What an incredible honor and blessing it is to have the cutest little girl as my namesake! Can't wait to move home and spend time with you guys!
This past weekend was my last BU homecoming experience as a student! Next homecoming...I'll be in the "alumni" crowd! It has gone by so fast. Tanner helped my mom and three sisters travel all the way to wacky Waco for a weekend full of green and gold!! Goodness it was so refreshing to have them in my city for a bit! Oh, and did you know that Baylor has the largest homecoming parade in the nation! Impressive...and the little girls loved it.
