Weekend Update in iPhone Pics {4.13.14}

Well we are all the way to Wednesday, but here is a quick share from our weekend. Friday was really busy for Ryan but we got to have a quick family lunch at Founder's Plaza. For those who aren't familiar, this is a neat picnic spot out by DFW where you can watch planes taking off and landing. Ryan and Eva both enjoy watching planes so this is a great spot for us.

They have these statues of children pretending to fly and Eva kept asking me to take her picture with them. She rarely ASKS for me to take her picture. She kept running up to each one and imitating it and saying, "CHEESE! Mama! CHEESE!"

Friday afternoon Ryan put me to work helping to fold tshirts and pack bags for the contestants of the Live Like Josh basketball tournament. I am pretty quick at folding and rolling up shirts now!

Saturday morning we had the Trophy Club Easter Egg Hunt. I personally do not care at all about the Easter bunny and think it's a bit creepy. I was telling Eva about it ahead of time just so she wouldn't freak out when she saw it. I explained just like, "Oh, some people like to see cute bunnies in spring time. Our friend is pretending to dress up like a bunny today just like you play dress up. She's just being so silly." When we got there she was so excited to see our friend be a bunny and kept wanting her picture taken. Again. She better be this photo-ready for Easter next Sunday :) 

The egg hunt cracked me up (pun intended). We rushed to get to the right field before they started. On your mark, get set....slowly look for an egg. Hahaha, they weren't even hidden, only laid about everywhere and Eva was SO SLOW to pick up any egg. She was very cautious and only picked up about 12 before she decided she was done. When we hide empty eggs at home she really enjoys stuffing her basket, and I told her these eggs actually had candy in them! Oh, well. She was way more happy to see her little buddy, Brewer and noticed that he could walk a lot more now. 

After the egg hunt we went to the high school to help serve at the Live Like Josh basketball tournament that Ryan helped coordinate. Our other buddy, Grayson was there. I told Eva that it was his half-birthday (he's 6 months old) so she sang Happy Birthday to him all by herself and then handed him a pretend cake and said "Blow it out!" 

My husband is one hard working man. I don't think most people realize how hard he works for his job. Like pretty much non-stop hard all week long last week. I am proud to be his wife.

Finally on Sunday morning we had the 2 year celebration for Live Like Josh. Josh's family spoke and hopefully we were able to encourage tons of people!

One day he is coming...

For the past month I felt like I have had nothing to blog about or no time in which to blog....this week I suddenly feel like I have TONS to blog about, although still not tons of time to blog. So here is another quick blog about what the Lord has laid on my heart these past few days.

Sunday night at youth Ryan taught about Easter. He did it from the stand point of, "So, what?" Why is Easter important? Why do we care that the story teaches us that Christ is risen? Why does that even matter?

It matters because it's TRUTH. That Jesus really is alive. As I was teaching about this with my group of small girls, I just felt so encouraged and excited about this truth. Jesus didn't just die and then have his soul go on to Heaven. Jesus overcame DEATH, ROSE to life again, and is ALIVE now. Wow. I have been praying that our students would be excited about this amazing truth that shows that Jesus is who he says he was, that teaches us that God's power and ability is infinitely greater than we can imagine, and that assures us that the peace Jesus offers us is real.

Then I started to think about how I want to teach Eva about Easter. I want my sweet girl to LOVE Easter as much as Christmas! Easter really is every bit if not more important than Christmas because we are celebrating that not only was our Savior born, but he is still ALIVE and with us!  So I've been busily planning this afternoon ways that I can make Easter meaningful, understandable, and exciting to a two year old. Yes, we will do the silly bunny and egg crafts because that's fun and she is two and loves all things art. I will dress her up in a sweet Easter dress and enjoy taking pictures of her hunting for eggs (which we will probably do at least 3 times). But I want to do more than that. I promise, she can already tell you that Easter is about chocolate bunnies and finding eggs. That is permanently in her brain. Now I want the part about God loving her SO MUCH that he would send his son to die so that she can know him FOREVER to be in her HEART.

What are my first steps? Well, I made the chalkboard above based on the song Glorious Day by Casting Crowns....but that's really more for me. For me to see it every time I walk our stairs. For me to remember that my love for Jesus matters to her. Then I order The Easter Story today from Amazon. She already has tons of books about finding eggs or with pictures of cute little animals. I wanted another special Easter book just about Jesus. Yes, we read it in her little Bible, but it's only a couple of pages and this will be something special that we can set out just at Easter. My other ideas are all on my Easter Pinterest Board.....I am really looking forward to doing the shortened, toddler version of Resurrection Eggs. In December I made up at "25 Days of Christmas" calendar with something to do each day, and I thought briefly about doing something like the "20 Days of Easter" but right now I am in a season of life where I probably don't need to try to do quite that much. I want this to be meaningful but also simple. Maybe just a few things each week would be better.

I encourage everyone who reads this to really ask God to show you new truths this Easter. Pray to be excited. Pray to be encouraged. Happy Easter!

Weekend Update in iPhone Pics {1.12.14}

Friday night we had some of our BSM students over for pizza. We have just selected 4 students to be our  BSM Ambassadors (to act as leaders and be available for student ministry input) so we invited them over to hang out and go over everything. I did not get a picture :(

After they left we went to the high school basketball game. Usually the varsity boys' game is too late for us to watch but we were able to stick around and see some of it. Go Bobcats!

Saturday afternoon we had over our friends, the McKinneys. Andrew used to work with Ryan at Redeemer and they were friends even before that from Denton Bible Church. They brought their sweet baby, Eleanor with them. We hadn't seen Eleanor since she was newborn tiny. This girl is quite a cutie! Eva had a good time playing with her and even tried to share her favorite Buzz Lightyear toy, which sadly Eleanor is too young to play with. 

Along with Monica, we also invited my bff Erica. Erica and Monica were close college friends back before I ever knew Monica and we all love each other now! 

The ladies were busy talking in the other room when I looked up and saw this. Our husbands sitting in the playroom doing puzzles with their baby girls...and not in a complainful "oh man we got stuck with the kids" way....they were totally just playing and being men like this was their new normal and they love it. #heartmelted

Eleanor was kind enough to bring back the whale bathtub she had borrowed from us for her "baby days" now that she has outgrown it. Eva on the other hand was pretty convinced that she was still a baby and still needed to use it. Hahaha, can you imagine bathing a two year old in that thing? 

Saturday night we went to Dallas and met my family at Grimaldi's. I had been wanting to try this place for a while and it was sooooo good. That's me, enjoying my "small" pizza. It was about 3 times as big as my head. I ordered a white pizza with bacon and black olives. It was delicious! And I will have leftovers for many days! 

My cousin Aaron was there to see us one last time before he headed back to his army base. Eva enjoyed wearing his army hat. 

Afterwards we shopped and walked around the new(ish?) Shops at Park Lane. I'm sure this has probably been here a few years now, but it sure wasn't when I was growing up and I'd never been before. We have tons of outdoor shops right by us in Southlake, but these shops felt so hip and urban. Also Eva LOVED getting swung in the air while she walked with Mamy and Baba. Grandparents are the best.

Sunday morning we went to church. I have been meaning to get a picture of Eva all dressed up in this adorable sparkly dress that she was gifted, but every time she wears it I forget. She had already taken off her cardigan, tights, and sparkly shoes to ride her tricycle, but at least I snapped this photo. Girly and sporty? Sounds like Eva.

Sunday night we had BSM at our place. I mentioned in my 5 on Friday that God has been doing great things and answered many prayers. I love having so many students in our home learning about how much God loves them. 

I will leave you with this. At first glance, she looks too cool for words. At second glance, you realize that she has her eyes closed behind the glasses.

Seeing Santa and Holiday Fun

On Friday we took Eva to Northpark mall in Dallas. We debated about seeing the train exhibit there but decided to wait another year or so. I dressed her up in her festive outfit (the one I hand wash all the time so she can keep rewearing it) and we enjoyed the sights and sounds of Christmas at Northpark.

I had heard that they do a Santa story time and luckily we ended up in front of Macy's at just the right time. We decided to just do story time instead of sitting on Santa's lap this year. She got to shout out "Bike!" when Santa asked the kids to tell him what they wanted. We didn't make it through the whole story time but she enjoyed it.

At lunch time we met up with my parents to celebrate my dad's 61st birthday. Eva sure loves her Baba! 

Saturday afternoon we took Eva to a concert for one of our youth students. I mentioned in over places how well she did and I am still so impressed. Eva does not sit still and is not quiet but she did so great at the concert. She likes classical music and loves her friend Austin (who played in the concert) so I think that along with some Dora stickers and the promise of candy helped her to last for the whole concert. 

Sunday morning our church did an event that included breakfast with Santa! She was very excited to see him again, especially close up in person! She didn't want a picture alone with him but was perfectly happy to smile as long as her daddy was holding her. And she hasn't stopped talking about him.....

During the breakfast the kids could decorate gingerbread houses and cookies. What kid doesn't want a heaping of sugar to go with their breakfast?

Eva may have tried several times to swipe extra cookies and candy. 

Look at that Santa cookie! I always have big dreams of how my cookies could look but they always end up as a blob of frosting with sprinkles.

The kids went into BKids while the adults went to service. Eva loves to sing and dance long during BKids Worship! 

As part of our special Sunday we had different stations set up for the kids to learn about giving. While the bigger kids were doing a lesson with their teachers I took Eva and her friend Lennon out of the nursery to do a few of the stations. First we decorated cards to give to people who need a bit of cheering up at Christmas time. Eva covered her card in Buzz Lightyear and sports stickers. Let's hope that card makes it to a little kid who will enjoy those stickers. 

Then I took them to the story station which I did for the bigger kids too. I love that they both lied down to read the story. Those two crack me up :)

We wrapped up the weekend with our Student Ministries'  Christmas party. We played games, wore tacky sweaters, and ate way too much sugar all while celebrating the birth of Jesus!
PS Eva posed herself like that when we went to take the picture. Where did she even get that idea? 

Pumpkins and Pie, Oh my!

If there is one thing I enjoy as much as a beautiful orange pumpkin, it is a delicious slice of pie. Sunday night our youth group combined two of my favorite things for a night of pumpkins and pies. I managed to photo bomb my own picture (Ryan was using the real camera) but hopefully you can get a glimpse of how many wonderful pies there were. And this isn't even all of them! We had pumpkin, apple, peach, chocolate, and razzleberry pies plus little pumpkin cheesecake, cupcakes, and cookies. We ended up having 16 pies and 36 people, so there was plenty of pie to go around.

Middle school girls enjoying scooping out the pumpkin goo. Their faces are priceless. 

We've carved pumpkins every year that Ryan has been a youth pastor, but there were some people there who had never carved a pumpkin before. 

This year we had the foresight to cover not only the tables but the floor as well with table clothes. It helped a bit with clean up. 

Making some intricate designs. The options for pumpkin carving are endless! 

At the end of the night we had everybody who was still at our house light their pumpkins on our back porch. Don't be frightened, they're friendly pumpkins :) 

The World's LONGEST Living Room

When we first looked at the home we live in now, one of the things that stuck out to me the most was the living room. Our living room is extremely long, especially for the size home we have. In comparison, our kitchen is tiny. I remember thinking, "Why did they build this house to have such a long living room and such a tiny kitchen? Did the builder make a mistake?" I didn't know how on earth we would make the furniture we have look normal or where we would keep all our kitchen stuff that didn't fit in the kitchen. And then....we started hosting our student ministry gathering in our living room. You know what fits really well in a long living room?  20-30 students. Lots of pillows. Folding chairs.  I feel like God absolutely, positively knew that we would be able to use this living room to reach and disciple students. How awesome is that?! Our furniture looks fine, and we keep all of our extra kitchen stuff in the playroom closet.

However, Bara Church is now ready to take the next step. We have had many students and families join us and feel that God is calling our church to ARISE and BUILD. We are looking towards the possibility of a permanent building in the future....maybe one with a space for youth?!?! Two Sundays ago our church got to watch this video sharing our vision and hopes for the future. It is exciting!!!

Arise and Build Video

The church in the Bible always refers to the people gathering together. It isn't specific to a building. We are the church. But having a physical place to allow for more opportunities would be amazing. Part of Ryan's job is to oversee the weekly set up and tear down for our church, and the other day he calculated how many 100's of Sundays he has done this while at Bara and our former church....it is a lot! He will happily, joyfully continue setting up, but wow, what a blessing it would be if that time could be further directed towards other areas of ministry.

Also this Sunday we had three people get baptized after our service. Ryan got to baptize one of our youth and was so encouraged to get to partake in his first baptism as a pastor. Our pastor Joel joked about how the baptism trough looked a bit unsteady and cold this Sunday, and that maybe one day we could have a more permanent baptism tub. Haha, we shall see!

We are looking forward to seeing where God will lead Bara....how He will accomplish such a seemingly gigantic mission....who He will use.....who He will bring to Bara! Please pray for our church in the coming months!

Ryan's Ordination

This past Sunday my husband Ryan was officially ordained as a pastor at our church. This was a really special day for us to share with our faith family. 

Before Ryan's ordination we had a final farewell for our church's summer interns. These college students have worked so hard and each of them made such a contribution to our youth ministry this summer. They will be missed as they go back to college! Plus they are seriously some of Eva's favorite people in the world - she talks about these students all day long. Thanks to all the interns for the love and time you invested in BSM this summer!

Then some of the men of Bara were called up to the front to pray over Ryan. Ryan loves these men so much and we are grateful for the leadership in our lives as well as the church.

Pastor Joel officially anointed Ryan's head with oil from Jerusalem. I really appreciated what Joel had to say in sharing that this one moment is simply a symbolic acknowledgement of what God had already planned for Ryan to do with his life. Being ordained doesn't suddenly make his some kind of super hero or "Super Christian," rather it is a public acknowledgement and blessing for Ryan's role in the church.

The whole church prayed for Ryan. This was such a special moment. And then we surprised Ryan with a wonderful slide show of pictures of all the ministry we've been involved in over the years. Tears were flowing from both of us! Thank you to the friends that worked so hard to make the slideshow awesome!

Finally I got to join him up front as he received his gift. He got a beautiful crystal cross that was engraved with his name, the date, and his favorite Bible verse. I also received a really pretty corsage to wear.

Next we headed out to the foyer for a Dr. Pepper and cupcake reception - just what this man loves! 

If they made a blooper reel for the day this moment would definitely be on it.  Right as we were starting the toast my corsage started to fall and when I went to fix it I poured ice water all down the front of my dress. Sometimes awkward moments happen to me.

Us with our pastor's daughter,  Emily. She is such a wonderful blessing to our family! We all love Emily!!!! 

 Us with one of our youth, Beth. We are so happy that God brought Beth to Bara to serve with us!

After the reception our families and some church members were treated to lunch at the country club. We really appreciate all of our family that made time to drive out to be there. It's always nice when the whole Bradley crew is together! 

My family also took the time to come shower us with support and love. We are amazingly blessed to have two wonderful families that love us so deeply. Thank you family!!!!! 

All 4 granddaughters! I love these little people so much. I want to take them all home with me every time we are together.

 Ryan and our pastor, Joel. I'm glad that he has a boss that loves people and is great to work with!

Then at youth tonight two of our girls decided to put on a skit. They did a hilarious reenacted of what "Morning at the Bradley's" would be like. How did they know we have dance parties? They must be secretly filming us :) 

And just in case his ordination wasn't official enough, they decided to knight him with a golf club. Now I know there is no going back. Hahaha, these girls are so funny. 

I love my husband and am so proud of him. It is an honor to be called to be his wife. I hope our life in ministry is fruitful and glorifying to God and I look forward to see what God has planned in our lives!