HINT, HINT

CORE (kor) n. 1. the central, innermost, or most essential part of anything.

Labor Day at High Hampton

After a FUN Friday night we left first thing Saturday morning for our mountain getaway. We have not had a real family vacation in almost a year so it was LOOOOOONG overdue.

We made our way up through the mountians and the roads were like this....

Hi, my name is Kasey and I suffer from severe motion sickness; no Imax or 3D movies for me, please.

I took my dramamine and thank goodness Brian let me drive through these tough parts.

This little boy snoozed right through...thankfully because our ears were popping like crazy. 

 Nine hours later we arrived.

When we checked in they offered us tea. I accepted.

I think I prefer my tea over ice, with sugar and NO MILK.

Thomas on the other hand enjoyed every last bit of his oatmeal raisin cookie.

It was just perfect! So beautiful.

We enjoyed morning hikes.

This is me waiting outside while Brian makes his tee time, so we could leave for our hike.

This is Brian after booking his tee time.

Gosh, golf makes him so so so very happy.

I so so so enjoyed our hikes....

Brian and Thomas played 18 holes of golf.

This was were our Labor Day dinner took place...

Lots of new friends have been added to our Christmas card list....

Celebrating

I have never been more humbled, more excited, and more anxious. I have never been MORE PROUD and MORE IN LOVE with this man.....

I told my daddy today that Brian was taking a huge leap of faith and just so I'll remember forever what he told me he said, "Its not a leap of faith if it's a guaranteed success, I know Brian and he is a guaranteed success.", along with "....I'm getting teared up", and "I wish I had the opportunities to do what he is doing.".

When I told my friend Leslie about how at ease, resolute, and genuinely at peace more than I've ever seen him she said," We, as wives, are at our happiest when our husbands are fulfilled."

My friend Deana and I caught up today after a week of not talking -has it been a busy week for yall too?-....we've kept things so quiet for so long, she had no idea....said, "I'M SO EXCITED, Let's get together so we can share in your JOY!"

I say all this to say that tonight, the Sartin's are celebrating.

We are celebrating with JuJu's mexican cornbread. It is so fantastic that I MUST share it with you.

JuJu's Mexican Cornbread Recipe

(It's mine and John Gardner's MOST favorite food)

1 cup of Cornmeal MIX- don't do just "cornmeal" I've tried it; total mess.

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cups sour cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can of creamed corn

Diced Jalepenos to taste

Preheat your oven to 350; go ahead and put your cast iron skillet into the oven now too. Mix all ingredients.

Pour batter into skillet and bake for 55 minutes; you'll have to test the "doneness".

DELICIOUS.SERIOUSLY.DELICIOUS

We parted our hair in the bathtub.

Daddy thought we looked too similiar to a certain German dictator...

So we changed it up a bit.

Ahh, much better.

Can't wait to share with you EVERY detail of why we are celebrating.

  The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:2-4

We hope your weekend is filled with joy!

Friday Updates

Hey there, Have you had a good week? We have. We've had lots of quality time with some of our favorite people and I'm so thankful for those relationships.  That's what life is all about, right? Relationships?

I lost a dear friend last weekend. Her name was Barbara Nichols. She was 56 years old and last Spring she was diagnosed with cancer that was throughout her body.  She was given a very grim diagnosis from the very beginning. Throughout her treatment she was so filled with joy. She lived life to the fullest.  It was difficult for me to understand that what she faced was terminal because she was filled with abundant joy; Always thankful for today.

I was heartbroken not to be able to attend her funeral. Daddy went and said it was a "homecoming" service. I loved that. Isn't that what we all want is to be home? Home with our parents. Home with our grandparents. Home with our friends. Home with our spouses. Home with our children.

During our wedding ceremony Barbara's husband, Brother Sid, talked about how one day we will be neighbors for eternity- you see we were neighbors for several years when I was growing up. They were our very best friends.  I have peace at her passing because I feel that statement he made even more today than when he talked about it on September 25th, 2004.

But as you read this, I do covet your prayers for the Nichols family. I know that although they are steadfast believers in Jesus Christ; they will miss their mother, wife and friend tremendously. 

In more light hearted news, Thomas and I accompanied JuJu this week on a shopping trip. It was an adventure.

Thomas is so fun these days. He loves seeing himself in a mirror.... he points and says, "Baby".  "Yes,

Thomas, you are very smart. That IS Mommy's baby." I reply.

He was so so very well behaved. We even got to squeeze in a nice lunch.

I'm writing this with much anticipation because we have a trio getaway planned for this weekend.  The weather, present temps excluded, has been scorchingly hot so I found a few cooler locales and then let Brian decide.

Let me introduce you to the winner:

Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Something Fun

Oh how I love these guys....

I cant remember a time in my life when I haven't been a fan of the VeggieTales.  But in college, while doing a babysitting gig I was introduced to this fabulous lady...

Her name is Madam Blueberry and if you know her and you know me; then you'll know she and I have a few things in common.  If you don't know what I'm talking about you should definitely look into it NOW.

The year was 1993, My life looked something like this....

and this guy was playing on my walkman.

(On a side note as I type this, it's dawned for the bazillionth time in my life how thankful I am for my Mom and Dad.  Thankful they raised us in a home where my sister and I had the lives we did.) 

Oh wow, how I have sang his music over the years. I've "Saddled Up Your Horses" at numerous VBS's and youth conferences, sung "I Will Be Here" at probably 20 weddings.  Its great stuff; encouraging, uplifting, inspirational. 

Now for myself and for my son, I have THIS to look forward to. I just CANNOT WAIT.   

CLICK HERE for a sneak peak of how great its going to be!!

His Masterpiece

"For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

A Letter to My Son

Dear Thomas,

Countless heartbreaking stories are in the news today. Sometimes the evil around us can fill me with an overwhelming sense of grief and anger.  No one is certain of what tomorrow holds for us, but I know one thing that I must share with you today.  The bible tells us in Romans 12:11, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord". God gave you life and wants you to live with zeal and passion for him.

Even at 18 months, I see that you were born with a lively spirit.  God gave you that quality and he asked that you use it for His purpose.  Yes, I do feel like God created you with a naturally free spirit, strong will and bubblyness- right now you have lots of that. 

I pray that you grow to love and serve those around you with passion and zeal. I pray that with everyday you are gifted with you are encouraging and uplifting to others. I pray that God bless you with deep, close friendships that will bless you and your family for a lifetime.  God has a divine plan for you son.  I can't wait to see it unfold.

Thomas, God wants you to live a life full of passion and love despite the everyday experience that can give us grief, sadness, and heartache.

I pray you love passionately; love people, love God, and love life passionately.

I pray you serve passionately.

I pray you give passionately.

"God loves a cheerful giver." Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:7

I pray you worship passionately.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." God tells us in John 10:10