A Purposeful Peek

Two thousand and thirteen.  Yet another memorable year in which we were blessed by both expected and unexpected adventures.  It seems like every December, we all say "where did this year go?" It just seems to fly by.  I'm learning that if I don't take the time to consciously enjoy each adventure, it all blends together into "just another year."  While I didn't make a specific "New Year's Resolution" for 2013, my goal was to be more intentional about enjoying each month and not wishing it away in anticipation of the next season.  I think it's safe to say that although I may not have stayed in this mindset 100% of the time, this year was one in which I truly enjoyed each season.  As I reminisce about this year, here are some of my favorite memories from each month: January. Rang in the New Year celebrating the marriage of a dear friend to the love of her life. We dined and danced into 2013 with my closest college friends at The Depot in...

Over the years, I've received many incredible gifts during the month of December…but none sweeter than this one in December 2012… my youngest nephew, Nathanael Oak!  Born exactly one year ago, I was so lucky to meet him within a week of his birth. My sister and brother-in-law make the most precious babies, and I love the intentional process they go through when choosing a name.  You can read her beautiful description of it here .    …they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. -Isaiah 61:3 I've only seen little Nate in person during two visits to Oklahoma since last December, and he and his big brother are two of the biggest reasons that living across the country can be so difficult! But thanks to the invention of FaceTime, I've been able to share in many of Nate's first year milestones, and he definitely recognizes his Aunt Leigh. Sweet Nate, I can hardly wait to hold you, hear your first words, ...

I learned early on in our relationship that there was another woman in JJ's life who I could never compete with.  She is one of a kind and has a special place in his heart that is reserved only for her.  Incredible cook. Impeccable hostess. Skilled NASCAR driver (with a special talent for charming police officers). Loyal family woman. Devoted wife of 60+ years. Mrs. Claus celebrity status.  Passionate follower of Jesus. We call her Mammo.  Others call her Jo Rheta. Some may even compare her to the Proverbs 31 woman. She is truly one of the most loving, selfless people I've ever known, and I'm so glad that she has been the "other woman" in my husband's life.  Even more, I'm glad to have her in my own life as an example of someone I can only hope to emulate (but never replace!) So, here's to you Mammo - HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY! We celebrate and honor you on this special day.     Love, Your grandson's "other woman"

If you know anything about JJ and I (or if you just read The Love Story on this blog) you know that running has special significance in our journey together. It's how we first began spending time together (training for our first half marathon), began dating, and eventually got engaged (at that same half marathon). We have often planned our vacations around races in fun U.S. cities (Virginia Beach, Nashville, Las Vegas, NC Outer Banks, etc.), and our friends have often asked us why we can't just be "normal" and go on a vacation for vacation's sake, instead of for the purpose of running. We have run together in countless U.S. states and in at least 7 countries on 4 different continents. When asked "Who is faster? Which one of you wins?" we just laugh… you see, we always run in stride together - it's what makes us a team. When one of us is struggling, we rely on the other to encourage us.  Most of the time, it works out that one of us sets the pace f...

I hope you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving week!  It's easy to be thankful when everything seems to be going smoothly and exactly as you have planned, when life is going your way.  But what about the unexpected, the times when nothing goes as planned? I have a friend who is pregnant with her third child.  With all of the expected excitement that comes along with this good news, she also received some unexpected bad news. She has cancer. My friend started her Thanksgiving week in the hospital for the first stage of treatment: surgery.  I wish more than anything that she could have been at home with her kids and husband, preparing to host a big Thanksgiving celebration.  I wish she never had to go through this, and I will never understand why this had to happen.  But as JJ and I prayed with her and her family on Monday morning just prior to surgery, I was thankful for the unexpected opportunity to see God work even through her illness. She has already inspi...

There's something so gratifying about finding the perfect gift for a certain person. There's something even more special about knowing that you are blessing not only the recipient, but also the seller/crafter/vendor.  Throughout my world travels, I have been privileged to meet many incredibly talented and hard-working individuals whose craft is truly their livelihood...  Amazon women in Peru who create unique hand-painted pottery.  Turkish women who labor over carpet looms. African women who sew vibrant batik cloths into elaborate dresses.  These women (and men, too) paint, dye, spin, sew, and craft products that can not be recreated, as each item is one of a kind.  I make it a point to purchase some of these quality souvenirs to remind me of each country I visit.  Of all the decor in my home, my international items consistently draw the most compliments from house guests! While I am excited to present many of my family members with unique, handmade Chr...

I mentioned Poli and Antonnyo, "our African kids" in my first post about Africa .  What I knew was that I couldn't wait to meet them and that I hoped to spend at least one day with them while staying in their home village. What I didn't know was the incredible way in which God would honor that desire. It was Wednesday morning under the hot Togo sun, and my gaze constantly drifted to the lone clock on the wall of the pavilion that served as the church/school/makeshift dental office.  I was not wishing away my time with the 60 patients who eagerly awaited their turn in a dental chair, meanwhile congregating outside under the woven straw canopy. Nor was I counting down the time until I could rinse the sweat that was pooling underneath my scrubs or guzzle my next bottled water. I was simply counting the hours, minutes, and seconds until 12:00 noon, when I would finally get to meet our beloved kids. Bruno, our gracious host and principal of the school, had arranged for u...

We began as a team of thirteen. Four dentists, two dental assistants, two pharmacists, a pharmacy tech, a pastor, a pastor's wife, and two other adventurous women.  Just ordinary people blessed with an extraordinary opportunity to travel to Sub-Saharan Western Africa. Some of us knew each other long before Africa, but most of us met in the few months leading up to the trip. Others literally met at the airport for the first time. We went to serve, love, and pull a LOT of teeth. Five days of dental clinic. Over three hundred patients and somewhere in the neighborhood of a thousand tooth extractions. But the real story is not about who we are or what we did... She left before sunrise and walked from the border of Benin, a neighboring country. She heard something on the radio that gave her hope. Hope that she might find relief from pain that she had been suffering from for far too long. She arrived only to find that her infection was too severe for immediate treatment and that ...