Gabe Woodward & Olympic trials

I know many of you have asked so I thought I would post the information here! Last summer, I lived with the Woodward family in Bakersfield. Here is a little reminder pic!

Staci, Hudson, Reese & Gabe

Staci's husband, Gabe, has been training hard for some time now for the 2008 Olympics. He competed in 2004 and has continued to be blessed by God with a great talent in this area. Since I have known Gabe, he has always returned thanks to the Lord for this gift and has desired to use it to bring great glory to our God! (...and this he does!) The Olympics Trials for his events are this week in Omaha, Nebraska. He and Staci are there right now!

He competes in the semi-finals for the 100 on Wednesday and the final for the 100 on Thursday. He needs to be in the top 6 of this event to make the team.

He will swim the 50 on Friday and Saturday and will have to be in the top 2 to make the team for this event!

Below is the televised schedule. Watch if you can but more importantly, pray for Gabe! Of course, we would love for Gabe to make the team and for this we can pray! But we also ask that you pray that Gabe would be a bright light in a dark place and that his competition, his conversations and his perspective and outlook on all things would bring great glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We desire so much that the gospel would go forth above all else as Gabe uses this great talent for the glory and honor of our mighty God. Let's pray alongside Gabe and his family for this very thing! I know it would be a great encouragement to him! I will keep you updated as I hear...

Televised Schedule
U.S. Olympic Team Trials: Swimming

Wednesday, July 2 @ 5:00-6:00pm on USA
Thursday, July 3 @ 5:00-6:00pm on USA
Friday, July 4 @ 5:00-6:00pm on NBC
Saturday, July 5 @ 5:00 -6:00pm on NBC

Please watch and pray!!

Something fun...

I know it has been a while since I last posted so I thought I would post something fun to provide a good laugh! Enjoy!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHEN:

Your monthly house payments exceed your annual income (& you think it's normal)

You drive next to a Rolls Royce and don't notice it.

You don't know anyone's phone number unless you check your cell phone.

You begin to "lie" to your friends about how close you are when you know darn well that it'll take you at least an hour to get there (see below).

Getting anywhere from point A to point B, no matter what the distance, takes about "twenty minutes".

You drive to your neighborhood block party.

In the "winter", you can go to the beach and ski at Big Bear on the same day or mow your lawn in your shorts on New Year’s Day and may sunburn.

You eat a different ethnic food for every meal.

If your destination is more than 5 minutes away on foot, you're definitely driving.

Calling your neighbors requires knowing their area code.

You know what "In-'N-Out" is and feel bad for all the other states because they don't have any.

Stop signs stand for, "Slow To Observe Police".

You go to a tanning salon before going to the beach.

You eat pineapple on pizza.

Your cell phone has left a permanent impression on the side of your head.

You think that Venice is a beach.

The waitress asks if you'd like "carbs" in your meal.

You classify new people you meet by their Area Code.

You call 911 and they put you on hold.

You have a gym membership because it's mandatory.

The gym is packed at 3 pm...on a workday.

You think you are better than the people who live "Over the Hill". It doesn't matter which side of the hill you are currently residing, you are just better than them, for whatever reason.

You know that if you drive two miles in any direction you will find a McDonald's, Subway or a Starbucks. (Do we have to go two miles for a Starbucks?)

You know what "Sigalert", "PCH", and the "Five" mean.

You know the meaning behind the name of the 405 freeway.... because it takes 4 hours to get one way, and 5 hours to get back.

It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH".

The Terminator is your Governor.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from California!

The example of Abraham...

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)

Abraham "did not know where he was going"--it simply was enough for him to know he went with God. He did not lean as much on the promises as he did on the Promiser. And he did not look at the difficulties of his circumstances but looked to His King--the eternal, limitless, invisible, wise and only God--who had reached down from His throne to direct his path and who would certainly prove Himself.

May our faith be grounded in contentment--contentment to set sail with the orders still sealed, due to unwavering confidence in the wisdom of the Lord High Admiral; and a willingness to get up, leave everything, and follow Christ, because of the joyful assurance that earth's best does not compare with heaven's least.

May our perspective be eternal and set on God Almighty!

Happy Birthday, Rae!

Rae-Rae's birthday is today! She is at Hume Lake (ministering her little heart out--I love how she continually lays her life down so others might know Him!) so I can't call her or even go see her so I thought I would post in her honor. I had the privilege of working with Rae last year from August until February. It was such a blessing and I learned (and continue to learn) much from this woman. Below is a little acrostic that I hope details just a little of why I love this girl so much!!

R adiant--she radiates such life, energy & a great love for the Lord!

A faithful, faithful friend! I am so thankful for her!

E nergetic--this girl's got EN-ER-GY!

Rae, I love you and am so thankful you were born and that the Lord allowed us to be little worker bees at the same time under Bob's leadership. You are a pure joy and delight and I am excited to see how God continues to fashion and form our friendship in this next year!

Love you, sweet girl!

Summer Love...

I love these kids--there is no doubt! Enjoy the pictures!

Hudson-man

Sweet Reesie!

Reesie-girl!

Winn & Lindye Galloway

This is wedding #2 of many this summer. This one was of a dear friend, Lindye Maples! She wed Winn Galloway yesterday in Malibu at a 4pm ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was beautiful!

Although I didn't get any pictures of the couple facing the camera (I tried once but someone stepped right in front of me as the picture took!!), I did get a few of the ceremony. Here they are:

Lindye & her dad

Winn & Lindye

I met Lindye 5 years ago when I interned at CrossWinds Church in northern California. She was a sophomore in high school at the time! (Time flies!!) She has grown into such a beautiful young woman who loves the Lord so much. Her life is a continual encouragement to me!

The wedding was a fun time to see old friends and ministry partners. The time was too short! I look forward to being with them all again soon!!

Braydon Nelson & I

Paul & Alana

Aaron & Davis

The Nelson men & I
Colby, Bray, Gregg & Davis

I lived with this family for the two years I lived in Pleasanton (Mom Emily is missing from the picture!). In those two years, these boys became brothers to me. I love this family!