McDonalds

Today was our quarterly get together with Ms.'Tricia. We scheduled this lunch during Spring Break so Jackson could join us.

We have been meeting for lunch with Patricia since May 2008 - How fun to see our friendship grow!

It counts as a good picture as long as we are all in it, right?

Slip-N-Slide

The Rowells set up their Slip-N-Slide tonight and invited us down to play. We invited Jenn and the kids and we all had a great time together. We ended up ordering pizza and having an impromptu Spring Break Party!

Emmy, Elery, Elizabeth
Joey, Jess, Jackson
Philip

Mrs. Shirley

All smiles during our day of House Hunting! We ended up finding our house at 4:00 this afternoon. We had called it a day and were about to head out to Cumming when Mrs. Shirley called to tell us about a house that had just gone on the market. We quickly went to the house. 45 minutes after it was put on the market, we were in it and had an offer to them by 7:00! We the first and only people to view this perfect home.

Flashers!

The Ringgold Benders watched Flashers for us this weekend. Looks like he had fun during Family Game Night!

Easter Sunday

Wesley preached his first Easter Sunday sermon and enlisted the help of the children in the congregation to close out the lesson.

It's Official!

Wesley has accepted the pulpit minister position at the West End Church of Christ and we will be moving back to Nashville at the beginning of June. We are so excited about this new journey but are sad about the family we are leaving in Cumming. It truly is bittersweet.

It all became real when we got the family minister picture made for the church directory.

The Benders are now West Enders

This was an opportunity we were not searching for but one that we truly felt lead by the Spirit to pursue. Wesley started talking to the West End search committee in late January and by early February, they offered him the position.

We should have known it was coming though through this "sign"! When Wesley first went as a guest speaker at West End in October, my favorite "church sign" was on display outside! It should have been clue God was leading us back home!

Baby Ryan

February 19 was an emotionally challenging day for me. Even though, at the time, we thought Philip was in the hospital for just the night, it still was a difficult day of processing all that happened in such a short amount of time.

Throughout the day, in the back of my mind, was the thought of my friend, Laura, being in labor with her fourth child. Friday, February 20, I received word that baby Ryan had been born late Thursday night.

When that day turned my world upside down, Baby Ryan was my saving angel. When I could think of nothing happy, I remembered him and smiled. I told Laura, he was my light during a very dark time.

Needless to say, I couldn't wait to meet him and today I got to! Laura was in Nashville for Easter and we were heading up for the weekend too. We met at a truck stop and I got to hold and love on the angel who gave me peace when I found it hard to find on my own.

This child will forever hold a special place in my heart! 

And how cool that Philip immediately took to him as well!  

What a bunch!
Cody, Ford, Ryan, Jackson, Allie, Elizabeth and Philip