Watching our Wedding Video

It's been awhile (at least since June) since I have pulled out pictures and even sat down to watch our wedding video. Chris and me usually try to watch our wedding video together on each anniversary. Emma has recently been asked to be a flower girl in our youth leaders wedding and we felt the need to properly prepare her for the task. Emma is so much like me and has the need to be prepared in most situations. :)

So...we popped in the video and tears began to come to my face as I started to see how much time has changed so many things. I saw my Diddy (who died January 7, 2004) and my Grandaddy (who just recently passed away in March 2008)and it made me miss them so much. It seems like so much time has gone by, but then seeing them makes me feel as if I was just with them. Especially Diddy. I just miss calling him on the phone and chatting with him about life. I hate the fact that Emma will not know him like we did. Don't take me wrong, she hears about him, but she won't know him.

However, even after tearing up at the sight of our losses, I watched our video seeing how much Chris and me have grown and changed. In good ways. I look at our wedding and see that we were so much in love, but we knew very little about "commitment". Momma told me before marriage that there would be a day that the "feelings" would start to get challenging and the "commitment" to your marriage would start to begin. She was right. Boy, have we been tempted at times to just walk away and give up. But we are committed to each other. Not the marriage.

I looked at Chris and saw how much he has grown and aged. Aged...meaning he is not a young man...he is a man. He has taken on such burden for our family and for others. And he has always been committed to me. Even though I didn't know then what I know now, I am so glad that I chose him. He has been such a security for me and a support.

I am already beginning to pray for our little Emma's mate. I pray that she has a partner that is just as wonderful as her daddy. And she is watching us. She is modeling a bride and what she will want to do one day. I saw it in her eyes tonight when she asked me, " Mommy, you getting married?" She will have dreams just like I did. She will love and fall and love and one day do the very same thing that we did over seven years ago.

My Favorite Movie!

Some time by myself

Well...it has been strange having some down time during the night, without Chris here. He left on a mission trip last Tuesday (9 days ago) for Peru and this is the first time in our marriage (7 years) that we have ever gone more than a day without speaking. That, by far, has been the hardest part of the whole trip! He was able to call us for a few minutes until Emma hung up on him-Yikes!

But I have gotten some time by myself, especially in the evenings...which I am not at all used to getting. Emma has started school and I am having to get her in the bed at an early hour and without Chris being here to talk to at night, I have found myself actually spending some much needed time catching up on my blog page, facebook, watching The Notebook (my all time favorite movie) and reading! Wow...actually time uninterrupted! Those times are few and far between with a 4 1/2 year old around these days.

It's about time....

Well....I started out the new year thinking that I would create a blog page to keep all of my family and friends up-to-date with what is happening with us down in Tampa, but after looking at my last entry (in May)....I'm not doing so well. Sorry. Alot has been going on since May. May was kind of crazy month because after Mother's Day we received news that our pastor was killed in a plane crash. This was a devastation for our whole congregation and has taken alot of dedication from the staff to keep the ship running, but with God's help, we have.

Just this past Sunday morning, early in the morning, we received word that our Worship Pastor had experienced a second heart attack (was at home recovering) and was not able to be revived. So, we are left with ministering to a hurting church family...one that doesn't understand why these sorts of things happen-I don't understand. But we were changed with a wonderful message tonight at his Celebration of Life service...we don't have to know, but God is in control and He will always be the answer to any of our questions. For those of you that know and love us, please be in prayer about these recent events. So many positive things are going on here and we feel that Tampa is a wonderful ground for many to receive Christ and begin a new journey with the Savior. This is our mission field.

With all that said, Chris is gone to Peru for the next week and a half. This is his first out-of-country mission trip and he was excited. I don't know that we will know what to do without him here, but it is good to miss each other! He will be training people in "house church" ministry down in Peru. I look forward to hearing all of the stories that I'm sure he will come home with.

Hopefully it will not be quite so long for another blog.

Until next time,
Sonya

Changes...

I wish that I was one of those people who loved changes! I'm just not. I have always been that way. Mom used to tell me stories of how I needed to know how things were going to be and heaven help us if I didn't know what to expect. I mean really....how contrary to life is that! Life for us is ever changing. I am doing a little bit better with those sudden changes now that I am almost 30 years old, but there are times in my days that I revert back to being a little girl, at heart, that just wants to know when things are going to happen and what is coming next.

Just the other day, I was trying to find my way to a doctor's appointment and got lost in downtown Tampa! To make things worse, my cell phone went dead so I was really stuck! I just began praying! I needed help and NOW. I felt that the Lord was trying to tell me to learn to deal with the unexpected. Learn how to handle life when I doesn't quite happen like we would like it to and with GRACE. Enjoy the experience instead of getting stressed out. Life goes by so quickly and we really should enjoy even the changes that we don't like to see what the Lord is trying to bring out in us. Patience. Trust. Forgiveness. Love. Joy. Heart-change.

As I am learning to deal with my changes, that is my prayer. I want to enjoy what is set before me and not hope for anything other that God's best for me. So, this week, I am going to try to enjoy the changes that He has brought my way. Hard, yes! Totally against my make-up, but we will see what "change" teaches me.

My Cinderella

We watch our little Emma dance each day and this song tugged at our heart strings.

Easter on the Beach

It was fun today going to the beach! Fridays are sort of our "family days". With Chris pastoring-it's important for us to guard our time together and make those days the most initimate as possible. So, today we had a great idea of getting Emma's annual Easter pictures done at the beach, and while we were there we made an afternoon of it. It was so much fun.

We got there and little Emma hit the beach running. She definitely is just like her Nana. She couldn't even wait for the sunscreening to be over so that she could hit the water (it was still cool) and begin building a sandcastle. I began helping her, but just like she doesn't want any of my help (we've hit the I'M INDEPENDENT STAGE-who am I kidding; she's always been like that)she figured that she could do it herself! So we went for a walk and picked up sea shells. As we walked, I explained to Emma that each sea shell had a story....just like God purposed for each of us. She quickly caught on and began making up her own stories as we walked on. Chris laughed at us while we made up our own stories as to how and why the shells looked like they did.

We left the beach for a little bit to get a bite to eat and then came back when the sun was setting to catch Emma in action. In my mind, I could imagine the most beautiful Easter pictures, but those of you that know her know that she doesn't stand very still to pose, but I think that I got a few. It was fun none-the-less.

"Hosanna" by Christy Nockels

Living a Legacy

Grandaddy wearing the scarf that I

made him (we laughed together- it

was way too long! ha!)

Richard "Buddy" Arnold Sorrell=a man that lived with legacy in mind. My grandaddy didn't know how to do things any other way. Maybe it was the role models set before him, or just the dedication that he learned so young in life. He lived through such hard times: the Depression, World War II, and a marriage that was committed to the words "in sickness and in health". I want to be like him in so many ways. And as we raise little Emma, I hope to instill in her many of the attributes that Grandaddy protrayed of Christ.





As I sit here typing, I smile just thinking of all the times we laughed together. That is one thing that we all talked about this weekend, at the funeral, was his laughter. He had such a handsome smile, much like his mom, Ethel Sorrell. And when Grandaddy laughed, his whole upper body jiggled! I can just see him now. You never knew that Grandaddy was struggling because he always laughed or told a funny joke and made you laugh. He used to always get out the funny pages and share a comic that made him smile or he would try to get together funny stories to tell at his monthly railroad meeting. I think that laughter was one of the things that the Lord gave to him to sustain him through so many hard times. I think that he learned to laugh in spite of the circumstances. He knew who was in control and he modeled that to all of us.





I think the hardest thing for me is going to be the loss of his presence. There has never not been Memaw and Grandaddy. He was just always there. Now, the lack of him being here is so hard to accept. Death is so hard to understand and I think the hardest part is that we were never meant for it. God never meant for us to be seperated. Oh, I long to see him and Daddy again soon.





I believe that you do appreciate life more though when you have experienced death. I want to live out the legacy that has been modeled for me all of these years. He was a rock. He knew what it meant to commit and do something. He was the most disciplined person, but the most caring man that I ever met. He wasn't afraid to tell you that he loved you. And he was always there. I am so proud of the legacy that I have inherited.

Let's get this place ready....

Well...we have been painting our house this week (and when I say "paint" I mean every square inch of it!) but we are enjoying watching it transform before our eyes. The home that we are moving into was a parsonage that had been locked up and vacant for a year. So, when we first saw it, we needed to have a vision for the way it would look with a fresh coat of paint and some cleaning! I have really enjoyed seeing how everything is coming together.

To even be getting a home ready is funny for us to think about, because just a few months ago we didn't even know if we were going to stay in Florida. God just seemed to begin to open doors for us and bless us. He never works as we think He will, which is nice to know. He knows the best plan for us. If it were up to me....I probably would have chosen a much different plan for my life, but have missed out on the biggest blessings.

My family knows how "change" affects me. As a little girl, I didn't like much change. In fact, change usually caused me to break down into tears. Mom told me that I needed to know what was coming in my schedule and that I didn't like to be caught off-guard. Boy....how life seems to make you "change". I am learning that no matter where we go and what we do....there is change involved. I am just asking the Lord to help me adjust to all the new and different things in my life. He has been faithful, kind and good to me. In the Word, it says: "For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper, to give you a hope and a future." He knows that it is human nature to just stay in the same routine and do the same things over and over again. But that doesn't stretch us. To really change something in our day-to-day life will stretch us. What will my "change" be and how will it affect me on the inside? How will I be able to use it to minister to those around me? Will I "change" those around me.....

Here we go...

God has opened the door for our family on a new ministry opportunity! We have begun serving at the East Bay Campus of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Gibsonton, FL (Tampa). Satellite church....? You may be wondering what is a satellite church. The main campus of Bell Shoals began looking for a Campus Pastor to shephard and lead to East Bay Campus, this past November. Bell Shoals is one church, but they now have two locations. The messages are broadcast each Sunday to the East Bay Campus, but they needed someone to connect all of it in person, which is the Campus Pastor. They heard about Chris and wanted to speak with him further about his past experience in ministry and start the beginning process of interviewing him for this Campus Pastor position.

We meet the Personnel Committee for the first time and loved their hearts. They all seemed to enjoy getting to know Chris and me and they began to express interest in getting to know our little Emma. The journey began. We meet a few more times before Christmas and after Christmas we came back to the final decision to join the team of Bell Shoals.....the vote. I tell you, we have never been so popular in one day! ha:) We meet so many people and they all wanted to shake our hand and talk with us...it was if we were getting voted into a church or something! ha:) We loved it! Emma didn't really know what to think, seeing that she doesn't like to always be flooded with love and attention (only when she asks for it! ha:) But it only took her a trip or two to the campus to find a few good buddies and she's off! She began twirling on the stage and running through the building! Good for "mom" to see. :)

This is the beginning of a new journey for us. We are ready to begin ministry again. It has been a few months since we left the church plant that we originally came to Tampa to begin, but God has a PLAN that never wavers. We have met so many people that have reached out in friendship to us. I have met ladies at the park and people at the grocery store that just seem to "want to talk". I think that thing about Tampa that I love the most is the fact that most people are not from here. Therefore our main objective is the same.....finding community. We all need someone. I'm glad that I am not alone in this!

Diddy would be proud!

Those of you that know me know that I had a special name for my sweet Dad-Diddy. It was my Southern way of changing around vowels to just put any 'Ole one there that I thought worked! It was a way of telling him that I loved him and he loved it. Boy...I sure do miss him. I miss his hugs, his mustache that tickled you when he kissed you on the cheek, holding his hand, calling him on the phone, talking about anything and everything, traditions, hearing about his new favorite restaurant, having him keep the peace, golf, our old house, new gadgets, and the list could go on and on. Dad brought so much to our family and the void still is felt by his absence. I hate that he can't be here to have the relationship with his grandchildren. He would have loved watching them play and crawl up into his lap. "Bob-o, watch this!", I can hear them say to him. What a heritage we have to pass to our kids from their precious grandfather, Bob-o. A man that loved traditions and a good sappy movie more than any other man that I have ever met. We remember him today, the fourth year anniversary since his death. I have thought about him practically every day since that awful day and I can't imagine that I will ever stop. That's the mark on true relationship! The kind that doesn't fade with days, months or years. I hope to make him proud by passing on the lessons to Emma that he taught to me. I miss you, Dad!

Hard to Believe

Last night we rang in the New Year with new friends in Tampa. We enjoyed food, games, sparklers and snappers and sipped on sparkling grape juice at midnight. While we were laughing and enjoying company I couldn't help but think over the events of this past year. What a year!

Last January, Chris was still working at the Hilton Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. His shift consisted of any and every time frame. We didn't see him but maybe two nights out of each week. I couldn't see how in the world we were going to find our place in ministry and who would want a couple that had a resume like ours. God began teaching me. During our "time off" we began to search our hearts, desires and the meaning of ministry. What did the Church need to be and what part am I to play from day to day? I quickly began to learn that the Lord was not as much concerned with where we were serving but what I was doing with where we were serving!

February 2007, a group of people contacted Chris and me about possibly coming to Tampa, Florida to pastor a new church plant. A church plant? Had we not already tried that in Birmingham? The Lord has such a sense of humor! ha! But we chatted several times on the phone with them and began discussing a possible trip down to Tampa. After our first trip down, we loved it! We began to see ourselves in this ministry and seeing it as a real opportunity for Chris to be lead pastor and learn. Things began to progress and we accepted the position in late February. Chris flew down to Tampa once a month during the months of March and April and in May began to look at moving down to pastor a small group of people in Brandon, Florida (east of Tampa). Only one problem.....our house still had not sold! Yikes. We felt that it would sell, but that Chris needed to be with the people and begin his ministry there in Brandon. Emma and I stayed back in Birmingham, completing my school year at the Early Learning Center at The Church at Brook Hills. June came and went.....July came and went.....and in August Chris determined it was time for our family to reunite in Tampa. We moved August 17th and I was never so glad to be back with Chris (Emma too).

We began our ministry as a family in mid-August and we were filled with joy. God was doing some amazing things at our church! He was bringing lost people and we were making connections with those around the area and in our apartment community. Unfortunetly, just like many church plants, the unstability affected our family in a major way. We were devestated and at a complete loss at to know what to do next and how to process in ministry. The wonderful thing was God knew! He always does.

We received a phone call from a local church wanting to interview Chris, knowing of all that happened at our little church and the affects that I had on our family. Chris met with the staff and things were going very well. We prayed. I have to say that we were a little bit gun shy. But the Lord began to open doors and we are going to be accepting the position after this coming Sunday. We are excited about our future in ministry here in Tampa for 2008. We are claiming the scripture, Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and to give you a hope and future."

I will blog again after this Sunday telling all about the position that we are taking and our plans as of January 2008. Only the Lord can tell what this year will bring!