Biloxi, Mississippi

We just got back from an amazing trip to Biloxi. We worked with Samaritan's Purse to help rebuild houses destroyed by Katrina back in August '05. After almost 10 months, you wouldn't believe how much damage there still is. Our project during the week was to work on drywalling a house. It was such a great experience. We had an awesome team. It was hot, sweaty, hard work, but it was so worth it. I had such an amazing time there and I got to know my friends better. It was so amazing to see God work that week.

One thing that I found to be overwhelming was sitting outside early in the morning during my personal devotion time. I could see the ocean in front of me and I was surrounded by devastation. It was everywhere you looked. You couldn't escape it no matter where you went. But I was overwhelmed by His presence. God still revealed his sovereignty and love for his people in the midst of it all. And to see the hearts of the people there drawn to the love of Christ was so moving. They might even knowingly reject Jesus, but they can't help but be drawn to his love.


Here's our team. It's 9:30pm Sunday night and we're all packed up and ready to leave for Biloxi.
(top l-r) Keren, Elaine, Heather, Me, Dena, Rob
(bottom l-r) Pastor John, Dan, Randy




This cemetery was amazing.












At the camp packing up for a day's work.








I was loving the power tools.










Out to eat at a highly recommended Catfish restaurant

That was one small closet.


Here we are on our last day in our almost completely drywalled house.
(clockwise from top left: Elaine, Rob, Dan, Me, Pastor John, Dena, Heather, Randy, and Keren)

"Your Hair's As Red As Carrots!"

My mom likes red hair. Red hair runs in our family, but none of us have it. When us kids were born, she always hoped that one of us would have red hair. Now she's wishing for some redheaded grandchildren.

For as long as I can remember, every time my mom goes to get her hair colored, she tells us she wants to go red and *this* time she's going to do it. She's come home with red highlights, or almost red with some other color highlights, but never *red*. She called me today to tell me that she finally went red, but I had to see it to believe it. Today, she went *red*. Bold red. Hot red. On fire red. I really like it. :o)


Go mom! I love you! *sizzle*

By the way, see what some lady did to our mailbox with her car a couple weeks ago? And believe me, it doesn't look half as bad as her car did once she was through...