Photo Shoots

Jillian called me last week to see if I could take some senior pictures for her since she's graduating in December and of course I agreed.  We met at The Well House last Thursday and she looked at me with this look she has when she wants to do something a little crazy and said "Sooo....I kind of wanted to take some pictures up on the roof by The Well sign."

There's a huge sign on the front of The Well House, and if you crawl through either James' or Samantha's office window you'll be out on the porch roof, right next to the sign.  I've climbed out on the roof a bunch of times over the years so I said, "Sure!  They're your pictures."  So we got on the roof and had a little photo shoot and received lots of strange looks from people walking down the sidewalk.

After that we took pictures by some ETSU signs which are right next to the street.  We received some honks and a loud "Hey baby!" yelled out the window which was just funny because she wearing her scrubs or cap and gown for most of those pictures, not exactly a sexy outfit.   We also took pictures in front of the nursing building, and we were walking around for a while with Jillian in her cap and gown and I was wearing her stethoscope around my neck.  We looked strange I'm sure, but it only seems appropriate for the two of us.

The next time she's in her cap and gown it will be graduation day - I can't wait!

Friday the 13th

Last Friday was Friday the 13th and I had been looking forward to it for a while.  Why?  Because I was  going to be providing Friday lunch to the ministry team students and staff of The Well.  Each Friday a different person/small group/church etc. brings a home cooked meal to The Well House and the students come and everyone gets to enjoy a great meal while simply being together - no schedule or agenda, just being together.  This was always a highlight of the week, and way back in the spring I decided I wanted to provide one of the meals for this semester.  Friday, September 13th was the date I'd be doing it and I couldn't wait!

We used to get a lot of the same meals over and over so I wanted to make something they wouldn't be likely to have again, and I decided on doing breakfast for lunch.  I made breakfast casserole, hash brown casserole, fruit salad, biscuits, and muffins.  Cooking for 50 by myself was a little intimidating and there were times that I thought "What in the world have I gotten myself into?" but I managed to pull it off and everything was a hit!

Two of the reasons that I was able to pull it off was that 1) I'd made all the muffins the weekend before and then froze them, pulling them back out Thursday night to thaw and 2) I did the hash browns in the crock pot.  That way I only had to cook one thing that morning, the breakfast casserole.  Both casserole recipes were new, so I was a little nervous trying them out for the first time on a crowd of hungry, eager students, but like I said, they were a hit.  And really the hash brown casserole wasn't so much a casserole as it was cheesy hash browns, but still good.  The muffins I made were Pumpkin Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip, and Apple Cinnamon Butterscotch.

Sitting on the front porch of The Well House, just like old times!

I had to work that night, and something happened that I knew would sooner or later - I spilled a drink on a customer.  She was so nice though and as I was down on the floor wiping it up she looked down and said, "Don't worry about it dear, it's Friday the 13th!"  I'm so thankful she had a good attitude about it, otherwise I probably would have a been a wreck the rest of the night.

The Story of God

A few weeks ago I wrote about the final series we did at The Well, and that one of the nights was about being immersed in God's Story.  After worship, before James even started his message we showed this video.  I love it.  I've watched it several times and it never gets old.  I hope you enjoy it too!

That's a Wrap

I know that today was not the last time I walked out of The Well House for good.  It was however, the last time I walked to the door, made a final glance of my desk, and locked up.  And that's all I'm going to say about that, because then I might start crying and have a meltdown.

The Mountains

Monday nights are when our freshmen small groups meet, and this past Monday several freshmen and small group leaders met up to a go for a little hike, since we had officially wrapped everything up the Monday before.  We went to Roan Mountain, which is at the Tennessee / North Carolina border.  Our intention was to watch the sunset but when we got up on the mountain, without any trees to block the wind, it was SO cold.  We stayed for a little while, running around and snapping pictures, but headed out before anyone got hypothermia.  Seriously, it was so cold.  My feet didn't warm up til we I got home, an hour later. 

Even without the sunset it was worth the trip.  It was a clear night and you could see for miles.  I am so thankful to live in such a beautiful place, and one where God's creation is so evidently on display!

Some of the freshmen from my small group.

Lauren was in my small group when she was a freshmen, and led her own group as a senior this year.  She graduates tomorrow and is going to Milligan for grad school!  I love her and am so proud of her!

The Final Well

Our final series at The Well this semester was called Immersed.  James gave four messages about being immersed in grace, the church, God's story, and lastly, the race.  James started his talk by talking about shoes.  Chacos, ballet slippers, cowboy boots, cleats...These different types of shoes indicate the different types of races we're running.  But as believers, ultimately we're running the race of faith, of life in Christ until we're with Jesus in Heaven.  And whatever types of shoes we wear, there are ways to make the name of Jesus known. 

At the end of the talk we shared the image of the recent Boston Magazine cover.  The magazine had asked everyone who ran in the Boston Marathon to donate their running shoes.  They formed them into the image of a heart, and in the middle it says We Will Finish The Race.

James asked the students, as a symbol of their commitment to run the race well, to take off their shoes and bring them to the front.  As we started worship the stage quickly filled with shoes.  But what most students didn't know was that we were taking those same shoes, and attaching them to a frame of a cross that we had made.  We attached hundreds of shoes to the cross, and during a prayer took it up on stage.  The students could see it as we started singing again, but when we came to a line in the song that said We lift the cross, lift it high, lift it high, the cross was hoisted up so that you could really see it.  It was such a neat image - all those shoes, some smelly and dirty - forming the beautiful image of the cross.  And when you run the race well, you share the Gospel, and How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans 10:15)

That Wednesday night was so special, and it was so neat that my last Wednesday with The Well was all about shoes and feet.  I don't know if anyone appreciated it quite like I did!  And as we as a staff left that night - before I made my last trip from the church to my car at midnight - everyone was a good sport and let me take a foot picture.  The first and probably last Well staff foot picture!

Class '16 Cook Out

A week ago today was my last Wednesday with The Well.  It was crazy to think about, because with the exception of summers, I've spent pretty much every Wednesday night for the last seven years at Grace Fellowship Church.  But before I had to head over to the church and get all emotional we had our last Class '16 event of the year.  It was a simple cook out - hot dogs, chips, desserts - with simple fun - corn hole and volleyball.  Even though it suddenly got very chilly, it was still a fun night and gave students a break from studying and working all day.

With all of the girl small group leaders, minus Chelsea.

With two of the freshmen from my small group, Aaron and Chelsea.

Friday Lunch Feet

One of the best parts of our week at work are Fridays, because of Friday lunch.  Each week, a different Sunday school class, community group, student's parent etc. makes a home cooked meal for our student volunteers.  They come to the office at 12:30 and we eat and hang out.  It's the one time each week that we're all together just for the sake of being together.  Friends + good food + Friday afternoon = best part of the week!  This past Friday was an exceptionally good "Friday lunch afternoon."  It was the first one of the semester that was nice enough to be outside for, and students hung around for hours.  I grabbed the camera to snap some pictures of a our leisurely afternoon, and the feet of whoever was around.

Jillian and I

Carly

Will

Mason

Nick

Ivy

Sam

Jeremiah

Zach

Jillian and Kelcie

I don't know what Jillian said, but it sparked a reaction from Kelcie!

I'm not the only one who tales pictures of feet...

Serving on Saturday

Saturday morning six students and I headed out to Doe River Gorge.  Doe River is a local camp and retreat center, and is a great ministry partner of ours.  The mission team wanted to do one last service project before the semester was over, so we headed out there to help them get ready for summer camp.  We spent the morning spreading mulch, and I was quite sore on Sunday morning!  It was worth it though, because we got to be a blessing to Doe River and had a fun time working together.  

Me with Ivy and Will, the Mission Team student leaders.