PRAISE WALK at Cornerstone Community Church

What an incredible time we had this past weekend as Rance and I returned to Zionsville, Indiana for a short, but sweet weekend with our Cornerstone family! 

We got to spend MUCH time on Saturday catching up with Eric & Ellen, we attended a SURPRISE 50th birthday party on Saturday evening for Tim, a member of the church, and then Saturday night consisted of late night talks of all the Lord is doing and teaching us in each of our lives individually (it does not get much better than that)!  On Sunday, Rance spoke on Colossians 3:1-11 as the church continues to study through this book of the Bible.  Paul's encouragement and love for others is astounding as he simply allows the Holy Spirit to lead him and work through him. 

Now to some BIG NEWS - the 3 acres of property behind the church (which we began praying for a year ago) officially SOLD (closed, signed, sealed, delivered) and the church is now DEBT FREE - Hallelujah to the Lamb!  Rance and I were so excited that the Sunday the church celebrated the sale of the land and the walk of faith this past year just happened to be the Sunday we were back in Zionsville (GOD WINK).  Eric did an incredible job walking through this journey of faith and highlighting all that God has done this past year in the Body of Christ from Cornerstone Community Church in Zionsville, IN, to Robbinsville, NC to Ducktown, TN (and the list goes on).  It's really amazing to recall all the Lord has done.  

You may remember that over the summer, we started a prayer walk around the property each evening asking the Lord to sell the property if that would be His will (prayer walk here).  We celebrated through having a PRAISE WALK around the property on Sunday and thanking the Lord for His perfect timing in the sell of the property.What a super sweet celebration with our brothers & sisters (in the frigid temperatures!). 




Everyone headed out for the PRAISE WALK!



It may have been a LITTLE cold :)

 

Eric talking through the PRAISE WALK!



Jeff taking the victory walk!

FREEEEEEZING!

3 acres SOLD!

ERIC PRAISING THE LORD FOR ALL HE HAS DONE!

 

*Celebrating 29 weeks with Ellen*

We are PUMPED to meet you Jayden!

As we departed on Sunday, it was CRAZY to think that the next time we visit our friends in Zionsville, Jayden will be here, Lord willing! 

We FINALLY meet again...

...and BOY was it a JOYFUL weekend!

It's so hard for me to believe that TWO years went by without seeing the Thum's!  In February 2012, Chris, Marie & Jacob moved to Nashville, TN and during the big move - they stopped by Robbinsville (Marie & Jacob) to stay the night.  This was the last time we saw them until LAST weekend!  Yes, Marie and I stay in touch but seeing each other in person is much, much sweeter!  Praise the Lord for reuniting and picking up right where we left off 2 years ago.  Jacob (now almost 3) obviously went from a baby the last time I 'held' him to an energetic little boy FULL of life!  Not to mention, a new addition was added to the Thum family in September 2013 and squeezing on Parker was certainly my cup of tea!

Rance and I arrived in Brentwood, TN (right outside of Nashville) at Marie & Chris later Friday night.  Rance was disappointed that Jacob was already asleep because him and Jacob text videos back and forth all week (no Jacob wasn't texting, his mommy was passing along his video's to Rance) about their wrestling match they would be having.  Jacob is not scared of anything it seems - even threatening a 30 year old man.  Atta boy!

Saturday was perfecto!  We spent tons of time talking and tons of time outside.  We strolled around, ate some amazing food at this little country place called Puckett's, roasted some marshmellows, laughed nonstop at Jacob, and drove past some of the biggest houses I have ever seen (you know, the $20 million dollar celebrity homes...which I never took a picture of those...oops).


Recap of Saturday in pictures!

Just an estate!

This one was pretty small compared to some

I could NOT get enough pictures of Jacob.  He is a spitting image of his daddy and FULL OF ENERGY.  Chris and Rance are BOTH high energy guys and totally kids trapped in a man's body so they have always had a special connection since they first met.  It's so neat to see Jacob with this same love for life and all weekend I kept thinking "this is what I picture Jayden being like...just like his daddy."  Jacob is so entertaining and will talk to anyone and everyone he sees!  I could not get enough of him.
 

look at the determination on his face

*28 Weeks*

The boys/men!



There is no denying Jacob is Chris' son!



Our group shot!

These boys drove us ALL over town :)

Marie is adoring her husband!



I thank God constantly for this gal!

Some serious gear changing going on

I love this picture - capturing a deep conversation!

He's so cool!

Football tackling!

And this little man, Parker, is SO chill! 
He just sits back and takes it ALL in.

Marie & Chris will never really understand the model they set for me in college.  First of all, Marie and I's relationship began because we were both accounting majors and we ended up spending LOTS of time in the library together studying and talking, of course.  Marie's life radiated Jesus like I had never seen before.  She was different.  SO different.  Her & Jesus seemed tighter than tight and I was drawn to that even though I could not wrap my mind around it.  I had trusted Christ as my Savior earlier in life but had never been discipled and taught the Scriptures so intimately and certainly did not understand what Christ intended a dating relationship and a marriage to look like - until Chris came along!  I watched him pursue her with the intent to marry her from the very beginning and even though it seemed so STRANGE to me - I soon began to realize that his pursuit of Marie was a beautiful picture of Jesus' pursuit of His Bride, the church.  I knew I wanted that but I also knew I had to be that kind of Godly woman in order to attract that type of Godly man.  Marie & Chris are a HUGE part of my testimony and they were simply being an example/model as they pursued the perfect model, Jesus! 

My heart is overflowing with JOY from our time together with this incredibly amazing family!  We miss them already...

Warm WEATHER...

...means TIME OUTSIDE!!!!!!

This past weekend the weather was a dream come true!  Being in the CPA world, I do not get to be outside much this time of year which during the middle of winter and tons of snow, it is not that tempting, but when the weather changes - I AM READY TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!

Saturday afternoon, Rance and I ventured out on the 4-wheeler to check his traps up high on the mountain behind our house and explore some new trails we had not been on before.  I was in serious desperation for some QUALITY TIME and those two hours together filled my heart full!

Rance loves trapping, checking his traps daily (if time permits), and checking his trail camera to see the wild animals exploring around our area.  Along the way, we had to saw up a tree in order to continue along the trail to where the traps were set. 

No animals trapped this time around

The trails in the mountains are beautiful and boy do I love the creeks that flow continuously!  It is super fun trying out new trails when you have no idea what you may run into and where you may end up!

Hello 27 weeks!

Since Saturday was NOT enough time outdoors, we decided that Sunday afternoon spent at Snowbird with the Thacker's was a MUST.  After church, we ate lunch and headed to the creek so Ben & Rance both could try out their new fly fishing poles they both received as gifts from their in-law's! :)  There is something so serene and calming about this environment that it is just another way Father shows off His beauty and leaves me in awe everytime. 

Jess and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Ben & Rance fish.  We also enjoyed our talk time too!

Getting started!

look at them new teeth coming in!

working on them other teeth!

"hey aunt jenni, can't you see the sun is in my eyes???'

Ben's FIRST catch of the day (his first time fly fishin')!

Oh geez, melt my heart why don't you?!?!  Love these two!

Uh oh, I think Ben is on to something!  Look at how serious Rance is!

Oh my what is it?!?!?!

Do you see anything?

What is he going after?!

Drum roll please...............

HOLY MOLY it is a WHOPPER!!!!!!
(love that this moment was all on camera)

Just FYI - NOONE catches a fish like this their first time fly fishin'!!!!!

I am not sure who was more excited?! Me? Jess? Ben? or Rance?  If Wyatt knew what was going on it would probably be him :)

Spectators!

hottie!



Yes, that is my belly button popped out :)