KP: Metropolis, Illinois 11-2-10

KP Writes:

When we travel home to Georgia, our route takes us past Metropolis, Illinois, the famed home of Superman. Typically we have our sights on the south and do not even slow down, knowing that Padukah, KY is just a few miles down the interstate. In November, however, we succumbed to the temptation to stop and visit downtown. Not to worry, we saw all that there was to see in a matter of minutes. And, we did get some fun pictures. The girls' favorite was the "I am She" pose at the feet of Superman. From the look of confusion and the laughter, I do not think they have seen the show enough to understand Jeff tied up in knots trying to change clothes in the phone booth.

Love ya,
Super Moma

KP: Ashton Celebrates Kimberly's BD

KP Writes:

Ashton's friend Kimberly turned 19 this in October. They celebrated with a masquerade party coming as your favorite musical character. Ashton dressed as Pocahontas and had a great time!

Love,
Kristian

KP: Girlfriends at Noah Lucas Wedding

KP writes:

Here the girlfriend are at the Noah's wedding on October 24,2010. Left to right: Elaine, Me, Jill, Donna Sue, Denise, Donna, and Rochelle. Elizabeth had to work :(
Love ya, Kristian

KP: Girlfriends Do Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

KP writes:

I am so far behind in sharing photos, maybe I can upload one a day to give you a snapshot of some of the happenings since October.

Here, my high school girlfriends (and Elizabeth's daughter) pose after having the privilege of 'doing' Noah and Jenna Lucas' rehearsal dinner for our precious girlfriend, Donna Sue. It was great fun.

Come back tomorrow to see if I have more posts with pictures uploaded. (And still check out the 2 real 'articles' Jeff and I wrote below and Ashton's January 9th birthday post.)
Love, Kristian

KP: Plastic is Not a Substitute I Should Settle For

KP writes:

I was reflecting on the goodness of real relationship. In our world of plastic, so often we grow comfortable with the "less". We substitute the better for the convenient, and we end up with the shallow. It is true of our relationships with others, and most definitely in our relationship with the Lord. We have such a "fast food diet" of Him, that we miss the goodness and pleasure of the FEAST, that is ours for the taking.

Plastic is not a substitute that we should settle for.

Love,
Kristian

JP: A Party for 30,000

Every now and then someone will ask me, "how can I increase my prayer life?" Typically I would suggest more time reading and studying the Word, having a list of specific things to pray for, specifically scheduling time, and really just gritting your teeth and going for it. However, now I have a new, sure fire solution - come spend New Years Eve at our Onething Conference with approximately 30,000 young adults filled with the joy of the Lord and celebrating His love for them in total abandonment.

If you watch it on the web, I'm sure that it probably looks like any of a number of emotionally charged, high volume, rock concerts complete with choreographed light system and a mosh pit. Yep, yep, yep, and yep. We even have the mosh pit! So, what's the difference?

First, it's free. They don't have to worry about getting their moneys worth. Secondly, it's not about what they can experience or get, it's about what they can give back. Too often we are weighed down with the cares and stresses of life and our lifestyles to even think about God. The only time we acknowledge the Lord is when we want something or when times are hard.

So, what makes these young people turn into human Mexican Jumping beans on New Years Eve? They truly believe the first six words of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world..." And Isaiah 62, "But you will be called Hephzibah (My delight is in you). As well as Zephaniah 3:17, "...He will exult over you with joy...He will rejoice over you with singing." The Hebrew word for exult is yagil which means to dance or to spin around with joy.

They figure what's good for the goose is good for the gander so the saying goes. Or to put it in IHOP lingo, what's good for the Bridegroom King is good for the bride. If He sings and dances while delighting in us, why can't they do the same in response? Who are we to hinder them from emulating God in response?

Thus you have the human Mexican Jumping bean sensation. Children of the King wanting to have fun and relish the joy of the Lord. Jumping, dancing, singing.

And we have the privilege of experiencing this as part of our job! I love to walk from the front of the auditorium to the back just watching all these people from all over the world worshiping our Savior as one body with the same joy. What a great way to ring in the New Year!!

And if the worship doesn't increase your prayer life, then the floor of the convention center bouncing up and down 3 - 4 inches while all 30,000 dance in unison definitely will!!

AP: January 9th!!!!!!!

AP Writes:

Today is January 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which means.......IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! =)

I have had quite a busy last couple of weeks with Christmas, OneThing, Lizzy staying with us for a while, and then my birthday. A big group of people went ice skating yesterday downtown at Crown Central for my birthday. It was really cold, 11 degrees without windchill, but it was a lot of fun. Then we went back to my house to have dinner, cupcakes and icecream, play games, hang out, and watch a movie. Some of the girls got to spend the night and this morning we went to church, came home and ate lunch, and took a much needed nap. After we woke up I got to open some presents. =) And now we are preparing for this next school semester.

All in all it was a pretty fabulous birthday! I can't believe I'm 19! I'm really excited to see what God is going to do in this next year of my life!

Here are some highlights of my past year:

>I went from having 27 college credits to 105

>I was able to perform in my friend Kirsti's graduation for dance

>I got my first real job working at Holiday Inn Express as a breakfast hostess

>I got to go on a mission trip to Taiwan and Japan

>I got to visit Georgia this summer for 4 weeks

>I went to summer camp as part of the rising college women (my last year of camp as a camper)

>I got to go to Branson, MO on a trip with my family and grandparents (Tablerock lake.....absolutely beautiful!!!!)

>I went on a cruise paid for by my grandparents to the Bahamas with my family, aunts, uncles, and grandparents

>I was able to have an incredible part in the Christmas performance for dance that I had wanted (I got to represent the Spanish speaking nations by performing Spanish)

>I got to go back to Georgia for Christmas and had our first White Christmas in Georgia since 1882 (and see my old studio's dance performance!)

>I got to have one of my good friends from dance and another good friend whom I've known since 2nd grade come out for OneThing 2010

>And I got to finish out 2010 by participating in the best New Year's Eve party ever with 30,000 of my closest friends! This was my 7th year to be at OneThing for New Year's. I wouldn't miss it for the world. There is just nothing greater than to be worshiping Jesus finishing a year and starting a new one!

So now I have 364 days left of being a teenager.....a very odd thought. =) But I am excited for the new experiences and things God has planned for me for this year!

Hope you've had a fabulous day!

Ashton =)