New Church...

...kinda
Our church, a big church, has made a decidedly different approach to how they do church. Taking cues from the music world, they are attempting smaller and more intimate venue settings. The first step in that direction was a satellite campus in inner-city Pittsburgh. An old Chinese restaurant was transformed into a small welcoming environment. Most recently, Northway converted their "gymnasium" into a 300 person place of worship - The Worship Cafe. Intended to create community through simple, intimate relationships, this is our new Sunday morning location.

Reasons We Haven't Blogged

1. Worked on my first paper for grad school
2. Taylor had a "little bat" tournament (to be explained later)
3. We spend our time going to concerts to see bands like Lifehouse.
4. Geneva put some kind of firewall up that limited our access to Blogger for an evening.
5. We don't have kids to take pictures of.
6. We started small group on Monday nights, I have class on Tuesday and Taylor has an RA meeting, we have people over for dinner on Wednesday night, I have class on Thursday night, we catch up with each other on Friday, Saturday we get off campus and work on homework, Sunday we are helping to launch a new service and I lead a small group of girls in the evenings.
7. We fight about who is going to blog. (I lost)
8. We live in a building with 102 Freshman boys.
9.We are too busy reading everyone else's blog
10. We are lazy!
(Those of you who have a litter of children and a million things to accomplish in a day, please do not judge us. We just aren't as talented as you!)

A Gift from the kids

Created by Pearce Hallmark

Happy Birthday Taylor

My sister always writes really touching and beautiful things on her blog when someone in her family has a birthday. I am not good at that. But I think we all know how amazing Taylor is. I am so blessed that I get to share everyday with him. Taylor I love you!

A Day in Cleveland

It seems like forever ago, but just last weekend we, along with three of our closest friends, took a day trip to Cleveland. A big city just an hour and a half away that we had never been too...and it was a blast. We did some shopping, ate some good food, and hung out at Lake Erie. It was great;) Sarah and Jeff Kirksey, Ryan Holt, and Us...We are blessed with good friends!
Apparently it was the day of the Cleveland Air Show. Though we weren't attending the event, the Thunderbirds selected our beach as their turn around point. The couldn't have been more than 100 ft. from the ground at one point. Free Show!!!

Cafe Courtyard

This weekend was the first of many student activities. Our good friends Ryan Holt and Jeff Kirksey are in charge of student activities so we always get to go. They started things out right with a sweet outdoor cafe set-up, chocolate fondue, and the most amazing band which consisted of three cellists and a percussionist. Check them out...Break of Reality

First Day of Grad School

Someone remind me why I am going to grad school. I'm not even using my undergrad degree yet.
I think I need a better attitude if I am going to make it through this semester.
Posted by Joanna

Mmmmm....Muffins!

As they walked through the door, the sweet aroma of blueberry muffins and hazelnut coffee awakened the senses. The awakening was much needed. It was 8am and the first day of classes for the students here. Joanna, so gifted in service, gladly prepared a pre-class pick-me-up for the eight guys on our building team. All upperclassmen, they didn't have quite the edge freshman have on their first day. The caffeine and company provided the substitute. One day down and a campus to conquer. Here we go!

from left to right: Dave, Ryan, Dan, Christian, and Nolan

RA Training

Our good friends Jeff and Sarah Kirksey-Sarah is Geneva's newest RD

Pool Time

The Pearce Boys

This is Deacon. He is the cutest boy on campus. Taylor's boss and his wife adopted him around Easter.

Jeff Kirksey hanging out with Baby Deacon

My friend Kelly

Move-in Day

Taylor and I are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Ok, it really isn't that bad, but it is keeping us busy. We have pictures of RA training that we will post soon. Sorry for the lack of exciting blogs.

Gotta Love Freshman

Taylor and I were talking to some guys in the lounge. We heard another guy yell from the laundry room to his friend, "Hey, you wash whites on warm, right?"
There is nothing like living with freshman boys. Only the athletes are here now, but the rest of the boys arrive next week. Taylor has an amazing RA staff. We are excited that this year we know more about Geneva than the incoming freshman. We are anticipating God to do great things in Pearce.
And yes, you wash whites on warm.

Back to PA

We arrived back home in Beaver Falls this evening. It is so good to be home. We have been living out of a suit case all summer. We loved spending time with our family, and we don't know what we are going to blog about now that we don't have our nieces and nephews around.

A New Family Tradition!

Our eight year old nephew Dawson (Jody and Andy's oldest) enjoys soccer so much that he organized an entire game for the whole family. He divided us into teams, thought about the equipment we would need and all. We found the closest spot with enough room to kick a ball and the game was on. In the end, team two won. Who was on that team is not important:)

Photography

Family Vacation has given Taylor a chance to build his photography portfolio.

I gotta admit....I'm a Colorado Girl!

Lewis and Clark

We have walked for miles... ...treading through wild fields... ...scaling the fences before us... ...crossing treacherous rapids... ...nearly losing one of our own! After taking some time to rest... ...reflect... ...and even smell the flowers... ...we checked our direction... ...and made our TRIUMPHANT ENTRY! We have made it to the mountains of Breckenridge!

The Others Have Arrived