Coming back to my Favorite Things!

seeing as it has been a bajillion years since I have blogged... If I attempted to catch you up on life, there wouldn't be enough space on this page and heck, I don't have that kind of time! So, I am resorting to a Libby Barker original, "A Few of My Favorite Things"

1. Mr. Kegley.

  I could get into all kinds of cheesy, mushy stuff  but let's just leave him at the #1 spot and move on....

2. Sadie!

She probably is one of my distractions from blogging. Because if I have free time at home, I want to be talking to her, seeing how her day went and playing all kinds of silly games. My roommates laugh  when I am on Facetime with her because I will do just about anything and be as loud as possible to entertain her and teach her new things!
Here is a video I will cherish for my lifetime, this is a normal Facetime session with Baby bug!

We love that she loves to be with us! She has come up to Go-go's house for extended stays while Lanie and Bret have certain events and Sadie just waves "Bye"! What a comforting feeling to know your baby is just so happy while you are away... She ought to be, we just drool over her the whole time!

She LOVES Uncle Wade! She loves to drive his truck or sit shotgun and jam to music... Here is a video we just adore. We were cranking up Eric Church's "My Kind of Love" and she was just shaking and schimmy-ing... She truly is my namesake! AND She did NOT want any other song either! guess we got ourselves a little EC fan, Kyle would be so proud!
**See she also has her basketball close... She really is one of us!!!**


I just never knew my heart could expand and love deeper until I met this little bug. She truly has me wrapped around her finger and I am just so blessed to be her Aunt!

3. Rural Hill Church Camp.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."- Matt 19:26
The greatest week of the year!


I might say this every year... but there is no doubt in my mind that this year was THE BEST YEAR EVER! I can't even explain all the amazing aspects.



My cabin was incredible.

We won the Cleanest Cabin Overall and the first cabin to go viral! Check out in the In-house Tour on Youtube!


It was remarkable to see leadership be the "popular" thing to do.  Does that make sense? Maybe this photo will show you...

The older boys model such powerful leadership in Christ that the younger boys wanted to do the same! How remarkable is that? That will just melt you heart into a million pieces. Whew. God is so good!

 ... my brother being one of those.  Wadely leading worship is a memory my heart will never forget!
 I also love to mail my brother ridiculous letters... This one is straight from Reba McEntire!

My team was perfect in everyway!  I have never had a crew of kiddos be so encouraging and uplifting in the heat of the day... and losing every game! I was just so proud of them. We cheered and high-fived more in creating these photos below then the ONE time we won a game! Haha. 

 

I love getting to spend an unlimited time with people that inspire and bring out the true ME!
Even during free-time... I haven't done a back flip in 6 years!


here is my "What Camp Means to Me" quote from the year....
"It is home! We may come from all different places, spiritually and mentally, but this place is filled w/ the overwhelming goodness of God. This year God used amazing people of all ages to exemplify the power of leadership and faithfulness…and it was contagious! Can’t we do camp all summer?" 


Here is the link to this year's Camp Video
 

ALSO... This same week, the Tennessean published an article about Rural Hill's multiracial congregation and it made the front page! front page! There is no secret formula for making it work but truly shows the power of showing pure, authentic and unconditional love from God.  I love looking at all of our camp photos because they are a true representation of us as a church! Full of color, full of all ages and full of love! 

The article was full of statistics... can you believe out of 12,000 Churches of Christ, less than 1% are considered multiracial? From being raised at Rural Hill since I was 11, I cannot imagine church in a different way.  It doesn't matter how old you are... 2 to 92... we do not see color!

I feel like there are so many things missing from this post to do RH Church camp justice! But I think this song sums it all up:

4. My graduate school. 
I am pursuing my Masters in Education (K-6) at MTSU and I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be! Isn't that an awesome feeling? Everything fits together so perfectly, I know it is in God's plan!

5. Country Music. 
You truly are a Tennessee girl when country songs speak to you... Here is a perfect song to end on! Danielle Peck's "Isn't that Everything"




"I know Jesus loves me up in that sky above me... All that I have is all I need, Isn't that everything?"I hope to keep this same mindset and happiness in everyday of my life! 

... I could think of 20 more things to add! Who knows, I might blog again tomorrow...? I am making no promises!

 Enjoy, It's good to be back!

God is our ONLY Constant!

This morning, I had the opportunity to be in the Senior girls bible class at Ezell! My dear friend, Diane Griffin, teaches it and she truly pours her heart into making this class best for the girls. She asked me a few weeks ago to come in a give a "younger" perspective on life.  I had done this last year... so I guess I did well enough be asked back?!  Hey, that's always a good sign!

Just like last year... we didnt really have a "lesson" in mind. We allowed the girls to use this time as a forum and ask questions about... well, just about anything! And boy was that the truth! The first question was..."What is public school like?" I thought... hmm... I liked it?! I dont really know how to answer that!" ( oh no, this is going to be tough!) 

**By far, the funniest moment of the morning... I was talking about dating, picking the right mate, etc, etc. I emphasized how important it was to have a "list" of qualities in a man you want! The man is sizing you up, why not do the same? AND the list will keep you from willy, nilly deciding your future!  

I mentioned you could even put shallow things on there... one of mine was that I wished my future husband would be a College Football fan  (do you see what I did there? I didnt limit it to Alabama Football! I just knew I needed my husband to understand the importance of Saturdays in the fall. You know? I didnt think that was too much to ask, growing up in the South!) 

...anyways, back to the funny story... I also mentioned I had "a man that will protect me" on the list!  It is kind of hard to explain... but I wanted to know that if we were walking down a sketchy street that I DIDN'T HAVE to be the one to beat the daylights out of someone if we were in trouble. You know that I mean?  Seeing as I was using a lighthearted example,  the girls chuckled...  and one girl says, "Yeah! That makes sense, but you totally look like you could take 'em!" 

BAHAHA! Really? Do I exude this kickin' butt chick? 

Have to admit, that made my day! I loved it... made me feel powerful! But for now,  we will keep the street butt-kickin to Kyle. (Unless I need to save him! you know!? :)

 That really did open up the floor to become raw and real with these girls.... ( so thanks girl for making me feel a little extra "Miranda Lambert" today!) ... exposing all the funny parts in life.... and all the struggles and changes they will face.  

The Common Theme? God is our only constant! 

 NEWS FLASH: It will never be better ONCE you get a boyfriend, or ONCE you get to college, or ONCE you get a job.... actually, things seem to get tougher!  They have big steps and big changes to make in the next few months... I get that. But I assured them... That God will provide, He will keep His promises to His daughter! Trust him with that.

As the questions bounced around and time was running out, I could see God was using my words and life experiences in some pretty cool ways.  At that moment, I thought, "I bet when I was in high school, I would have loved to ask these questions! I would have loved to talk to someone openly about college, parents, dating, friends, etc."  So today, I hope I at least inspired 1 girl to believe in herself and the talents, strengths and love God gives her!

Wide Open Spaces

On a night like tonight... iHeart radio and dinner at home is right up my alley. Thanks to random song selection... This came up... and hit home! Who remembers this? I bet I would've still been listening to Dixie Chicks today... too bad.  

This song was different today than usual. Maybe 'cause the last time I heard it, I couldn't imagine any "wide open spaces" outside of Williamson County, TN.  Here I am, 10 years later... and it takes on a whole new meaning. 

 Wide Open Spaces

Who doesn't know what I'm talking about?
Who's never left home, who's never struck out?
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Many precede and many will, follow
A young girl's dreams no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed

She needs wide open spaces

Room to make her big mistakes
She needs, new faces
She knows the highest stakes

She traveled this road as a child
Wide-eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test

She needs wide open spaces

Room to make her big mistakes
She needs, new faces
She knows the highest stakes

As her folks drive away, her dad yells, "Check the Oil"
Her mom stares out the window and says, "I'm a leavin' my girl"
She says, "It didn't seem like that long ago"
When she stood there and let her own folks know

She needed wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the highest stakes

____________________________________

Seems like the wide open spaces in my life continue to bring inevitable newness and unfamiliarity... but I need them and I know the risks! 

As your study of God’s Word takes you into different part of Scripture – “God spoke … through the prophets at many times and in various places”, make sure that your main focus of attention is always on Jesus – in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.” •  Hebrews 1:1-2

back in the saddle

I'm getting back in the saddle! Yep, that's right... I am going to be diligent about blogging again. Its kinda sad I fell off the wagon, hope I dont look back years from now and wonder what I was doing those 7 months! oh well.

How perfect I can start back on a Wednesday, a "What I'm Loving Wednesday"! Makes it easier and less intimidating... Except that I have a bajillion things I could include. Here goes. 

1. Sadie bug!

 I guess I can just stop with this one entry?! 

 My niece and namesake has absolutely captured every bit of me.  I never knew love like I love her.  Gives me goosebumps to think it's even bigger when I have my own baby! (that is a looooooooooooong time away, no worries)

Its crazy to think that in the time I have had this blog... I am "nagged" my sister for years for a baby, finally got the news!!!,  prayed for 9 months  and have watched her grow into the most precious baby on this planet! Makes my heart swell. 

Lets just say I also loving having a REALLY cute baby model! She loves photo shoots! Cant you tell? 

My family feels so blessed... she has made our life even more wonderful. We cant get enough!

2. Technology! 

Since my weekly blogging days, I got an iPhone! My life is forever changed. I love love love it. I love the simplicity, everything is right there. The best advantage has to be to FACETIME Sadie. 

 Here all 5 members of the Barker Family are Face-timing with Sadie, she cant decide who to look at! She loved the bedtime party!

3. This Man!

 Kyle Kegley is just plain wonderful. 

Each day I am reminded more and more how blessed I am to be with him.

4. On a not-so-happy note, My heart hurts for a fellow member of the Page Patriot family. A friend of my brother's passed away in an accident this past weekend, Taylor Brewer.  You can read more here. It is surreal to hear the news and know some of your closest friends are full of pain.  Our prayers are constantly with you all! 

Its such an honor to be a part of the Page Patriot legacy and see the school unite to pour love and sympathy to his family and friends.


5. This Video from Jimmy Kimmel. He challenged all the parents to tell their kids they ate all of their Halloween candy while they were sleeping. This video absolutely makes my day. Hope you enjoy!

 "YOU SNEAKY MOM!!!!"

6. ... Did I mention Sadie? 

Happy Wednesday! 

"So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus." (2 Peter 1:5-8 MSG)