Here's to You, Seventh year of Holy Matrimony!

Oh 7th year of marriage, you have brought the hammer...smashing all that was comfortable. I say this like it was a bad thing, I mean totally the contrary. This past year of our marriage has been hard, full of change, uprooting us from all that was familiar...BUT, I wouldn't change a thing! It was all needed and I am so incredibly blessed to have Mark by my side as my partner through it all.

Our 7th year of marriage can best be described as:
direction seeking, seminary finishing, internship accepting, GOD PROVIDING, Chicago moving, bitter cold weather experiencing, real pizza eating, Ferris Bueller re-enacting, snow playing, church fellowshipping, Midwest loving, Ryann potty training, direction seeking, job interviewing, hopes rising, hopes crashing, direction seeking, Seattle travelling, job interviewing, GOD PROVIDING, job accepting, World Concerning, house packing, stress rising, renter seeking, Mark graduating, GOD PROVIDING, renter finding, Seattle residence seeking, GOD PROVIDING, townhouse accepting, truck packing, friends goodbye-ing, erin crying, family goodbye-ing, erin really crying, cross-country travelling, sight seeing, Seattle landing, erin crying, GOD PROVIDING, Mark caring, job starting, job exciting, lonely feeling, erin crying,Guatemala travelling, part time job seeking, GOD PROVIDING, pre-school starting, teacher loving, Ryann smiling, new-church looking, Ryann loving, Faith growing, Mark travelling, lonely feeling,GOD PROVIDING, HUGE decision making, research seeking, process starting, HOPE exploding, hard reading, marriage growing, JESUS DEPENDING, Texas Missing, Chick fil A missing, Beautiful Nature Surrounding, Water Loving, Chai drinking, Sun appreciating, GOD PROVIDING, Jesus Comforting.


Without a doubt, God has indeed Provided for us this past year in ways we would have never expected...Looking forward with great expectation for Year 8.

September 20, 2003


Baby Mark and Baby Erin, circa 2001...probably at a Theta Date Party, not sure. We look so young!!!

Global Hunger Challenge

Our groceries for the week....will they last us?! We shall see...stay tuned.

Mark and I started the Global Hunger Challenge today. This challege was issued by the organization,InterAction. World Concern is a member of InterAction. The reason why Mark and I and other World Concern staff are participating is pretty much summarized by this statement on the InterAction website:
"In an expression of solidarity with people throughout the world who struggle with food insecurity, participants representing 39 organizations will live on a food budget of $34.33* during the week of Sept 17-24. This amount— equivalent to the average weekly amount a local Haitian is able to spend on food—will require some sacrifice.
Our community comes together in this challenge to in a small way show our commitment to those whom we work to help every day."
full article seen here

Mark and I planned out our week long menu and shopped for all of our food on Wednesday. We were surprised about the amount of food we could get for this amount mainly because we have found Seattle grocery stores to be more expensive on the whole than Dallas. However, as I am writing this, I am hungry. really hungry. The can of tuna salad, half a banana, and five crackers I had for lunch left me wanting. However, hungry, I am left thankful. really thankful....which is the point. To see some more about our shopping trip, how we are "mixing it up" with other sources of food besides groceries, etc, click here

Inspiring Faith: The Christi and Bryan edition

John 4:34-38
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”


I have been so incredibly inspired by so many people lately. People that are intentionally and purposely acting out their Faith by doing what the world would call, "Hard" things. People I know really well to people I don't know at all have encouraged me to no end to be more Bold, to be more Active, to be MORE. I hope to blog more about these people and today I thought it was fitting to blog about one of the most inspiring people I have the privilege to know and know well...One of my dearest friends boarded a plane bound for Honduras this morning with her husband and daughter. Christi, Bryan, and Greta Wiehoff are traveling to Siguatepepque, Hondouras TODAY to be full-time CAM missionaries.They have huge hearts for evangelism and their vision includes the training of pastors and church leaders in Honduras. Ever since I met Christi (at the end of 6th grade--GO SAINTS!), I thought she was different..in a good way. She was so incredibly special and unique, what junior high girl had a heart for missions and other cultures?!?! She truly did. Even then, she was so "others" focused.Christi has a passion for people and an even greater passion for Christ and His kingdom. She has never met a stranger and has the gift of getting to truly know people.In addition to being friends throughout jr. high and high school,I had the privilege of living with her all 4 years of college.She is so very special to me. It is so neat to see how God orchestrates our lives in order to bring us spouses that share our visions. Christi and Bryan both have huge hearts for the advancement of the Gospel and I know The Lord is going to do mighty mighty things with these 3 Wiehoffs. Christi has wanted to be a missionary ever since I have known her, and today she is doing it. I cannot express how incredible this is...to see one of your best friends actually live out her life-long dream, what a gift. Christi and Bryan, thank you for inspiring me and all those around you. I cannot wait to see what the Lord is going to do with your Inspiring Faithfulness. Check them out here or click on The Wiehoffs on my link list

Christi and her beautiful daughter, Greta


Christi and Bryan and our friend Jake


My friend and more importantly, sister in Christ.



So in honor of Christi, I leave you with my favorite scene of one of her favorite movies, The Mission. If you have not seen this movie, you really should. It is one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. To set this clip up, this is Father Gabriel, trying to regain entry and minister to a tribe, who has recently killed his friend, a fellow missionary. Inspiring Faith? I think Yes!

Welcome to the world, William!

Mark's brother Scot and his beautiful wife, Conni.

I became an aunt for the 4th time early Tuesday morning. William (Will) Leonard Lamb came into this world September 7. I absolutely hated missing this!Although we were not physically there, we were definitely there in spirit and I stalked facebook profiles all the next day to see all the pictures I could of this precious baby boy. He is so incredibly handsome.I love him so much and I absolutely cannot wait to hold him in December. Scot, Conni, Scot, Blake, and Angie, we could not be more happier for your family.Congratulations!

Thank God for Skype. Mark and I enjoyed officially "meeting" Will last night via Skype. It was so fun to see him and hear his cute little newborn noises. It was also fun to chat with his mom and dad too;) I love this picture, can you spot excited Aunt Sarah and Uncle John in the background?



Precious Will.

Proud Grandparents and their grandchildren...the only thing missing from this picture is Ryann Cate

I bought this adorable "alternative" onesie for Will yesterday at Baby Gap. LOVE it. Little boy clothes are so cute!!

First Day of Preschool

Ryann started preschool today! She is going to Heritage Christian Academy Preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-11:00am. Today was just orientation day, so parents went with their children. We both had a great time. Ryann's teacher, Mrs. Sargent, has been doing this a long time and she is Fantastic! At one point, all the kids were quiet, and Ryann blurted out, "Mrs. Sargent, you are my best friend, I love you so much!" Can you say, teacher's pet?!? All that to say, Ryann is excited about starting school!



Ryann and her teacher, Mrs. Sargent