What Time is It? Summertime!

The first week of June we found ourselves in a new home with lots of boxes! We began to unpack and give away or burn all the boxes. (That was my request - we had kept boxes from previous moves and I was ready to be rid of boxes) The first part of the week, Maggie traveled to Churchill, MT for summer missionary orientation. She is working with the North American Mission Board this summer as a summer missionary in Red Lodge. So she enjoyed getting to meet other college students who will be working in the state this summer. The second week of June, we had been asked to help with the community Vacation Bible School in town. Maggie, Caroline, and I helped and Colleen and Abigail participated. It was a fun week of getting to know new people and enjoying VBS.

On Thursday, June 13, Mama and Daddy flew in to help us settle in. With Lee still unable to do much, they were a great help to us. On Saturday, June 15, a mission team from First Baptist Church, Starkville, MS flew in. Our dear friends, Tom and Dinah Jenkins, led the team. Tom was my youth director at Agricola Baptist Church years ago when I was a youth. They brought a precious team of families from their church. They painted the back rooms at the Legacy Lodge and build 10 sets of bunk beds. It was a lot of fun to have them here. Abigail especially enjoyed playing with all the children they brought.

On Wednesday, I took Mama, Daddy, and Caroline to the airport in Billings. They flew back to Mississippi, packed on Thursday, and on Friday flew to Romania. The Starkville team flew out on Friday and Lee went back to the doctor. He had had a MRI on Wednesday and did, indeed, have a bulging disc. He decided to have another round of steroids and start physical therapy. Colleen and Abigail attended a community Art Camp the last week of June. They had a great time.

On Wednesday, June 26, a mission team from Wayne County, Mississippi drove up. They worked here at our house finishing two rooms that were unfinished. The ladies on the team painted our mud room and the men hung sheetrock in our laundry room. They also installed an ice maker in our refrigerator. For those of you who have to fill ice trays, you know how wonderful an ice maker is! It was a joy to get to know them and have them here for a few days.

And so, June came and went quickly! July promises to be just as exciting.

On the Road Again (to Montana)

On Sunday, May 19, Lee preached at Ingalls Avenue Baptist Church in Pascagoula, MS. Next, we headed to Providence Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, MS, for my brother-in-law, David Williamson's graduation reception. He recently graduated from Southwestern Seminary with his Doctorate. Finally, we headed to Thomasville, AL to Thomasville Baptist Church where we spoke to their mission team that is coming out this summer and Lee preached their P.M. service. Our day ended in Grove Hill, AL, where we spoke to their mission team that will be working at the rodeo. It was a whirlwind day! Monday we tried to pack everything up and Tuesday we flew home - this time with no problems! We had a couple of days to pack, and then our wonderful mission team from Hattiesburg, MS came to help us move. Mr. Rickey and Mrs. Gay Nicholas and their nephew, Shawn, flew in on Friday. We got the moving truck on Saturday and began loading it, with the help of Mike Ungaretti and Rob and Allison Labs, all from our church in Livingston. We finished packing the truck Saturday night. Sunday, May 26, was our last Sunday with Cornerstone Community Fellowship in Livingston. Lee shared about our work in Red Lodge, they had a special prayer for us, and lunch at the church. It was a special time with those sweet folks who were our first church home in Montana. One thing I left out was that Lee had been having back problems for a few months before we went south. While in Mississippi, he saw a friend of ours who was a chiropractor a few times. But he was still having pain. He was unable to help any while we were packing boxes or loading the truck to move. That's why our dear friends who helped us really were life savers. Also, the whole time we were down south, we were working with the bank to finalize the loan on the house we were buying in Red Lodge. It seemed at every turn there were obstacles. We even wondered if we would have to rent a while until we could find something. The strange thing was - no one could explain why we were having these problems. So we flew home on Tuesday, closed on the house on Friday, and moved in on Monday. God's timing is always right on! So, Monday, May 27, Memorial Day, exactly one year to the day of when we left our friends and family in Alabama, we pulled out from our rental house in Livingston and headed to our new home in Red Lodge. As we began to unload the truck, Lee continued to get worse. Now he could hardly stand, much less walk. A friend from the Rock Church in Laurel, MT, Kevin Kaiserman, came down to help us unload the truck. Once it was unloaded, Lee told me to take him to the Emergency Room. What a way to start our lives here in Red Lodge! I took him to the ER, and Mrs. Gay took care of the family. They gave Lee some strong pain medication, and he basically lost a week of his life! He was in the bed the entire next week, and mostly didn't know anything. Again, the Nicholas' helped tremendously. On Friday, May 31, Lee went to see our local doctor and he seemed to think he had a bulging disc in his lower back. He gave him a round of steroids and sent him home.

Graduation Pictures



On the Road Again ( Week 5)

We were so blessed to be able to worship with our mothers on Mother's Day this year, May 12.  I went to church with Mama and Daddy at Agricola Baptist Church, my home church, and Lee went with his Mama and Daddy to First Baptist Church, Lucedale, his home church.  We spent the rest of the week with my parents, visiting grandparents, and getting ready for Maggie's high school graduation.  The morning of Maggie's graduation, our dear friends from Grove Hill honored her with a brunch at the Grove Hill Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

 

 

LaSha, Holly, Pertrise, Rachel, Mary Lynn, Miranda

 





 

I'm really not sure where the last 17 years went!  The day I went into the hospital in labor with my first child, I was a scared 21 year old.  Then when they told me I would have to have a C-section, I was really nervous.  But one look into those big, blue eyes and my heart melted.  What a blessing Maggie has been to our family during the last 17 years.  We can't wait to see what God has in store for her in the future.  So on May 18, 2013, Maggie graduated from Solid Rock Christian School at First Baptist Church, Jackson, AL.  She will attend the University of Mobile in the fall.  We are so proud of you, Mags!







On the Road Again (Week 4)

Sunday evening, May 5, we went to First Baptist Church, Vancleave, MS.  It was good to be with them.  They have been supporters of LOF as well. 

On Monday, we began working in the recording studio on our Christmas CD.  We all headed to Dogwood Studio in Mobile, AL early Monday morning.  We finished all of the girls solos, duets, and songs we sang all together.  It was a long day!  Tuesday, I went back and finished everything up.  We look forward to having the project completed in early fall.

 

 

On Wednesday, we sang and preached at Providence Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, MS.  This is the church that my brother-in-law, David Williamson, pastors.  It was great to meet these people and get to know them.  After the service, we drove to Grove Hill to spend the night with our friends, the Nelsons.  Thursday morning, Lee, Maggie, and Colleen saw our dentist.  Saturday we sang and preached at New Hope Baptist Church in Leakesville, MS.  We enjoyed our time and lunch there.

 









On the Road Again (Week 3)

Sunday, April 28, we sang and spoke at Rocky Creek Baptist Church.  It was a special time for many reasons.  Lee's Papa pastored that church for many years.  This is the church where both Nanny and Papa's funerals were held.  All of Lee's family attended the service that day.  Rocky Creek Baptist Church has been a huge supporter of Legacy of Faith from the beginning, and they are bringing a mission team this summer.  After the service, we had a wonderful lunch with the family and the mission team.  Then we met with the team.  They will be painting the outside of the lodge the end of July.

 

That evening, Lee preached at First Baptist Church, Lucedale, MS.  This is his home church, where he was saved, and where he was ordained.  It was a special service, as well. 

 

The beginning of the week, we were able to visit my grandparents.

 Grandma Myrtis Mizell told me some funny family stories.

Mama, Grandma, and me

 The girls with Granny & Papaw (Rebecca & Russell Cottingham)

On Wednesday, we headed to the beach.  We had planned our trip to Gulf Shores, AL back in February, and we were so excited!  We stayed there until Sunday morning.  It was a great trip, even though it was a bit cool, windy, and rainy. 

 Mama and Daddy (Beverly & Ronnie Cottingham) with all the granddaughters.

 Silly Peyton and Abigail!

Caroline, Peyton, Maggie, Abigail, Colleen, Kaitlyn





Sunday morning early, we headed north to Grove Hill Baptist Church in Grove Hill, AL to sing and preach there.  It was a great time of reunion.  We had a wonderful lunch with many friends at JW and Hettie Reeves' home.