Saturday, March 31, 2012

A day of (much needed) rest

I got to spend a day in Berea, KY this week.  Me and a few of my colleagues traveled to the small town to do some business.  While they were in a meeting, I got to spend some time BY MYSELF!  Although I do not require a huge amount of alone time, I was in desperate need of some time to just be still with my own thoughts without someone needing something from me.

I don't do "quiet" time well.  You will never see me just sitting still.  So walking around on a beautiful spring day admiring God's handiwork and the handiwork of others was a great way for me to quiet my mind.

Here are a few pictures from my day in Berea.

There were tons of spring flowers in bloom.
I really don't know what the deal was with these giant hands, but they were all over the place.  I couldn't help but imagine them being a hand of God just waiting for me to sit in it and rest.
One of the craft stores.  I meandered forever looking at all kinds of beautiful pieces of art.
I know that we are all busy, but it really is important for us to take time out of our crazy, hectic lives and remember that each one of us are beautifully and uniquely made.  Spending time admiring the beauty around us, helps us remember that we are beautiful to God.  I hope that you can have some peaceful moments in your life this week!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Preacher Kids....snacking on communion

Last night was homework night at our house.  We all had homework that needed to get done.  Anna had two tests, Abby had one test and I have more work to do than I even care to write about.  Aaron was in class so he missed the Atchley family homework hour(s).

While the house was quiet and everyone was dutifully studying (a  major minor miracle in itself), I looked up to see this:


If you can't tell what she is doing, she is snacking while studying.  If you look very closely, you will see that she is dipping bread into grape juice and eating it.  I chuckled when I realized what she was doing.  She said that she was "snacking on communion."  Abby was bounding down the stair about that time and raced over to get in on the action.


Now, don't go all theological on me and post comments and send me e-mails about how this goes against United Methodist practices and such...just enjoy it for what it is:  Two preacher's kids who used to play baptism in the bathtub have moved on to snacking on "communion".   

I will have to admit that in an evening full of stress and pressure, the thought of God's grace being available to anyone at any time was comforting.  They may have been snacking and not thinking about the significance of the sacrament of communion, but it made me stop for a second and just rest in the fact that I am saved by faith alone and that nothing I can do will add to that or subtract to that.  I needed that!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Morning people....

I am a morning person.  I do not apologize for this.  I get up, I get going and I am usually pretty happy about it!  I would go as far as to say that I am the most productive in the morning before most people I know are even functioning.  I never understood what a gift this was until I married Aaron.  Let's just say...he doesn't share my affinity for the wee hours of the morning.    I think it is quite ironic that one of our children has inherited my love for the sunrise and one has inherited Aaron's disdain for the same.

My breakfast buddy

Abby and I often can be found early on a Saturday (if there is no soccer...) running around town getting things done while the other two are still sawing logs.  This past Saturday was no exception.  All before 10:00, we had gone to breakfast, gone grocery shopping, gassed up the vehicles, cleaned of the van, washed and vacuumed the van and returned home ready to tackle some housecleaning!! 

Don't hate us because we are perky.

Friday, March 23, 2012

It's the little things....

I am not a "girly-girl."  I have never been one to wear a lot of make-up and am always a low-maintenance hair type of girl.  (Pony-tails RULE!)  My getting-ready-routine is quick and easy.  I have never been one to take forever to leave the house and have never, ever been a fan of all of that smell-good stuff.

However, a few years ago, I fell in love with a scent from Bath and Body Works.  It was just perfect for me!  It was light and fresh (no super flowery scents for me!) and it came in a shower gel and lotion.  A multi-tasking product:  I could get clean and smell yummy!!  So, out of character, I bought the whole set!!

I was in heaven.  I actually thought that I was turning the corner and heading a little ways down the girly-girl path.  When I used the last of my shower gel, I rushed back to Bath and Body Works only to find that they had discontinued my favorite scent!!  I think the lady behind the counter felt sorry for me as I just stared at her in disbelief.  I am pretty sure she thought I was going to melt down and fall to the floor screaming and crying, but I didn't.  I gathered myself together and calmly walked out of the store only to frantically call my sister in Arizona to moan and groan and whine and cry about how unfair this world was.  Being the loving sister she is, she checked the Bath and Body Works Outlet (isn't she lucky!) and found a few more bottles, bought them and shipped them across the country to me.

Unfortunately, they eventually ran out too and this time no wonderful package arrived from Arizona with refills.  They really weren't going to make them anymore.  It was a sad, sad day.  I have continued to think about that lovely scent and although I have tried several other products and scents, nothing has come close to my lovely Lemon-Vanilla Bath and Body Works shower gel.

You can only imagine my joy when I saw an e-mail from BB&W with the header  "For a limited time:  Lemon-Vanilla products are back!"  I did not pass go.  I did not collect $200.  I clicked on the link, order FIVE bottles and jumped for joy!

The package arrived today!!  I am a happy (and yummy smelling) woman!!  It's the little things....


The man needs new shoes!

Aaron wears two types of shoes right now--Crocs and tennis shoes--and only wears tennis shoes when absolutely necessary. 

He met me for lunch today at work which means he walked in the rain to meet me since we only live a block away from my office.  As he was walking me back to my office, he nonchalantly tells me that he needs a new pair of shoes.  He shows me this...



Poor thing...he had been walking around with a hole in his shoe!  Every time he took a step, water shot up through the hole into the shoe!!


Isn't he pitiful?  Guess we will be going shoe shopping....

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Big changes are coming!

Six years ago, Aaron and I started planning the "next steps" in our lives and ministry.  We had been involved with youth ministry vocationally for many, many years and although we loved it (and all of our kids!), we felt that God was calling us to pastoral ministry.  (An important note here--Aaron is going to be the one who is going to be the pastor, however we feel strongly that we were called to this kind of ministry as a couple.)  After two years of much prayer and planning, we packed up our family and all of our belongings and moved from Tennessee to Wilmore, KY. 


We are approaching graduation (at least Aaron is) from Asbury Theological Seminary in May.  And although I do a little happy dance every time I think about Aaron graduating, reality soon hits that with graduation comes a great big change!  We will be packing up our belongs and moving from Wilmore, KY to somewhere in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.  (I can't tell you where yet, but stay tuned because I will be able to soon!)



Transitions are difficult even when they are good transitions. Transitions are hard even when they mean that a fulfillment of a calling from your Creator and Savior is being fulfilled.  The details of moving, saying good-bye to jobs, friends, soccer teams, schools, etc seem to just come in waves like those of the ocean onto the sand.  Some are small and others knock you down! 

I just want to warn you that I will be using this forum as a way to process my emotions--all of them...the good, the bad and the ugly!  For now, I am holding on to Jeremiah 29:11:



Monday, March 19, 2012

Deal of the Year!!

We have been doing a LOT of traveling over the last few weeks.  In fact, we visited 6 states in 8 days.  Needless to say, we are exhausted.  Abby had two soccer games in the Louisville area this weekend and we decided to see what kind of hotel room we could get using Hotwire.  We had decided that if we could find something less than $50, we would actually break even with the cost of gas being what it is.  So we found a 2 and 1/2 star hotel for $41.  I took a chance and booked the room.  Of course, you can't see what hotel or what kind of room it is.  Sometimes this works out well and other times...well let's just say that we have been disappointed before.

Not this time!  Look what $41 got us this weekend!!

The room with the KING size bed

The "sitting room" complete with kitchen!!

All kinds of amenities including a large arcade, indoor swimming pool, great gym and large indoor play space.
Needless to say...we were pleased with the outcome.  Hope the rest of adventures with Hotwire.com is just as successful!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Spring Soccer Season Has Begun

The spring soccer season  has begun!  The CSC Gold 2001 Girls opened up the spring season in Birmingham, Alabama at the prestigious Vulcan Cup.  It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend!  The girls played well  and fun was had by all!  Here are just a few pictures from the weekend:

Anna and Abby playing before the tournament started.

Abby warming up

Love this picture!

Anna showing off a move

It's always a good thing to bring home some hardware!

Vulcan Cup 2012 Finalists