Global Impact Celebration

We are so blessed to attend a church that puts so much emphasis on reaching the world for Christ. This week, Shades is hosting GIC (Global Impact Celebration), an event in which our congregation spends 5 days encouraging, learning from, being challenged by, and spurring on nearly 30 missionaries/families from around the globe. All the missionaries set up display tables and before/after each worship gathering, we can go around to hear all about what they are doing, how God is using them, and how we can be involved through prayer and volunteering.

Last night, Wednesday, was the huge kick-off event! I always get SO pumped because it is so awesome to gather with such warriors of the faith to worship our Father together. We sang the song by Casting Crowns, "Until the Whole World Hears," (click here to listen) and I was reminded that we have to keep living and shining our light until every person has heard the news of Jesus! It was so refreshing. Seems like I get so caught up in my every day life and duties that it is easy to lose sight of my job as Christ's ambassador. I am reminded of Colossians 3:1-3: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

I am really looking forward to the rest of the week: catching up with our former Sunday School teachers and hearing about what God is doing in Israel and the Middle East; having some awesome time of fun and fellowship with our NearlyNewlywed class; being encouraged and challenged in my faith... to live more sacrificially and wholeheartedly for God. Wow, I am expecting God will do some great things.

God is so good to meet us where we are and remind us of his truth. His grace blows me away.

Happy Birthday, Hunter!

February is quite a busy Birthday month in our family, which means lots of fun, food, and celebration!

Today is Hunter's birthday... the big 2-4! We started out the day with his favorite breakfast, biscuits and chocolate gravy. After a day of work, we enjoyed another delicious meal of New York strip, sweet potatoes, asparagus, and baked apples... oh and Funfetti birthday cake, too! So, on this 17th of February, 2010, I want to celebrate his life and tell why I'm so thankful for him!

Hunter is hilarious. I laugh at him.. well, always... and am grateful to be married to such a fun-loving guy. I love that I laugh at/with him more now than I did when we started dating... yes even more than those cute teenage years where every little thing is funny.

Hunter is a beaver. Huh? Yes, beaver. According to a personality test, Hunter has scored pretty high in the beaver category, meaning he is detail/task-oriented and very organized. With such gifts, Hunter is a great leader and manager of people, money, and time. I appreciate how he sets goals in all areas of his life and in our marriage. I am constantly encouraged and challenged by Hunter to reflect on what's going on and how it's helping achieve our goals.
(And it helps to have a hubby who is neater than me! Just imagine our closets for a moment... mine: clothes on the floor, shoes out of place, random things thrown in. Hunter's: clothes organized by type, sleeve-length, season, etc. Nothing on the floor except neatly organized shoes and a laundry basket. Sigh, if only I could do that.)
So, here's to all the beavers out there! I really appreciate you.

Hunter is the best husband. Period. Yeah, yeah, I know all you wives out there think that about your hubby.. and I know they're great.... but they're not the best. Hunter truly lives out the command in Ephesians 5:25-26 "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word." I am constantly thanking God for allowing me to not only know such a great man, but to be his wife. I pray that I will be as much of an encouragement and help-mate to him as he is to me. 


Just 3 of billions of things about Hunter that I love about him. 


God, thank you for bringing Hunter in the world on this day just 24 years ago. May he feel loved, appreciated, and useful to your kingdom. Glorify yourself through him.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mom's 51st birthday! In honor of her, I want to list just some of the millions of reasons I love her.

She is extremely selfless... she always puts other before herself, no matter what.

She is strong. Through some very tough times in life, she has shown me and others how to depend on the Lord for strength.

She is beautiful. Not only outwardly, but her heart is beautiful. She loves God and others fully and deeply.

She is fun. Growing up, all of our friends would say, "Your mom is the coolest! I love Mrs. Beth!" Mom knows how to have fun and bring the joy out of people.

She is gracious. Even when we don't deserve it, like Christ, Mom is quick to forgive, forget, show grace, and move on.

She's one heck of a cook! If I could ever be half as creative as she is in the kitchen, I will have "arrived" as a cook! Mom can take any random ingredients and present a gourmet feast. She uses this gift to serve others in a unique way.

She is giving. Wow, I've never met someone who would give away all she ever had if you just asked. I'll never forget going on a mission trip to Mexico, and Mom gave away her entire suitcase to a girl in need. She's always sending us little packages with snacks or gifts for my students.

She has never met a stranger. Mom is the friendliest person I know. Every time we go out or on vacation, Mom just starts up a conversation with whoever she's next to. Her warmth and joy overflow and leave everyone who meets her feeling refreshed and encouraged.

These are just a few things I love about my mom, and if you know her, you'll know what I mean. Here's to Mom! I thank my God in heaven for giving me such a beautiful, loving mother. Praise Him for whom all blessings flow.

Jumping on the Bandwagon...

So, after seeing several cool blogs lately, I figured it would be fun to start one for us. Who knows how often we'll post... but I know it's a great way to communicate and share what God is doing in our life on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

As for things going on lately, Hunter and I have had quite a cool start to 2010. We had the awesome opportunity to cruise through the Panama Canal with his family for 10 days. Talk about an action packed trip... waterfalls in Jamaica, a day through the historical Panama Canal, a few relaxing days at sea, ziplining through the forest in Costa Rica, climbing a volcano in Guatemala, and chilling out at a secluded beach in Mexico... just a few of the awesome things we did.

Here is a photo of us at "formal night"...

After coming back from a week and a half of paradise, we quickly got back into the groove with work. Hunter has been busy making calls, selling annuities, and other banker type jobs that are way over my head. I'm so proud of him and his hard work! I got settled back in with my lovely 4th grade class and it has been a much better semester already! I think just having a semester under my belt makes a huge difference in the teaching world. Here's a favorite quote from a student recently: "Mrs. Yarbrough, (student rubs her lower abdominal area), you know this area, I think it's called the independix...well it's hurting really bad."  Haha, never a dull moment.

Along with work, a much more exciting development is planning a mission trip to Israel with our NearlyNewlywed class at church. Hunter and I are so thrilled about this opportunity! We'll be going to minister with a couple who used to be our Sunday school teachers. We'll spend the first part of the trip working with them in their village and the last part touring areas like Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and more. It will be so incredible to see the Bible in a new way as we walk in areas where our Savior lived, died, and was raised again. We are so humbled to have this opportunity and ask for prayer as we get all of the details arranged.

As I write this first blog post, I'm staring out a the beautiful, silent SNOW falling down. That's right, I'm having an unexpected 4-day weekend (with Presidents' Day this coming Monday). It's so beautiful and peaceful!

Here's the view from our back patio.

Grace and peace to you all.