White as Snow!

Just when we thought we had seen the last of our Memphis snow days, we had a late winter snow! And what a snow we have had!! As I write, we already have about 4 inches and it is STILL snowing!!

The kids have had so much fun playing outside in the snow! From making a snowman to having snow ball fights (with mom being the target!), they have really enjoyed the cold white stuff!

As I look outside this morning at our gorgeous winter wonderland, the snow is so white it is blinding! I literally had to put my sunglasses on to be able to see. Bright, bright snow. God tells us in Isaiah that "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow", Isaiah 1:18. As I look outside at this beautiful, white, clean snow, I am ever more thankful that is how my Jesus sees me. My scarlet sins have been forgiven, and I am washed white as snow! That is GRACE!!

Of course, by the end of the week, the temperatures here in Memphis will be in the lower 70"s!!! Gotta love the mid-south weather!!!!! BRING ON SPRING ALREADY!!!!!!

Improvised snow sledding!!!

Tennis Balls and Good Friends!

Our sweet friends Matt and Allyson were gracious enough to invite us, along with our other precious friends, Paul and Kelli, to the CellularSouth Cup.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  All I knew was that the 3 amigos (aka Pam, Kelli and Allyson) were going to have to be quite while sitting together.  That, I knew, was going to be near to impossible!!!! But thanks to text messaging, we were able to bear it!!  Plus, we did have Andy Roddick to stare at!!

This was the first professional tennis match I have ever been to.  It was really amazing.  We were sitting pretty close to the court, so our eyes had to be fixed on that court, looking out for some pretty fast flying tennis balls (Andy Roddick's were up to 135 mph)!  Good thing we were accompanied by a plastic surgeon, eye doctor, and an attorney!!  I think we could have covered all of our bases!!

Not only were we witness to an outstanding tennis match with some of the world's leading tennis players, we were also blessed to witness a miracle!  After about 30 minutes of play, one of the spectators stood and yelled "stop play, we have an emergency".  Only about 3 rows behind us, a man had a heart attack!  So, immediately, everyone who was able, responded.  God has an amazing way of orchestrating all things!  Sitting within a few rows of this man was an internist, a surgeon (my sweet), a cardiologist, and 2 ER nurses!!  If he was going to have a medical emergency, he was certainly in the right place!  After several minutes of CPR and a few shocks, this man, who was blue with no pulse, came back to life.  After a moment of prayer requested by the RaquetClub, we were notified that he was in ICU and appeared to be doing much better.  Praise the Lord!!!  How precious life is!

What a wonderful night of great friends and great tennis, and of course, a miracle!!!!

The Repolles Come to Memphis!

Me and Michelle at Graceland

Michelle (and her twin sister Dawn) and I have been friends for 30 years!!!!  We started our first day of kindergarten together and eventually graduated college together.  We have shared so much of our lives!!!  From sleepovers to birthday parties and all sorts of milestones in between!  What a privilege it is to have those in your life like Dawn and Michelle!

After graduating from college in 96', Michelle felt God's calling to join the ministry of Campus Outreach.  She then moved to Brazil where she ministers to college students on a campus there.  Just over a year ago, she became Mrs. Anselmo Repolles!  

We were so excited to have Michelle and Anselmo come visit us in Memphis while they have been here in the States.   It was great to see Michelle again after several years and to meet Anselmo for the first time!  The kids thought it was so cool!!!  Of course, the Brazilian candy really helped to win them over!!!!

Anselmo and Michelle even took time out of their schedules in Memphis to speak to Molly and Mary Kate's classes at FACS!  The kids were thrilled to be able to share their "new friends".  Anselmo taught the kids all about Brazil and shared with them what it meant to be a missionary there.  He shared with them about being the "feet" of Jesus.  

Anselmo, James, Mary Kate and Michelle

Anselmo, Molly and Michelle

Getting Back In the Groove!

So, I have been quite absent from the blog world lately.  It seems as though life sometimes just gets so crazy and so busy and so out of control!  And that has been where I have been!!  CRAZY TOWN!  But after feeling pretty guilty after looking at other friends' blogs (you know who you are....Allison!!), I am feeling pretty inspired again.  So, hopefully, I will be a little better about keeping up to date with all the happenings with the GROOVIN GROVES!!!!  See you soon!!!!