Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Hello to all! We miss everyone so much, and feel quite out of contact these days due to our own fault. We have been so busy! Life at Glorieta is going well! This being our first summer out here, we have just had to experience it first, so there have been a few bumps along the way. But all in all, we are totally whooped, but completely fullfilled! We are still humbled by God's grace in putting us right here! In case you are wondering what life is like out here, let me fill you in. Close your eyes and imagine America in the 1950's in a small town combined with life on a church staff, and there you have it! It's like a large church campus where we all live and work together, but we have guests, volunteers, and staff on campus, so you can walk around and stop and visit with whomever you pass on the road. You can sit on the front porch, eat peanuts and drink a coke while watching the kids in the yard and saying hello to all who pass by! It is quite idyllic, and a wonderful place for family vacations, and group trips! So, if you get the chance, come on out! We would love to have you! We'll take you on in putt-putt, but beware! Just ask the Smiths or the Parkers! See what they have to say!
Well, Joshua officially turned 2 years old last week! It seems like just a month or so ago we celebrated his first year, and now we are onto the next! He is growing up quick these days. He is finally speaking for himself quite a bit, although Kimsey would still love to be his spokesperson! Here are some pictures of Joshua opening his birthday presents from his Nanna, Uncle Joel, Audrey, Lance, and Grandmother and Grandaddy! He loved his present time! It gets more fun with each year!

Kimsey and Josh on our Big Blue Chair!
Josh's face as Daddy brought the presents in the room!
Boys and their trucks!
Something to beat on!
"Shoes!" yelled Josh!
He loved his new clothes!

Back to work!

We have had a blast this summer, and have so enjoyed our company, too! All of Andrew's family made it out this summer, followed by our dear friends, Scott and Claire Smith, and then a suprise visit from the Parkers! Our Lakewood Family is still very close to our hearts and we are thankful that the miles haven't distanced our relationships! Please forgive me for not having posted anything lately! We love you all!

The Morris'

Andrew, Holly, Kimsey and Joshua

Summer Is Here

Hello from New Mexico! Life at Glorieta has gone full speed! Andrew and I have been working almost nonstop for the last 6 weeks. Fuge started this week and brought 900 students, and this is its smallest week of the summer. We have 7 weeks of Fuge and Lifeway events, and thousands of people a week on campus. This is a far cry from the desolate winter we experienced. The weather has finally taken a turn for the better! Well, it did snow one day last week, but thankfully it did not stick! Now the weather is in the upper eighties, but every night the winds blow and bring the lower 50's to cool us off. Considering our house does not have air conditioning this is a HUGE blessing! Andrew is a very popular man on campus being responsible for all recreation and recreation space. I work part-time at the front desk, and I have learned when people ask about him, I don't associate myself as his wife or they start begging me! I try to explain that I cannot do anything to help them, they just have to keep trying to get ahold of Andrew themselves! Yikes! The kids are doing great. Kimsey has taught Josh to be just as social as she. They go all over campus waving and talking to everyone! It takes us awhile to get anywhere with those two! But, they are a big hit and have all the summer staff wrapped around their little fingers! Sorry for no pictures right now, but we just wanted to touch base and say hello. I will try to get some summer pictures up soon!

Love to you all!
Andrew, Holly, Kimsey and Josh
aka Speedy, Cookie, and TBA on the kids "other names"

Can You Believe It?

Tomorrow, on May 10, 2008, Andrew and I will celebate 5 years of being married! I keep thinking back over the last six years, from the time we met up to today, and boy has it been a ride! When Andrew and I got married, we were still in college. We knew what we loved and what we wanted to pursue, which was camping ministry. We assumed upon Andrew's graduation, that we would find a camp and move off to wherever that may be. Well, a camp position didn't open up to us at that point, but we were expecting Kimsey in about 6 months! Thus the journey we didn't imagine, began. God took a few years in refining Andrew and I, and defining our marriage. Don't get me wrong, we are both still being refined every day. But, in those years of frustration and confusion, He gave us Kimsey and Joshua. He broke us down each one at a time, and began to build us back up in Him and together. God allowed us to define our family, and He confirmed our calling. Because being out of camp for over 4 years, didn't change our love for the ministry, it only grew it. Last summer as we prepared for Kids Camp with Lakewood, I told a friend I just kept wondering how long God would keep us away from camp. I knew we were in a process, but at the time, I didn't know how long it was going to be. As God would have it, just 3 months later, Andrew would get the phone call that started the process of finding Glorieta. So, for me, it is a wonderful gift to be celebrating 5 years of marriage at the Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta, New Mexico. I will try to post more pictures soon. Because as this place thaws out, and things start to turn colors and bloom, I keep stopping in awe of the beauty that surrounds us. God has some mighty fine handiwork out here! As of Saturday, it will be 5 years since I walked down the aisle at Lakewood and promised the Lord my life to Andrew and he to me. In some ways, it seems like it was yesterday, and in other ways, Andrew and I have both changed so much from the people we were on that day, by the grace of the Lord. And for that, we are thankful. Thank you to all of our friends and family who have helped us along the way, with love, guidance, wisdom, and being with us all along our journey. We love you all!

Andrew and I on our first trip to Glorieta

Joshua's 1st Birthday. We celebrated in Gainesville having no

idea, in a few weeks, we would here from Glorieta!

This our family in our UHaul, before we loaded it up in Gainesville.

Little did we know, we could actually fill up the whole thing!

It has truely been a wild ride, that in hindsight I wouldn't trade a minute of, because God's hand has graciously been directing us all along. I look forward to the next five years to see what God has in store for us! I can't even imagine Kimsey and Josh in 5 years!!!

Lots of LOVE!
Andrew, Holly, Kimsey and Joshua

Spring in New Mexico

I know it has been awhile but things are getting VERY busy out here at Glorieta! We are finally thawing out, and I am praying we won't have anymore snow until November! (At least!) Several things have happend over the last month or so. Andrew buzzed Joshua's hair! He is growing so much, and his vocabulary is expanding. Although, Kimsey still doesn't let him say much for himself! Andrew got a promotion! I am so proud of him!!! He is now also responsible for all of the summer staff out here, so that increased his workload quite a bit! I have officially quit Gap for the summer. I am working Front Desk and directing the Pre School and Day Camp for the summer. So, we have lots going on, but we love every second of it! Here's pictures of the kids!

Josh's haircutPlaying in the backyard!
My little posers!!
Kimsey right before her ride on the Ferris Wheel in Santa Fe
Getting in....
Going Up...
And, getting off!

Kimsey got Charlotte's Web for Christmas, and has been thrilled at the Ferris Wheel scene. Last week, a carnival set up in the parking lot of the Santa Fe Place Mall, where I work, so Andrew and I decided Kimsey needed a Ferris Wheel ride. She was so excited! She picked out her skirt and sandals for the event, and squeeled in the line so much that everyone in the line was excited for her! The woker even made sure she got in a pink bucket, and off we went! She squeeled through the whole ride, and that 2 minutes was worth the $8 bucks! (Well, for me it was, I think Andrew is still complaining!) Just kidding!

Easter Eggstravaganza

This is our Easter Eggstravaganza at Glorieta. In Gainesville, Lakewood

held an annual Family Easter Celebration. We enjoyed it so much, that we decided to organzie our own out here at Glorieta. We had the dads meet early and hide all the eggs, and then we brought the kids down to do the hunting. A sweet lady here, donatated a large pink bunny to the child who found the most eggs. We divided it up into two areas: one for kids over 5 years old, and one for under. Ofcourse with a 3 year old and a 1 year old, I wasn't concerned about taking home the giant pink bunny!
Kimsey went to town!
Josh needed some guidance

Kimsey and her new friend, Hailey.

These girls are about 10 days apart and love hanging out!

Kimsey was finding them everywhere!

And somehow, my sweet little 3 year old, won the Huge Pink Bunny

by 10 eggs! I didn't know we had a professional!

We followed the egg hunt with a picnic lunch

by the lake with all the other families and had a great time!

And, God gave us wonderful weather for the event, so we didn't

have to use our snow plan! Although, we did have snow on Easter Sunday

morning!

Good Times in Georgia

The kids and I had a blast on our trip to Georgia! I didn't take near as many pictures as I had wanted to, but here's what I got!

Kimsey and her cousin Audrey were inseperable!Kimsey received royal treatment from Nanna getting a fingers and toes painted!

More than family, they are precious friends!
Good Georgia times with Kimsey, Cousin Lance, and Uncle Tony
The girls had a slumber party at Grandmothers complete with a Jacuzzi tub!
My brother, Joel, and his son, Lance!

Nanna hosted the kids' annual easter egg hunt!




Grandaddy and Kimsey

We had so much fun visiting with all our family and friends. I think I was enjoying the conversations and company of everyone too much to stop and take pictures! But thank you so much for all the friendships and relationships we have in Georgia, and for not forgetting us now that we are so far away! I enjoyed my family and being home so much. We had a blast seeing so many of our friends at our home in Gainseville. It was a true treat and blessing to spend time at Lakewood and with the church family God has blessed us with there. And, we will never forget our adventure with Andrew's parents as we loved being home there and dodged tornadoes, too!
Lots of Love!
Andrew, Holly, Kimsey, and Joshua

Good Morning Snowfall!

Hello from New Mexico! We woke up this morning to some serious snow! Yesterday the sun was shining, we could see the grass in the yard, and we went to feed the ducks at the lake. Today is a much different story! I was certain after seeing the snow on our table, that we had 18" of snow. As you can see Andrew predicted 10" and he was just a little bit more accurate! So, enjoy our snow adventures today, and a few other kid pics at the end!

Even the kids cars had to be dug out, but it sure is tough driving conditions!

Josh is beginning to love the snow more with each snowfall!

Two VERY close buddies!

Kimsey would have stayed out all day if I would have let her, but it was cold for this mommy!

These are some shots I took last week! The kids eat PBJ almost everyday for lunch. And for Joshua it is most definately a favorite! He is saying cheese in this picture!

We had a warm day last weekend, and Kimsey wanted short sleeves! We also went out and bought her Soy Ice Cream! She absolutely LOVED it! This is Kimsey having ice cream for the very first time.

As you all know, Kimsey is our resident Princess. Well, much to Andrew's dismay, Joshua is enjoying being just like his big sister, which for now, means he's a princess, too!

The kids in their dresses!

PS Joshua did start playing football the other day. We have determined he is looking like a future running back! There is hope!