Congratulations Shane & Sarah

Congratulations to Shane and Sarah Powell for successfully producing a Powell heir (God bless them). He was born a healthy 6 lbs 10 oz and 19" long on October 26th. It's taken me a while to post this because it took them a while to settle on the name!

Welcome to the family
Tyson Riley Powell!!!

You are Invited

Wondering what we've been up to? For one thing, we are getting ready for the Fall Conference at ETBC on October 24th and 25th with Scott DeGroff of Topeka, KS. We are really excited about the response we seem to be getting, especially with the youth. I'm wondering why I haven't heard from YOU about coming? My house is still open so make plans to get here and you can stay with me! Who needs updated pictures when you can see my adorable offspring in person?

Earlier this summer I wrote about conference memories from my own childhood. I'll bet you have some too. Consider the value of bringing your family to other assembly conferences. Yes, I know traveling with little ones can be daunting. But, sometimes I thinking about it makes it harder than it really is. Family vacations and pleasure trips don't seem to let that get in the way, why should fellowship with the Lord's people?

The hospitality experience of both hosting and visiting conferences is so important for children to really understanding the concept of servitude. Additionally, I think there is no better testimony to the unity of the body than the ability to get together with virtual strangers (and sometimes good friends) and enjoy the Lord in a conference setting.

So come and be encouraged. Oh, and if you don't want to stay with me, I won't be offended. You can contact Marcie and Seth for housing arrangements. And if the fellowship isn't enough to entice you - Adriel and Efren will be cooking for us!

And if you can't come-I don't need excuses. But make a resolution to visit someone else's conference this year. It's encouraging to them too! You'll find me in Topeka, KS in November!

Head on over

to Christina's blog and see very updated pics of my kiddos!

Amazing Mascara

So you may or may not find this interesting, but I've been wanting to share this for a while. Every time I use my new mascara (actually I'm on the second tube) I think "I need to tell everyone how wonderful this stuff is!" So I'm telling you, you need to try this stuff...
Loreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes.

I really can't describe how different this is from conventional mascara until you try it. But, I can tell you these things I love about it: it will not smudge or flake; you cannot cry it off or tear it off on a windy day; it lengthens and thickens; it doesn't aggravate my contacts; and you still don't need eye makeup remover to take it off!

and you can get $1.00 off coupon on the loreal website as well!

Conference Challenge(s)

Remember when you were little and the family all packed into the back of the station wagon and drove for hours and hours to go to another town to go to church! Okay, perhaps that memory is a little specific to me, but I'll bet you have something similar.

Now I don't have a very good memory, honestly, but I have these impressions of conferences. Impressions of excitement to play with old friends; the interest of a road trip and a different schedule; good food (and some bad); and more. I think my favorite part was the neat people we usually got to stay with. The FELLOWSHIP.

When I was little, we went to a lot of conferences. In places like Wichita, Topeka, Dallas, Baldwin City, Oklahoma City, and Guthrie. I would estimate we travelled to at least 3 or 4 conferences per year. This was my dad's idea of a vacation I think. But you know what? Even though I was little, I still remember some of those messages really good points that stuck with me. And, I remember the relationships that our family formed through the travel.

So I have two questions for YOU. Comment, or better yet, blog about it and send us a link in your comment!

1. What is your favorite conference memory?

2. When was the last time you and your family went to another assembly's conference?

More to come on this topic!