Bye Bye Bang

We had our last care group as members of the Bang group on Thursday. It was such a bittersweet time. We are so sad to be leaving them. It's almost physically painful to know that we won't be seeing the happy faces we've grown so familiar with sharing our Thursday evenings with as frequently anymore. Yet it was one of the most encouraging nights of our married life as they took time to encourage us and pray for us as we were sent out from their group. Thank you all. You truly spurred us on.
Bang Group: Andree and I can't believe how blessed we've been in care group together. We never could have anticipated how much God would meet us and work in us and our marriage as a result of fellowshipping with you for just over a year. It feels like we've known and been friends with you for much longer than a year. Like Andree said Thursday night, your affect on our marriage and lives will be long lasting. We're so grateful!

You all actively demonstrated to us Romans 12:9-13.

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

We love you guys!!--You will each still be in our prayers and thoughts often. We hope to be able to see you and spend time with you in the days to come. Don't be afraid if Andree shows up at the back door at your next cook out. We'll be around. We promise.

Susanna, Daisy, and Melissa, thank you for being my friends. It brings tears to my eyes to recount the blessing you have been in my life. I am so grateful for all of the times you encouraged me, prayed for me, laughed with me, and shared my burdens. Your love for me was sincere and provoking. Susanna: I want to lead ladies like you, to love my husband like you, and to find joy in motherhood the way you do. I am so grateful to have been able to observe and learn from you. Thank you for all your emails and thoughtful encouragement. You have provoked me so much and in so many ways. I'm going to miss learning from you. Melissa: I'm gonna miss your stories. I really do mean that so tell Kevin to stop laughing. ;-) And I'm going to miss your provoking faith in God. Thank you for the example you have been of trusting the Lord and discipling yourself to cling to the Truth of God's Word and His faithfulness. It has been so encouraging to my faith to watch God provide for you and bless you with contentment and hope when provision seemed hidden. I'm so grateful for the way you love Kevin and find such joy in your friendship and the sweet way the Lord brought you together. Daisy: I'm not going to miss you at all since I'm still going to crash your house on Bang men's meeting nights. :-P Thank you so much for caring for me. I have been so encouraged by the way you have drawn me out and taken an interest in me. Thank you for desiring to carry my burdens with me and praying for me. The sincerity of your friendship provokes me. You are a faithful friend to so many. I want to love others the way you do. I'm looking forward to many more talks around a pile of "snacks" and hearing and watching the ways that God continues to equip you to be a mother. Thank you for your example of dependence on God and the way you love your two Eddies.

Here's the closest thing I've got to a picture of the group: our cutest members, obviously. We're gonna miss these little guys a whole lot too. (Susanna I pulled this off your xanga.)-- I'm really bummed we don't have any pictures of the group to post up here. Peter, why don't you ever bust our your camera during cgs? :-P