I can now post updates from my phone. Should be interesting!

Blog Changes

Hi all! The password protection turned out to be too confusing, so you'll notice the blog is back to open access. You'll continue to see updates on the blog about what's going on with us here in Baton Rouge, but we won't be posting any more pictures of the kids here. This is to protect their safety and privacy. We hope you understand. I will be posting pictures on Facebook, so feel free to friend me if we're not friends on Facebook already. Hope everyone's doing great!

Back to school...for everyone but Fred!

Fred got his grade (an A!) for his final seminary class, so he is officially done! Yay!! We are all excited that he won't have to worry about school anymore. He is enjoying his expanding responsibilities at Istrouma and is excited about being more involved in all the church's ministries.

Kate and John Parker started their new preschool yesterday. They had a great first day. Kate ran right in and started playing. I think she's going to love it there. John Parker's already charming the teachers and slept better last night than ever! I think he was exhausted.

We're looking forward to a laid-back weekend of silly family time. Happy Fourth of July!

Better than a Hallelujah

Lately I haven't posted too much about how we're doing here in Baton Rouge. We've had a lot of big events (graduations, anniversaries, etc.), so you haven't heard much about the day to day of our lives. Truthfully, life's been a little tough lately. John Parker is the world's sweetest (and I do mean sweetest) baby, but we're still in the tough stage of babyhood where we get up many, many times during the night. Mostly due to his reflux, he can't eat large meals. So we usually feed him a few times during the night. Some nights are easier than others, but we've definitely had many moments of frustration. I heard this new song by Amy Grant the other day and it really spoke to me. Maybe to you too? In church, we sing beautiful songs to God that I love, but sometimes He wants our worship in the form of an honest cry from the deepest parts of our heart. Are you hurting, frustrated, tired, mad? Tell God. Cry out to Him. He can take it. He created us and He knows what we're feeling, but like a loving parent who wants to comfort his child God wants to hear it straight from us.

Better than a Hallelujah

-Amy Grant

God loves a lullaby
In a mother's tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves the drunkard's cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

Getaway Weekend

After a busy graduation/ordination weekend, my parents were sweet enough to stay with Kate and John Parker for a few days so Fred and I could get away for an early anniversary trip. Our 10th anniversary is next week. We had such a wonderful time in Gulf Shores at the beach.

Graduation/Ordination Weekend

Warning: This will be a pretty long post because we had a BIG weekend in the Lundy house last weekend. Fred graduated from seminary and was ordained into the ministry at our church here in Baton Rouge. Fred's mom, brother and aunt (Vada) were here and my parents too. Here is a photo recap of the weekend:

Granny and Earl with the graduate

What a journey!

Such a serious Biblical scholar

With one of Fred's great professors, Dr. Butler. He's been so great to us.

Visiting after the ceremony. Fred's cousin Stephanie and her friend Bob joined us for the ceremony.

With the Jarrell clan

The whole Lundy group

Ordination at Istrouma Baptist Church. Fred was ordained with his friend, Dwayne Pitre, who is also on staff. Dwayne and his wife, Kim, were some of the first people we met at Istrouma almost 6 years ago. It's really cool that they were ordained together. Our pastor, Matt Surber, is on the left.

Ordained men of the church praying over Fred. It was a sweet ceremony.

So many nice greetings from church members

My littlest loves

I found this poem the other day that I wrote to my future children when I was teaching in London the summer of 2006. I am so blessed to now know and hold the sweet babies I wrote to before I even knew them:

My Littlest Loves,

As I journey through London,

I look to the future and hope to walk these streets with you one day.

I will take you to St. Paul's Cathedral

and we will reflect on God's glory and his goodness to give you to me.

We will visit museums

and I will take your picture as you stand by famous paintings and monuments to the brave and wise.

I will buy you an ice cream cone,

and if you drop it as we walk through the park,

I will buy you another one.

I will grab your hand when we cross the street.

They drive differently here and we have to be very careful.

When we go to Buckingham Palace, I will make sure you get

the audio tour for children because I hear it is more fun.

I will let you climb all over the Peter Pan statue in Hyde Park.

He reminds me of the immortality of your laughter and your amazement at the world.

At St. Paul's with two of my favorite students ever. They are like my children too :)

I am filled with love and gratitude today for my sweet babies and my two great moms - Dottie (my amazing mothers) and Granny Ni (my sweet mother-in-law).

My cup runneth over!