Sunday in Lynchburg

I enjoyed each event and every minute of the reunion activities, but I had been waiting all week for Sunday at Thomas Road Baptist Church!! Dottie and Scott obliged me with a picture out front...my children were rolling their eyes by this point!Once we got inside look who we ran into!! My blog buddy Denise and sweet baby Jane (who Lindsay couldn't keep her hands or lips off of!)

Shae got the "token" picture with Jonathon Falwell (I have one of me at her age with his Dad!)

Here is Macel with The Luff Family. The Falwell kids and Luff kids did most of their growing up together while their Dads were out "saving" the masses!

Jonathon is a gifted pastor, just like Jerry was!

Gordon led HIS chorale in "Jesus is Still the Answer", they did a beautiful job. What a blessing for all of them to be together on stage singing like they did so many times 30 years before!

Gordon did a great job! The TRBC worship was AWESOME too! What a song leader! I have listened to the CD of their team every day since we have been home! How I would love to be there every Sunday! I leaned over to Shae during the service and said "Can you believe you get to come to church here EVERY Sunday if you go to Liberty?!"

Gordon and Dottie and all their kids (Scott and Barry look like they are leaning back, and Steph and I look like we are leaning forward..and what a weird arrangement-did anyone bother to pose us? THIS is why I am a "picture control freak!")

Our dear friends (via Scott's parents), Glenn and Betty Wright. Their son lived with us while he was going to school in Redding, Shae adored him! She was 3! I learned all about teenagers back then! Chris was a good teacher!

We went out to dinner with our college roommates...Julie and Scott Lawrenson. Isn't that fun that we all got married??!!

Lindsay LOVES it when "our whole family is together", so she hated for the aunts and uncles to leave. She told Brian to bring her cousins next time!

Sweet Laurie Leigh, my sister-in-law was with me when Shae and Anna were born (I loved it, I am an only child!)

She was teaching in Korea when Lindsay was born, but God knew best, because she was home when Lindsay got so sick. I could not have made it without her! She stayed with us in Sacramento the whole time Lindsay was hospitalized and she lived at our house to help us once we got home! She handled the 14 medications Lindsay was on like a pro, did the feeding tube and got right in there with all the therapists. She helped me to accept this "new life" with a brain injured child that we had to learn.
I am so grateful for her godly influence and unconditional love for my girls! (and for me and her big brother too!)


We had a wonderfully blessed Sunday!!

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Happy Birthday Shae-Shae

Today is Shae's 17th birthday. It is hard to believe that it has been that long since she was born! I remember it like it was yesterday!My friend Stacy made her the cutest banner!

(check out her Etsy store!! www.craftysweethearts.etsy.com)
Shae and Scott spent yesterday at the airshow here in Redding. It was record heat of 111 degrees in town, so the airport HAD to be much warmer! The Blue Angels were their favorite!
Anna and I watched them from our back yard, they flew right over our house, we could see their helmets!

Scott made Shae and her friends a delicious tri-tip sandwich meal complete with an ice cream cake!!

Then it was movie time...they watched a scary one, so we heard lots of squealing!!

I am so thankful for Shae's sweet friends! They are all great kids!

It is hard to swallow that this is most likely Shae's last birthday at home, but I am so excited to see what the future holds for her. She has been a joy to us. She has made good decisions and has always wanted to do what is right. She has a spiritual depth that I WISH I had at her age. I know there are blessings in her future for her obedience.

Happy 17th Birthday Sweet Shae!!

I love you more than you could possibly understand!

Flames Football

Today was 105 degrees...Happy Fall, huh? Scott and I got the kids off to school and went out on the patio boat for lunch, so I am sunburned and tuckered out! I will do my "Sunday at Thomas Road" post tomorrow.
For now, here are some cute football pictures I HAD to post!

Papa and his future Liberty girl.

Stephanie and Barry (I sorta hate them for how photogenic they ALWAYS are!!)

Brad and Beckie (ditto on the previous comment...except for this picture of Brad!)

Lindsay did better than I expected during the game. She LOVED it, could have been the popcorn, soda, funnel cake, pizza and M&Ms though.

Two adorable couples:
Jenn Dangc (my life-saver, babysitter, who grew up here in Redding)& Joseph Parra (her boyfriend! :))with Kenny and Amanda Pate. (poor Kenny, Scott talked his ear off about flying and airplanes...he is a pilot too!!)

Wish I was going to another LU game next weekend! I need to work on getting Scott to want to move to Lynchburg!

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Go LU Flames!

Saturday was a busy day for us in Lynchburg. There was a BBQ at the mansion on campus. It was fun to have a chance to relax and visit with everyone!

The most precious thing that happened that day was a surprise for Lindsay! Her most favorite camp staffer ever drove 8 hours to Lynchburg from Georgia!! (he used to go to LU, but is now at Emory).

Lindsay was just walking along with Grandma when Micah came up to her and said, "Hi Lindsay!"

She COULD NOT believe it!!!

This is the face of PURE JOY!!
When he left camp 2 summers ago, we were ALL in tears watching the painful goodbye...she has never stopped talking about "my best buddy, Micah." What a treat for her!

They hung out and played all afternoon! How many college boys would do such a precious thing for a child like Lindsay? It truly meant the world to her (and us!). Thank you , Micah, for your kindness to Lindsay! Your crown in heaven will have some special "purple" jewels!

The best part of the weekend was getting to see friends we haven't seen in forever! Debbie Miller and Susan DeWitt are two fun girls I was so happy to see!

Here is Scott with another one of our Lassen Pines Staff kids! Courtney Lowry is such a cutie!! I LOVE it when we have LU kids come to work at camp, they have been our BEST!

We had a time of rememberance at Dr. Jerry Falwell's memorial. What a touching tribute to him, and it is so nice that the students are able to go there and see it. He was a true Champion for Christ."

The lawn at the mansion was a beautiful spot for pictures, and my children were somewhat cooperative!

Saturday night was the Flames' first home game of the season. There was a record number of fans there- 16,000!! It was so cool to see all the students tailgating in the parking lots all over campus! EVERYONE was wearing red-soooo much school spirit!
We had to get the proper attire for the game!!

Go L-U!!

This girl felt a peace flood over her about heading off to Liberty next year. To be honest, so did I! It is VERY far away, but I can't think of a better place to send my precious girl. There are sooo many of our friends living in Lynchburg, I know she will be looked after!! I honestly don't know how my parents put me (their only child) on a plane in San Diego knowing I would be on the other side of the country! But boy am I glad they did!
(and it is only a flight away-I will come visit!)

Aunt Lisa and Shae

The Luff clan...eating everything in sight! What IS it about being at a football game that makes you want to eat so much??!! (and I should say that I hate them all for being able to eat like that with no consequences!)

We were so glad to hang out with our wonderful friend, Tom DeWitt during the game...just like old times when Scott and I were at LU!!

See why we are still recovering from the reunion weekend?! We NEVER stopped!!

Are you sick and tired of these reunion posts yet? Don't worry, we are almost finished!

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YA Banquet

On Friday night, Scott, Shae and I attended the banquet with the YA Alumni. Thanks to Jenn for babysitting Lindsay and Anna ALL DAY on Friday so that we could go to all the events!
Look who we ran into at the hotel on the way .....Precious Christy (Damas) Martin and her sweet baby, Jesse!! Christy's parents were attending the reunion so she and her {cutie-pie} brother and sweet Jesse drove in from Tennessee!! She worked at our camp when she was in high school and she remembers Shae as a 4 year old!!!
{I hope that my daughter will grow up to be as precious as Christy!}

My handsome husband and beautiful daughter. I can't believe she is so grown up. She has been such a fun child to raise, and each stage of her life seems more fun than the last. What a blessing it is when kids grow up to make good choices and honor their parents. We are excited to see what the future hold for her and pray she continues to do what's right.
{Thank you, Jesus!}

Gordon and Dottie with their life long friends Paul and Jani DeSaegher. They went to college together!! Jani is one of the nicest people you could ever meet!!

Aunt Laurie and Shae (see where Shae gets her looks?!)

I hesitate to put a picture of myself on here, especially RIGHT AFTER Laurie and Shae (and at the end of the evening after crying!!)...UGH!! But, I had to prove I was there!!

Mick and Rick Vigneulle were the entertainment for the evening. They have been performing in public HS assemblies for 20 years and have seen thousands come to Christ!

Gordon spoke, and inspired, as usual. This faithful man has a heart for kids {and those who work with kids} like none other! His unwavering faith makes him who he is. He and Dottie have sacrificed so much over the years to continue in ministry and they are still passionate in the pursuit of God's will.

It was a fun and inspirational evening!

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour."
Isaiah 43:1b-3a

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Lynchburg Post #2

Thursday night we attended the "Meet and Greet" for the YA Reunion. It was so wonderful to see all these "old" friends meet again for the first time in 30 years!

Lindsay was tickled to see all 4 of her Aunties arrive! She said, "take our picture, Mommy!" Aren't they all just Gorgeous!?! Sheesh!
(Stephanie-Barry's wife, Lisa-Brian's wife, Lindsay Leigh, Beckie-Brad's wife, and Laurie Leigh-the only girl!)

Friday morning we were fortunate enough to attend Convocation (chapel) on campus. There were over 10,000 people there. We heard an amazing speaker give his testimony ON THE ACTUAL ANNIVERSARY of the terrorist attacks on the US. He and his wife BOTH survived the September 11th attacks-they were each inside the twin towers (one in each!!)

I'll tell you what, Chapel was impressive! It made a real impact on Scott and me! We could picture Shae sitting in there 3 times a week soaking in all the awesome music and speakers!
{and I scoured the crowd to see if I could spot her potential mate!)

Gordon (my father-in-law) was recognized with an award along with Roscoe Brewer and Dave Adams. These men are true pioneers of youth work, it was awesome to see them recognized.
Gordon has been in youth work for over 50 years, he has never slowed down-ever! He is truly an amazing man, we are so thankful to have been in ministry with this wonderful servant for the last 20 years!!
The YA reunion attendees were asked to stand and recognized as pioneers of the school. They took a chance on going to a school that was just getting started!! They had to live in hotels and be bussed to campus each day..wow! Has the school grown and changed!

On the way out of chapel, I was telling Shae that she needed to call our friend Jack Doney. He is from Huntington Beach, Ca. and his Dad and Scott have been friends since they were babies. Their parents all went to Bob Jones together! As soon as I got the words out, Shae said, "Hey, There's Jack right there!" How weird is that? 10,000 people walking out of chapel and we run into Jack?!

{Shae, Jerry Falwell Jr. and Jack}

We brought him to the BBQ up at the Snowflex Lodge with us. Jerry Jr. and Becky Falwell hosted the event for the YA reunion.
What a cool place!

Beautiful view from the front yard of the Snowflex Lodge.

Unbelievable!

There were snowboarders doing tricks for us while we ate inside the lodge. Pretty impressive!

Shae is hoping that this place might get some of her California schoolmates to come to Virginia with her!

Brian, Barry, Dottie, Chris Tice, Scott, Cindy Turner, Brad and Laurie

Dottie and all the Luff kids with their two babysitters from way back-Chris Tice (Chris' daughter Misty worked at camp years ago, Shae was 3 and LOVED her!) and Cindy Turner. I have heard stories about these two precious ladies from Dottie. They really helped her out while Gordon was on the road.
(Sweet, sweet ladies. Cindy had just lost her husband after a long illness 2 weeks before so it was wonderful to see her, and I know she was so glad she came. )

{Gordon Luff in his element}
Later that afternoon there was a sing along at the old Thomas Road Baptist Church. Scott and his siblings LOVED this! They spent lots of time here and knew every inch of that place. It is where Jerry preached while I was at Liberty as well. What a beautiful sanctuary that holds many beautiful memories for me. (I would sit near the football team and stare at Scott during church before I met him!!)

To say that this part of the reunion was a blessing is not adequate. There are simply no words to describe it. Gordon would interject throughout the singing (which was deeply emotional for everyone) and remind everyone that it is okay if they have "messed up" in their lives, but now is the time to turn things around. Always the encourager. I have told Dottie that if I ever get arrested or something like that, Gordon would be my phone call because he would say "Don't worry, we're going to get this all worked out".
We are all broken people who need Christ's healing power to flood over us!

"What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD,

When they walk through the valley of weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs.

The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings,

they will continue to grow stronger."

Psalm 84:5-7

Hearing all the old songs was precious. Scott, Shae and I all sat there and cried grateful tears. I am so happy that my daughter was able to experience a small "taste" of what her Papa was all about back then. Those people treated him like he was a rock star.

The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are all over His works.

Psalm 145:9