Welcome Eli

I’m not sure who came up with the phrase, “The days are long, but the years are short” but it is so very true.  This past week has flown by.  I absolutely cannot believe that Elias is already 10 days old!  In honor of my little man I wanted to share his birth story.  Okay, let’s be honest this is really more for me than anyone else.  I love to have a written record of things because I quickly forget or confuse details and I love being able to go back and reminisce.  So, here is a snapshot of Elias’ birth story and events from his first week.

Thursday, February 12th

4:45 a.m.       I woke up to use the restroom (for the 4^th time since midnight) and felt my very first contraction.

6:00 a.m.       After noticing that my contractions varied from 4-7 minutes apart and lasting only 10 seconds (not strong at all) I decided to go ahead and shower but I was seriously doubting that this was the real thing.

6:15 a.m.       I woke up Josh just to let him know; however, he was very concerned that since we lived over an hour from the hospital we should begin preparing to leave.  In his defense, the Friday before (at my last appointment) my doctor said I was 2 cm dilated and 60% effaced so the labor should go very quickly. 

6:30 a.m.       I called my OBGYN to get their opinion. They asked me to come into the office.  We finished packing the van.

6:45 a.m.       We woke up kids and got them dressed. I still was not convinced this was the real thing and was hesitant about spending the time, money, and energy driving out to Raleigh.

7:00 a.m.       We left the house and made our way to Raleigh.  Contractions averaged 5-6 minutes apart and 15-20 seconds long.  They were getting a little stronger which gave me a little more hope that today was going to be the day.  Josh was speeding.  I think he just wanted an excuse to drive with his flashers on (silly husband).

8:00 a.m.       Because I’ve always gone into labor in the early morning, it’s kind of our tradition to stop by Chick-fil-a and grab a biscuit on the way to the hospital…so, we made a pit stop at North Hills.

8:15 a.m.       We arrived at my OBGYN.  My blood pressure was very high.  This actually did not concern me at all because I typically have an excellent read on my blood pressure; however, during both of my other labors it was elevated on the day I delivered. Unfortunately, during the hour I was in the doctor’s office my contractions slowed to 7-8 minutes apart.

9:15 a.m.       My doctor told me that I was still only 2 cm dilated but about 80% effaced.  She said, “It could be today or it could be next week.  We will schedule you an appointment for Monday morning.”  I was majorly disappointed.  I was confused and frustrated because I didn’t know what we needed to do.  All I could think was, “What happens if we drive an hour back to Rocky Mount and then my water breaks and we don’t make it back to Raleigh in time?”  We decided to spend the day in Raleigh and see if the contractions would progress.

10:00 a.m.     We took the kids to Cameron Village story time so they could sing, dance and read books with Mr. Erik.

10:45 a.m.     We went over to Alexander YMCA (since my membership didn’t expire until February 16^th) and let kids play with the Haynes kids in the childcare.  Josh was able to work remotely in the lobby for a few hours.

12:45 p.m.     We had lunch at Moe’s.  At this point my contractions were consistent at 8 minutes apart.  I was still pretty bummed and very tired by this point.

2:15 p.m.       Traci Gallaher invited us over to her house so the kids and I could take a nap.  This was helpful so Josh could continue to work as well.

3:30 p.m.       We woke up and I began timing my contractions again.  They were back down to 5-6 minutes apart.

4:30 p.m.       We drove over to State Street.  Dana Haynes made me a delightful peppermint hot chocolate and then she, Robbie, and Josh took all the kids to Marbles Kids Museum while I rested. 

5:30 p.m.       I walked down the street to visit with Becca McInnis where we started making plans to go out to dinner for Ben’s birthday.

7:00 p.m.       On our way to Mellow Mushroom, my contractions quickened to 3-4 minutes apart and got quite a bit stronger.  We decided to go ahead and drop our kids off with the Gallaher’s (who were having small group at the Round’s house) and head towards the hospital.

7:20 p.m.       Because we had not had dinner and were both pretty hungry, Josh quickly ran into Chubby’s Tacos and grabbed a burrito for us to split. My contractions shortened to only 2 minutes apart lasting about 45 seconds so we scarfed our dinner down in the ½ mile drive to the hospital.

7:45 p.m.       We checked into triage at Rex.  My contractions were 1.5 minutes apart.

8:30 p.m.       The triage nurse told me that I was still only 2cm dilated.  Josh and I were completely shocked!  Hospital policy states that they cannot admit a mom or place her in a delivery room until she is at least 4cm dilated.  Because of how often I was having contractions and how far away we lived my doctor recommended that we try walking for a while.  He said he would check me again at 10:00 p.m.

8:45 p.m.       In the not-so-fashionable hospital gown, escorted by my amazing husband, I started walking laps all around that hospital.  Okay, to be honest, I wasn’t just walking.  I was so determined to stay and have that baby that I was speed walking…and praying…and pleading.  We walked, and walked and walked.  We practically wore out the tiles on the 2^nd floor of that hospital.  We did laps through the ICU, the heart center, by the gift shop, and all through the women’s center.  And then we walked some more (all while still having contractions 2 minutes apart).  At 10:00 my doctor wasn’t around because he was delivering another baby so I took that to mean I was being given more time to walk.

10:30 p.m.     With much anticipation and anxiousness I met the doctor to be checked.  Praise the Lord my cervix had dilated to 4 cm!  We were admitted and sent to room 231 where I cried I was so happy.

11:10 p.m.     I showered and the nurse hooked me up to monitor my blood pressure, contractions, and the baby’s heart beat.

Friday, February 13th

12:25 a.m.     I was exhausted from only getting about 3 hours of sleep the night before, timing contractions for almost 20 hours, and the emotional roller coaster we had been on throughout the day.  Josh and I agreed for me to take stadol and try to rest.  Although it gave me temporary relief from the contractions I was unable to rest well because of noise from another room and outside my door in the hallway (Josh slept well though- ha ha).

1:30 a.m.       The night nurse was concerned that I had not dilated any further and began strongly suggesting that I take Pitocin.  I argued that I didn’t want to take Pitocin but would rather walk.  However, because of my blood pressure they would not let me walk anymore.

3:00 a.m.       The contractions were causing a lot of pain in my lower back so Josh gave me the most amazing back rub ever.

3:30 a.m.       The night nurse told me that if I did not start dilating there were only a few options:  1) I could take Pitocin to induce labor, 2) I could get the doctor to break my water, or 3) I could leave.  I told her that if I was not progressing by 5:00 a.m. then I would get the doctor to break my water.

5:00 a.m.       After 24 hours of contractions, and knowing that my doctor was about to break my water, I decided to go ahead and get an epidural (Josiah came within an hour of my water being broken).  Although I was still having very frequent contractions I was still only 6cm dilated.

5:45 a.m.       My doctor came in and broke my water.

7:05 a.m.       Unfortunately, the epidural had slowed my contractions down to 5 minutes apart (However, I was so thankful from the relief that came from the lowered intensity of the contractions).  Josh had been asleep for about an hour when the day nurse burst in the room.  She was a little firecracker.  Moving through the room at high speed she opened the blinds, wheeled in the table with the doctors tools, turned on the baby warmer, and started rearranging furniture to prep everything for delivery.  Josh and I looked at one another confused.  Without trying to be rude, I asked her if she had checked my monitor, how long she had worked in labor and delivery and basically if she knew what she was doing.  With full confidence she said she had been doing this for 30 years and that she promised we’d be having a baby within the next hour or two.  I asked her how she was going to do that.  She said she was going to do whatever it took to get my contractions going strong again and she was going to start by, “flipping me like a pancake.”  She had Josh and I laughing like crazy.  While Josh went and grabbed breakfast, she moved me all around, she poked and prodded my stomach, and sure enough my contractions quickened again.

8:35 a.m.       I told Josh that I felt "pressure" and was going to call in the nurse after the next contraction.  She walked in as I was finishing that sentence, lifted up my blanket and said, “Yep, 10cm dilated.  Call the doctor.  Time to push.”  Josh and I were astonished.  Finally, the time had come.  We were SO ready to meet our little one and find out if it was a boy or a girl.

8:45 a.m.       My doctor arrived.  Josh, my doctor and the nurse coached me though about 7 contractions (12 -15 minutes) and…

9:00 a.m.       Josh announced that baby BOY Kelly was here!  We finally got to meet Mr. Elias Samuel Kelly!  (8lbs 4oz and 21 inches long).

Highlights from his first week:

*  Within moments of Elias being born I was able to hold and snuggle with him! He almost instantly began rooting so I tried to nurse him. He latched on by the 3rd or 4th try. To me this was practically a miracle because I’d had so much trouble nursing my other kids.
*  Addilyn and Josiah’s response to meeting their baby brother will forever be one of my favorite moments in life. I expected Addi to want to help and sure enough all she wanted to do is hold him. I was amazed at Josiah’s response though. Siah, was beaming and wanted to examine Elias from head to toe. They both were enthralled with how tiny he was. Josiah wanted to keep touching his little ears, and toes, and he kept rubbing his head. It was absolutely precious. This little boy is greatly loved by his siblings, that is for sure.
*  Saturday, Elias began cluster feeding. I could not get over how much this little champ was eating.
*  Sunday we got to go home! Josh and I realized we have brought home each of our children in a different vehicle to a different house. Kinda funny how that’s worked out.
Sunday night, Elias’ medicine wore off from his circumcision and he also had terrible gas (I’m talking stinky man gas- not just baby gas- lol). All day Monday he was stinking up the house. Addi and Josiah nicknamed him “little stinker.” He had also not had a bowel movement since his operation. We made a trip to Wake Forest to see the pediatrician and they told us he had lost 10% of his birth weight (I’m not sure how that was possible because of how much he’d been eating). I was also advised to cut out dairy to help with both his constipation and gassiness.
*  Tuesday the snow and ice came in which worked out perfectly for us to stay in and cuddle.
*  By Wednesday, little man was not struggling with gas anymore. Since then, I’ve had to wake him up at night to eat. I’m pretty sure he would already be sleeping 5-6 hours if I didn’t have to wake him.
*  Thursday we went back to the doctor and Elias had gained 6oz back already! The doctor was very impressed at how well he was doing!
*  Friday, Elias started smiling in his sleep. I’m not sure if it was gas, dreams, or just a happy thought, but I love those sweet toothless smiles all the same. He also started holding his head up much better, looking around more often, and focusing his eyes on things.
*  Saturday we had a dear friend come over to take newborn photos of Elias. She is SO talented and I cannot wait to share the pictures with you all! That evening we also had some of our Wake Forest and Raleigh friends over to meet Elias and see our new home, since most of them had not been able to make it out yet. It was such a great time.
*  Today, Sunday, was Elias first time at church! He was warmly greeted by lots oohs and aahs. Josh presented him to the Youth the way Rafiki presented Simba in the Lion King. The youth were distracted from listening to Josh because of Elias’ persistent hiccups. I also successfully wore him in the Moby wrap for the first time and he slept all the way through the service.

Thankful List ~ January 2015

January Thankful List

The biggest blessing from this month included selling our Raleigh house, buying our Rocky Mount home, and the help we had moving.  It was very sad to say goodbye to our Raleigh home.  I cried and cried over the course of the last few days there especially as I realized I would not be across the street from some of our amazing friends. I’m thankful in the almost 3 weeks we’ve been gone I have been able to talk to and visit many of our Raleigh friends.  It was amazing to see how the Lord worked out the details in us closing on our Raleigh home at 9 a.m. and only a few short hours later we closed on our Rocky Mount home.  Our relator, Zach Angle, was amazing and I recommend him to anyone.  We are also so very thankful to have been welcomed to our new home with over 30 people from our new church.  When we pulled up with the moving truck people were waiting to clean and help us unpack.  It was incredible.   The rest of the month was pretty much consumed with unpacking, getting settled, and making all the transitions to life in a new community, church, school, etc.  We are very thankful for it all and are excited to see what February hold for us, especially since we are guaranteed it will include a new baby!

Thankful List ~ December 2014

December Thankful List

Josh officially started in his position as the Pastor of Families and Discipleship at Calvary on December 1^st.  He LOVES it.  He comes home almost every day talking about how thankful he is.  We are excited to get to know new people and have been warmly welcomed by everyone.  For myself, I think once we move to the area it will be easier for me to build deeper friendships.  I am so thankful for everyone who has hosted us on Sunday afternoons so our kids can nap between services.  In addition, I am grateful for the constant encouragement and prayers from new friends at Calvary.

We are glad to announce that after only 2 ½ weeks we went under contract with a couple who wants to buy our home in Raleigh!  We have looked at over 70 homes online and 15 homes in person in Rocky Mount and we are officially under contact.  We are just waiting on the results of the home inspection but if all works out we will be closing on BOTH homes on January 16^th!  It really is quite amazing how the Lord has orchestrated everything so far.  I am thankful for our relator Zach Angle who has been absolutely wonderful.  I would recommend him to anyone.  In addition, my amazing husband has tirelessly worked on rounding up files, signing documents, and contacting anyone and everyone to make this process actually happen.  I understand about 5% of what’s going on so I’m more than thankful for my husband who is loving our family well by taking care of all the challenging administrative tasks.

I am thankful that this year I got a jump-start on celebrating advent and was able to focus and reflect on Jesus even in the midst of 1,001 other things vying for my time and energy.  At the end of November I began reading “Good News of Great Joy” by John Piper.  It was, by far, the best advent devotional I’ve ever gone through.  It helped me not to be anxious in the midst of all our transitions by reminding me that the Lord is sovereign and he will provide exactly what we NEED in His perfect timing.

As usual we had lots of fun with the kids this month.  We went to see Disney’s Frozen on Ice as a field trip through Addi’s school.  We did several Christmas crafts and hosted an ornament making party for a few close friends.  We used our free Marbles Kids Museum tickets.  My back was feeling completely better so we went to the YMCA a lot and we took advantage of living close to friends and played with neighbors often.

I’m also thankful that baby seems to be very healthy.  I passed the glucose test and little one just moves and grooves ALL the time.

Thankful List ~ November 2014

November Thankful List

As mentioned in last month’s thankful list, Josh was officially offered the Pastor of Families and Discipleship position at Calvary Baptist Church.  With this great honor we knew we needed to put our house on the market asap so that we could move out that way in order to serve and love our new church family.  We spent a couple weeks packing and staging our house, meeting with a relator, and on November 21^st our house officially went on the market!

We are thankful that Josh was able to work out a three week notice, and that we were able to take a trip to visit family at Thanksgiving.  We had a great time seeing everyone!

We were thankful that in the midst of getting our house on the market and traveling we still had time to make a few fun family memories.   One evening we had a family night out and got some peppermint hot chocolate together.  Addilyn loved her’s and gulped it gone in a minute or less.  Josiah took one sip and spit out every drop all over the table (and his shirt).  We also had the opportunity to go to the Raleigh Christmas parade with some dear friends.  The kids, although they were extremely cold, had a great time.  Josiah loved the monster trucks most and Addilyn enjoyed the big floating balloons (especially the shark).

Finally, we were able to attend Treasuring Christ Church (our home for the past 9 years) for a few more weeks before making the transition to Calvary.  I was thankful for this time to really take everything in and say goodbyes to those who I don’t get to see often outside of Sunday mornings.  I was able to reflect on our time at TCC which brought lots of tears of thankfulness and joy. 

Treasuring Christ Church

Last Sunday, November 30, we attended our last service at Treasuring Christ Church in Raleigh North Carolina.  January would have marked nine years that we were part of this family.  There are no words to express how thankful I am for the impact this church has had on our lives.  Having only been married a year, recently moved to North Carolina, and having not yet developed too many friendships, we met a guy named Robbie Haynes who welcomed us to this brand new church plant he had only just discovered himself.  Little did we know that our hearts, minds, and souls would forever be influenced by our experiences within our new family.

Kent and Candace Capps gladly welcomed us into small group and continued to open up their home to us on a regular basis.  Over the years they graciously and lovingly pointed out sin in our hearts and reminded us of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They modeled Godly parenting and we saw both great success and heard their hearts as they honestly confessed when they were having parenting struggles and hardships.  Other than one family we observed in college, this was the first time Josh and I were challenged to think through how Christ can transform EVERY aspect of your life and how confession and reconciliation are just as important in parenting as affection and discipline.

The other pastors (and their wives) also greatly influenced us over the years.  Both the Cordells and the Williams offered advice, counsel, and encouragement during many different seasons.  They consoled us when we were told we could never have children, they rejoiced with us in the hospital when each of our children were born, they offered adoption advice as experienced adoptive parents, and they prayed for us after our miscarriage.  We remember being invited over to the Cordells for Thanksgiving the first two years we could not go home to be with family.  We shared meals with the Williams family and delighted on lots of Julie’s exceptional chocolate chip cookies.

We took part in lots of TCC location changes.  Pastor Sean use to say if you can find us you can worship with us.  When we joined TCC we were meeting at a run-down sandwich shop that was undergoing a remodel to become some sort of bar.  All I remember is walking in one week and the entire place had been redecorated to look like a Tiki hut.  This of course was a few weeks after part of the roof had fallen in the middle of Pastor Sean’s sermon.  I remember having to find a friend to hold the bathroom door closed each week because the knob never worked.  And I remember the phone call we got one Saturday evening to let us know church was going to be in a different location the next day because Pastor Sean had walked over to the building and seen a “Condemned- Unsafe for Occupancy” sign on the front door.    I can’t remember the exact order of where TCC moved to next but one thing was certain, no matter where we went we had trials that continually reminded us that this world is not our home.  It helped us, as a church family, to long for our forever home in heaven.

At John P. Top Green Community Center I remember being so crowded that many of us sat on countertops in the back of the room and lined the hallway so we could still hear the sermon.

At one point we were found at 115 ½ Hargett Street, located just above an old Barbour shop.  While located at this facility, it was understood that women need not wear heels and coming to church also meant you didn’t have to go the gym that day. You see, since you had to climb up three flights of steps as well as maneuver around the random columns and tightly fitted chairs in the tiny room, by the time you left you’d already had your workout for the day.  The worst was if you had forgotten to use the restroom before the sermon started because once you were in there was no getting out.  Yet, in the midst of being cramped we still managed to host multiple fellowships including the annual Thanksgiving meal where we brought in lots of visitors form Moore Square and the Bus Station.  I remember that all the members played a role in making this truly a feast by bringing sides, drinks, and desserts.  In addition, we had several karaoke coffee houses and board game nights where we began to form many friendships with others in the church outside of our small group.  I also remember starting to attend the Sunday morning bible studies and learning from men Godly men.

I also remember the Chavis community center gymnasium that we also called the sauna.  We resided at this facility during the summer…the summer their air conditioner was broken.  I remember prayer walking throughout the neighborhood during the bible study hour and asked God to bring people to love and minister to that neighborhood.  Specifically I remember walking up and down Bragg Street and State Street.  I never could have imagined that God would answer that prayer by bringing multiple families from our church (including our own family) to live there.  I also remember a fall festival we hosted for the neighborhood kids where all the members of the church created homemade games, activities, and snacks for kids.

I believe it was on TCC’s 4^th birthday that we had our first meeting at the Imax in the Marbles Kids museum.   I remember working with Candace Capps, Betsy Treece, and Char Hanks to plan a big fellowship complete with games and decorations.  I remember having to cook part of the meal across the street at the church offices located in the Ministry Incubator and having to warm dishes that other people had brought in the warmers in the Marbles kitchen.  By the time the sermon was over we would always be exhausted from running around but it was so worth it to see our family with such happy faces.  While at the Imax I remember Kent teaching a “Creation to Consummation” study where I learned so much about seeing Jesus in the Old Testament.

Other fun traditions we developed during this time were Family Room seminars.  These were put on every couple of months to discuss and learn about various topics including marriage, parenting, counseling, spiritual disciplines, etc.    In addition, we would have daylong women’s retreats (often at other local churches like Open Door and Vintage 21). 

At Christmas we would always celebrate with advent readings during the Sunday worship time.  In addition, our small group would always have a Christmas party and a white elephant gift exchange.  You never knew what you would unwrap; however, it was likely you might get a live goldfish, a can of paint, or even an autographed picture of Jason Brege.  For several years many of us would go out into the downtown Raleigh neighborhoods and Christmas carol while handing out information about the church and sharing the gospel.

I remember playing on the TCC softball team with the Chiltons, McInnis, Robbie, Joy Hughes, Joanna, and others.  I was so encouraged by hearing one person each week share their testimony after the game.

We had baptisms in the back yard of the pastor’s house.  After hearing people’s testimonies they would step into the freezing water of a horse trough.  After their baptism Ben McInnis would lead everyone through the chorus of Praise the Lord.  One time I remember Jude Capps, while wearing a shirt that said, “I do all my own stunts,” diving headfirst into the baptismal pool.  Oh, the memories…

I remember several years of participating in Hope for Raleigh and Back Yard Bible Clubs.   I remember the incredible efforts that went into coordinating Convoy of Hope and partnering with 60+ other churches in the Raleigh area so that we could jointly minister to thousands upon thousands of people in need.

And just over a year ago, we purchased and renovated the former YWCA.  I remember countless hours of prepping for the “estate sale”, hauling metal to the junkyard, washing dishes in the kitchen, bleaching toys, painting, and landscaping so that we could minster better to those in Raleigh.

Over the years Josh and I participated and served in various ministries at TCC.  Some were extremely enjoyable and others pushed us out of our comfort zones. In all these capacities we learned about joyfully serving the Lord and we granted opportunities to connect and build relationships with others.  However, small group was always the heartbeat of TCC for us.  We started in the Capps group, which transitioned to the Styles group, and eventually we began to lead our own group.

When trying to describe the types of relationships we developed in small group most people don’t seem to understand.  Yes, we made a habit to study God’s word together, to do book studies, to have in depth accountability but more than anything it was the development of life long friendships.  True friends- those who know the good, the bad, and the ugly, and love you more for it because, like you, they know you're a work in progress.  Our group was always unique in how close we became with one another.  We had Fun traditions like girls night outs/guys night outs and hanging out with one another several days a week outside of formalized church activities or events.

We had the privilege of introducing couples and attending numerous weddings.   We wept with those who lost relatives, babies, or children and attended memorials and funerals.  Josh got involved in an ongoing fantasy football league and frequented Axis and Allies nights with a group of guys.  For several years we’ve invited friends over on a weekly basis to watch Amazing Race.  We developed a homeschool cohort for a year with those in the church who also lived in our same neighborhood.  This was such a blessing.  Our kids had a great time and it was an absolute joy to work with Martha Jackson and Jen Cox in this capacity.  We went to bible studies in others homes, hosted bible studies in our own home, and even facilitated a bible study at the YMCA.  I hosted busy bag swaps, recipe swaps, and clothing swaps.   I also was held accountable to go to exercise classes at the YMCA with church friends (specifically Zumba and Kickboxing).  Many of our church friends helped us move, not just once but some helped us all four times.  And, we could always count on our church family to watch our kids for date nights, doctor appointments, and even our two 5 days trips that Josh and I took to New York and to Denver.

Over the years many of our friends moved on, yet in our minds they will be forever be part of our TCC family.  Although there are too many to name one by one it is important to point out a few that truly influenced us.

• Kent and Candace Capps, who’ve I’ve already mentioned above, exhibited a perpetual reflection on the gospel and reliance upon the Lord unlike what we had ever seen before.
• Dan and Casey Chappell’s response to the unimaginable loss of a child moved us to trust God more. In addition their heart for adoption and willingness to help others pursing adoption has been truly inspiring.
• Tim and Holly Chilton were one of those families we always admired from afar. Their love for others and passion for the nations was inspiring. We’re thankful for each moment that we did get to spend with them and honored to pray for them as they will soon be serving overseas.
• Martin and Dana Graham truly have an amazing gift of encouragement. Weather it was playing games or talking theology, not one moment with them was ever wasted.
• Jared Hostetler’s devotion to TCC always amazed Josh and I because most college students look for a church that can serve them instead of looking for a church where they can serve. Josh had the great honor of spending time with Jared on a regular basis and would always talk about how refreshing he was to be with.
• M.J. and Martha Jackson were phenomenal neighbors with very similar parenting convictions. Over the years our kids became the best of friends with the Jackson kids and in the few months they’ve been gone we have missed them terribly. Martha and M.J. were always a couple we could turn to for wisdom and advice.
• Autumn Leggett babysat Addi as a newborn a few hours a week when I was still working which was a huge blessing to this momma’s heart who desired to spend every waking moment with her new baby girl. Autumn, Heather Hollander, and Lisa Burns all invited me to hang out with them and other TCC families when we lived in Wake Forest. This was such a blessing because although we were not part of the Wake Forest small group I feel like I still have good fellowship with other believers from our church throughout the week.
• Paul Sarazan served joyfully above and beyond what anyone ever expected of him. He was great at recognizing and affirming giftings in others. I was so thankful for opportunities to serve work along side him. He and Amy’s dependence upon the gospel left Josh and I hopeful of how God would continue to use us and passionate to continue serving in the church.
• Teresa Sanders is and will always be a sweet friend to me. I cherish the countless times we’ve talked, laughed, and cried together late into the evening. It’s always refreshing to have a friend who you can be completely vulnerable with and whom you know will not judge you but who will love you in spite of your sin struggles and who will be faithful to pray with you and help you fight for righteousness. She loves my children and they ask about her if we’ve not seen her in a few weeks. 
• Eric and Ashley Sinclair demonstrated deep-rooted faith in the midst of painful loss. I remember being astonished at how firmly they clung to truth in the midst of tragedy. Their trust in the Lord and his sovereign plan will forever impact my soul and their example of Godly suffering inspires me to daily be thankful for each and every thing we’ve been blessed with.
• Josh and Charlotte Styles displayed unending hospitality and generosity and spurred us on to love others more than ourselves.
• Betsy Treece has and still is an encouragement to me because of her intentionality. She pursued me in times when I felt lonely and continues to love me even when we don’t get to see one another as often as we would like.

There are many other families and individuals who seem to have been at TCC just as long as us, if not longer.  These individuals we will miss terribly but are thankful for the many ways they impacted us in the years we spent together.  Again, there are far too many to name but some of the individuals include:

• Danny and Kari Breed are genuinely motivated by their convictions and dedicated to being intentional in all that they do. This is so refreshing in a world where most people just fall into the trap of following cultural norms and what’s most popular or convenient at the time. Josh has always admired Danny’s scripture led prayers and dependence upon the Holy Spirit. I admire Kari’s patient and thoughtful parenting inspired by none other than the word of God. Their lives are a constant reminder to thoroughly think through choices we make for our family in light of the gospel.
• Jason and Cary Brege host the best game nights and nothing beats their annual settlers tournament! Cary and I got to know one another when we were spontaneously paired together for Julie William’s Amazing Race Birthday Extravaganza. At the time we were deemed the “Working Wives” and proudly biked all around Raleigh in our green team shirts. As life changed and we both became stay at home moms, we were able to set up play dates for our kids. Addi and Josiah love spending time with her boys no matter where are or what we do; however, their favorites include the Pullen Park Drum Circle and swimming at the YMCA. I love spending time with her because her passion for social justice and the practical ways she loves others always reminds me that Jesus came to serve and help those who cannot help themselves.
• Sean and Natalie Doherty are a couple who are always fun to be around. On many occasions they invited us into their home and more times than I can count we just enjoyed one another’s company by playing games, working on puzzles, watching football, or having conversations about things that truly matter in the world. Natalie’s vulnerability, honesty, genuine care for others, patient parenting, confession of sin in her own heart, pursuit of peace and reconciliation, and teachability continually remind me of God’s work in our lives. I see so much grace in Natalie and it reminds me that the Lord can do the same work in my own heart. From the moment I met her I’ve always thought that if I had my way, I would choose to spend much more of my time with Natalie. Josh spoke often of Sean’s care for other brothers in Christ and how he was very sacrificial in how he chose to love others.
• Kate Forrest is rarely seen with out her radiant smile. Her steadfast love for the Lord and unwavering hope even in the most difficult circumstances and pain of loss have spurred my heart to be thankful and trust in the Lord.
• Jeremiah and Dori Futrell are always a joy to be around. Josh had the great pleasure to work with both of them for a while. Jeremiah is one who is quick to affirm God’s grace in the lives of other believers and Dori is full of wisdom and encouragement. 
• Heather Graig is one of the most faithful women I’ve ever met. Her dedication and incessant service to the church is remarkable. She is a prime example of what it means to lay your life down for others. She is a loyal friend, a wonderful confidant, and I look forward to her distinctive knock on our front door.
• Allen Mayberry you can always count on for a good laugh or a practical joke. And although he keeps us on our toes, is a faithful and dependable friend. As long as we’ve known him he has exhibited a willingness to serve others without a second thought. Our kids love Mr. Allen and get so excited anytime he joins us for dinner, a football game, and especially when he offers to babysit.
• Dave and Kim Miskiewicz’s faithfulness to serve and care for the children of TCC is inspiring to say the least. Working with them was always a joyful learning experience because of their humble leadership and love for others. I often told Josh that I wish I could spend a few hours every week with Kim because of how much I admire her. The few opportunities I did get to go to her home and play in her garden or relax on her back porch were some of the most meaningful moments.
• Matthew and Melanie Moore are certainly treasured friends who I anticipate will be part of our life until the day we leave this earth. Matthew is a friend to all and it’s amazing to see how he genuinely loves others with the compassion and sincerity of Christ. Melanie’s desire to learn and grow in her relationship with the Lord is so encouraging. She constantly is asking challenging questions and talks often of what she is learning in her quiet times. On many occasions she is faithful to ask the hard questions and willing to learn together what the will of the Lord is for our lives.
• Blair Rouse is greatly admired by my husband. Josh speaks often of how he longs to be like Blair because of how quickly and effortlessly the gospel is on his lips. He is one of the most humble men we’ve met and his gift of encouraging is astonishing. One time Blair and JulieAnne invited us to go on a beach trip with them even though we had a fussy newborn. They spent the entire weekend serving us and a house-full of other TCCer as if we were kings and queens.
• Charity Starchenko offered me hope and encouragement on the day a doctor told me that Josh and I would never be able to have children. She spoke truth to me and reassured me that God is greater than our longings and desires. She continued to remind me of this for the months and years that followed. She also was continually offering advice about adoption and I was thrilled each chance I got to do a craft fair or yard sale with her. She is a very talented photographer and generously volunteered to take maternity photos for us when we were pregnant with Addilyn as well as a set of family photos about two years ago.

There are others who I feel like within the past year or so we were just starting to know well.  Although we are sad to leave these individuals we believe that many of them are forever friends who we will not have any trouble staying in touch with.  Many of them (Pinkneys, Gregorys, Rounds, Princess Grimes, Eric Bates) had joined our small group.  We loved seeing these individuals on a regular basis and each of them pushed us in unique ways to love Christ more.  For example, Gray and Karen Kidd pursued spending time with us even though it was often a challenge because of our crazy kiddos.  Gray’s excitement for life never ceased to amaze me.   Karen was always willing to spend time with my kids and I no matter what crazy adventure we were up to.  It was clear that through this and several times the babysat for us that they, like Jesus, were excited to serve others joyfully.  We had also established a few relationships within the past year outside of our small group.  Two that stick out very clearly in my mind are with Erin Leanheart and Tracey Duncan.  Tracey and I became fast friends soon after they came to TCC.  When they remodeled their kitchen she would come over to our house to wash laundry and I truly cherish the times we got to talk and chat about what God had been doing in our lives.  Anyone who has taken the time to get to know Erin would agree with me that their life is more full because of it.  Erin is quick to listen, slow to speak, wise and understanding, and faithful to pray.  She, on many different occasions, has ministered to my heart with kind words as well as offering humble, biblical, and sound advice.  When we move, I will also miss randomly seeing each of them in classes at the YMCA.

During Josh’s Commissioning, Pastor Byron prayed something that I’ve known for a while but had yet to put into words.   He recognized that as we transition into another church family some friendships may fade and others may not change at all despite time spent apart, distance, etc.  The following are a few families we are convinced that will forever be apart of our lives.  Over the years we have seen God’s grace in allowing these friendships to flourish.  These individuals are not just our pals or some random acquaintances we’ve deemed friends.  These individuals have been our closest brothers and sisters over the course of time.  They have seen us in good times and in bad.  They have rejoiced with us and wept with us.  They have sacrificially served us and have forever impacted us in a way that I could never fully put into words.

• Robbie and Dana Haynes- Robbie embodies someone who knows his own gifting and uses it to bless others. He has an amazing memory and pays close attention to detail. Josh and I continually are inspired by how he uses this to purposefully bless others. Dana is a great listener and help me process through anything and everything. I love spending time with her but it always seems to go by too quickly. One of the most rewarding and restful vacations our family has ever had was spending time in the mountains with the Haynes (and Tom and Marie Johnson). We got to experience hiking some beautiful trails, playing beside some majestic waterfalls, as well as doing a bible study together that spurred on great Godly conversations. Our kids, from infancy, have loved the Haynes kids and gladly call them their best friends. Addi and Noah have already danced together at weddings, we celebrated their 3rd birthdays at a joint party, and one year we even dressed up for Halloween together (Addi was Pebbles and Noah was Bam-Bam). These, among other things, have been so special. In addition, Josiah and Noah are the perfect wrestling buddies and Addi delights in helping care for Eva. Most of all, we’ve loved the spontaneous dinners and play dates that often happen with the Haynes. We are so thankful for this family and are excited to see how the Lord continues to grow our friendship in new ways over the years to come.
• Ben and Becca McInnis- Quite literally we would not be where we are today without the McInnis. Ben convinced Josh to consider moving across the street and be neighbors when we thought there was no possibility of us owning a home. However, it wasn’t when we lived across from one another that our relationship began, in fact God began using the McInnis family in our lives soon after joining TCC. Josh and Ben worked together at several different jobs over the course of 5-6 years. Late night conversations about life or football was not just typical for them, but anticipated. Anytime we have a decision to make, Ben is one of the first people that Josh pursues to help him evaluate options. Ben is faithful to always ask hard questions and to offer wise counsel. In addition, Ben’s faithfulness and dedication to serve as the Worship leader at TCC has been phenomenal. He rarely takes a Sunday off and it is evident that his desire is to prepare our hearts to hear and respond to the preached word. Every single Sunday we benefit from the songs he has chosen and it seems they always fit in with what our hearts are already craving to sing. Becca is a great encourager and confidant. I have always felt comfortable talking to her about anything and everything. She makes going to the gym and working out fun. She motivates me to endure and pushes me to do my best. She is gifted in many ways but her humility is always what’s most inspiring and encouraging. 
• Josh and Traci Gallaher- I’ve had the joy of knowing Traci for over a decade. When I met her, as her freshman orientation leader at Shorter College, I had no clue how God would orchestrate the path of our friendship. Josh and Traci both served as RAs under me at Southeastern Seminary and it was my absolute joy to witness them fall in love and get married. Traci had already been a member at TCC but when Josh decided TCC would be where they would attend as a family I was thrilled. From that point we were able to spend time with them on a weekly basis in small group as well as began hanging out as often as possible throughout the week. Josh and Josh can always be found deep in conversation about work, football, and especially theology. For over a year Josh and Josh met regularly to talk through potential future options of church planting. Although, God’s made it clear that is not what he has for us, I know that my husband doesn’t regret one second that he has gotten to spend with Josh Gallaher. Traci and I share so many of the same passions, especially around topics such as discipleship, biblical femininity, and the power of God’s word that sometimes it’s hard for us to find a good stopping point. We thoroughly enjoy the company of the Gallaher’s and find ourselves calling them often to hang out, play games, or have dinner together. 
• Rion and Kristen Bell- To try and articulate how we’ve have seen God at work in the lives of Rion and Kristen or to summarize what a blessing they have been to us is absolutely impossible. Kristen and I joked, after only being friends for a short while, that one day we would be gray-haired ladies sitting on a porch somewhere rocking in our rocking chairs and talking about the “good-ole days.” As each day passes this thought is only more affirmed. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is, what Anne of Green Gables would call, a “bosom buddy.” There is not a thing on this planet that we can’t talk about. Kristen is one of the very first people I call anytime there is anything I need prayer for or anytime I’m excited about something. It is a very rare thing for two women to care so deeply for one another and for their husbands to connect just as closely; however, Josh and Rion’s brotherly love for one another is yet another evidence of God’s grace in our lives. Josh respects and appreciates Rion beyond anything I can describe. If I began to list specific ways the Bells have shown us love over the years I would inevitably fail. Again, although we are leaving TCC we know that this is a relationship that will preserve and thrive despite any changes that take place.

So, in summary, we are thankful for the many, many ways that Treasuring Christ has impacted us.  And, although we are sad to be leaving we are excited to take what we’ve learned and share it with others at Calvary Baptist Church.  We pray that in this time of transition (and for as long as God has us on Earth) that we will faithfully honor Him and strive to bring Him glory.  We plead with you that if you are not part of a church that will help you to fulfill the same mission that you seek one out.  Being part of the Treasuring Christ Church family has grown us beyond anything we could have imagined and only a healthy church can push you to love God and love others in the way the Bible teaches.