I am growing so much in the Lord this semester. He is stretching me sometimes more than I enjoy, but I know the end result will be closer to who he has created me to be. I encourage all of you to make Him a priority. Find that time every day that you can sit in His sweet arms and learn from Him. Your life will never be the same until you do, and it will always be the same if you don't. I love each of you and I am praying that God will reveal Himself to you in a new sweet way this week. See you next week!

We honored Mira Evans and her soon to be baby boy! We had lots of fun and way too much to eat. We can't wait to meet the new addition! We love you Mira.

We usually always get the honor of trick or treating with Frankenstein!!!Some of our MUGG mom's kids. Back row Aven Burton, Ean Burton, Haydn Burton, Avery Land, Davis Burton, Caroline Coyle. Front row: John Henry Land, Livian Burton, Cade Burton, Parker Coyle, and Hannah Burton. They were quite a crew!!!

We had a great time on our mugg trip! I hope more of you can join us next time. In the picture below, Mira drew on a bathroom wall. Shame on her! We all signed anyway.

The crew: Julie, Kristi, Mira, Brooke, and Amy

I can't wait until we go on our MUGG trip this weekend. I will have lots of great pictures to share with the world. I found this one from last year, and wanted to share it with all of you. It's about the only tasteful one we took. Ha Ha!!!!! You can be sure that I will have the same jeans and hoodie on again this year.

Hey girls!! This Bible study we are doing has been so challenging to me. I am praying for all of you as we grow together.

Back in the day...

Greetings from Florida! I miss my sweet sisters there in Little Rock. Hugs to all of you!

I wanted to give this blog a new post that wasn't so sad!!!!! Here are a few vintage pictures that really have nothing to do with MUGG! Enjoy! Warning...there are many more where these came from!

Mary Evans and Bailey King

The first Dallas trip (JoEllyn, Kris, Jennifer, Elisabeth and Shannon)

Avery Land

Tim and Jill (sweet vest and penny loafers!)

Brody Ammons (He's always sported fabulous hair!!)

Claire Ballard and Bailey

Classic Hans and Angie (she's going to KILL me!!!)

Prayers for Steven Curtis Chapman's family

I was so saddened to hear about this. I instantly thought of the song on the MUGG playlist by Steven Curtis Chapman entitled "With Hope". Let's keep this family in our prayers.

Daughter of Christian Music Star Killed
By JOE EDWARDS,
AP
Posted: 2008-05-22 07:54:10

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 22) - The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.The girl, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway of the family's home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The brother, whose name and exact age weren't available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected."It looks like a tragic accident," she said.Several family members witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville. The girl died later at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

In a statement, Velvet Kelm, a publicist for Chapman, said Maria was the Chapmans' youngest daughter. Chapman, who is originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria. They also have three biological children.The singer's Web site says the couple was persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site."After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing - our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site."We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world."'

The 45-year-old singer also has released a book about being a father titled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess." He has won five Grammy awards and 54 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association, according to Kelm.

In honor of Denise...

In honor of our dear "friend" Denise I've added a few tunes from Caedmon's Call! :)

Does anyone out there have a song(s) they want added to the playlist? Let me know and I'll try to find it.

On a sad note: I've not been able to find Denise's multi platinum hit: "Beauty, Brains and Cash"

I'll keep looking...

Prayer requests

Yesterday at church Greg found a piece of paper in my Bible that had a prayer request on it. It was one that I had given during our MUGG small group time. Seeing that request on paper made me think about how meaningful it has been to know that my sisters were praying specifically for me.

Is there anyone out there that has a prayer request that they would like to make known to the MUGG ladies? Please don't hesitate if you have a need or a PRAISE that you would like the other MUGGers to know about. If you have a request or a praise, click on comments at the bottom of this post. Even if you don't have your own blog you can just click on the anonymous box and it will still publish your comment or prayer request.

I saw one of our answered prayers at CAC Spring Thing on Friday night: Miss Sydney Pilgreen! She looked adorable in pink and was having a blast sliding down the inflatable slide. She and Tina both looked great!

Mark your calendars!

The Dallas Trip will be Dec 5-6, 2008. Do not miss it! It rocks!

Women of Faith Conference

Good 'ole Sandi Patty!


Nicole C. Mullen was AMAZING!

Oh yeah, the speakers were pretty good too! :)

Good times!

Brunch and Easter Eggs

Don't forget that tomorrow is the MUGG brunch. Also, the kids will be having an Easter egg hunt while in childcare. Don't forget to send 12 (?) filled eggs with your child. For more specifics on that, I guess you can call Rachel Thurman. If you have any additional info on this, or can clarify, please post...see you tomorrow!

Since posts are much more interesting with pictures, I am going to post a few of some MUGG ladies taken at the PV Ladies retreat this past fall. Enjoy!

Who let these guys in????

Women of Faith tickets

Contact me if you are interested in going to Women of Faith. My e-mail address is jcooper3356@sbcglobal.net or call me at 219-2096. If there are 10 or more, tickets will be $65.

~JoEllyn

Oops!

Correction: No Nichole Nordeman at WofF. :(

The singer is Nicole C. Mullen :)

Nicole started singing at age two and she’s been praising God with her voice ever since. The winner of eight Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, Nicole’s powerful ballads and danceable tunes will have your toes tapping before you know it. But there’s more to Nicole than dynamic vocals and skillful songwriting. “Hopefully, at the end of the day, they will not have just heard pretty music,” Nicole says, “but somewhere between the lines, pages, and phrases, they will have heard the whisper of God to the depths of their hearts." Nicole has worked to help free the Trokosi slaves held captive in Ghana, West Africa and for more than a dozen years she has sown into the lives of young girls through her Baby Girls Club, an organization that mentors young women. She even designs her own clothing. Nicole and husband David have four children. They live on a farm outside Nashville, TN.
Web site: www.nicolecmullen.com

Women of Faith Conference

Don't forget about the upcoming Women of Faith Conference! It will be held April 4th and 5th at Alltel Arena. The theme this year is Infinite Grace. Go to the following website for more info http://www.womenoffaith.com/conferences/littlerock/default.asp . Nichole Nordeman will be performing again this year. That alone is worth going! I think that someone here at PV was ordering tickets (was it Holly C.?). If you know any more details about the conference or would like to share your experiences from last year, please post! Here are a few pictures of several of us who went last year:

How have I not done this already?

Okay so I was looking through my pictures and found these from the first week of MUGG. How awesome are these ladies? Thanks girls for doing whatever it takes to make the rest of us laugh! Our lives would be so much less enjoyable without you gals!

Be there or be square!

Upcoming WINGS (Women In God's Service) conference sponsored by Harding University's Marriage and Family Therapy Program

February 22-23

"What's Real? Finding Truth in a Reality Show World."

Breakout group options:

Mythbusters (These sessions will examine false beliefs/myths.)

• "If I am a Christian, I Won't Have Any Problems"
• "Bad Things Don't Happen to Good People"
• "Super Nanny" (Panel of 4 moms)
• "Trading Spaces" (Belief that the grass is always greener on the other side and the way to solve church problems is by trading spaces and going somewhere else to look for the "perfect" situation.)

Survivor (These sessions will address tough times faced and conquered.)

• "Intervention" (Approaching someone who is struggling with porn, eating disorders, drinking, infidelity, an unhealthy relationship, etc.)
• "The Amazing Race" (Dealing with circumstances that are beyond our control and persevering when physical health or other challenges come our way.)
• "Starting Over" (Trying again when life and it's trials have knocked us down.)

Ultimate Makeover (Modesty, biblical beauty, scriptural perspectiv on the topic of discretion.)

• "What Not to Wear" (Modesty among women)
• "How to Look Good Naked" (Dealing honestly with focusing too much on outward appearances.

Don't miss these either!

"America's Next Top Model" luncheon runway show (a tongue-in-cheek perspective of modern day fashion.)

"A Moment of Truth" (Panel discussion of spiritual disciplines such as fasting, spiritual memory, meditation/solitude, etc.)

This is only a VERY brief description of some of the sessions you can attend. The cost is $15 and that includes a light supper on Friday night, coffee house, continental breakfast, luncheon and all presentations and classes. Babysitting is available for pre-registered participants. The conference will be held at the Family Life Center at College Church of Christ.

For more info goto www.harding.edu/Wings or ask me (Shannon) about it!

Sydney Pilgreen is in Remission!

I just got an update from Sydney's Caring Bridge link from Tina with the exciting news! Make sure that you go read it in Tina's words. Also, it sounds like in a month or so they will be back in the land of the living! I have missed having Tina's fun self around on a regular basis, and I know that she has missed being around! I am so thankful that God has answered all the prayers that have been lifted up on the behalf of their family. It has been a long year for all of them. Hopefully, that is all going to get better soon! Hallulajah!

Kerri Crocker

Don't miss Kerri Crocker tomorrow during MUGG! She came last year and was fabulous...Not a dry eye in the house! She has a brand new cd released a few weeks ago and is bringing a friend who will be speaking. Bring a friend with you! Check her out at kerricrocker.com.

Teacher's Needed!

Hello! I hope everyone has had a great start to the new year. Tara Richardson is looking for teachers who would be interested in helping administer benchmark exams for ARVA (Arkansas Virtual Academy). It will be the second and third week in April from 8A.M-3P.M. and it pays $75 a day. You must have a current AR license. If you are interested please contact me or Tara.

trichardson@arva.org
http://www.calendarwiz.com/arvacalendar

Can't wait until Wednesday!!
Thanks,
Lelah