Overdo Update

So, it's amazing how fast a year can fly by and you realize you have not updated your blog...geesh.

A brief recap: Shawn graduates as a Physician Assistant May 9th! No job officially yet, but we are looking. His last year has been spent changing from various rotations across Maine in hospitals, private practices, etc. He did one rotation in Alabama for infectious disease. He loved working with the AIDS patients and the DRs their, but we missed him terribly as we didn't see him for 4 weeks. I'm not so great at the solo mom thing. But, I do have a new respect for the job that single mom's have every day. Wow!

Marie and Ellie are the cutest kids on the planet! Just celebrated their 5th and 3rd birthdays and I have officially registered both of them at the Vineyard Christian School in Lewiston. I can't believe my little Ellie is in pre-k. Maybe it's time for another?? :)

I am working as the youth pastor for an amazing group of young people at the Vineyard in Lewiston. Loving our Sunday night "RIOT" youth that gathers 7-12th graders from across the area. We have some amazing young adults that help us lead this crew...way too much fun!

This summer I am taking them to the DR again. Last year was a great trip and I am so excited to be going back to the same community again!

I am also helping with the Vineyard East youth mission trip called Surge. you can check it out at www.vineyardyoutheast.org (They even let me write the training for it...which was a lot of fun. It's amazing how many trips Shawn and I have lead at this point. Funny how time passes and all of a sudden you realize you have learned something along the way! Go figure!)

I am very excited about my arbonne business too. Recently decided to take it up a knotch so that we can get rid of Shawn's student loans asap. I am so inspired by that company and it's opportunity. I've been hooked on the products now for 5 years and am stoked to be able to lead others in their dreams too. One of my favorite ways to build recently has been fundraisers. I love connecting the principals of the Arbonne difference with some of the great causes around! You can read more about that part of my passion at www.jenna.myarbonne.com.

He loves us!!

So recently Shawn and I have been playing this song over and over and praying for it to capture our hearts and the hearts of the youth! We have so many youth in our churches that are plagued with self hate, depression and grief. Why? It just seems so demonic since it is so completely opposite of God's heart for them...

Join us in worshipping the God who is so completely loving...and pray for breakthrough!

Vineyard Lewiston Live Nativity

Why has it been 2 months since our last post? Hmmm...

So last night we had the 2nd of 3 live nativity performances. The Lewiston Vineyard's new auditorium packs out at 900 but there were ...well, let's just say people standing all over, sitting down in front of the stage! Marie was sitting on my lap, completely captivated the whole time, clapping for all she was worth at the close of each scene. She told me her favorite part was "Mary"...Shawn was the angle Gabriel in a white tail tux! He was born for the stage and man, that voice!
The whole production was fresh, engaging and full of some stinkin' awesome voices and performances!
After the production they had a "winter wonderland" created in the entryway with cookies, cider and Dicken's Carolers! Marie and Ellie were captivated by the wagon rides with big draft horses! What a great night!
We had planned a youth gathering for after the nativity with Christmas movies and S'mores. I was so pleased to see over 30 kids come out. We'll definately have to do that again. I love being amongst the youth again. They are so raw, so fresh and honest! We got home at midnight (girls hanging with Grammie Jan) and the girls were up at 6! Life is good.

Oh, and in the midst of the production, Shawn finished his last final yesterday!! Whooo hooo!!! Now he has 2 weeks to relax, enjoy his girls, fill out scholarship forms and such! He's suppose to be sharing at youth group on Sunday (www.relevantwisdom.org) but with 1 foot of snow predicted, we'll have to see.

Marie's Preschool

Marie is loving preschool. Last week she said her teacher was "preaching" about Apples. She loves the songs, the playdough, the dress-up and all of it. My parents have brainwashed her to say she goes to "Harvard preschool"...otherwise known as Vineyard Christian School :)

Fall muzings

Have I told you that my husband is a stud? He is rockin' out PA school like we all knew he would. He is still doing everything he can to be actively involved with the Vineyard Lewiston and still see his kids. I am waitressing now on the weekends, so he gets lots of time then! :)

We went to a cowboy birthday party for Jacob Lafrance (who is officially the first young man to propose to Marie!) last weekend. Those attending were mostly friends from youth group 10+ years ago, except we were all chasing around babies and young ones. It was amusing as we started going around sharing our current life situations, many were back living with parents and waitressing :)...man I can't wait to turn 30!

Shawn and I are grateful that we are back here in Maine during this time. Shawn kept saying "I want to help create Communities of healing" little did we know all the various types of healing God was going to use us in.

My girls

Since Shawn's in school, I get more and more time with my chicas...which has been so fun!
Here's some photos of our summer fun so far.
Love you all!

By the way, I know those of you with kids can appreciate SPF that soaks in nicely and protects our kids vs the crap that sits on their skin and makes a mess. The other day I took Marie and Ellie to OOB and ran out of my Arbonne sunscreen so I had to pick something up there. I found some cool spray stuff with Barbie on it and thought, oh well, I'll just use this for now. Well, for one thing, we spent way more time trying to put in on cause it actually sprays thick, so it's harder to just get the amount you want, then it just sits on their skin and makes them look like ghoasts...which sort of looked funny for a minute. Then, I discovered the the stuff gets onto clothes and towels and grips like honey. Yuck! Anyway, I found a new appreciation for the Arbonne ABC Sunscreen, with no mineral oil and scary stuff. If you want me to hook you up with the good kind I am happy to!
ABC Sunscreen