C H A R L E S T O N ! ! !

We finally got a chance to head back for our first trip to Charleston since we moved back to the south. It was a GREAT weekend! We stayed with our good friends Michael and Amanda O'Neal. Saturday was the perfect day to go out on the boat! We hung out in the harbor and Casey even learned how to wakeskate, its like surfing on a wakeboard, which is right up his alley. :)

We got to the go to the College of Charleston Alumni Gala on Saturday evening. The Blue Dogs played in the Cistern at CofC and we got to catch up with a lot of old friends. It was a blast. On Sunday, we helped throw a baby shower for my roomie from college, Allison and Garrett Reed. Their new little one, Emerson Grace has been born since then. She is healthy and we are sooo excited for them.

Its just so nice to be back home. I recently started a new job as Women's Director of High School Ministry at Cedar Springs Presbyterian church here in west Knoxville. I am soo excited that the Lord has called me back to full time ministry. It has always been my hearts desire and I am so grateful that the Lord has taken us back to that place. In Isaish our Lord says this in Isaiah:

God is not finished, He is waiting around to be gracious to you.

He is gathering his strength to show mercy to you.

God takes the time to do everything right - everything!

Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

We feel so lucky. We are so glad that we waited on the Lord to take us to the right place. We have not only moved to Knoxville for Casey's job, but for mine too. What a gift it is to be right in the middle of the Lords plan. He is sovereign. So if you are struggling with where you are, wait. That is all the Lord asks, because he is waiting around on us to lavish his grace.

love you all,

Laura

Orange and White Spring Game at Neyland Stadium

Casey and I had a fun weekend here in Knoxville. Friday night we went to dinner at a fun new restaurant downtown in Market Square called Cafe 4. We met up with some new friends, Adam and Jennifer Luttrell for a yummy meal and night out on the town.

The next morning we headed downtown again to hang out with some friends on their rooftop, grilling out for lunch. Then we perused the art at the Dogwood Arts Festival before walking over to Neyland Stadium for the Annual Orange and White spring game, here in Knoxville. Over 51,000 fans were in attendance. It is so fun to be back in Big Orange Country. There was lots of hype with Kiffin on the field. At times, he was almost running the play with the guys. I thought he might try to take a hike there for a minute. I know Casey was missing his Buff's, but we sure did have a fun day.

Yesterday, we went to Cedar Springs for church, and had a realxing afternoon. Then our friends, Devon and Erin Accardi, who run Young Life in Anderson County, just outside of Knoxville, hosted a Ryan Long concert. All of the proceeds of the ticket sales went toward their high school friends trip to YL's Frontier Ranch this summer. We will get to help send Sandy to camp for the best week of her life! So fun!

Hope each of you had a fun weekend too! We are headed to Charleston this coming weekend to spend some time with Michael and Amanda O'Neal, host a baby shower for Allison and Garrett Reed and attend the Anuual College of Charleston Alumni Gala! We can't wait. More pics to follow soon!

Love!

Easter in Nashville!

Hi Friends! Spring is in full force here in East Tennessee. The grass keeps getting greener and longer, as Casey already needs to mow again. Didn't he do that 2 days ago? Anyways... We are starting to find out what kind of flowers are going to bloom in our yard. We have a beautiful Azalea that is just starting to sprout pink. Love the spring.

So to kick it off, we took a trip to Nashville this past weekend to my parents house. All of the kids were there, including my 2 little nieces. It was a blast! Not only was it Easter weekend, but it was also a celebration for Blythe and Madeline's birthdays. So in true Jelley fashion there were lots of sweets including Easter candy, birthday cakes, and chocolate delight and lots of FOOD. And eat we did! I mean, what else do you do when family is all together?

It was a little cold, but Casey made his way out to the lake and took the Jet Ski out for its first spin of 2009. There will be lots more to come I am sure. Enjoy a few pics from our Glorious Easter Morning. What a blessing it was to worship our King! May you be encouraged by what our Lord has done.

As Rueben Morgan of Hillsong writes:

Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save, mighty to save
Forever, Author of Salvation
He Rose and Conquered the grave. conquered the grave!

New House in Knoxville!!!

1205 Folkstone Place

Knoxville, TN 37931

This is the front of our casa! We love it!

The Master Bedroom

The Guest Room - This is where you will stay

when you come to visit.

The Woodburning Fireplace for a cozy living room...

The Den - our new slipcover that is the same color as the walls...

We will be painting them sage green.

Cute little Dining Room!

We hope that you all will come and visit us in Knoxville! We really love our new house and are praying to meet a great community here and find an amazing church. Casey's new job is going well,... he is actually on his way back from his first week of calling on schools in Virgina. My job at Potterybarn is great as always and I'm really enjoying working for our friend Tim, with the Ferraris Law Group. Tonight I am going to check out an All City Young Life club here in Knoxville. They are expecting around 600 kids!!! And thats just the west side of Knoxville! Its a little different from the Springs.

We haven't had much spare time to enjoy Knoxville yet between moving in and visiting my brother's family in Chattanooga last weekend... BUT we are planning on going on a date this weekend in a cute area of downtown, called Market Square. We will let you know how we like it. I got to go to the local old timey soda fountain, Longs Drug Store, with my little sis for lunch yesterday, which was lots of fun! And have been trying out the local antique stores. Still no kitchen table... hopefully we can find the perfect piece soon.

Love and miss you all! I promise to post more....

Laura

Going Away...

FAREWELL COLORADO...

well, we sure went out with a bang in CO before the move. We had a going away party at Chris and Christine Bury's that was AMAZING! Thanks friends for all that you did to make our last few weeks in Colorado so special.

We miss you all dearly.

And our YL going away party at the Strebes. Incredible. And for all of my Pine Creek Young Life kids and my Challenger Wyldlife kids. I miss you so much. My time with you was the best ever and each day I spend away from you is so hard. You have blessed my life and heart more than you will ever know.

and kimmie and kam, you will forever be in my heart! i love you both so much. plan a trip to TN soon.

Casey Runs the Pikes Peak Ascent!

Some of you may think Casey is crazy for running 13 miles up the side of Pikes Peak to begin with. However, what about a summer day in Colorado that is 40 degrees and SNOWING!!! Check out the picture, why is he wearing SHORTS and no hat?! He is insane. Lots of people got turned around because the conditions were so bad on the top of the mountain. However, speedy Casey got up in time, 3 hours and 27 minutes. He is amazing, I tell you. Look out Phoenix, we will be coming for another marathon in January! (Sorry the pic is not so clear, there was limited visibility and fog during the race.)

WAY TO GO, CASE!

Summer Fun!

Casey and I went on date night to this awesome new restaurant in Old Colorado City called Pizzaria Rustica. It was like a little Italian pizza place. I for real felt like I was eating at a little cafe in Rome! You need to go...its yummy!

Camping trip to the Wein's Ranch

The boys peeing off a cliff...

Casey and baby Blair,...too cute! He will be such a great dad...one day!