Lisa's Shower

Last weekend, Mark's sister, Lisa, gathered with family and friends from all over the metroplex for her baby shower. Pictured here (left to right) is Shirley's sister, Verlene; Starrla; Lisa (GORGEOUS pregnant mom!); and mother-in-law, Shirley (Penick).

Congratulations again, Scott and Lisa!

Tyler Half Marathon

Big thanks to my running/training buddies--Mark, Toby Graham (& the Perot gang--Priscilla, Crissy and Ritchie), Carol Young, Francette Schuh & Anthony Bueno, and Jamie Hopper--I finally completed my goal of a half marathon race in Tyler this weekend!

Distance: 13.1 miles

Time: 1:47:35

Pace: 8.13 mph

Age group 25-29 place: 2nd!

Matthews, Pappadeaux, and DBU

On Friday night, we joined some friends for dinner at Pappadeaux. Mark and Gena Matthews (pictured), formerly at Prestonwood, are now at Great Hills in Austin, and he is considering applying for the Leadership doctorate program that Mark is doing.

Friends Jeremy and Kendra Dutchke (he directs the PhD program) dined with us as well. Mark and Gena--great to see you and to know that you have bloomed where you're planted!

Nexus

Allison & Justin Bass

Mark launched a new Open Division Bible Fellowship class on Saturday nights at Prestonwood called Nexus. The first class was well attended, the teaching was great, and the people are outstanding! Our teacher is Justin Bass, a PhD candidate (in New Testament) at Dallas Theological Seminary, and a good friend of ours, along with his wife Allison. They are expecting little Ariana Pearl in about a month.

Left to Right: Friend & Nexus Member, Trog Trogdon (wife, Mendi, & daughter, Sevyn, not pictured) and friends & Nexus Directors, Jason & Jamie Hopper

Mark & Starrla

New Nephew Carter

Here are some pictures I just took of our new nephew Carter. The last one, of course, is big brother Slade.

Labor Day '09

Mark, Lincoln, and brother-in-law Shawn, caught fish on the trotline for Labor Day! I've been told that every guy needs a dog.

and he thinks i'm redneck...

Happy Birthday, Kristen!

Kristen Gee--a member of the Open Division team--we love you and celebrate your birthday today!!

Friends Engaged

Another reason we love the Open Division at Prestonwood is that we can walk alongside people in all phases of life, from new births to baptisms to engagements and weddings to life transitions and struggles.

A couple in our Sunday class, The Way, that has also been called into ministry this last year, just got engaged! Congratulations, Timmy and Joyce!

Ladies Night Out

Recently saw Julie & Julia with some girlfriends from The Way. We were "shushed" a few times...

(Left to right: Jill Graham, Starrla, Francette Schuh, & Katie Morris)

Lincoln update

Several of you have asked recently about Lincoln, our 14 month old puppy, so I wanted to give you an update. In the last month, he has started running the 4 mile route with us. Here is Lincoln the morning AFTER a run...

Plano Health Fair

As part of my work, I organize family services for the district's central cluster, which includes hosting a health fair at the beginning of this school year as a family initiative.

On Saturday, we expected about 900 people from the community to come, and instead we saw upwards of 2000 people flood the building--receiving immunizations, sports physicals, hearing and vision care, and resources from over 40 non-profit organizations!

Something that I was most excited about, we invited Prestonwood's Pregnancy Center mobile sonogram unit, and they were able to do several sonograms and pregnancy tests for women and teens.

Life in Ministry

I've just ordered about 20 more books for Mark's fall semester of PhD studies at DBU. He touches so many lives each week through Prestonwood and on top of it all, he's been taking more and more speaking and teaching opps. I am not sure how he keeps it all up! Here a few pics from this last couple of weeks...

MacArthur Blvd. Baptist Church

NextStep, part of the Open Division at Prestonwood

Bible Fellowship Leadership Summit, Prestonwood

Congratulations, Michael & Abby!

Our good friends, Michael & Abby Wood, are being launched from Prestonwood to West Monroe where Michael is now the Student Minister. They also just had a son, Gavin. FBC West Monroe is blessed to have you guys!

Cornerstone Baptist

Starrla's dad, Associate Pastor at Cornerstone Baptist, was honored at a recent service. We all drove in to be there and celebrate his 20 years of ministry. Little Slade tried to steal the pulpit...

Oh Boy!

Mark's sister, Lisa, and husband, Scott, found out this week they are expecting a little...boy! We are anticipating our next new nephew in January 2010. Congratulations!!

Prestonwood Fall Women's Dinner

Last week was a sweet time for the ladies of The Way, our Bible Fellowship class, as we filled 2 tables at the annual fall women's dinner, and joined over 1,000 women for a guest speaker and music.Susanne Anderson came with me as a guest. Susanne's husband, Kerby, teaches a large class in Mark's Open Division called Examine, popular in part by his radio personality he brings to the class from Probe Ministries, and also by the dynamic synergy of that class. We are so encouraged by their family and friendship.

New Nephew!

Starrla's nephew, Slade, welcomed a little brother, Carter, into the world on Sunday, August 16! Complete with long eyelashes and a big smile, we are so glad he's here!

Great Commission Resurgence Task Force

Join us, as we join Ronnie Floyd and already over 2,000 others in his plea for prayer for the Great Commission Resurgence. You can commit to pray by registering online.

Starrla's Houston Tour

Last week, I went to Houston to visit friends and some family.

My first stop was to see my best friend from college, Shanna Greene, her husband Michael, and adorable son, Jonathan. Shanna is studying to take the NCE exam for her L.P.C. (licensed professional counselor), and they are expecting another little boy in October. Shanna continually inspires me towards growth.

Michael and Shanna were called to a vibrant church on the west side of Houston last year, Copperfield Church, where he is now the worship pastor and directs all the creative arts as well. I love you, friends!

I went next to visit my grandparents in League City, between Houston and Galveston, where much of my family is from. Pictured here is Bob Ainsworth, my grandfather...the first Marshal of League City who later started the police department.

Not in Kansas anymore...

The end of last week we took a quick road trip to Elkhart, Kansas to visit Mark's grandmother. Along with our amazing road warrior dog, Lincoln, we stopped in Canyon, Texas for a short 3-mile hike in the Palo Duro Canyon.

Lincoln enjoyed the break from traveling...

Congratulations, Pritchards!

Friends from college (as well as Starrla's college roommate), James and Kim Pritchard and son Judah, have just moved from Cache, Oklahoma where James served as Pastor to become the Pastor of Robinwood Baptist Church in Seagoville, Texas.

We are excited for you and glad to have you in the area!

The Way ladies host a baby shower

Mark teaches a Bible Fellowship class called The Way, which falls into his division, the Open Division, at Prestonwood. It is such an authentic and loving group of people that are constantly doing great things for the community as well as celebrating life events together.

This weekend several ladies from the class hosted a baby shower for Marlen Key, a member of The Way.
Congratulations, David and Marlen Key! We can't wait to welcome little Melina to this world next month!

Ryan, Angela, & Rooke Payne

Some good friends came in town from Seattle, and we met them for dinner and coffee last night.

Ryan and Mark have been friends for about 18 years including working a landscaping job together after they graduated from high school. Soon after being in our wedding 6 years ago, they moved to China for two years, and now Ryan is in law school in Seattle. Angela stays home with their charming son, Rooke, and is expecting another baby! They are actively involved in Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Good friends that can always be counted on for meaningful conversation! Love you guys!

Mark's 30th!

Mark turned 30 on July 3rd, while we were at Oxford.

Mark's closest cohort buddies joined us for dinner at one of C.S. Lewis' favorite restaurants by the river in Oxford, The Trout Inn.

(Left to Right) Rick Melson is Executive Elder at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. He leads the Campus Network and is launching the Resurgence Training Center; Stan Ward teaches courses in Humanities, Bible, and Logic at The Brook Hill School; Jim Thomas is Associate Pastor at Parkway Hills Baptist Church in Plano, TX.

Happy Birthday, sweetheart!

Oxford