Patton would like to send a very special thank you to Dutch. He's grateful for Dutch's hospitality the whole month of July in Murfreesboro. He had a great time on all the rides in the car, trips in/out of the doggie door, and new friends to pal around with. There's nothing like family. :) (oh, and Mr. and Mrs. T - you're the greatest too)
love,
Patton

Amsterdam Bound!

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We're headed to Amsterdam! We leave tomorrow (Monday, June 30th) for a 12 day outreach to The Netherlands. Our team consists of 23 eager people: 7 staff members, 2 babies, 4 kids, and 10 excited guys and girls. We are made up of a lot of different parts - 4 married couples, 6 kiddos, 6 college students, 4 real-world working stiffs, 9 guys, 14 girls, about 10 who have never been overseas and about 6 who have lived overseas at some point - but we are all venturing with one heart: to make the name of Jesus known in The Netherlands.

We would like to ask any of you who read this while we are away to be in prayer for our trip. We are believing that God would reach people from any of the 155 nations that are represented in the city. This is such a unique opportunity to meet so many from across the globe who can carry the seeds of good news back to their nations.

What can you pray for?

• Salvation!
• Favor in meeting hungry people
  
• Unity on our team
• The power of the Holy Spirit to be displayed
• Safety

Germany
Allison and I will also be spending about 11 days in Germany just outside of Frankfurt. We are convening there for ICON - the international gathering of all AMI missionaries that occurs every other summer. The conference is a time for missionaries to rest, enjoy one another, and receive fresh vision and encouragement in their calling. We are so blessed to get to join these teams from everywhere from Eastern Asia, to Morocco, to the Middle East, to Mongolia. We're excited to hear what God is doing the world over and how he is using ordinary people like you and us to impact nations forever for Christ.



God is so good and we are anxious to get to Amsterdam and begin telling others of his love. Pray that we would catch a fresh vision for missions and God's love for the world over! We'll have plenty of pictures and stories to share when we get back! (July 22nd)

My how we've grown!

Just a little tribute to Patton's 6 month birthday....

This was Patton's first and most loved toy. Today it had to be retired. He drug it around when the duck was twice his size and this morning before it's proper burial, it was without all 4 squeakers, any stuffing, or really much life at all. It's been inside and out, to Murfressboro, to bed with him each night in the crate, and on many car rides (he responds to the squeakers if he runs off). He now has a couple others that resemble the duck but are really a mouse and a pheasant, but we will still refer to them as his duck. It's the term he learned to fetch for. So here's to you Patton... Happy 6 Months Old!

Home Sweet Home

Well, for Greg anyway. After my trip to the beach, we headed to TX for another wedding. Hey...it's what we do best these days. You didn't have to twist Greg's arm for the opportunity to head to Austin, TX (his old college stompin' grounds) for this one. It was one of those rare times when all of the guys were together (not 1 missing) and the laughs were many. The food was delicious, and Greg loves to hear me say that I officially ate the best BBQ I have ever had (and I'm a TN girl!) at the Salt Lick in Austin. John and Laura Rugh's wedding was one of the sweetest we've been to and we're so excited for their life together! Congrats guys.

Next we headed to Houston for 4 days. It was such a delight to catch up with some that are so close to our hearts, spend time w/ Greg's mom in her last days in TX, and share what all the Lord has been doing in Knoxville. It was cool to share a simple dichotomy of feeling right where the Lord has us in TN and, yet, haven't even scratched the surface what he wants to do here! What a sweet joy.

In our travels in the last month, what a joy it is to see your faces. Ya'll are a gift. We covet your prayers for our ministry and share every treasure with you as you walk in faith with us for what God has in Knoxville!


Mr. & Mrs. John Rugh and all the boys of Lakewood UMC

Brion, Mike, & Greg and Kevin & Greg

A little R&R

Jennifer, Paige, me, Sarah Beth and Tiffany

I love the beach!

Those who know me best know that I love the beach. Well, not necessarily the sand, but simply what it stands for. A little R&R. Some sweet friends and I from college headed down to a wedding in SC and then continued on to NC for some sun, no make up, t-shirts, and eating-in for a extra couple days. The weather was wonderful, the wedding was sweet, and the agenda-less days were so refreshing. Thanks girls for a great week!

We have not forgotten you!

It's been a while! We haven't forgotten about you. :) May has kept us traveling a bit welcoming Greg's parents to the state of TN (Murfreesboro to be exact), graduation parties, and working quite a bit at our part time jobs. We're loving the spring weather here (minus the allergies for Greg), and Greg is logging the miles on the frisbee golf course, ultimate frisbee field, and a little on the pavement running with me. It's funny how May often seems like a month spent "getting ready" for what's ahead.

What is ahead?? Glad you asked!

I'm heading to a college friend's wedding in SC this weekend and then really excited to spend a few days in NC at a dear friend's beach house. Nothing like endless sun, beach walks, and grilling with 5 great college buddies. Get ready Paige, Sarah Beth, Jennifer, and Christin!

TX here we come! We'll be in TX May 29th for John and (soon to be Laura) Rugh's wedding in Wimberly, TX. The wedding will be wonderful, but I think for Greg and his buddies, the time together is priceless. For a group of guys that were inseparable all the way through Seminary, the time is treasured. Their families, wives, and friends are a delight for me too. There promises to be good food in Austin, many laughs, and pictures taken.

The 2nd half of our TX trip we'll head to Houston to raise support for our trip to Amsterdam and some upcoming needs for the Fall. We're really excited to see faces that we dearly love and cherish and to share what all the Lord has done in our 9 months here. This will also be a last chance to visit with Greg's mom in TX as she is there finishing up her teaching career. We're so proud of you, Mrs. T! Can't wait to have you in TN with us. :)

I'll leave you with some pics...mostly of Patton. The next post promises to include our faces. Thanks for reading and call us if we're in your area!


Patton after a fabulous day playing in the creek.

Yeah! Mr. and Mrs. T live in TN!

Greg trimming his little bonsai tree...I mean Patton.

Dutch Trevathan and Patton. They are going to have a wonderful time while we're in Amsterdam! Thanks Mr. and Mrs. T for having him. You'll have your hands full.

This is where Patton rides when we take him to Murfreesboro. Too cute.

I've been tagged!

Patton & I at the park this weekend.

I've been tagged by Tracy Preskenis, a sweet friend of mine from Boston. She and her hubby are now in Hurst, TX, and they just welcomed their newest son, Reeve, to the family. Wesley is a big brother. So cute!

This is how this works:
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player tags 5 people and posts their name, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

The Questions and My Answers. . .

What I was doing 10 years ago?:
Ha! I was finishing my sophomore year of highschool...eagarly anticipating my driver's liscense. I was playing basketball and tennis for Bearden High and getting ready for a summer of mission trips and church camps. I loved highschool! Wonder where I'll be in 10 more years?!

Five Snacks I enjoy:
In a perfect, non weight-gaining world. . .
1. Moist yellow cake with chocolate frosting (I copy Tracy)
2. Cherry Limeades from Sonic (I copy Tracy again)
3. Peanut M&Ms
4. Chips (Munchos to be specific)
5. A tall glass of sweet tea from McDonalds

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Pay taxes :)
2. Pray. Give. And Go... generously!
3. Pay for someone else's need that they couldn't afford (school, car, house, etc.)
4. Buy a house perfect for whatever stage our family was in
5. Guarantee myself little get-a-way vacations for the rest of my life

Six jobs that I have had:
1. Countless babysitting jobs from age 12
2. Lifeguard ('98-'03)
3. Camp Counsleor at Camp Ozark ('01-'02)
4. Managaer of the Women's Tennis Team at UT ('00-'04)
5. Inventory Planner of the Mobile Div. @ Tweeter Home Entertainment, Boston, MA ('04-'07)
6. 20-somethings Pastors at Antioch Community Church ('07-present)

Three of my habits:
1. Loving all things pink
2. I'm a people person...the more the better!
3. Watching many episodes of Jon&Kate Plus 8 (when we had cable)

Four places I have lived:
1. Knoxville, TN
2. Brighton, MA
3. Watertown, MA
4. Knoxville, TN

People I Want to Get to Know Better: (A nice way of saying TAG!)
1. Morgan Teague
2. Jennifer Eidemiller
3. Sarah Bianchi
4. Tiffany Brown