the chevalier family

The girls tried gymnastics for the first time tonight.  They were excited to try it, and we were glad that they were able to test it out for one night.  Both Madalyn and Kalea enjoyed themselves, so we signed them up!  They both liked the trampoline the best.  They also liked jumping into a pit of foam squares! 

My freshman year of Geneva was crazy!  At one point, a few of us decided to stay on campus for fall break.  This is rare!  But, then again, we were rare!  We stayed and heckled our R.A. by buckling a couple belts together and whipping his window in the middle of the night from our window…one room away.  He got so mad at us that he called another R.A. to help, but we refused to open the door.  They came to the conclusion that we were drunk, and they called the Dean of Students (Larry Hardesty).  He came with the breathalizer!  He pounded on our door, and we all come out smiling!  Each of us took the breathalizer with a reading of 0!  We got in so much trouble, but it was worth it for a good story to tell.

Today was Kalea’s first day of pre-school!  Kalea already has a little friend named Danielle…she met her through Madalyn’s soccer games and practices.  Danielle’s dad was the coach.

Kalea, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you, and we can’t wait to see you grow in many ways this school year!

When I was a freshman at Geneva College, I receieved an award at our orientation called the “Biggest Ham” award.  The prize was actually a huge block of ham!  So…what is a freshman to do with that?  I had an idea that, unfortunately looking back now, was not a good idea!  I hid the block of ham in my Resident Assistant’s book case.  It stayed there for almost the entire semester.  I say almost because the stench got so bad that I had to go back in and get it out of the bookcase because he could not locate the “smell” in his dorm room.  When I saw the block of ham, it was black with mold!  I’m sorry!  Maybe this is going to be more confession that college stories!

3 of the 5 of us are in school.  Kalea is in pre-school.  Madalyn is in first grade.  Daddy is in seminary.

When talking about missions, Kalea said that my cousins Jamie and Jeff can’t go to Africa b/c it’s past their bed time.

Ainsley is starting to say, “Mama!”

I married a couple yesterday at Phipps Conservatory, and I knew the bride since 1st grade.

This fall, Erica will be leading a small group of women at MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers).

Today is Madalyn’s first day of 1st grade, and we’re so excited for her!  She gets her own locker and desk this year.  When asked what she’s most excited for, she said, “I’m excited about getting to school.”  In other words, let’s move on from this “interview” so I can get on the bus!  Have a great day Madalyn!  Daddy and Mommy are so proud of you!

I spent the day with some of the greatest guys on the planet!  The Ironman Fantasy Football League held its 7th annual draft day.  9am - golf.  11ish - lunch.  1ish - flag football game.  5ish - dinner.  6pm - fantasy football draft.

This was an awesome day.  I look forward to it every year!  Good being with you fellaz.

While we were in Michigan, we witnessed many things that we will want to store in our “don’t forget” category.  Our friends from Rockpointe were there for our family at a very crucial time in our lives.  We had 2 days full of seeing friends.  At one point on this trip, I was trying to get Ainsley to sleep, and I looked at some of our closest friends gathered on this tiny little beach (it was actually pretty nasty when I think about that beach).  It was a God moment for me.  I saw my daughters playing with some of their “best friends” as if we have never left.  I saw Erica chatting with her friends…picking up right where they left off.  I saw my buddies all talking in the water, and I was so thankful in that moment.  Traveling back to see them was a blessing to us.  We love our Rockpointe friends, and we are so glad we made the commitment to go see them!

Our family drove this morning to Michigan to visit some of our friends from Rockpointe Community Church (where I was a Youth Pastor for 4 years).  Ainsley did really well with the 4 1/2 hour drive.  We’re excited to see and hang out with many of our friends and former students today.  We haven’t been back here for a year and some, and it is wild to see how things have changed and the things that are exactly the same.  We love our Rockpointe friends!

I was introduced to a song that we will incorporate into our worship ministry in the Worship Cafe.  The song is “Healer” released by Hillsong Music Australia.  My friend, Dan Bryan, introduced me to the back story of these lyrics and WOW!  Click HERE to see the video.

You hold my every moment, You calm my raging seas, You walk with me through fire, And heal all my disease

I trust in You, I trust in You

I believe You’re my Healer, I believe You are all I need, I believe You’re my portion, I believe You’re more than enough for me, Jesus You’re all I need

Nothing is impossible for You, Nothing is impossible, Nothing is impossible for You, You hold my world in Your hands

I finished my 2-week series (Lost Adventures) yesterday, and I feel that I gave it all I had.  Now, I’m exhausted!  I’m enjoying my day of with all of my girls.  They took me to breakfast this morning for my birthday, and I’m excited to go out with Erica tonight while Grammy and Pappy Chevy watch the girls.

Also…now that I’m done preaching for a while, I’m pumped to go to MI Thursday to see some of our old friends from Rockpointe.   Then…onto fantasy football draft day for the Ironman Fantasy Football League!  WOOHOO!

I love technology!  If you wanted to hear my first message at North Way, click HERE and you can watch it!  Click on Lost Adventures - Part 1.

Talk about your ups and downs in life.  This week will be an emotional roller coaster.  I just preached part 1 of my “Lost Adventures” series, and I had a blast.  Today, I have been working on the funeral of a 10-year old girl that I have known of since she was 2 or so.  I will be officiating the memorial service tomorrow at North Way.  Then, I have to get ready to preach part 2 of an exciting passage.  God…grant me wisdom and grace.

This is the title of my 2-week mini series.  This will be my first time preaching at North Way, and I’m pretty pumped at this point!  So…if you’re in the area…please stop by North Way - Saturday @ 6pm or Sunday @ 9am or 11am.

This is the series description (based off the book, “Seizing Your Divine Moment”): Why do some of us realize our dreams and advance forward, while others watch timidly from a distance and hope for a break?
As we study the biblical account of Israel’s war with the Philistines, we will compare Saul with Jonathan to illustrate the potential impact of a life lived with purpose and adventure versus a life of routine, apathy and missed opportunities.

This two-week series will give us encouraging insight into how the potential of a small moment - combined with God-given courage - can help us move forward and seize the moment.

We made it here safe and sound on Saturday morning.  The girls did WONDERFUL on the drive.  We left at 2:30 am…the girls were carried to the van sleeping in their pj’s.  Maddie and Kalea slept until 7am, and Ainsley woke when we stopped at IHOP for breakfast at 7:30am.  After that, we only had less than 2 hours to go. 

 We arrived at the beach house and got settled in to our various rooms.  The house is beautiful (thanks Mom!) and we only have to cross the street to be at the beach.  We have pretty much been on the sand ever since…breaking for meals, naps, and walks to the boardwalk at night for ice cream.  I can’t believe we are half way through the week already…sniff, sniff!  The weather has been hot and gorgeous!  Hope it stays like this the rest of the week!

 A few highlights…Maddie boogie boarding for hours in the waves, Kalea burrying Kent (with Maddie’s help) in the sand, Ainsley chillin on her beach towel under the canopy on the beach, Madalyn going in the kayak with Uncle Jonathan and Aunt RaRa (Rachel) to see the dolphins (there were schools of them swimming so close Madalyn tried to touch one from the kayak), Kalea picking up a jelly fish on the beach (yes, it was dead…but she didn’t even check with us first!), Ainsley eating baby cereal from Nana on the beach, and all of us collecting hundreds of seashells and making lots of memories together…we miss you Dad!

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