Time With My Best Friend

Rusty and I have often said that we are each others best friend. I know to some that may seem corny, but that's just the way it has always been for us. I think growing up together and having so many "firsts" together will do that to ya! If something funny, sad, silly or out of the ordinary happens, the first person I think to call is Rusty. A great day for me is just hanging out with him and doing a bunch of nothing. We have tried to take a trip every year in October, without the kiddos, just to reconnect, share some of our dreams and set goals for the next year. This year we took a trip to the mountains of NC. It was beautiful! The colors were amazing and we had a great time! We went hiking on Grandfather Mountain (I've got the shirt to prove it!), hiked Linville Gorge to the falls and had our own personal tour of Linville Caverns. It was a wonderful trip. The above are a few pics from the weekend.

EXPERIENCE RIDGE

I wanted to post this for those of you back home who aren't able to experience RIDGE CHURCH in person. For those of you in the Charlotte area, we'd love to meet you, next Sunday, November 4.

Because I Said So......

I don't know about you, but...... this is a day in my life!

Rain, Sweet Rain

I had to stop and think what that clear stuff was falling from the sky....
Oh yeah - they call that "rain". Thank you Jesus!!

Looking Forward to Time Away

Grandfather Mountain


Why does it seem that the more excited you are about an upcoming event, the longer it seems to take to actually happen?? Rusty and I have not had a lot of one-on-one, "leave the kiddos with a sitter" time, since the move. We usually go to our small group once a week, which I dearly love, but it's not the same as a date night. Last year we spent a week together, without the kids, and it was one of the most memorable trips of my life. We decided that we would try to get away at least once a year. Well, this is the weekend! I am so excited and Sunday can not get here soon enough!! We are heading to the mountains in Boone, NC and this weekend is what they call, "Peak Foliage". Everyone says the colors are breathtaking and the weather is supposed to be cooling off for the weekend. I really enjoy spending time with the kids, but every now and then, a little "us" time is a welcomed break. Anyone know of a way to speed up time???

How Can I Be 34??

In a little less than a half an hour, I will turn 34 years old. I am really not sure how I got this old.(I know 34 is not really old - It's just how I am feeling at this moment!) Most of the time I still feel and act like I'm 20. I woke up this morning thinking about all that I had hoped to accomplish by the time I'd reached my thirties. It's odd how some of those things I dreamed about for so long seem so unimportant now and how some of those dreams are still so fresh and full of life. I am in such a different place in my life then I was this time last year. So much has happened these past twelve months, I definitely feel a little older and somewhat wiser. Only 366 days until I hit 35!! Aaaaahhhhhh.......

Has it been a year already???

It's hard to believe it has been almost a year to the day from when this picture was taken. Rusty and I were in Puerto Rico, on a cruise with about 11 other couples from McGregor. We had so much fun.... Who knew you could eat an "early" dinner, a "late" dinner and then a midnight buffet all in a four hour span??? It was the first time we had ever left the kids for that long (7 days!), it was also the longest Rusty and I had ever spent together in the 18 years of our relationship! It seems like an eternity ago. So much has changed in our lives over these past twelve months. Our address, church, jobs and priorities are just a few that top that list of changes! God has been so good to us, but I look at this picture and wish we had known then what we know now. How different would things be??? As I ponder that thought, I can't imagine them being any better then they are right at this moment. God's timing is always perfect. What were you doing a year ago???? How has your life changed in the last 12 months????

New Jeep and Old Friends

I sit here wondering what to write about... My mind is a complete blank (no big surprise for some of you!). It has been a long week and I am looking forward to church tomorrow night. Two big events this week in the Burchard household. We have inherited a new family member! Megan Hunt has come to stay with us for ????? long. I'm not sure who's more excited....The kids or Rusty and I, Spanky and Lara or Lauren. We are all so happy she has come to join the Ridge family (even if it may be only temporary!) It's awesome when one of your best friends comes to live with you. It can't get much better than that! Well, actually, for Rusty it can! Probably against my better judgement, I encouraged him to buy a Jeep Wrangler. For as long as I have known him, he has wanted one. It has been a long time comin'! I am so happy for him, and he does look good driving it! Maybe a little too good! I have given him only two rules while in the Jeep - No waving at the ladies and he must wear his seatbelt! Hopefully he'll do both!

a night @ ridge

Just a few random thoughts as I am settling in after a long, but amazing day @ Ridge: Tonight's service was awesome! I sat in church next to Rusty and just thanked the Lord over and over again for the changes He has brought into our lives over the past few months. Every day my beliefs are more deeply rooted with the reality that this is His plan for our family. I am so grateful for the people God has placed in our lives here in NC. The family of people that make up Ridge Church are some of the most generous and loving people I have ever met and although it has only been a few months, this is where my heart is! Josh and Tashia Via lead us in worship and they are so incredibly talented and they allow God to use them in some amazing ways. Pray for Chris, Adam, Lauren, Rusty and the volunteers that make up the Ridge family. God is doing glorious things in and through this church and I still can't believe I get to play a part in His plan!

Anyone Wanna Buy A House??

Please be praying for us. We still have not sold our house in Ft. Myers and really, really need to sell it soon! Paying two house payments each month is no fun at all!

Greenville

This weekend we traveled to Greenville, SC to check out another one of NPCC's strategic partners, Catalyst Church. We had a great time! Awesome worship, awesome message (Hard to go wrong with an Andy sermon!) and great fellowship. It's really cool to visit the other partners and see how they "do church". It still amazes me everyday that we get to be a part of this incredible ride! How did we get so lucky??? We arrived in Greenville early in the evening, so once we checked into the hotel we headed out to find something to eat. The theater where Catalyst meets is right in the downtown area, so it's surrounded by a bunch of real trendy stores and resturants. It was so much fun to walk down Main Street and check out all the little shops. Our favorite one was called "Mast General Store" and just like the name implies, it was an old fashioned general store. Fun little trinkets and lots of yummy candy and goodies. The pictures above are of "Falls Park at the Reedy". This place was awesome! There's a waterfall in the middle of downtown! The city has made this into such a beautiful park. Lots of green areas to play in and the waterfall made tons of tiny tidepools they kids could play in. After playing in the park until dark we walked a few blocks and found a Sticky Fingers. Now next to fishing with Capt Dave, this has got to be Rusty's fav place to be! After stuffing ourselves full of BBQ we headed back to the hotel to crash for the night. The next morning we spent with Ryan (The SPD @ Catalyst) and his wife Courtney. After church we went out to eat again! (So much for the diet!) A two hour lunch at Atlanta Bread Co. and a hundred laughs later, we headed for home. It's good to be home. We are back in full swing this week @ Ridge and I can't wait!