Day 513: Oscars and Rabbits

People dressed up like fortune cookies.

Black ties on a Sunday night.

Peeps.

What is going on?

Theme parties. Saturday night, the creators of "frizzleween" hosted a Chinese New Year House party. Some folks were dressed to impress in the styles of the the Chinese New Year (aka the forutne cookies), this year it is the year of the rabbit (aka the peeps). Then, tonight, it the red carpet treatment at the Cutters Oscar party.

Any excuse for a party.

As Brad said, we really are blessed with great community here.

Day 512: Joseph!

Fabulous! Energetic! Awesome!

We loved West High School's performance of Joseph. The star-studded cast included Molly and Faith!

Source

Day 514: Tim Keller

One of the great things about living in Knoxville is that, in addition to our great church, there are other great churches in this open, challenging community. It is a great place to grow. And Sunday night it was a great place to hear from Tim Keller.

As Keller spoke at Cedar Spring Presbyterian Church's missions conference, he focused on 1 Peter 2:9:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

You can enjoy some of his thoughts by clicking here to visit cspc.net->

Source

Day 511: Gibbs Young Life

Friday night we got to serve dinner to the Gibbs Young Life Team. As "friends of Young Life" here in Knoxville, we volunteered to be "team parents". It's how we got to know the Jones and it is how we get to spend time with the fabulous Miss Julia, along with a great group of YL leaders.
So much fun! Plus, there was great chicken lasguana!

Day 508: Babies, Babies, and more Babies

Hensley Kate.

Eva.

Caroline.

Amelia.

Will.

Wyatt.

Piper.

Cameron.

Kaylynn Grace.

And now one more of my bridesmaids is pregnant...

I am surrounded by babies.

At 2nd Pres, surrounded.

Among friends, surrounded.

Everywhere, surrounded.

Disclaimer: Often I resist the urge to write excessively about this. People seem to think that since I am married and Christian and like kids, that I want to have one immediately. But right now, I am a newlywed and eagerly enjoying this season of our life and family. I can't imagine anything else at this point.

Maybe that is because everywhere I turn, every meeting I go to, in the background of every phone call I get, there are babies. I hear them. I see them. I train people to care for them. I listen to moms and dads worry about them. I pray for them. I pray for people who want to have them. I learn about them. I love being with them. I get such a sweet fill of babies.

I think back to the text message I sent on the night I learned Caroline Grace was born. "REJOICE." That was all I typed in response. That was all I could think. And since then, that word, "REJOICE" has been on my mind. I pray continually that our hearts and lives with REJOICE at the beautiful of life. New life and the developmental discoveries babies make are such a captivting reminder. God is good. He is at work. He is worthy of our awe and worship. And when we look into cribs, we get a front row seat to the glory of His creation.

REJOICE.

Day 507: Nap time

After a late night out...and serving in morning worship...and teaching 4 year olds...and then teaching second and third graders...and forth and fifth...and high schoolers (this one was Brad, not me)....and then training adult volunteers.
We. Were. Exhausted.
Our whole little family needed a nap.
And we all took one. Brad was in his chair. I was curled up on the couch. The puppy was curled up with me. The puppy was the icing on the cake.
I love my husband.
I love our puppy.
I love my life.

Day 506: The Orangery

Saturday night was the Knoxville Men's Cotillion (worth the read, one of my fav posts). Yes, men's cotillion. It's a Knoxville Tradition and a reliably fabulous party. These folks can party.

Beforehand, Brad took me out for a romantic dinner with another Knoxville tradition, the Orangery. Neither of us had been there since this restaurant reopened last year. It was wonderful. Romantic. Lovely. Established, but still fresh and unique

The best part of an epic evening...dessert.

Wow.

I had the Chocolate Orange Crème Brûlée.

Brad had the Strawberry Shortcake.

Both were out of this world.

I love crème brûlée.

I love my husband.

I love my life.

Source

Day 505: Boutique Blowout

Today I wen to see what all my fav shops have been hyping all week. it was worth it. While it is obviously things you have already seen, they are now at price you can't believe. Like $25 or 75% off. Seriously. From the boutiques of Bearden. Really. right deals in the District in Bearden.

Day 504: Get ready for summer....

Friday will have VBS planning in full swing! This year, we'll be using Standard Publishing's Main Street cirrculum.
It's inside out. It's upside down. But must importantly, it is "where Jesus makes a difference every day!"

What I like best about it:
-Jesus+Every day people.
-Tells kids that knowing Christ can change a life.
-It is so cute!
-Gratitude.
-Compassion.
-Forgiveness.
-Grace.
-Faithfulness.
-Cooper can come.
-Biblical truth is woven into every activity and station.
-It. Is. Fun.

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5

Watch more here->

Source

Day 503: Developing People

At 2nd Pres, we are immersed in a season of growing, planning, and discerning God's calling for our congregation. I'll spare you all the details and all the committee and all the strategic visioning. But, I wanted to share these 5 questions. They are from Missional Renaissance, from Reggie McNeal. These really got me thinking about what god is doing and how the body of Christ might be involved in that.
• What do you enjoy doing?
• Where do you see God at work right now?
• What would you like to see God do in your life over the next six to twelve
months? How can we help?
• How would you like to serve other people? How can we help?
• How can we pray for you?

Read more from Missional Renaissance->

Day 502: the 865

It's official.

I live in Tennessee.

And I plan to forever.

I gave up the only cell phone number I have ever had and got an 865 number.

I. Am. Home.


...I also got a pretty snazzy new phone as part of my valentine's present. Thanks honey!

Day 501: Bistro by the Tracks

By brother has great taste when it coming to dining out. He should after all, he is a chef and has been in the midst of the Knoxville restuarant seen for almost half his life. so, to celebrate that life on Friday night, we headed out to Bistro by the Tracks, a fabulous restuarant right in our neighborhood.

Here is what the birthday boy had to eat...

Calamari
Graham flour, smoked tomato sweet and sour, cucumber salad

Lobster Corndogs
Apple mustard dipping sauce

Rack of Lamb
Chermoula, Israeli couscous, cucumber mint salad

...and Humingbird Cake for dessert.

Yum. the rest of our meals were fabulous too. Happy birthday little brother!!

Source

Day 500: Harrison

What better way to enjoy my 500th day in Knoxville than a visit from one of my favs. Harrison is in town this weekend to see sweet Mary Scott at UT and I am so excited to get to see her.
Here's to friendships that last for a long, long time.

In honor of this visit, I celebrated a favorite moment of Harrison in my wedding (above).

And a favorite picture of her and MSC...



Love you! Jesus loves you more!

Day 499: Sweet Sheets Paper Boutique

My sweet friend has a sweet business with sweet invitations, stationary, and more! Mrs. Mindy just designed invitations for our friend Rachel's bridal shower. They are perfect, pretty, and unique. I don't know how she does it - a growing business and her sweet growing family - but Mindy's got a creative, personal touch, and a quick, quick, quick turn around. That makes her my favorite paper location here in Knoxville!

Here are a few of my favorites from her work. Check out more at sweetsheetspaperboutique.blogspot.com.



Rehearsal Dinner Invitation



Contemporary Wedding Invitation



Cute Wedding Thank yous





Can't wait to see more baby shower invites from Mindy!



Shh....



Because your sweater vest should always match your greeting cards

Visit Sweet Sheets online at sweetsheetspaperboutique.com.

Day 498: An Invitation Today from JLK

Thursday, it is my pleasure to show off the Junior League to friends who might be interested in joining. It may sound cheesy, but the Junior Leagues of both Spartanburg and Knoxville have helped me connect, serve, and have fun - so I am so excited to share it tonight!

More at jlknoxville.org (source)->

Quotes for the day...

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.” -Alan Cohen

"Easy things don’t hold nearly the potential as doing hard things." - Jonathan Cliff

Source

Day 496: Chi O Bible Study

Monday night, the Chi O Bible study got into full swing. I am so excited Brittany asked me to help lead this group. What a fun collection of girls - ready to study, talk, and prayerfully purpose what god wants! I am so excited to see this grow!

My prayer for this group is that they challenge each other and that leading them is something that develops and challenges me. I pray it will be a place where they can be open and that God will use this group to develop lots of meaningful relationships and real conversations. Or and I pray that we laugh, a lot!

May we each recklessly pursue God - and nothing else!

But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. - Ruth 1:16

Day 495: The Medical Arts Building

Downtown Knoxville is full of cool buildings, each with their own history as well as their own contributions to our city. Sunday afternoon, while moving a few things into Brad's new office at Pathway Lending, I found a very cool building. Here, I wanted to share this history with you:

The Medical Arts Building was constructed in 1932 withunique architectural elements consisting of Eclectic Gothic Revival with Art Deco influence...Designed by the architectural firm Manley & Young of Lexington, Kentucky, the Medical Arts Building was built by contractor Earl Worsham (who had his firms offices there after it opened) and Dr. M.M. Copenhaver, who began construction in 1929 for $750,000. However, the building was taken over during the Depression by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., which sold it to an Alabama businessman in the 1930s...The building originally was designed as a 13-story structure, but only 10 were built because of the Depression...Over the years, its modern equipment and outstanding facilities made it attractive to Knoxville's leading physicians and dentists, as well as to firms as diverse as Hollywood Beauty Studio, Insurance Service Co. and Johnson's Flowers. Despite the fact that it was built at the onset of the Depression, its ornate brass elevator doors and marble interior details give it a feeling of opulence. The interior has marble and terrazzo floors, marble walls and mahogany doors inlaid with walnut. Many of the offices have arched doors and vaulted ceilings. Uncharacteristically, it also once had its own bowling alley...The Medical Arts Building now serves the Knoxville community as a premiere provider of commercial office space for all types of businesses. Throughout the development of downtown, the Medical Arts Building has remained "Knoxville's Best Kept Secret."

Continue Reading (Source)->

Day 494: Katherine Theresa Landon & William Fitch

Now that life has settled down and we're settled in, here is our wedding announcement - today in the Knoxville News Senteniel.
Note1: This is the 2nd time we have been in the paper this week. Read about Brad->
Note2: One of my first graders was the first one to bring this to me this morning - thanks Dale!

Katherine Theresa Landon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald R. Landon, and William Bradley Fitch, son of Ms. Jenny J. Fitch and Mr. Walter B. Fitch, were married July, 10, 2010, at Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville.
After a honeymoon in Bar Harbor, Maine, the couple is at home in
Knoxville.
The bride is a graduate of Farragut High School and Converse College and is employed at Second Presbyterian Church.
The groom is a graduate of David Lipscomb Campus School, the University of Tennessee and the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. He is employed at Pathway Lending. Read here->

Thought for the day

Thank you 320 Sycamore! Love this.
Source

Day 493: When will it end?

So, I got had lost track of a couple days, but now seem to be caught up. It's Saturday, February 5th, and it is actually the 493th day since I moved back to Knoxville.
I have been thinking about how long this blog will continue. It has been fun to celebrate the new things of Knoxville, an engagement, a new home, a new job, and a new marriage. But, I think the next new thing may be to retire this blog. Maybe on my birthday. So stay tuned. The end may be in sight.
What do you think?
In the meantime, here's to the new things I will find between now and then...and even after!

Day 260 Updated: Brad's wedding present

While checking out the Arts Emporium website, I saw the site for my favorite local artist, Mike Berry, who is one of their artistst in residence. That made me realized, I never told you about Brad's wedding gift. It was a collection of work from that artist, Mike Berry. He recreated the picture above, a portrait of our church. It was a little different angle and it has made it's home in our den. Also in the den are 5 other pictures I got for him, print that are also of Knoxville and the surrounding area, highlighting places we love.



The Torchbearer, His Collegiate Home



Big Ed's, Our Favorite Pizza




Neyland, Our Team's Stadium




Market Square, site of Our Engagement

Check out more at mikecberry.com or the Postcards from Knoxville series (source)->

Day 484: The Arts Emporium

Last Saturday night - they got married! Our wonderful friends Jay and Rebecca were married. Brad was in the wedding and we had a great time all weekend long. One place we really enjoyed was the Emporium, their reception site. I remember telling Rebecca about this location. I had been interested in it, but the street outside was under construction when we got married. But it was absolutely fabulous for Jay and Rebecca's absolutely fabulous reception.
Here's a little more about this wonderful space...

The Emporium Center is Knoxville’s first true arts center. Originally built in 1898, it re-opened following renovations during the summer of 2004. Located at 100 South Gay Street, the 28,000 square feet of flexible use space houses two art galleries showcasing local and regional artists, the administrative offices of the Arts & Culture Alliance, and offices for nine other arts and cultural organizations. Additionally, the building houses studio for ten individual artists and rehearsal, classroom and meeting space...

Source

Day 491: Lakeshore and Kris

The only thing that could be better than the 2 mile loop around Lakeshore is walking it on Thursday afternoons with Kris.
I love to run or walk at Lakeshore. This 2 mile loop treks around the former Lakeshore mental health institute. It is a part of the Knoxville Greenway system, has great views of the river, and is situated among 60 acres. That's all nestled in just a few miles from our house. What makes it even sweet are memories from soccer practices and games my brother and played there 25 years ago.
Since moving back, Brad and I often enjoyed it and I have met several friends there.
Lately, I have gotten to spend lots of sweet time there with Kris. She's great and such a blessing. We all need so one to talk to, to learn from. And she is becoming one of mine. She gives great advice and thoughts - on life, marriage, ministry, work, change, and lots more. i am not too involved with Young Life things here in Knoxville, but i am thankful that even the minimal involvement has let me get to know Kris. Here are a few thoughts that have been rolling around in my head as a result of these good conversations...
...we are really concerned with our loved ones being happy or having fun, but God cares more about their character.
...God's teaching is full of lots of hard truth, but most of all, it has hope!
...it's all about relationships.
...relationships take time.
...we are so clearly made for more than this world can ever offer.
...I can never be perfect or make anyone happy all the time (sounds obvious, but it's hard for me to believe sometimes)
...marriage is like the greatest gift this world brings!

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Day 490: Sequoyah Greenway

Now that I am thinking about ending this blog, I have got to make sure I tell you about one of my favorite places to run. The Sequoyah Park and Greenway are so great that I probably could have written about them half a dozen times. So, here are half a dozen of my favorite things about this running location:
1. It is so close. I can run there from the church, or hit it between church and home
2. I always see someone I know. Always.
3. There is a bathroom.
4. Lovely view of the water
5. Lovely homes all along
6. The gentle roll of the hills give just enough variety to a pretty easy run.
Bonus: At 2.6 miles - it's exactly one tenth of a marathon!

Read more (source)->

Day 492: Ace Hardware Bearden

Friday I popped into my favorite local hardware store, Ace Hardware of Bearden. They took time out to help me with what I needed, but they are in full moving mode. This super helpful neighborhood store is now on the move even closer to our house. Wednesday they will be up and running right next to Earthfare. Bearden Ace, a good thing...that just gets better!

Here's more, on their page->

Day 498: Brad Fitch to oversee Knox region for Pathway Lending

That was the headline this morning with the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Here's the story from knoxnews.com:

Pathway Lending said today that veteran banker Brad Fitch has been named regional program and client manager for the lender’s Knox County region.

The regional office in Knoxville provides loans through the Knox County Technology and Jobs Fund and the Tennessee Small Business Jobs Opportunity Fund.

Fitch previously was community president at Community South Bank in Knoxville. He also was assistant vice president/bank manager at Regions Bank in Jackson, Tenn.

“Brad brings a depth of experience in small business lending and a passion for helping others to our organization, which allows us to significantly grow our presence in the East Tennessee market through the Tennessee Small Business Jobs Opportunity Fund,” Pathway Lending President Clint Gwin said in a prepared statement.

Nashville-based Pathway Lending provides loans to small businesses that do not have access to loans from traditional financial sources. Founded in 1999, Pathway Lending has made more than 400 loans totaling more than $40 million to 300 companies...Continue Reading->

Learn more about pathwaylending.org (source)->