Welcome, Claire Diane Schoolfield!

We are so excited to announce the arrival of

Claire Diane Schoolfield on October 16, 2011.
The name Diane is Matt's grandmother's middle name.

She weighed in at 8 lbs. and measured 20.5 inches.

Labor lasted 10 hours and was much easier than last time :)

Abigail met Claire at the hospital...



...and is relishing her role as the big sister.



Claire is such a sweet baby!  She loves to cuddle and be held.



We are enjoying the addition to our family, as well as getting adjusted to being a family of four (well, five if you count Jackson).  Claire is such a joy!

Fellowship Raleigh Vision Video

Here is Fellowship Raleigh's new vision video.  Watch it and understand our heart for the city of Raleigh!

Fellowship Raleigh Vision from Fellowship Raleigh on Vimeo.

Summer 2011 in Pictures

Our family started off the summer celebrating my 30th birthday.  A week later, we celebrated Matt's 31st.  One of the major epiphanies we had was that Matt is a much better baker than I am.

Fun times with our Fellowship Raleigh small group!

Cameron and Ariel Harwick, a sweet couple from our church.

Abby moved into a big girl bed with absolutely no problems...whew!



We spent time outside, but when it got too hot, we painted (wearing tutus, of course) in the comfort of air conditioning.



Lots of play time with friends at the park and pool this summer.



Our niece, Shelby, came to visit us.  Lots of dress up, watching cooking shows on cable, and texting.  I forgot what it was like to be
14-years-old :)



Celebrating the 4th of July with sparklers on our back deck.



We finally dressed up as cows for Chick-fil-a's free meal day.  I think we finally did this after all these years because we had a child to dress up and didn't feel quite as embarrassed.



Vacationing at Topsail Beach...our last family vacation with just Abigail before Baby #2 comes along.



Scratch that...Jackson came along too.



Abigail and Matt did a park district basketball class together.  This picture is deceiving.  Abigail has the spirit, but definitely not WNBA potential.  Still, a fun time by all!



My parents came for a visit and taught Abigail the rest of the alphabet.  I swear, she'll probably be reading after their next visit!  Um, kinda makes me wonder if I'm letting her watch too much tv...just kidding.



Allison & Aaron Massey, our friends from small group.  Congrats!

Band Practice

We had a showing of our house a couple weeks ago, and I needed a place to go with Abigail and Jackson for two hours.  It was hot out, so we took advantage of the fact that Matt is a pastor and we live 3 minutes away from the church...and we camped out at the back of the sanctuary for a while.  Lucky for us, it was band practice night, so I had a chance to listen for a while and enjoy a perspective that I never get on a Sunday morning.  I am so grateful for the people that serve at our church!  Thanks, guys, for all that you do!

I love this song...take a listen:

What I'm Reading...

"Some people can't believe God would create a world in which people would suffer so much.  Isn't it more remarkable that God would create a world in which no one would suffer more than he did?" (Alcorn, 90 Days of God's Goodness, p. 86)

"Whenever you feel tempted to ask God, 'Why did you do this to me?' look at the cross and ask, 'Why did you do that for me?'" (Alcorn, 90 Days of God's Goodness, p. 92)

Surfer Girl

 

Frugal Friday: Free Stuff at the Mall

As I mentioned in the previous post, the summer heat has been keeping me indoors the past week.  So, I took a trip to the mall to walk around and let Abigail play in the indoor climbing area.  The hard thing about going to the mall without a purchasing purpose is that I end up impulse buying.  Not a good idea :(  This time I went armed with coupons that let me shop for free!

Many companies have been using social media sites, such as Facebook, to promote themselves, offering deals to those who "like" them.  Not a bad idea!

The glass trifle bowl was $10.00 at Pier One, and I had a Pier One Facebook coupon for $10 off a $10 purchase (this coupon no longer available, but they are still offering different deals each day on their Facebook site).  So, a free entertaining dish that I've had my eye on for awhile.  Yes, I've been stalking trifle bowls lately, because I can't bake to save my life and I think I'm going to resort to making trifles from now on.

Bath & Body Works released a Facebook coupon (click here for it) for free lotion...hurry up and use it because it expires 7/31!

And it never hurts to sign up for your favorite store's free loyalty program.  I ended up getting something free from Victoria's Secret just for being a part of their loyalty program.  There are tons of programs like this that are free to sign up and don't require that you purchase anything.

So, in summary, check out your favorite stores' Facebook pages for fan offers and sign up for store loyalty programs because it pays off in the end!  And you can still go to the mall, not pay anything, and still feel like you went shopping :)

Brain Freeze!

Summer has been incredibly hot here in North Carolina.  Our family cools off with McDonald's smoothies...those things are delicious, even when they hurt your head.

Why We Are Moving

So our house has been on the market for almost 4 weeks.  Moving to another location in Raleigh is something that we've been praying about and discussing for quite some time.  This morning, Matt posted the reasons for our move on his blog.  I oftentimes find that when I have something down in writing, I'm able to better to comprehend the situation.  So, I'm going to steal his post and put it here :)
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From A Passionate Disciple of JC (Matt's Blog):

Recently Kristin and I decided to sell our house and move our family. After much prayerful discussion we came to two main reasons why we are moving. I wanted to share these with family and friends. Also, for clarity sake, I included a list of seven other reasons that are not why we are moving. Please pray for our house to sell quickly and help us out if you can. Here is the link for interested buyers.

TWO REASONS THAT ARE WHY WE ARE MOVING

1. How we are investing God’s Money (1 Chronicles 29:14). God is the owner and we are just managers. Lately God has been speaking to us about where and how we are investing His money. Bottom line: we are paying more money than we would prefer for our convenient and safe location. (i.e. we would be very happy in a different, more diverse downtown neighborhood where a home like ours is half the price). As a family, we desire to make a change in this regard.

2. Our life is short like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14). We desire to find a house (location & size) that best fits the mission God has called our family to in the city of Raleigh. If we can sell we will likely be moving further into the city, perhaps somewhere between Lions Park & Ligon, but we will see. Nothing is for sure.

SEVEN REASONS THAT ARE NOT WHY WE ARE MOVING

1.     Self-Righteousness: We are not moving because we believe we believe in “justification by downward mobility or poverty.” (We do not think that where we live will make us any more or less favorable in the eyes of God. We could never be more approved by God than Jesus Christ has made us through His sinless life and death on the cross in our place. Jesus alone is our Savior not where we live, what we do, or how we look)

2.     To Be Cool & Radical: We are not moving because it is the cool thing to do after reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan, “Radical” by David Platt, and “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper (I haven’t even read those books)

3.     A Fresh Start: We are not moving because we do not talk to our neighbors in our current neighborhood and want a fresh start. (This is the hardest part of moving actually. We LOVE our neighbors)

4.     To Guilt Others: We are not moving because we desire to make suburban-living members of our church feel a low level guilt over where they live. (Of course I pray that our church will have an increasing presence downtown, but I truly and sincerely want the our people to live wherever God calls them to live with a conscience that is made free and totally clear by the Gospel of Jesus Christ)

5.     The Commute: We are not moving to be closer to our church. (Our church is in central Raleigh and we live in central Raleigh already. That is why we bought the house we are in. It would be hard for us to get closer to our current church building so this is not driving our decision)

6.     Size: We are not moving because our family is growing bigger. (This is the typical reason to move and our family is indeed growing bigger, but his is seriously not driving our decision)

7.     Money: We are not moving because we cannot afford our current house. (We are doing fine with affording our house. For us it is more about how and where we are investing God’s money, not how much of it we have)

Wordless Wednesday

What I'm Reading...

"God's grace is greater than my sin.  But my ability to measure the greatness of his grace depends upon my willingness, in brokenness before him, to recognize the greatness of my sin." (Alcorn, 90 Days of God's Goodness, p. 41)

Nap or Sing?

Why take a nap when you could be singing?  This is what has been happening in place of napping in the Schoolfield household.  Sorry, it's not really a video, but I recorded it this way for the audio.

Fellowship Raleigh Partnership Video

Check out this video that one of our partner churches, Four Oaks, made for Fellowship Raleigh.  Hear about why Matt and I are even in Raleigh and get a glimpse of our ministry here!

Note: If you see a blank, black screen, just click on it and the video should appear


Gospel Partners :: Fellowship Raleigh from Four Oaks on Vimeo.

Wordless Wednesday

...or views from sitting on my deck chair for a half hour.  Hey, it's hard to be a mobile pregnant lady in the heat of the summer. 

Wordless Wednesday

The Sad Saga Continues

This is my sweet puppy, two days after we brought him home.  This picture is about 5 years old.

I need to burn this picture into my mind.  Why?  Well, because he struck again and I need to constantly remember how much I love him.  If you've been following Jackson's sad saga, you'll know his neurotic tendencies that result in complete destruction of our house.  Here's my lovely attempt at a temporary fix to our office carpet that he tore up after locking himself in the office.

And this is what happened to the carpet and my fix-up job when Jackson locked himself in the office again a few weeks ago.

Needless to say, Matt and I were speechless.  So speechless that we didn't even punish Jackson.  Now, if he had destroyed that pink bag and coupon binder you see sticking out of it, this post might have been about Jackson's funeral.  I guess the bright side to this is that we got our office recarpeted with beautiful, new carpet yesterday.

Just keep staring at this picture, Kristin.

What I'm Reading...

"If abuse, rape, desertion, paralysis, debilitating disease, or the loss of a loved one has devastated you, then the issue of evil and suffering isn't merely theoretical, philosophical, or theological.  It's deeply personal.  Logical arguments won't satisfy you; in fact, they might offend you.  You need help with the emotional problem of evil, not merely the logical problem of evil.  Like children at times, each of us must struggle into our Father's arms, and there receive the comfort we need.  But remember this: you are a whole person.  Truth matters.  To touch us at the heart level - and to keep touching us over days, months, years, and decades - truth must work its way into our minds.  Never seek comfort by ignoring the truth...Deeply rooted beliefs - specifically a worldview grounded in Scripture - will allow you to persevere and hold on to a  faith built on the solid rock of God's truth." (Alcorn, 90 Days of God's Goodness, p. 12)

A Mother's Day Message

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  This is my dear mom a few years ago (yes, we have to take a more recent picture together).  Big surprise that I'm holding a bowl of snacks in this picture.  Hey, I was pregnant ...

...with this precious baby girl...

...who is not so much a baby anymore.

I mean, look at that attitude.  Pay no attention to the dirty bathroom.  Just look at the pose...yikes.

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I know that for many reasons, Mother's Day may not be joyous for some.  Some of these reasons I'm familiar with.  So, I leave you with something I read today on one of my favorite blogs, The Finer Things in Life.

"For my friends who are missing their own mom, separated by too many miles.

For my friends who have recently buried their mother, and have to face this day without her for the first time.

For my friends who are mourning the unbearable loss of a child.

For my friends who find themselves in an untimely pregnancy, confused and unsure of the future.

For my friends who are praying without ceasing for a Godly husband and children to call their own.

For my friends who are clinging to motherhood as they face a uncertain diagnosis.

For my friends who are longing to see a little pink plus sign this month.  We’ve been there.

For my friends who gracefully bear the weight of mother, father, and provider for their children.

For my friends who held their child for only moments, and for those whose children passed through this world as quick  as a breath.

For you, my friends, I will remember the struggles and the heartache of this Mother’s Day.  Yes, I will celebrate my own innumerable blessings, but I will also remember.  Bless you."

(Taken from The Finer Things in Life)

Snip, Snip, Cry?

I've put off getting Abigail's hair cut for two years.  There have been many times I was ready to schedule the big day, but couldn't bring myself to have her baby hair cut off.  Well, I gave in a few weeks ago after realizing how stringy and straggly her hair was.  Here is before:

I prepped her with a movie about one of her favorite characters getting their haircut, and talked about it for days.  Then the big day came.  Off to Great Clips we went, and Matt and I were so surprised that Abigail sat completely still and did not let out one peep!  No tears whatsoever!  In fact, she was completely serious and wouldn't even smile for the camera.  Probably shock had set in.

And here is the final result:

Still no smile, but still no tears. 

What a big girl...we are so proud of her!

The Gospel Coalition

I had the opportunity to go to Chicago with Matt a few weeks ago for the Gospel Coalition Conference.  It was a wonderful experience in so many ways - I had the chance to get away with Matt, I took off my mommy hat and put on my seminary hat for a bit, I got to sleep in (!!!!!!), we had the chance to visit with old and new friends, and we ate some amazing food!

This post may seem like a long list of notes...and it is.  My journal oftentimes gets found and used as a coloring book, so I decided that if I didn't get my notes summarized online, they might be covered in crayons and unreadable.  So, this next part may bore you.  Or, you might actually enjoy trying to follow my thoughts.  If you find yourself in the first category, you can just look at the pictures :)

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Studying the Scriptures & Finding Jesus - John 5:31 (R. Albert Mohler)

- The Old Testament is not someone else’s book, it should not be read in its own terms, and it does not preach another deity

- We do such disservice to the point of the Old Testament when we primarily moralize it

- Intellectual deists are not the same as Christians

Getting Out - Exodus 14 (Tim Keller)

- Our bondage has layers: objective law, subjective law, sin nature, idols

- We need to cross over by grace, and that involves a change of status

- We are not saved by the quality of our faith, but the object of our faith

- We have a mediator in Jesus

From a Foreigner to King Jesus - Ruth (Alistair Begg)

- Begg painted a beautiful picture of the story of Ruth, foreshadowing the ultimate kinsman redeemer, Jesus

Not According to Our Sins - Psalm 25 (James MacDonald)

- Jesus embodies my trust, exemplifies my trust, and enables my trust

The Righteous Branch - Jeremiah 23:1-8 (Conrad Mbewe)

- How can our leadership be relevant to God’s story?

- Where there is failure in leadership, God moves in

- Ultimate leader is Jesus

Youth - Ecclesiates 11:7-12:14 (Matt Chandler)

- There is a way to remember that redeems our rejoicing – Remember who God is, remember what He’s done, remember His commands

Getting Excited About Melchizedek - Psalm 110 (Don Carson)

- I took notes, but they made no sense to me when I reviewed them...I don't think I was ready for Carson so early in the morning :)

Signs of Grace in Inner City Church Planting (Eric Mason)

- God used cities to reach nations and to usher new Christians into maturity(Acts 14:21-23)

- Leadership needs to come within the community to create sustainability.  This may take many years to cultivate!

The Feminist Mistake (Mary Kassian)

- We are now living in the post-feminist movement and feeling the waves of it now

- Many things have been and need to be redefined based on womanhood being redefined (manhood, family, etc.)

- The distinction between male and female is so important because it tells a story of the Gospel, revealing truths in the Trinity

- Biblical manhood/womanhood is bigger than us and all about God

- Biblical manhood/womanhood needs to be taught because it won’t be caught in our culture

- Regard womanhood as a primary discipleship issue

- Teach principles, not specific patterns of application

- Do not lose focus on displaying the Gospel and putting Christ on display

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Happy and full after dinner at Morton's...best steak I've ever had!

Our delish dessert.  I had a picture of my half eaten steak, but thought this might look a little more appetizing than my messy plate.

The orginal Morton's chef...isn't he just the cutest chef???