What What?

The Langhams

Ok, I'm about to do some double duty and attach pictures of our family AND answer the "get to know you" questions... Impressive, I know!

Here is our family. We took this picture today - kind of on the fly. But regardless, here we are. This is Tanner, Jill, Porter, Rachel, and Mike. Not really sure what Porter was doing here, but I'm pretty sure it involved spit and drool.

And here's my dear hubby and me at the park one day a couple months ago. We're just a couple cuties, aren't we? We have some wedding pics, but they aren't on disk and I haven't yet mastered the art of scanning those older ones. So, on to the get to know us questions:

1. What state did you get married?

Mike: Bliss

Jill: Arkansas (the big metropolis of Harrison)

2. How long have you been married?

Mike: It seems like forever

Jill: He never knows how to answer that question without it sounding horrible.

**We've been married 7+ years

3. What is your favorite thing to do without the kids?

Mike: Brown chicken, Brown cow

Jill: Go to a movie or dinner, or both if we're really lucky!

4. What is your favorite thing to do as a family?

Mike: hiking

Jill: watching movies

5. What color is the paint in your living room?

Mike: brown

Jill: Coffee

The Pursleys

1. What state did you get married?

• Annie: California
• Paul: We were married in the 909 (thats riverside california for those not down with the lingo)

2. How long have you been married?

• Annie: Almost 5 years
  
• Paul: I got married 25 years ago, or it feels that way sometimes.

3. What is your favorite thing to do without the kids?

• Annie: Go out to eat (Courtney isn't a fan of sitting in her seat that long)
  
• Paul: Annie does not even breathe when Courtney is not with us, so we usually get to drive straight to where Courtney is.

4. What is your favorite thing to do as a family?

• Annie: Game night! NO TV
  
• Paul:Everything, i really enjoy Putting up Christmas lights, its been a family thing in my family for years.

5. What color is the paint in your living room?

• Annie: Coffee Brown (the same color it has always been since PAUL picked it out when we moved in)
  
• Paul: whatever color Annie wants it this month

Look at how cute my brother was!!!

The Greer's

Just Friends

Scroll down...you'll understand.

1. What state did you get married?

Indiana

2. How long have you been married?

Shanna- 3.5 years

James-one point twenty-one jigawatts! Great Scott!

3. What is your favorite thing to do without the kids?

Golf and Starbucks

4. What is your favorite thing to do as a family?

Shanna- He's 9 months old -anything not at home!!!

James- Shave the neighbor's dog (when they aren't home)

5. What color is the paint in your living room?

Shanna-boring tan

James- Lenox tan (or is that chartreuse)

The THOMPSONS

Michelle will not be pleased when she sees this... This is from our senior year in high school when we first started dating. You can all see why she had the hots for me.She REALLY won't like this one. Michelle 30 pounds heavier, Jeremy 30 pounds lighter. (Don't get upset, ladies, I got her permission before typing this).

1. What state did you get married?
Michelle - Southern Arkansas -- redneck country

Jeremy - The wording of the question confuses me...

2. How long have you been married?
Michelle - 11-1/2 years
Jeremy - 50 years too few (Awww...)

3. What is your favorite thing to do without the kids? (keep it clean boys)
Michelle - Lay on a beach in the Caribbean with my husband
Jeremy - Watch my wife laying on a beach in the Caribbean

4. What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
Michelle - Any outdoor activity - hiking, exercising, sports...
Jeremy - Watch Jeremy play golf
5. What color is the paint in your living room?
Michelle - Nestuke
Jeremy - Nest-who? That's not even a color! The room is freaking tan!!

THE McEUENS

1. What state did you get married?

his answer: state of duress

her answer: state of confusion

2. How long have you been married?

his answer: 8 1/2 years

her answer: 6 really good years, 2 1/2 crummy ones

3. What is your favorite thing to do without the kids? (keep it clean boys)

his answer: video games with my wife in the room, while the kids aren't here

her answer: I like to sleep, while he plays video games in the room, while the kids aren't here

4. What is your favorite thing to do as a family?

his answer: ZOO

her answer: driving around, listening to Christmas music, and looking for Christmas lights. And the ZOO!

5. What color is the paint in your living room?

his answer: white

her answer: pearl

task for the week

Alright gang, great job posting family pictures last week! I am proud to say we accomplished our goal of 10 families and therefore, I (Annie) will be providing those who participated with something special next Sunday at group. I bet you are sooooooo excited to find out what it will be! I know I am.

This week, lets get to know each other some. Create a new post, title it "Your Family Name" and answer the following questions. If you would like to throw a picture up so we all can put a face to the answers, that would be great too. Lets go for 15 families this week!!! Or is that too much, how about 12. Baby steps. Now, the questions...hmm

1. What state did you get married?
2. How long have you been married?
3. What is your favorite thing to do without the kids? (keep it clean boys)
4. What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
5. What color is the paint in your living room?

I'm at a loss, that's all I can think of. Feel free to add more questions.

THE McEUENS

HEAR NO EVIL(Grace--5)
SEE NO EVIL (John/Daddy)
SPEAK NO EVIL (Sean--8)
SMELL NO EVIL (Megan/Mommy)
NO EVIL

The Pursleys

Your Family Name

Jeremy, Michelle & Katie Thompson

The Slaughter Family

The Kennedy Family

From Left to Right:
Addis, Erin, Zach, Easton, Sophia, Catherine

Zach Kennedy

The Hatmakers

Kristy, Adam, Ethan and Sarah Hatmaker

Floyd Family

Josh, Kate, Peyton & Parker

The Andersons

Beth, Hunter, Gabe, Allie, Haley, & Alyssa

The Browns

Nate, Alicia, Will, Kate & Eli

The Greers

James, Shanna & Brady

Maner Family

Ryan, Ava, Robyn, and Seth

Hello?

Does anyone even read this? Has is so quickly faded into the dark? Come on people!!!

suggestion

Hey guys, I (through other people, so not really I as in me, but more I as in the one who is writing about it) have an idea. So, before you think I'm dumb, just humor me. What do you all think about sitting as a group in church? I can see so many positive things that can come from doing such a thing, even if I open myself up to feel like a dork. I know it will be tough for some of us (us in particular) because we will be forced to get to church on time, but that is one of the positives that I came up with. I would love to hear some comments of what others think, so post away! Come on guys, lets get involved! Lets make a difference! Lets stand out! Lets have fun! Lets love the Lord!!!

also, check out the comments from last week...the first to do so will be one happy camper!!!

-Annie

Sunday Morning and Challenge

If you missed Sunday morning small group, you missed out on some fun.  Matt's slight slip of the tongue made it a tad difficult for him to recover--along with everyone else, but once he did, he gave us a great word on what it truly means to be a Christian and why Jesus came.  (And no, if you weren't there, I am not going to repeat exactly what the 'slip of the tongue' was.  Actually, I don't think I can call it a 'slip'.  The sweet boy just didn't understand the actual meaning of the expression he was using.  Matt, Matt, Matt... what are we going to do with you?)  

It was awesome to see everyone there... members and visitors!  We have such a special group.  And I'm not just saying that.  Directions is blessed with some awesome, awesome couples, which is exactly what Erin, Zach, Matt, and I prayed for a couple years ago when we were gearing up to start the group.  Please know that we're so thankful for each and every one of you even if our own busy schedules and crazy, daily life doesn't allow us to always show it.  We feel your prayers and love you all.

Sappy stuff aside, please hold on to the words Matt gave us on Sunday.  What a challenge to learn to walk in faith but meet people where there are... even if it sends up our Christian red flag and our first reaction is to take offense.  Remember Matt's trampled dollar bill!!!  We are all worth exactly the same in His eyes.  In fact...  let's have a little challenge.  I want to hear your stories of one encounter you had with someone this week, whether it be the Wal-Mart check out lady, stranger in the park, McDonald's drive-thru guy... tell me how you showed a little love that you normally wouldn't have.  C'mon!  You can do it.  Be conscious and deliberate this week about reaching out, then leave a comment and tell us about it.  Guys, too.  Blogging is not a girl thing.  And this is not a "look how awesome I was this week" kind of thing.  It's simply a way for us to share with each other ways to step outside ourselves and our comfort zones and attempt in however small a way to make an impact for Him!  

Challenge on.  Go!

Ang

Friend Day/Volleyball Warriors

Friend day, oh the fun. The weather was perfect, the slide was huge, the husbands were ready to whoop some booty in volleyball! Although Matt Slaughter was not there to lead our team, we dominated that sand pit!

Alicia Brown holding Eli...is that Nate Brown...taking her shoes off for her?!?!

Not sure who this girl is, but these kids were bouncing all over the place!

Eli sliding away.

Alicia was having more fun than the kids.

Courtney Pursley saying "wee".

Blaine (Annie's brother) helped out Directions.

Jeremy Thompson sets it up...

Mike Langham can jump?

Porter Langham (on his 1st birthday) watching daddy tear up that sand pit!

Rachel Langham (4) posing for the camera.

The baby cheer team.

After the first victory.

Josh Anderson setting? No, spiking? Um, I'm not sure.

Top row: Josh Anderson, Paul Pursley, Blaine Benton.
Bottom row: Jeremy Thompson, Mike Langham, some guy not in our group.

Is that going over the net, Mike?

open for blogging

Alright everyone, here we go! This is going to be the first official Directions post, and it is not going to be all that exciting. Sorry, but not many have replied yet so I don't have much info for you here. We ARE super excited about this blog though and feel it will serve a great purpose in our connection group. We can do anything you want here and there will be loads of information. So, no more missing events because you couldn't remember when they were. No more searching and searching for a phone number or email address and soon we will all know names and faces.

As you will notice the prayer request list is to your right. ---> Along with some links that are of importance and just plain fun. You will also find the links to our group's family blogs - what a great way to get to know each other and stay involved in day to day lives of those we worship with!

Please feel free to post comments of what else you would like to see and any links or information you would like to add. Type and you will receive!

Also, please get Annie your information and pictures and lets get blogging.

***This blog is open to the public for now, once all the emails are received with personal information, it will be posted and the blogged will then be turned to 'members only'.