HBC's Annual Labor Day Picnic - Celebrating 5 Wonderful Years

Every year we love to have our church family over to the house for a Labor Day picnic. It is just a wonderful day of great conversation, games, and wonderful food. This is something we look forward to all year. Kids get hot and sweaty running around, smack-talk is given over games of horseshoes and basketball, and I get an unlimited amount of time to chat with my dear ladies. What more could we ask for?

This year was no exception. The house was cleaned after the teen activity, the pop was iced, the burgers, hot dogs & buns were ready to consume. We had about 65 people descend on the house! We've never had a turnout this big. Our kitchen island was covered with mouth-watering side dishes or salads. The weather was perfect.

The only negative thing I have to say about the day is that Shaylen wasn't feeling good. She was fighting a fever. Her greatest desire was to be able to attend Sunday School the next day. The twins would be moving up to the next class ("The Big Kid Class") of 4th-6th graders. She was so excited. In hopes of being able to allow her to go, she stayed in our bedroom with a stack of Nancy Drews the whole day. We certainly missed her.

After grilling, eating, and milling about for the majority of the time, it was time to break out the desserts. I was squeezing my way through the crowds to get serving knives & spoons and remembered that I had seen Mr. Bishop bring in a huge cake box. He had set it on a dining room chair. I was afraid that he had gone to all that work to make whatever was in the box, and I didn't want it to be forgotten because it was partially hidden under the table. However, when I went to grab it, one of the deacons firmly said, "No! Don't open that." I thought, "Okay. Maybe today is someone's birthday and I didn't realize it."

Unbeknownst to us, the church had gone and made a HUGE personalized card & everyone had signed it. Mr. Bishop had made a beautiful cake in the shape of a Bible. The church was wanting to thank us for 5 years of ministry! The 5 year "Pastorversary" (as I called it) had come and gone on Sunday, August 26th. Taigen and I had noted the day and were thankful for the 5 wonderful years. So we weren't expecting this at all! John Pileggi (one of our deacons) gave a wonderful speech (wish I could've recorded it), thanked us for serving at Heritage, presented the card, and then the cake. Wasn't that so sweet? I'm getting goosebumps just reliving it in my mind. We are so thankful to be at Heritage. God has richly blessed us with sweet friends and godly co-workers in the ministry. We're excited for what God has ahead.