floridian adventures

at the beach

Last weekend we took 50 students to the beach. Last year it was such a success we were looking forward to it. The lack of beach pics shows how little time I spent on the beach. I spent more time at the grocery store than I did at the beach. But here are some irresistable pics of Sam at Chipotle when we got home.

Who knew a kid with a block in his mouth could be so adorable.

This pic is not so much irresistable as the man that I am kissing in it. He is UNBELIEVABLE!

cutest kid around

mac attack

John invested in a MacBook in order to be able to design web pages, tshirts and the like for our ministry.  But so far the greatest thing about the newest addition to the family is that it takes funny pics of us.

livin the dream

There is something about my season of life that has made me more reflective. Not necessarily of the past but of the present. I knew that finishing school would provide for me a freedom in life and ministry and marriage that I had not experienced in the past two years, and I am trying to enjoy every moment of that freedom. What I have realized is that life is on it way and most of the time I don't slow down to realize how good it is, and how good I have it. It is contrary to my nature to sit and contemplate where I am, but I am exercising my rest and contentment muscles every day.
And the truth is that I am living the dream! I get to wake up with new mercies available to me in Christ Jesus every morning. I am married to a delightful man who makes me laugh and shares all of life with me. My job requires me to spend time with Jesus every morning, who doesn't need time with the Creator carved out for them? I have the freedom to ride my bike (named free spirit) to campus and meet with women who are also growing to understand the intimacy with which they are loved by the Lord. Simple things give me so much joy as well. I love baking bread! the Farmers Market has been a fun addition to my weekly grocery trips. My sewing machine still frightens me, but its available whenever my fear subsides and my creative fingers get movin. We are building relationships with people in Gainesville that have brightened our lives and refresh us weekly. I never dreamt of living a life like I do, but I realize its God's perfect provision for me! I am living my dream.

beginnings of fall

It has been a whirlwind the past two weeks. I am finally feeling better after 14+ days of a high fever and weird cough. All the while I was sick John was so busy on campus with the our new staff members and Ben. They put in countless hours meeting new students, getting to know new names and playing ultimate frisbee. John was incredible in how he worked long hours while taking care of me, feeding us, getting me medicine, sitting with me in doctors offices and fundraising on top of it all. What a man I married, and what a God that provides for us on a daily and detailed level.

Being back in Gainesville has been refreshing. There is nothing like seeing familiar faces, catching up and looking forward to all the opportunities we have together. John and I have felt so at home here among the staff, students and our church family as well.

The nature of our ministry, staff team and my capacity is going to look so different than it has. I am truly looking forward to spending more time with Jesus this semester as He teaches me how to love John well, how to lead women in the Word and how to embrace being His Beloved. My life is offering me so many opportunities and choices with my time, and it makes me feel free. I told one of my girls, "I am a free spirit this year" There is nothing like being set free from classes and deadlines and having time to bake bread, read my Bible on campus, meet with a girl or sew something new. I am truly a student in all of those activities, but I cannot wait to get started.

Favorite Memories of the Summer

There are plenty reasons why this post is the first in a month, the most recent being that I am on day 10 of the flu. But I guess being sick should give me more time to reflect and update . . . so here is a short list of my favorite memories of the summer.

drinking sonic with my girls. All day every day.

eating with my husband at our favorite spot along the river, a gourmet mexican restaurant that puts my salsa to shame.

finding the best dried mangoes are sold at Walmart.

Now that I have gotten my food fixes out . . .

going to John's aunts house in Oklahoma for a weekend with my team.

listening to "swing swing" in the car with my ladies drumming on the seats and dashboard

seeing God use ordinary college students and me to further His Kingdom!

being a part of three women's intense, life-changing growth

developing an increased desire to spend more and more time with Jesus, reading my Bible.

feeling surrounded as God's Beloved.

watching my husband use his unique ability to lead men and women in life, understanding of

Scripture and walk with Jesus. He is on fire folks.

Weekend Getaway

So John and I ran away from Branson for two nights this past week. It was unbelievably refreshing for us to be together and enjoy all the plans John had made for our time. We camped on the shores of Table Rock Lake the first night in our new tent. He loves memories of camping as a boy so I was so excited to let John show me how he wants our family to camp! We made a hobo dinner that we tailored to our tastes and whatever was in the cooler. And we make dough-boys, which to everyone outside the Teten family is a buttermilk biscuit cooked over the fire and anything sweet thrown in to the center.

Then our next journey was into the quaint town of Eureka Springs in Arkansas. It is like the Boulder of Arkansas if that is possible. We stayed at the cutest Bed and Breakfast and had our own little rock cottage.

As we walked around we dreamt of Kristi and Jens owning a B & B and how perfect they would be at providing amazing food, an inviting place to stay and a place for peoples pets too! Eureka Springs was made for the Davis family!

The breakfast might be the best we have ever had. Peaches and Cream, fritata, asparagus, tomatoes and pecan crusted bacon. And who doesn't cap off breakfast with a pumpkin spice cake with spiced whipped topping? You might see a theme of great food. It is such an important part of our times together.

And finally, we posed with Christ of the Ozarks, and we still don't know how we feel about it.

Embracing Branson

There is so much of me that wants to recall some funny story or amazing memory that we have created here in Branson. But the thing is . . . I am sitting in a motel office without AC getting internet for the first time in a week and the other part of me just can't do it. So here is a teaser.


This pic is actually from our anniversary in Memphis for a couple of days. We walked around downtown Memphis and tried to eat at the best places the town had to offer. So needless to say we ate delicious fried chicken!

And here is a sneak peak at the women I am honored to lead this summer. Starting at the left, we have Ashley from University of North Texas, Marianne from UF, and Suzie from University of Lousiana, Monroe (suzie is praying about joining marianne and I at UF, she just can't get enough). These women have joined me in marveling at Jesus this summer. Would you help me pray for their spiritual growth this summer?

Also, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with an 18 year old named Aubree, would you also pray that we would have the chance to meet together to discuss what Jesus has done for her?

Finally, we have recently started relationships with international students from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Spiritual discussions are all over the place, please pray with me for these precious ones to know their Savior.

I am off to a pool party and ice cream social we are holding to get to know our students co-workers more.

quick update

Branson has been a whirlwind since we have been here. For those who have never been here, it is impossible to understand unless you see it with you very own eyes. It has been called a clean hillbilly las vegas, and I am not sure I disagree. There is so much to do here, it is a mecca of lights, shows, and tourist traps. But we love it! It will be such an adventure for us to live in a motel along with 65 other people in our program and try to serve God each other and the people around us without tearing each other apart piece by piece. Actually I know it will provide a platform for the Lord to work on our hearts individually to become more like Him. I know my patience and humility will be tested time and time again. thanks for everyone who has been praying for our summer and those who might start!
I do praise God for the staff team we are working with and the amazing team leaders that will make this program shine!
Pics will hopefully come sometime throughout the summer.

Named after a postman

Branson MO is our destination for the summer. We are embarking to the Ozarks for 9 weeks to live and work in the "family-friendly Las Vegas". John and I will be a part of a Navigator staff team who will provide intensive training for students. They will work at the different theme parks and we will provide them with bible studies, evangelism training, a chance to get to know God better and a lot of fun. We don't know what to expect except for hard work, chiggers and great memories. If you think of it you could pray for our travels . . . we leave in less than 10 hours, and for the overall success of our summer.
Looking at the collage above, I am not sure there is a better place to invest summer time?

Our versary

Me and the Mr. made it two years! Celebrations!

I am so thankful for the reality of how amazing marriage has been. The past two years have been filled with adventures, lessons, challenges and a lot of fun. I love the journey that the Lord has us on. What a complete treasure He has given me in John. He deserves all of the praise from John and I. We owe our joy to Him, and we desperately need Him to walk us through His happily ever after.

Cream of Colorado Soup

We made it back to Colorado just in time for me to join my gals to celebrate Katie's going away into marriage party. The Melting Pot delighted our senses as it does, it was so good to laugh with my friends!

Katie on the right is now betrothed to a dashing young Ryan McCulley. Congrats you two.

Fun-loving David and Pamela took us on a spin around town to the free beer tastings. New Belgium always pulls through for us. And then we ate some of the best that FoCo has to offer at Cooper Smiths. Thanks for the treat Tetens.

Enjoying good ol' Coca Cola at the Moddelmog-McCulley wedding.

David and I celebrated our graduation together too. Except for that it looks like we are going on a cruise instead. We'll take it anyway.

My momma on Mother's Day. Poor woman had to host a graduation party on her day of love. Thats the love of a mother though. What a picture of grace, beauty and strength this woman is.

Our favorite stop of the trip was seeing sweet Vivian Joy. John got to hold her forever because I was and still am dying from the plague of eastern colorado. But she was so fun to watch and Kristi is a perfect mom for her. It is going to be hard to watch our nieces grow up over the virtual world of emails and blogs, but they are so pretty we will take all the pictures we can get. Thanks once again to the willagers of Colorado for our fun-filled week.

I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

My Suz came to visit Flo-rida. She was in Gainesville for a few short hours, but we squeezed in a campus tour, and pizza with those left in town.

This is a fun picture because it shows 3 spiritual generations. Suz met with me in college and was also met with by Melissa Nugent who also now pours into me. And then I meet with the two amazing ladies on the left. Nikki and Brittney are spending there summers at Eagle Lake with Suz, so they are going to call her grandma all summer . . . all because of the wonders of discipleship! beauty.

New Hairs for the Big Grad

There is much to blog about. The whole world passed by in the past month, at least it felt like it to us. Wowzers. First of all, I am DONE with school. Raise the roof, praise the Lord, and open a bottle of champagne! Woohoo. To celebrate John and I laid by the pool, the Nugents hosted a party for me and I got a hair cut.

Freshest Babe on the Block!

What a precious babe! Noelle Ruth Maschhoff entered the world this week. How excited we all are about her and proud of Joy's triumphant work to get her here. God loves His little ones.

Sleeping At Last

We went to Jacksonville for the weekend. Mostly to see Sleeping At Last in concert, but we took the opportunity to meet one of our student's family, go to the beach and check out the town! It was a lot of fun. My favorite part was Rita's ice cream. It was the highlight of the WHOLE weekend. And the weekend was a lot of fun, so that is saying a whole lot about a small cup of custard with italian ice! Love it.

We are gearing up for the last couple of weeks on campus. John has been arranging some of the last meetings with our students, and will be busy getting us ready for the summer in Branson. I have quite a few papers to write (6 to be exact.) But the end of those papers means the end of my undergrad life as I know it. I cannot wait. We hope to have a little celebration with our students, they are just as excited for me to graduate, it makes up for not getting to experience it in real time.

After school, staff meetings at the beach and some visitors we head to Colorado to cram everything we love about the state into one week. Then we are off to Branson. I am sure this time is about to fly by, hopefully I can hold on to it long enough to get that degree! I am sure the Lord would accept your prayers on my behalf.

Band of Horses

We snagged some tickets to one of our favorite bands for a show at the end of March. They have some pretty sweet melodies . . . awesome beats . . . and stellar sounds. Right?

One of their songs is in my playlist at the right of the screen, you can click on "Funeral" to see what the heck they sound like. Just imagine the guy in front, singing with buggy eyes and jerky head movements to get the full effect. We has such a good time, and this weekend we get to go to Jacksonville for another sweet concert. Sleeping at Last is playing and I am sure to post some pics from that adventure.

My family came . . .

This is the final installment of my family's trip out here. They had a flight through the night so when they finally arrived in Gainesville we had a blueberry pancake breakfast.We had such a good time showing them around the town, walking around campus, playing catch phrase and sharing our lives with them for the week.

And of course we went to the swamp to show them how rediculously big it is. We watched a ton of people who are too healthy for their own good run the steps of the stadium, and all of a sudden down my mom goes to the bottom of the steps ans starts jogging up them towards us. John and i have shown plenty of visitors the swamp on numerous occassions and we have never tried running the steps. Who would have thought my mom would be the one to show us all up by doing it? So then one by one we were all curious enough about our own state of health that we all tried to run it. In jeans and flip flops we all did it. Of course my brother did it looking like a true athlete.

Once again family, thank you for getting your buns out here to see us. We treasured every moment! And look forward to seeing you out here again soon!!!