I’ve always believed in getting away to rest and regroup so you can be your best for your family and for your ministry.

If you follow me on Twitter, you already know that my family, with three of our closest family friends, went on a “After Easter Beach Getaway”.  We’ve actually gone every year, and usually settle for after Easter because everything leading up to that weekend is CRAZYTOWN for us church folk (we all work in the Worship Ministries at our churches).

Anyhoo… I’m pretty wiped, but I thought I’d post a few pictures for now.  I’ll post more later (Alli, Holly, Janet and I haven’t traded all our pictures yet).

So, here goes (you can click on the photo for an enlarged view):

The ladies (Mom’s only… and Abby) decided to leave the men with the children for a walk down to the beach.  They were sad.

I’m not sure what’s going on here… but this picture makes me very happy.  Especially Janet’s boots

The sun was setting.  It was gorgeous.

I love my girls, Allison & Holly.

I laughed when I first saw her wearing these, but was soon obsessed…

I know… it’s a lot of kids… but this picture is a total MIRACLE. From front to back, left to right:  Ava McKenney, Chance Clayville, Kiel Resnick, Paxton Clayville, Macy McKenney, Kelton Resnick, Abby Fraser, Ireland, Resnick, Molly Fraser & Reilly Resnick.  The funny story behind this picture is that we had to take about a million of them because Ava was NOT in a picture taking mood.  She sat below the coffee table and FINALLY emerged for this one

If Paxton was a girl…

Right, I know… isn’t he cute

My men checking out the view… of THIS:

It’s not every day you see a herd of Elk at the beach.

Quality time with my family on the beach.  Brian helped Chance fly his first kite… and Paxton… well… he’s out.

I yelled at Jay for being ridiculous and unsafe… then I hopped on a bike with Paxton in a front pack.  Those pictures will be posted as soon as Alli sends them

And finally… the same sunset from two cameras.  This one was taken from my iPhone:

And this one, from my Nikon D70:

Words can’t describe how awesome the weekend was.  Good food and even better company.  I am SO thankful for the friends God has blessed me with.  I feel totally rested and at peace right now.  What’s even more important is I feel ONE with my family.  I can honestly say I haven’t felt that way in a really LONG time.  Too long.

Getting away is good.

When’s the last time YOU got away?

We’re off for our annual long weekend beach vacation with the Jay & Alli McKenney, Scott & Holly Resnick, and Mike and Janet Fraser.

Sooooo excited.

So if you check in and don’t see a post… that’s why.

HOWEVER… I’ll make sure I post something when we come home.

What a day?

HE IS RISEN!!!

Easter is always such a bittersweet time for me.  Christ rose and conquered the grave!.. but it was my sin that sent him to the grave.  Because of Christ, today is a new day for me.  I am brand new.

Church was a great experience.  This was my first Easter at Church! at Bethany.  I was SO proud to be a part of this church this morning.

Sorry the pictures are the best… they were taken from our iPhones.

Here was the Sunday Setlist:

1. Glory – Reuben Morgan
2. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin
3. O The Blood – Darlene Zschech
4. Lead Me To The Cross – Brooke Fraser
5. Hosanna – Brooke Fraser
6. Jesus Paid It All – Kristian Stanfill

We did the first three songs at the top of the set & the last three as the response portion.

Highlights:

• Seeing new faces sitting in the seats.
• Listening to Matt preach a NON-TRADITIONAL Easter sermon.  This sermon wasn’t for the saved… but for the unchurched.  I LOVED that!  Many people that attend Easter & Christmas services don’t stick around the rest of the year at churches… so obviously the traditional service and “sermon re–run” hasn’t been working.  I digress…
• A Facebook friend of Brian’s came to church today because Brian invited her VIA Facebook
• Playing a sweet new version of “Hosanna” the band created together.  It had some fun breaks in there.
• My shirt matching with the Middle School Theatre production set.

Lowlights:

• Spiritual battle that kept creeping up on me all week BUT especially yesterday & this morning.  Mostly in my own head and heart, but isn’t that the worst kind anyway?
• Technical difficulties in the transition video between the first worship set and the sermon.  Awkward lapse and it killed the momentum.  Boo!  But seriously… that was the WORST thing that happened this morning, so really… it was a great morning
• My shirt matching with the Middle School Theatre production set

For the first time, in a LONG time, I have open-handedly surrendered the sin I have been holding on to over to Christ.  It’s not that he didn’t want to take my sin or that my sin was too great for him to handle.  It was just that I was too scared yet too comfortable with holding it all to myself.  I get a fresh new start.  

Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t just for today though.  It’s for every single day we choose to allow him to cover our sins.  

Let’s see how I do tomorrow!  :)  YOU?

I saw this on Kurt’s blog and HAD to re-post.

Get a tan while sitting in front of your computer!!!  WHAT???

I didn’t try it… since I’m not really all that pasty… but someone try it and tell me what you think!

Technology!  Who knew?

My friend, Joyce, sent me this picture today.

Isn’t it “about right” that Chance has a Tide Stick in his front pocket.  Yup… that’s my kid.

This photo was from the Worship Team End-of-the-Year/Good-bye party from last summer when I transitioned from Sunset to Church! at Bethany.

I LOVE when people send me pictures of my family that I don’t have.  I call these the “LOST PHOTOS” because the reality is I’ll probably never see them.

If you have some pictures of my family, will you send them my direction at jenni(at)jenniclayville(dot)com?

Thanks!