2 and half + years later!

After six months of working on our wedding album - yes i know way behind here! - our photographer Gene sent me the proof!!! Our album should be here by Thanksgiving! What a wonderful time to look through the moments captured on our wedding day! He also resent bridal portraits so I could send them to family - I seemed to have missed that in the picture sharing process!! All the exciting memories of such a special day! Thought i would share a glimpse of the bridal portraits two + years later! 5 more months until Robert and I get to watch our wedding video again = 3 years!!! Cheers and blessings to my sister who is planning her blessed wedding day - a worship of becoming one!

Advent Devotional Brainstorming!

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely and divine;

Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;

Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine;

Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign.

~ Christina Rossett

Covenant’s Advent theme this year is “Love Brings.” Members of the congregation are encouraged to submit stories, poems, reflections, prayers, whatever the liking. So I decided to contribute my understanding of “Love Brings” of God’s love, AGAPE!
Here is to brainstorming:
Love Brings…
Memories of Christmas as a Child

…of my family eating around the table with our advent wreath catching on fire
…of crawling through a tunnel with my sisters to see what Santa had awaiting
…waking up to momma’s Christmas melodys playing throughout the house
…all four sisters snuggling in one bed with anticipation of Christmas day
…candle light service at Dahlonega Presbyterian Church
…daddy putting the star on the top of the lopsided tree!

Love Brings…
Ways I feel God’s love today

…opening the door to Memama’s home and knowing I’m right where I belong
…late nights sitting in our living room enjoying the end of the day with Robert
…cuddling with Bailey
...quality time with grandparents!
…visiting family in Hartsville
….participating in the faith journey of a teen
…tap dancing my heart away to the music
…boat rides with the family
…a precious note from a friend
...in the gift of being a big sister
…prayer and journaling
…dinner parties at our home
…laughing with friends
…worship
…being with our extended families
…privilege of being called to seminary
…dancing with Robert
…experiencing the beauty of each day
WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO WRITE! I guess I’ll keep brainstorming!

Reality Check!

Breaking news…NEWS FLASH – we as human beings miscommunicate! We do - we are all guilty, the verdict is out! Communication is essential to any relationship, especially in the Christian Life! How we talk to people, listen to people, encounter people is all about communication and we are called to do it with authenticity and heart. Communication is used through a plethora of methods these days: facebook, twitter, emails, blogs, etc – my question for myself for reflection and for you is how well do we do communication authentically? Do say I love you enough? Do we communicate trust, grace, and forgiveness? Do we communicate that it is okay to mess up because we indeed are all broken by sin? Do we communicate when we are hurt, lonely, sad, and anxious – or do we cover it up with a smile and a cheerful greeting? How well do we authentically communicate in our marriages, our family relationships, in our work place, in our churches, in our friend circles – do we show up authentic and transparent or do we hide and hope all will magically fall into place? I ask myself this question many times when I sit and ponder how well I communicate - my strengths and my working points. Today I was reminded of how we communicate love! You know, the five love languages of God! (Great book if you haven’t read it!) So I thought, does my family, my peers, my siblings, - do they know how I give and receive love? The good news is that our God made us all unique but God called us to work as the body, to be united as a community of believers to share in the gospel – so we have to learn to speak – to communicate in love – What love language do you speak?– in giving and receiving. The five love languages include: giving gifts, quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, and acts of service. So I ask you – How do you give love? How do you receive love? Rate the five – 1-5 – 1 being your top way of either receiving or giving love! And if you are wondering in light of being authentic and transparent here are mine:

Ways I give love: 1. Quality time, 2 giving gifts, 3 physical touch, 4 words of affirmation, 5 acts of service

Ways I receive love: 1. Physical touch 2 quality time 3. Giving gifts words of affirmation 5 acts of service

It is important for us to know each other’s love languages as we strive to live in community – to embody the Christian life in love. Reality check – we all need love and strive to give love! For God says to love God and love neighbor!

Recent ways I have felt love in the past 8 hours!!

A gift from a dear friend in the mail! A reminder of the gift of love in friendship! 

A gift  from heaven! A baby Dibiase on the way! the love of creation!

A gift of new blinds from my companion!!! the love of a spouse!

The gift of quality time with our ba! the love of a dog!

 okay i had a bailey photo shoot! guilty! love this precious pup!

"A Sacred Pace!"

You read it right – A SACRED PACE! Well what does that mean? NOTICE! Sacred pace means to notice. How many times in a day do we stop right in our tracks because we missed something, we forgot what we were doing? OFTEN I confess! I laugh it off when people call me the energizer bunny yet it deeply convicts me that perhaps I am always in a hurry. How much do we NOTICE when we are in a hurry? Do we notice creation all around us or do we lay on our obnoxious horns? Do we notice a neighbor next to us or do we blabber on our cell phones in order to avoid conversation? Do we notice the child longing to feel love at church or do we bustle in our pews because country club lunch is fast approaching? How much can we NOTICE at a fast pace way of life? For me, I tend to notice more when I stop! When I take time to appreciate the moment – when I take time to make room for sacred space at a sacred pace! Perhaps God calls us to live at a sacred pace not only when convenient but in all that we do: work and play. How much do we notice each other? We do indeed have the perfect example of a person with the divine attribute of NOTICE - that being Jesus, himself. Jesus noticed. Remember when the woman came up and touched Jesus’ robe and was healed – Jesus said who touched me? Well yes we know the healing was a miracle - but what about the miracle that Jesus even noticed someone had touched is garment? Don’t we just simply brush by people all the time? I do. Or you know the wee little man in the tree – Zaccheaus – Jesus noticed him up in the tree and told him to come down and host dinner! Yes Jesus noticed the tax collector small in stature up in the tree! WOW! We have the perfect example of sacred pace! We long to take vacation and a time out – Jesus did – Jesus took time away in prayer yet always came back to be in community. O yeah and remember when the disciples where on the boat and the storm came and they went to Jesus because they were afraid and Jesus calmed the storm – yeah did we even notice the very good news that JESUS WAS ACTUALLY WITH THEM ON THE BOAT? Do we notice day in and day out how Jesus in our lives – present with us – Emmanuel? Notice God in the sunshine and the storm!

Take time to NOTICE, play on at a SACRED PACE!

(thank you C.O.R. leadership institute for this reminder to share and to my sisters (yes bubba our texts today!) who remind me that being present with Robert and my family is being present with God – it is sacred space at a sacred pace!)

Just the TWO of us!!

Two and a half years and the Lane crew is finally settled in charlotte!!! Yes it is a beautiful start to an even more beautiful journey this past six months! By God’s dear providence for Robert and I, we have change our colors to green, gold, and black! After six months of Robert coaching at GA Southern – he was offered the first assistant job at University of North Carolina of Charlotte – no joke 10 minutes from our first home together! So what does this mean – Robert is coaching in Charlotte and I am serving at Covenant with seminary on the weekends! So yes we are finally settled! AND IT FEELS GOOD! A few nights after Robert had moved some of our things from our apartment in GA, we went out to eat to celebrate -Robert said it best when he said, “This was definitely a God thing!” Amen! Another cool part of our story in transitioning to UNCC is that I was part of the interview process with Robert! Talk about being affirmed as a couple and in Robert’s coaching staff being dedicated to family! Well, they did ask one soccer question – I think I did okay! So Charlotte it is for the Lanes!! Below are pics of family and friends cheering on our Coach Lane!! Go Charlotte 49ers!! Also, some pics of our home as we continue to enjoy it with laughter, warmth, and both of us back under one roof!!!

Robert and the team before the first home game!

Ashley, Chris, Lee, and Justin cheering on our coach!!

ONE HAPPY FAM!! YAY Coach lane!

Hannah and Ashley!! hanging out in the rain!

Robert and his parents!!! love!

Charlotte playing the Gamecocks!! with Papa!

Robert and Papa!!!

Mom and Daddy! 

The living room and dining room!

Guest Bedroom #1

Guest bedroom #2

Dining and living room!

our bedroom!

our bedroom - or should i say Bailey's room!

Dining room!

LOVE THE PLACE WE CALL HOME!

Sissy's getting married!

My Best Friend’s Wedding!


As a little girl you always dream of your wedding day! The flowers, the dancing, the perfect guy!! Yes, March 21, 2009 my childhood dreams of our wedding day came true – actually even better because of the man I call my husband!! It is excited and such a gift to know my sister will soon have her wedding day soon with the man God created for her, nick! I feel incredibly old that my sister is walking down the aisle this June! My prayer for my baby sister during this time, this ones for you bubba:

May you experience God in all the excitement! May you celebrate the gift and blessings of uniting as one! God be with my baby sister – not only in her planning but in her heart as her and nick become husband and wife! Most importantly God remind them to cherish each other in the good and in the hard! God surround Bubba and Nick as well as their families as we prepare to worship you when they say “I do!” one excited big sis I am!!!

Bubba and her wedding party!!!!!

We share a story!

It was on Monday morning I was driving up a steep hill in the Appalachia mtns of Tennessee. When I arrived at the house I was in shock and didn't know what to expect - all I knew was that this family of four needed new windows. We opened the door and my eyes teared up. There was a woman my age, her husband and two precious children eagerly awaiting our arrival to work on their home. Yes this was their home. Throughout the week we repaired their windows, rotten floors, and much more - BUT it was in the moments that I sat on their couch and heard their stories that I realized despite our many difference - here was a young woman just like me striving to make it in a world, trying to discern who God is calling her to be, providing for her children, loving her husband, and living each day to the fullest. Here I was standing in her home and recognizing God's presence with us. Through her life story I was able to hear how our stories overlapped - they overlapped with bridging the gap between mission work and relationship building. I made a friend this week with a woman who struggles between working full time and having insurance or working part time to get food stamps. We may live in different states, experience life differently, but when we were sitting there in her living room we shared in each other's story. we share a story.

A little secret - I like to be in control!

       Yep, that's right! I like to be in control of my life! I like to do everything my way, in my time, through my lens. I can do it. If I can't, I'm not being good enough. Yes, this is the lie I have told myself for years! I admit it! It was in a conversation once I arrived at Covenant Presbyterian church two years ago that a parent stopped by my office to introduce herself. As she entered my office, she encountered a young lady in tears - ME! imagine that too! She encountered tears of a young lady who had realized she wasn't in control. I had faced a conversation I didn't know how to fix just moments before with a precious youth. Yet through the words of a parent just coming by to say hello - she challenged me and gave me a perspective I had been ignored before - I am not in control of anything! God is! This summer so far I have been reminded of a brief holy conversation I had with a parent her words "all that simple, yet all that hard" - "Neeley you aren't in control, God is". I have rested in that good news the past three weeks! From getting sick in Yucatan and not being able to lead to longing for lost friendships to be renewed  - I have to turn to God because God is in control of our every day, our relationships, our callings, Jesus as mediator and  Spirit as guide - God is in control! This week in Montreat at a Montreat Youth conference the theme was "Searching for a Signal". What I gained from the privilege of participating in a week of keynote, worship, conversations, song, and of course energizers - I would like to share through my journal reflections. These reflections re centered my outlook on life - like all of us need so often - that we are given this precious life to live in God's grace, with God as the light to lead the way through Jesus Christ.
Have you ever known exactly where you are yet felt so lost?
Have you ever been in the midst of community and felt alone?
What is a story of yours with the experience of being found?
"The incarnation is God's signal of God's love searching for us!"
View life not through your lens - but through the eyes of God.
What are moments in your life when the brief moment seems to last forever?
"Sometimes you have to let go of one thing to embrace another."
Discernment is faithful.
Why waste time on those things that are not "life-giving"?
"Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected, it is well to pay closest attention - for more often that not, God is summoning where you should go next."
Evangelism is the work of telling a different story, different from the world we live in.
Always speak with Conviction!

So we are called to take time out to reflect, to discern, to remind ourselves we are not in control! Thanks be to God!

Some pics from Yucatan and Montreat!

The fearless leaders in Mexil, Yucatan - Mexico

No running water, no electricity = this is our shower!

precious children of Mexil helping us mix concrete for a roof!

Our nativity scene in Montreat!

Picnic in Montreat with Chandler!

Three of our group of 11! Yay Covenant at Montreat!

Ruach!

You may be wondering...Ruach? This means Spirit in Hebrew! Spirit meaning wind, God's presence; spirit as in Pentecost! Happy Birthday to the church TODAY! I love celebrating Pentecost! On my way to a graduation party I drove past a small church with a plethora of red and white balloons being held by precious children as they ran around the church courtyard...now that's a church birthday party! Pentecost reminds me to reflect on how God's spirit dwells amongst each of us every moment of day. I am overcome with gratitude when I feel God's spirit all around me. Whether it be in the quiet pages of my prayer journal or the music selections over the organ, I continue to be overwhelmed at the power of the Holy Spirit's presence. Or may it be a decision, a life changing situation...I continue to be overwhelmed by how the Holy Spirit shows up!

When do I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit the most: communion. Communion gets me every time!! Talk about a powerful sacrament! after church today I was telling one of my youth how every time I take communion I feel a tear gently rolling down my cheek. Here's a secret. After I dip the bread of life in the cup of life I return to my pew, pray, and then I picture in my head all the places I have broken bread and sipped of the cup with the community of God; Dahlonega Presbyterian Church around the Lord's table, Montreat in Anderson Auditorium, FPC Hartsville, Presbyterian College, Covenant, Yucatan, ARW, at the church homes of family members,  many retreats, camps, and weekend getaways! Communion invites me to remember the suffering servant leader who gives us life, who dwells with us today...the Holy Spirit.

When do I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit the most: the voices of the Lord's prayer! Another secret...when I bow my head to say the Lord's prayer I say it silently as I listen to the people around me collectively pray the Lord's prayer. As a little girl I loved hearing Daddy's voice say the Lord's prayer. Still today he reaches over and grabs my hand when we say it together in church. (Dad, bet you didn't know I listen to YOU!). And now when Robert and I worship together I love hearing him say the Lord's prayer. It is the Holy Spirit presences in the voices of the Lord's prayer that reminds me God is in control and with us every step of the way!

When do I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit the most: children's sermons! I know most people (especially people I know who serve in churches don't like the children's sermon), but goodness do I love it! God's youngest disciples gathered, eager to hear what the minister has to say, willing to shout out what they are thinking! I have never felt the Holy Spirit more in a children's sermon than at FPC Hartsville! Every Sunday morning I would look forward to sitting alongside these gifts from God to me (selfishly!) and share a biblical story with them...Holy God I know you were all around us!!!

When do I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit the most: in the experiences of every day life! the small things from day to day that cause me to stop, say a prayer of thanksgiving, and live my life as worship! So I share with you a few of my favorite things from this week...small, simple ways I saw God this week!

1. in a note from Robert. simply I love you!

2. when I open the door to our home and Bailey is waiting on me. Always excited!

3. Watching my youth at high school graduation with big smiles on their faces!
4. a sweet hug from a child
5. in using my love language of gifts...as I loaded Robert up with goodies for Duke camp

6. during Hebrew class as we read Genesis 1 in Hebrew!
7. through a parent telling their child they are proud of them!
8. by a handwritten thank you note from a youth
9. an hour of doing Montreat energizers with dear friends
10. a phone call from my sister sharing good news of a job
11. grabbing a drink with a girlfriend after a long day! a timeout from our crazy schedules!
12. planning mission trips for this summer
13. conversation with my grandmother about how God is working in our lives
14. grocery shopping with Robert and laughs we shared!
15. fresh flowers on the dining room table
16. when my calendar allowed for youth to stop by the office and I had time!
17. a Pentecost party at a church as I drove by
18. the smell of our back yard freshly cut
19. talking to a new mommy about being a mother!
20. laughter!
21. an email from a friend in Uganda!
22. my alone time with God writing in my journal! a gift from a dear friend!

Truly blessed and duly grateful for the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life! May we all recognize God's presence in our midst, in the miracle of every moment and say Thank you! Happy Pentecost!

Blessed by this Sabbath,
Neeley

Full Circle Friday Night!

My favorite time of day...the evening...6:00pm! Whether it be eating peanuts with fam on the beach/back porch of our beach home or awaiting Brian Williams on nightly news...I love evening time! Flash back 15 years and evening times were spent playing outside in the front yard...you would find four girls playing softball, kickball, performing their latest cheerleading/dance routine...these four girls would have two faithful spectators...mom and dad! Or even 15 years ago evenings were spent around the dinner table in the keeping room with fish sticks, mac and cheese, canned corn, and some fruit mother insisted on us eating!!! You see, this is why i love evening time! Robert's favorite time of day is the morning so we are learning how to celebrate our favorite parts of the the day together..both near and far! So this past friday, we did just that! We woke up and had breakfast and got to work around the house! However, my favorite part of friday besides the fact that it was just the two of us all day playing at our home, was when we went outside, lit the candles, started a fire, brought out two decks of cards, burgers on the grill, and a glass of wine! As Robert was grilling I sat there with my hebrew text book...one happy girl! So friday night full circle you may ask...yes! 15 years ago, friday nights were spent at home! At home with the fam...perhaps a local football game but mostly the family at home enjoying quality time together. This is the kind of friday night robert and I got to share!

I find it fascinating  to think about how quality time and friday night plans evolve as you travel through life! The most fascinating part....you go full circle..back to the friday night that shaped you, the friday night that molded who you are today! Cheers to many more beautiful evenings full of fireflys and full circle friday nights!!!

Robert worked on our patio!!! We enjoyed it on Friday and Saturday night!

I came home from class and not only had robert prepared a fun night but he installed new lights in the dining room! He knows I love surprises!!

Our fun weekend didn't stop on friday night! Angelo and Margaret came to Charlotte for Saturday night!!! we love them muchly!

Start of June 2011!

It's been a few months since I decided to put aside my blog...BUT after a conversation this weekend..I AM BACK! Blogging to me is a way to share, to express your thoughts, prayers, and views on life! Well, after a short sabbatical I have decided to share my process of daily discernment as much as time allows!

So where are we! I have to say these past five months of my life have been quite the journey! A journey with smooth roads, a variety of speed bumps, and forgiving pot holes! Soo how are WE!! Robert is loving GA Southern! I am continuing to serve alongside the high school youth at Covenant while tackling the joy of Hebrew! I have to admit..I like it! Studying Hebrew is allowing me to read scripture in an entire new context of the early writers of the Old Testament. By the end of this summer I hope to walk away with tools to translate and a deeper understanding of our Scriptures. All who were instrumental in me pursuing a seminary education- I can't say thank you enough! I have loved every moment!! cheers to 4 more years!

We are still enjoying two homes! Home in Charlotte and Home in Statesboro! The communities of friends we have been surrounded by during this time of commuting has been astonishingly beautiful!!!

I stopped blogging for a few months so that I could focus my thoughts in my personal prayer journal. In my journal since Feb. my reflections are centered on the little big topic of forgiveness!!! Fun and scary word!
So what is forgiveness? Why forgive? I have learned over the past year that forgiveness is something people don't like to talk about much less conquer! I was in that same boat until I challenged myself to look within myself and ask...how do I need to forgive myself? Who do I need to forgive? How do you offer authentic forgiveness or even ask for it? It has been fascinating looking all aspects of forgiveness right in the face! I have embraced old friendships and worked to make them new; I have looked myself in the mirror to see how I can better be a disciple of forgiveness; I have been able to extend forgiveness! What I have learned and strive to continue to hold dear...Forgiveness sets you free! Bob Henderson (head of staff) did a forgiveness sermon series early winter...he said through forgiveness you choose relationship! you choose hope in a joyful future over an incident! I love it and am trying to embrace forgiveness daily! Not only are we called to choose forgiveness as a Christian community but we are called to choose relationship! We are freely given the gift of faith and invited to be in relationship with our God, therefore, we have the privilege to participate in relationship with each other by the grace of God! Yesterday evening, I was on a boat ride with the fam! The breathtaking sunset, the cool GA breeze, and the joy of family, I was grinning from ear to ear with happiness! Not just surface, cheesy happy...but the type of happiness that you feel in your soul - joy - the kind of happy you want to shout out and cry at the same time because of the blessings around you! Don't get me wrong, with happiness comes some of those pot holes I mentioned earlier, but happiness that is deep and centered in our Lord is unbreakable! It is through forgiveness, relationships, and happiness that I have experienced God this past spring!

So there you have it! you are up to date!!! I pray for Hannah as she is over seas doing misison work this summer! I pray for all the hartsville, Dahlonega, and charlotte youth who have graduated or are about to graduate from high school! I feel old!! Prayers for Baby Finley, Baby Murray, and Baby Sam!!! I also pray that I will continue to be a forgiving person even when its hard...to know our God forgives and we are called to as well! Thankyou sweet Jesus for the gift of forgiveness because I have the most beautiful relationships!!!

Embracing 2011!

Life is a journey! A journey of faith! Faith is a gift from God! God loved us first! First and Foremost we are to praise God! As 2011 has gotten off to a beautiful beginning I have decided to return to the spiritual discipline of journaling.  I have discerned blogging as journaling and enjoyed sharing how I have and am experiencing God. However, I have decided to reunite with my personal journals and go back to my private journal. I have seen God's grace more than ever in the past few months and I am reflecting and praising our God for every glimpse of Heaven on earth! May you find ways to reflect and praise this day!

Blessings to you! My last blogging journal for now on "It takes two". I love you fam, friends, and you too babe!
~ one grateful servant