Happy 4th Birthday Liza & Grace from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

Made some good memories for sure.  As we pulled out of the park to come home Liza said, “Camping – be right back.”  We’ll see.  Need a little time and rest between this and our next camping trip!

Christ is All!

Last night before bed he started to get a little nervous.  Maybe it didn’t help that I had him sit and listen to me read the school rules to him from the handbook and then sign a piece of paper saying he understood them.  (I know, probably a little over the top.)  On the way to bed he started saying that he was a little nervous.  He talked it through with Leslie and I and we all remembered the scripture we learned at Camp Cornerstone…“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid.  Do not be discouraged.  For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)  After some prayers and more talking he finally said, “I’m ready.”

Then this morning it was like a whole new depth of joy to see him walk into his room with so much courage.  I knew he was a little nervous but he went for it.  I’m just so proud of him and he’s growing up so fast.  Today was a great victory in parenting for Leslie and I.  We are thanking God so much for the unbelievable blessings of Benjamin, Liza and Grace.  What an amazing ride.  So thankful to be doing this with you Leslie!

Benjamin’s First Day of Kindergarden from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

Had a great time.  I caught a pretty big red fish right off then had a few others big boys break the line in the reeds.  Benjamin caught a little shark and helped me reel in another red fish that we tossed back.  Papa and Grannie, were the guides…keeping Benjamin and I baited with fresh shrimp and in the right spots with the tide.   Had a great time and had to cut it short with a big storm rolling in.

Saint Mark’s is one of my favorite places in the world.  When Leslie and I were dating and in our first few years of marriage I spent a ton of time on these waters with her dad.  It was good to be back.  Need to do this more often.  Good day to enjoy God’s creation.

About to clean some fish and fry ‘em up with some hush-puppies and grits.  Then I’m headed back to Auburn to hang with Leslie and the girls.  Benjamin is going to stay down here a few days… bribed by a trip to Chuckie-Cheese and a trip to Space Museum tomorrow.

So we are at the beach this week for a much needed vacation.  Just me, Leslie, Benjamin, Liza and Grace and maybe a few guests.  We are having a great time down here…kinda like kid’s camp or something.  Complete with 2 cases of capri-sun, hot dog’s, fruit snacks, spf 50 sunscreen, a whole laundry basket of beach toys.  Grace and Benjamin are much more into the pool than the beach.  Liza is a beach girl through and through.  But Benjamin was really liking the beach last night at about 9pm when we were running around with our flashlights hunting down some crabs.  Great boy time.  Needless to say we are all sleeping pretty hard.

Leslie’s down the beach right now hooking up with some old friends she grew up with that were going to be here this weekend.  So glad she can get away for a while.  They’re all going out to dinner tonight.  We’ll be eating some grill cheese and fruit snacks.

About to lather up the spf 50 and head out again.  Much Love from St. George Island – Josh

I was 24 years old and she was 23. Seems so young now but at the time we didn’t think so. And It’s been an amazing 10 years together…really 13 years…we dated for 3 before getting married. There is something so special about her and I saw it the first time we met. She was flat out beautiful and so full of life (and still is both). An incredible gift to my life. I just don’t know what I would be doing without her…completely lost. So Jesus, I thank you for Leslie.

For our 10th Anniversary I am actually in Uganda of all places. So we are planning to get away to the beach by ourselves next weekend. But with a little help from Wi-Fi in Amsterdam, time-released blog posting and twitter I hope to give her this gift.

So Leslie, Here’s a little something I put together for you. I have missed you so much in these last two weeks and can’t wait to see your face and hold you when I get home tomorrow afternoon. I love you so much babe. And tell the kids I miss them so much and will be home soon. These have been the best 10 years of my life. Happy Anniversary! I love you – Josh

10 Year Anniversary from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

(PS Leslie, You’re probably wondering how I got this thing posted today.  I did it from Amsterdam on the 13th and set it up to post on the 22nd.  Love You!)

Leslie has been a mom now for over 5 years.  I’ve seen her carry all three of our children with love in her own body.  And then I watched her I give birth to our son Benjamin and then our twins, Liza and Grace.  That alone is an impressive feat.  I’ve seen her pray over all three of our kids night after night.  And I’ve watched her go on completely exhausted from sleepless nights of calming fears and comforting hearts…all with a beautiful smile and lots of laughs.

She makes lunches, cleans up poop, washes little people’s clothes, mops the floor, cleans up throw-up, makes beds, cleans bathrooms, plans meals, buys groceries, checks out teachers, and gets three little ones dressed every day.  She teaches, nurtures, listens, laughs, disciplines, and prays all day long for each of them.  And all of this she does with a joy that I know no other to have.

Aside from all of this (which is really so much more that I have written here), she works as a Speech Pathologist to help provide finances for our family.  And she loves those kids she serves like crazy too.

But then it keeps going…she is a beautiful wife.  She listens to my crazy thoughts, bears with my grief, celebrates with me in my victories and goes to the low places with me in my disappointments.  I have to tell you, it is not easy being the wife of a Pastor…especially this one.

So today we honor Leslie, this special woman who’s heart has been entrusted to us but ultimately belongs to Christ the King.  Love you – Josh, Benjamin, Liza and Grace!

Here’s a little video I put together for Leslie last year.  Check it out…

Mother’s Day 2008 from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

1. 26.2 miles is a loooooong way to run.
2. My wife has got some serious guts.

I’m just so proud of Leslie and it was an amazing to watch her prepare over these last 6 months and then accomplish her goal. She ran strong until her IT band began to give her knee problems at around mile 21.  She had to walk/run the final 5 miles and take a break at mile 24 because the pain was making her so nauseous.  But somehow she pulled herself together and persevered to the end, finishing strong.  Her final time was 4 hours, 46 minutes, 06 seconds.

Did I mention how proud I am of her? An amazing daughter of the King, incredible wife, mother of 3, daughter, sister, and now a MARATHON RUNNER.  Leslie, you are a Champion!