Hallows Two Year Anniversary

 A part of me feels like Hallows has been coming together for two years on Sunday nights for worship but the other part of me feels like it has been 10 years. Numbers are not important but a lot of people want to know how we have grown… so, we started with about 20 people two years ago and now run about 120-130 adults on Sunday nights and 20-25 kids (we also have like 5+ people pregnant).

Anyways, sometimes it seems like we just got here but most days it feels like home. The only reason the move and transition to the northwest from the south has been doable is because of God's grace. Andrew asked us on Sunday night, when we celebrated Hallows 2 year anniversary, if anyone wanted to share evidence of grace they have experienced at Hallows. Several people spoke and the theme was common….I want to echo what they said... Community.

God has graciously provided people around us that speak truth, encourage us, support us, pray for us, celebrate holidays with us, camp with us, worship with us, treat us like family, watch our kids, cry with us, love on our kids, bible study with us, and on and on. Besides the new friends we have made in Seattle at work, at church or in the community, I am especially grateful for the other ladies who also moved from AL to be a part of the Hallows. As moms they understand me, being far from family they understand, living here for the same reason they understand and for that I am so thankful. Other evidence of grace I have seen in the past two years is how God has provided specific people with talents to serve when needed (musically, with kids, sound, videographers, graphic design), sound biblical teaching from Andrew, a space to worship, people that fill the room for worship and open homes for missional communities. Please continue to pray for the Hallows and specifically missional communities. Also pray for the one-on-one relationships people are forming or where discipleship is already occurring. Thank you for continuing to support us as it is hard living far from family and our close friends we miss! Especially that little nephew of mine, Connor!

Pictures of some of the people who make us happy out here from the other night… we potlucked it before church! Ill share a little under each picture so you can get to know some of the other Hallows members...

ladies who take the time to coordinate food for events make me happy

the Hudson family on left from AL; couple on right has son with same bday as Sadie and other couple is pregnant… babies everywhere! 

New members who are willing to serve in middle; Kim on right; John who has lead our small group when we are out of town far left

Couple in middle and their son on right are newer miss comm leaders (He has written blog post for Hallows and is  doing a pastoral intern under Andrew)

2 families here with a total of 6 kids (adult to kid ratio is high); Keith on left is doing a church planting apprenticeship with the Hallows

The Bounds on left; Kari on right (both have been here since we moved and are very comforting to see on Sundays or during the week at our house.) And Morgan the Hallows Administrative Intern photo bombing. 

Mark and Amy Smith on left lead a miss comm…. one may call this the cool table. Mark and Amy are the coolest. 

Great college students here; 1/3 of people who gather are college at Hallows 

the 3 college students on right and middle boy on left all come to our miss comm weekly; they are all seniors and VERY mature spiritually and in life

Two more pregnant ladies at this table; Tom on the far left has a nice lake house and mountain cabin which him and his wife open up their homes for Hallows events.

Leighton, Sadie and I enjoying dinner with 3 of my favorites! 

All these girls are in our miss comm as well (Left- Lonnie, Alicia and Beka)  Ive enjoyed doing one-on-one bible studies with them as well. 

Sadie wanted to share what she has been up to… she crawls so fast and gets where she wants now! We can't turn our back or she is down the hall or in the kitchen. Lately she has wanted to stand holding on to table/toy box. She hasn't pulled up alone but it will probably be soon! 7 months old!