Fun time with friends

Meredith, Me, and Deana

Kristie, Joel, Greg, Matthew, and Majors

Me and Gregory

Justin, me, and Kristen

Me and Candace

Me and Kristie

Me and Matthew

And last but not least-me and Gregory!


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For Gregory's birthday, we went to the Sweetwater Brewery in Atlanta. The have beer tasting and also take you on a tour to show you how the beer is made. It was so much fun! Thanks to everyone for coming out. We love you all! There was more people at Mellow Mushroom after the brewery but I forgot to take pictures :(

Happy 26th Birthday Gregory!!!

Today is Greg's 26th birthday, so in honor of him I'd like to list 26 things that I or others love about him :)



1-He's fun to be around
2-He always makes you laugh
3-He always has a positive attitude
4-He balances me out so together we make a super human
5-He is one handsome man!
6-He's really smart (made Dean's list all 4 yrs of college)
7-He is a true friend for life
8-He's a total sweetheart
9-He loves children (obviously since he teaches 2nd grade)
10-He is extremely responsible
11-He can have fun doing nothing
12-He likes things neat and organized (just like me)
13-He has a great sense of humor
14-He puts God first
15-He has good taste in clothes
16-He is a great decorator
17-He loves working in the yard and it shows
18-He is a great planner
19-He is fearfully and wonderfully made
20-He loves the Lord with all his heart
21-He is an awesome dancer
22-He is an amazing leader for our family
23-He always has a smile on his face
24-He is a diligent worker
25-He loves me so much and is really good to me
26-And last but not least he is the best husband around and will be an amazing father someday!

Just like Joseph...

I've hit a low...

I don't know why and I don't know exactly when this happened. But I have hit a valley in the roller coaster of life. It reminds me of the story we taught the kids in Cambodia. Joseph had a hard and a good life. He went through ups and downs. But through it all he had God. I haven't been sleeping good the last two weeks. And I feel very emotional-I cry on my way home, at home, and even in the car on the way to work. Why, you may ask...well, I wish I knew. I guess it's still left over from my trip. I came home with such a renewed vision for my life. I had lists of things I wanted to change and one by one that list is slipping away. I'm clinging to the Lord because my trust is in Him and my trust is Him. But I'm just sad. I type this so that you will be a prayer warrior for me.

Thank you friends!

I know this will pass it's just a season, but I hope it passes soon!

True love...

Aren't we so cute together! I really love my hubby and I'm so blessed to have him in my life. His birthday is this upcoming week and I have made him a special gift that I know he is going to love. I love our little family and the life we have just him and I. I have really been praying for him lately because between his job, getting his masters, and church-he has a busy life. I just love that in the middle of all that craziness he finds time to send me a text or call me just to say I love you. I know this is a sappy post but I just love him so much and i'm so lucky he's all mine! I will leave you with the verse I have been praying for him. Hope you are as blessed as I am to be married to your souls one true mate!
Love-RW

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

True accountability

I don't know if anyone reads my blog on a consistent basis. And thats ok, but it is weird for me to write to myself. So I don't know how much longer I will do this blog thing :) Anyway, I had a great morning devotional and I wanted to share it. Hope whoever is reading has a GREAT day!
Love-RW

A Mutual Dependency
by Rick Warren

I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you. Romans 1:12 (NCV)

*** *** *** ***

In authentic Christian fellowship people should experience a mutual dependency. This mutuality is the art of giving and receiving; it’s depending on each other.

The Bible says, “The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part” (1 Corinthians 12:25 MSG).

Mutuality is the heart of fellowship: building reciprocal relationships, sharing responsibilities, and helping each other. Paul said, “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you” (Romans 1:12 NCV).

All of us are more consistent in our faith when others walk with us and encourage us. The Bible commands mutual accountability, mutual encouragement, mutual serving, and mutual honoring.

Over fifty times in the New Testament we’re commanded to do different tasks for “one another” and “each other.” The Bible says, “Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19 NIV).

You are not responsible for everyone in the body of Christ, but you are responsible to them. God expects you do whatever you can to help them.

Songs of worship...

I have to tell you that I love worship music. I love to praise the Lord through songs. I don't know why but music has always had a special place in my heart. I even have an item on my bucket list that says "I want to sing on stage at my church". Who knows when that will ever happen :) But anyway, I am listening to the "Night of Worship at Buckhead Church right now online. It's a live stream. Yup thats right, I said live stream isnt my church amazing! I really do love technology and how far we've come. Back to my main point, I'm curious as to what your favorite worship song is? Please comment and let me know. Then i will write another post with my favorite one and the lyrics :)
Thanks-
RW

Those who wait upon the Lord...

As my first full week of being home comes to an end I am reminded of just how amazing our God is. Jet lag was like nothing I have ever experienced. I was tired, then wide awake, not hungry, then really hungry and all of the ab0ve was at the wrong times. I was depending on the Lord to make me well and He did! This week I have realized I am very different and it's for the better. I thought I might list the top ten ways I'm different (in no particular order), so here it goes! ENJOY!

1-I'm extremely grateful and blessed for everything in our house
2-I love my job and i'm so blessed to have it, but it is not my whole life
3-I am much more patient
4-I found compassion in my heart (I thought I didn't have any)
5-A piece of my heart was left with those kids in Cambodia
6-I want others to have the passion for missions that I have now
7-I realized how blessed I am to have a husband and family that is good to me
8-I depend on God A LOT more (basically depend on him for everything)!
9-I'm ready for kids and I'd really like to adopt a child (either international or from US)
10-I have lost 8 more pounds which puts me below my goal weight!!!

"O Lord you have searched me and you knew me. You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my laying down, you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in-behind and before, you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me. , your right hand will hold me fast, If I say "surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, " even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Psalms 139

Post Cambodia

(I sent this out to a distro list on my email, but thought I would post it here as well)

Hey friends and family,

Well, i'm home safely! The trip was amazing. Its so hard to put it into words but I will try to give you a little bit of an update. First of all, if you would like to see pictures I have tried to sum up all my pictures into an album and you can view it here http://picasaweb.google.com/rwalkup520/CambodiaMissionTrip. Also, if you want to see the detailed day by day account you can go here http://missionincambodia.blogspot.com. I will also continue updating the blog as I get updates from the Pastor there. And there is a team going in December so if you are interested you can continue to get updates. Ok here goes what I have to say...

20,000 miles of traveling, 74 hours of travel time, 13 hour time difference from home, 37 kids, 10 team members...with ONE mission...showing Jesus' love by personally loving these children. As I wrote in my journal, I left the US excited to see these children and just love on them. When I arrived in Cambodia, tired and jet lagged, my heart was FULL of compassion for this country. I have never seen such poverty in my life. We spent a lot of time traveling in a bus and for as long as you can see on dirt roads is rice fields and markets. There was children taking care of children. Everywhere we went children and adults we trying to sale whatever they can. "Lady, you buy-one dollar, please, you buy" is etched in my memory. But the second we pulled up to the orphanage and these precious little angels were jumping up and down excited to see us and as the door opened they are bowing at your feet saying "chumree-uhp soo-uh", my heart filled up with love. I had been praying God would allow me to see the children as He sees them and my prayers were answered. Our time was limited with the kids and I wish so bad I would have had more time. But the time we did have was precious. I just fell in love with the kids. It's amazing to me that I could make such a deep bond with kids that don't even speak my language. I felt God there and saw Jesus in their eyes. They were the most well behaved children I have ever met. Always satisfied, smiling, content, and loving. Seeing their faces as they played in the Ocean was so rewarding. The hardest point was leaving them. I can see their tear stained faces chasing after the bus as we left. It was so sad to leave them but I know they are right where they need to be. These children are the future of Cambodia. Less than 1% of Cambodia is Christian and it will take these warriors for God to change Cambodia. It can happen! The Pastor there at the orphanage says he has a 3 part mission- 1)take care of the kids (give them food, shelter, and love) 2)train them with some type of skill and teach them English and 3)lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus. He has the kids from the time they come into the orphanage until the time they graduate college and get a job. I'm so excited to support this ministry too. Especially since I have personally met the children. It only costs $360 a year to send one of the kids to college. If you are interested in sending a child to college, please let me know! I know you weren't there and it's much different for me, who was there, but I would love to help them as much as possible. Overall, the trip was a success and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me next. Thank you so much for all your support both financial, prayer, and encouragement. I definitely could not have done any of this without you! I have never been so uncomfortable in my life but I have also never learned so much and felt so close to the BIG God I serve. The trip was totally worth it and I will do another one as soon as I have an opportunity. I love you all very much! in Khmer, "Knyom sraw-line ne-uh nah"

With Christ's unfailing love-

--
Rachael Walkup


"O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them." Psalm 40:5

A slideshow for you to enjoy...

Just a small taste of my trip :)

I'm back!!!!

I will post on here a few paragraphs and pictures to sum up my Cambodia trip. i'm just not ready for that yet. But I got this in my email and firgured it was worth sharing :) so enjoy!!!


I've learned .... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned .... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned .... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned .... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned ... . That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned .... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned .... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned .... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned .... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned .... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned .... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned .... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned .... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned .... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned ... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned .... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned .... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned .... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned .... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned .... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned .... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned ... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned .... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned .... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned .... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned .... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned .... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned .... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned .... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned .... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.