Food, restaurants and friends

While in Phoenix, we went to some amazing restaurants.  I loved it because no cooking for me!!!

A couple of blocks from the convention there was a shopping center with lots of yummy restaurants.  Some were so good we went TWICE!

This was at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant with some friends, probably our fav restaurant while we were there!  It was SOOO good!

James and Beth, friends and a local pastor from our area

Dennis and Mike, some local pastors from our association and friends of ours as well!

Our friends Josh and Katie...Josh is also a local worship leader in our area.

Katie and I hung out alot while hubbies were in meetings...we even got to go thrift shopping one afternoon.  It was so much fun and we discovered the store Ross too...one of our new favorites!!!

We went to this restaurant place twice too...little quaint, local place and it was so good!

I loved having dinner and getting to spend one-on-one time with this special hunk too!

One morning we ate breakfast at the Good Egg and I had this...enough fruit for 3 people!  It was delicious and I brought the rest home to enjoy later!

Our favorite!

I had a roasted chicken wrap that was DELICIOUS!!!

And they had the best hummus I have ever had in my life....it was soooo good!!! I am craving it now!

Southern Baptist Convention

Wow the conference was amazing!  I had never been to the Southern Baptist Convention before, however Jay had.  There were some amazing speakers and it was neat to be a part of the business portion as well.  We got to see some new and old friends, all which were fun.  

There was so much information I would like to share as well as sermons from some amazing, Godly men.  However I know you don't have all day (nor do I...I am waiting to board our plane home as we speak) so I will lead you to the site where you can watch any of them at www.sbcannualmeeting.net.  Ones you should especially watch are Louie Giglio, Johnny Hunt, Rick Warren, Bob Pittman and David Platt.

Some of these (especially of the speakers) are from my iphone so not great quality but a pic nonetheless.

Louie Giglio

Jay and I at a 9:00 p.m. conference...I was beyond tired (it was 11:00 home time!).

The choir was amazing.  They were gettin' it!  Who says Baptists don't dance?!?!?!

SBC Choir from Amanda Lemonds on Vimeo.

We also attended a B21 luncheon where there was a panel of speakers.  The speakers included Kevin Ezell (President of the North American Mission Board), Al Mohler (President of Southern Seminary), David Platt (Author of Radical and Pastor at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL), Danny Akin (President of Southeastern Seminary), and John Piper (Author and Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist).

David Platt preaching at conference (sorry pic out of order)

Before the B21 luncheon, Jay and I took the opportunity to go and meet David Platt and John Piper (two of my role models).  They are both incredibly, Godly men and I was starstruck but couldn't miss the opportunity!

Jay with David Platt, Author of Radical

Me with David Platt...he was a very cool guy and very down to earth.  I was very humbled to meet him!

We also met Al Mohler (President of Southern Seminary) John Piper (needs no introduction!).  Again...starstruck and humbled!

Afterwards, Jay and Josh met Kevin Ezell (President of NAMB) to discuss connections with our church planting network.

Tom Eliff (President of the International Mission Board)

Some statistics from the International Mission Board from 2010....

The conference ended with a commissioning service for new international missionaries which was humbling to watch.  It was incredible!!!  Can't wait to go back next year!

Phoenix, Arizona

This past week, Jay and I had the privilege of going to the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.  It was a work trip of sorts for Jay but I enjoyed going with him as well as relaxing as well.  I have alot of catching up to do on the blog from our trip so it will be in several different posts.  Be warned there are many pictures, some from my Canon while others are iphone pics.  

To begin, here are some random pics of the city.  It was very HOT while we were there but there was only 3% humidity so we didn't sweat like we would in the South.  I had never been to Arizona before so I expected it to be all dessert and no trees.  However in the city there were lots of palm trees which I loved because I felt like I was at the beach!  On the outskirts of the city in the surrounding towns, it was more of a dessert but those pics will come in a later post.

We rode the public tram to and from our hotel to the convention center everyday.  It was a neat alternative to driving although we did ALOT of walking as well.

This was the convention center where the convention was during the week.

The All-Star game will be held in Phoenix on July 12th....too bad we won't be here then.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn, very nice and cozy.

I especially loved this...

And I found made some time most days for an hour or two.

Funny moment...we bought some fresh fruit at the store to snack on in our room and we didn't have a knife, so my dear husband cut it with a plastic knife haha!

Beautiful city...hopefully we will be back soon!