Here's the guilty evidence: these men proudly display the signed copies of my book that they bought for their wives -- just so their wives wouldn't object to the boatload of other books they bought for themselves! Even though it's blurry, this photo makes me smile.
They don't have to wear the "Fabulous" tag for everyone else to know it's true. Jennifer Lam and Emily Davis are innately fabulous. But, still, it's nice to advertise it. This photo was taken at Hillwood Museum and Gardens, where the museum has guests wear this tag. We couldn't let that photo op pass.
For the third year running, we've taken Queen Marguerite out to tea for her birthday. Here we are at the Reynolds Tea Room in Annapolis. From left: Margaret (my housemate and the birthday girl), me, Jane Alam, and Cleo Mercado.
My three-year-old nephew, Matthew, took this picture of me with his siblings, Natalie and Patrick, during one of our outings. This time, we went to a musical production of "The Velveteen Rabbit," as our special time out together.
The video crew and I are squinting in the morning sunlight as we prepare to leave the small town of Villamontes after visiting the more remote regions of southern Bolivia. We were there to shoot some footage for the 2007 Sovereign Grace Mission Video. I must point out David's "man bag." This was made by the Weenhayek women of the village we had camped in the night before. We bought many bags to support their economy. But the guys discovered what women have known for eons: bags are highly useful to carry your stuff. (From left: Andrew Gallo, me, David Altrogge, Pat Santavenere.) More details about this trip are filed under the Travel Notes blog category.
I don't care how old any woman is, it's still fun to play dress up. Here I am with Jane Alam, Cleo Mercado and Aida Alam in our Indian bling. Yes, they are real outfits. Mine came from Andhra Pradesh courtesy of my friend, Swarna. This was taken right after an outstanding Indian meal and right before a four-hour Bollywood extravaganza--which, I am pleased to report, even the guys enjoyed.
We had our annual staff dinner in January this year--a nice change of pace. Here is C.J. Mahaney with several of my colleagues. The fact that they are all single and that this picture ended up on the blog is entirely coincidental. Really. (From left: Scott Schefferstein, Drew Garfield, C.J., Matt Wahl, and Abdoul Thiam.)
They move, they twinkle, but they're not real. Christmas reindeer still attract admirers, though.
Here is the Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastors College Class of 2006 receiving their pastoral charge from C.J. Mahaney. Look closely and you'll see C.J. is wearing a suit and tie for this august occasion!
Though every blooming thing is true misery for my allergies, I still love spring for its Impressionist-style blossoms and buds.
My brother-in-law, Andrew, celebrates his son's second birthday in high style.
My niece and nephew joined the bear chillin' on the bench. They love to stage photos as much as I love to take them.
Over the years, I've met many new people at my church who read one of Josh's books and ended up visiting--and even joining--our church because of what they read. Here, Josh is with Mike Pasalich, who traveled all the way from Sydney, Australia, to see if the church was like what he had been reading and hearing about. As Mike said, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" was helpful to his relationships, but in the end the book made him love Jesus more. There's no higher commendation for any author.
Doesn't everyone have a large shrimp boat in their front yard? Well, no. But in New Orleans, it's quite common to see boats, cars, and personal watercraft sprinkling the landlubber scene. Many streets don't have signs anymore and the houses are trashed beyond recognition. Sometimes a landmark like "that big shrimp boat in Chalmette" are all you've got to negotiate the city.
This was the liveliest table at our staff Christmas party this year! From left (standing): Me, Mindy Hooper, C.J. Mahaney, Larry Earles, Roger Hooper. From left (sitting): Rocio Borda, Carolyn Mahaney, Dawn Weaver, Nora Earles, and Becky Hooper.
I love the banner on this building in New Orleans. At the time of this photo, Lakeview's members were meeting in another facility because none of the post-Katrina moldy water damage on the inside had been cleaned up. Their priority was restoring the members' homes. You can see the water line on the side of the building.
Girls day out--tea at the Four Seasons before seeing the latest version of Pride & Prejudice. Clockwise from top left: Madonna, Annie, Mindy, Margaret, me, and Theresa.
Josh Harris and I did an interview with Boundless peeps Ted Slater and Motte Brown in the autumn of 2005.
I'm holding a new friend in this photo, Miss Hannah Rogers. She is four. And whenever her mother, Jenn, is reading my blog, she sees my picture and announces, "Look! It's Miss Carolyn McCulley." She is amazed that I'm in the computer. So now she's on the computer, too!
I couldn't leave out Hannah's brother, Landon. In this portrait, he is wearing a bit of his pizza dinner. We had just celebrated the birthday of his father, Chad, who is here at our Pastors College until May, 2006.
Right before I received my book contract, some of my friends decided to start a writing club. Little did they know they'd be pressed into service when it came time to review my book! So now I'd like to introduce you to two charter members of the First Draft Team. I'm on the left, next to Larry. Larry faithfully read and edited every first draft chapter of my book and then numerous versions thereafter. On the right is Vivian. She proofed many chapters, as well, but her claim to fame is the Top 10 List in chapter one--which has gotten more positive reviews than the book itself! ;)
She always said she'd do this for her 40th birthday, and she did. My friend (and colleague) Dawn Weaver went sky-diving to usher in a new decade. You go, girl!
40 rocks!!
This was taken on a muggy August day, right outside the White House. I could only document this trip on my camera phone. We weren't allowed to carry anything more in there than what I'm holding: keys, wallet, umbrella, cell phone. Nothing else, not even any lipstick (much to my horror). I never knew how dependent I was on my purse until I wasn't allowed to take it somewhere. I've lived in the D.C. area for nearly all my life, but this was my first time to tour the White House. The staff of Sovereign Grace Ministries went together, a delightful outing courtesy of our executive director, Pat Ennis.
This is where I spend six days out of seven. I'm either here working, worshiping, or fellowshipping. Sometimes it's seven out of seven days. The offices for Sovereign Grace are part of the same facility as Covenant Life Church.
This is my caregroup leader, Doug (standing), and another caregroup member and good friend, Larry, serving some of the ladies in our caregroup by washing and waxing our cars. They are proof that servant-leadership doesn't have to wait for marriage. Thanks, guys!
A suburban outpost really doesn't have a true downtown, but the Rio area is probably the next best thing in Gaithersburg. You can always count on seeing someone from my church strolling the boardwalk at this lake.
Here's the break room at my office, and my colleagues enjoying a staff breakfast. If there's free food, there's a crowd.
A refreshing week with some wonderful women! Counterclockwise from bottom left: Kim Wagner, Margaret Ashmore, Mary Ann Lepine, Holly Elliff, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, me. Taken July, 2005.
I'm not that much of a gardener, so when my container plants on the deck actually bloom, I get pretty excited.
This is my youngest "nibling"--Matthew. He loves his Cheetos! Of course, it would have been a whole lot less messy if Aunt Carolyn had remembered to put on that bib that's hanging behind him.
This is my oldest nephew, Patrick. Or Bubble Boy, as I call him when I see this shot. It was taken Fourth of July weekend during one of our Grand Adventures together.
C.J. Mahaney, Albert Mohler, Ligon Duncan, and Mark Dever in Dr. Mohler's office at Southern Seminary. They were there to do this photo shoot and a videotaped interview (hilarious and informative--check it out at www.togetherforthegospel.org). Behind them you can see part of an original oil painting of C.H. Spurgeon.
This is the speaker team at the "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ" conference. It was taken September, 2004. From bottom left: C.J. and Carolyn Mahaney, Ben Patterson, Al Mohler, David Powlison, John Piper. From top right: Scott Croft, Mark Dever, Michael Lawrence, me, Matt Schmucker, and the two gentlemen who served the hearing-impaired. (Sorry, gentlemen, I don't recall we were ever introduced!) Photo courtesy of Scott W. Smith Productions.
