Lean In | Yolande Nina

Each month, we are going to take time to get to know one member of our church just a little bit better. We hope this short interview allows us to lean-in to help us know one another better and grow together as a body of believers.

IMG_2262.jpg

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

We are the Nina's - Kyron, Yolande and our girls, Keira 10 and Amiyah-Mae 7. We relocated to Tuscaloosa all the way from East London, South Africa (8 777 miles away!) one year ago. Both of my daughters attend Rock Quarry Elementary and are settling in well. Kyron works at Mercedes-Benz in Strategy Planning. I am currently a "home executive" until the girls are more settled, I have been a Chartered Accountant with a finance working background. We attended an Anglican Church back home, St. Albans.

Can you share one way that God has been faithful to you recently or something he is teaching you?

God has shown me, time and time again, that He is my constant when everything else around me changes. He never fails, and He remains in me.

What are some small things that make your day better?

Before bedtime, the girls share their happiest and saddest parts of the day. This makes the whole day more meaningful, and there is always a giggle or tear--or both.

Who’s your go to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?

Hillsongs

What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?

Pencil in appointments in my calendar even though I also have an online version

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

Here! Tuscaloosa, USA is 8,777 miles from home.

What’s the best and worst thing about getting older?

The best part is all the experience gained, and the memories created. The worst part is when your body just does not do the things as easy as it use to do!

Name three things you are loving.

1. Watching my girls get on the yellow school bus every morning and coming back safely every afternoon. This is such a privilege, compared to the lifestyle back home.

2. Being part of the Woman's Group (Tuesday mornings) - I have met such amazing ladies and they have made me feel like part of a family. 

3. Meeting so many different people and families and learning about their cultures and diverse backgrounds.

What are you reading or have you recently read? 

God is for Real by Todd Burpo

IMG_20171205_090146_918.jpg

Warrior Presbytery Women's Ministry Annual Meeting

1440519767.png

What: The yearly gathering of women from across the Warrior Presbytery

When: Saturday, January 27 at 9:00 am 

Where: Trinity Presbyterian Church

What to Expect: Registration begins at 9:00, along with coffee and refreshments. We will hear from our Women's Ministry president, Debbie Glass, as well as others serving our presbytery during the meeting portion of the gathering. We will also hear from Lori Sealy, our speaker and guest musician. Lunch will be provided following our time together. Child care is provided particularly for our out of town guests. However, if you are in need of childcare for the event, please let Monica Pettus (monp19@hotmail.com) know.  

Who is our speaker? LORI SEALY is daily amazed at the grace of God that has been poured out in her life, as well as by the all-wise hand of His providence that has carved her every step  - including the really hard steps. Nearly aborted, graciously adopted, and later abandoned, Lori has traveled the road of atheism and lived a life of autism. Along the way she's wrestled deeply with doubt, and through that wrestling has learned to rest in the precious promises of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Through all the ups and downs of her journey - the "many dangers, toils, and snares" -  she has found Christ faithful, even when she's been faithless and has seen the sovereign mercy of her God form hope out of hopelessness and grant light even in the deepest darkness. 

Lori began playing piano at the age of 5 and was classically trained until the age of 20.  At age 10 she started writing her first songs - creating compositions that fell eclectically along folk, jazz, classical, rock, and electronic genres. Growing up in South Carolina, Lori now lives in Cullowhee, North Carolina, with her husband of 23 years, Phillip Sealy.  Phillip is the pastor of Redeemer Church (PCA) in Sylva, North Carolina.  The Sealys have two children, Joshua (15) and Elizabeth (13).  Joshua and Lori both live with autism.
 

Women's Ministry Kickoff 2018

Friday Email Kickoff-2.png

New Years is a great time for all of us to stop, reflect, and dream about the future. Sometimes people choose a word of the year to focus their thoughts. And in 2018, we as a women's ministry, we are following suit. We will be spending the year talking about, reflecting on, learning about, and practicing prayer. Our desire for the kickoff event on Wednesday, January 10 is for us to come together at the beginning of 2018 and focus our hearts on the incredible gift of communing with the Lord.

If you haven't already agreed to be a part of a table, please sign up on Sunday morning or email sarah.r.ammen@gmail.com to save your seat. The night will begin at 6:00 with a time of fellowship and an opportunity to register for our spring retreat, sign up to attend the Warrior Presbytery Women's Ministry Annual Meeting, buy your book for a ladies small group, and purchase a Trinity Women's Ministry T-shirt. 

At 6:30, we'll sit down for dinner and conversation. During our time, we will also hear more about our vision for the year and some of what lies ahead. We'll end the night with coffee and dessert. You do not want to miss out. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Stephanie Seawell (205-310-7678) or Sarah Ammen (321-514-2998) with any questions you might have. We hope to see you there! 

Lean In | Sandy Groves

Each month, we are going to take time to get to know one member of our church just a little bit better. We hope this short interview allows you to lean-in to help us know one another better and grow together as a body of believers.

IMG_3731.jpg

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

 I am originally from Birmingham and attended the University of Alabama where I met my husband, Don. We lived in Baldwin County, the Daphne area, for 31 years before moving to Tuscaloosa almost 8 years ago to be near our 2 children and 4 grandchildren. When people ask me what I do, I tell them I am a “stay at home grandmother” and love every second of it! Don and I have been married for almost 44 years and I so look forward to the next 44!

What has God been teaching you lately?

I must admit I can’t separate His faithfulness and what He is teaching me; this is my whole testimony. Having grown up in an unhappy and unhealthy home, it was always my prayer and heart's desire that God would provide a wonderful husband and family--and He delivered! Everyday He teaches me how important it is to love my family and never take them for granted. God has truly restored to me the years the locust took from me. This is why I love 1 Peter 3:15. "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." God is my reason and hope!

What’s your favorite piece of clothing you own / owned?

My workout clothes and tennis shoes

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning medal for?

Spoiling grandchildren...comes very easy for me!

Who’s your go to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?

Rod Stewart

What is one of your favorite smells?

Thanksgiving. I love the smells of cooking for this holiday!

What is something that your friends would consider “so you”?

My passion for Bama football

What are three things you are loving?

I am loving my grands, my pets and walking!

What are you reading/have recently read?

I’m not much of a reader, but I am enjoying my new devotional book my daughter-in-law gave me.

IMG_3797.JPG

Lean In | Madeline Cawley

Each month, we are going to take time to get to know one member of our church just a little bit better. We hope this short interview allows you to lean-in to help us know one another better and grow together as a body of believers.

unnamed.jpg

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I am a fifth-year student at the University of Alabama, double majoring in Flute Performance and Music Education. I am so blessed to have a loving family; my parents live in Pensacola, and my newly married brother and sister-in-law live in Nashville.

What has God been teaching you lately?

God has been reminding me that my identity is in Christ, and that he is trustworthy. I seem to have to learn these lessons over and over. This semester I tried to take on 20 credit hours and graduate music school auditions. I started having emotional breakdowns almost every day. I like to feel like I have control of my life, but instead I felt like my whole world was spiraling around me and I could not grasp onto anything; I felt like I was failing at everything. Satan was filling my head with negative thoughts about myself, about what I was doing with my life; anything he could throw at me, he did! But the Lord is faithful, and he reminded me that he is not the kind of father to leave his daughter alone to fend for herself. I see now that this very challenging time was him extending his grace and mercy to me, coaxing me to lean into him, showing me that my worth is not in my performance in school, but it is in his Son Jesus. He is a peace-giving father!

What’s your favorite piece of clothing you own / owned?

My flare jeans

What state or country do you never want to go back to?

Mexico; I got sick from the water!

What songs have you completely memorized?

One of my mom's favorite songs is "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay. We were going to take a 10-hour road trip to Illinois, so I printed out the lyrics to the song, burned it on a CD, and we listened to it the ENTIRE way on repeat. We eventually learned all the lyrics.

What are some small things that make your day better?

Seeing a gorgeous sunset; having an unexpected deep conversation; going to O'Henry's coffee shop

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

Pristina, Kosovo - my mom and I have traveled here several times partnering with Cru. We meet Kosovar college students and share the Good News with them. If you are curious or interested, please come talk to me about it; I love to share about it!

What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Gaucho pants

What is one of your favorite smells?

Gardenia flowers

What do you like most about your family?

I can share any problem I am having with my parents, and they always make me feel better. They bring me back to the Gospel every time, and I am so thankful for that!

What are three things you are loving?

I am loving playing the flute, my cat Kitty, and cold(er) weather!

What are you reading/have recently read?

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

Lean In | Allie Wolfe

Each month, we are going to take time to get to know one member of our church just a little bit better. We hope this short interview allows you to lean-in to help us know one another better and grow together as a body of believers.

unnamed.jpg

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

My husband, Daniel, and I have been married for about two and half years. We met in college at UA, and both got jobs in town after graduation so we have been in Tuscaloosa ever since! He is a middle school teacher at Collins Riverside, and I now work for the church as the office administrator.

What has God been at teaching you lately?

God has been revealing my own pride to me, which is really hard! I am realizing that my insecurity is actually rooted in my pride, and I am starting to learn that I need to be freed from my inward focus. Psalm 27:4 has been encouraging to me as I try to shift my focus from myself, and "gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."

What are some small things that make your day better?

Coffee or tea and a nice walk.

Who’s your go to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?

The Lone Bellow is one I keep coming back to lately.

What shows are you into?

Currently, This is Us, New Girl, and Stranger Things . But I am also always re-watching Gilmore Girls.

What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?

Make bread! I've recently started making bread from scratch with a natural leaven, and I just love it.

What weird food combinations do you really enjoy?

Peanut butter and dill pickle sandwich. It's something my dad used to make for me as a kid, and most of my friends find it weird.

What are three things you are loving?

I am loving the cooler weather, my new high waisted jeans with just the right amount of stretch, and lemon ginger tea!

What are you reading/have recently read?

Well I re-read Harry Potter every year around the holidays so that's what I am currently reading. But I also recently read And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, which was so sad but also so good.

IMG_5900.JPG