Update!

Hey friends!

Whoops! I have not blogged in a while! We have been very busy!

This past weekend, Friday-Monday, we went with the Dodds to the lake! It was so.much.fun!!!!! We went to Dale Hollow Lake, about 2 1/2 hours away, and near the KY line. We went tubing, went swimming in the lake, drove around in the boat, hung out at the lake house, did fireworks and sparklers... Pictures to come! I need to upload them! :o)

My dear mother and darling Ms. Kathy threw me a surprise party last week on Monday night! I was totally out of it and very much surprised! It was so much fun!!!! :D Ms. Kathy did an AMAZING job and it was so incredibly lovely!! The food was delicious and everything looked amazing! It was so wonderful and fun!!

Yesterday I had SO.MUCH.FUN with my dear friends Jenny, Mimi, Elaina Joy, Anna, Sarah Beth, and Julia (Cara has been a little under the weather). Anna is leaving for camp for a month tomorrow and gets back while we are at camp. Sarah Beth is also starting a camp tomorrow! Anyway, we went to the Frist to see the Chihuly and Couture exhibits! Ahhhhmazing!! We LOVED both!! If you have not seen them, do so!! The Frist is free for guests 18&under! http://www.fristcenter.org/site/visit/admission.aspx . And of course we spent like an hour in ArtQuest! :D

Well, conference work is going well! I emailed 20 churches the other day and will do a follow-up on Monday!

I am so excited to share that you can now order free brochures, download the flyer, and watch the new promo video on the website! Check it out!

I am also so excited to share with you some news about the conference! Joshua Harris will be at three DHT conferences this year, including the Nashville one! From his site: (http://www.joshharris.com/2010/05/the_do_hard_things_tour_2010.php)

The Do Hard Things Tour 2010

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My brothers Alex and Brett have invited me to participate in three stops of their Do Hard Things Conference tour this summer. These events, designed for teens and their parents, call young adults to reject our culture's expectations for the teen years and to get serious about faith, family, and future. Alex and Brett both share challenging messages. My brother Joel leads worship. In my session I'll be sharing the message ofDug Down Deep and exhorting teens to build their lives on truth about God.

Here are the conferences that I'll be part of:

• Atlanta, GA - July 24, 2010
• Nashville, TN - August 14, 2010
• Washington, DC - September 25, 2010

I also have some sad news. :'( Please be in prayer for the Harris family! Here is the blog post from the Rebelution Blog.

Goodbye, Mama

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” — John 11:24-26

At 8:00pm (PDT) this evening our mother, Sono Sato Harris, went to be with her Savior. She went peacefully and painlessly. We all grieve, but we have hope. We rejoice with her — and we eagerly anticipate our reunion with her someday.

Fourth of July represents something even greater to us now, true freedom for our dearest mother — from a body wracked by cancer and life in a broken world.

Tonight, as fireworks lit up the sky, we like to think that they celebrated a life well-lived — and a recognition that it is not death to die, that we can still rejoice.

Our older brother Joel, who leads worship for the Rebelution Tour, wrote a song for mom yesterday called “Goodnight, Mama.” The lyrics beautifully capture our last several months with her — and are included below.

GOODNIGHT, MAMA
Written July 3, 2010

Walking through your door, sitting on your bed
Talking about everything together
We’ll talk into the night, till everything seems clear again
And there’s only one thing left to say…

Goodnight, mama, I’m so glad that you’re here to talk to
Sleep well, I’ll see you soon
Thank you, Jesus, for a mother who pours herself out
Always something more to do

Walking through you door, bringing you your food
Talking about how you slept last night
We only have a little while, till you need to rest again
And there’s only one thing left to say…

Goodnight, mama, I’m so glad that I got to see you
Sleep well, I’ll be back soon
Thank you, Jesus, for a mother who poured her life out
Please fill her anew

Walking through your door, to see you one more time
Thinking about all the times we’ve shared
Not much longer now, because He’s calling you home
And there’s only one thing left to say…

Goodbye, mama, I’m so glad that I got to know you
Farewell, I’ll see you soon
Take her, Jesus, to a place with no pain or sickness
To heaven with you

Copyright © 2010 Joel Harris