4.08.2008
So...yeah...could it be true???
So...last year, shortly after I arrived in Salem, the church staff participated in a friendly round of March Madness Bracket-Mania. I like doing brackets and trying to figure it all out. I confess - I don't watch a ton of basketball, but CLEARLY like college ball over pro ball any day. (Don't get me started...) I typically start paying attention close to the regional tournaments...yeah, right before the brackets come out. But I really do like March Madness a lot. We've watched much less since the kids have come along, but I do LOVE watching college ball (I mentioned that already). OK - Long story short - last year it came down to the final game. The top two spots had chosen different teams to win. Yep, I was one of the final two, and my team, Florida, pulled it out and won...and I won March Madness Bracket-Mania 2007. Fast forward a year. Again, we enter into the land of Bracket-Mania. Another frenzy to complete the bracket - oh who will win?? I just don't know...so flip through, make my choices and wait. Going into Final Four Weekend I was #5 out of 15. Not a terrible spot, but not great. The ONLY chance I had was for...UNC and UCLA to lose...and for KANSAS to win! WOO!HOO!! I couldn't believe it! What was the likelihood...I mean, yeah, I chose it to happen...but...at sweet 16, I just didn't know...I was hoping really hard... Man, it was a good final game. I honestly thought Memphis was gonna do it...but, leave it to an amazing steal, and a momentum change (and the foul out of a key Memphis player just before overtime), and missed free throws, and a key 3, and the pieces fell into place for a repeat. Thanks Kansas!! I'm feeling the pressure of a 3-peat now...hmmmmmmmmmm.....
4.05.2008
Make Your Mark...
This weekend was great! Well, from a middle school perspective. Friday night and Saturday morning we had "Make Your Mark" - a leadership development weekend for middle school students. Friday night we did something I've never done before. (One of the cool things of working with middle schoolers is having these moments of watching them experience things for the first time!). Anyway - we had 2 guys from the area there to teach them how to do...GRAFFITI! Yep, spray paint & 17 middle schoolers. You have the mental picture! How do you feel about that idea right this moment? Picture it --- 17 middle school students each with at least one can of spray paint! WOW! Now...imagine training up 17 middle schoolers to be leaders. Which is scarier? Spray paint in their hands...or the future in their hands? It is important to train middle schoolers, and others, in leadership...and graffiti. Done in the right way, with the right focus and motivation, it's amazing! Watch out! Done in the wrong way, with the wrong focus and motivation. It's detrimental! Watch out!
So we didn't take lightly the task of training up these students for 6 hours this weekend. Matthew 20 was our focus text vs. 26-28: "But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Serve. Serve others. Think about others. Yesterday morning at The Link, the middle school time @ church on the weekends, I was running Media Shout in the back and just kinda looking the room over...when I see one of the students who attended Make Your Mark get up from her seat next to two friends. I wondered where she was going, and smiled so big as I watched her go and sit on the other side of the room next to a girl who was sitting by herself. She introduced herself, and although it was clear to me she was a little nervous - I was SO excited to see a student MAKE HER MARK and reach out to another middle schooler... We talked about (in a break-out session), how sometimes we feel like we have to make this HUGE change to make a difference, to be a leader...but in the little things we do, they are HUGE to the person we are doing them for...and for this girl, it was huge that someone came to sit with her. She stood up a little taller, and you could just see her smile. She was serving someone else, and willing to give up sitting with her friends and being comfortable. She IS a leader! Way to go girl - I'll give ya' a can of spray paint any day...
So we didn't take lightly the task of training up these students for 6 hours this weekend. Matthew 20 was our focus text vs. 26-28: "But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Serve. Serve others. Think about others. Yesterday morning at The Link, the middle school time @ church on the weekends, I was running Media Shout in the back and just kinda looking the room over...when I see one of the students who attended Make Your Mark get up from her seat next to two friends. I wondered where she was going, and smiled so big as I watched her go and sit on the other side of the room next to a girl who was sitting by herself. She introduced herself, and although it was clear to me she was a little nervous - I was SO excited to see a student MAKE HER MARK and reach out to another middle schooler... We talked about (in a break-out session), how sometimes we feel like we have to make this HUGE change to make a difference, to be a leader...but in the little things we do, they are HUGE to the person we are doing them for...and for this girl, it was huge that someone came to sit with her. She stood up a little taller, and you could just see her smile. She was serving someone else, and willing to give up sitting with her friends and being comfortable. She IS a leader! Way to go girl - I'll give ya' a can of spray paint any day...
4.01.2008
I saw Horton...twice...
So...the first time I saw Horton Hears a Who, was with my family! Family day out! What could be better than all being together, hanging out, laughing, eating popcorn...just being together, wait I mentioned that... We laughed big and loud. (Until the last 10 minutes or so, when dear KJ lost it because of the dramatic trauma Horton endures getting tied up and the Who's endure getting almost dropped into...oh wait - maybe some of you haven't seen it. I won't give it away). KJ left the theater in absolute tears - screaming really. Enough to where those around us outside the theater were looking at each other wondering if they should go in. We got her calmed down, but she still is saying she didn't like the movie.
The second time I saw the movie was sitting in the front row with a group from church. (See the post below - the part that says A Day trip to Bridgeport...). It was an absolute blast! I was able to re-hear and remember a couple of favorite key lines, like "a.s.a.p. - act swiftly awesome pachyderm!" or Katie's line saying that everyone in her world would be ponies, and that they would eat rainbows and poop butterflies (ok that one I remembered from the 1st time)... (P.S. You can check Josh's blog for pics and another point of view...GO GIRLS!!!
Bottom line - I love this movie! I love this story! I love the animation! I love the creativity! I love the messages - and there were lots! I love that there was a movie released that was clean, fun, without all the innuendo, well made, made me laugh out loud for real several times...good flick! Go see it! It's so worth it...
(P.S. Check out Josh's blog for pics of the Bridgeport trip...
The second time I saw the movie was sitting in the front row with a group from church. (See the post below - the part that says A Day trip to Bridgeport...). It was an absolute blast! I was able to re-hear and remember a couple of favorite key lines, like "a.s.a.p. - act swiftly awesome pachyderm!" or Katie's line saying that everyone in her world would be ponies, and that they would eat rainbows and poop butterflies (ok that one I remembered from the 1st time)... (P.S. You can check Josh's blog for pics and another point of view...GO GIRLS!!!
Bottom line - I love this movie! I love this story! I love the animation! I love the creativity! I love the messages - and there were lots! I love that there was a movie released that was clean, fun, without all the innuendo, well made, made me laugh out loud for real several times...good flick! Go see it! It's so worth it...
(P.S. Check out Josh's blog for pics of the Bridgeport trip...
3.31.2008
Keeping things in perspective...
So...this past week - the weather has been, well, schizophrenic. (Did I spell that right?) Literally, we've hit 60 degrees, then it rains, then snows, then hails, then sleets, then it's sunny, then it hails, then snows, then rains, then sunshine --- all within just a few minutes. I was on the phone with a friend in Atlanta who asked me how the weather was and I gave her the play-by-play as I was driving down the road...she thought I was kidding. Totally serious. Totally bizarre. So, this morning we wake up, and it's snowing (more flurries like), then hails, then snows. And it's cold!! So, off to get Kaylee's heavy coat out of the storage bin (I put all the heavy winter stuff away last weekend) and send her off to school. By this afternoon, beautiful sunshine - still fairly cold - but beautiful! I CAN'T WAIT FOR REAL SPRING & SUMMER!
Now in the scheme of things - is what it's doing in the weather really that important? Oh, don't get me wrong - I'm a grump if it's gray, and I squeal in delight when I see even the smallest glimmer of blue sky through the clouds. But I think sometimes those small glimmers speak more clearly. Let me share a few things that are MUCH more important than...the weather...
New Christians - yep - in the month of March (actually all within a week) eight middle school students accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior! Now that deserves a HUGE party, a giant celebration! Honestly, the night 6 of them accepted Christ I couldn't sleep. I was giddy, literally, excited, thrilled, amazed, humbled...I mean this is the beginning of eternal life unfolding right before our eyes. I'm amazed! Please be praying with me for these 8 students that their faith in Him is so rooted that it will never waiver.
A Day trip to Bridgeport - Sunday was "Reward Day" for 8 girls who took it upon themselves to achieve a HUGE task. Over the last 2 months+ we've been doing a series "What's This?" at The Link, looking at the big picture story of the Bible. We studied the 12 eras of the Bible, had a sign, sound, and sentence for each Era. So...we challenged the students to remember the signs, sounds & sentences for the 12 eras, plus Psalm 119:9-11. When they told one of the leaders all these things, they were in --- for a day away trip. Lunch & Movie. So, yesterday, we were off to Bridgeport for P.F. Changs and to watch Horton Hears a Who (I'll blog on this movie later). P.F. Changs was nothing short of fabulous. The movie - I love it. I saw it twice in one weekend. But better than that were the girls that took on this challenge. They are all fairly different. They have different backgrounds, different things they love and get excited about. But when we sat around the table, or rode in the van, I couldn't help but think how the world will be different because of these 8 girls. How they will be people who change the world. They were not afraid of a BIG challenge. They were excited, not just about the lunch & movie, but about what they were learning. They were spurring each other on about something eternal and life-changing. A love and appreciation and understanding of The Bible, that they can carry with them the rest of their days. A love and commitment to Jesus and becoming more like Him, to become the women of God He designed them to be. They are amazing... Could you do it? Name the 12 eras of the Bible? Tell the story of the Bible in a relatively short time, plus quote memorized Scripture. Even that alone (the memorization thing) is tough. These girls are amazing! I'm so proud of them.
Stories that make you go, I'm such a schmuck - so Josh showed two different videos at The Link this weekend. One of Immaculae (I think that's how you spell it), who translated her survival story from the Rwandan genocides in 1994 (amazing story of survival - 91 days in a tiny bathroom with 6 other women, hiding from murderous enemies who wanted nothing more than to torture and kill them). And how she clung to God's Word and to prayer and to God Himself in a way unlike she had ever experienced before. And how in the midst of utter hell on earth, she was able to have hope, joy, peace, patience, goodness... Then another story of a China missionary who had the privilege of piecing together a Chinese Bible from 6 copies of the Bible, to give to a woman who had boldly and unashamedly announced Jesus as her Lord for her life in front of a court with a huge audience, begging her to deny Him. But she couldn't and wouldn't, and was sentenced to spending her life raking the public sewers. So --- 30+ years later this missionary and she cross paths, and she wants a Bible. He meets up with a pastor and asks for 1. He had 6, but they had been marked by customs that he had to leave the country with 6. So, the missionary and his wife cut out pages from the 6 to make 1 complete copy, and provided this gift for this amazing hero for the sake of Christ. They attempted to give her clothing and money (equal to 4 years of salary for her), but she brushed them aside looking for the Bible. When she got it she clung to it for life. And said these other things are nothing in comparison to this (pointing to the Bible).
I'm a schmuck. I get stuck on the weather, tv shows, the laundry getting knocked over after I fold it. At times I get stoked about the things God is doing, in my life and in the life of others. But I don't live every moment to the fullest for Him. What will it take for that to happen? My prayer is that I can get to the point in my life (I used to say my Christian life, but my life is my Christian life, or should be)...that I get the point in my life that having to work out my faith is so ingrained into who I am, that it's not work anymore. My guess --- I won't have that until the other side of heaven's gates --- but I'm striving for it. I want it. I want Him to be close. To be here. To be real. To be faithful. And He is...
Now in the scheme of things - is what it's doing in the weather really that important? Oh, don't get me wrong - I'm a grump if it's gray, and I squeal in delight when I see even the smallest glimmer of blue sky through the clouds. But I think sometimes those small glimmers speak more clearly. Let me share a few things that are MUCH more important than...the weather...
New Christians - yep - in the month of March (actually all within a week) eight middle school students accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior! Now that deserves a HUGE party, a giant celebration! Honestly, the night 6 of them accepted Christ I couldn't sleep. I was giddy, literally, excited, thrilled, amazed, humbled...I mean this is the beginning of eternal life unfolding right before our eyes. I'm amazed! Please be praying with me for these 8 students that their faith in Him is so rooted that it will never waiver.
A Day trip to Bridgeport - Sunday was "Reward Day" for 8 girls who took it upon themselves to achieve a HUGE task. Over the last 2 months+ we've been doing a series "What's This?" at The Link, looking at the big picture story of the Bible. We studied the 12 eras of the Bible, had a sign, sound, and sentence for each Era. So...we challenged the students to remember the signs, sounds & sentences for the 12 eras, plus Psalm 119:9-11. When they told one of the leaders all these things, they were in --- for a day away trip. Lunch & Movie. So, yesterday, we were off to Bridgeport for P.F. Changs and to watch Horton Hears a Who (I'll blog on this movie later). P.F. Changs was nothing short of fabulous. The movie - I love it. I saw it twice in one weekend. But better than that were the girls that took on this challenge. They are all fairly different. They have different backgrounds, different things they love and get excited about. But when we sat around the table, or rode in the van, I couldn't help but think how the world will be different because of these 8 girls. How they will be people who change the world. They were not afraid of a BIG challenge. They were excited, not just about the lunch & movie, but about what they were learning. They were spurring each other on about something eternal and life-changing. A love and appreciation and understanding of The Bible, that they can carry with them the rest of their days. A love and commitment to Jesus and becoming more like Him, to become the women of God He designed them to be. They are amazing... Could you do it? Name the 12 eras of the Bible? Tell the story of the Bible in a relatively short time, plus quote memorized Scripture. Even that alone (the memorization thing) is tough. These girls are amazing! I'm so proud of them.
Stories that make you go, I'm such a schmuck - so Josh showed two different videos at The Link this weekend. One of Immaculae (I think that's how you spell it), who translated her survival story from the Rwandan genocides in 1994 (amazing story of survival - 91 days in a tiny bathroom with 6 other women, hiding from murderous enemies who wanted nothing more than to torture and kill them). And how she clung to God's Word and to prayer and to God Himself in a way unlike she had ever experienced before. And how in the midst of utter hell on earth, she was able to have hope, joy, peace, patience, goodness... Then another story of a China missionary who had the privilege of piecing together a Chinese Bible from 6 copies of the Bible, to give to a woman who had boldly and unashamedly announced Jesus as her Lord for her life in front of a court with a huge audience, begging her to deny Him. But she couldn't and wouldn't, and was sentenced to spending her life raking the public sewers. So --- 30+ years later this missionary and she cross paths, and she wants a Bible. He meets up with a pastor and asks for 1. He had 6, but they had been marked by customs that he had to leave the country with 6. So, the missionary and his wife cut out pages from the 6 to make 1 complete copy, and provided this gift for this amazing hero for the sake of Christ. They attempted to give her clothing and money (equal to 4 years of salary for her), but she brushed them aside looking for the Bible. When she got it she clung to it for life. And said these other things are nothing in comparison to this (pointing to the Bible).
I'm a schmuck. I get stuck on the weather, tv shows, the laundry getting knocked over after I fold it. At times I get stoked about the things God is doing, in my life and in the life of others. But I don't live every moment to the fullest for Him. What will it take for that to happen? My prayer is that I can get to the point in my life (I used to say my Christian life, but my life is my Christian life, or should be)...that I get the point in my life that having to work out my faith is so ingrained into who I am, that it's not work anymore. My guess --- I won't have that until the other side of heaven's gates --- but I'm striving for it. I want it. I want Him to be close. To be here. To be real. To be faithful. And He is...
I'm SOOOOO excited...
OK...it's a really worldly-minded thing...but I'm so excited! In this season of television where our favorite shows are not on, or are cancelled...one of my favorites is coming back this summer!! Last night when Steve and I were watching tv we saw a blip at the end of a commercial, or right before a commercial, showing the logo of our long-lost fun show...THE MOLE!! I love this show! It's intriguing to me! It's got that reality show thing going for it - challenges or things you must accomplish individually or as a team, but the twist of this one is that one person is "The Mole" - and they strategically figure out ways to mess up the whole thing. The challenge isn't necessarily to win the challenges, but to figure out who "The Mole" is. It's so much fun!!! At the end of the episode the contestants take a quiz to see who they think The Mole is...the person with the least number of correct answers is the one who is sent home.
So...I CAN'T WAIT!!! Thank you ABC for bringing this show back... It'll be strange not to have Anderson Cooper as the host since he's hangin' out with CNN in the ATL these days (I thought he was fabulous...). I'll keep searching. And you...keep watching to find out when The Mole is coming this summer!! YEAH!!!
3.23.2008
True Love...
OK...I talked about the song in my last post...check it out for yourself... "True Love" by Phil Wickham
Come close listen to the story
About a love more faithful than the morning
The Father gave his only son just to save us
The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the Father's broken heart
Tears were filling heaven's eyes
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
Search your heart, you know you can't deny it
Come on, lose your life just so you can find it
The Father gave his only son just to save us
The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the father's broken heart
Tears were filling heaven's eyes
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
Now Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
oh He is alive
He rose again
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
Come close listen to the story
HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!!!
Come close listen to the story
About a love more faithful than the morning
The Father gave his only son just to save us
The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the Father's broken heart
Tears were filling heaven's eyes
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
Search your heart, you know you can't deny it
Come on, lose your life just so you can find it
The Father gave his only son just to save us
The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the father's broken heart
Tears were filling heaven's eyes
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
Now Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
oh He is alive
He rose again
When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that true love died, the day that true love died
Come close listen to the story
HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!!!
Easter Service...on Saturday night...
OK...so our church had a weekend full of Easter services planned. And let's face it - Easter Sunday is one of those weekends, gratefully, that lots of people enter the doors of a church. In planning for the big attendance expected, they asked us to consider attending Easter service on Saturday night instead of Sunday morning. I'll be honest - I didn't want to do it. I was willing, after all, I work at the church and I should honor the requests made by them, and set a good example right. Honestly - inside I was grumbling and not excited about it. Even Kaylee said, "But Mom we have to go to church on Easter."
Saturday morning I was talking to Jeanne-Ann, making final "plans"...and again we confirmed that yep - we'll go Saturday night...when all of a sudden God was gracious to remind us that the time in Israel is like 11 hours ahead of us...so by Saturday night, it is Easter morning at the place where Jesus rose from the dead - where God did something unbelievable...for each and every one of us. I don't know what it was about that simple idea that completely changed my attitude but it did, and after that I honestly couldn't wait to get to the church and celebrate with Christ's family His resurrection...and the service was wonderful. Noah stayed in the sanctuary the whole time. Kaylee sang "Let the Praises Ring" loud and clear. We celebrated with the Condello's & William's and the rest of our church family. The sanctuary was full on Saturday night. It was a great way to put my heart at the foot of the throne of God humbled, grateful, excited, joyous...
Then...last night I was thinking about it a little more...why is it that I was bummed? I mean honestly, I should be ready to celebrate the miracle of the resurrection every hour of every day. It's not something tagged only for Easter morning. Is it wonderful - sure, absolutely, no doubt...IT'S LIFE-GIVING! But I have that every single second - with every breath I take...then I was kicking myself for a while and asking my gracious God above to forgive me...again...it was though I put Him up on the cross one more time... It's not about me... It's about Him...and surrendering my life to Him...I feel like I've written that before...it's a life lesson. One I'm grateful He's patient enough to teach me... HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!!!!
(oh, p.s. the worship team sang a song - True Love by Phil Wickham- ...but man...I love it...I wish I could get the video that went with it too...it was good stuff!!! Thanks Scott for painting for us again...He's given you a great gift - thanks for using it for His glory... And thanks worship team, for being available, and faithfully worshipping Him...and allowing us to worship along side you...a glimpse of heaven)
Saturday morning I was talking to Jeanne-Ann, making final "plans"...and again we confirmed that yep - we'll go Saturday night...when all of a sudden God was gracious to remind us that the time in Israel is like 11 hours ahead of us...so by Saturday night, it is Easter morning at the place where Jesus rose from the dead - where God did something unbelievable...for each and every one of us. I don't know what it was about that simple idea that completely changed my attitude but it did, and after that I honestly couldn't wait to get to the church and celebrate with Christ's family His resurrection...and the service was wonderful. Noah stayed in the sanctuary the whole time. Kaylee sang "Let the Praises Ring" loud and clear. We celebrated with the Condello's & William's and the rest of our church family. The sanctuary was full on Saturday night. It was a great way to put my heart at the foot of the throne of God humbled, grateful, excited, joyous...
Then...last night I was thinking about it a little more...why is it that I was bummed? I mean honestly, I should be ready to celebrate the miracle of the resurrection every hour of every day. It's not something tagged only for Easter morning. Is it wonderful - sure, absolutely, no doubt...IT'S LIFE-GIVING! But I have that every single second - with every breath I take...then I was kicking myself for a while and asking my gracious God above to forgive me...again...it was though I put Him up on the cross one more time... It's not about me... It's about Him...and surrendering my life to Him...I feel like I've written that before...it's a life lesson. One I'm grateful He's patient enough to teach me... HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!!!!
(oh, p.s. the worship team sang a song - True Love by Phil Wickham- ...but man...I love it...I wish I could get the video that went with it too...it was good stuff!!! Thanks Scott for painting for us again...He's given you a great gift - thanks for using it for His glory... And thanks worship team, for being available, and faithfully worshipping Him...and allowing us to worship along side you...a glimpse of heaven)
3.22.2008
An interesting start to our Easter weekend...
OK...so it's Good Friday night. I had looked forward all week to going to the service at church. Actually Kaylee and I had talked about going together - kinda a mom/daughter thing. Then...I thought about it and double checked to see what the content of the service was, wanting my girl to experience what Easter is all about, yet protect her from something that might not yet be best for her. Anyway - mid-afternoon Kaylee decided she didn't really want to go, and wanted to just hang out - or be with friends. Flash forward a little to when Steve and I are reviewing the day and we remember that Barack Obama had been to visit Salem...and I match in my brain that he is driving south, and that our high school missions team is driving south as well. SO...I put a call into Brian to see how the trip is going, and if they are traveling with the Obama caravan. (dramatic pause)
Brian proceeds to tell me they just pulled off the interstate and that the bus has a busted fuel line - gas poured out on the freeway, and is puddled unter the bus. We quickly get off the phone so he can start to figure this thing out. A little while later we're all in the know that the enemy of this trip will do anything to disconnect the "fuel source" --- but GOD IS BIGGER. About a half hour later the phone rings and it's Jeff asking if Steve & I might be able to help drive vans down to where they are (about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away). I'm up for it (I'm the night owl you know). Steve's up for it - asking for a grande Starbucks. We figured out that the 4 drivers would be Erik, Jeanne-Ann, Steve & I and got ready to head out. Then the phone rings again, and a connection has the part the bus needs and says that with 100% certainty he can fix it. So...the calvary is coming with the part...not with the church vans. Honestly - I didn't believe it and told Steve we should have "proactive faith" (which he immediately called "doubt" - which I called "proactive doubt") and go ahead over to the Williams' house, put the kids down for bed, and be ready, just in case we get a call in an hour. So...off we go to hang out with our friends and enjoy some time together. We just get the kids to sleep...and the phone rings...and the trip is back on. A quick stop @ Starbucks and Plaid Pantry, and off we go.
It was a hysterical trip. I had my laptop sitting on the floor of the van so I could be playing iTunes, which was competing with Erik singing 80's favorites over the walkie-talkies (which Jeanne-Ann quickly had turned off - she's such a smart girl). I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud. We got down to the church at about midnight - and this team of 49 piled into 3 15-passenger vans and an Excursion...for an excursion designed by God to eternally impact the lives of others.
Will you pray for them, please? They arrived safely at their destination last night, although it was a bit later than they had originally expected. They'll be building 2 houses this week for families that live under tarps. Perspective on momentary troubles is always a good thing. I can't wait to hear how He works in and thru this team this week...
Brian proceeds to tell me they just pulled off the interstate and that the bus has a busted fuel line - gas poured out on the freeway, and is puddled unter the bus. We quickly get off the phone so he can start to figure this thing out. A little while later we're all in the know that the enemy of this trip will do anything to disconnect the "fuel source" --- but GOD IS BIGGER. About a half hour later the phone rings and it's Jeff asking if Steve & I might be able to help drive vans down to where they are (about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away). I'm up for it (I'm the night owl you know). Steve's up for it - asking for a grande Starbucks. We figured out that the 4 drivers would be Erik, Jeanne-Ann, Steve & I and got ready to head out. Then the phone rings again, and a connection has the part the bus needs and says that with 100% certainty he can fix it. So...the calvary is coming with the part...not with the church vans. Honestly - I didn't believe it and told Steve we should have "proactive faith" (which he immediately called "doubt" - which I called "proactive doubt") and go ahead over to the Williams' house, put the kids down for bed, and be ready, just in case we get a call in an hour. So...off we go to hang out with our friends and enjoy some time together. We just get the kids to sleep...and the phone rings...and the trip is back on. A quick stop @ Starbucks and Plaid Pantry, and off we go.
It was a hysterical trip. I had my laptop sitting on the floor of the van so I could be playing iTunes, which was competing with Erik singing 80's favorites over the walkie-talkies (which Jeanne-Ann quickly had turned off - she's such a smart girl). I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud. We got down to the church at about midnight - and this team of 49 piled into 3 15-passenger vans and an Excursion...for an excursion designed by God to eternally impact the lives of others.
Will you pray for them, please? They arrived safely at their destination last night, although it was a bit later than they had originally expected. They'll be building 2 houses this week for families that live under tarps. Perspective on momentary troubles is always a good thing. I can't wait to hear how He works in and thru this team this week...
3.19.2008
We're buying a house...
I can't believe it! Man how things change in a week! It's a quick week, but kinda a long story - to make it short...we've bought a house. Contract is signed. We've met with the mortgage guy. The permits are applied for. Yep. Permits. The house is not built yet. We've signed a contract on a plot of dirt - no foundation - no pipes or plumbing - no walls or roof. Nothing. Yet. Within the next four months it will turn into a new 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath two-story house. Unbelieveable! The kids are excited about it because we've been telling them we can't get a dog until we get a house. Kaylee brought home a "how to care for your dog" book from the library at school. Noah is excited about his new puppy. Me - I'm still thinking that we won't have a finished back yard or a fence to start...so the puppy might have to wait a little, but a delightful little dog will bring additional joy to my kids and my husband - it's a done deal - eventually. We can't wait to have a place that really is our own. To plant roots. To settle. We've been here a year. We've had 3 different addresses, not to count the 3 addresses we had the last 8 months we lived in Atlanta. So that will be 7 addresses in 2 years by the time we move in. WOW!
3.12.2008
Who is that?
That was what I heard a good bit of the day today - mainly because when I tried to talk it didn't sound like me. I woke up this am with...NO VOICE! Can I just say it's hard to get ready for the day, and get kids ready for the day with no voice. It was pretty funny. Funnier was when I called into the office to tell Linda I would be in after some errands. Trying to whisper she couldn't hear me, then I talked into what I refer to as the "man voice" - I equate it to being as close to Barry White as is possible. Honestly - my voice hits a new low when I get this throat crud. Linda was completely freaked out and wanted to know who was on the phone. I couldn't help but laugh...it was funny.
At Crash tonight we were all losing our voices ... there was soooooooo much energy in the room, even with microphones and good voices, it seemed nearly impossible to get people to focus...it ended well though I think. Finally. Poor Josh even handed off the mic to me at one point - his voice was straining...I just had to stand up there and wait for people to quiet down...what else do you do when you can't talk loud...and when my voice had recovered enough for the man voice to be gone?
When I got home tonight Kaylee was walking around with a notepad writing down all the things she wanted to say, telling me (well, writing to me) that it was hard to talk...and then she would mouth the words for me to read her lips (because she told me this morning that I didn't have to whisper for her - she could read my lips...). She's so adorable...
Please pray for me that my voice will be strong by the weekend. I'm supposed to do a responsive reading for all the Palm Sunday services this weekend with Paula, Ali & Johnny (whom I haven't met yet...).
At Crash tonight we were all losing our voices ... there was soooooooo much energy in the room, even with microphones and good voices, it seemed nearly impossible to get people to focus...it ended well though I think. Finally. Poor Josh even handed off the mic to me at one point - his voice was straining...I just had to stand up there and wait for people to quiet down...what else do you do when you can't talk loud...and when my voice had recovered enough for the man voice to be gone?
When I got home tonight Kaylee was walking around with a notepad writing down all the things she wanted to say, telling me (well, writing to me) that it was hard to talk...and then she would mouth the words for me to read her lips (because she told me this morning that I didn't have to whisper for her - she could read my lips...). She's so adorable...
Please pray for me that my voice will be strong by the weekend. I'm supposed to do a responsive reading for all the Palm Sunday services this weekend with Paula, Ali & Johnny (whom I haven't met yet...).
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