#1. voluntarily stepping on a scale.

#2. eating sardines

#3. having an enema

#4. having a full body wax job using duct tape

#5. voluntarily watching the entire Saw series of scary movies.

#6. never eating another krispy kreme doughnut.

#7. peeing on an electric fence.

#8. having a root canal.

#9. wearing a bikini in public.

#10. being eaten by a shark.

Update:

I wrote that post about 2 weeks ago, I just never posted it.  I’m not sure why, I just didn’t.  Now that we’ve moved a little further along in the pastor selection process, I may have a bit of a different attitude.  I’m still not thrilled that mr. preacher man is ditching leaving us, but I do think I have accepted the inevitable and am moving forward in a positive direction.  We’ve had many a long meeting, we have been in continual prayer for God’s direction in this process and we’ve received many a valuable opinion from our church family.  We’ve had a guest speaker and we have now interviewed a potential pastoral candidate and so far … so good (I say that on our end it was good, I’m not sure if our interviewee felt it went well or not, I will say he and his wife did not run away at a high rate of speed or spin tires going out of the parking lot, which I took as a good sign).  I think we are making progress, I think God is opening doors and asking us to walk thru in blind faith and we’ve been willing, however slowly it may be, to walk thru those doors.  Please continue to remember us in your prayers.  To be specific in that request, pray that we will continue to seek God’s will, not our own personal will, that we will be willing to be open to a challenge if that is what is presented, that we feel unified in our decisions as an entire church and at the end of the process we end up with the person God has already chosen for as our leader.  Thank you in advance for your prayers.

me.

It is with a heavy heart, great sadness and many tears, that I share with you a season in my life and my church family’s lives is coming to an end.  Eric (mr. preacher man) and his family will be leaving our church in the not so distant future.  I understand and accept that just as Ecclesiastes says, there is a season for everything and all seasons eventually change to the next season, they don’t end, they simply change, move along, progress and become a new season before our very eyes.  But, as the verse clearly states, even if we don’t understand it, there is purpose in God’s timing to everything under the heaven, and as much as I may wish that weren’t true this very moment, I know that it is the solid unchanging truth.  I cannot explain to any of you how heartbroken I feel about them leaving.  Eric is not only my pastor, he is my friend.  Anita is my friend, and I will miss them dearly.  I might even miss Eric making fun of my singing.  I will miss watching the kids grow in to young adults, but mostly I will miss the security of my friend being my spiritual leader. 

Verse 4 of the same chapter says this … A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

I am so grateful to be able to truly say, we have wept, we have laughed, we have mourned and we have danced.  How blessed we have been to have had the privilege to be friends.  To pray each other thru some really hard times and to laugh at each other on a regular basis.  A time to suffer loss together and a time to see each other heal.  There have been many moments of personal tragedy and personal triumph in the years that he’s been my pastor and I will be forever thankful for his guidance.  I am certain I would not be the person I am today had we not crossed paths years ago.

My favorite verse in the Bible is Psalm 30:5 it says … For his anger endureth but a moment; but his kindness is for a lifetime.  Weeping may endureth the night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Over the past 24 hours I think I have experienced every emotion that verse contains, I am angry because I don’t understand, but that only lasted a brief bit of time.  I feel kindness for a lifelong friendship.  I have wept until my eyes are swollen but I know that joyeth will cometh in the morning.  Without a doubt. 

I think Pooh said it best:

“If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together.. there is something you must always remember. you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. but the most important thing is, even if we’re apart.. we”ll always be with you.”

If you happen upon this post today, maybe there was a reason God brought you here.  I would like to ask that you just take a second of your day to pray for Eric & his family and for our church family.  Pray that Eric & Anita make the decisions that are best for their spiritual leadership, their spiritual growth, their family and their future.  Pray that our church comes together to make wise decisions without anger or argument, that we find a Godly pastor, who is willing to lead a bunch of nuts around by the nose when necessary and who is willing to take the good the bad and the ugly ’cause that’s the only way we come. 

me.

Chrisi and I spent the night last night cooking and Anna spent her afternoon today finishing up what we started.  Our contributions to our church family meal were …

a chicken pie

potato salad

deviled (or doubled as Anna would say) eggs (and let me just point out, you can never have too many deviled eggs at any church dinner, it’s impossible).

sweet potato casserole (Chrisi’s favorite, she just wanted to eat it last night and not take it to church).

and …

I am so proud to announce, our very first ever home made pumpkin roll.  I got the recipe hereand I would highly recommend it.  It was easy, inexpensive and delicious.  To tell the truth, Chrisi made the pumpkin roll almost entirely by herself.  I very much enjoy being in the kitchen cooking with either of my daughters.  I hope one day they will grow to love cooking as much as I do.  Now if her future husband can survive on chicken alfredo and pumpkin roll he should be good to go.

Just because I’m nosey and I may want to borrow your favortie holiday recipe … how about skipping on down to the comments and share with me what food or dessert can you absolutely not do without during the holidays?

I think my overly stuffed self shall now grab my book, head to my bed and read until I fall asleep.  Sweet dreams.

me.

I keep walking around singing “this is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it”.  No, I still can’t carry a tune in a bucket and yes I sound somewhat like a sheep bleeting, or so I’m told, but I do make a joyful noise on occasion.  What a beautiful morning it is to go spend some time with my church family, that I adore, at my church house, praising my Savior.  We had revival this past week, and I am very excited to see what areas in my life and our church the Lord will choose to use the lessons of this past week.  Personally, I know I needed some reviving.  It’s so easy to get down trodden in our daily lives, to get so caught up in the things going on around us, that we slowly but surely let our relationship with Christ take a back seat to life.  I don’t think it’s an intentional moving away, I just think we (or me) become overwhelmed and our focus shifts before we even realize it’s shifting.  In my own life, those shifts aren’t drastic, like I haven’t been out bar hopping or committing adultery or beating my dog, I simply begin to have less of a positive outlook, or a bitter attitude, maybe some gossip starts to slip in or excuses begin to over take area’s in which I have made commitments … it’s the small things that begin to draw you away from that rock solid center, and before you know it, there you are sitting at your church house wondering where it all went wrong, where did that feeling of jubilation go? why do you feel like it’s a struggle to be there? I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but if I am being honest, those things do happen to me.  I don’t know if I would call it back sliding or if I would just call it back drifting, but either way, sometimes I need to be reminded that we will have choices, struggles and fears and the answer to those things haven’t moved, I have. 

As I get dressed (yes, they still won’t let me wear my pajamas to church) to go to my church house this morning, I would sincerely like to ask you to pray for our church.  Pray that this week of revival will have been a blessing and encouragement to all of us.  Pray that we continue to seek God’s desire for direction, and not our own desires.  Pray that my Pastor, better known to you as mr. preacher man, will be filled and rejuvenated, he and his family have been thru a great loss, pray for him to know that peace that passes all understanding during this period of their lives.  And pray for me, that I will, along with our other church members, will go to our church house with the attitudes and desire that we as christians should have. 

And as an award for praying for those things … I promise not to record myself singing and posting it on the blog to torture you.  I hope you and your family have a wonderfully blessed Sunday.

me.

Kristie, Anna, Emily and myself.  Please just stop and say bless, I’ll understand. 

I’d say it would be more apt to call the 4 of us painting cheerleaders as opposed to actual painters …

We pondered a right much over the areas that needed painting … it’s a cool trick to look busy but not really be busy.

We even put a lot of concentration in to looking busy …

Well maybe we did help a little bit …

Or maybe I just only took pictures of the 6 times we were actually doing something and didn’t take any of the 82 % of the time we were sitting around talking waiting on the paint to dry. 

In truth, we did have a good day.  It was nice to hang out with the girls and watch Eric work while we chatted away about a miriad of issues from the death of a sweet friend, to tattoos, to hair buns and no makeup. 

me.

The other day in this post, I showed you some pictures of our youth service project to 5th street ministries.  I also said that I would tell you more about it later, later has arrived. 

I learned about 5th street ministries from several of my co workers who have volunteered there with their own churches.   I truly truly enjoy service projects outside of our church house.  I love doing things at our church but deep down inside I have a need to be out of those four walls and doing  something to hopefully someday make a difference in just one persons life.  Call me a weirdo, it’s ok. 

When I called 5th street to arrange a time for us to come, the sweetest lady ever answered the phone.  Her name is Mary.  I haven’t met Mary in person yet, but I can’t wait to meet her.  Just the kindness in her voice makes me want to sit down and talk to her for a very long time.  We picked a date and time (the time had to be changed later but that was ok).  I asked our youth about going and I have to say they did me proud.  The majority of them had a rodeo that night, their first one of the year, but they were more than willing to skip it if necessary in order to go.  It ended up they didn’t have to, but I was proud of them for their willingness. 

We would be serving lunch on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  We arrived at 5th street in time to help get things set up and ready for the folks to come eat.  Upon our arrival, we first met with Steve …

Steve is the kitchen boss.  By kitchen boss, I mean … as far as Steve is concerned it’s his kitchen and you are to follow his kitchen rules.  It tickled me.  I nearly caused mass panic when I opened the refrigerator and retrieved the milk to thin the macaroni a little bit.  I may have gotten the stink eye, I’m not sure, but the milk quickly made its way back to the fridge without my assistance. 

The staff runs things like a fine oiled machine.  The is served in what looks very much like a lunch room cafeteria.  The kids served each person a plate as they came thru the line, drinks were outside the food line along with dessert.  I asked lots and lots of questions, yes I know that is a shock.  My first question was: where does all of the food come from?  I was informed that it comes from donations from churches, grocery stores, individuals, civic groups and so on.  While we were there working, a truck came in with food from a local deli that was left over and donated, the staff, most of whom live there and have worked their way up to a paying job, unloaded it and put it away to be served for dinner that night.  The entire process went like clock work.  I was highly impressed at the level of organization.

After the folks ate, each person brought their plate, silver ware and cup to a dish washing counter, again much like a school cafeteria.  Andre was in charge of the dish washing section.  Me, I was not in charge, according to Andre.  I know this because he politely asked me to get out of his way more than once.  Evidently I am not a master of bulk dish washing skills.  I did manage to sneak around him and stack the plates and cups in the handy holder things, and the boys did manage to wrangle the spray thing away from Andre long enough for him to actually eat.  But … as soon as he was finished eating, they were sent packing too.  Andre had plans for the day and we were slowing him down.  Each person who lives at the shelter has an assigned job, they cannot get on with their day until their job is complete, thus Andre, was ready to get on with his day and wanted the do gooders to move along with our day.  I actually really liked Andre, he was a man on a mission and I like people on a mission.  It was also obvious that he was no stranger to hard work being done at a rapid pace. 

After we completed everything we were asked to do, we said goodbye and went on our way.  I left there ready to go back again, soon.  I wish our county had a shelter and food kitchen.  The folks there were very kind.  One lady asked me what I planned to do with my beautiful Saturday and I replied that I would be going home to mow grass … she smiled and simply said … I wish I still had a yard to mow.  I didn’t get to ask her name, I wish I had.  The most impacting part of the day for me was this:  being honest, I had preconceived notions of the people we would meet and serve at 5th street.  I was so wrong.  They were people just the same as you and me.  Families, children, young people, all walks of life.  I certainly gained a better understanding of just how the economy has affected all sections of society. 

If you ever get a chance to go, please do.  It will be worth your time and effort. 

me.

Watching the sunrise means …

There is always hope for a new beginning … through the crucifixion and resurection, there is always hope for a new beginning. 

The reminder of God’s glorious creation, made new each day …

The excitement of a new life adventure every single day …

Make the most of each day you are given.  Enjoy the small things in life.  Marvel at the most common things in creation.  Love each other.  Smile.  Give back. Do it all over again with each sunrise.   

me.

Now, while we wait for the actual Easter post, I thought it would be fun to share a few pictures from the egg hunt at the church house yesterday.  I do want to say, even though, eggs have nothing to do with Easter, eggs did provide a wonderful opportunity for me to share in some fun & fellowship with the littles of our church family.  I had a great time filling in for Chrisi.  I also want to say thank you to Susan, Lorri and Bobbi for all of your help yesterday, you along with 99.9% of the rest of creation are far more organized than me.  You are deeply appreciated.  To anyone else who helped, thank you also, I just don’t know who did what so I’m not sure who to say thanks to, but I do appreciate each of you. 

Shall we commense to the business of hunting eggs?  Let me tell you, egg hunting is some serious business to those under the age of 10.  We chunked out hid approximately 600 eggs.  I thought “it will take them hours to find all these eggs!” Oh how wrong I was! 

They sprinted.  They ran.  They dug and scoped.  I couldn’t catch them!

Hannah was not the least bit interested in the number of eggs she found, she was very dismayed that her daddy would not let her open each egg as she found it and eat the chocolate that very moment! 

This is as close as she was letting me get with the camera. 

Love this picture of Elizabeth, she is an absolutely beautiful child!

Cody may have been having fun … I’m not sure yet, I’ll have to ask him and get back to ya on that!

That’s all I have downloaded until I get my camera card back.  I hope you have a wonderful afternoon, check back later tonight … there will either be more pictures or there will be two big girls in trouble with their mama for not having her camera back to her quickly enough.

me.

Good Friday … what does it mean to you?  By definition Good Friday represents the day Christ was crucified on the cross and was buried.  As a Christian, this holds great significance for me.  In fact, it is one of the 2 most important days in the entire bible … the other being the 3rd day when He rose again.  Those 2 things alone hold the key to my salvation.  I could do all the good works in the world, sit in church every day, pray, fast, confess, live a good life, donate my money and time and not one single one of those things would get me to heaven without the events that took place through out Easter weekend.  That is a humbling thought. 

I grew up going to church and learned all of the technical things one ever needs to know about Easter … or so I thought.  I grew up going to a baptist church, there, we didn’t partake in rituals such as  Lent, Palm Sunday, Passover, Maundy Thursday or any of the other things that happened the week leading up to the crucifixion.  I’m not sure why we didn’t, but I do wish we had.  It wasn’t until much much later in life, when I joined our church house, that I even began to get a grasp of the true significance of this week, ultimately culminating in the crucifixion of Christ.  As a rule, we are not required by our denomination to do certain things during this time of year, but mr. preacher man encourages us to consider them and make a personal choice. 

This year in my life has been such a great year of growing and learning in my personal relationship with Christ.  Last night, as opposed to spending our usual Wednesday night in the youth room, we took the older teens to “big church” to partake in the communion service.  It was a beautiful service, with wonderful music and meaningful scripture mixed  throughout.  But more importantly to me, it was a somber occasion to spend a few minutes completely concentrating on the single most important thing any one has or ever will do for me.  I felt deep hurt for my Jesus, I felt anger at the crowds yelling “crucify him crucify him”  and at the same time I felt relief and redemption, because without either of those, I would be bound for hell.  It all stopped and started at the cross.  All of the prophets predictions before were fulfilled and Jesus’ purpose was now being fulfilled, just as God had planned.  Just the very thought of it gives me chill bumps.  The thought that at any minute, Jesus could have called down a legion of angels to take him home, but he knew His purpose and he knew he would rise again and he knew if he didn’t my sins (and yours) would never be washed clean in the redeeming blood that flowed freely to the foot of the cross.  I do not enjoy the ugliness of what happened, it sickens my stomach but at the very same time provides the hope and faith that my future is secure for eternity.  I can think of no better reason to be grateful today. 

I hope as you enjoy your day off, while you’re busy doing things that need to be done or if you’re relaxing or vacationing … that you take a bit of time today and ask yourself what the significance of Good Friday is for you.  I’m going to borrow a line from mr. preacher man here because I really like it … “does the math of the cross add up to your salvation”?  Will you be subtracted from hell, added to heaven, divided from sin and have your blessings multiplied many times over?  just think about it.  On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross the emblem of suffering and shame, and i love that ole cross. 

me.

I took a picture or two …  I didn’t take any pictures Friday night so we’ll start off with Saturday morning breakfast.

Let me tell you, they are some bacon, sausage, pancake, french toast, livermush & egg eatin’ machines! 

After breakfast & devotions it was off for a fun filled, busy, wear melinda out, activity filled day … they started with some basketball (thank goodness someone needed to be the official photographer)!

I tried to catch all of them at one time or another …

This next picture is a classic … please check out the form!  The new Michael Jordan of horse shoes? 

We moved from basketball & horse shoes to fishing …

I have to tell you a quick story … Kristie took the “fisher’s of men” thing a bit literal, she was casting her fishing line and caught Anna.  As a parent, I know I shouldn’t laugh at my poor child being in pain, but I have to confess, I rolled on the ground laughing.  That was some funny stuff.  Sorry Anna.

It’s always helpful to splash lots of water when the boys are trying to fish!

We practiced our team building skills … I think we need some more practice!

After a great day of fun & play, we had a guest speaker for the evening service.  I’m not going to post about that now, but I will later this week so please check back, you won’t want to miss it. 

And then it was time … biscuits on a stick, roasted marshmellow’s and smores!  Can you say yum?

Brooke had her first ever smore!  I think there will be s’more in her future.

Somehow I managed to not get a picture of Caleb, Denise and Marty.  But they were all there, and in Caleb’s words (and I quote) “this has been the best day of my life”! 

I know you are probably tired of looking at pictures, but while you browse thru them, please remember that these kids are our future.  We cannot love on them too much.  They are each fearfully and wonderfully made. 

I do need to say a big thank you to our other chaperones … James & Lorri, Rodney & Amy, Chrisi & Jeff & David.  Thanks also to Bobbi & Kevin, Denise and Marty for coming up to help out.  To mr. preacher man and Cathy, thank you for working out the finance stuff, I’m glad we got to “book um Danno”!  And a big thank you to you parents who were brave enough to entrust your children to Richard and myself for the weekend.  Your children were magnificent, you should be proud.  To Randy and Page … I will get to your thank you tomorrow night.  If I forgot anyone, please forgive the oversight, I am whooped … to say they wore me out is the biggest understatement of the night!

until next time …

me.