Turn your volume way down...

Well, now you know I am really procrastinating on the packing process for our staff retreat!

I was charging up my flip camera for our trip, and somehow figured out how to upload video to my blog...

The following video was taken on May 17, 2009. This was the date of the Grand Opening of our new building, and the Grand Re-opening of our Children's and Youth Building. There are so many things I would love to share about that day, but this video just brought tears to my eyes.

I just started a discipleship group with fourth and fifth graders. They lead our worship time, serve the adult volunteers, and learn all kinds of things about being a servant leader on Sundays.

This particular Sunday was there FIRST day to lead from the stage. Some where nervous, some where beyond excited, and I was just excited to see what God had in store for these kids.

The girl on the right is one of my fifth grade praise team leaders. She had come early to practice the songs before church started. The girl on the left is a first grader who wandered into the room and demonstrated exactly why I love working with kids....

(For some reason I happen to be singing along, so turn your volume down.....)



It is amazing to me time and time again how God is faithful to use ANYONE who is willing to further His kingdom. Age, gender, past sins, education, wealth, marital status, none of these things can prevent God from using a willing vessel.

What a wonderful God we serve!

The Return to Blogging...

Well, the natives are getting restless....all two of you!

So, I have decided to make a return to my poor neglected blog.

June has been a very hectic month, and I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of July. It seems as though my restful season of ministry is shaping up to look a little differently than I had anticipated.

So much has happened that I simply don't know where to start...thus the long departure from blogging.

Today, I simply blog as a means to procrastinating the daunting task of packing for a trip FULL of unknowns.

I can remember...

...when my heart was so hardened, that I rejected the notion of serving in a paid position at a church. Through His grace and mercy, God softened this hard heart of mine...

...when these 15 acres were nothing but dirt, brush, and a vision God laid on the heart of a handful of His servants. Through His Spirit's leading, and the bold and obedient hearts of the leadership of this church, it is so much more than that today...

...when I thought the system I had in place for a children's ministry of about 30 kids would be the system I would use until the day I died. Through His persistence and patience, my heart has become a little more adaptable and accepting of change.

...when I doubted if I would see a second building on this property in my lifetime. Through His mighty power and great favor, in the past four years I have seen two hospitals (as we like to call our buildings) completed...

I got a call today from a very dear friend. She simply said, "I just wanted you to know that I am excited about tomorrow. I am so excited about what God is doing, and I just wanted to call and tell you I am excited."

And I know it was the prompting of the Lord.

He spoke through all the details, all the chaos, and all the frustration and reminded me what was happening around me.

God is moving.

Sometimes I miss the evidence of His hand at work, but today (and hopefully many more days to come) I choose to stop, slow down, and let my heart be captivated by what God is doing.

Oh, and in case you are wondering.... I am excited too!

Lunch is on me!

Okay, well I am not technically paying for your lunch, but here is a freebie you won't want to miss!

KFC is apparently trying to change its name..... no longer will they be known for their "kentucky fried chicken" they are trying to make their mark in the grilled chicken world as well.

So, head to Oprah's website, or click here, and download your coupon for a free meal.

And we are not just talking chicken people, two pieces of chicken, two sides, and a biscuit! That is pretty nice deal for your lunch today, huh?

Hope your day is fabulous, and filled with fun!

Jetsons....

Okay, I need your help (yes again...but who is keeping track...not me!).

I am sure most of you have heard of the Roomba (irobot vacuum cleaners) before, and I am wondering who out there 1) has one, and what your thoughts are about it 2) who has thought about buying one, and any thoughts you want to share 3) who knows someone who has one...you are getting the drift...right?

I recently learned that there is now also a Scooba.

Did you know this magnificent Scooba sweeps, mops, and dries your floors for you?

Oh dear, I am in love! Trouble is, I think it would take about five of them to magically clean the square footage of our soon to be Children's and Youth building....

So, who wants to donate a Scooba to my church?

Not all at once....I just need five lovely volunteers!

Well, it's Monday...

I hate to state the obvious, but it's Monday.

Swine Flu, I mean H1N1KB2 virus, formerly known as Swine Flu, hysteria seems to be dying down....Cross your fingers everyone!

While the weather just barely decided to cooperate with me yesterday as we tried to finish out the last game of our Upward season, I had a thought.

Not a particularly new or deep thought.

Just a thought.

"I really love my job."

I might have been rained on yesterday, covered in mosquito spray and sweat, dealt with head strong two year olds and forty year olds, but I sure love my job!

So, today I ask you, even when you have to do things that might not be exciting or glamorous...do you still love your job?

Things about my church that might scare you...

On Wednesday I received a text from my boss that read,

"5' alligator in the lake...Ronnie shot it"

I do not have the creative capacity to make this kind of stuff up...I promise you! And you might remember back to this story that happened during the fall, which would refresh your memory to the lake on our property.

Well, Ronnie happens to be on our leadership team, and the alligator couldn't be found after it was shot.

Call me a skeptic, but when you are talking A.L.L.I.G.A.T.O.R.S., I want to KNOW whether or not the thing is really dead, as in find the carcass to prove it to me.

I got my wish today.

Usually I do not work at the church on Fridays, but today was an exception. I was walking a delivery to our contractor in our new building and saw a group of guys scurrying around the lake.

Using mainly their noses, they found the dead gator, and threw it in the back of their truck for some photo opportunities.....and tried desperately to get me to TOUCH the dead alligator. (Not on this side of heaven boys, not on this side of heaven....)

Anyone want to wager a guess as to the A.L.L.I.G.A.T.O.R.'S actual length?

I will just say that it was NOT 5' as originally reported to me.

Now I am left to figure out if not knowing if the gator was dead for sure was a better or worse fate than seeing the thing up close and personal!!!!

Creekside, it's one scary place.

I need your help!!!

I am in search of some new rugs for church.

I have searched some of my favorite sources and not found what I am looking for yet.

So, I am asking for your help.

Here are my requirements/needs for these rugs:
-need two identical rugs (rectangular or square, no smaller than 6x4, no larger than 8x6)
-must uphold to high levels of traffic

I would like for these rugs to also be:
-bright and colorful, kid-friendly
-at the same time not too loud, as to coordinate with our tan walls
-not too expensive

So the challenge is two-fold. I am open to suggestions of great places to look for rugs fitting into these categories, but what also LOVE to see any that you might find online.....

Come on, you know you've been dying for a good challenge.....

Will we have a winner?!?!

"If you like then you shoulda"

For Amber....and those of you too chicken to admit you had never seen this SNL clip before...

Best way to start your day!

Please toss aside whatever you may believe about the show Dancing with the Stars.

Watch. This. Clip. of last night's show.

You won't be disappointed, particularly if you have seen Justin Timberlake and Beyonce's SNL skit.

The first four minutes are all you have to watch....but you won't regret it!

Oh, and, you're welcome!

When it is really hard...

Today I really wanted to be in Kansas.

One of the things about growing up I hate the most is the distance that life seems to naturally put between people who you love. I know it is part of the seasons of life we all walk through, but my heart grieves every time the distance prevents me from being physically present for dear friends miles and miles away.

Daisy, or Crazy Daisy as we sometimes called her (Heidi's grandmother) went to be with Jesus last week. While there is great rejoicing from her family that she is in a better place, it is times like this you want to be able to walk alongside those you love.

I have many precious memories with Daisy in them. I was blessed to have spent time with this incredible woman, who mothered a daughter who raised one of the most remarkable women I know.