I love this Man!

This Man ...

- Has a Birthday today

-Is dedicated to JESUS!

- Is committed to me, and I never question that

- Loves & leads our children

-Lovingly leads me & doesn't let me push him around
(and believe it or not, I want that! That's how God created
marriage to be.)

- Is a pioneer... finding new places & way to share the news
of JESUS' love

- Is real. The same. Anywhere.

- Is the person I love MOST in the world

- Is my husband... Chilly...
and I'm in LOVE with him!!!!

Happy Birthday, My Love!

My First... Church building

I'm in my hometown of Greeley, Colorado this week
to be with my Mom while she's recovering from a knee
replacement surgery. (She's doing well)

Between visiting relatives & going to physical therapy
we've been driving past some old familiar places.

Below are pictures of my very 1st church... it used to belong to
First Assembly of God. When I was about a week old my
parents brought me to church for the first time, and from
then on I was there "every time the church doors were open."
When I was in Jr. High we moved to a bigger building.

Inside this building I ...

-experienced the power & love of Jesus

-heard the wonderful stories of Jesus from incredibly

loving & dedicated teachers & Pastors

- was baptised in Water

- was filled with the Holy Spirit

- learned how to communicate during sermons w/out talking

(hey, I loved Jesus, but I WAS a kid, too!)

- learned how to read the "evil eye" from my Mom that meant

I'd better be quiet or I'd be in serious trouble

- learned what real friendship is like

- made decisions that would affect the rest of my life

Truly, I'm grateful for parents who serve(d) God wholeheartedly

and for the dear Pastors, teachers & church family who invested

in my life!

(If You've ever been encouraged by anything I've ever said or done,

then you, too, can be thankful for the beautiful Christian people

who were part of my first church!)

Happy B-day, Riley

My first Baby is now an "adult!"

We spent the afternoon together & the evening with

family enjoying a yummy dinner & the chocolately-est cake

I've ever eaten!

This lovely girl loves Jesus & is following His guidance.

She'd wonderful to be with.

I love her SO much!

Happy Birthday, Riley!

When Ministry HURTS!

A few months ago I sweet lady that was once in our youth

ministry contacted me because her pastor/husband was

experiencing very difficult situations in their church/ministry.

I typed a number of thoughts off the top of my head.

Now, some months later I've decided to post these.

If you're married, read this... even if you don't hold a

" ministry title" this may be helpful to you & your husband...

if not now... at some point.

- It's good that you're very aware that it's the enemy

that's attacking you, not people

- Defending ourselves never helps... it henders

- I've had to smile and nod (and not say a word, OFTEN!)

- It's helpful for wives to listen to their husbands

but not ask too many questions, don't give advice that

requires action and don't join in the conversation with

comments like "Wow, that guy is really a jerk!"

- On the flip side, sometimes, after much listening,

a wife can gently sympathize by saying things like,

"I can see why this is so poopy for you. I love you, Honey.

How is God directing you to respond to this situation?"

- Wives can spare their husbands some (at least a little) pain

by not constantly expressing our own pain.

I'm not saying to be fake, or dishonest, but if wives are

quick to show our hurt & unhappiness then it puts pressure

on our husbands to solve the situation quickly to spare

further pain on the one they love... this can sometimes

cause rash action that's later regretted.

- Wives can find great strength in pouring their deepest hurt

and pain alone with JESUS. (obviously) And then venting

with a trust friend who is NOT in the same ministry location

that she is.

- Your prayers for your husband are your greatest blessing.

- Try to maintain some sense of "normal" around the house

and talk about other things so that "home" is a retreat to him

and not just another place where he has to deal with

more of the same.

- I've learned that guys sometimes process things in silence

(unlike girls who talk out thoughts & emotion). So, be OK with

quiet times together. Him knowing that you're there and

loving him & going about "normal" things will encourage &

strengthen him (possibly more than he may know at this point).

- Nothing lasts forever... except JESUS! and Jesus is worth it all!

While reading the NT I'm constantly reminded that the trials we

endure in the USA are minor.

- Fight to forgive. Of course they don't deserve it...

but neither do we.

- "JESUS!!!!!" (just say His name outloud a few times!)

I love being in ministry... even though I've walked through

some painful situations. If you're dealing with hurt then

I pray that this encourages you & gives you something

practical to put into action.

Wordless Wednesday, August 24, 2010

This REALLY is in DETROIT!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Talk- to-Myself-Tuesday!

My family tells me I talk to myself...

I prefer to think of it as "thinking outloud!"

Either way, here's what I've been saying...

- Thank You, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!

The re-negotiating is over! The beautiful old house

is our's! Hopefully we'll be closing by mid September!!!!!!

(Can you hear me clapping & see me skipping! See tomorrow's

post for a couple of pictures)

- "Expecting a Miracle" ... God's been dealing with the "expecting"

part of that miracle-phrase. More on that later. Hmm

- Four month old vacuum cleaners are supposed to work....

but all vacuums are in some sorta association & have had an

APB out about me for years:

"Calling all VACUUMS! If this lady (my picture appears)

buys you... sputter, cough, smell like you're on fire & then die.

Do whatever it takes to drive her insane!"

- LOVE outlasts emotions

-Delivering cookies to visitors at Real Church is so much fun!

- I really don't drink Diet Coke all day long. Only when I'm

NOT at home... which isn't all that often.

- Everything ALWAYS takes longer than you think.

- Most things are much easier SAID than DONE

- Thankful for friends who help out in countless ways!

- Excited to fly to Colorado soon to see my Mom. She's had a knee

replaced & I'll be there to help out when she gets outa

the rehab hospital.

-So happy to see people I love in Colorado that I haven't seen

in 8 years.

- The corners of my home need cleaning out... badly. Oh wait,

I am cleaning them out cuz WE'RE MOVING!!!!!

(I smile every time I think about it!)

- Buying school books on ebay can thrill me if I win by

changing my bid at the last minute.... and can make me crazy

if I lose by the same method. It's way the game is played, I guess.

- I have 59 cookbooks (just counted them). That's alot.

Ridiculous really. But nearly every book has a story of a person.

Someone I love who is in some way a part of me. And I use

many of them often. But seriously, that's alot!

Hmm, I really will have to let a few go...

maybe the Low-Fat ones.

Yeah, that's it. Those can go to the garage sale! Then

I'll only keep the "real" ones... I feel better now.

- Looking forward to getting a Detroit Library Card.

There's a really gorgeous historic library in the Museum District

that only Detroit residences can check books out of... and that's

gunna be in a few weeks! Cuz... We're MOVING!

- Gotta stop running over here to the computer & just get

back to cleaning, sorting & packing!

(Be sure to read tomorrow's post... pictures!)

Menu Plan Monday - Pantry Purge

Hopefully next month we're moving into a gorgeous old home

in Detroit. (We currently live in Hamtramck, which is a city

that's actually surrounded by Detroit city limits... so we're totally

IN the city, but our address, voting, etc is not Detroit. So

we wanna move into the actual city limits!)

All that geography said...

I'm trying NOT to buy many more groceries this week and

use the stuff in the pantry (and freezer). Here's the plan.

MONDAY

Lunch- Mac & Cheese

Dinner- TBA

TUESDAY

Lunch- PB & J, Carrots

Dinner- Asian Noodles & Veggies

WEDNESDAY

Lunch- Homemade Rice-a-Roni

Dinner- Taco Bowls

THURSDAY

Lunch- Canned Soup over Rice

Dinner- Grilled Chicken & Potatoes

FRIDAY

Lunch- Fried Eggs & Potatoes

Dinner- Grilled Pita Bread Veggie Pizza

SATURDAY- somebody's b-day

Lunch- Hamburger Gravy over Biscuits

Dinner- TBA

SUNDAY

Lunch- With Real Church @ the Big Splash

Dinner- TBA

For more ideas check out Organizer Junkie

Wordless Wednesday, August 18, 2010

PURGE

Wordless Wednesday @ 5 Minutes for Mom

and

WordlessWednesday.com

Things overheard at our house... 2

Back in December I posted a similar blog

I don't promise any deep life lessons...

just a laugh or maybe encouragement knowing that

you're not the only crazy household in the world! :)

(Our family in Barbies! Thanks, Zoe)

________________________________________________

"Is it Sunday today? Please can it be Sunday? I love Real Church!"

"There are no guns allowed in McDonald's!"

"Mommy, how come atha kids have a twicicle & I don't?"

"Mom, let's raise Chickens!"

(I blame Melissa O. for this... hee hee)

"I like food way more than decorating. When I grow up I'm

gunna be really big!"

"You're a piece a work!"

"What? I don't even have a job?"

"What kinda truck is that, Daddy?.... oh... what's a SWAT truck?"

"Where does Jesus work?"

"Well, Honey, Jesus doesn't go to work."

"MoooM, I thought Jesus worked in our hearts!"

"Mommy, I love you. You're so cute & chubby!"

"This is so cool, Mama. I love it. Thank you!" (my heart melts)

Wordless Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Wordless Wednesday

Talk-to-Myself-Tuesday, 8-10-10

My family tells me I talk to myself...

I prefer to think of it as "thinking outloud!"

Either way, here's what I've been saying...

- Trying to be patient. Why do we never really learn that lesson?

(At the time this blog is being written -Tues AM- we still

have not heard a response regarding the offer we made on

a house.)

- Deciding what I want & then telling God & "claiming" it

can get me what I want, but it can very quickly become a

nightmare instead of a dream. I really one want GOD's plan.

- Thankful that my TMJ is effectively treated by my wonderful

dentist and that the pain doesn't bother me if I wear the

"mouth piece" at night.

- My kids have been saying the funniest stuff lately... and I mean

ALL of my kids, not just the little ones!

(More about that in Thursday's post)

- Coupons grow addictive. Which isn't bad until you start buying

things you don't need just cuz they're on sale & you have coupon.

- Spray paint & pretty colors (not neutrals) have been calling my

name. So far I haven't answered... but the voice grows louder.

- Our realtor probably thinks we're kinda crazy.

- Books. Reading. Really want to do that... someday!

- I should be planning homeschool for the fall. I'm not... yet.

- Looking to others for advice & input is good. But we cannot

pattern our lives exactly after someone else's life. Look to JESUS!

- I like change.

- Our current address is the longest I've had one address in my adult life...

5 yrs. Before this the record was 3 1/2 yrs.

- Whenever I go to the basement for laundry I take a garbage bag

with me to clean out a small storage area.

- The back of my suburban has a giant tub & 2 bags of things to be

donated...

that tub has been driving around w/me for two weeks.

Kinda wish someone would just steal it outa the back!

Menu Plan Monday, August 9, 2010

MONDAY

Lunch- Broccoli Salad, Canned Soup

Dinner- Bean Burritos, Mexican Rice, Chips

TUESDAY

Lunch- Deli Meat Sandwiches, Fruit

Dinner- Stuffed Shells (ala Zoe)

WEDNESDAY

Lunch- Chicken Fried Rice

Dinner- Do Overs

THURSDAY

Lunch- Grilled Turkey Panini

Dinner- Beef Stroganoff, cucumber salad

FRIDAY

Lunch- Make-Your-own Salad Bar

Dinner- Grilled Pita Bread Pizzas

SATURDAY

Lunch- Hamburgers, veggies

Dinner- Summer Spaghettni

SUNDAY

Lunch- TBA

Dinner- Homemade Rice-A-Roni, Hot Dogs

For more ideas, check out MENU PLAN MONDAY

at Organizing Junkie.

1st Day of Real Church Detroit

What a wonderful Sunday morning Real Church Detroit

shared at the Magic Stick on Woodward Avenue!

It's the first of MANY great things that God is

doing in Detroit! So thankful that I get to be a

part of His plan for this city!

You know you live in the city when... Part 2

(Click here if you haven't read Part 1.)

The very first thing you do after you get out of bed each

morning is peek out the front window to be sure that

your car is still there.

You're careful to stay in your house at the stroke of Midnight

on New Year's because your neighbors are shooting their

guns in the air... just cuz they can. (not legally, I'm sure)

When you get a random knock on your door at 1:04 AM

from strangers who then stagger into the street & on to a

another door (probably looking for their own house).

When you LOVE to use your horn because people drive

SO stinkin' crazy!!!! (Horns are not an anger outlet,

they are life-saving tools!)

It's only 6:58AM and the "call to prayer" blasts through

the streets from the local mosques for the 1st of 5 times

each day. Grr.

(I thought they had to wait until at least 8am.)

When you can capture your entire backyard in one photo.

When you find yourself twitching because it's so difficult

to resist the urge to constantly correct other peoples'

grammar usage.

You take your kids to the wonderful zoo filled

with exotic animals from around the world,

& your youngest kids beg,

"Can we please just go see the farm animals."

Your 3 year old puts up the hood on his hoody sweatshirt,

saunters into the kitchen and throws his hands in the air...

"awwh yey!"

Everytime you drive way out into the suburbs & your kids

see lota trees & grass...your youngest kids ask you,

"Are we in another country?"

When your teenage daughter is better at parallel parking than

regular parking cuz street park is all we have!

When it's snowy outside & you have to shovel out the

Street parking spot in front of your house... and then,

knowing that some "less-motivated" neighbor wants to take

your cleared parking spot you "Mark" your spot by

putting a lawn chair and/or plastic milk crate

in front of your house!

When it's really hot & humid outside you really do see

people sitting in the doorways of building on those

same milk crates!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

But, like I said in Part 1 of this post...

When you're out of town & people ask when you're from

and then after you answer them they sorta gasp & then

just stare at you... they stare out of awe, or respect or

pity or just straight disgust that we'd be so foolish to

move our family to that city.

When you totally love this city and the people!

And find it amazing how God has turned His calling into

the desire of your heart.

Menu Plan Monday

Although you haven't seen a Menu Plan posted here for a while

I have indeed been planning them; and to my surprise I've

been "couponing" at Meijer instead of going to Aldi...

And it's been saving me money!

(Plus, the variety has been nice, too)

MONDAY

Lunch- French Toast, Mixed Fruit

Dinner- Sausage, Creamy Polenta, Green Salad

TUESDAY

Lunch- Pasta Salad

Dinner- BBQ Chicken Wings, Carrots & Celery

WEDNESDAY

Lunch- Chicken & Walnut salad in Pita Bread

Dinner- Roast, Potatoes, Carrots

THURSDAY

Lunch- PB & J, Watermelon

Dinner- Grilled Chicken, Rice, Cucumber Salad

FRIDAY

Lunch- Do Overs

Dinner- Grilled Pita Bread Pizzas

SATURDAY

Lunch- Waffles, Cantalope

Dinner- Hot Dogs, Bodacious Broccoli Salad

SUNDAY

Lunch- TBA

Dinner- Tacos, Chips

For more ideas check out Menu Plan Monday at

Organizing Junkie!