Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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!)



Saturday, August 28, 2010

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!










Thursday, August 26, 2010

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.



Tuesday, August 24, 2010

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!)












Monday, August 23, 2010

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
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



Thursday, August 12, 2010

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)




Tuesday, August 10, 2010

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!









Monday, August 9, 2010

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


Sunday, August 8, 2010

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!



Tuesday, August 3, 2010

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.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

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