Three Cheers for UPWARD!

This should've been posted a couple of weeks ago...

but I just HAVE to give props to the wonderful people

Ferndale Free Methodist church who hosted the

UPWARD basketball/cheerleading league that Zoe

took part in this winter.

SHE loved it.

She was loved.

She was constantly encouraged, blessed, developed.

She loves her coaches and she's super excited to be

involved next year.

The final event this season was the pom routine they

performed at the Detroit Pistons game. (pictured below)

This church & it's program are very impressive, very humble,

kind people who share the love of Jesus. We were all blessed!

Menu Plan Monday, April 5, 2010

MONDAY

Lunch- Easter Remix (leftovers)

Dinner- Little Caesars

TUESDAY

Lunch- Hamburgers, deviled eggs, celery sticks

Dinner- Veggie Wraps

WEDNESDAY

Lunch- Parmesan Almond Crusted Chicken, Broccoli, Rice

Dinner- Grilled Cheese, Tossed Salad

THURSDAY

Lunch- Roast, Potatoes, Carrots

Dinner- PB & J, Bananas (Meat & Cheese for Mom & Dad)

FRIDAY

Lunch- BBQ Chicken, Ice burg Wedges, Crusty Bread

Dinner- Homemade Pizza (covered in grilled veggies)

SATURDAY

Lunch- Hot Wings (made on Friday night, eaten cold)

Dinner- Burritos & Cheese

SUNDAY

Lunch Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus

For more ideas check out www.orgjunkie.com

Rooftop Real Church, Easter 2010

Real Church Detroit... not even 3 months old yet

Chilly sharing the WORD!

My wonderful friend, Stephanie!

(it took us about 9 takes to get this pic...

I'm not so good at taking pics of myself! hee hee)

Even my front yard is starting to bloom for Easter!

(well, technically it's HALF of my front yard)

Some friends joined us for lunch & David gave

Max "skateboarding lessons"...

(looks more like free rides to me)

I'm wanna THEM!

When reading the story of Jesus' death I have to admit

that I get ticked off when I read the part where people

are heckling Jesus.... while He's dying... for THEM!

They're saying stuff like,

"If you're really the Messiah, come on down from the cross!"

"Hmm, you could save others, go ahead & save yourself!"

"Hey, come down from there and then we'll believe in you!"

It's the last one that really gets me... grr! How could they?

Yesterday I was reading the part from Matthew 27:42 and

suddenly felt smacked in the face!

It's You, Netta!

Me? Lord , they were so rude! So Proud!

Yes, you do the same thing.

(Appalled & wounded...) But, how?

Think of all the times you've said stuff like,

"Lord, please work this out & then I'll be sure to do _____."

or

"Lord, just get me through the holidays and then I'll eat right

and be more careful with my time and money."

or

"Lord, just wait until I do ____ and then I do ____ that

You've instructed me to do. "

Ugh.

OUCH.

Ick.

Repenting followed.

Geez, when will I learn to stop being so quick to sum up

the "Bible People"...

I'm just like them.

I'm wanna THEM.

(and JESUS loves me, too... in His great MERCY!)

Right in the Middle

A recent conversation with a friend and a blog I recently

read by a cyber-friend of mine who has moved & doesn't

feel "at home" in her new place had prompted

some thought

some pondering,

a gathering of thoughts that may perhaps encourage you.

(It's certainly done that for me, even as I type this.)

We've moved a lot.

I actually had to COUNT the number of addresses

we've had since we were married...

TWELVE!

We've lived in twelve places in several states.

MN, OH, PA, IN, MI... not exactly in that order.

Some places I really, really LOVED & felt totally at home.

Some places I really, really loved... for a while...

Some places I never really liked at all.

(PLEASE note, I'm NOT talking about the PEOPLE,

I'm speaking of the town itself and/or the housing

situation we were in at the time!)

In each place we've KNOWN it was God that sent us there.

When Jesus calls us somewhere it is for ONE purpose...

HIS!

His purpose!

And His purpose is all about PEOPLE!

God loves People!

and it's PEOPLE that have made the difference for me.

When I've been open,

friendly,

put away my "find-the-differences-between-you-and-me Glasses",

reached out first,

stop thinking about myself 24/7,

decided to pray instead of worry about my kids,

laughed at myself,

stop getting frustrated when I was lost...again...

and just enjoyed the place God put me...

it became a place I liked.

Some of you kinda feel sorry for me because we live in Detroit.

Others of you say "respect" is the word that comes to mind.

And there's probably even more of you who think we're border-line

crazy! (oh, wait, those people probably are NOT reading this blog!)

Simply put... I'm just in the middle of God's Will.

Right where He's called us.

Not understanding everything.

Making mistakes.

But knowing with all my heart...

that I love JESUS, and what HE says GOES!

and....

I LOVE living in Detroit!

(Note: It's coming up on our 6th yr. anniversary of

living in Detroit, 5 yrs. of being at the same residence.

THAT's a record!)

Menu Plan Monday, Mar 29, 2010

This week I'm getting my ideas from a Betty Crocker e-newsletter

than I often just ignore cuz the food is very processed, etc.

But it's my inspiration and I'll make less expensive & whole wheat

versions of many of the meals.

MONDAY

Lunch- Hmd Biscuits, Scrambled Eggs, Peaches

Dinner- TBA

TUESDAY

Lunch- PB & J, Baby Carrots

Dinner- Chicken & Spring Veggie Toss (w/hmd noodles)

WEDNESDAY

Lunch- Easy Skillet Meal (a variation of this link)

Dinner- Waffle Wednesday

(making w.wheat waffle batter and then everyone can make one

when they're ready for dinner & before we go in several directions)

THURSDAY

Lunch- French Fry Salad

Dinner- Grilled Hamburgers, Homemade Mac and Cheese

FRIDAY

Lunch- Grilled Chicken w/salsa & Corn

Dinner- Finger Food Friday, Homemade Pizza!

SATURDAY

Lunch- Asparagus & Sausage Skillet Dinner

Dinner- Chili Quesadillas & Tossed Salad

SUNDAY, EASTER! I love JESUS!!!

Tentative menu for EASTER

Glazed Ham, Crock Pot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes,

Green Bean Casserole, Deviled Eggs,

Jello Salad of some sort, Cookies, etc...

For more ideas go to Organizing Junkie

Lookin' for two things

When a Christian begins to ignore what he/she knows is right...

however small it may be (in the beginning), that person

will look for TWO things...

1. Someone else who is also choosing to disobey

(Sin likes company)

3. Someone else to blame

(so that person won't have to come to terms with the condition

of their own heart)

NOTE:

If this is makin you kinda mad... you may be that person.

Obeying GOD is ALWAYS best!

He LOVES you!

Don't be mad... repent & enjoy the peace of submission to GOD!