Gifts from today

On Saturday and again today, Julie challenged us to notice the small gifts we receive, to acknowledge God in our lives. I may not get them written down on my note cards, but wanted to post some of the gifts I received today.

1. The gift of fellowship with the women of LCC


2. The gift of hospitality given to me by Melissa opening her beautiful home


3. The gift of little kisses when Maryn was supposed to be napping


4. The gift of snuggles and love from Maryn...I ended up napping with her after the dog scared her by coming into her room


5. The gift of rest...no I didn't get the things done that I would have liked to, but they'll still be there tomorrow


6. The gift of Caleb's placement on his basketball team, a great coach and kids he knows


7. The gift of Josh being old enough (and competent) to watch Maryn so I could take Caleb to practice and get some errands done


8. The gift of clean kitchen counter tops...it may not last, but it is an accomplishment none the less!


9. The gift of a quiet evening

How about you? I just wonder what our lives would be like if we consistently counted our blessings!

Organized Christmas

For all my organizing and planning this holiday season, I've really dropped the ball (again) with the LCC women's blog, again I apologize! I thought I was on good path and things would be easy and stress free. Well as usual, I was not correct...I do believe that I will see many blessings from my early planning, but there are things in life that you can't plan for. Take illness for example...who plans to get sick? I surely don't and it's even harder when it's your child who is sick - don't worry it's just a cold. And then there is the potty re-training. I surely didn't plan on that!

All this emphasizes what Julie challenged us to do on Saturday...to look for the daily little blessings throughout this busy time of year. I hope to have some notes from Julie to post on the blog for those who missed it. So, let's look for those small little blessings like an extra smile and hug even if it is from a snotty nosed kid!

Recipes

Thanks to all the ladies who came out on Friday evening! It was a fun evening and we missed you, if you weren't there. Here are the two recipes I promised.

Chicken Cesar Pizza

· Cut chicken into bite size pieces
· Marinade in Ken’s Light Cesar Dressing for at least 20 minutes
· Saute chicken in pan until cooked through
· Roll out (or use pre-purchased) pizza dough
· Layer the pizza:
o Small amount of dressing
o One clove of garlic
o Cooked chicken
o Mozzarella cheese
o Parmesan cheese

· Cook in 400 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until done
· Serve with Cesar salad

Applesauce Cake

2 cups flour (I used half regular and half whole wheat flour)
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. Salk
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup unsalted margarine, melted (I used salted butter, it's what was in the house.)
1 can applesauce 16 ounces

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Sift dry ingredients together in mixing bowl. Dust raisins with a little flour, stir in to distribute evenly. Blend in melted butter and applesauce, beat for 3 minutes with electric mixer (I mixed by hand, too lazy to get the mixer out). Pour batter into 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Bake 45 minutes or until done.

I made a glaze from confectioners sugar and water for a thin layer of frosting.

Enjoy!

Many thanks

Many thanks to Lauren for opening her home and leading our discussion about planning for Christmas. Thank you to those who were able to attend and for those who couldn't, you can find some of the ideas on the www.organizedchristmas.com website. It is linked from this website. Our next activity is Friday, November 14th, from 7:30-9pm. I hope you can join us!

Daytime Women's Fellowship

This Wednesday we are having a daytime women's fellowship (November 5 from 9:30-11:30). Lauren Mullins has graciously offered to host us and lead our discussion time. Our focus will be on preparation for the holidays. I hope those of you who at home during the day will be able to make it. I know I'm looking forward to doing all I can this year to make the holidays less stressful.

I know there are many ladies in our church who work outside the home or school their children and won't be able to make it. If this topic is of great interest to you, please let me know. Depending on interest and a willing host/leader, we may be able to have a duplicate session.

Our change series is reaching its conclusion. I know there are many things I'd like to change and that will be the purpose of our women's gathering on Friday, November 14th from 7:30-9pm or so at my home.

Details for all our upcoming events are posted on the church calendar. If you are not receiving women's ministry emails, please let me know so you can be added to the ministry distribution list.

Change for the Holidays

I saw this book advertised in the latest Family Christian Bookstores ad and had to go take a look. I'm a pretty organized person, but find myself unraveling around the holidays. I took a field trip to the store, flipped through the pages and decided it looked good, so I made the purchase...yes, it was on sale and I used a coupon. (BTW, it's on sale for $14.99)

I planned on sharing some of the ideas at our upcoming women's ministry events (and will still do this), but as I read through the first few pages this afternoon, I felt couldn't wait and needed to share it with you now. For those of you like minded planners you may want to take a look. One of the key planning times is the day after Halloween, aka this Saturday.

In my mind, simplifying my holidays falls naturally into the change series Pastor Steve is leading us through. Wouldn't it be nice to feel less stressed this holiday season? Imagine what it would be like to actually enjoy and look forward to Christmas. What impact would we have on our little corner of the world if we were able to continue our daily devotions, healthy meal planning, exercise, etc. through the holidays?

No, I'm not intoxicated on fairy dust or on a sugar high from eating the Halloween candy before Halloween...I'm just excited about the possibilities and benefits from a little planning now and the potential impact in December! Take a look and share your thoughts...we all benefit from shared experiences.

Upcoming Events

I hope you are enjoying our change series as much as I am. There seems to be something each week (or multiple somethings) that I can and should change in my life. Personally as part of the First Place 4 Health group, I’m working on balance of the mind, soul, spirit and strength.

So much to do, so little time…do you feel like that? While there are lots of things we will discover we need to change, there are a few constants that I don’t think will change, at least anytime soon. Our lives will continue to be full and the traffic won’t be going away soon!

Even though our lives are busy and we do have to face traffic, we still need to be meeting together. We do this every Sunday and by participating in our Lifegroups. We also do this when we gather just the women of our church. We certainly need each other and need to nurture those relationships as Steve pointed out this past Sunday.

Here is a list of our upcoming Women’s ministry activities. Pray over your schedule and plan ahead to attend whenever possible.

Are you a stay at home, work from home or work evenings…in other words are you home during the day? If so, we’re going to gather together on Wednesday, November 5 and Wednesday, December 10th from 9:30-11:30 to encourage each other, have a time of fellowship and prayer. Childcare will be provided for a small fee.

How do we manage all the changes we’re trying to make? That will be the focus of our Change evening on Friday, November 14 at my home from 7:30-9 or so. We’ll have a healthy recipe demonstration and taste testing in case you don’t have a chance to eat dinner, make a craft and hear a devotional from Kristie Buttram.

Our Christmas Activity will be on Saturday, December 6th from 2-4 pm (times are tentative and may change a bit) at the home of Sherri Markle. Expect to hear some strategies to “change” your Christmas celebrating.

Our annual Women’s retreat is being planned for the beginning of March, more details to follow, but did you realize how precious you are to God?

I will send out reminder emails for each of our separate events as they get closer. Pray over your schedule and plan ahead to attend whenever possible. I look forward to seeing each one of you soon!

Blog Fog

It would seem that I'm in a blog fog...having trouble finding the time to write entries and not much to say. I'm in the land of potty training, feels like twins, though I'm running in different directions...Maryn to the bathroom and Winston outside! We'll see what the weeks brings. Enjoy the fall weather!

Success!

What a great success the pancake breakfast was today! We have such a fabulous church family and I hope you were as blessed as I was because of their hard work! Thank you so much to each person who got up extra early to make (seemingly) hundreds of pancakes and sausage patties! I also have to give high praise to our teens who served us! What a great job they did, trying to see who could "out serve" the other. In case you didn't know, I'm not sure how you couldn't have noticed, but perhaps in a caffeine deprivation you didn't, anyway...it was guys versus the girls. Each team has claimed victory, though the plate count is still not in. Our teens were eager to help in anyway needed and I can't begin to express my gratitude to them!

There are so many others who also helped with setting the tables, pouring juice, getting things to and from my car and I don't want to leave anyone out, so thank you to each one for all you did today to help make our first pancake breakfast such a tremendous success!

Change Starting this Weekend

I think the only constant in life is change. And change is coming at LCC in the way of our 6 week Change Series. I'm looking forward to all we are going to learn, though I suspect some of the necessary changes I need to make won't be easy. Take diet, nutrition and exercise for example...is that easy for anyone.? Actually, I know the answer is "yes" for some, "sometimes" for others and "seldom or never" for others. I fall in the last group at the moment, but change starts this weekend. It's the first week for our new First Place Bible study group, led by Lisa Downing. There are a group of us ready to embark on this journey to balance.

And then another expected change is the change of seasons...cooler weather, fall foliage, pumpkins, mums, etc. Whatever change you are facing, I pray that God would guide your path and be your constant companion.

It works for toddlers...

This morning Maryn wasn't getting her way and in true Maryn fashion she dropped to the ground, screaming and rolling around demanding her way...I don't even remember what she wanted anymore. She was ranting, raving and rolling all over the family room carpet...yes that sweet thing you see on Sunday mornings does have a temper and she is 2, so it goes with the territory! So what did I do? I laid down on the carpet and did the same thing she was doing to show her how crazy she looked. (Now I realize that some parenting experts would tell me that you need an audience for a tantrum and I usually go that route, but I couldn't resist this morning.)

Thankfully my mock tantrum didn't backfire on me. It did diffuse the situation and we had fun wrestling and laughing, oh, I got drooled on as well. It's a few hours later and I was thinking it would be nice if the same strategy would work for my teenager's little outbursts, somehow I think not! But alas, God deals with each of us individually. Sometimes He uses humor to bring us around and sometimes the dreaded 2 x 4.

Frustration, not inspiration...

I should have known that when I ripped my jeans "stretching" them when I put them on this morning that it was an indicator of things to come. Actually my morning went very well..vet appointment and running errands. Maryn and I shared Arby's for lunch. She had a blast looking at all the books at Borders. I think it was her first time there...so many books, so little time.

The problems resurfaced later in the afternoon as I went to the freezer to get some salmon for dinner. I actually had a plan and a healthy on at that! Imagine my surprise when there was no salmon. Dinner needed to be on the table quick so I found some sausage and decided I'd brush up on pancake flipping skills for the upcoming pancake breakfast.

Maryn pulled her chair up to the counter to help. She started washing dishes but decided stirring pancake batter would be much more fun, so she stirred away while I cooked the sausage. She was doing a great job, only sticking her fingers in the batter on occasion until I realized she grabbed the pot scrubber to assist her stirring. Only God knows the last time I ran it through the dishwasher to sanitize it! I did opt for the photo op...I'll have to post a picture when I download, excuse me, when Rich downloads the pictures. It was a manageable photo op until Maryn decided to show me the stirrer, and drip pancake batter all over the chair, counter, floor, herself, etc.!

Up until this point I was really doing fine. I stopped, cleaned up Maryn, ran to school to pick up Josh and returned home to re-make the pancake batter, without help this time. I got everything going, the boys were helping me and we discovered we had very little syrup...URGHHHH! I reached peak frustration levels as I started sneezing uncontrollably, while messing up many of the pancakes.

Oh, I forgot to mention that during this wild time, Winston (the puppy) was shredding paper all over so now I need to vacuum, well I needed to anyway, but now I really NEED to. So, if you need any documents shredded, I have the shred-o-matic puppy. I decided to call it a day and put on my pj's, yes at 7 pm. Definitely not an inspirational day, can anyone relate?

By the way, I do need volunteers to help make pancakes and sausage at home the morning of the pancake breakfast at church on October 5. Let me know if you can help!

Might not be...

This might not be the most inspirational week for blogging...

• I'm still catching up from the weekend
• Not very motivated to get caught up from the weekend
• I don't think Dora or Diego will provide inspiration, for me at least...Maryn loves them!
• It's an admin week for me with women's ministries and getting ready for the pancake breakfast
• My to-do list is overwhelming and did I mention that my motivation is lacking?!
• My best dinner inspiration is what we are having tonight...chicken and french fries...it's Josh and Maryn's birthdays...it may not be healthy, but will be happy

While I'm not planning on a very inspirational week I am counting on...

• lots of laughter as I play with Maryn
• the fun of watching Maryn and Josh open their birthday presents, though most of Josh's haven't arrived yet
• my house surviving even if it doesn't get cleaned this week
• God's faithfulness and provision
• eventually getting some things done, well maybe
• the reassurance that many of you reading have weeks like this and perhaps feel the same way I do

All that to say I'm not sure how much I'll be blogging this week, though I promise to blog as God lays something on my heart. Who knows, maybe with some extra sleep and lots of extra prayer, I'll hit my stride, until then....

The Fight

I opened my Bible study book this morning (A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place by Beth Moore) to the following verse: Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." It's still sinking in for me, definitely something I need to "chew" on.

I'm a doer...be still? That is rarely my response. I wonder how my life would be different if I were still and allowed God to fight for me...

Chicken Pox or Chiggers...

Just when I think life is under some sort of control, something arises that makes me remember Who is really in control. Throughout the day on Monday, Caleb developed a suspicious looking rash, so we headed to the pediatrician first thing Tuesday morning to discover this "rash" was chicken pox!! Of all things, he had chicken pox when he was two, but that was still the diagnosis. Apparently some people get chicken pox twice in their lives.

Incidentally, two of his friends had similar sounding rashes as they were all traipsing through the woods on Sunday.

Today we went to the dermatologist for Caleb's alopecia. The resident we saw confirmed the chicken pox diagnosis, but the specialist came in and told us it was bug bites and went on to explain why. Bug bites are certainly welcomed news, though certainly irritating.

While I certainly cannot plan chicken pox or even a massive chigger attack, I do need to remember to be flexible and follow God's lead.

Pie Maker, I'm NOT!

For those of you who are time crunched, I'll start by sharing a recipe for Peach (or Strawberry) Pie. You'll need the following ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup boiling water, a 3 oz package of peach or strawberry jello, 2 cups of sliced fresh fruit, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, lemon juice (to sprinkle over peaches so they don't brown) and a 9 inch pie shell, baked and cooled according to the package instructions.

Directions: Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Add boiling water. Cook over medium heat. Add gelatin and mix well. Cool until lukewarm. Slice fruit. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Add to gelatin mixture and pour into pie shell. Refrigerate for several hours or until set. Garnish with cool whip if desired.

Now, the reason why I'm not a pie maker. I guess I should have realized that since my mom didn't like pie and therefore didn't make them, that there may be a genetic issue here...I'll have to ask her sometime. I had a great neighbor who tried to teach me all things domestic...I didn't do so well in the pie making department then either. There was an Easter dinner, parents, in-laws, sister etc. for dinner...big dinner, had to do everything myself (I'm also NOT Martha Stewart, but that didn't keep my from trying). I carefully planned the use of my oven, but as I pulled out the peach pie, I clipped the edge of the oven sending the entire peach pie to the bottom of the oven and no, the meat wasn't yet finished. Just imagine lots of smoke, the smoke detector wailing and a very frustrated homemaker!

Anyway, I've sworn off baked pies unless they come in a box, if you know what I mean. I was given this recipe and with so few ingredients and the bonus of using fresh fruit I figure what could be so difficult. Well if there is a way to mess it up, I've tried it. I had added the wrong ingredients at the wrong time. I've had the jello not gel...just ask Pastor Steve and Sherri about their "dessert" (term used loosely in this situation) when I took a meal when Nic was born. Today I decided to boil the water in the saucepan, then add the sugar and cornstarch, but ended up with clumps of goo...Caleb had a name for it. I suppose it'd be cool to play with if that was the end game. So after throwing that mess out (thankfully sugar and cornstarch aren't that expensive) I started again. It's now cooling in the refrig so I'll have to let you know if it turned out. I decided there is a reason I don't homeschool...imagine what would happen with science experiments in my kitchen!! My hats go off to all our homeschooling moms out there. Me, I'm a science project gone bad!

I did have one time the pie came out beautifully...I was talking to Melissa on the phone, so my advice, call Melissa so say hello when you try this recipe. This pie did turn out, Rich even asked me what I did to prevent it from flopping. Maybe it was sharing the recipe with you! Oh, and feel free to share your experiences with this recipe if you'd like!

What would you change?

Earlier this week I sent out a women's ministry email asking what you'd change about yourself. I've received some great responses, but would love to hear from more of you. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

It has been surprising to me that some of you have been struggling with the same things I've been working through. My intention in asking this question was to get ideas for our next women's ministry activity in October. I know that the things we'd like to change are tough to take on and that there are no quick fixes. I also know the One who has the power to change us. I'm praying for God's wisdom and waiting for His direction for this evening of Managing Change.

If you have any ideas, let me know. Shoot me an email letting me know what you'd like to change about yourself. womensministry@lifecc.us

Remembering 911

I have no great words of wisdom to offer as we remember September 11, 2001. Like many of you, I remember exactly what I was doing that day. I was meeting my 2 year old preschool students. I remember one of my former parents coming in to tell me about the first of the twin towers being hit. I was so focused on my job that I didn't process what could be happening until the little ones left...by then the events of the morning had played out. I came home and just sat in front of the TV watching the news.

I remember the stories of the families left behind. I also heard stories of parents who "should have been" on one of the planes. I was so thankful when I heard from Rich...he was in a meeting in a government office that morning, but I didn't know where. He was fine and far away from harm. I was also so thankful as I waited for my boys to get off the bus that afternoon. I was thankful for the time off from our usual routine as many of our activities and school were cancelled. While I had things to be thankful for, there were others who were in so much pain.

So, seven year later, I still think of those families who lost loved ones. I think of how the children have survived without a mom or dad. I also think about how our nation turned to God for answers and hope that we do that again today as we remember.

Recipe

Tuesday evening I had the opportunity to attend a Pampered Chef party at a friend's home. We had a great time and the consultant, also a LCC member did an excellent job. Pampered Chef as a company does a great job providing recipes that use their products. I was telling a friend one of my favorite Pampered Chef recipes...it's one I've had for at least 8 years.

Chicken Cesar Pizza

You'll need: pizza crust (boboli, homemade or you can even purchase pizza dough at Bertucci's)
Ken's light Cesar Dressing
Chicken, cut into bite size pieces
Parmesan Cheese
Mozzarella Cheese
Garlic

I don't have exact measurements for the above ingredients...I just fill the pizza crust.

First marinate your chicken in the Cesar dressing...I do this right in the pan that I'll use to cook the chicken...for about 20 minutes. Cook the chicken in the dressing. Meanwhile put a small amount of the Cesar dressing on the pizza crust (be careful, this dressing is very strong), use your garlic press to put a clove of garlic on the crust followed by the cooked chicken, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake in 400 degree oven for about 12-15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden. Serve with Cesar salad. Enjoy!

God's Call

I just started reading a book that has been on my shelves for a while...it seems like this is my pattern, buy a book, find a place for it on my shelf and then eventually pick it up and read it, well read most of it. Anyway, this book is called "Leading Women to the Heart of God: Creating a Dynamic Women's Ministry", edited by Lysa Terkeurst. Many leading ladies in women's ministries contributed to this. I am always looking for new ideas or ways to keep the "life" in our women's ministry at LCC.

I think as women we all feel overwhelmed at times and question our ability to perform a certain role. I know I do. In the introduction of the book a phrase by Lysa Terkeurst stood out to me. "We need to stop wondering if we really have what it takes to be a leader and realize God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called."

The fall is often the season when as churches we resume classes, lifegroups and revisit the staffing needs to make these happen. So instead of sprinting into the bathroom when you see one of the church leaders coming your way, perhaps it would be better to remember that God qualifies the called, and we are all called to do something in the church.

I hope to have some other fresh ideas for women's ministries as I read through this book, but in the meantime, if you have any ideas, I'd love to hear from you!

Sharing Blogs

There are several blogs I try to keep up with...the LCC blogs topping the list. It's a great way to keep up with someone and get information out there that we can access as we have time. I have several connections from our LCC women blog to some of my favorites. One of those is the Living Proof blog, which is Beth Moore's blog where she and her daughters post thoughts.

Beth's daughter, Amanda had a quote that really made me think this morning. It said,"If I stop receiving from God, I start demanding from others." There is much more to this post and I encourage you to read Amanda's post in its entirety.

I need to spend some more time working through this, but right now I have to deal with a tantruming almost two year old! Oh, the realities of life!

Rainy Mornings

It was such a raining morning, one of those days when we love to stay under the covers, sleep a bit longer or read a book. While the temptation may have been great this morning, about 12 of you braved the rain and came for our Back to School coffee. You encouraged me with your friendship and inspired me with your desire to seek God in prayer for our children and those who teach them. Scripture tells us where two or three are gathered, He is in their midst and I surely sensed God's presence this morning!

If you are a teacher attending LCC or one of our core class teachers, you were prayed over. We appreciate all you do to teach us and our children. If you are one of our LCC kids, you were also prayed over - that God would continue to mature you in your walk with Him and be with you in your academic pursuits as well.

If you weren't here, I'm sorry. You unfortunately missed a special morning, but we'll be gathering again soon. Make sure to watch your email and this blog for details! Sherri made a comment to me a few days ago that something is happening at LCC. While I can't adequately explain it, I certainly feel it. God is doing a mighty work in our church! I can't wait to see what He has in store for us this fall! Please join me in prayer during this exciting time!

Four Years Ago

Four years ago, our family left a large church looking for a place where we would fit in. We knew Pastor Steve from baseball. He had invited us several times and decided it was the time to check out this little church named LCC. We visited at the end of the summer and rest as is often said, is history. I can still remember the awkwardness of being knew, but also the sense that this church really cared about those who entered there doors. As the coordinator of Women's ministries, I strive to make others feel as welcomed as I felt. While I know I'm not perfect with this goal, it is still a worthy goal to have.

I also remember how hard it was for me to go to that very first women's ministry activity...I can still picture where we were, who I sat with and what we did (for those who would remember, it was the pottery painting activity and I sat with JoAnn Cerda.) And while it was difficult for me to step out of my comfort zone, it was probably one of the best things I could have done to get to know people.

Perhaps you are new to LCC or have never been to one of our women's ministry activities, if so, I encourage you to come to our Back to School Coffee. You don't have to be a mom or be in school to come. It's for ALL the LCC ladies! It's just a short 90 minutes and I can guarantee that you'll get to know someone new and that you'll also be thankful you came!

Back to School Coffee

It's back to school time...I wonder what thoughts that brings to your mind. Some of us are reluctant to see summer end, while others are ready to send our kids back to school. Some of us are preparing classrooms for their students, both in our area schools and some in the school rooms of home. And some of us don't have children and don't have to get all caught up in the school supply aisles at our local stores. No matter your situation, fall seems to bring us back to the routine of life at home and also our church.

With all this in mind, I'd like to invite you to a Back to School Coffee at my home on Saturday, September 6th from 9-10:30 am. Coffee, bagels and fruit will be provided. Please let me know if you need childcare. The only thing I ask you to bring is a short prayer request for the school year for your children or for yourself. We'll have a time of fellowship followed by a time of prayer. We'll be praying for each other, the ladies in our church who teach and for those who teach Sunday school at LCC.

It'll be a great time to relax, get reconnected or even get to meet the wonderful ladies of LCC. Please make sure to RSVP through the church website!

GOTCHA DAY

Yesterday was a great day! I had lots of fun holding and laughing with Maryn. She and I looked at the pictures when we got her. Our dinner of chicken and french fries went well and the ice cream cake was a huge hit. Last night Rich and I attended a LCC church leaders meeting and discovered that yesterday was also GOTCHA DAY for the Downing family! Rita, Lazarus and Angelo officially became Downings...in our hearts they have been all along, but now it's also officially on paper. Congratulations Downing family! I wonder what GOTCHA DAY 2009 will hold for LCC!

A Great Book Club!

Last night we had a great book club! Thanks to Deanna for hosting us and for baking those amazing brownies and to Nicole for leading our discussion! We have a great group of ladies at LCC; our activities are a great time to get to know others and have some fun! I know for me it was the perfect ending to my day and a great way to start my week. Thanks to all who came and for the friendship you bring to my life! To those who weren't able to make it, you were missed!

GOTCHA DAY

Tomorrow is Maryn's Gotcha Day...the day she was placed into our arms (pictured above)! It's been a joy to remember the anticipation from a year ago...when we were flying to China, touring Hong Kong, flying to Jiangxi and when we first laid eyes and arms on our precious daughter! It was one of the best days of my life as this has been one fabulous year for our family. We love our little girl so much and she has brought so much joy and laughter to our lives! Tomorrow we'll be celebrating with Maryn's favorite dinner...chicken and french fries. (She even tries to order it when at the bank teller! )

Anyway...get me started talking about Maryn and it's hard to stop. We also have our own Gotcha Day...the day we came to Christ. What joy we brought to God, our Father as we understood His plan of salvation and became one of His children. As I've stepped through the adoption process personally, I have gained a better appreciation of what it means to God and His incredible love for us. If you need more information about how to have your own Gotcha Day, please let me know! Let's give thanks for our own personal Gotcha Day and praise our Heavenly Father for His love!

I need to run...Maryn has been doing stickers while I've been on the computer and I'm not sure where they have landed! Picture below is from a few weeks ago, one year later.

School Supplies

This is the time of year when we dutifully purchase our school supplies for the upcoming school year. The supply aisles at Walmart and Target are filled with parents carrying lists and children selecting their favorite notebooks and pencil cases. I enjoy looking for bargains, especially when you find colored pencils and markers for $0.88 and crayons for $0.22. It's also a great time to start making purchases for our Operation Christmas child project that will be coming in October and November. Every year we make a church goal to send a specific number of boxes through Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child. Please pray about participating this year and let me know the bargains you find! In these budget stretching times it's helpful to save wherever we can!

A Promise to Remember

Our next women's ministry activity is book club next Monday, August 18th. Please note the change in date from Tuesday to Monday. It will still be at Deanna's house from 7-9 pm. The book is "A Promise to Remember" by Kathryn Cushman. It's a quick read with something for everyone and many of the life situations that surround us every day. I hope you'll be able to be there!

Change is coming...you'll be hearing a lot about it in the upcoming weeks. I love the change of pace in our summer weather this year. This is what I remember summer to be like when I was growing up. Are you ready for some change?

The Battle

This summer I'm doing a Bible study on prayer with my closest friend. Prayer is one of my weakest areas in my walk with God. I keep thinking that I'll be a better pray-er when I get organized...which somehow never happens. So, when my friend said she wanted to work on her prayer life, I quickly agreed to join the journey. We chose a well known Christian author who wrote both a book and study guide...perfect for our needs! But...I struggled so much with this study. I didn't want to do the work and when I did read, I felt like saying "I already know this, tell me something I don't know!" Yikes, what an attitude and I had some guilt over that as well!

The one thing about doing a study with a friend is that there is accountability to do the work, so I fulfilled my duty and whined a bit in the process. Then I decided that I should pray (DUH!) about my struggles. I felt that Satan was really trying to pull one over on me, which would lead to a path of frustration. I also decided to try doing the workbook before I read the chapter in the book and believe it or not, between the change in process and prayer, I'm now enjoying this study, seeing the power of prayer and even getting tips for how to organize my prayer life.

Why was this a battle? I believe Satan would rather have me be frustrated and ineffective while God wants me to have His strength and guidance for each day. I suspect we all have different battles going on in our lives at any given time. So, the purpose of me sharing this is to encourage you to hang in there with whatever you need to hang in with...a Bible study, Christian book, relationship or just managing daily life and PRAY! I'd love to pray for you as well, just let me know how I can pray for you!

Prayer Requests

This week our youth are away in Maine on a mission's trip. Accompanying them are Donald and Kristie Buttram and Russ and Deanna Wells. It is wonderful to have such great leaders to be with our kids and guide their spiritual growth. I'm thankful for each of them and the great teens we have at our church

Please continue to remember the Markle family with the birth of Nicholas. I got to see him this afternoon and he is a beautiful baby! Mom and baby are adjusting well, but those of us who have had children can remember those first few weeks and all the adjustments.

Continue to pray about women's ministries at the church. Our next activity is a book club on Tuesday, August 19th at the home of Deanna Wells. We'll be discussing the book "A Promise to Remember" by Kathryn Cushman. If you have any ideas or would like to be part of the women's ministry team, please let me know!

Inconsistency

It is quite evident from this blog that I have inconsistency issues and to be quite honest it's not just the blog I struggle with. In fact, I'm struggling with consistency in most every aspect of my life right now. There are some valid excuses, some not so valid, but excuses none the less. I can promise to do better (which I've done over and over on this blog) but I need God's help. Help arrived the other day as I read a verse from Psalm 143:10. This verse has become my prayer... "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

Mudjacking

I've recently learned about a new profession...mudjacking. Our patio has settled over the years..5 inches in some places and was causing water problems in our basement with the heavy rains. It seems that the dirt around our foundation has shifted and settled which made the patio fall and in turn made the water run against the foundation and into the basement. The "mudjacker" drilled holes into the bricks then pumped a concrete mixture into the holes to fill all the empty spaces. Amazingly, the patio is back where it belongs and I'm waiting for the next rain to see if our water issues are solved - which they should be.

It got me thinking...we can have a strong foundation in our spiritual lives, but sometimes the dirt around us can settle and water or other influences can creep in and cause problems. Sometimes our lives need a bit of mudjacking - intentionally filling those spaces though with God's Word instead of mud. I know I've needed some mudjacking in my life, how about you?

Time

Guilt. We all struggle with it from time to time. I suffer from bloggers guilt - or perhaps not-blogging guilt. Blogging is one of those things I do think about, want to write something meaningful, and find little time to execute. This is such a busy time of year (though I think there is busy-ness to every time of year) with sports ending and beginning (for my family little league ending, travel baseball and swim beginning) and the end of the school year. Caleb keeps me posted on the # of days remaining...has the school year really blown by...already!? I'm not sure where the time goes, but see the evidence that time flies...it seems like only a short time ago that Josh, my 16 year old was Maryn's age (20 months) and have we really had her only 10 short months? That time has flown as well. Last year I was wishing that time would fly a bit more, as we were still waiting to be matched to Maryn. What a difference a year makes!

Well ladies, summer is upon us. We have quite a women's ministry activities planned - check out the women's ministry page on the church website www.lifecc.us for details. I'd love to see each LCC lady involved in some way. As I reflect on how quickly time passes I want to take the time to treasure the everyday moments, to thank God for all His blessings, will you join me? Let's remember to share God's blessing when we meet at our book club in August.

Prayer Request

I suspect that by now you have heard the news of the death of Steven and MaryBeth Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria Sue (and third adopted from China). Here is a link to a memorial blog and more information http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/ I cannot begin to imagine how a family deals with a tragedy such as this. This is one of those "whys" we ask God - perfect timing for our current sermon series. I'm at a loss for words and am brought to tears as I think of the blessing Maryn has brought to my life. I know I'll be hugging on her more and thanking God for her!

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday was a wonderful day for me, one that I've looked forward to for 3 years. It was my first mother's day with Maryn. It was also the day we dedicated her. We were surrounded by our parents and wonderful church family. Rich surprised me with a video of Maryn saying "Happy Mommy Day!" It seems he had to work pretty hard to get the words out, then took some time editing, but one of the best mother's day gifts!

While it was wonderful for me, I talked to a friend who is a military mom whose husband was recently deployed to Iraq. Talking to her gave me perspective on just how blessed I am and how blessed we are as a country, for the men and women who serve in the military and the families they leave behind. Thank you ladies for your sacrifice! I pray that God will bless you and your families, especially those whose husbands are currently deployed!

Mary Heart Martha World Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Kitchen Service
Dwight L. Moody said, “Of one hundred men, one will read the Bible; the ninety-nine will read the Christian.” p. 83
There is truth and conviction in that statement. We discussed the people whose lives made us first notice Christ. This is why Kitchen Service is so important…our service can point others to Christ or push them away.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

We read the example of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in John 13:1-17. This act would have been shocking to the disciples. They would have considered beneath them to even was Jesus’ feet so to have Jesus bend down and wash theirs was unthinkable. This was also the only time in Scripture that Jesus told the disciples to follow his example. He meant for us to serve one another.
We also looked at three passages: Mark 1:29-34 Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law and those who came to the door, Mark 6:30-34 Jesus stopped and ministered to the crowd, and Mark 7:31-35 Jesus took a deaf man aside and healed him. In these passages we see Jesus serving others as he went on his way, as he went out of his way, and in all kinds of ways. Then we discussed how we could practically serve others and show Christ’s love in different areas of our lives.

We discussed using our spiritual gifts and talents for the Lord. One thing the book pointed out that although discovering your spiritual gift is helpful in many ways, it has also become an excuse for many of us not to do things in the church. There are things that need to be done and the way to find our balance is to spend time in the Living Room with Christ first, then we will know when we need to respond.

One of the ladies at church recently shared with me that a pastor told her each person in the church should serve in two areas: one in which they are passionate and one in which something just needs to be done. I thought this was a simple way to make sure we are humbling ourselves in service as a member of the church body.

Finally we looked at Acts 3:1-10 as an example of how to serve. When we serve, we must do it in a way that points people to Jesus or “we risk becoming surrogate messiahs” (page 96). We must always be looking for what God is doing around us and join Him there.

If you are interested in learning more about servant evangelism, I highly recommend reading “Conspiracy of Kindness: A Refreshing New Approach to Sharing the Love of Jesus” by Steve Sjogren.

Our discussion closed with 1 Corinthians 10:31-33…

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

A Beautiful Woman in Christ

We had a great Mom's Time Cafe at the Markle's home this past Saturday. There was time to get to know other moms, time to laugh at some Anita Renfroe DVD clips and be encouraged by a devotional shared by Pastor Steve's mom, Leslie. The devotional was so inspiring that I knew it had to be put on the blog for all to see and think about. (Leslie used the outline below from www.creativeladiesministry.com by Julia Bettencourt, but shared other scripture and examples from her own life.)

As we go through our daily "beauty routine" think of the parallels spiritually.
1. Cleanser - In order to make ourselves beautiful, we have to first cleanse ourselves of all unwanted impurities. Our cleansing agent works through our confession and God's forgiveness. I John 1:9
2. Moisturizer - Having compassion can be a good moisturizer. When we start seeing others and their need instead of our own it can really soften us up! Jude 21, 22
3. Wrinkle Cream - If we want to smooth out those wrinkles how about applying a meek and quiet spirit? I Peter 3:4
4. Foundation - We need to start with a good foundation and what is better than the Word of God? If we have the Word of God in our hearts the rest of our spiritual make-up can be easily applies. Psa 119:11
5. Eye Makeup - To keep our eyes shinning the brightest we need to guard them from seeing things that are not fitting of a beautiful woman in Christ. I Cor 6:19
6. Lipstick - To make the face complete don't forget your lips. Apply lipstick in the shade of "pleasantness" daily for best results. Prov 16:24
7. Blush - The blush we apply should be God's love radiating through us. Rom 5:5
8. Hand Lotion - We don't want our hands to become dry and brittle so we need to apply some generosity and good deeds. Prov 31:31
9. Food Therapy - Sometimes when we overlook our feet they can get callused and rough so we need to get them going in the right direction. Take your feet only to the places that Christ would approve. I Thes 5:22

I hope these words cause you to think the next time you're getting ready!

The Cost of Honesty

I had an interesting experience yesterday. I was at Children's Place making a return and looking at their shoes that were on sale. I found a box that scanned at $2.99, but the shoes inside the box were not what the scanner said they should be. When I was checking out I asked about the price of the shoes. It turns out the box was re-used and the bar code not changed. The shoes in the box weren't on sale so I decided not to buy them.

I made my return and purchased a few other things. This morning when I was emptying the bag I realize the salesman put my returned items back in the bag. While some might see this as a windfall...their mistake, etc...I see this as an opportunity to be honest, even though it will cost me the time and gas to go back. I can't say I'm thrilled about having to go back to the store, but have to wonder how God may use this in the big picture of life.

What's New in Women's ministries?

Our jewelry night was a huge success! Thanks to all who came and especially to Tori for helping us assemble our necklaces and bracelets.

Our next activity is our Mom Time Cafe this coming Saturday, May 3 from 1-3 pm at the home of Sherri Markle. This is the one time of year that we set aside time to encourage our moms. This year Pastor Steve's mom, Leslie Markle will be sharing a devotional with us. To register, visit the church website www.lifecc.us.

We are still working through the book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." Last week we worked through chapter 5, Living Room intimacy. The question posed is how do we develop an intimate relationship with God? The answer...PRAYER + THE WORD + TIME = INTIMACY WITH GOD. While we will always be working on each of these areas, we usually find one easier than another and it varies from person to person.

Some of our upcoming events include and movie night in June and book club in July and August. In June we will be starting a First Place Bible study. Watch your email for more details. I hope to see many of our LCC women at these activities!

Jewelry Night Update

We have now opened up jewelry night to all ladies in the 6th grade and up! It should make the evening lots of fun and be a great opportunity to get to know some of our teens as well. I really need everyone to RSVP that they are coming and which jewelry set they'd like to make. Below are pictures of the choices.

The first choice is a black set accented with gray an silver beads.

The second choice is turquoise.

You have a choice of color with this cat eye and pearl set: light blue, mint green or dark purple.

Tori Markle has been instrumental in helping me plan this evening, yes Pastor Steve and Sherri's Tori who is in the 6th grade. She has been gifted with an amazing eye for design and while we have not discussed this, I suspect she'd be willing to make something for you if you are unable to attend on Friday.

Mary Heart, Martha World Week 3

When I started reading this chapter, I thought it would be an easy and quick read because I really didn't think I had a problem with worrying...well I discovered things to the contrary. I don't necessarily worry about huge issues, I tend to worry more about things in the past or things that don't really carry much significance, yikes! At the beginning of the chapter Mrs. Weaver talks about worry beads and trying to solve the rubix cube. Since I believed it was impossible for me, I never even tried to solve it...much like dealing with worry issues.

We talked about the manifestations of worry: biting nails, pacing floor, wringing hands, not sleeping, tense or sore stiff muscles and upset stomach to name a few. We also talked about synonyms of worry (might as well get it all out on the table to look at) such as anxiety, fretting, fear and frustration.

We discussed Martha's possible reactions when Jesus told her she was worried about many things. I think sometimes God doesn't fill in all the blanks because we all react differently which makes it easier for us to put ourselves in Martha's sandals.

We spent the bulk of our time in the following scriptures looking at the command given, the results and then what we saying to God if we choose not to follow the directives given. These are the scriptures we looked at: I Peter 5:7, Proverbs 3:5,6, Psalm 37:8,9, Matthew 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:6-7.

We started discussing how to deal with our worry though that will also be the topic of chapter 4. I was amazed of the illustration given of the fog and how little water is required to produce such a large area of dense fog. It gives "making a mountain out of a molehill" new meaning.

Towards the end we revisited Philippians 4:6-8 and looked at it's specific directions while we walked through a hypothetical situation to counsel someone (me in this situation) struggling with an anxious situation. The specific directives are: 1. Be anxious about nothing. 2. Pray about everything. 3. Be thankful for all things. 4. Think about things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

We closed looking at a solved Rubik cube. My son is a whiz at putting one back to perfect order and as I've learned from him, there are specific instructions or equations for solving it. He can actually "fix" one in about 2 minutes. It got me thinking...while not easy to learn, God has also given us His "fix" or equation to deal with the worry monsters in our lives...follow the directives in the previous paragraph from Philippians. Now that we have some instructions I guess the challenge is learning them and then putting them into practice. I'd love to hear how God is working in your life through this study...why don't you post a comment on the blog?!

Jewelry Night

Our next women's ministry activity will be a jewelry making night at my home this coming Friday, April 18th. Tori Markle, Pastor Steve and Sherri's daughter has been working closely with me to plan this evening. We both started making jewelry a couple years ago. She has an incredible eye and sense of design and I'm looking forward to her being here with us! It's also a wonderful opportunity for her to share some of her creations with the ladies at church as she is working on a personal jewelry business and raising money for the summer youth missions trip.

We are trying to limit the selections so we have enough supplies, but provide a range in both color/style selection and price. One of the selections is this light blue/pearl set. You can make this set in the light blue, mint green or a dark purple. We will also have an aqua set and black and silver set to choose from.

You may not be a "jewelry person," but consider coming anyway. The fellowship is always great and you could consider making something for a spring birthday or mother's day.

Just not getting it all done

I'm sure I'm not the first woman to feel like I just can't get everything done, all while maintaining my sanity! Unfortunately blogging has had to be lower on my to-do list and I'm sorry to those of you who log on looking for some encouragement or just to find out what's happening at with the LCC women. I don't know if anyone can identify, but this time of year I have the NEED to go through the house and reorganize things...all with the help of my very active little Maryn. Today she found a roll of dental floss and had the best time unraveling it, then getting tangled and untangled in it. I do promise to keep trying. I'm working on this past week's Bible study post as well as a post for our upcoming jewelry making night which is next Friday, April 18th at my house from 7-9 pm. I'll be sending out an email and have information available on Sunday as well. Thanks for bearing with me!

Mary Heart, Martha World, Week 2

Kristie led our group for week two, this is her summary:

Have you ever asked “Lord, don’t you care?” Martha did and that was the focus of our study this week.

After looking again at Luke 10:38-42, it was interesting to note on page 18 “Martha’s pursuits were far from trivial…In fact, the ‘preparations’ Martha pursued were described by Luke as diakonia –the New Testament word for ministry.” Here was a woman who was ministering to Jesus and his followers…she opened her home and was preparing them a meal, but somewhere along the way she got off track. How can we make sure that we don’t make the same mistake?

We looked at two other examples in the Bible: Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18 and Jonah in Jonah 3:10-4:11. In both cases, these men were working for the Lord and great things were happening. But both men find themselves isolated and discouraged. Elijah let fear lead him to despair. Jonah let his anger and sense of injustice lead him to want to give up on life. In both cases (and also with Martha) God did not come and accuse them, but instead He used it as a teaching moment to show them they were on the wrong track. One of the things that Jonah fussed at God about was actually what we need God to be:

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” Jonah 4:2

The book focused on how Martha got to the point that she asked “Lord, don’t you care?” The book suggests Satan uses “Three Deadly Ds of Destruction”.

DISTRACTION “Get people’s eyes off God and on their circumstances” page 17.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

DISCOURAGEMENT “Breaks down our perspective and our defenses” page 19.
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13

DOUBT “If he can’t make us doubt God’s existence, Satan will do his best to make us doubt God’s love” page 22. We looked at God’s love for us in Psalm 103 and Jesus’ encounter with Thomas in John 20:24-31.

We closed with three lessons we learn from Martha’s encounter with Jesus:

1. We can bring our needs to Jesus anytime and anywhere. Philippians 4:6

2. Jesus really cares about what concerns us. Psalm 17:6 and 1 Peter 5:7

3. Jesus loves us enough to confront us when our attitude is wrong. Hebrews 12:6 and Revelation 3:19

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

We started our new study last night, "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." The discussion was great. I am hoping this will be the first of weekly updates on our study for those who couldn't be there and for those who may be following along with us, but not able to attend. We discussed preconceived ideas about Mary and Martha, primarily that Mary was right and Martha was wrong. Then we looked at Luke 10:38-42 to discover what scripture said. We talked about whether we could change or if "once a Martha, always a Martha" was true. We all agreed that it is possible to change, though with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We looked at the following scriptures to back this up: I Samuel 10:6, Psalm 51:10-12, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Philippians 1:6.

Several ladies shared their experiences of being transformed. The question raised by the author is how can we tell if someone's transformation is permanent versus temporary. We read Galations 5:16-25 for some answers (walking by the spirit, getting rid of sin and putting on the fruit of the Spirit, to name a few.)

We spent a few minutes walking through the familar passage in Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus invites all who are weary to come to Him and take His yoke.

There was a quote we looked at from page 9 on our books, "while the world applauds achievement, God desires companionship." We discussed some of the things the world applauds and even expects and also what companionship with God means.

When I first read chapter one and as I prepared to lead this session, the ladder illustration, on page 2, kept coming to my mind. We listed the various "rungs" on our spiritual ladder (devotional time, prayer, giving, serving, encouraging, teaching, etc.). We then listed reasons for not moving up the next rung (fear, distraction, discouragement, loss of focus, etc.). We returned to our ladder illustration at the end of the study. I believe the first rung is salvation, a relationship with Christ which is the start of our spiritual journey. I also believe that the various rungs are different and perhaps in a different order for each of us - that God works with us individually. We may go up a step and then go back down. I also believe that in this illustration, we have a safety belt, the Holy Spirit.

The challenge for us is to consider what that next "rung" is for ourselves and I encouraged the ladies to write it in the front of their books. As we work through this study and pursue a more intimate walk with God we'll see how he helps us move up our ladder.

Harmony

Well, harmony has come to stay in our home, though not the harmony you may think. Those of you who have followed my blog, know that we've had some MAJOR issues with washing machines. It all started with a little, no really a lot of mold and FOUR machines later, I think we may have found the right one. I do reserve the right to change my mind and Best Buy gives me 30 days.

This matching washer and dryer are called the Harmony series made by GE. The washer communicates to the dryer to tell it what type of clothes have been washed and how to dry them. I still have to read the owners manuals for both machines, but it sounds interesting and is supposed to help save electricity.

I just have to draw some spiritual parallels here (perhaps this is why I've had to endure 5 months, numerous phone calls, 2 repair visits and 4 machines.) If you'll indulge me here...God is like my washer...He washes me clean by offering forgiveness. He desires to communicate with me...wants to tell me the best options, tell me the most efficient way to get things done. The Bible in this scenario is like my owners manual...it contains information on all the benefits and functions of the machines.

In the spin cycle of life, I have to stop and answer a few questions: Am I listening to God communicating with me? Have I taken the time to read through the owners manual to fully understand the benefits God has to offer me? I guess I'll have time to ponder these questions every time I'm in my laundry room. How about you?

Blooms Abound

It's been several days since we've returned from our annual women's retreat. What a beautiful time it was...seeing women worship, develop friendships, and hear the Lord speak all in a beautiful, flowerful setting! The ladies that led our sessions, activities and discussions around the tables did a fabulous job! What an honor it is to serve beside such wonderful women who seek to serve God! I know we will see the impact of the retreat for months and years to come - we have to because God promised that time spent in His word would never return void.

One of the things I read over and over in the retreat evaluations is that God was drawing the ladies into a closer relationship with Him. I can't think of a greater lession and I encourage everyone to seek God with all their heart.

I wish every lady at LCC would have been able to attend, but God can work on your heart if you were there or not and I pray that He is doing just that. Our next ladies Bible study will begin on Monday, March 24. We'll be looking at the life of Mary and Martha in the book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. The focus of the book is developing an intimate relationship with God. If you are not currently part of this group, we'd love for you to join us.

I love the signs of spring popping up around me. I have a few crocuses and daffodils that have bloomed in the past week and see many more coming up through the ground. The birds are actively building their nests - Maryn loves to hear the birds chirping when we go outside. The days are getting warmer and longer. I pray that as we see these beautiful signs of spring that we also see the blossoms God has for our spiritual lives as well.

"Put your hope in the LORD, for with he LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." Psalm 130:7

Treasure

Back in December, I was working through a book to enhance my devotional time by Catherine Martin. One of the things she suggested was to ask God to give me a theme or focus verse for the year. I just love God's timing. I thought of a couple of words, but the one that came to the forefront was "treasure," very specifically the treasure of God's Word. You see, I was struggling with my devotional times, they became stale, predictable and I often did it so I could check it off my list or sometimes not at all. So, I prayed about it and God was quick to answer with a resounding Yes! You know, the more we are in the Word, the more we come to know God, the more we grow in our faith and the list of benefits from being in the Word go on.

On my to-do list (sometime this year) is to do a word study on the word "treasure" to see how often it is used in the Bible. Well I haven't started this task yet, but God decided to show me one passage this morning...Isaiah 33:6: "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure." I just love this verse and though I should have read it sometime in the past, it isn't a verse that was familiar to me.

At this time in my life (and really all the times of my life) I need a sure foundation, I don't have time for shifting sand, am certain I'd pull a muscle if I fell and am just a bit too busy to have to sure up my footing...can you relate? I also love shopping so going to God's "rich store" is appealing. No, I realize I can't buy new clothes or shoes there. I'm thankful that on a previous trip to God's "store" I found salvation. Today I need a fresh purchase of wisdom and knowledge. I guess I really need to shop here every day for I need wisdom and knowledge every day (wow, how knew God's Word had imagery of shopping and no cash or credit cards are needed!) The key to this treasure is the fear of God...which takes me back to needing to be in the Word, the more I know Him the more I respect and fear Him.

So today my greatest treasure won't be the best sale find of the day, but his rich passage of scripture. I hope you my fellow shopping friends visit God's store soon! You'll find the best prices and they always have your size!

The Small Things

As many of you who read this blog know, our annual women's retreat is this coming weekend. The two weeks leading up to the retreat seem to be the busiest. Those who know me well, know I love working out and planning all the little details, sometimes obsessively down to the height of the flowers in the vases. This year is unique for me as I have Maryn in the mix. There have been times when she doesn't want me to work on retreat things. Like the times she has sat on the blanket fabric so I couldn't line it up, or the times she tried to grab the scissors while I was cutting as she said "no" to me! She has walked around the house with flowers, gathered trash (that was meant to distract her) but this blog post is not supposed to be about Maryn, oops!

Today is a busy day for me and I wasn't sure how I would do everything, but in God's amazing provision, Maryn has slept until 10:30 which allowed me to get lots of things done and as I spent time in the Word and in prayer, God showed me how I can can accomplish my to-do list. This is just another example of God showing me His love for me and that He does really care about the little details in my life. So, since God cares about the little details, maybe it isn't so bad that I care about them too! I hope all who read this will have a blessed day and see God working in their lives. Gotta run, Maryn is calling and she's hungry!

Errands Without Baby

Things have been busy around our house lately...drum line, basketball, after school band practices, band concerts and the there's lots of errands for the retreat. Don't feel sorry for me because I do enjoy shopping and looking for bargains. So Josh is home sick today with bronchitis. He had a few things he added to my list, but he was also willing to watch Maryn while she napped so I could run my errands without baby in tow. I am still surprised by how much I got done, just me zipping in and out of the car and stores, no tantrums or trails of goldfish! It reminded me to be thankful for every small blessing especially the unexpected ones!

Movie Night Rescheduled

Due to the icy conditions, our movie night is cancelled for tonight, Friday night and rescheduled for tomorrow night from 5-8. Please note the location is changed from Kodi's home to mine. Please RSVP to let us know you are coming, even if you previously RSVP'd womensministry@lifecc.us. Thanks!

The Weather Outside is Frightful

The weather in the DC area is so crazy. A very small amount of snow halts everything. Those who are from areas with "real snow" just laugh. Well, the weather may affect our movie night Friday. I may not be able to check "Little Women" off my list. Stay tuned and check your email if we need to cancel. Maybe my boys will watch it with me...NOT!

The Bloomery

Living in the DC area presents lots of challenges. The pace of life is endless and we as women carry many responsibilites. Many of us are wives, moms, employees, teachers, committee members and serve within our churches (just to name a few of the things we do.) Whatever your station in life, you wear many hats and are sure to be busy. Because of this busy-ness it's hard for us to get away...because of this busy-ness we need to get away! Therein lies the challenge. It's a challenge each woman faces. It's also a challenge as a women's ministry leader to find the right time and plan a meaningful time for women of the church to get away, recharge, and grow in their faith and friendships with other women.

Each year we set aside the second weekend in March for our annual LCC women's retreat. This year the dates are Friday, March 7th and Saturday, March 8th. The theme is called "The Bloomery: Where Women Grow in Faith and Friendship." We'll be surrounded by the beauty of flowers and be challenged by the practical-ness of the story of Mary and Martha. Isn't that a great topic for the area where we live? Martha syndrome runs rampant in this area...always something to do or somewhere to go or traffic to wait in. I know God has so much in store for us this weekend and I would absolutely LOVE if every woman of LCC could be there. I know it's a busy time of year...my husband will have to get our boys to one basektball game and three band competitions toting our one year old daughter to it all. I know it's hard to get away, but I can guarantee it will be worth it. Will you trust God to handle the details so you too can be there?

There is more information available at http://www.lifecc.us/. Please let me know if you have any questions. I really hope you can be there.

A Night at the Movies

Can you believe I've never seen the movie "Little Women?" I know this is a favorite for many ladies. You might even be further aghast to learn that I've never read the book either. I was NOT a reader as a young girl. I read only what was required to read for school. The only books I remember reading as a young girl were biographies of Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton and Abigail Adams...perhaps that's why I wanted to be a nurse.

Anyway...this Friday evening I can check "Little Women" off my "must see" movie list. (Note to self, add "Little Women" to my "must read" list.) Whether you'll be home all day with the kids or coming home from work, change into your comfy jammies, kiss the husband, kids, dog and/or cat goodbye and come to Kodi's house. Don't worry if you don't have time to eat dinner, we'll have pizza and a salad there, please bring a snack or favorie candy to share. RSVP through the church website http://www.lifecc.us/ so we can plan accordingly.

Whether you've seen the movie a hundred times or if this is your first, like me, you're sure to enjoy the time of fun and fellowship with the ladies of LCC! I hope to see you there!

Where Does the Time Go?

When I was younger, a lot younger, it seemed that time practically stood still. Now that I'm a bit older, I'm not sure where the time goes. Our whole family was sick with that nasty cold/flu bug that's circulating for about a week. It took another week for me to get caught up and here I am trying to get back on track with the blog. I'll apologize now for any typos because Maryn is walking by randomly pushing buttons as she passes. I do miss that two nap a day schedule!

Anyway, I'm sure time goes by faster than you think it will as well and before you know it, you'll have missed the deadline to sign up for our retreat. Early registration ends this Wednesday...you'll want to sign up early so your name will be entered to win the beautiful basket that has been out on the table each week. All you need to do is go to the church website www.lifecc.us to register. I can guarantee you won't want to miss all the fun, fellowship and time to grow in your relationship with God!

Songbird

It's so great to see women getting plugged into the "life" of LCC. As women we need that time of friendship and fellowship. Our January activity is a book club at Deanna's home. We're meeting this coming Tuesday, the 29th from 7-8:30. If you are interested there is still time to get the book and read it (Songbird by Lisa Samson), but we always encourage ladies to come even if they haven't read the book. Log onto the church's website for details www.lifecc.us.

Peek-a-boo

Most of you know and have shared in the joy of our little Maryn. It is so fun to watch her grow and learn. She is starting to say simple words. Last week she started saying "boo" and "bye-bye." She now peeks around the corner and says "BOO!" (She needs to work on her hiding techniques.) She'll also grab her little tote bag and walk away saying "bye-bye" while blowing kisses and everyone in the room has to say "bye-bye" back to her...of course she only ventures from the family room to the foyer and she comes right back, but she is secure enough for this little journey.

Thinking about this made me think of how we can "hide" in the shelter of God "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust," Psalm 91:1,2.

Future LCC Women

This weekend our youth will be going away for their retreat. They will be looking at the question "What is God's purpose for my life?" We all ask this question and what a better time to seek God's answer than during the teen years. Imagine the impact of this potentially life changing retreat. I know God richly blessed my life with faithful youth leaders and I'm thankful for our LCC youth leaders who will be attending...our LCC women Kelly and Deanna and of course the men, Donald and Jamie. Let's pray for the heart of all the teens in attendance, but especially our future LCC women.

Good Morning!

In the morning I often watch the Today show. This morning they had a segment on about childhood obesity and parenting style. I was surprised to hear that both authoritarian AND permissive parents' kids had a higher risk of childhood obesity. The style that works best is having authority, but with love and support. I had to chuckle as I thought about it...sounds a lot like God. He is a just God, disciplines us when necessary, but full of grace, mercy and love. What a great God we have!

Yikes!

It's been a week since I've posted anything on the blog and it has been an amazing week! On Sunday our womens' ministry leadership team gathered to get ourselves organized for the next several months. We have some great activities to attend from our weekly Bible study, to our book club in January, our movie night in February and our annual retreat in March. Check out the LCC website www.lifecc.us for details! It's going to be great!

I have to tell you one of the greatest joys of overseeing the women's ministry at LCC is seeing God orchestrate the big picture and I'm not sure who else gets to see that. I could go on for a long time telling you of all the things God did this week, some before we even prayed about. I can't wait to see what happens in the next several months.

The week wasn't without it's frustrations -like more washer and dryer issues or hotel sales managers all being sick or away on Monday and Tuesday. If I spend a few minutes thinking, I'm sure I could come up with more to lament over or complain about, but then I'd be missing all the many blessings God has laid before me. I hope you too can count the many blessings God has given you!

Waffle Recipe

I've been thinking about some more lighthearted topics for the blog and thought I'd share a recipe that my family enjoys.

Waffle Recipe

1 3/4 cup flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup cooking oil

Mix flour and baking powder, then add the rest of the ingredients. Pour batter into waffle iron.

This is one of those recipes you can tweak to make it healthier without your family knowing. I use whole wheat flour (when I first started I used half regular flour and half whole wheat), canola oil (also healthier than vegetable oil) and I also add some wheat germ (you can find it in the cereal section of the grocery store.) When I make waffles, I double the recipe and make a bunch, wrap them individually and freeze them. When we want a waffle for breakfast we just heat it in the toaster.

You Can Have a New Beginning

I always enjoy browsing the book isle at Costco and love when I find a bargain. Yesterday I found "Starting and Ending Your Day Right" by Joyce Meyer. It's two books in one with the morning on one side, then if you flip the book over you have the evening side. I bought it to help me in my quest to be more faithful in my daily devotions. Here's what I read for January 1:

"You Can Have a New Beginning
'Do not (earnestly) remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing.' Isaiah 43:18-19

God created us to need new beginnings - places where we can release our faith an say,'This is a place of new beginnings for me, a place to have a fresh start.' The dawn of a new year is always a good time for a fresh start.

You can experience the abundant life Jesus says you can have, but it requires making a decision to let go of the past. Unless you refuse to go on the way you have been, no change will come. God want to change things for you,but He is waiting for you total cooperation.

Seldom do your circumstances change without something first changing in you. So if you want to experience God's 'new thing' this year, release your faith right now and say, 'This is a place of new beginnings for me.' Then watch for results."

I never considered the fact that God created us to need new beginnings. There are days when I am bogged down by all the things I do wrong (repetitively). I wonder how those days would be if I just confessed my sin and started new instead of being frustrated by the old.

Attitudes of a Transformed Heart

Right about now, I'm a bit frustrated with all the little odds, ends and leftovers from the holidays. There always seems to be little bits and pieces of things that didn't fit in the box or were forgotten. I'd love a transformation of my living space, for everything to be organized with room to breathe. (Yes, I realize that I just need to get rid of some stuff!) I'm also thinking about those areas of my life that need some change like diet, exercise, keeping up with the household chores. Do I really have to start those resolutions today, or could I just start on Monday?

Many of these areas need transformation, but the area that needs it the most is my heart. I believe that when my heart is in the right place, all the other areas will work themselves out. That's why I'm excited about out upcoming ladies Bible study. We'll be working through the book "Attitudes of a Transformed Heart," by Martha Peace. In Part One we'll be looking at "Attitudes about God." In Part Two we'll be studying "Attitudes and Scripture." My initial thought about this topic is "this will be so great for me to use with my boys!" I'm sure God is having a little giggle with my arrogance, knowing what I need to learn in this section. Part Three discussed "Attitudes of the Heart."

The study is starting this coming Monday, January 7th at the home of Darcy Sanders and will be led by Kelly McBride. The group will meet weekly on Monday evenings from 7-8:30 and there is no cost. Childcare will not be provided. The only thing I need is to know who is interested in attending so I can have enough books available.