my day off

I only left home once today - and thoroughly enjoyed the slow pace of the day!

Out to eat with hubby for brunch following Vern's vet appointment - just to get nails cut and regular monthly med supplies, quick stop at grocery story and then home for the day... so appreciative of this opportunity!

I'm trying very hard to get a slow 'groove on', time to calm down a little and focus on important things like I did today!

Things like:
Pulling weeds
Sitting
Trying not to cough (cold hanging on)
Planting just a few flowers
Chopped lots of fresh things today: strawberries, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, sliced chicken for dinner = healthier diet
Holding Vern
Washing and folding clothes
Reading
Praying
Loving my cheapo Walmart deck chair

The thing that caught my attention several times today was, when on a slower pace, I find myself noticing what God's provided and giving thanks almost constantly.  No wonder He talked about a day of rest, and Jesus often had to 'get away' from the crowd and all the demands.

I followed His example today and I could get used to this!  A great day off!

my day off

I decided to write at the beginning of my day off instead of part way or all the way through it for a change.  As I write I see my yard outlined in snow with grass peeking through in the center of the yard.

I feel like that today.  When I woke up Crossroads was heavy on my heart.  I feel like we're peeking out of the greatest change our church has yet known, the loss of Pastor Tim and his family.

Sensing my struggle Vern emerged from the bedroom and crawled up beside me - some things never change!

I'm planning on spending some uninterrupted time today praying for our next pastor.  We need him.  We will be planning an all night prayer/scripture reading vigil at Crossroads soon, I may just camp out there for several days - this will be a really blessed time of prayer and our congregation coming together.

I'm praying that even now our next pastor senses an unrest in his spirit that prepares his heart to move from where he is, but that the transition is as healthy a transition as Pastor Tim's.  I pray we won't take a pastor who's church will fall apart with him gone.  That's actually a sign of a bad leader.

On the other hand, the fact that the day to day work and even tons of new events and opportunities are going to happen this summer with Pastor Tim gone is a testimony to good leadership!  Our congregation has carefully chosen an amazingly strong Elder board and we have a strong staff!  In addition to that our congregation is the most willing to serve and care for our ministry that I have ever seen!

Now all we have to do is go to the Lord with our request for the man He wants Crossroads to have.  (after all, He already has that man chosen!)  I can't think of a better way to spend 'my day off' than this. PLEASE set some dedicated time away from everything today and PRAY!

My day off

As Vern and I sit down this morning for devotions,  I look around me and give thanks for the sunshine first of all but also for another calm morning.  The sunshine, however, reveals things I didn't know was there unfortunately!

Trying to look out and enjoy the sun requires looking through the winter scarred glass revealing work that needs to be done.  Windows need to be cleaned, woodwork needs to be dusted and the list goes on and on.

With Pastor Tim announcing he's accepted the Chapel position, it's forced me to look closely at myself in much the same way I'm looking at my house.

We have a great working relationship and have settled into a 'this is my responsibility - this is your responsibility' daily work schedule.  With that ending all of us have to 'redefine' our responsibilities to a certain extent and evaluate what we're not doing well.  That's difficult to be honest about and sometimes nearly impossible to even see yourself as you really are, but it's a huge opportunity to grow and change with the Lord's help!  Not comfortable but necessary.  I've asked The Lord to reveal that to me.

My greatest responsibility through this time will be to stay in the Word and to bathe myself and Crossroads in constant prayer.

So just as I see things that need to be done here at home - my ministry work will be under much scrutiny, mostly from myself and I honestly ask for it from The Lord most of all.

Now it's time to start 'doing' something about the mess I see around me - what kind of mess are you attending to today?  

another day almost done

I cannot believe once again it's almost evening - seems like I'm always evaluating, looking back instead of making forward progress!

Eternal things today?

Served another ministries' worship team.
Took food and medicine to someone sick.
Encouraged a friend.

Non-eternal things?

Bought large cafe latte - when I stopped to get vitamins and left it in car, Vern drank it. 

Guilty face

Looked at Facebook.
Took pictures of friends.
Dusted furniture.
Ate candy.

Now off to see if I can fill my evening with eternal things instead of trivial non-important nonsense!

What filled your day?

an excellent storm

I am sure that this cold snap has caused people problems, cost businesses money and is inconvenient in any number of ways... but, I consider it an excellent storm.

Vern's favorite spot...mine too!

Our home is quiet except for the loud crackling of the logs in the fireplace.

Our stomachs are full of crock-pot chicken wings and fresh salads and warm tapioca.

And my stress level is 0 as I blog next to our fireplace, the location that Vern has dedicated himself to!

God's weather has brought things to a stand still in some areas and at least a slower pace here, and I'm actually grateful.

What does it take to slow me down, to set me by a fire, to cook at home and write of my gratefulness?


Is the only way I obediently rest - when mother nature forces her hand or am I becoming smarter and more obedient?

I'd like to think the latter.

As I write tonight I praise my heavenly father for what surrounds me, for more than enough food, for warmth, for a husband of many years that I still adore and for His never ending love for me (even when I'm not as mindful of Him).

An excellent storm has brought a calm to my night and I could seriously
get used to this!

again today

Of course there was reason today to eat more - leftovers!  So back we went to Grandma Gatton's to chow down even more calories!

It was a lovely day, sleeping in, casually strolling through some stores wanting nothing except to be out and then to eat…and eat…until nothing was left.

Here are the rest of our pictures full of love and food!

Ron's side of the family!

Day 2 of feasting

Dana and Sue - two of our favorite Crossroadians!

Grandma Gatton and Cousin Nick and Oliver.

Aunt Anne and Oliver

such a big tummy pants won't stay closed!

Oliver entertaining everyone!

The Perez family from Crossroads!

Vern - all pooped out!

putting it together

This sums up my day - I spent the entire day 'putting it together'.  Whether it was relationally or just trying to create a cohesive - God inspired Christmas service, it was all about the putting together.

I just can hardy wrap my head around how close the holidays are!  This puts BIG pressure on us to be at our very best creatively - so we've been meeting and brainstorming and praying!  And now the search begins for the perfect elements...

Many things behind the scenes take our staff and volunteers hours and hours to prepare - one of the events that began today was our Adopt-A-Child preparations.  The Go Mission Team worked most of the day putting needy children's names and information on the adoption cards that will be available this weekend for our congregation.  This team works so hard to tap into existing organizations in our community that serve the needy - to help us identify and serve the very most underprivileged children in Richland County!  Our GoMission's team is one of the Crossroads team's I look up to the most!  They help us fulfill the great commission to GO!

Go Missions team beginning to prepare for Adopt-A-Child

Adopt-A-Child cards

I spent the last part of my day reviewing Christmas music...



Vern helped me by wagging his tail whenever I picked a good one!

no room in my mind

I have not even given my blog a moments thought I've been so busy!  I've had no room in my mind to think and write - my mind has also been full of thankfulness.  So tonight I was determined to carve out a little time!!

I've had time the last few days to hang out with friends

and family and I have thoroughly enjoyed them both.  One of the things that was especially great was my mom's birthday shopping trip to Columbus!

My dad, book in hand decided to ride along, " just to be with mom he said."

We came sneaking up on him once in the mall to see him snoring away - after snapping a picture we left him in peace for a stop at one more store before lunch.

My parents have been married for 56 years.  I am thankful for every one of them.  And I take none of those years for granted.

I was telling my sister how blessed we have been to grow up in a quiet, peaceful, strife free home.  Even in adult-hood there are no fights or mean exchanges, ever.    It doesn't mean we're perfect but it means that my parents let the Lord that they love affect their daily lives.  They live it all the time.

As we celebrated my mom's birthday, I thanked the Lord for her, over and over that day.  She is the perfect wife and mother and cares deeply about the things of the Lord.  She deserved to be celebrated!

Our shopping wound down as we found a great pet store and I just HAD to buy Vern

his winter coat which he modeled when I got home.

Yes, I've been busy - but I built memories in the busyness and am thankful tonight to finally express my praise to my Lord!!

Packing

I'm forcing all our final purchases and clothes into our ever expanding suitcases to load our vans one last time.  I guess I'm ready to come home - already feeling the anxiety of projects waiting back home but covering them in prayer - determined to give them over fully to The Lord!

Coming home means new baby - concerts - college fair - Beth Moore event - worship with all my brothers and sisters in The Lord - Vern - gift giving - and cheeseburgers.

I am so thankful for this time away - for the experience of this foreign land - for having time for goodbyes with our daughter and son-in-law and for the amazing team we've traveled with!!  I am blessed! 

See ya soon!

everyone is asleep

Vern was too tired to wait for me to finish!

By the time I sat down tonight to write - everyone is asleep so no one is reading!

If no one is reading is it worth writing?

Why do I write?  Is it for me or for you?  Would I write if no one read?

I started out writing just to report what was going on mostly at Crossroads.  But it's turned into more.

It has become an important way to form my thoughts into words, to make sense of things I've been thinking about, a place to discuss things that need to be figured out and a place to celebrate incredible blessings that need to be shared.

So tonight when no one is reading, it kind of just puts my day to rest.  I write this as the very last thing I'll do with the day the Lord has given me, a day I'll never have the opportunity to live again, a day that I pray brought
Him glory.

And now, I am also going to sleep.

vacation

I just returned from vacation...

We went to Butler Pa amidst the largest gathering of Jeeps in North America.

We packed my Jeep and pulled Ron's.

We drove our Jeeps, slept in our Jeep - we lived in our Jeeps for 4 days.

It was hard work making our beds, tearing them down each morning and moving all of our stuff from a friends truck and back to our Jeep each night, but we had fun and I never realized how many conversations there could be about Jeeps, Jeep parts and Jeep accessories search discussions.

Watching how much my hubby enjoyed talking to everyone and driving his old Jeep around made me very happy as Vern and I tagged along.  I read a lot and ate a lot.

We're home, we're laundered, showered and everything's put away.  It was fun and interesting and good to get away - but very good to be home!

what a wonderful world

I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
They're really sayin......i love you...

These are some of the lyrics to "What A Wonderful World".

The morning following the last snow I became almost overwhelmed with God's beauty.  I stood outside waiting on Vern, and thankfulness and praise washed over me as I thanked God for His beautiful creation.

As I prepared to leave home for the morning I remained in this praise and enjoyed all the simple privileges of warmth, and jeeps and coffee and dogs...  and this song came to mind.  What A Wonderful World.

..I wondered if most other parts of the world EVER feel this way?  In areas where their main focus is what they will eat that very day, or if their children will survive another day or if the violence will ever end...  do they EVER get to see beauty in anything?

It's easy to  live as if we here in America are the world and unconcerned for those trapped in horrible areas of circumstances .

My prayer that day was for those unable to see beauty.  My prayer that day was that God would know how much I praise Him for the detail He created that I don't take my life for granted - and how thankful I am for His provision every single day

...what a wonderful world.

impressive people

I was sitting on the floor with Vern, listening to the orphans worshiping on-line, the orphans that the families of Crossroads support and visit, and for some reason in this simplest of moments, I was trying to think of anyone that truly impresses me.

There are no famous people, performers or politicians that I can use the word impress with - partially because I don't trust what I see, no matter how noble they appear.  I am only impressed with a few people that I actually know.  If you don't know someone personally and spend time with them, I'm not sure  you can claim to be impressed with them.

It's in the really crappy times that someone's nobleness comes out.  Their Godliness is real.  Their testimony withstands bad things.  If there is no test of character during which they stand noble and sinless, then they cannot claim to be impressive, at least not to me.

My husband is the most consistent human being on the face of the earth.  I never have to be scared about his reaction to anything.  If he reacts strongly it is justified and never unreasonable.   I thank the Lord he is mine everyday.

Beyond him, I have a handful of friends and family I have been through bad things with, the impressive ones are still with me, still holding a significant place in my existence.  They have earned the description that God uses to describe the faithful in the Bible, "Well done good and faithful servant"...

There is no greater thing to live for than to be considered noble, and honest, and dependable, and a child of God.  Nothing else matters.  My spirit has become more and more sensitive to arrogant talk and people trying to 'talk' their way to importance.

Impressive people to me, find their significance in the Lord and their importance is measured by their consistent obedience and increasing maturity in the Savior and the knowledge of Him.  Oh how my heart longs for this world's leaders to know Him - the author of significance.

my day off

Best beginning to a day for a while = a slow wake up!  Love it.  No alarm, no hurry, no responsibilities to hurry off to - the best!

I began my at home to do's:

laundry
a few dishes
baked peanut butter cookies
 of course Vern play
organizing one of my cabinets

Within this list you see nothing that is extraordinary, and it appears nothing that will last for eternity, nothing significant.

But I wonder, could it be that these kind of moments are what we need as the foundation of significance?

Sleep
organized home
fun

I know it sets me up for accomplishment.  When I know my responsibilities are done at home I willingly turn my attention to more difficult outside projects.  Things that aren't so simple.

It's been a really good, really simple, really satisfying day off!