thankfulness and reaching the lost

We've just come through a wonderful Thanksgiving season during which we got to love on our children and grandchildren as well as extended family!

We ate...a lot!

All together and very, very thankful!

We played games...

We decorated Grandmas home for Christmas and hugged reindeer!

Adults were too stuffed to play!

Precious grand-baby playing with great grandmas decorations!

I'm more thankful than ever before in my life for my family and my precious friends, and my heart is burdened like never before for the lost in our community.

Recently, wherever I go I wonder who around me is without a savior?  I wonder what Christmas means to them...more debt?  disappointments?  loved-ones that no longer visit?  missing peace? Without Jesus I can't imagine going through the holidays.  Let's all pray right now for the Lord to show us who we should bring with us to Christmas at Crossroads!

A tiny Christmas baby came, He is the missing peace so many people are still searching for!

I love creatives

Tonight the Crossroads artists gathered just to fellowship at our house.  It was such a great night!

I am happiest when surrounded by creatives!

They are writers, teachers, physical artists, creatives of all kind!  Tonight we turned our creativeness toward food!  It was so great to be together outside, friends enjoying a beautiful country night !  I am thankful for these dear friends and creatives - together, doing ministry creatively!

Away

I've been away the past few days at a music festival in North Carolina. It's been good to be away!

I'm not trying to get away from anything in particular - just a time of 'away'.

We all need 'away', and my away is coming to an end, but the time off was good, so good! It was a time not to plan, not to decide, not to think - instead I got to just listen - eat and discover the history of a whole genre of music that I have never known before. I walked around discovering new bands and watching artists work all while enjoying food that isn't good for me and hanging out with my hubby and friends!

My next away comes for a few days in June and I look forward it already. For now I head home and can be thankful for this short away...

What 'aways' do you all have planned?

we clothed 40

I've finally found time to report on our Art Auction last weekend.  We raised nearly $3.000 which translates into clothing for 40 children!   I cannot thank all the artists and Go Mission team members and friends that helped to get this event ready enough!  Nothing makes me happier then watching teams form and accomplishments happen when God's people come together behind a mission!

So THANK YOU for helping, and for attending the auction and for purchasing art allowing needy children to have beautiful new clothing!  Here is a peek at the night.

Amazing food by Jackie and friends!

sign in table

Vicki giving out the bid numbers

Julie Kleshinski greeting her guests

meatballs and taco soup

These were several of the items provided by our very generous Easter food team. I am not sure if anything that anyone else does for the teams is appreciated more than great food on a busy night at Crossroads.

We gathered and began to practice around 2:30 today - we left at 8:30. So food was very needed!

I just wanted to say a special thanks to Lynda and Darlene for doing so much for all of our amazing volunteers and staff tonight!

Fruit, cookies and donuts await us in the morning...no shortage of eating again tomorrow. So I will go to sleep for now, knowing it will be morning soon and praying that many who are spiritually hungry will respond to the message and fulfillment that only Christ can offer!

our staff preparing

Easter takes a lot of preparation to make sure the incredible message is clearly proclaimed - we take this very seriously!

But today we took an hour to enjoy one another! Our staff is divided in half and every other month we take turns providing a carry in lunch! Our Easter lunch was SO excellent! Can you believe the talented chefs we have? Of course a certain unnamed - ornery pastor cut a rather large cube right out of the center of the gorgeous bunny cake!

Just when we thought it was time to get back to work, Jesse (youth guy) jumped up and said we were
dividing up on teams to go on an Easter egg hunt!

Now, we all knew who would win... Deering located one hidden egg after another and led the Directors to victory! And so after excellent food and fellowship we went back to our work and are all looking forward to what we pray will be a life changing weekend for many, many people!

lunch time with staff

Today was our monthly staff meeting. We always enjoy a mixture of fun, food and work! We all work so many different hours, it is great to set time aside monthly to just ALL be together.

Everyone brought too much food as usual, but, you hate to insult anyone so you have to try everything! Next we did a fun mixer to keep the conversation lively and ended with a short information meeting and discussion of upcoming events.

I love this staff and they all are fully dedicated to serving using their amazing talents and gifts! It was such a great day together doing God's work and planning ahead for the coming weeks.

busy holiday

More company coming! Family mixed with friends...fun, fun, fun.

My parents were the first to arrive, followed my my mother-in-law and brother-in-law and nephews. My dad was anxious to meet his granddaughters' special friend and had a surprise waiting for him!

Finally the 4 from Michigan arrived. We had a Michigan vs. Ohio game of euchre and dare I say Ohio prevailed!! We kept doing the O H - I O cheer as we won hand after hand!

Of course there was food and more food, and dishes and more dishes! Next year, throw away plates!

I am exhausted and heading for bed, hoping I can sleep despite all the noise outside my door, laughing, cell phones, computers and friends! Wouldn't have it any other way!! Good night.