4th of July

As my hubby and I sit on our deck watching the birds and deer and taking in the beauty of this morning, I was thinking about what the 4th of July really means to me.

Momma and babies

The freedom we enjoy every single day is unbelievable, perhaps unequaled in the entire world?
That means I got to get up this morning and totally decide what I wanted to do first, how I want to spend my day, who I want to talk to or not to talk to, totally free of anyone telling me what to do next.

Our media is full of 'dooms day' forecasts and bad endings for America but that's up to the Lord. On the day he created me, He knew how and when he'd take me home.  To give up any portion of my life worrying is disrespect for His sovereignty.

So today I choose to breath deeply, taking in every detail I can notice that comes as a result of the great sacrifice of those that came before me.

I can only imagine the horror they witnessed as they watched their best friends fall in battle so that future generations, people totally unknown to them, could sit on their decks like I am - loving my hubby of 39 years and drinking coffee while we freely plan our day.

Thank you to all who had any involvement in giving me this day covered in the celebration of freedom!  Those in the military and those serving honestly in our government - thank you!

Happy 4th of July!

what I learned today

Every day is a precious gift from Almighty God.  That's what I learned today.

I'm still basking in the thankfulness I feel for a blessed day of sleeping in, walking dogs, babysitting the most important child in the universe, and just praising Him that our family loves Him so.

It's been a really long time since I've felt like my work is not 'out of control'.  It's still impossible to fit into a 30 hr work week, but it's just good, really good.  So I sit in a place of thankfulness.

There are always things to get done and places that need 'going to', but instead of some huge new thing learned today, I just learned again to be thankful.  I thanked the God of the universe for sending His Son for me, thanked him for my hubby and family and His never ending care.

Maybe tomorrow I'll learn something astounding I can share - tonight I'm satisfied with what today has been and for the things I've already learned.

my day off

Vacation was so very good!

Still loving this guy after 36 years!

All kinds of new friends on vacation

And now we're home...but, my day off coming at the end of a week long vacation - could not have been better in any way.

Breakfast with our kids, grandson and my parents started the day amazingly, followed by...

Staying home all day with my hubby - he worked on taxes and I finished 6 loads of laundry, waded through emails and took care of necessary communications about coming concerts and other events.

I LOVE being home - it was just a day to come back home and prepare well for the coming week, and it was just what I needed.

As we headed off for vacation last Sunday, I accidentally forgot my iPad, the book I planned to read and my phone.  I think it was possibly a Divine intervention and I didn't miss any of them...at all.

Since I forgot to bring the book home I wanted to read, I grabbed an old John Piper book I had at least partially read years ago - Desiring God.  It was completely captivating and exactly what I needed to read.  Divine.

More about what I took away from that book tomorrow - but for tonight I just want to encourage all of you to search for a deeper walk with the Lord.  Walk away from your stuff and be available.

Read - pray - detach - renew.

I was reminded again how 'off' our understanding of who God is and what He created us to be truly is.  Now to move forward in that knowledge - determined to continue learning and following and loving Him more each day.

my day off

I HAVEN'T HAD A DAY OFF LIKE THIS IN FOREVER!!!

My husband casually asked me if I'd like to accompany him to Lehman's Hardware Store in Amish Country and I said yes, and I'm so glad I did!

The only negative that happened all day long was when this guy - the founder of Lehman's, I guess Mister Lehman, walked by right when I was saying to Ron, "man, these prices are a lot higher than I anticipated..."  Open mouth, insert foot...he just kept walking!  I'm sure hubby was proud...
Well, at least I bought a couple things to make up for it!

He also took me to an Amish buffet and two of my favorite clothing stores in the world!  What a guy!!  Needless to say, he ended up not buying anything except a match holder for the barn, and I'm the one that did the shopping - happy to accommodate!

Tomorrow we take a trip to Ashland, my home town for a while to have breakfast with my parents and then who knows what!  So fun.

It's these kinds of days that make me really love my days off and I thanked the Lord as we drove for the gift of His son this Christmas season, an awesome husband,  an amazing new pastor and his family and all the great work I get to be involved in at Crossroads!

I pray you all get a restful great day off too very soon!

My day off

My hubby and I spent our beautiful day up at Lake Erie trying to find a place for us to go on vacation with our kids.  It's difficult to find a place big enough for all of us, we're waiting to hear back from one cottage owner.

I am LONGING for a true vacation!

We've been blessed to travel overseas for mission work - but we've had nothing connected to rest and relaxation for as long as I can remember!

It made sense on 'my day off' to try to locate the perfect place to take that day off ... and a few more!  Fingers crossed!!

real ministry

Due to my position at Crossroads, I'm often not able to spend much time talking to the congregation or even to sit through a service without some detail disrupting me.  My job is to make sure everything goes without a hitch in our services - and I love it!  And, I understand that an excellent service provides the setting for the message of Christ to be proclaimed and honored!

But…I love watching what I call 'real' ministry go on around me.

I got to go with my hubby to minister to an elderly Crossroads member in the hospital a couple nights ago.  I listened as this elderly gentlemen who was in excruciating pain tried to comfort his wife of many years as she was clearly struggling with his illness.    "It's ok baby", he assured her.   All the while my hubby held his hand and massaged his shoulder - assuring him that God cared about his pain and kept trying to bring him spiritual comfort.   "I love you brother," he said.  I held his wife as she sobbed and I knew, this was real ministry.

A couple of hours ago my hubby got a tearful call from this same family who were in tears heading for the hospital where the doctor had just said he didn't think this gentlemen was going to make it.  Ron headed back to the hospital - willingly giving his evening away.

At Crossroads I love to watch as the children's ministry staff love each and every child that walks into their area each weekend.  We won't know for years what an impact their love has made on these young lives.

One of my favorite areas of the ministry is Go Missions.  Watching what they do to provide experiences where each of us can serve those less fortunate - is such a special ministry!

We're each called to do different things for the Kingdom, we're all gifted in different ways, but when every once in a while you get to feel like you've made a little bit of difference in someones' life, that is SO rewarding and THAT is real ministry.

I'm very thankful to be part of Crossroads, and to serve our congregation in anyway I can!

What do you love doing to serve others?

my birthday

Many times my birthday falls during the week of Easter and even several times on Easter itself.  This makes it difficult to even think about since the ministry is all about Easter and what goes into it!  And honestly at my age - I really don't care about celebrating at all!

This year was different.

It started on a rainy Monday earlier this week,  when we went to Easton to shop and spend time relaxing- knowing it might be our only celebration time.  It was one of my favorite days in a very long time!  I came home with a few things, but mainly just very relaxed, especially unusual on Easter week!

But, today, a work day surpassed all my expectations!  I got to be with my friends and they gave me many warm happy birthday greetings and funny cards and very meaningful cards and gifts. I am a very, very blessed woman!

Jesse and Eric - horse heads for the Country Western series

This was one of the first things I received - a Happy Birthday text from my grandson!









There were things that made me laugh - like the crazy Student Ministry Pastors - and very thoughtful  treats - my favorite flavor lemon - which caused me to immediately gain weight!

Claire could be a professional baker!

A few of the notes I received were extremely kind, meaningful and quite surprising.  Some of the beautiful young women I work with, are girls that God has given me the privilege of loving in my home and in groups at Crossroads.  I now am surrounded by them at work and I will NEVER take this for granted!  I beg all of you reading this, to take time out of your schedule to build into other people's lives - it will come back to reward you in the most shocking ways and at unexpected times.  Everything we do with the limited years of our lives matter!

My older girlfriends at work blessed me with more of my favorite things as we laughed over the funny cards and talked about the next time we will be able to get away together and our hopes and plans for the future at Crossroads!  I love them!

Crossroads staff

At lunch I snapped a picture of all my friends at Crossroads, (missing a couple of staff that had appointments), I praised the Lord that He has allowed me to be part of this amazing group for so many years.  And I understand in a new way the only thing that makes birthdays matter to me is being surrounded by the people I adore and the job I love so much!

The only sad thing of the whole day was our very last programming meeting with Pastor Tim!  He will be missed more than I can EVER explain!

Final programming meeting with Pastor Tim

And finally a quiet dinner out with the love of my life, my hubby!  I figured out it was my 38th birthday with him - again, I'm a very blessed woman!

Thank you all for a really, really great day!

songs without words

Recently my hubby and I climbed in the car to go who-knows-where, and classical music began to play  from the radio.    It was a particularly ugly piece and my hubby said, "what is that?"

I laughed and began to explain that when I'm overwhelmed I like songs without words.

To fill my jeep with classical music allows me to imagine all sorts of carefree things attached to no stress or 'to do's'.

Words in songs 'tell' you what to think - direct you to where the writer wants to take you - and seldom allows freedom in the translation.  No words = freedom to just dream and not think to just be.

No words are a suggestion from God who knew we'd need to be still sometimes.

Psalms 4:4 | 

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

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!

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?

network down

Road Trip!

When we left this Sunday after the services, we left our computers behind.  There was work to be down on our network and all sorts of upgrading I guess.  What did that mean to all of us?  We really did have to take a couple days off!  Horrifying!

Fortunately for me it was my birthday so my hubby took me out of town for a day and I rather enjoyed not being attached to work or anything else computer/internet related!

But, as of now - the last few adjustments have been made and we are back up and running!  Our guys are great!

While 'down' I asked myself why I miss it when I don't write?  Can't what I have to say wait?

Of course it can wait, however, when my mind becomes fulls of words I become frustrated if I cannot put them on paper, or on screen or just plain out of my head!

In regard to my writing, I never dreamed that anyone would read more than once, I never planned for it to cross over years and continue, I thought it was perhaps just therapeutic for me.  And it is!

All that to say, I thought I would summarize the past couple of days I missed writing about and move on to gathering information, ideas and experiences to discuss for tomorrow!

My Day Off:  Monday
My hubby had hoped to take me away over-night but a gentleman passed away that specifically asked for him to do his funeral.  There was no way we could say no!

We then worked on flower beds after the funeral duties were complete - just raking and preparing no planting yet
.

We picked up dinner and sat and watched TV for a little while before colapsing!

What I Learned:  (my typical Tuesday writing)
I learned that birthdays CAN still be fun!

My hubby took me on a car ride to several small towns that had fun shopping and dining and we just drove slowly and talked and ate and bought a couple things.

We returned in the evening after having a great day together!

So that catches you up.  The computer is back and I'll try to start writing again daily.

AND, thanks for reading have a blessed evening!

my day off

I woke up today at 5:30 a.m. to be with my dad as he had a stress test at the hospital.  We won't know the results for a couple of days.  There was nowhere more important than being there.  I was in the right place.

I then went to my parents house, with my sister and her husband as my parents signed a contract to sell the house we all grew up in.  There was no where more important than being there.  I was in the right place.

Next I went to Crossroads and helped hang a couple of things that needed to be put up for Easter.  For that hour there was no where more important than being there.  I was in the right place.

Finally I came back home to make dinner and just be with my hubby and puppy.  There was no where more important then being there.  I was in the right place and I still am.

I am thankful for days off that include great medical care and families and enough to get done that a quick stop at work is needed and hubby and rest and food at home.

My day off was a day I could say that  "I was in the right place".

what I saw today

I saw the road in ways I haven't seen it since the days we once rode motorcycles - up close!  My hubby got his old Willy jeep running so we took a ride.  I could see every crack, hole and bump on the asphalt just a couple of feet below us due to the fact it has no doors. I saw beautiful trees and horses and people walking and heard talking and laughing.  I wasn't closed inside a vehicle - I was moving yet outside.  It was a blast, but, seriously I didn't think I'd ever get my hair combed out!

A little later I was sitting at a store waiting for my hubby to come out and noticed this tree that was absolutely swarming with at least 40 birds.  They constantly moved from branch to branch as if they were playing a game of tag.  It was fascinating to watch.

I try to pay attention to what is going on around me but I wonder how many things I missed today - will I every get a second chance to see them? 

my day off

I LOVED today!

I began the day outside which was magnificent - and even more so because I was with my hubby, sister and brother-in-law riding the bike trail!

It was so peaceful and beautiful - truly a great way to begin the day.

After riding and talking for 10 miles we had to eat of course which basically negated any physical accomplishment we had made up to that point - but, we had to keep up our strength!

Upon arriving home I went into high gear - moving all the remaining piles of wedding disorganization into all their proper places or into new areas of now empty closets and bedrooms.

Providing relief to my over stuffed closet was so overdue, and yet carrying some of my things into my daughters empty room had sad moments for sure. I put off doing it for several weeks just to get used to the fact she is gone.

She called today - just to give an update on what has been happening. When I hear the joy in her voice, and follow her on line as she blogs and posts pictures that say 1,000 words...I cannot be sad.

And so my first real day off in quite a few weeks comes to an end as I post this writing. I head for bed with a sense of satisfaction on many levels today. Physically, spiritually, domestically and parentally. That's not really a word - I just made it up!

our night

My hubby and I had a great meal at Easton tonight. We decided to enjoy ourselves on our way to watch our daughter perform in Columbus.

As thunderstorm warnings and ominous looking clouds seemed to sit all around the area, we sat outside the Cheesecake Factory eating and enjoying a great live band on Easton square. It was a beautiful night with magnificent clouds (clouds are some of my favorite things) and amazing music.

I am thankful for these kinds of simple things. God not only meets the needs of His children, but often gives us additional blessings if we just watch for them. My favorite things are still the small things of life not accomplishments or successful completion of projects, but instead the slow paced and unexpected things!