next things

I have many next things - picnics, meetings, plans, creative elements to choose and organize, new actors to watch, and new leaders to train.

But, what is now?

Now: at the time or moment immediately past

So...at this time I am working on what's next. Does that mean I am totally missing now?

weekend report

Sunday as we prepared for sound check - I was overcome with wonder at all the people serving and enjoying one another, I saw the parking lot team praying, our Go Mission team was gathering groceries from our congregation for a local food bank, cafe team scurrying to serve coffee and other goodies, and right after church - people being baptized - over 30 people! So thankful, so exciting, so in love with my Lord!

We were blessed again at the end of our day when a friend invited us to a fabulous Mexican dinner!

I so much enjoyed our weekend and felt blessed to be witness to lives being changed for eternity!

leadership in between

If you are in any kind of leadership, you probably find yourself caught between.

Between projects, between unhappy co-workers, between management and employees and between the vision and reality. In many ways that is what leadership is - being between the people you lead and wherever it is you are leading - pushing forward the vision while dealing with reality.

Nancy Ortberg said this, "Vision is full of possibilities and optimism. Reality is more often filled with disappointments and difficulties. And a leader needs to stand between those two things."

This is difficult especially if the reality is that the vision is not being supported or accomplished. I love living within an exciting vision, but reality is the everyday often very small steps toward the vision.

I am a leader and I stand between.

The only reason I do is because God has placed me there.

Mansfield sights and sounds

These pictures say it all.

Mansfield...tractors, trucks, multiple horned goats, horses dressed up, way too small donkeys pulling way too large people in tiny little wagon and of course...Ribeye sandwiches!














This is my warm up for the Ashland County Fair and the World's fair in Bellville - can't help it, once a country girl always a country girl!

See you there where I'll be eating french fries with vinegar!

a small group luau

It has been a summer of luau parties for us! This may be our last this year!

Good friends, good food and a beautiful night!

what I learned today

Recently Pastor Tim talked about how the Holy Spirit dwelling in our lives is the one who reveals the truths of scripture. Without His indwelling we cannot understand and apply the Bible to our lives.

I realized today as I sat on my deck - how quickly my soul becomes empty. How I was longing to feel His stirring of my soul.

I was reading through an old prayer about the trinity this morning, here is a couple of the lines:

Three persons and one God, I bless and praise thee,
for love so unmerited, so unspeakable, so wondrous, so mighty to save
the lost and raise them to glory.
O Triune God, who commanded the universe...

I could just feel the gratefulness of this writer from long ago. How overwhelming it is indeed to think that this God created us and calls us to Him for eternity. I cannot imagine even a day outside of His love.

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!