my day off

Today I spent helping our son and daughter-in-law empty the rest of their apartment so that we could clean.

It is so hard to believe that they are already done at their first place and moving onto the next.  Time moves quickly.

As I cleaned today I remembered our kids when they were small, I remember never being able to keep my house clean with 2 toddlers and then a house full of teenaged friends and finally boyfriends and girlfriends and then fiancés.  It has gone so quickly.  There was a whole lot of cleaning.

Today was a day off from my regular job but a day filled with work none the less.  A good day.

so much at Crossroads

There is opportunity upon opportunity to get involved at Crossroads.

The medal table at the Run For Hope

Events to help us organize such as Saturday's Run For Hope and the Mission Expo this weekend.  So much we can use your help to provide for our congregation.  Time spent on the things of the Lord and working with other believers...so rewarding!

Asia's Hope expo table

Soccer Kicks 4 Kids at our Mission Expo!  Such a great organization!

And then there are all the worship teams...oh my goodness how grateful I am for our amazing youth and worship Pastor's!  Dan, Milo and Jamie lead us to the thrown weekend after weekend!! Under their leadership Crossroads' worship future just looks limitless - such an exciting time to be involved!

Night of Worship rehearsal

And even as I write this evening - worship leaders from around Mansfield take our stage for rehearsal to lead us Wednesday night in worship!!  There is No WHERE else I'd rather be!  Nowhere!

We have been challenged this past month to consider what we will do with this ONE life.  Will we work to 'gain' money or position?  Will we do unnecessary things that take us away from our families?  Will our children grow up thinking our work and money and friends are more important to us then they are?

What will our legacy be?

I want people to say I cared about orphans, and underprivileged and the local church.  That I loved my husband well and tried my hardest to raise children that loved the Lord.

I want people to say I was in love with Jesus.

my day off

Last night we had a blast with our small group from Crossroads.  One of the highlights of the night were the adorable raccoons that Jackie and Greg rescued!  The other highlights included ridiculous made-up stories sitting around the campfire and the food and fellowship!

I loved the sky framing the barn as the night moved in.




Morning came early and once again today we headed to Columbus to work at our son and daughter-in-law's new house.

Don't be critical - it's only the first coat!

I learned many things.  I learned how to 'mud' drywall.  I taped and finished the ceiling seams in one room by myself.  This shows the level of desperation we have reached! ha ha

I LOVED it - I don't often get to work on things that see results  the same day I start them.  Getting to learn how to do something new and actually make a contribution toward the house being finished is great fun!

I then coated an old door with paint thinner and scrapped off old paint.  It was a welcomed site when I began to see natural wood beneath the layers of yellow, green then white paint.  I don't know what people were thinking that painted this gorgeous old door!

Now it's almost time to head home so I must say good night, but allow me to leave you with a challenge for tomorrow.  Learn how to do something brand new - it is so much fun and will keep you young!

men and women

We are different.  Opposites perhaps.

This morning we were at Lowe's.  I was pushing a large cart with drywall and 2X4s on it - trying to negotiate how closely I needed to stay to the sides of the aisles so that others could pass me.

Ron walked ahead reading descriptions on each sticker on the items he was considering - carefully analyzing measurements we had written on our paper and comparing them to the items in front of us.

The lady mentioned in the article is in grey!

Another couple approached, loudly discussing what else they needed to remember to purchase.  They too were pushing quite a few sheets of drywall and particle board, so had a similar load.

The lady noticed me standing next to the cart, and started laughing comparing our similar Saturday morning tasks.  She was quite loud and made some semi-rude remarks about her poor husband and laughed as if she had just told the funniest joke in the world!  I smiled, but tried not to encourage her assault.

As she walked away laughing, she looked back at me and said, "you know it's a shame really,  I'll never get out of him - what I've put in him!  No where close!"

With that she turned and continued to follow her husband, a man I suddenly felt great compassion for!

God intended for most of us to marry, others He decided He kept single because He needed to use their singleness.  He intended marriage to be between one woman and one man, so why does it seem in so many cases we are so oddly paired?  I can easily name the couples I consider great Godly matches, compatible and committed.  I can name them easily because I don't know that many.  THAT is sad.

We are opposites (it sometimes appears) because we need to complete and support one another.  We each bring something unique to the table.  We need one another and we need to strive to live in a way that honors one another.

We need to live in a way that realizes that God created our spouse, instead of acting as if men are from Mars and women are from Venus...

discouraging day

Today I found out several things that were very discouraging.

First I got a message that the set design materials that I had ordered are now backordered and will not be here until the 2nd week of Pastor's Tim's new series, Systematic Theology.  THAT is discouraging!

So, do I create a temporary set design while waiting for the supplies I really wanted to arrive, or design something completely different?  Down right discouraging!

The other thing I found out was about some struggles one of my relatives are having.  It's really just a sin issue and is terribly discouraging and very disappointing!

And finally, I came to the office today with a plan for attack on all the tasks that needed to be finished.  It was doable.  It didn't get done.  I didn't take into consideration - conversations  -  several people that I wanted to explain new projects to and items I needed to order over the phone -all took longer than anticipated.  So I left with work goals not met.  I took discouragement with me.

Poor me...

Then about 6:00 pm this evening I gained perspective as I began to listen to the updates concerning the Colorado killings, the frustration of those searching for the Ohio strangler and heard voices of the family members who are totally in shock at the horror that has just changed their families' lives forever.  Perspective.

I have no right to be discouraged about anything, absolutely nothing in my life compares to the struggles of those on the news reports.  Selfishly I pray it never does.

The best way to look away from your own discouragement, is to take your eyes off of yourself and notice what others are going through.  Even in the middle of bad - there are ALWAYS far worse things near by, always.

people take things

People take things that don't belong to them.

I recently heard about a lady who was trying clothes on at a store.  When she walked out of the dressing room to pick up the other clothes she wanted to try on and returned, a lady was in her dressing room with the door locked.  She told her it was her dressing room to get out.  The lady inside the dressing room said, "hang on I'm pulling my pants up".

She opened the door and stormed out.

Later that night the credit card company called her to see if she had requested a cash advance sent to a certain account.  She told the company she had not.

The lady that took over her dressing room had taken pictures of her credit card and drivers license and immediately got cash deposited to her account.

Why do people take things?

It's laziness, sometimes addiction driven, perhaps a thrill to sneak around and see what you can get away with and just plain evil.  Who knows what all the reasons or excuses are.

It's sin of course.

Some of the scams people create are invented by brilliant minds that could accomplish so much if used for good instead of evil.  I can only imagine what their time and work could do if their hearts belonged to the Savior instead of the evil one.

Upon hearing this story I was appalled and went on and one about the nerve of people...

Then I remembered that all sin is equal in the eyes of the Lord.

If I gossiped today, if I coveted what another had today, if I was lazy today and didn't work hard enough to earn what I was paid - I also took what wasn't mine - I would be equally guilty.

In that regard I assume that in the eyes of God that all people take things.  

something I wish

I wish I had studied dance.

I have no idea if I even have rhythm but still I wish I had tried it.

There is something mesmerizing about dance.  The way one step connects to the next, the way there is purpose in each movement.  No idle time, no confusion about what comes next, you know the outcome.

I'm also fascinated by the fact that each culture has its own dance.  It's part of each nations history.  What makes dance so important to the world?

We were all created with a need to express how we feel - joyous, thankful, frustrated, thankful, sorrowful or creative.

Even small children dance - they cannot stand still.  They were created by a Savior that loves celebration and expression and who gave us emotion.

I wish I had danced more...