Teen Banquet 2011 - "Winter on the Prairie"

Our Teen Banquet was last night and the teens had a blast!

 They started by filling out their menus.  Everything on the menu was coded as a spoon was called a shovel, a plate was a wagon wheel, spaghetti was Dirty Straw, and so on down the menu.  The kids had to try to figure out what everything was, because if they didn't order their plate, fork, cup and such they would not get that item for that course.   

Everyone picked a pitchfork for the first course thinking it was a fork..........

not quite!  They were so surprised to see baked chicken feet come out.



Most of the boys ate them or at least tried them while the girls
 squealed and were totally grossed out!

Since a few teens didn't order cups, they got to chose whether to have their juice in their hands or straight in their mouths.

While others did not order plates or forks.  Some used toothpicks to eat their spaghetti and beans while others used their hands.

The teens had an awesome time and at the end of the night,
after all three fun filled courses, they were overjoyed when we brought them all out plates, silverware and cups
and let them eat as much as they wanted. 

One of my favorite pictures is Pastor Chep being silly
 and making the girls scream!

A Spiritual Mother

One of my dear friends and spiritual mothers is sitting at the feet of Jesus tonight. How sad to think of her gone, for I will miss her so much, but so happy that she is now before the One that she has always loved, worshipped and served.  My friend was many years older than me and was always giving me words of wisdom and advice for living this life while fully loving and serving God.  I can remember going on ladies morning visitation with her every week for many years.  She taught me so many things in those years and I will always remember her sweet, sweet spirit. 

This has been a very rough week for my dear sweet husband.  He has been running non-stop as he has been ministering to the needs of our congregation.  Tonight a wonderful couple from our church took us out to Texas Roadhouse for our anniversary.  It was a great time of food and fellowship as we ate and visited.  My husband was who loves to talk, was very quiet during dinner, just mainly listening and eating.  Later I asked if anything was wrong and he said "No, I was just enjoying dinner, I didn't have a chance to eat anything yesterday or today."  I felt so bad that I didn't see and meet my husband's most basic need this week.  The minstry can be keep us very busy but I need to make sure my husband is taking the time to eat.  I know tomorrow is also going to be another busy day for him but I am planning to take him food as he sits in the hospital with one of our ladies and also going to make him stop and grab a bite as he runs to the many other things he has planned.  One of the things I love my husband for is how much he puts all his heart and soul into his ministry and I need to make sure his body has all the energy it needs to keep up with his busy, busy schedule!

There are Those Days........

Got up early to get my morning devotions done and then made sure Mason was up and had his school started.

Then I ran out the door to give support to one of the ladies in the church as she had important happenings today.  Ran back home and my dear husband asked me to ran an errand for him.  As I came back in the door once again, my dear husband was running out.  Mason and I then were able to finish getting ready for our Wednesday Night Bible Adventures.  Mason has been such a huge help this year to come up with ideas that make the puppet skit, Bible story and nerd skit all flow smoothly and are all on the same subject.

The kids are loving it, and of course their favorite part is when Fireman Joe sprays them all with water!  After an energetic hour of puppets, memory verses and a Bible story, we dismissed the kids and I mingled with the adults as they came out of Bible study.  Spent some talking with one of our military wives whose husband is TDY and gave her some encouraging words and a hug.  Mason and I cleaned up the Bible Adventure room while, my dear sweet husband spent some time counseling.  Finally made it home a little after ten and did family Bible time before sending Mason off to bed.  I think that I am ready to head there too!  Praying that tomorrow will be a little slower of a day!

 

19 Years!

Today I got to celebrate 19 wonderful years with my dear sweet husband.

He was so sweet and woke me by bringing in 12 long stem roses and chocolate.  He was actually running out the door as he had someone that needed his help but I still felt very cherished.  As I got up to do my Bible reading, I found on top of my Bible a sweet, sweet letter that my sweet husband wrote me.  It brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my lips.  God has blessed me with a an amazing man!  After his busy morning he came home and we were able sneak away for a quiet brunch.  I do not know what happened to the afternoon as we were both running in different directions,  him helping a dear lady in our church and talking to a few others, while Mason and I were running
and getting things prepared for teen night.

For Teen Nights my husband has been teaching a series of lessons he calls "Beware, Your Attitude is Showing".  It's been very good and I pray for the teens as they are challenged to make sure their attitude is one that is acceptable in God's sight. (Psalm 19:14)  For game time we gave the kids glosticks that they attached to their shoes and wrists and gave them nerf guns and let them play a combination of Nerf Gun wars and Hid and Seek in the dark.  They loved it!  For verse time we continued to memorize Philippians 4 and quizzed them on each verse. 
They have worked really hard on Philippians 4 and I think they will do great at the verse quizzing.

After we fed the teens, Mason drove them all home and Chep and I
took a leisurely drive around town and just enjoyed being able to talk and enjoy each others company without interuption.  We are looking forward to another year of wonderful things as we watch
God guide our paths where ever He wills!

A Gift

A lady in our church gave me and my husband matching hoodies.
 They are so cute!

Praying that they'll be a witnessing tool for him!

This morning started out rough and made me think of this gift and the other gifts that God has given us.  God has given us all gifts and talents that he wants us to use for Him.  My husband says that one gift that God has given me is the gift of teaching children.  Telling stories and coming up with the activites and/or crafts to go with that story just comes natural to me.  I love teaching kids and gladly do it each week.  This morning when my husband told me one of the Jr. Teachers was stepping down from teaching he told me he needed me to take over the class for now.  I have to admit I had a grudging spirit and I thought to myself, but I already teach Sunday School, Jr. Church for the younger kids and Wednesday Night Bible Club, I really don't want to teach this too.  So as I opened my Bible this morning, I prayed and asked God to give me a nugget, something to help me to have the right spirit, the spirit He wanted me to have.  I started reading right at the place I just happened to flip my Bible open to - 1 Corinthians 12 and by the time I had read to the end of the chapter God had changed my heart.

Again I thought about the hoodie our friend gave me and how it is such a perfect gift because I am a hoodie girl.  I have several and would rather wear a hoodie than a t-shirt or sweater or coat.  This hoodie will be well worn because it's warm and fits me, my style and my personality so well, and I will wear it every chance I get.  The same thing with teaching, God gave me the gift of teaching and it fits me so well.  I love telling the kids about Jesus and His love and His salvation, I love teaching them how we can overcome the world just like all the Bible heroes when we listen, follow and obey God too, and I love doing activites and crafts with them to help them remember the truths we've learned!  I need to use my gift every opportunity I get.  Not everyone is a teacher but there are so many kids that need to hear the good news of Christ and His great love
 for them.  How could I ever pass up an opportunity to
teach these precious children about him! 

Sunday!

What wonderful services we had this morning!  We had four new families visiting with us this morning.  How exciting to see new faces and praying we see them again.  We also had the Driscoll family from Camp Grace visiting with us today and sharing their ministry with us.

All the kids are so excited for camp this summer and the video presentation made me wish I was young enough to go too! 

After services we enjoyed some wonderful fellowship with the Driscolls over lunch.  We had stew that I had put in the crockpot and of course chocolate cake!  After they left and were on the road again, Chep was able to watch the last half of the Chicago Bears game with another gentleman from church.   He was disappointed to see them lose but says they'll make the Superbowl next year!