A Look of Shock All Over My Face

Our pastor brought a WCBC student with him to church last night.

I heard that he was from New Mexico.

I started a conversation with him after the service and here's how it went.

Me: So, you're from New Mexico?

Tim: Yes.

Me: I lived in Alamagordo/Holloman AFB a long time ago, like 30 years.

Tim: Really. I know very well where that is. Is that where the White Sands Missile Range is?

Me: No, but it's close.

Tim: So, you say you went to high school there?

Me: Nooooooooooooo, I was only this high (giving the height of about a 7 year-old) when I was there!

Tim: (realizing his very big mistake) I am so sorry!

Me: (laughing, trying to disguise my absolute shock over him just making me to be over 50 years old) It's ok (maybe) :)


Oh well, I hope I don't actually look that old because I'm not even 40 yet!

Something Different

Yesterday was our church's 11th anniversary.

This year we decided instead of concentrating on us as a church, we would reach out to our local fire department, which just so happens to be right next door to us.

We bought each fireman a copy of the movie "Fireproof," a gift card to a local restaurant, a personal invitation to our church and then we put together a HUGE fruit basket for them. The basket was so heavy it took 2 men to carry it. By the way, if you haven't seen "Fireproof" you need to see it. A fabulous movie!

We went there right after the morning services yesterday and they were kind enough to pull one of their brand new firetrucks out of the bay so we could get a picture with them.

Our pastor and his family with one of the crews

It did my heart good to see their gratefulness for taking the time to thank them for their service to our community. My husband talked with one of the captains and he said they so appreciated us thinking of them. It really meant a lot to them to get a simple "thank you" from someone.

There are 3 fire stations in our city. We took care of only 1 yesterday. Our pastor wants to do something for the other 2 soon.

Church Picnic

Today our church went to a park after the morning services and had a picnic. We all had a great time. It was a beautiful day.

We also have some new friends! This is Ron Brown, his wife, Sheryl, and their son, Jason. Brother Brown has been preaching for our church lately. We have really enjoyed having them here with us!

Not the Answer We Were Looking For

It was our turn to teach Jr. Church last Sunday.

Walter asked if any of the kids knew what the dumbest animal on earth was. After a couple minutes of answers from the kids, Walter gave them the answer (in his humble opinion).

"It's the turkey," said Walter. "Do you know why it's the dumbest animal?"

"Because it says 'gobble, gobble?'" said Demetrius.

After much laughter from Walter, he says, "No, that's not why the turkey is the dumbest animal. It's because their nostrils are on top of their beaks and they will drown themselves in a rainstorm because they don't know to find shelter to keep from drowning."

We have so much fun in that class! The kids are priceless!

What a Night Last Night Was!

We had a teen game night at our home last night. All total there were 13 of us. That's HUGE for our little church!

We started out playing a game of "Ultimate Spoons." That game, by the way, is far more challenging than the regular way of playing "Spoons." It was great! The kids had an absolute blast!

There's a few changes from regular "Spoons." We played it outside. Walter and I took the spoons and hid them in a part of the yard where the kids didn't know. They started the card game looking for 4-of-a-kind. When the first person got 4-of-a-kind, they laid the cards down and started running to find the spoons. Everybody else started running also. The person who didn't get a spoon in the end was eliminated. It was soooooo funny to watch. Here are a few pictures.

Then we ate snacks, had a devotion and continued to play several more games. The final game we played was "Wild, Wild West." We played that game for over 2 hours! Actually we played round after round after round of it! The kids couldn't get enough of it! We'd try to play another game and they would beg us to keep playing it!

The kids didn't leave until after 10 pm. Usually our game nights are over by about 8:30 pm. We were pleasantly surprised! We had a lot of fun and the kids did, too!

No Subtilty!

Yesterday, I had the privilege of teaching the preschoolers during Sunday School. The names of the children are AJ and Tamiyah.

Class started and I was talking with Tamiyah when all of a sudden AJ says the following.

AJ: (with absolute seriousness written all over his face) "Girls have hair on their arms?"

Me: "What?"

AJ: "Girls have hair on their arms?!"

Me: (looking at my arms - yes I have a lot of hair on my arms) "Yes, AJ, some girls have hair on their arms."

AJ: "I've never seen a girl with hair on her arms before."

Tamiyah: "Me, neither."

Me: "I guess I got all the hair from my dad. I don't know."

I looked at both of their arms and they didn't have any noticeable hair on their arms. AJ, especially, was completely stunned - almost grossed out by the hair on my arms!

Last night, as I was telling one of the ladies at church this little story, another lady (Erin) came up to me and said, "I could braid the hair on your arms!"

In my own defense I said, "I asked my husband if he wanted me to wax the hair off of my arms and he said NO, so I leave it alone!" *grin, laugh*

The Innocent Little Ones

Walter and I were the teachers in Jr. Church this morning. Almost every time, we have the best time with the kids.

We sang songs, took up an offering, Walter taught the lesson, we reviewed the lesson and then we decided to play games.

One of the games we played is called "Four Corners."

The kids are to move to one of the 4 corners of the room while the person who is "it" counts to 10 with their eyes closed. When "it" gets to 10 they pick a corner. He/She opens his/her eyes and looks to the corner picked to see if there are any kids there. If you are in the corner, then you're out. But we added another rule to the game. If you are in the corner, "it" picks a Bible verse and you have to say it from memory to stay in the game. If you can't say it then you're out.

Which brings me to a little girl names Tamiyah. Tamiyah is one of our bus kids. She's a cute little black girl and she's 5 years old.

She was in the corner I picked this morning. She had a big grin on her face as I looked at her. The conversation is as follows.

Me: "Tamiyah, do you know Genesis 1:1?"

Tamiyah: shakes her head "yes" while smiling

Me: "Say Genesis 1:1."

Tamiyah: "Genesis 1:1."

We all started laughing. This little girl was so precious! She did do what I said, just not what the rules were. Needless to say, her time with the game was over, but we did have a great time!

She Was a Good Sport

Our church just finished Vacation Bible School last night.

There was an offering contest between the girls and boys. If the boys won, a representative for the girls (one of the teenage girls) would have to eat something really gross (and I mean it was GROSS). If the girls won, a representative for the boys (one of the teenage boys) would have to eat it.

On Monday and Wednesday night my Lyndsey was the representative for the girls. It just so happened that on both of those nights the girls lost. So.....Lyndsey had to eat the really gross thing. Monday night it was a bite of gefelte fish. It looked gross but Lyndsey was a good sport about it and took a bite. Her response...."tastes like chicken!" But last night, it was a bite of a sardine (just plain nasty). Again, she was a good sport and ate a bite. Her response..."yuck!" She said the worst part of it was looking at it.

All I can say is "I'm thankful I wasn't one of the representatives!"

Childlike Faith

Tonight our church started Vacation Bible School. We had a lot of fun. The theme is Wild, Wild West.

We had crafts, singing, offering, skit and Bible lesson. At the end of the lesson, Pastor gave a message on salvation. Those who didn't know Jesus as their Saviour raised their hands. Then they stood up and came towards me and I took them to a private room where Walter and I showed them from the Bible how they could know for sure Heaven is their home. Two girls came forward (Jael and Jazmin).

I wish everyone could have been in that room. It was one of the most precious few moments of my Christian life. I could see in their faces that they absolutely knew they needed ask Jesus to save them from their sins and take them to Heaven when they die. Jael and Jazmin both eagerly prayed and asked Jesus to save them. Afterwards, there was a heavenly smile that came over both of them. You could absolutely tell they had asked Jesus to save them and they meant it with all of their hearts. It was an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life!

Whoever you are that read this here blog, if you don't know for sure that Heaven is your home, scroll down and you can read how to make Heaven your home by reading the side bar.

College Application Officially Filled Out

Last night our church hosted a singing group from Hyles Anderson College.

Walter and I (and the kids) had dinner (pizza) with them. It was so much fun! The girls were so nice and their chaperones (Chris Tefft and his wife Brenda) were hilarious!

The girls sang quite a few songs and Brother Tefft preached (an incredible message, by the way).

We hosted 4 of the girls in our home overnight. The other 3 stayed at our pastor's home. Lyndsey was thrilled, to say the least.

Lyndsey and Rachel

Lyndsey and Katie

Sarah and Lyndsey

Lyndsey and Emilie

L to R - Emilie, Sarah, Lyndsey, Rachel, Katie

The boys wanted in on the pictures, too.

They are from the college she will be attending in the fall of 2009. Before the service started she filled out the college application. *sniff, sniff*

It's so hard to believe my little girl isn't little anymore. A word to the wise - when someone tells you to cherish every single moment with your children because they'll be grown up before you know it, listen to them. They used to tell me that and I thought they were nuts! But here I am with only 1 year left with Lyndsey at home. I tell you that I am CHERISHING each and every day with my beautiful daughter.

All of the girls fell in love with my very cute little dog! They all played with her. Some of them even took pictures of her. Ruby had to be in at least one of the pictures.

L to R - Ruby, Emilie, Sarah, Lyndsey, Rachel, Katie

The whole group
Top L to R - Becky, Heather
2nd row L to R - me, Katie, Rachel, Kristi, Lyndsey, Sarah, Emilie
Front row - Phyllip and Tyler

We are so Blessed!

Last weekend our church was so blessed as to host the Spring Tour singing group from West Coast Baptist College. Our family was even more blessed to spend the day with all 4 of the girls as they went soulwinning with our church and then to have 2 of them stay in our home Saturday evening. Lyndsey was on "cloud 9" the entire time! We had a blast getting to know them (time goes by so fast and we cram as much as we can to get to know each of the girls). Each one has a great sense of humor.

From left to right is Kayla, Jennifer, my Lyndsey, Laura (Jennifer's sister), and Bethany.

So many people said that Bethany and Lyndsey look like sisters. They really hit it off well. Oh, and I found out that Bethany knows the Kitson family. I used to babysit their 2 oldest kids 20 years ago (they now have 12 kids)! I haven't seen the Kitsons in that long, either. Anyhow, yesterday I was able to get in touch with them. The Lord is so good to us!

Bethany and Lyndsey! They do look like sisters!

We got to spend Easter Sunday morning with them at our church. Our family was even more blessed (I know I keep using that phrase but that's exactly how we feel!) because the girls did their warm up in our house around our piano! It was fantastic! The pianist, Jennifer, is incredible! Her fingers just glide across the piano and makes it look so easy! I could sit and listen to her play for forever!

The girls warming up at our home.


Lyndsey and Kayla.


Lyndsey and Laura

Lyndsey, the social butterfly that she is, managed to remember to get all of their addresses so she can keep in touch with them!

Some silly pictures of Bethany and Lyndsey.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I was deliriously tired Saturday night because of lack of sleep. The girls were getting ready for bed. I was making cinammon rolls for breakfast on Sunday morning. Lyndsey decided that she HAD to make a skirt for Easter Sunday (I had bought the material and pattern for her a month ago and we just never got around to making it). I told her that I didn't really want to sew because I was exhausted. Well.....she had gotten most of the skirt done and needed the zipper put in. I'm really not that great with zippers but...I ended up putting it in at 11:00 p.m. To my amazement, I was able to sew it in in one sitting. I didn't have to rip part of the stitching out and redo it! I couldn't believe it! Finally I could say that putting a zipper in is easy! That is until..........I realized that I put it in BACKWARDS! I told Lyndsey that's what she gets when she asks her deliriously tired mother to put a zipper in a skirt at 11:00 p.m.! *laugh* So needless to say, her skirt did not get done!

I'm Glad This Isn't Real Life!

Tonight we had a game night at our home for the teenagers of our church (which happens to be only 2 right now but that's ok).

We ended up playing Monopoly. It was a fast moving game with 6 players. Michael should have gone bankrupt fairly early in the game. Lyndsey decided to be nice and let him stay in the game. Afterwards Michael asks Phyllip and Tyler if he could have $1 (just playing). So what happens next????? Phyllip gave him one of every denomination of Monopoly money he had! What do you think Michael did? He said, "Thanks." That was it! Nothing else. Just, "Thanks." Phyllip thought he was so funny! He decided to share his "wealth" with Michael for the rest of the game. He kept only $1 and 3 pieces of property. Michael eventually said that he would pay all of Phyllip's rent that he owed (he was so kind!). Phyllip went bankrupt in the end.

I am REALLY glad that this isn't real life!*huge sigh* Walter and I would have a LONG way to go in teaching Phyllip if this was reality!

Sweetheart Banquet

For our Sweetheart Banquet this year, the teen department was in charge. And since Walter is the Youth Director, that meant we would be handling the whole evening.

So, I planned everything out. It actually was fun! It was last Friday night.

The menu was Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken, Mushroom Risotto, and Julienned Carrots. I was a little bit nervous about the menu. While I was cooking it on Friday I started to wonder if I had gotten in over my head. But I kept going and Walter and I both thought it tasted fantastic! I was nervous because I've been told that you NEVER try out a new recipe on company. Guess what I did on Friday evening? Tried out 3 new recipes on everyone at the banquet!

Our guest speaker was Pastor Nathan Cook and his sweet wife, Sara. He wore a very LOUD suit.
But it did happen to fit the occasion. His message was great.

We at dinner, played some games, had some laughs, and listened to the message. All in all, we had a good time.

Pastor and Sileena won one of the games and here was their prize(s).