What I learned...

The one thing I love about teaching & working with the youth is I learn so much myself...

I almost titled the last lesson that I learned something from this same thing.. but just used "Come thou Fount"... but I think from here on out, the things I learn from teaching, it'll just have to go under this name... so much to learn...

But today's message was very simple. Today was the big "move" - & by move, I mean our 8th graders who will now be in High school moved up to Senior High - the 5th graders who will be in middle school came up for the first time to "CrossRoads"... which can be very scary for these little ones. Change always is...

So my lesson was called "Are you normal" - which is really to show that no matter where you are at, especially when some scared 6th graders are in the same class with "mature" 8th graders - you are normal... that 8th grader was just in their spot just what seemed like yesterday...

The cool thing - Jesus went through the childhood ages, the teen ages, the young adult ages - he knew those feelings, those emotions.... how much encouragement is that! And we dont know much about his childhood - the Bible skips most of those ages - but we have to know he developed physicially, socially, mentally & most important, Spiritually.... because God was with him!

But at the end of the lesson - it totally hit me! As a Christian - we are called to NOT BE NORMAL! Normal isn't a preteen who speaks boldly of Christ - Normal isn't a bunch of kids organzing a Bible study at school - Normal isn't a group of young teens who pray before school for their school day together - Normal is not a teen who does not follow the "crowd" with drugs & sex.... so much of the "normal" world isnt the world that Christ longs for.

So yeah, these kids are normal... but I want them to be MORE THEN NORMAL! I think God wants that for all of us!

"Do not be conformed to the world...." -Romans 12:2

Six Word Saturday

WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY EMILY!

My friends are now first time parents! This is Baby Emily.... Isnt she beautiful?

Pray for Mommy Erica - she had to end up with a C-section where she had to be completely put under, after a full day of laboring.... pray for a quick healing for her!

Pray for this new family.... this is a young couple who are amazing people & who love the Lord with all their heart! This little girl is going to grow knowing who her Heavenly Father is! So excited to see who she becomes in Him!!!

HAPPY BIRTH-DAY EMILY!!!!!

Friday Fragments

*Yes... as of this minute - still NO Air Conditioning in my home... enough said on that...

*Watching "Ellen" - I realize there are alot of people out there that really can't dance!!!! OH WOW.... & I wonder how many of them think they do dance good?

*It is LESS THEN A WEEK for Julie & Isaac to be here... anticipation is building!!! Gotta get my batteries all charged up for my camera! Be prepared - tons of Isaac stories & pictures will be coming up soon!!!

*THE BACHLORETTE.... did anyone else get totally creeped out about Tanner talking about feet the way he did???? And doing his little "Kiss Feet" Dance?...... I sat with my jaw actually DROPPED... especially when she KEPT him another week! SERIOUSLY?

*My buddy, Joe has turned me onto a Christian Rock group - "RED"... Here's their CD that I just picked up! Rockin' isnt even the right word!!! Its fantastic!!!! The song "Pieces" is just a great one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-bpvq4_tEA (If you want to check it out)

*So You Think You Can Dance.... Can someone PLEASE tell me how Sonja picks Natalie (The adorable red head) to show how the dance is supposed to be danced & then the judges get rid of her????? But yet they let others "Dance for their life" & not let this girl have another shot? I am furious about that! Natalie.... you were treated WRONG!!!!

And WHY SYTYCD... why toy with my emotions even more? Putting the two Broadway Brothers against each other for the last spot? They were both awesome! If anything - the older brother should be put on as a choreographer... he is awesome! I wanted to cry when he took off his hate & said "My fears is what was holding me back...." & saying how everything that he thought was against him is now what could put him through! Evan is now my favorite! I will be voting for him every week!!!

*I am excited to see how this.....

Is going to turn into this......

*MOST EXCITING OF THE WEEK: My buddies, Joe & Erica are having a baby... they are enducing Erica this morning!!! If things go easily, Baby Emily will be born today!!!! This is one baby that has been prayed for & so anxious for her to meet her mommy & daddy who love her so much!!! Here's the moment that Erica told Joe she was pregnant 8 months ago... Of course, I'm always camera ready!

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

Come Thou Fount...

I did a message to the Jr. High kiddos the other day about the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"...

I dont know if you remember my post on "It is Well with my Soul" - but that story just impacted me so much & I was looking at other hymns. This story hit me too but in such a different way - such a sad ending...

The man who wrote this song was a "punk" teen - which made the lesson even better for the Jr. Highers! - but he went to church with friends one night to "scoff at the poor Methodists"... he didnt know what some good preaching could do! He left a follower of Christ! Not at all what he was expecting going in!

He studies the Bible - became very wise in the Bible - & then felt the call on his life to become a Pastor. During this time is when he wrote that song "Come Thou Fount".... You can see the words of his life in that verse:

"Jesus saught me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God - He to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood"

The part that really struck me - I cant sing these next few verses without getting choked up - never have been...

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it - Prone to leave the God I love..."

A long story put in simple words... Robet Robinson wandered from His God - the God he loved - the God he knew & told so many others about. He didnt come back either.

There is a story that he was on a stage coach one time & a lady riding along with him was singing that song & asked him if he liked it, His response was:

"Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then."

Can't you hear the saddness in his voice....poor unhappy man... I would give a thousand worlds...

He KNEW who God was - that God would take him back... but something must have kept him away....

The irony in the lyrics he wrote...

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it - Prone to leave the God I love... Here's my heart, O take & seal it - seal it for they courts above.

Lord - seal my heart...

Cold supper

We are in week 3 of no air... why? long story!!! But someone is coming Thursday to look at it - of course, Thursday, its supposed to be beautiful & in the 70's - no need for air then!

Today - not so much! When I came home - this is what the temp said in our window fan

Yeah... over 90 degrees in my house!!!!

Luckily, I had a meeting at church tonight so I got to go enjoy the air conditioning. Thank you Lord for a cool church!

And then I come home... what to eat? I for sure aint turning the oven on in our house... dont even want to MOVE to make anything...

So what's for supper?

Oh yeah - Fudge-cicle... calling my name!

Just had to eat it before it completely melted!

Now that's what I call NUTRITION!

Nothing bad to say...

My memory verse for last month was one that I love! To me, its one of those "HA" - in your face kinda verses! & I'm talking about a "In your face" in the sense of saying "You talking bad about me - BOO-YAH! You DONT have anything bad to say about me!"

In everything, set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness & soundness of speech that cannot be condemned so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us" -Titus 2:7-8

To me, this is saying - you do or say what is right, & people cant say anything bad... they're going to look dumb if they do!

But then I realized something as I was going over this verse daily for the past 15 days...

People are STILL going to condemn! People are STILL going to say bad things about me - or you! No matter how well you are doing something - no matter how well the intent of teaching others, there will ALWAYS be someone who will speak ill - someone who wants to drag you down!

So even though I'm looking at this with an attitude of "today" - I've been looking at it wrong!

I really think when we all stand before God - is that when the feeling of "shame" will be felt? Because I know some people will NEVER be ashamed of what they say about someone - no matter how wrong it is!

Will I feel shame for something I said? Will you?

I just know for me - it pushes me to be an even more accountable youth leader! I want to stand before God & know I did teach with integrity, seriousness & soundness of mind! And that even goes further then a "class room" setting... I want to teach my nieces, my grandson, my friends with those same values!

In the end... I know I want to live a life where no one has any ground to stand on when they accuse of anything! How about you?

Snag...

You all know I love to knit....

Here is one of the blankets I made for baby Emily that is coming FRIDAY!!! WHOO HOOO! Cant wait ...

It was funny though because something hit me so clearly when I was talking to one of the youth today.

The issue came up of how quickly mistakes can be made to ruin all sorts of trust. Of course, trust is something that is build up, takes time to earn from people & it doesnt take that much of a big mistake to break trust.... & if it IS a big mistake, its even harder for trust to be regained again.

My mind works in the world of yarn... beautiful merino, cottons, alpaca... aahh... OH - sorry! I'm drifting off into this world again.

But it hit me so clearly! I know when I work on a blanket, it takes TIME - lots of work! For those crafters out there - you know all the work that goes into making a blanket. Its something that you have to commit to or you wont finish it. Its not something you can do in a day (unless you are Miss Speed Knitter & if you are, I want to meet you!).... so much is INVESTED in something like that....

And it takes something simple to mess it up! Ever lay down for a minute & a piece of jewelry catch it when you get up? You snag it - you pull the yarn out of place - you mess up all the work that has been put into it? it didn't take long to mess it up... especially compared to the time it took to put it together....

How quickly mistakes can mess up all the work we put into something....

And if you ignore those snags, they just get pulled further & further making MORE of a mess!

The best thing though - even snags can be fixed! Its not easy & its not simple... but they CAN be fixed! It even takes a little bit more UNRAVELING to get to some good yarn to pick it up & MEND it....

If you are in a situation where if feels like a mistake has ruined a relationship... know that God can mend together any relationship back together...

& know that if its a relationship with HIM, He's the Master of Knitting! He knit us together in the womb afterall!!! He can truly master that mend!

Six Word Saturday

WALKING FOR A CURE FOR EMMA!

This morning - I got to join my friends in support of that cute little girl - Emma! Remember her? The one from the Dancing Video from Memorial Weekend... here's a reminder of how cute she is!

Emma has Rhematoid Arthritis & she just turned two years old. She has it in her knees & just yesterday found out it is now in her neck & possibly her hips...Pray for this little Angel!!! Her joints swell up & its painful for her mommy to even touch her sometimes...

But today, we had a big-o team do a Arthritis Walk in support of her & others who suffer from arthritis... incluidng her Nanny & my dearest friend, Lynn (You can click on her name to find out more about Emma too).... TEAM EMMA V!!!!!

Every shirt had names with who we are to Emma.. I LOVE mine..AUNT-ISH! Isnt that great!

For those that suffer, there was a 1 miles walk - & for anyone that wanted, there was a 5k.... me, Lynn & Carly did the 5K... it was a perfect day! Cool, sunny but a nice breeze... a great walk, a little bit of a run & lots of laughter!!!! So proud of Lynn for making it the full 5K!! (Mini Marathon - here you come!!!!)

I dont think this organization gets the recognizition as so many others, such as AIDS or Breast Cancer, but there are so many causes out there & so much people suffer from. The interesting thing to me - most of the bigger "Teams" there were in support of children that suffer! Oh, if a cure could be found to help ease this before they turn into adults!!!!

The walk was at Louisville Slugger Field so this is me, Carly & Emma's brother, Levi, who turns one year old in a few days....

But Lynn, Carly & myself got to go to the best place in the world... Panara Bread. They were so kind to humor me because I usually cant go there on a normal day. Ricky doesnt dig the place - but he was awfully happy when I came home with a fresh loaf of cinnamon raisin bread! MMMM... But I swear, they have the BEST chicken noodle soup in the world!

I love spending time with my friends, happy to support Emma & just enjoyed my afternoon something fierce.... didnt like it when I got home though! Talking to Lynn & Carly as they were leaving... look what happened... DANG BEE STING!! Yes, that's swollen on the back of my knee... so I'm now sitting here with ice on the back of my leg! Little booger!

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend as much as I've enjoyed mine!!!

Friday Fragments

(Click on the "Friday Fragments" button to join or visit other "Fragmenters")

*Still going with no air conditioning - going on a week! Praise the Lord though, its been very tolerable! But Monday, the heat & humidity comes back so pushing Ricky to make sure its fixed by then! AuburnChick, can you come over & fix it... (You all - this lady is Mrs. Home Repair!)

*You know I love Christian Music... but two songs are out & popular that I am totally not feeling - "Two Hands" by Jars of Clay & "Perfect People" by Natalie Grant! And I love Jars of Clay & ADORE Natalie Grant... but everytime I hear these songs, I cringe...

*So you Think you Can Dance has made me happy this week..... but Mary's scream still aggravates the tar out of me!

*Praying for Yaya as her & her huband are finishing up their adoption process & looking at potential children. Look at these babies faces! All four need a home & these could be the children for her... pray for this family to make the right decision if these children are the ones that God has led them too... & Pray for these kids... those faces are precious!

*SWEET ALERT!!! My dad said when he's taking the twins out for donuts on their usual morning trip to Krispy Kreme - they both automatically bow their heads & fold their hands & pray..... is there anything sweeter then children praying to God?

*JUMPY DEATH TRAP UPDATE: No, the twins did NOT get back in after I left! Their mommy even told me that Sophia came up to her & asked "Where you afraid that I could have died in there?".... yeah - I think jumpy's are now going to be a thing of the past!

*My parents have had a string of air conditioner thefts! Isnt that crazy! Someone is stealing the whole units! I'd think it was nuts if it didnt happen at our work! We couldnt get the air on a few weeks ago... walked outside - the WHOLE UNIT was gone!!! Apparently people are stealing them for the copper? My question - how do you carry one of those things off? Aren't they like, really heavy?

*Awaiting my new cross stitch patterns to come in the mail! I've been lost since I finished the one I did for my mom - that took me, GASP - 2 years!!! Yes - two years... this thing was HUGE!!!! But it was lovely! So I finally found 2 more that I couldnt decide upon... but they are both big projects so one will probably take me a good year... but who knew those patterns could be so expensive! Cost me $45 for just two!!! .... Here's the one I did for my mama....

So click the button above... join along... put your week into fragments...

10 Things that make me Happy

I'm taking Mama's Challenge this week of naming 10 things that make me happy! Let me think....

1. A day off work.... mmmm - a day to sleep in late is just the best!

2. A good book! I love getting into a story that completely wraps me up - love a hardback book, the feel of pages, the way books even smell! Not sure I'd love a Kindle just for that reason...
3. Doggies... mine, yours, everyone's - I LOVE dogs!!! All animals really, but I'm totally a dog person

4. Surprises - good surprises, I should say. (Not like the picture below... but I do miss me some Buffy the Vampire Slayer!!!) Fun little things that catch you off guard but make your heart smile knowing someone thought of doing something for you.

5. Finishing a knitting project & loving how it turned out! Such a feeling of accomplishment!

6. Spending time with the youth at church... they just make me happy every time - seeing them grow into amazing young adults - totally makes my heart smile!

7. Disney... You know I'm all about Beauty & The Beast - but all things Disney make me happy! All the Princesses - the movies - the theme parks... If Disney doesnt make you happy, then you just aren't human!

8. Friends who are on your side no matter what! I have so many friends that are like that - I'm so amazingly blessed with great people in my life! (Wish I could post pictures of you all!)

9. The two cutest little girls in the WHOLE world! Spending time with my nieces always just makes me love them more & more. Especially seeing them grow & getting such different personalities!

10. The biggest thing that is making me happiest right now... awaiting the visit from Julie & Isaac!!!! They'll be here in 2 weeks... Oh my gosh... I think I almost jumped out of my chair thinking about it!

Of course, I have WAY more then just 10 things that make me happy - my family, my husband, my LIFE, my JESUS!!!! But here are 10 quick things..... now, What makes you happy?

Rescued

I have said this time & again - but I work at the coolest place ever! They dont mind if you bring your pet in every now & then - & I have taken Buffy, Zoe & Sydney up at different times... I just realized Bruno hasnt made the office visit. I'll need to take him in for a day. Zoe, when she was spayed, tore her stitches out (That's a whole other story... very dramatic) & I was NOT about to leave her at home after she had surgery to put all her "inners" back & had new fresh stitches... she ended up coming to work with me for 4 weeks... she became a regular member of the office. (She wasnt allowed to run or play - so she had her little area... believe me, she had plenty of attention so she didnt mind being in her "caged" area)

Well, one of the guys that works there always had a cocker spaniel named Rocket that he would bring up... this dog is great! But he & his wife split up & she got the dog. Poor dog-less man was so heart broken - even asked for "visitation' with Rocket but it just wasnt enough. He ended up going to a Rescue center & found another cocker... he named him Sprocket! Yeah... from Rocket to Sprocket... he's not very original with names...

Sprocket has been up a few times already & knows which offices to go in for the most attention - but when his daddy leaves the office to run to our front office building, Sprocket will sit by the door & whine for him... already! He's only been in his new home for a week - but he already knows who saved him - who rescued him!

And have you ever been around a rescued animal? I always say I believe they understand they've been rescued. They just seem thankful & want to please so badly! Our Zoe was rescued... I've seen it time & time again... just the happiness they put out... they just seem like the world is theirs again!

I always say, can you imagine Sprocket's life before he was rescued... he was sitting in a cage for HOURS every day - probably only let out for bathroom breaks... & then caged back up. Now, he's free to roam. He probably only had a limited amount of shelter food - Today, he's eating the best food with treats at his beck & call. Toys are abounding now for his play, clean water is given to him whenever he drinks it all up - just a whole new life.... (Here's a picture of him playing in our office chasing a teddy bear)

The comparisons hit me so vividly looking at this dog who so badly wants to please his owner... who looks so happy - who has a new life...

Ever hear that song from NewSong "Rescue"... its one of my favorite. I went to one of their concerts & they passed out bracelets that said "I've been RESCUED"

A weird comparison between a shelter dog & us as people created in God's image - but we're all created by His hands... & yes, I've been RESCUED.....

I am no longer caged - I am given all the blessings in my life abundantly - I want to live to please my Master & Lord....

Thank you for Rescuing Me Lord!

Happy Memorial day

AAHHH.. Memorial Day! A day off work - a day to gather with friends & hang out - a day to relax - a day to remember the people who sacrificed for our country... a day to SWEAT!

Why am I sweating? Our air conditioner is broke... sigh... Oh mercy, its been getting about 85-88 degrees in the house. Not fun... my only hope is some sweat will waste away some weight.

Luckily, our awesome friends, Lynn & Mickey had a cook out & it was the perfect place to be today! Not just because of the air conditioner - but to be with friends, eating some yumminess grilling, playing some Scrabble, singing some Karaoke, & challenging everyone in some Disney Scene It! A good day all around....

Emma, who is Lynn's grand baby & Rachel's daughter is just the cutest little girl you could come across!!! I love to call her Emma-Lou-Who because she has that cute, adorable look from the Dr. Seuss "Grinch" story.... She was killing me saying "Let me hold you"... I'd drop everything to pick her up with that! And to hear her sing "Jesus Loves Me" - it made me want to cry each time! Is there anything sweeter then a little one singing that?

Her brother, Levi, was busy bouncing along with the Karaoke

My friend Erica was able to get out of the house for a little bit... pray for her! She's on bed rest to the end of her pregnancy, which isnt very far - but just being down for 6 days is already driving her nuts.... we made sure she stayed down... we are so anxious for this baby to arrive!

& I'm going to leave you with a video of little miss Emma dancing.... this child danced ALL DAY long! And girlfriend has some RHYTHM!!! Get to about 42 seconds & watch how she is bouncing right in time with the music.... tell me she's just not the most adorable little thing ever!!!