Block Party Success

With about a 33% turnout for the first mini-block party in 8 years on this street (and the first since DaHubby and I arrived in 2005), I'm declaring it a success! I also have two new friends on Facebook - two of my neighbors! LOL

Some meet-and-greet at the beginning...


In the shade with my house in the background...

The dinner spread...

Thanks to everyone who pitched in - especially those that brought the tables and chairs and everyone's AWESOME food!

Thank you Dr. Peet and family for hanging out with us (one of the doctor's offices on the corner) as well as some neighbors on the street where our block ends.

And, we will be visiting one neighbor where she works (the children's section of the public library the next town north os us) probably sometime before school starts!

Fingers and Toes

Our home church is a small group but growing. Yet, Sunday mornings usually hover around 100 believers in attendance. It is also more of a drive for us (about 17 minutes) while so many other churches are around the proverbial corner.

One of those churches is the local Church of God (COG). It's one of probably three of the "megachurches" for this relatively small city and they generally have close to 100+ families each Sunday. Our city's COG is known for its outstanding children's programs and it also has a Saturday night "come as you are" contemporary service.

When DaHubby was in the early throes of balancing full time work and full time school and in an effort to balance it all and get all his homework done, he missed several Sunday morning services at our church and took advantage the peace and quiet to work on his never ending to-do list.

Earlier this fall, I noticed the COG's sign for their Saturday night service. I started thinking about how much I missed going to church with DaHubby. About how awesome their kids' program is. And, about how close in beliefs their church is to ours. But, I couldn't fight the nagging feeling that I was somehow "betraying" my church family.

Two weeks ago, the four of us were driving past the COG just as their service was starting. I was in sweats, DaHubby in jeans, and the Vikings still had dinner on their faces. LOL We again marveled at how that church with its HUGE parking lot is ALWAYS busy. Then, DaHubby and I looked at each other and said "you want to try it?" "Yea, let's really test if it's really 'come as you are'!" So, we went. And, everyone had a wonderful time. And, they were incredibly gracious hosts. Yes, the kids' program rocks. Yes, the worship was awesome. And, yes, the senior pastor's message was good as well.

But, that's not our church.

Without going into the whole story, we know that we know that we know that we are supposed to be at our little country church right now. DaHubby plays piano and shares the responsibility of leading praise and worship with another sister-in-Christ. I sing with the P&W team and participate with the women's ministry. The kids know that church is a second home.

But, we really enjoyed the COG service.

See, that's the cool thing about the body of Christ. Our church and the local COG - we're just fingers and toes. We told our pastor we visited there and he's not stressed about it. And, we stopped and introduced ourselves to the COG pastor and praise team leader. We were polite and enthusiastic but clear that while we enjoyed ourselves and appreciated their ministries we had a church home we love.

The local COG can do amazing outreaches to the community that will touch so many lives. They have the financial power and historic presence (they're celebrating 100 years next year) to be a beacon of hope in this area.

But, our little church's ministry is elsewhere. It just serves another part of the Body. Our church has grown from 30-some people with DaHubby and I being the youngest participants and the only ones with kids to 100 people in attendance and a kids' program expanded to 3 rooms in just under 5 years.

But, we're both working for the same goal...bringing souls to Christ.

The kids and I went to the COG's Saturday night service again tonight to get out of DaHubby's hair for a bit so he could get some work done. And, again, they were incredibly gracious hosts. I even joked with praise and worship leader that his line-up of music was so good that we'd be stealing for our service in the morning. I even ran into someone DaHubby used to work with and his wife. The kids had fun. I got to worship, sit quietly without the Vikings interrupting and actually *hear* the message! LOL It was wonderful.

But, we'll be in our regular seats tomorrow morning with all DaHubby's family around us, and amid our wonderful church family.

We're just fingers and toes.

Incidentally, that's how I feel about my bloggy friends as well. We don't often discuss our denominational differences. We focus on what we have in common - our love for Christ and serving Him and others. For example, I'd like to think that Anita and I will have our mansions in Heaven right next door some day. And, hopefully, GiBee won't be too far down the block. And, it would be cool if Sara's and Lisa's heavenly homes just up against my back fence! LOL Like most of my bloggy friends, I've never met these wonderful ladies in real life. Yet, I know they are serving Christ in their communities just like I'm trying to do here.

Again, we're all just fingers and toes.

Another angel joins heaven

For my friend, D.



Lord, let me be Your light. Let her feel Your peace. Touch the families. Comfort them all. Heal their hearts. Take this little one into Your arms. Your will be done.

Putting my little toe back in

I've been kinda dreading coming back to daily blogging. Don't even know where to start to get "caught up". So much is jumbled in our day-to-day lives right now. With the loss of Böna and a financial blessing for DaHubby along with the normal ups-and-downs and roller coaster life of raising preschoolers, there have been many waves on these Vikings waters lately.

But, as always, God provides.

He's provided family, church family, and friends (local, distant, and bloggy alike) who've been checking in on us regularly...bringing meals, hugs, gifts, cards, congratulations. prayers and their listening ears and holding us up during the last few weeks.

Thanks to all of you.

We've had the wagons circled and keeping to ourselves mostly. But, the fog is somewhat lifting. I'm feeling better physically with the exception of some lingering headaches. Emotionally, it is still rough when things are quiet and I'm alone but DaHubby's been beyond awesome at picking up the slack and picking me up on the bad days.

We've also been incredibly blessed this week by participating in a nearby revival at our Spanish-speaking sister church. And, have I mentioned before I'm uni-lingual? LOL It's been AWESOME regardless! And, the peace and healing gained from this suprising-at-least-to-me source is an example of God's amazing power.

And, there's an accumulating mountain of new challenges before us. DaHubby begins full-time school while still working full time in less than two weeks. He will be doing this for the next 6 semesters and will complete his training in May 2010.

And, I'm starting up our preschool homeschool again as DaHubby starts his first week of class. Flicka and I will be making some final choices today to order remaining curriculum over the weekend as DaHubby installs another two replacement windows for winter and I can a large plastic grocery bag of peaches. Oh, and did I mention that the garden's carrots are over an inch in diameter and I have 6-8 tomato plants nearly falling over with almost-ready-to-can goodness?

I guess I'm saying all this to say this: thank you to everyone who continued to check on us, pray for us, call us, come to see us, and offered help. We're doing better and we're on the mend!

A submission

My mom forwarded me an email address from the newspaper in the town where I grew up. A staff person there was looking for recollections about a camp that the city ran when I was young that is celebrating its 60th anniversary. I just submitted this for possible publication for a special remembrance page of the city's web site.

One of the first perks my mother discovered as a new City of Dearborn employee in 1976 was the resident discount for Camp Dearborn Youth Camp. As a newly-divorced, single mom, it was a godsend. Little did she know how sending me that summer would change my life.

That first summer I met a young girl named Lisa B****. We were 8. We probably never would have met otherwise as she was in DHS territory while I was destined to be a Thunderbird as my parents had been.

Being from different sides of the proverbial tracks proved difficult as Lisa and I got older. The schoolyard battle reached its height when, after seven summers spent together, our friendship and playful rivalry was captured in our final camper photo taken by some now-unremembered counselor. We stood next to each other - me in an Edsel Ford athletic sweatshirt and Lisa in a DHS gymnastics sweatshirt - clowning for the camera. This photo still means more to me than I could ever explain.

It means even more knowing that not only did we spend 7 summers as campers together but proceeded to spend the next three summers as staff together at Youth Camp. And, then even more summers while we were in college wearing pink shirts, green shirts, and red shirts in lower camp! I ended up spending thirteen summers out there and only one was without Lisa. We made up for it by each of us spending our final year at Michigan State rooming together.

I know it’s no longer there but I remember that there was a H-shaped dock in the lake that Youth Camp used for swimming. On the center section that faced out into the deep area was a spot where Lisa and I made our mark: we etched 12 slashes into the wood to represent those initial years of our friendship.

And, I say initial years because as of 2006, Lisa B**** (now Lisa F****) and I have been friends for over 30 years. She is the big sister this only child ever had. She's walked through some of the toughest times of my life during my single years. And, despite now living many miles apart, each of us has been blessed since then to be at the other's wedding as well as the other's baby shower. Between the two of us, we've brought four babies into this world. And, I have another on the way. And, you can bet that each one of them will know about the legacy and the friendships that Camp Dearborn has brought into our lives. I cannot conceive of what my life would have been like if I had not gone to Youth Camp that one summer in 1976.

Guess where WE had church today!?

On our new property!!

...the first Sunday morning service, the first communion, the first offering...to God be the glory!

A Promise Update

I spoke here two weeks ago about our church's new property and how we're working as a church family to get it cleared for a new building. Well, we went at it again last night! LOL And, DaHubby took another one of panoramic aka "stitched" shots like this one.

The one he took one last night was of the group praying for the property and God's will for it and our future. Came out pretty good - if I do say so myself! LOL


The full size photo is h-u-g-e but if you are interested in seeing it, go here.

I met someone IRL!

I met a bloggy mom unexpectedly tonight! Talk about a small world!

I joined The Homeschool Lounge a month or so ago. One of the perks was finding a Michigan homeschoolers group within the Lounge. I was delighted to find someone who was from the area in which I reside and made initial attempts to be friendly - eventually suggesting that we meet some place "neutral" so we could meet and our kids could play.

We lost track of each other as our busy momma lives have led us off on daily "bunny trails" but I was thinking of her this morning as I had been marking our family calendar with all the festivals, carnivals, and activities going on in Berrien County this summer. How cool would it be to meet her at one of the free events this summer?

Well, I didn't have to wait that long...DaHubby, the Vikings, and I went to a youth concert at a local church tonight where two of the young men who play in our praise and worship band were performing with their own band. How sweet it was to see not only us "old guys" but our pastor, two of our elders, my in-laws, and several other of my church family show up to cheer these two guys on!

As I'm waiting for the music to start, I see a *really* big weightlifter guy walk in and immediately recognized his wife! It was Shawnna from The Homeschool Lounge! Her hubby and she are part of a ministry which reach out to youth and other people groups through "shows" demonstrating their physical and eventually spiritual strength.

Then, we realized that her hubby, Scott, works with the father of one of the young men we came to see. That father was the one DaHubby traveled to Tennessee with last weekend. And, Shawnna's hubby and that father work together locally! Plus, Scott knows the pastor of another local church where our pastor's son-in-law in the outreach/evangelism coordinator!

Christ's Kingdom...far and wide....or right next door! How cool it is to be part of the body of Christ!? Amen!

...and a Monday promise

I wish I could explain the feeling...those of you who have been part of a church which has outgrown in current home, which has bought additional land, and which needs to envision all that is possible and what God's will for our congregation and this little piece of dirt! LOL

God's hand was all over the purchase of this piece of property just a hop, skip, and a jump from our current church home. The house was originally built by the grandparents of one of our current deacons and currently a single gentleman is living there who is in charge of our missions program and our recovery ministry.

Last fall, DaGrandpa, who was also a large machine operator in addition to being a pastor, got to knock over several acres of trees with some rented equipment...a bulldozer I believe. Now, comes the job of clearing all that brush and fallen trees. And, we started to make a dent last night!

Several guys (including DaHubby) met with their chainsaws yesterday afternoon and got to work! Others came off and on over the afternoon to fellowship and to cheer the workers on. Then, around 6pm which is our usual Sunday meeting time, we all settled into lawn chairs, sang several songs, and prayed over the four corners of this property which we hope will glorify God!

Afterwards, there's was a little fun to be had as well. (These are the parents of the really fun family I mentioned here. They make me laugh and not take parenting too seriously...and their kids aren't too bad either! *wink*)

A great night to remember God's promise and get charged up to serve Him and expand the Kingdom!

Wanna see a miracle?

I got PROOF! LOL

Remember my church elder who fell off the roof?

Remember this post a week later...he immediately clung to his belief in God and said "All Ahead Full"

This is the man who broke THREE vertebrae and damaged his spinal cord...the man who couldn't move anything below his waist...and yet told the hospital staff: "...we better get working. In 6 weeks, I'm WALKING out of here!"

It has been 18 weeks and look at this! (Short but so so SO sweet!)

Acts 8:7: "...and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed."

PRAISE HIM!

YEA!

Debbie's back!!!!

She's afraid she has no friends left in blogland. If you know of Debbie, please, please, PLEASE stop by and say WELCOME BACK!!!

A Debut and a Purge!

One of my new bloggy friends was recently asked to join the Christian Women Online blog as a contributor. Today is her debut. If you have a sec, stop by and say hi! She did a heck of a job!

And, if Laura's post wasn't enough of a New Year's kick start, try Shannon's! LOL She's starting a new movement! LOL A year of less stuff!

A year ago last week...

...I began the transfer of all my old posts from Faithprints to Blogger. Lisa, Sara, Anita, Debbie, Marilee - can you believe it? A YEAR! So happy Blogger anniversary to us all!

And, I just noticed while logging in the last couple days that I am up to FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY posts! *stunned silence* How did THAT happen? LOL

Must be my big bloggy blabbermouth! LOL

The last year has been amazing, transforming, uplifting, affirming, delightful, and many equally cool things thanks to the ladies listed above along with several others who have been "bloggy mentors", who had gotten here first and showed me the way. Kelly, GiBee, Peach, Laurel, Kari, and others...thank you as well!

My world is better for having "met" all of you!

A Published Author

Our church is fortunate to have several pastors present in the congregation. Yet, we are still a pretty small church. We have the couple actually called to us - Pastor Don and Pastor Deb. Then, Pastor T has retired from the ministry at our church and is our pastor emeritus. Then, there are others who are certified pastors (from our organization as well as others) who call our little congregation their church home and step in occasionally to minister when the need arises like DaGrandpa. Another of these is Pastor Harold.

Pastor Harold and I share a fondness for books and have both dreamed of being paid for what we write. By God's grace, provision, and guidance, he achieved this dream first! Directly below our picture in the right column is a new button showing the full cover of Pastor Harold's first book! He's really "arrived" - it's listed on Amazon! Wow! LOL

Please feel free to check it out. Search for the title via my Amazon associates link directly under that button which should you decide to purchase it would provide me with a very small percentage of the sale!

Tack själv! (Thanks!)

What Black Friday? How 'bout a WHITE Friday?

What we woke up to today...

The joys of lake effect snow! LOL Forty minutes east of here - NOTHING! *wink* I know Anita
will understand. LOL

Thank you...

Laurel
Anita
Jules
Anita
Marilee
Anita (again! *wink*)
Kathryn
Carmen
Amy
Debbie
Jessie
Anita (I'm seein' a pattern here!)
Laura
Jessie
Debbie
Mert
Jessie (another constant encourager)
GiBee
Kelly
Karen
Anita
Jessie
Lynn
Kathy
Jillian
Sara
Kari
Lisa
Anita
Sara

Those names represent emails from the last five months that I have squirreled away in my Outlook folders that have made me smile, made me blush due to the praise, and made me feel lifted up by your words.

Despite feeling like I've been falling behind, slacking somewhere, or too overwhelmed to respond, you all have been a source of blessing for me. When I lose my perspective and my focus from Him, you all set me back on the right track - looking up and then out!

Thank you.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig!

Well, Flicka and I got home safely from our 11 hour round trip whirlwind to northern Michigan. We were visiting my girlfriend of 30+ years and her two daughters, C and M. As usual, she was a wonderful hostess, her home comfortable, her meals fantastic, and her children polite. While I'm not ready to consider juggling working full time like her, she is my idol for mommyhood and teacher-hood! LOL

And, for the first time ever, I actually filled the memory card in our digital camera! LOL So here are a few...

M driving (at a very low gear) with Flicka and C along for the ride Friday night!

We went to the nearby city's park...right on Lake Huron!

My girlfriend's rule for her daughters: if you can catch a seagull, you can take it home! LOL Thus, the chasing ensued! Gulls 1, Girls 0 *wink*
Fearless Flicka climbing to the top of a retired lighthouse.

And, why they would have had stockades at a lighthouse....we're not sure.

Throwing rocks into Lake Huron.
Rocky beaches are a BIG difference to our Lake Michigan sand!
Flicka and Mom and the top of ANOTHER lighthouse a little farther down the coast!
She and I were the only ones brave crazy enough to climb all 100+ steps of winding staircase AND go out on the catwalk into the wind! LOL
And, of course, LOTS of bike riding!

We had a wonderful time! The drive was tough on both of us (my back and her patience) so we're taking a day off from everything including homeschooling. We've been playing most of the morning (Pojke really missed both of us A LOT! LOL) and we will be going to head to the park in a bit.

It's good to be home!

Say a little prayer...

...tomorrow (Sunday) morning around 11am EDT because I'll be singing this song as a tribute to Heather (who blogged today by HERSELF 48 hrs after BRAIN SURGERY - PRAISE GOD!) and to hopefully encourage someone in attendence tomorrow. Despite feeling led to do this, I'm still nervous and self-conscious. Pray...a lot! *wink*

Today for Heather

How appropriate that today is the National Day of Prayer!

Today - and possibly at the very minute you are reading this - Heather may be undergoing life-saving brain surgery for what was originally thought to be inoperable brain cancer. This woman has been on my mind and heart constantly the last week or so as I watch and read her blog in awesome wonder how her amazing faith is being walked out through this challenge. If you could, take a moment and lift her up to the Lord today.

Also, Heather seems to have a particularly soft heart for praise music and and a gift for singing. She posts videos of songs that inspire her over the last few weeks. This particular song that she posted on April 19th gripped my heart and will not let me go. So, I asked my pastor last night if he would consider allowing me the honor to sing it as a special after praise and worship this Sunday or next Sunday. I do it because I feel compelled. And, it's a tribute to Heather, her faith, and the Lord we share. But, I'm also hoping that her story and this song will touch someone at this point unknown to me in my church family who may be struggling with something.

Father God, may Heather's doctors find NOTHING to remove or, if they do, that Your will be done and may it be the best possible outcome for Heather and her family. Whatever happens: all for Your glory, Lord!

From an angel on earth...

is the only way to explain how her words, her writing today, and her choice of scripture could make so many moms of little ones cry so much in one day! LOL God bless you, Shannon! In the kindest, most bloggy way, you are my mentor and my idol! (((hugs)))