WHEW!

So, we had an AWESOME turnout at the Easter egg hunt Saturday!  We are estimating around 1000 people came!  We had a great mix of ethnicity!  Everything went so smoothly!  As one of my small group buddies said, no children were hurt, crying, or lost during any of the even so it was a TOTAL SUCCESS!!!!!!

Claude & I were discussing it and we guess that we were on our feet for close to 24 hours of the Friday/Saturday experience!!!  It was worth it!

Sunday's church was great too.  We had several families that came to the event show up at church the following morning.  We had 27 in childrens church!!!!!  It was alot of fun and HOPEFULLY, I can get some of the video from claude and put it on my blog (yea, right!!!).  

BEFRORE I FORGET(like that's even possible!)... we were given a very special blessing Saturday afternoon!  We got home from the egg hunt and took a little rest.  Then, we decided to head out and grab a bite to eat.  As we were leaving, Claude checked the mailbox for mail.  We had a thankyou card FILLED with gift cards from all over town (check out his link for details)!  I can't tell you what a nice "pick me up" that was!  So, to whoever sent us these wonderful blessings, thank you so much!  It is truly OUR BLESSING to serve and work with Discovery Church!  We love you all!

a challenging day!

I woke up this morning after a wonderful nite's sleep (which is rare for me!).  I got ready to go to the gym and work out with our trainer, Eric (7:30 was WAY TOO EARLY FOR THAT!).  I fixed myself a couple pieces of toast (with peanut butter on them! YUM!!!  and good protein for work out time too!).  Once I was done, Claude was done eating his breakfast too and he decided to "measure" himself to see how much progress he's made in the last 3 1/2 weeks.  I was so proud of him!  He's lost 5 inches around his waist!  THEN,  I did something extremely stupid...I chose to "measure" myself too.  BAD IDEA.  It appears that I haven't lost any inches around my waist.  OK, I thought to myself, maybe I measured wrong. (is that even possible?!?)  So, I measured my hips and my chest.  REALLY BAD IDEA.  They appeared to be the same too.  

So, this was how I went to the gym this morning...with the thought that I've been working so hard, 5 days a week, watching everything I eat, counting calories, eating extra protein, taking extra vitamins, and nothing.  So, I worked out (had to go to the bathroom a couple times and "compose" myself!  I know, it sounds silly.  I just felt awful and I couldn't seem to get it out of my head.  Usually, I can literally talk myself up and tell myself to not think about it and keep pushing thru.  Not this time.  I had a mental moment.  The funny thing is, the whole time I felt like crying, screaming, complaining, etc.  I kept hearing a verse in my head.  Galatians 6:9 tells us "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  OK, it's only been 3 1/2 weeks.  I still have April, May, and June to be what I want to be!  I will keep on.

So, I went home afterwards and headed out to the Pitt County Special Olympics.  Some of our small group had volunteered to help and I was looking forward to this!!  It was fun!  The only thing that wasn't fun was how cold it was.  The day was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. However, the wind was ridiculously cold.  I had a long sleeve shirt on and the Olympics shirt on over it, but I was freezing.  I left there this afternoon feeling like I would never be able to warm up.  I came home, Claude built a fire for me and I bundled up in my rope, blankets, and 2 pairs of socks!  I fell asleep and woke up feeling kinda light-headed.  I hope I didn't do something dumb and catch a cold because of it.  

Tomorrow, I will continue to do what I need to do.  I know in my head that it's gonna take time, but I will keep having to remind my heart!  Thank you Lord, for reminding me that in You, I can do ALL things!

It's been awhile!

OK, so I admit that I am NOT a great blogger!  I was talking with my wonderful husband at dinner tonight about the fact that I'm not very sure of what exactly my gifts are, but I KNOW they are not techy stuff and blogging!  

Now, about my wonderful husband...I am so proud of him!  It's been quite busy around here with the big Easter Egg Hunt, Crosslink, The ROCK, graphics for church, etc.  He just keeps going and going (like the energizer bunny!!!).  He's been sick this last week and it's just now going away.  Claude calls it the "phlemy stage"!  I'm just happy that he's feeling better.  I hate having to watch him be miserable and not be able to do anythng to help him.  

Anyway, he's a blessing to me as well as so many others!  I'm so honored to be his wife.  I don't think I tell him enough just how much I love him and respect him.  I see so many ladies come and go that love their husbands, but it's hard for them to respect them because they are not men of integrity.  It makes me realize how blessed I am to have a husband who puts God first, then me, then his job.  Now, that might sound strange since his job is the ministry.  But, I've learned from very wise women (and men!) that God calls men to be husbands and spiritual leaders in their OWN HOME before they can be leaders in their church.  Claude does that!  He is my hero and I am so proud to belong to him!  

So, to my friends and family members, take a look at your spouse.  Do they reflect what God calls them to be in your relationship and in your home!  I hope so!

NOT MY FORTE'

I was so excited about this blog because I've been videoing the last couple of days worth of events (which is why I haven't blogged!).  I got the little video camera I bought Claude for Christmas and "downloaded" the video clips from the camera onto iPhoto...

NOTHING!  I mean, the sound is there, but no video!  I am SO NOT A TECHY PERSON!  

And, to top it off, I can't just run into the next room and ask my EVER SO TECHY HUSBAND to help, because he's at staff meeting.  If you only  knew the annoyance I feel right now!!!!!  I'm bummed!  

Anyway, as soon as I get my wonderful husband home, he can show me what I did wrong and then I will blog AGAIN with the videos! (hopefully!)

(you can't see me right now, but I am sticking my tongue out at the little camera!!!!!!!)

Time is a precious gift

"What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it."

This quote is from "A New Day" by Heartsill Wilson

I am going thru a Bible study with the youth girls called Smart Girls Think Twice.  This week's study was about time management.  Now, I've never been bad about the way I spend my time.  I'm pretty good at setting lists in place to help me get as much accomplished in a day that I can.  However, this week with the fasting from outside influences (see prior blog),  I have found several things out about myself.  

#1 I have a hard time sitting still for any extended period of time (unless I have a really good book!  BTW, Thanks to Bama for lending me the 3rd book of the Twilight series, which I finished in 2 days.)  Now, my mom has told me this on several occasions, but I just figured that she's being mom and well, you know, sometimes you don't really LISTEN to what moms say!  (YES, I admit that freely!)  I don't know that this is good for me, to be all GO! GO! GO! so much.  It's just my nature to need to be doing something.  So, this fast is making me take a look at sitting and "being still".  I hear my mom's voice in my head quoting scripture: "Be still, and know that I am God".  OK, I DID LISTEN TO MY MOM FOR THAT ONE!

#2 I get bored easily!  I caught myself being bored at the Lord's Supper last Sunday.  Now, before you go off thinking that I'm a terrible person, I was bored during the "game" that Jason makes us play in order to determine which tables go first for the food.  I ended up reading a bit while waiting for our turn to get in line!!!!  I'm not sure why I bore easily.  I'm actually self entertaining for the most part. (Wait a minute!  Does that mean that I'm a boring person because I bore myself?!?) I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it is what it is!

#3 I miss it when I don't get to spend time in the day with Claude.  Now, I know we're an "old married couple" (as our youth are always reminding us!).  But, I really enjoy hanging out with him more than anyone else.  He's fun and he finds me interesting!  For example, tonight, we lit a fire in the fireplace and then we played Texas Hold'Em poker on the floor.  I LOST.  but, we still had alot of fun!  I think God smiles on us when we enjoy each other the way He intended us to!  

Well, that's all for now.  

A VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO OUR FRIENDS, RANDY & LACI STRICKLAND!  

We love you guys!

I know, I know, it's been awhile!

Sorry for the long time between blogs!  I've had some fun things going on so it's been busy!

My parents came to visit for 2 whole weeks!  It was so much fun!  I got to cook for them and just hang out with them.  I told my Mom that it was so nice to "have them all to myself"!  I love my family in FL, but it's nice to just hang out with my Mom and Dad!  My mom and I went to a scrapbooking night and a cardmaking class together.  We went to Raleigh twice!  We went to New Bern with them so they could visit with Claude's mom.  We moved my stuff from my upstairs loft to the table downstairs and made cards all day!  (THAT WAS A BLAST!)  My Dad loves watching game shows, so I hung out and watched them with him!  (Claude doesn't care for game shows so he won't sit and watch them with me!)

Claude planned a special Valentines Day for us.  It was so wonderful just to BE together!  I loved the park and the beach especially.  We get so busy with stuff in our lives, that we forget how precious our time together is.  We are never guaranteed another day, so I'm gonna try to make the most of the moments we can "steal"!

We got a new puppy.  Everyone knows about Bruno!  He's either going to be the death of me or the character building technique God uses in my life!  Right now, it's leaning towards the 2nd.  Claude has been doing great at cleaning up after him...except for the occasional drinking out of the water dish that is INSIDE the house.  Bruno is a DROOLER!  His drool makes for a pond!  He's definitely an interesting addition to the family!

Claude and I are on a fast of sorts.  We have cut out any TV, radio, and internet for the week.  WAIT A MINUTE!!!  I'm on the internet now, you say!!!  Well, blogging and emails or any communication that would affect church work is allowed!  After all, the ministry pays Claude and that wouldn't be very good stewardship if we cut ourselves off of ANY communication! (Not to mention, Jason would go crazy if he couldn't text, call, or email at least ONE OF US for a whole week!!!)

I'm enjoying the way it allows me to concentrate and meditate more on God.  I've been able to get into His Word more.  I've been reading a book with the teen girls called Smart Girls Think Twice, and it's been nice to pace myself with it!  I'd love to just sit outside in the swing and enjoy quiet time with God, but it's a little too cold right now!  Maybe later on in the week!!!

So, all in all, it's been great this past month.  I've been hearing God's voice prompting me to step out more on faith and I'm praying for courage and faith to do that.  

Thank you to all that read my blog!  I'm not that interesting of a person, but it's nice to have my thoughts heard by people.  Hopefully, it makes an impact on someone!

Just another thought

Claude made the comment yesterday how you could tell which houses had children living in them because the snow in the yards were all trampled and played in.

Funny thing is...our yard was the worst one on our block!