Christmas #4

While we were in Florida, Claude & I were heavily involved in the AWANA clubs. Claude was the AWANA Commander at our church & I was director of the 5th-6th grade girls.

We loved this ministry because we saw what a huge impact it made on kids!

After a few years of helping out with the ministry in Central Florida, the AWANA missionaries, Jim & Tara Lambeth, asked us if we would like to join the missionary team! We, of course, said YES!!!

Jim & Tara had an opportunity to go on a missions trip to India one year. They brought back this ornament. I just find it so pretty and, to know that it came all the way from India, is just neat!

Christmas #3

When we were in Florida, we became friends with a couple that, I must say, I NEVER SAW MYSELF being friends with! He was always so full of Biblical knowledge and so "deep" and she SEEMED like the submissive sweet wife!

Well, I was wrong! About a great many things when it came to this couple!

Todd & Diona Boyle are a unique couple. He actually IS very spiritual and deep. But, not in a pious or fake way. He truly loves the Lord and loves sharing what he's learned about Jesus with anyone who will listen! He's a kind and thoughtful man and I know Claude loved hanging out with him!

Diona...what can I say about her?!? We are ALOT more alike than I ever dreamed possible! Sweet...yes! Submissive...yes! But, definitely the feisty, stubborn one of the two! She was my "partner in crime"! Our motto was always "better to ask forgiveness, than permission"!!! You laugh, but we got ALOT more accomplished when we went with our guts than when we waited on the committees and red tape that sometimes go with Southern Baptist churches!!! I love her! She was the brains and I was the brawn! She'd have these brilliant ideas and it was my job to make sure that they happened!

For the entire time we've ever worked in childrens church, they have been the ONLY couple that was in there all the time with us. We've never had any other 2 people dedicate their time and their chance at sitting in a service to the childrens ministry!

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that they gave this ornament to us the year before we moved. It means so much to me bcause everytime I pull it out and hang it on the tree, I remember them and how much they love us and pray for us!

Thank U Todd & Diona! We will always love U and ur family more than we can say!

No ornament today...

I am having some difficulty getting my picture uploaded, so I decided to put something else on!

I was looking at animal videos on youtube and thought this was soooooo adorable! Hope u enjoy it!

I love Christmas #2

Claude didn't really see much need to put up a Christmas tree and decorate the house up since we won't be here for Christmas. But, somehow he understood just how much it meant to me so he pulled all the stuff out of the attic space and hauled it downstairs for me! I just adore that Man!

I love having a fake tree...I loved having a real tree. But, all in all, I love my fake tree better. It's just so convenient! When I'm ready to put it up, I don't have to go pick one out from Home Depot (NEVER LOWES!!! Got one with worms in it one year...NEVER AGAIN!). It's me, whatever works the most efficient. Besides, I got the tree 6 years ago from Walmart for $25!!! How can u beat that?!? A 7 1/2ft tree for $25 that I can use again and again!!!!!!

Anyway, I think it looks pretty real! And, I have a Yankee Candle that is evergreen/spruce scented so the house still smells like a tree is inside!

What do you think?!?

We love it!

Friends from Discovery Church gave this to us last year! Isn't it beautiful!?!

Thank U, Gar & Stacy!

"My" nativity scene! I know, I know...it looks like a child's toy. I just thought it looked so simple and yet it tells the story so beautifully!

OK, now for the ornament of the day:

This ornament is a door...the door to our new home in North Carolina, the door to a new life, the door to a new church, and the door to the new path that God gave us 4 years ago.

It symbolized so much for me that first year. I was excited, anxious, sad, happy, lonely...there were so many things happening and I just missed my family (especially during the holidays!).

God was faithful! He is still faithful! He will always be faithful!

So, the ornament means alot to me because of the MANY new doors that were opened that first year here!

I love Christmas time!

One of my favorite things to do is decorate for Christmas! It was always something we did as a family when I was growing up! Mom and Dad would get the tree up, then we'd each put ornaments all over the tree. We had lights, tinsel, ornaments, and sometimes garland!

I loved it!

Well, even though we don't have any children to pass this holiday tradition to, I want to keep doing that with my family (Claude!). So, I put the tree up and he helped with the lights. Then, I put all the ornaments that I've collected in our 15 years of marriage all over the tree!

I decided to blog ones that are special to me over the next couple of weeks.

I hope you enjoy it!

This was our very first ornament! "Our First Christmas Together - 1994".

A dear sweet lady at the job I had when I met Claude gave this to me right after we were married! A tradition I've started for myself is that THIS ormanent ALWAYS goes on the tree first!

I can't believe that throughout fifteen years of packing and unpacking, this porcelain ornament hasn't broken! It's sentimental to me because the lady who gave it to me was like a grandmother to me at work! She gave good advice, Godly counsel, and was always willing to lend an ear when I needed it! When I lost that job, she called me at home to make sure I was alright! Thank you, Clarice Harvey, for making an difference in my life!

Just another manic (poopy) Monday!

Ya ever have one of those days when you think it would've been smarter to just stay in bed?!?

So, I woke up this morning with church stuff going around in my head.  We have ALOT of things we are hoping to accomplish by the end of the year (mostly techno/financial stuff). 

I got my Bible and started reading Philippians.  I love Philippians!  It's such an enouraging book!  So, I read Philippians 4 and it talks about rejoicing in the Lord always.  Little did I know that God was gonna echo that back in my head the whole day!

So, I woke Claude up to go to the gym.  While waiting on him to get ready, I decided to put away the clean dishes out of the dishwasher.  I dropped a bowl from a top shelf and broke it all over the kitchen counter.  I didn't realize til later, but pieces of the bowl fell into the garbage disposal.  Yea, that was fun!  Apparently a piece was lodged in the disposal.  It was not pretty.  

Went to the gym and wasn't feeling well.  I think I'm trying to get sick.

Came home and realized we didn't have any milk or cereal to eat.  Made a sandwich with the last of the bread.  (Waiting for payday stinks!)

Went to work on several projects for church.  Just had a hard time focusing.  Another reason I think I'm getting sick.  

Got alot done (at least I think I did!).  Stopped around 3pm and vegged out for an hour then Claude went outside to put up my Christmas lights so I went out to help him.  

All day long, little things kept challenging me.  Things that would normally be nothing were enough to bring me to tears.  What's up with that?!?

With each thing that happened today, I kept seeing Philippians 4's words...Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.  

Thank you Lord for the good and the not so good things that come my way.  Each one of them are opportunities to rejoice in You.  So "...again, I say REJOICE"!

Blessed!

Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all the family and friends that we have across the country!  

To our friends in Florida, we miss you.  We love ya'll and feel so blessed by God for each one of you!  

To our families in Florida, we can't wait to see ya'll over the Christmas holiday!  We love you!

To our friends in Kansas, we are rich to call you our friends!  We miss you all so much!  We love you!

To our friends in North Carolina, thank you for making 2009 a truly fantastic year!  We love you!

To our Discovery Church family... words aren't enough to tell you just how much we love and appreciate you!  We praise and thank God daily for each of you and for the blessings you bring to our lives regularly!  DC ROCKS!!!!!!

We hope that you have and your families have a safe and happy day today!  Take some time out from eating turkey to reflect on all of the wonderful things in your life to be thankful for!