Catching Up

Well, here I am again....behind. I always have the best intentions but I never actually get around to updating my blog. I realized when I looked at my blog and saw that subject of my last post that some of you may have been thinking that VBS was so bad that I never recovered....so, I thought I better get everyone caught up.

We did survive VBS. We averaged 96 kids and 50 adults each night which was less than we hoped for, but not at all bad considering that there were 5 other VBS programs going on the same week. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we're working on putting together a Sunday night program similar to VBS so that we can hopefully draw some of the kids we had back with us.

Darren's mom had knee surgery on the 4th of August. She spent about 20 days in the hospital but is recovering at home right now. She's done remarkably well but we've spent a lot of time back and forth between home and the hospital, and now her house, trying to do things for her. Oh, and we dog sat her little house dog Angel until this past weekend. Noah really loved having Angel with us and she really is the best little dog. I'm not sure Angel loved spending time with Noah as much as he enjoyed playing with her but at least she tolerated him. He didn't want to send her home and even tried to convince us that "Angel" ran away and that the dog at our house was actually his new dog "Jennifer" so he could keep her.

The kids went back to school on the 19th. Jarrod started his freshman year at Fleming County High School and Jacob started 4th grade and Flemingsburg Elementary. Jacob likes his teachers and loves changing classes (which is new for him this year). He seems to be adjusting well and so far is doing really well. He's becoming a different kid right before me eyes and I like what I'm seeing. Jarrod came home the first day and said "Don't even ask. I hate it." Since then he's adjusted a little more and is settling into a routine. I think he's just not used to the whole block scheduling, rush between classes thing. He only gets to go to his locker once a day and complained that he barely had time to go to the bathroom. And of course it doesn't help that he only has one class with his girlfriend. But it's getting better day by day.

We broke ground at New Life for our classroom addition about three weeks ago, but we've hit a small snag with a changeup in our plumbing plans so they have to be resubmitted to state before the rough plumbing can be done. Sooo we're in a holding pattern for now.

Darren preached at Whitewater Family Camp in Rising Sun, Indiana a couple of weeks ago. We went up on Friday and came home on Saturday. One of the men there had heard him speak at Delmarva and asked him to come. We really enjoyed ourselves. The people were so nice and they have a beautiful facility complete with a swimming pond. We also enjoyed some great messages and teaching on unity. One of the elder's wives did a class for the women on Unity in the Home and it was very uplifting.

That brings you pretty much up to speed with what has been going on around here. Now for a couple of things coming up that I'm really excited about!

Starting this Thursday night one of my friends, Amy, and I are going to start getting together for a weekly one on one Bible study. I so need this and I am really looking forward to spending time with Amy. She is so sweet and so much fun. We're going to be doing a study about giving everything to God. We've talked about doing this since we went to Mexico together in February but we've just now been able to put it all together. I can't wait to get started!

I am taking on a new project at church which I am totally fired up about. We really don't have a ladies group at church per say and I think that is such a shame. God is calling me to put together a bi-weekly ladies Bible study group. This has been bearing on my heart for some time now. We are blessed with such a diverse group of women at New Life. I believe that there is so much that we can learn from one another. I really want to put together a group of women with a zeal for God and hearts for service toward others. Please keep this project in your prayers as we work to get it up and running.

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention that we are starting Bible Bowl again. We've done a few fundraisers and ordered our materials. The older ones have started practicing and I guess I'll start with the beginners this week. Now, mind you this isn't something I'm looking forward to, but it is a big part of my life for about 8 months of the year. And I have to admit that it really is a great learning tool, even for me.

Well, now you know all the recent and upcoming events. I'll try not to get so behind in the future...but I can't promise anything!