Wow! I can't believe that 2008 is drawing to a close. It's funny to me that as a child it seemed to take forever for Christmas to get here but the older I get the faster Christmas rolls around each year.
2008 has been a good year filled with blessings from God on high.
January - Jarrod and I prepared for our mission trip to Mexico. The excitement was building as we completed our fundraising efforts and travel plans.
February - A group of us from New Life, including myself and Jarrod, traveled to Mexico with Faith and Works on a mission trip. This was my second trip and Jarrod's first. What an awesome opportunity! God touched my life in so many ways during this trip. We also began Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at church. This program has been such a blessing to us and I am so thankful for the lessons we've learned and applied to our lives through Dave's program.
March - I spent March in the whirlwind of tax season. I'm thankful that God has given me a skill that I can use to help provide for my family and I'm thankful for my job. Especially in these tough economic times.
April - We were saddened by the sudden loss of Darren's cousin, Stephanie. It's so important for us to remember that God doesn't promise us another day, or even another hour. Life is so fleeting. Spend it doing the things that really matter....spend it in the service of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Also, Jacob turned 9 years old. He is growing up so fast!
May - Darren and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. We have officially spent half of our lives together. I'm so thankful for the man God blessed me with and look forward to growing old with him! We were also especially thankful that my brother-in-law made it home safely from his one year tour of duty in Iraq and we are grateful to God for protecting him from harm.
June - Gospel Man & Bible Boy consumed much of our June. We were busy filming videos starring our two heroes for Vacation Bible School. We also spent a weekend at Sugarloaf Family Camp where a bunch of us from New Life took care of the children's program.
July - What a busy month! Camp and Vacation Bible School. I pray that we we're able to touch the lives of lots of kids and plant seeds of salvation through our efforts.
August - Darren and I made a solo trip to Delmarva, Deleware to preach at Delmarva Family Camp. We really enjoyed ourselves and are looking forward to returning in a couple of years. This was the first trip we had taken without the kids since Jarrod was about 1 year old! Also of note this month was the beginning of school. My firstborn began his freshman year at Fleming County High School. Wow, where does the time go?
September - Amy and I began our weekly Bible study. We talked about doing this while we were in Mexico together but it took us until now to get around to it. This study and our fellowship has become one of the things I look forward to most each week. I'm so thankful for Amy and our friendship.
October - We began another season of Bible Bowl and both of our teams had good results at our first round robin. It was great to see the kids so excited about what they had accomplished. My baby turned 4 this month. I can't believe 4 years have come and gone since Noah came into my life. Thoughts of him can always bring a smile to my face.
November - We kicked off our new women's group at church. Ladies 2for2 is a ministry striving to fulfill the mission and promises of Acts 2:42-47. I am so excited to see what God has planned for New Life through this wonderful group of ladies. Also, Jarrod turned 15! 365 days and counting until the dreaded driver's permit!
December - We presented two performances of "Hallelujah! Jesus is Born!" at church. This was our first attempt at a musical during our time at New Life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and we didn't sound half bad if I do say so myself. I hope our program brought glory to God. We enjoyed Christmas with both sides of our family and at home. It was so nice to be with everyone and to see loved ones that live away.
As I look back over the year I see so many things to praise God for. Health, home, family, friends, jobs, and opportunities to serve. God is so good! I look forward to seeing what God has in store for us in the coming year and I pray that He uses us in a big way!
Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year! May God bless and keep you all!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Our Example
Lately at New Life we've been heavily involved in a big push toward evangelism. We started several months ago going through a Bible study called First Principles and we currently have 3 groups meeting and 1 more beginning in January. Darren and I are involved in one of the groups on Tuesday nights. Jarrod always stays home and keeps Jacob and Noah while we go to the study. I didn't know it but apparently Noah is very aware of where we are and what we are doing on Tuesday evenings.
Yesterday was my day off and Noah and I went to church to pick Darren up and go to lunch at his mother's house. Before we left the house, Noah told me to wait and ran back into his room to get his "My First Bible." He told me he needed to take his Bible because he was going to have a Bible study. I asked him who he was going to have a Bible study with and he said, "Daddy." I said, "Oh, so Daddy is going to teach you about the Bible?" He said, "No. I'm going to teach Daddy." I started laughing and said, "So you think you know more than Daddy?" He said, "Yes." So I said, "Tell me everything you know about the Bible." He looked at me and said, "Jesus is Lord!"
I guess that pretty much sums it up, huh? It's amazing what little ones pick up on. What a wonderful reminder to be mindful of the example we are setting for the little eyes and ears that watch and listen so closely to our lives.
Yesterday was my day off and Noah and I went to church to pick Darren up and go to lunch at his mother's house. Before we left the house, Noah told me to wait and ran back into his room to get his "My First Bible." He told me he needed to take his Bible because he was going to have a Bible study. I asked him who he was going to have a Bible study with and he said, "Daddy." I said, "Oh, so Daddy is going to teach you about the Bible?" He said, "No. I'm going to teach Daddy." I started laughing and said, "So you think you know more than Daddy?" He said, "Yes." So I said, "Tell me everything you know about the Bible." He looked at me and said, "Jesus is Lord!"
I guess that pretty much sums it up, huh? It's amazing what little ones pick up on. What a wonderful reminder to be mindful of the example we are setting for the little eyes and ears that watch and listen so closely to our lives.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Ladies 2for2
I think I had mentioned in a prior post that I had been working on getting a new women's ministry group started at New Life. Well.....we are underway! We kicked off "Ladies 2for2" Monday evening at the church with 30 ladies present!
"Ladies 2for2" is a ministry based on the principles found in Acts 2:42 (hence Ladies 2for2). We are women, individually and as a group (2), devoted to caring for the needs of one another and our community (2). Our vision for this ministry is to become an outreach group for our congregation and community. Our hope is to fulfill the mission and promise of Acts 2:42-47 by focusing on things of Christ and the needs of others. Specifically, it is our desire to minister to members of our local congregation and community by showing them the love of Christ through our words and actions.
Everyone who attended was receptive and seemed to be excited by the prospect of working together toward a common goal for service to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Personally, I'm just so darn excited I could explode! I think this was a huge area of need for New Life and I can't wait to see how God will use us in the year to come!
Lord, please bless our efforts as we strive to do your will. Help us to remove the focus from ourselves and fix our eyes on You through service to others.
"Ladies 2for2" is a ministry based on the principles found in Acts 2:42 (hence Ladies 2for2). We are women, individually and as a group (2), devoted to caring for the needs of one another and our community (2). Our vision for this ministry is to become an outreach group for our congregation and community. Our hope is to fulfill the mission and promise of Acts 2:42-47 by focusing on things of Christ and the needs of others. Specifically, it is our desire to minister to members of our local congregation and community by showing them the love of Christ through our words and actions.
Everyone who attended was receptive and seemed to be excited by the prospect of working together toward a common goal for service to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Personally, I'm just so darn excited I could explode! I think this was a huge area of need for New Life and I can't wait to see how God will use us in the year to come!
Lord, please bless our efforts as we strive to do your will. Help us to remove the focus from ourselves and fix our eyes on You through service to others.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
We go together like......
Last Tuesday was my birthday. My boss was gone so I took off work and stayed home with Noah. I spent most of the day in bed sick so it wasn't much fun. At one point I was lying in bed and Noah came and climbed in with me. He stretched out on top of me and said, "Mommy, you're a hotdog and I'm the bun." Too cute!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Bible Bowl Opening Day
Yesterday was our first Bible Bowl competition of the 2008-09 year. We have one senior division team and one beginner team this year. Our senior team is made up of Dylan Bjorklund, Jarrod Fizer, Dustin Flora, Hannah Pollitt and Maggie Pollitt and the beginner team is Jacob Fizer and Nate Watkins.
The senior team did well. They finished the day with a 4 - 2 record. And as always we are proud of them. But they've tasted victory before while the poor beginner team has always played with a lot of heart but never known success. Yesterday, our beginner team tied for 2nd based on their 5 - 2 record and finished 3rd based on their point total for the day. It's the first time they've ever placed. Nate and Jacob weren't really paying attention to what was going on, not expecting anything, and when they announced it Nate gasped and grabbed Jacob and yelled, "Jacob that's us! That's you and me!" They were so excited.
Also, prior to each meet every kid takes a written test over the material they've studied for the month. Jacob historically has never done well on the tests. He hates them and never applies himself. He actually usually ends up turning them in mostly blank. I think the highest he has ever scored is like 13. But yesterday he got 56 out of 67 correct! I was so proud I almost cried! It was a real confidence booster for him. Way to go, Jacob!
The senior team did well. They finished the day with a 4 - 2 record. And as always we are proud of them. But they've tasted victory before while the poor beginner team has always played with a lot of heart but never known success. Yesterday, our beginner team tied for 2nd based on their 5 - 2 record and finished 3rd based on their point total for the day. It's the first time they've ever placed. Nate and Jacob weren't really paying attention to what was going on, not expecting anything, and when they announced it Nate gasped and grabbed Jacob and yelled, "Jacob that's us! That's you and me!" They were so excited.
Also, prior to each meet every kid takes a written test over the material they've studied for the month. Jacob historically has never done well on the tests. He hates them and never applies himself. He actually usually ends up turning them in mostly blank. I think the highest he has ever scored is like 13. But yesterday he got 56 out of 67 correct! I was so proud I almost cried! It was a real confidence booster for him. Way to go, Jacob!
Cassanova & the Cat Fight
Noah is a boy of many faces. We call him many things around our home. Some in love, some in jest, and others, well others in pure frustration. One of his popular nicknames as of late around our house has been "Destructo." That child can come into a room and within 10 minutes it looks like a war zone. Another frequently heard one is "Clepto." He likes stuff. Any kind of stuff. Stuff to play with. Stuff to eat. Stuff to work with. All kinds of stuff. If he sees stuff he likes, he takes it. Doesn't matter if it's his stuff or not. He takes it and hides it in his room. The latest nickname though is "Cassanova." Noah is in love. Call it puppy love or preschool love, or maybe even forbidden love since we're talking abount a preacher's son and an elder's daughter. Call it whatever you want, but he's in LOVE. We're talking huggin', kissin', hidin' out in dark rooms alone LOVE. He's got a real thing for Kaela and it would appear that the feeling is pretty mutual from what I can tell.But alas, in finding this new love, he has cast aside his summer love, Karlee. If what happened in Sunday School class yesterday is any indication, Karlee is not liking her new role as the jilted woman very well. It went something like this:
KARLEE (to Kaela who was hiding under the table with Noah): I hate you!
ME: Wait a minute. We don't hate anybody. You guys need to play together.
KARLEE: But she's stealin' my boyfriend.
KAELA: He's not your boyfriend. He's my boyfriend!
KARLEE: He was with me last night! (He wasn't. I'm not sure where that came from)
KAELA: We're gonna' get married and live here forever and ever!
At this point Karlee goes over and kisses Noah (who is standing quietly beside Kaela) on the cheek.
KARLEE (looking at Kaela): I kissed him!
KAELA: He's my boyfriend!
By this time I was laughing so hard I was nearly crying. I would have given anything to have had a video camera. And from what I understand from the nursery staff, the same kind of exchange went on all through church as well. Of course, for those of you who don't know, you have to understand that Kaela is 4, Noah is almost 4 (next week), and Karlee is 3. I don't remember my other two ever behaving like this at this age. I guess it's true that they start younger all the time.
But every player has to pay the piper at some point. Kaela was home sick from church last night with a fever. With all the kissin' that's been going on I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Noah catches the bug....and I'm not talking about the LOVE BUG!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
So that's where it comes from!
Noah has just been full of it lately. He has said and done some of the funniest things. I have to share his latest but first I must post a warning (fine print) for the squeamish:
WARNING: This post contains references to bodily functions. If the thought of this brings on waves of nausea and/or fainting spells, please click away from this blog. The writer is not responsible for injuries/illness sustained by those who choose to read on.
Okay, here we go. Night before last after putting Noah to bed he got up wanting a drink of water. He came into the kitchen and got a big glass and filled it completely full. Seeing this, and thinking about the ramifications, I quickly took the glass from him and said, "Oh no. You're not drinking all that. You'll pee the bed for sure if you do." He looked at me for a minute with a puzzled look on his face and then he said, "You mean that water makes pee in me?" I said, "Yes. When you drink something it turns into pee later." He studied for a little while longer and then he said, "Well then, what does poop do?" Trying to keep a straight face, I said, "The food you eat turns into poop." He nodded his head, grabbed the glass and took a drink, handed it back to me and headed back to bed. Halfway across the room, he turned back around and just as serious as could be, he said, "I did not know that." and then trotted off to bed. He sounded so serious and grown up that I couldn't help from laughing. You could almost see the wheels turning in his little head and see him putting it all together.
He certainly is a cracker jack.
WARNING: This post contains references to bodily functions. If the thought of this brings on waves of nausea and/or fainting spells, please click away from this blog. The writer is not responsible for injuries/illness sustained by those who choose to read on.
Okay, here we go. Night before last after putting Noah to bed he got up wanting a drink of water. He came into the kitchen and got a big glass and filled it completely full. Seeing this, and thinking about the ramifications, I quickly took the glass from him and said, "Oh no. You're not drinking all that. You'll pee the bed for sure if you do." He looked at me for a minute with a puzzled look on his face and then he said, "You mean that water makes pee in me?" I said, "Yes. When you drink something it turns into pee later." He studied for a little while longer and then he said, "Well then, what does poop do?" Trying to keep a straight face, I said, "The food you eat turns into poop." He nodded his head, grabbed the glass and took a drink, handed it back to me and headed back to bed. Halfway across the room, he turned back around and just as serious as could be, he said, "I did not know that." and then trotted off to bed. He sounded so serious and grown up that I couldn't help from laughing. You could almost see the wheels turning in his little head and see him putting it all together.
He certainly is a cracker jack.
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