Well, Christmas is finally over. As I sit and reflect upon the past week I find myself experiencing mixed emotions. A part of me (a very large part, I might add) is relieved that it is finished and the pace of my life should start to even out a little. This Christmas season was the most hectic I can ever remember. We have been at a full run since before Thanksgiving. So, I will certainly not be sad to finally get to slow down and relax a little.
Another part of me is sad because my kids will never be this age again. By next year there may be one less believer in our house. Of course, that's not what Christmas is all about and the true meaning of the season is certainly stressed in our home, but all the same it saddens me that I may not see the joy and magic reflected in the eyes of another of my babies next year. Jacob is on the bubble and I feel sure that by next year his wide-eyed acceptance will have disappeared and with it will go some of the fun of Christmas morning. Of course, there's still Noah and hopefully, if the others don't spoil it for him, we still have several more years of Christmas excitement with him. He was absolutely precious this year. Everything about the season excited him...from dressing as a shepherd at the Nativity, to Santa, to the lights, to the Christmas specials on TV. We watched them all....Rudolph, "Crosty" the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Shrek the Halls and his favorite, "Snoopy" Christmas. He was especially excited on Christmas morning to find that Santa had eaten all the cookies and that the reindeer had gobbled down the "magic" reindeer food he and I scattered on the yard late Christmas Eve. He even got tears in his eyes and the little quivering chin when he opened the gift that he had most asked for, a "Nack" (Mack off the movie Cars). So sweet.
As I grow older I find myself cherishing these small moments more and more. Things I never took the time to notice before suddenly seem very important, especially as I realize that their childhoods are passing literally before my eyes and these days can never be recaptured.
I hope everyone had a joyous Christmas and enjoyed time spent with friends and loved ones. I apologize for not getting any Christmas cards or emails out. I just simply didn't have the time or energy this year. But know that just because you didn't get a card doesn't mean I wasn't thinking of you all because I certainly was. We are so blessed with a such a wonderful group of family and friends.
From our house to yours.....May you each have a wonderful, blessed New Year!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
I'm dreaming of a wet Christmas??
What is up with this weather? Has the old addage changed to "December showers bring January flowers" or what? Our yard is literally a swamp. And it looks as though there's more of the way for this weekend. Frankly, I would rather have the snow!
We have lots of festivities planned this weekend. We're kicking off tonight with a Silent Auction at the Simons Middle School cafeteria to raise money for our Mexico mission trip. We have lots of cool items for bid so be sure to come check it out. Then tomorrow morning it's off to Morehead for a Bible Bowl bake sale at Wal-Mart. And boy it sounds like the weather is just going to be nasty! But we're not finished yet. Our Live Nativity is tomorrow night and Sunday night from 6:00-9:00 p.m. We're also having soup and sandwiches in the fellowship hall and our Christmas skit, "One True Gift" will go on in the auditorium with showtimes at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30. We've worked really hard getting ready so I hope the weather doesn't spoil it. Please say a little prayer!
Hopefully after this weekend things will calm down and I'll have time to breathe and enjoy Christmas a little. We've been at a dead run since before Thanksgiving and it's beginning to wear on me. After all, I'm not a young woman anymore. With everything going on I just haven't been able to get in the Christmas spirit. I did get my tree up but I didn't decorate one thing outside or anywhere else in the house. I haven't even got the stockings hung yet! And let's not even talk about the shopping. I have no idea when I'll get that finished. I'm beginning to undertand how old Ebenezer Scrooge felt!
We have lots of festivities planned this weekend. We're kicking off tonight with a Silent Auction at the Simons Middle School cafeteria to raise money for our Mexico mission trip. We have lots of cool items for bid so be sure to come check it out. Then tomorrow morning it's off to Morehead for a Bible Bowl bake sale at Wal-Mart. And boy it sounds like the weather is just going to be nasty! But we're not finished yet. Our Live Nativity is tomorrow night and Sunday night from 6:00-9:00 p.m. We're also having soup and sandwiches in the fellowship hall and our Christmas skit, "One True Gift" will go on in the auditorium with showtimes at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30. We've worked really hard getting ready so I hope the weather doesn't spoil it. Please say a little prayer!
Hopefully after this weekend things will calm down and I'll have time to breathe and enjoy Christmas a little. We've been at a dead run since before Thanksgiving and it's beginning to wear on me. After all, I'm not a young woman anymore. With everything going on I just haven't been able to get in the Christmas spirit. I did get my tree up but I didn't decorate one thing outside or anywhere else in the house. I haven't even got the stockings hung yet! And let's not even talk about the shopping. I have no idea when I'll get that finished. I'm beginning to undertand how old Ebenezer Scrooge felt!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
House Cleaning Update
I'm up to three rooms complete. As long as the health inspector doesn't ask to use the bathroom or see the sleeping quarters we're in business. Oh, and the laundry room. I think I see the washer peeking out now but we're still searching for the dryer!
(Hey, Jen. Two posts in one day. Aren't you impressed?)
(Hey, Jen. Two posts in one day. Aren't you impressed?)
I'm still here...
I guess when someone wants to know if you're still alive that's a good sign you haven't been keeping up your blog like you should, huh?
Yes, I'm still alive and well here in Flemingsburg. Just incredibly busy. I'm trying to work 4 days a week, do Bible Bowl practice two days a week, take care of 3 kids and a husband, and slip in other church activities whenever I can. You will notice that nowhere on the list of things I'm doing have I mentioned taking care of my house and doing laundry. Sadly, both of those things have been sorely neglected. My house would be condemned if the health department happened to stop by and the laundry is piled so high that we can't even find the washer and dryer in the laundry room. On top of all this I've had two sick kids this week. Noah has had the runs since Saturday to the tune of like 12-14 soiled diapers a day. His little behind is so raw that he walks as if he's been on a cross-country horseback ride. Jarrod has been sick to his stomach and running a fever for three days now. Jacob has been lucky enough to avoid it so far but I fully expect he'll be sick tomorrow when we're supposed to go to Darren's mothers for Thanksgiving.
I've been home from work for three days this week with anywhere from two to three kids so I'm starting to get a little stir crazy. Darren has artfully managed to avoid the house altogether except to sleep. He insists that it's pure coincidence but I'm not buying it.
Today all three kids are home since school is out and I have convinced Jarrod that even sick people can fold laundry. So we've been making a concerted effort to clean up our little pig sty. It would now be okay for the health department to visit two rooms of my house.....as long as they didn't go any further than the kitchen!
Yes, I'm still alive and well here in Flemingsburg. Just incredibly busy. I'm trying to work 4 days a week, do Bible Bowl practice two days a week, take care of 3 kids and a husband, and slip in other church activities whenever I can. You will notice that nowhere on the list of things I'm doing have I mentioned taking care of my house and doing laundry. Sadly, both of those things have been sorely neglected. My house would be condemned if the health department happened to stop by and the laundry is piled so high that we can't even find the washer and dryer in the laundry room. On top of all this I've had two sick kids this week. Noah has had the runs since Saturday to the tune of like 12-14 soiled diapers a day. His little behind is so raw that he walks as if he's been on a cross-country horseback ride. Jarrod has been sick to his stomach and running a fever for three days now. Jacob has been lucky enough to avoid it so far but I fully expect he'll be sick tomorrow when we're supposed to go to Darren's mothers for Thanksgiving.
I've been home from work for three days this week with anywhere from two to three kids so I'm starting to get a little stir crazy. Darren has artfully managed to avoid the house altogether except to sleep. He insists that it's pure coincidence but I'm not buying it.
Today all three kids are home since school is out and I have convinced Jarrod that even sick people can fold laundry. So we've been making a concerted effort to clean up our little pig sty. It would now be okay for the health department to visit two rooms of my house.....as long as they didn't go any further than the kitchen!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
When It Rains It Pours
Have you ever had days when you felt like you should've just stayed in bed? Well, I feel like I should've just hibernated for the last three weeks! We have just had the most unbelievable string of bad luck lately. It's just been the strangest thing. We've been trying to do the Dave Ramsey "Total Money Makeover" which means we're living on a budget, following the "baby steps", and committed to not using our credit cards. We quickly came up with our $1000 emergency fund which is "Baby Step 1" and then just as quickly it went out the door.
I finally got our taxes done. Yes, I waited until the VERY LAST MINUTE. I know that doesn't constitute an "emergency" but I really wasn't expecting to owe anything. Just a slight miscalculation on my part. While the amount we owed really wasn't that bad, it was just that the timing really stunk. You see, just a couple of days before the tax fiaso the transmission went out of the van we bought to replace our wrecked car. So, we had to come up with money for the taxes and money to rebuild the transmission. Guess who is now working 4 days a week instead of 2?
And it just keeps going and going. We got the van back last Friday and the transmission started leaking and acting weird the next day so we took it back to the guy who worked on it. Of course, now both of us are working so we're really struggling with the one vehicle situation. Darren was riding the scooter as much as the weather would allow but 38 degrees is really cold for scooter travel. Think "Dumb and Dumber" traveling to Colorado.
In the meantime, the other van starts making horrible squeaking and grinding noises from the front end which I know means it needs brakes but with only one vehicle what's a girl to do? On top of all that, I had to make a trip to the dentist this Monday because I cracked a tooth. He tried to fix it but ended up having to pull it which was not fun. Then when I returned to work from the dentist Darren called to tell me that he had an unrepairable flat tire on his scooter! Will it never end?
We got one van back from the shop late Monday, took the other van to the shop for brakes on Tuesday and drove the scooter home from church on a flat tire. So now both vans are running (knock on wood) but the scooter still needs a new tire. The good news though is that God provided and we were able to pay for everything (barely) without turning to our credit cards. Now begins the process of trying to rebuild our $1000 emergency fund.
Hopefully our luck is starting to turn because to be honest, much more of this and I'm just going to pull the covers up over my head and stay in bed. Somebody can wake me when it's over.
I finally got our taxes done. Yes, I waited until the VERY LAST MINUTE. I know that doesn't constitute an "emergency" but I really wasn't expecting to owe anything. Just a slight miscalculation on my part. While the amount we owed really wasn't that bad, it was just that the timing really stunk. You see, just a couple of days before the tax fiaso the transmission went out of the van we bought to replace our wrecked car. So, we had to come up with money for the taxes and money to rebuild the transmission. Guess who is now working 4 days a week instead of 2?
And it just keeps going and going. We got the van back last Friday and the transmission started leaking and acting weird the next day so we took it back to the guy who worked on it. Of course, now both of us are working so we're really struggling with the one vehicle situation. Darren was riding the scooter as much as the weather would allow but 38 degrees is really cold for scooter travel. Think "Dumb and Dumber" traveling to Colorado.
In the meantime, the other van starts making horrible squeaking and grinding noises from the front end which I know means it needs brakes but with only one vehicle what's a girl to do? On top of all that, I had to make a trip to the dentist this Monday because I cracked a tooth. He tried to fix it but ended up having to pull it which was not fun. Then when I returned to work from the dentist Darren called to tell me that he had an unrepairable flat tire on his scooter! Will it never end?
We got one van back from the shop late Monday, took the other van to the shop for brakes on Tuesday and drove the scooter home from church on a flat tire. So now both vans are running (knock on wood) but the scooter still needs a new tire. The good news though is that God provided and we were able to pay for everything (barely) without turning to our credit cards. Now begins the process of trying to rebuild our $1000 emergency fund.
Hopefully our luck is starting to turn because to be honest, much more of this and I'm just going to pull the covers up over my head and stay in bed. Somebody can wake me when it's over.
Monday, October 29, 2007
For My Husband...
October is "Minister Appreciation Month." We had a special service last night at church to recognize all the different ministries at church and the people who make them tick. We are so blessed to have such a good group of workers at New Life. Thank you all for everything you do!
Christy thought that she and I should recognize James and Darren so I just wanted to share with the world the words I shared with the congregation last night about Darren. I love him so much and I'm so proud of him!
Read on.....
"When Christy said she thought she and I should recognize James and Darren I told her that I hoped this week was better than last or I might not have very nice things to say
Ours is a story of God’s careful grooming and growing.
But in all seriousness, if someone had told me in high school that I would be married to a preacher I would have laughed myself silly.
Darren and I met in 1986. Up until that time I had no church background. I knew the basics, attended VBS during the summer and occasionally went to church with my grandmother. Darren, of course, had been raised in church and his mother, though she wouldn’t admit it today, thought I was a very corrupt influence on her sweet, innocent baby. Because of Darren I started attending church at Mt. Carmel and he baptized me into Christ late one night in 1987.
If not for Darren I’m not sure where I would be today. He led me to Christ. Darren will tell you that he would not have married me had I not become a Christian and I will tell you that I would not have married him if I knew he was going to be a preacher.
After we married in 1988 we sort of “played” church for a while. We looked and sounded good but our hearts weren’t right. We worked with the kids at Mt. Carmel but only managed to show up for Sunday School one year when we forgot to change our clocks. Quite simply, we were not sold out to Christ. Not even close.
Then in 1993 Jarrod was born and we began to get our act together. In 1995 my mom called me and asked me to type up an advertisement their church could send to KCC since they were looking for a preacher. I mentioned it to Darren and after a lot of thought and prayer he said “You know, I think this is what God wants me to do.”
Now this is where I began to see God’s growth in our lives. It was funny to me that something that scared me to death and seemed crazy to me when we married 7 years earlier, suddenly made perfect sense.
So he applied for the job at Blue Licks and got it and thus began our lives in the ministry. He was preaching and working full time laying carpet and I was also working full time. During these years Darren really wanted me to quit my job and come home but I resisted and vehemently defended my job saying that there was no way we could make it without my income. And then 7 years after he started preaching, in 2002 he came to me and said he had decided to quit his job and go to Bible College because he wanted to preach full-time.
Now again, I saw God’s continued growth of my faith. Where I had previously insisted we couldn’t live without my income I now believed that we would be able to make it without our primary source of income. When he told me I don’t think I ever hesitated or questioned his decision. It was like “Okay, whatever you want to do. No big deal. God will take care of us.”
Darren left his job in August of 2002 and started bible college at Sonshine School of Evangelism. On paper, this should never have worked. We were prepared to sell our house and do whatever we had to do to allow him to go to school, but as it turned out we didn’t have to do anything. God was so good. We had the help of friends and family and several sister congregations, including you guys here at New Life, and we were able to make it through two years of schooling without having to sacrifice anything.
I have watched my husband grow in so many areas of his life over the course of this journey. He has grown in knowledge, character, and compassion and I am so proud of him. I am proud of the stand he takes for Christ and the fact that he puts God before everything else in his life. Darren has so many qualities that I envy. He has a wonderful gift for teaching and I never get tired of listening to him. I love the fact that he is always ready to teach or speak at a moment’s notice. He is a man of great vision with big plans for the Lord’s church here at New Life. As some of you who have butted heads with him know, he has big ideas and he won’t take no for an answer. He believes that anything is possible with hard work and commitment and he has the ability to see only the positive things. He is always putting others before himself and stands ready to listen, give advice or just be a sounding board if you need an ear to bend. He has the most wonderful giving spirit and would gladly give a brother the shirt off his back if he needed it. In all these things and many more I wish I could be more like him. I am so proud of the husband he is; that he takes his role as the head of our household seriously and of how he provides and cares for our family. I am proud of the father he is to our children; that he encourages them and believes that they can be and do more than they themselves think possible. Most of all, I am proud of the man that he is; that he is a man of God who continually seeks the Father’s will and lives for Him even through life’s hurts and disappointments; that he seeks God first in everything and is the spiritual head of our family. I love him so much and I thank God for bringing him into my life and I only hope I can be the helpmate to him that God intended me to be. I don’t know what God has in store for us but I pray that He will continue to grow our faith, that He will use us in service to His kingdom, and that He will guide us in everything we do. I love you. I’m so proud of you and thank you for all you do."
Christy thought that she and I should recognize James and Darren so I just wanted to share with the world the words I shared with the congregation last night about Darren. I love him so much and I'm so proud of him!
Read on.....
"When Christy said she thought she and I should recognize James and Darren I told her that I hoped this week was better than last or I might not have very nice things to say
Ours is a story of God’s careful grooming and growing.
But in all seriousness, if someone had told me in high school that I would be married to a preacher I would have laughed myself silly.
Darren and I met in 1986. Up until that time I had no church background. I knew the basics, attended VBS during the summer and occasionally went to church with my grandmother. Darren, of course, had been raised in church and his mother, though she wouldn’t admit it today, thought I was a very corrupt influence on her sweet, innocent baby. Because of Darren I started attending church at Mt. Carmel and he baptized me into Christ late one night in 1987.
If not for Darren I’m not sure where I would be today. He led me to Christ. Darren will tell you that he would not have married me had I not become a Christian and I will tell you that I would not have married him if I knew he was going to be a preacher.
After we married in 1988 we sort of “played” church for a while. We looked and sounded good but our hearts weren’t right. We worked with the kids at Mt. Carmel but only managed to show up for Sunday School one year when we forgot to change our clocks. Quite simply, we were not sold out to Christ. Not even close.
Then in 1993 Jarrod was born and we began to get our act together. In 1995 my mom called me and asked me to type up an advertisement their church could send to KCC since they were looking for a preacher. I mentioned it to Darren and after a lot of thought and prayer he said “You know, I think this is what God wants me to do.”
Now this is where I began to see God’s growth in our lives. It was funny to me that something that scared me to death and seemed crazy to me when we married 7 years earlier, suddenly made perfect sense.
So he applied for the job at Blue Licks and got it and thus began our lives in the ministry. He was preaching and working full time laying carpet and I was also working full time. During these years Darren really wanted me to quit my job and come home but I resisted and vehemently defended my job saying that there was no way we could make it without my income. And then 7 years after he started preaching, in 2002 he came to me and said he had decided to quit his job and go to Bible College because he wanted to preach full-time.
Now again, I saw God’s continued growth of my faith. Where I had previously insisted we couldn’t live without my income I now believed that we would be able to make it without our primary source of income. When he told me I don’t think I ever hesitated or questioned his decision. It was like “Okay, whatever you want to do. No big deal. God will take care of us.”
Darren left his job in August of 2002 and started bible college at Sonshine School of Evangelism. On paper, this should never have worked. We were prepared to sell our house and do whatever we had to do to allow him to go to school, but as it turned out we didn’t have to do anything. God was so good. We had the help of friends and family and several sister congregations, including you guys here at New Life, and we were able to make it through two years of schooling without having to sacrifice anything.
I have watched my husband grow in so many areas of his life over the course of this journey. He has grown in knowledge, character, and compassion and I am so proud of him. I am proud of the stand he takes for Christ and the fact that he puts God before everything else in his life. Darren has so many qualities that I envy. He has a wonderful gift for teaching and I never get tired of listening to him. I love the fact that he is always ready to teach or speak at a moment’s notice. He is a man of great vision with big plans for the Lord’s church here at New Life. As some of you who have butted heads with him know, he has big ideas and he won’t take no for an answer. He believes that anything is possible with hard work and commitment and he has the ability to see only the positive things. He is always putting others before himself and stands ready to listen, give advice or just be a sounding board if you need an ear to bend. He has the most wonderful giving spirit and would gladly give a brother the shirt off his back if he needed it. In all these things and many more I wish I could be more like him. I am so proud of the husband he is; that he takes his role as the head of our household seriously and of how he provides and cares for our family. I am proud of the father he is to our children; that he encourages them and believes that they can be and do more than they themselves think possible. Most of all, I am proud of the man that he is; that he is a man of God who continually seeks the Father’s will and lives for Him even through life’s hurts and disappointments; that he seeks God first in everything and is the spiritual head of our family. I love him so much and I thank God for bringing him into my life and I only hope I can be the helpmate to him that God intended me to be. I don’t know what God has in store for us but I pray that He will continue to grow our faith, that He will use us in service to His kingdom, and that He will guide us in everything we do. I love you. I’m so proud of you and thank you for all you do."
Friday, October 26, 2007
So embarassing
I shared this story with the girls at work and they got a kick out of it so I thought the rest of you might enjoy it as well.....
Last Saturday Darren, Jarrod, Noah and I went to Morehead to eat at La Finca for my big birthday celebration. As everyone knows, it is a crime in the state of Kentucky to drive past a Wal-Mart without stopping so we ran in to pick up a few odds and ends. We made our selections..nothing fancy...just diapers and wipes, ink for my fax machine and a few other toiletries and proceeded to the checkout. Darren decided to go on out to the van while the boys and I checked out. I paid for our purchases and we started out the door and set off the alarm. The nice little greeter lady came over and determined that the box of ink had not been deactivated by the cashier so she gave us a free 2 liter bottle of pop and sent us on our way.
We were walking through the parking lot and came to the van. I could see Darren sitting in the front seat so I assumed he had the tailgate unlocked and ready for me but when I lifted the handle it was locked so I pecked on the back window and tried again....still locked. I knocked a little harder and still he didn't unlock it so I knocked again and still nothing. By this time I was getting a little aggravated. I looked at Jarrod and said, "Why isn't he unlocking the door?" and then I BANGED on the back window with my open hand. Darren popped upright in the seat just as Jarrod started toward the driver's side door. He stopped short and said, "Mom, that's not Dad." and took off. I looked around and sure enough OUR van was parked on down the way just a little. I went around to the drivers side door and this guy opened the door and stepped out. I was already opening my mouth to apologize when I recognized the fellow. It just so happens he is a long-time tax client. I laughed and told him that I was sorry and that I had mistaken his van for ours. He accused me of catching him asleep and waking him on purpose and we had a good laugh.
At first I was glad it was someone I knew but now I'm not so sure. I'm sure I'll get a ribbing from him everytime I see him now. It might have been better had it been someone I'll never see again.
I know some of you will be quick to chalk my mistake up to old age but in my defense his van was the same year, make model and color as ours so maybe I shouldn't feel so bad....but it was just SO embarassing.
Last Saturday Darren, Jarrod, Noah and I went to Morehead to eat at La Finca for my big birthday celebration. As everyone knows, it is a crime in the state of Kentucky to drive past a Wal-Mart without stopping so we ran in to pick up a few odds and ends. We made our selections..nothing fancy...just diapers and wipes, ink for my fax machine and a few other toiletries and proceeded to the checkout. Darren decided to go on out to the van while the boys and I checked out. I paid for our purchases and we started out the door and set off the alarm. The nice little greeter lady came over and determined that the box of ink had not been deactivated by the cashier so she gave us a free 2 liter bottle of pop and sent us on our way.
We were walking through the parking lot and came to the van. I could see Darren sitting in the front seat so I assumed he had the tailgate unlocked and ready for me but when I lifted the handle it was locked so I pecked on the back window and tried again....still locked. I knocked a little harder and still he didn't unlock it so I knocked again and still nothing. By this time I was getting a little aggravated. I looked at Jarrod and said, "Why isn't he unlocking the door?" and then I BANGED on the back window with my open hand. Darren popped upright in the seat just as Jarrod started toward the driver's side door. He stopped short and said, "Mom, that's not Dad." and took off. I looked around and sure enough OUR van was parked on down the way just a little. I went around to the drivers side door and this guy opened the door and stepped out. I was already opening my mouth to apologize when I recognized the fellow. It just so happens he is a long-time tax client. I laughed and told him that I was sorry and that I had mistaken his van for ours. He accused me of catching him asleep and waking him on purpose and we had a good laugh.
At first I was glad it was someone I knew but now I'm not so sure. I'm sure I'll get a ribbing from him everytime I see him now. It might have been better had it been someone I'll never see again.
I know some of you will be quick to chalk my mistake up to old age but in my defense his van was the same year, make model and color as ours so maybe I shouldn't feel so bad....but it was just SO embarassing.
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