I know I just told you to spend less. No, I am not losing my mind. Tip 3 for how to enjoy a more meaningful Christmas is to give more. I didn't say go buy more, I said give more.
Remember that "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16
God gave the ultimate gift. He is the mac daddy of gift givers! He has modeled giving in the greatest sense of the word.
How can you and I give more? By giving gifts of kindness. Give gifts that spread the joy you have because you are a child of the King!
Do you bake cookies? Make an extra batch and share it with a neighbor.
Do you like to craft? Encourage your kids to help you make a card or gift for someone.
Smile at the tired cashier at the grocery store.
While we are talking about the grocery store, let someone get ahead of you in line.
Bring the bell ringer a hot cup of coffee and thank them for what they are doing.
If you have the means, plow/snow blow out someones driveway when it snows. Better yet, make it someone you don't know.
You get the idea, right? Find ways to spread cheer and kindness. Nothing too complicated but it does require some thought and intention. Giving thought to someone else means you aren't absorbed in your own schtuff, even if just for a short while.
And maybe, just maybe, you will make them wonder...why are you so cheerful? Something is clearly different, what is it? That may lead to a conversation. Maybe you will share with them the real meaning of Christmas and the joy you have because of it. Just maybe.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tip #2 Spend Less
So, we have already made it through Black Friday and Cyber Monday. My email box is being flooded with internet offers to the tune of 30-50 a day. The adds are taking up more space than the news these days. Spend, spend, spend. Rock bottom prices, unheard of deals. How can we resist? The pull is great, isn't it?
Then there are the kids. Kaleb started his wish list months ago. Joshua got savvy this year and cut and pasted pictures into a word document just so we know exactly what he wants. His own mini Christmas catalog if you will, complete with prices and descriptions. The commercialism has our kids very hyped up. I can already feel the anticipation growing. I get daily reminders of how many days are left until the "big day". Oh the pressure and guilt that creeps in at the mere thought of disappointing them.
The statistics are staggering. The billions spent on gifts. The months spent paying off the bills. You know that finances are one of the biggest stressors in life, right? Bad finances lead many into divorce. I never completely shake the stress of finances, and it is not for lack of trying...really hard. Sometimes debt is unavoidable despite our best efforts. Christmas overspending however is completely avoidable. Don't do it! Commit yourself to spending less this year. Commit to staying within your means.
This year I took out my Christmas money in cash. No credit cards. It is helping me not to overspend. I know what I have and when it is gone.
One of my good friends from high school has 6 daughters and lives on a modest budget. Several years ago I asked her how they handle Christmas. What she told me has stuck with me ever since, though I can not say I have been able to follow her lead. She said that Jesus received 3 gifts according to scripture...gold, frankincense and myrrh. If 3 gifts were good enough for the baby Jesus, then 3 gifts were good enough for her girls. Each one received one large, one medium and one small gift. Period. Imagine if our kids knew that in advance. That would take care of a lot of the expectation end of things. And I imagine we would find fewer gifts tossed in the corner just days after Christmas. I love the connection to the nativity as well.
Another mom I spoke with only allows her kids to have 5 items at a time on their wish lists. That is a great idea! If you want to add something new, something else needs to come off the list. WOW! Decisions, decisions.
It is not just about spending less. It is about not getting eaten up by the greed monster. That ugly greed and stuff monster that clouds our ability to embrace the real Christmas. The real Jesus. Gifts are not bad. I really enjoy giving gifts. And receiving them too, who doesn't?? Just make them a part of your Christmas, not THE focus of it. Chose to spend less, stress less, in order that you can focus more on having a meaningful Christmas.
Kind of ironically, the next tip will be on giving more. Huh? Stay tuned.
Then there are the kids. Kaleb started his wish list months ago. Joshua got savvy this year and cut and pasted pictures into a word document just so we know exactly what he wants. His own mini Christmas catalog if you will, complete with prices and descriptions. The commercialism has our kids very hyped up. I can already feel the anticipation growing. I get daily reminders of how many days are left until the "big day". Oh the pressure and guilt that creeps in at the mere thought of disappointing them.
The statistics are staggering. The billions spent on gifts. The months spent paying off the bills. You know that finances are one of the biggest stressors in life, right? Bad finances lead many into divorce. I never completely shake the stress of finances, and it is not for lack of trying...really hard. Sometimes debt is unavoidable despite our best efforts. Christmas overspending however is completely avoidable. Don't do it! Commit yourself to spending less this year. Commit to staying within your means.
This year I took out my Christmas money in cash. No credit cards. It is helping me not to overspend. I know what I have and when it is gone.
One of my good friends from high school has 6 daughters and lives on a modest budget. Several years ago I asked her how they handle Christmas. What she told me has stuck with me ever since, though I can not say I have been able to follow her lead. She said that Jesus received 3 gifts according to scripture...gold, frankincense and myrrh. If 3 gifts were good enough for the baby Jesus, then 3 gifts were good enough for her girls. Each one received one large, one medium and one small gift. Period. Imagine if our kids knew that in advance. That would take care of a lot of the expectation end of things. And I imagine we would find fewer gifts tossed in the corner just days after Christmas. I love the connection to the nativity as well.
Another mom I spoke with only allows her kids to have 5 items at a time on their wish lists. That is a great idea! If you want to add something new, something else needs to come off the list. WOW! Decisions, decisions.
It is not just about spending less. It is about not getting eaten up by the greed monster. That ugly greed and stuff monster that clouds our ability to embrace the real Christmas. The real Jesus. Gifts are not bad. I really enjoy giving gifts. And receiving them too, who doesn't?? Just make them a part of your Christmas, not THE focus of it. Chose to spend less, stress less, in order that you can focus more on having a meaningful Christmas.
Kind of ironically, the next tip will be on giving more. Huh? Stay tuned.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Meaningful Christmas Tip #1
Welcome to December! Does the mere thought that we are in the month of Christmas make your heart skip a beat? Do you immediately start going through your mental list of what needs to get done in the next 25 days? For the last 2 years I have thought about the stress of the holidays and how to balance it with celebrating the real Christmas. The Christmas that honors the birth of Christ, not the commercialism our society has made it into. To be honest, I have not been too successful. But I want to keep trying. I also have a lingering question...am I doing a good job teaching my boys about the true Christmas? So, I am working on some practical ideas to help me and my family more fully embrace Christ this season. Maybe you find yourself in a similar place. If so, this is as much for you as it is for us. Will you join us in this journey?
Tip #1: Advent Devotions
Advent is a time of preparation. This preparation is not the kind that involves getting your shopping done, cookies baked, cards sent out on time and the like. This is a preparation of the heart. A time of anticipating the birth of Christ. A time to reflect on the amazing gift God gave us when he sent his son to walk the earth and become the sacrifice for you and me.
One way to do that is with devotional readings specifically for the season. You can find Advent devotionals in bookstores. Your church may give them out for free (ours does). You can find resources on-line. You can simply walk through the New Testament narrations found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. If you have kids, try to find readings that are easy for them to understand.
Take a few moments after dinner to read a devotion and share your thoughts around the table. It doesn't need to take long but it will model to your kids that this time is special. That we are chosing to spend time focusing on Jesus, anticipating his birth, preparing for a celebration.
Advent started on Sunday so it is not too late to get started! If you want some help with scriptures, check out this article from Focus on the Family from 2000. It also gives ideas for incorporating an Advent wreath into your celebrations. Ahhh, dinner by candlelight. Who cares if what is on the plate is mac n cheese?? Candlelight automatically makes things more special!
I'll be back tomorrow with tip #2.
Tip #1: Advent Devotions
Advent is a time of preparation. This preparation is not the kind that involves getting your shopping done, cookies baked, cards sent out on time and the like. This is a preparation of the heart. A time of anticipating the birth of Christ. A time to reflect on the amazing gift God gave us when he sent his son to walk the earth and become the sacrifice for you and me.
One way to do that is with devotional readings specifically for the season. You can find Advent devotionals in bookstores. Your church may give them out for free (ours does). You can find resources on-line. You can simply walk through the New Testament narrations found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. If you have kids, try to find readings that are easy for them to understand.
Take a few moments after dinner to read a devotion and share your thoughts around the table. It doesn't need to take long but it will model to your kids that this time is special. That we are chosing to spend time focusing on Jesus, anticipating his birth, preparing for a celebration.
Advent started on Sunday so it is not too late to get started! If you want some help with scriptures, check out this article from Focus on the Family from 2000. It also gives ideas for incorporating an Advent wreath into your celebrations. Ahhh, dinner by candlelight. Who cares if what is on the plate is mac n cheese?? Candlelight automatically makes things more special!
I'll be back tomorrow with tip #2.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wrapping Up November
I am stepping off the merry go round for a minute. Today is the last day of November. That means it is my brother's birthday. Love ya, Chris!! We just returned from spending Thanksgiving with them. It had shamefully been more than a year since we had been to their house. It was good to be there, good to rest, good to see the boys (nephew #2 turned 2 yesterday!), good to catch up on life, good to do a bit of hunting and good to do a bit of shopping. Just to be clear, Greg, Josh and Chris did the hunting. Melissa and I did the shopping. The guys came home empty handed, the girls did not :).
Thursday was a gorgeous day so while we cooked and prepared, the boys did some 4 wheeling and playing outside. Chris used the mower to bury the boys in leaves. Oh to be a kid again!
The nephews love their cousins! Sometimes more than Kaleb would like, lol. It's all good though!
Our other big November news is that Greg has a new woman in his life. Gasp! In a momentary lapse of my sanity I agreed to get a dog. Greg and Josh had been slowly wearing me down. I finally got the point where I felt guilty for saying no, for depriving my boys of the opportunity to have a pet in their lives. So, everyone, meet Daisy Mae...
Daisy is a 10 month old black lab. A family at church recently adopted her sister and when they heard Daisy was also up for adoption, they hooked us up. Tip: if you are thinking about getting a dog, be sure to let the dog lovers in your life know. They will go above and beyond until you find one. They won't rest until the connection is complete. We have some dog crazy friends, I tell ya, lol.
Anyway, the woman who bought her later decided she wasn't up for the challenge of a raising a puppy so the breeder took her back. She is a very nice dog (but I won't admit to it if pressed!). She is already housebroken, doesn't jump much, can follow some simple commands and loves to be around us. We had to break her of the habit she had to jump onto the furniture. After several failed ideas, someone told us to use mouse traps. Two snapped traps later the lesson was learned! She's a bright one. Now we leave the un-set traps on the sofa when we leave for work and just the sight of them seems to be enough to keep her off. We still have to find a way to curb some of the barking and get her to walk better on the leash. And I need to find a way to get her to stop following me everywhere. Drives me crazy, especially when I am cooking.
But you know that this adventure we have embarked on couldn't go on without some craziness! Last week we discovered she was in heat! We didn't even have her long enough to make plans to get her fixed. grumble, grumble grumble. So, now Daisy Mae is sporting some Daisy Dukes.
This was Daisy snuggling up with Chris' dog, Sheldie. They got along very well and with her blue pants on she was easy to identify!
Tomorrow is December already. I have been toying with the idea of doing a 12 day series of tips on how to have a meaningful Christmas. So, come back tomorrow for tip #1.
Thursday was a gorgeous day so while we cooked and prepared, the boys did some 4 wheeling and playing outside. Chris used the mower to bury the boys in leaves. Oh to be a kid again!
The nephews love their cousins! Sometimes more than Kaleb would like, lol. It's all good though!
Our other big November news is that Greg has a new woman in his life. Gasp! In a momentary lapse of my sanity I agreed to get a dog. Greg and Josh had been slowly wearing me down. I finally got the point where I felt guilty for saying no, for depriving my boys of the opportunity to have a pet in their lives. So, everyone, meet Daisy Mae...
Daisy is a 10 month old black lab. A family at church recently adopted her sister and when they heard Daisy was also up for adoption, they hooked us up. Tip: if you are thinking about getting a dog, be sure to let the dog lovers in your life know. They will go above and beyond until you find one. They won't rest until the connection is complete. We have some dog crazy friends, I tell ya, lol.
Anyway, the woman who bought her later decided she wasn't up for the challenge of a raising a puppy so the breeder took her back. She is a very nice dog (but I won't admit to it if pressed!). She is already housebroken, doesn't jump much, can follow some simple commands and loves to be around us. We had to break her of the habit she had to jump onto the furniture. After several failed ideas, someone told us to use mouse traps. Two snapped traps later the lesson was learned! She's a bright one. Now we leave the un-set traps on the sofa when we leave for work and just the sight of them seems to be enough to keep her off. We still have to find a way to curb some of the barking and get her to walk better on the leash. And I need to find a way to get her to stop following me everywhere. Drives me crazy, especially when I am cooking.
But you know that this adventure we have embarked on couldn't go on without some craziness! Last week we discovered she was in heat! We didn't even have her long enough to make plans to get her fixed. grumble, grumble grumble. So, now Daisy Mae is sporting some Daisy Dukes.
This was Daisy snuggling up with Chris' dog, Sheldie. They got along very well and with her blue pants on she was easy to identify!
Tomorrow is December already. I have been toying with the idea of doing a 12 day series of tips on how to have a meaningful Christmas. So, come back tomorrow for tip #1.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Opportunity
By now you all know I have a second blog. Actually, this blog is my second one, my first blog is my stamping blog called Inky Doodles. There is a link in the sidebar. I don't frequently mix the two but sometimes they are like a PBJ sandwich and are hard to separate.
Many of you know that I have been a demonstrator with Stampin' Up since 2005. In September they made some major changes to the Independent Demo Agreement and for many reasons I did not feel that I could sign it, so I stepped down. You have heard the saying "When God closes a door, he opens a window". Well, in my case he opened the window first, making it easier to shut the door on my life as a demonstrator. In mid August, two weeks prior to the changes at Stampin' Up, I was offered an opportunity to join the design team for a stamp company called Cornish Heritage Farms. This company is owned by a couple originally from England, now residing in Montana. They are a lovely Christian couple and I did not hesitate to say "yes" to their offer! This company has a very large collection of stamps, in many different styles. They have agreements with Thomas Kinkade, Tom Allen, GM, and several other artists. They release new stamps 2-3 times per week! I am currently working with 3 of the lines they carry and can choose any additional releases that appeal to me. I have had the opportunity to write tutorials, product reviews, as well as blog posts for the company blog. Needless to say, this has been keeping me quite busy. I am loving every minute of it. It has opened up opportunities that I probably would not have had if I had remained with Stampin' Up. I am so glad God knows what is best for me, even when I don't always see it at the time!
The latest opportunity came when I was given the chance to be the Guest Blogger for a challenge blog called Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Cornish Heritage Farms is sponsoring their challenge this week and I am honored to be able to share a bit about my life and faith with a new audience. I honestly have moments when I think I should sell all my stamping supplies because it seems like foolishness in the grand scheme of things. Does God really care about stamping?? The answer is he cares about what I care about. He can use whatever we have to give him. I know that. I have seen it. A simple card made of paper and ink can bring comfort or encouragement or joy. When I send cards out I send them off with a prayer. God takes it from there.
Today was my day as the Guest Blogger. If you would like to read the article, check it out here.
Thanks for letting me share this stuff with you. I am no rock star (though Greg thinks so, he's great...but biased) but it is exciting stuff!
Many of you know that I have been a demonstrator with Stampin' Up since 2005. In September they made some major changes to the Independent Demo Agreement and for many reasons I did not feel that I could sign it, so I stepped down. You have heard the saying "When God closes a door, he opens a window". Well, in my case he opened the window first, making it easier to shut the door on my life as a demonstrator. In mid August, two weeks prior to the changes at Stampin' Up, I was offered an opportunity to join the design team for a stamp company called Cornish Heritage Farms. This company is owned by a couple originally from England, now residing in Montana. They are a lovely Christian couple and I did not hesitate to say "yes" to their offer! This company has a very large collection of stamps, in many different styles. They have agreements with Thomas Kinkade, Tom Allen, GM, and several other artists. They release new stamps 2-3 times per week! I am currently working with 3 of the lines they carry and can choose any additional releases that appeal to me. I have had the opportunity to write tutorials, product reviews, as well as blog posts for the company blog. Needless to say, this has been keeping me quite busy. I am loving every minute of it. It has opened up opportunities that I probably would not have had if I had remained with Stampin' Up. I am so glad God knows what is best for me, even when I don't always see it at the time!
The latest opportunity came when I was given the chance to be the Guest Blogger for a challenge blog called Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Cornish Heritage Farms is sponsoring their challenge this week and I am honored to be able to share a bit about my life and faith with a new audience. I honestly have moments when I think I should sell all my stamping supplies because it seems like foolishness in the grand scheme of things. Does God really care about stamping?? The answer is he cares about what I care about. He can use whatever we have to give him. I know that. I have seen it. A simple card made of paper and ink can bring comfort or encouragement or joy. When I send cards out I send them off with a prayer. God takes it from there.
Today was my day as the Guest Blogger. If you would like to read the article, check it out here.
Thanks for letting me share this stuff with you. I am no rock star (though Greg thinks so, he's great...but biased) but it is exciting stuff!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Blessings by the Box
I thought I would shock my 5 readers by posting twice in a week, lol! We are having a slight warm up this week. I wouldn't call it an Indian Summer but we are in the upper 50's, low 60's this week and it is glorious. No jackets, hats or gloves, just sunshine and falling leaves.
On Sunday we enjoyed the potluck following the church service. Potlucks are interesting, aren't they? Some are tempted to assign the dishes to ensure a good variety, but that would be a pot-plan, not a potluck! Who cares if most of the dishes are dessert?? Not me. Now, in truth I might care if the table was dominated by squash and lima beans but it is the unknown that makes it fun. Our kitchen crew usually does a big main dish and this time it was chicken and stuffing, yummy stuff. There was plenty of variety and this time, yes, we were loaded with desserts. Brownies, pumpkin pie, carrot cake and more, mmmm. The best part was that the fellowship hall was packed out! We had to scramble to add more tables. Food and fellowship are always a good combo to draw the crowds.
Later Sunday afternoon, we had another unplanned opportunity. I have told you about Farmer Butch, the man with the fruit orchards. He is an incredible man of faith, with a big heart. We are currently collecting money to purchase Thanksgiving boxes through Angel Food Ministries. These boxes will be given to families in need in our church and community. Well, Butch offered up a box of apples to go with each food box, the only catch was the apples needed to be picked. So, I made an announcement at the potluck and several people showed up to help. Butch had a trailer hooked up to the tractor and we got a fun, bumpy ride out to the orchard. We decided that 25 half bushel baskets of apples would cover our needs. Being the well-equipped farmer, he gave us straps to hook onto the baskets so we could work hands free. Those straps were the bomb!! We were picking big, beautiful Rome apples and in 15 minutes (maybe even less), we had every basket filled to the top. We hopped back onto the trailer and enjoyed an apple on the way back to the barn. But the fun didn't stop there. Butch let us run the apples through the washer/polisher machine. I really wish I had thought to bring my camera. This machine is an oldie and so cool! The guys carefully emptied the baskets onto the conveyor belt at one end, the apples traveled up the belt where any leaves or debris were removed, into the washer and out onto these foam rollers that polished the apples clean. From there they rolled down onto a rotating platform where we packed them back into the baskets. We joked how it felt a bit like that episode of I love Lucy where they were working on the assembly line at the chocolate factory. Once they were all packed up, Butch put them into the cooler where they will stay until we need to deliver them. The whole process only took one hour but every bit of it was so fun. I like that the boys get to be exposed to so many different things and in this case, learn what it takes to get an apple to market and be part of serving someone in need. Butch shared a bit of his heart and why he wanted to donate the apples. It was a blessing to be part of blessing someone else. In a couple of weeks we will deliver a big box of food, along with a big box of apples to several families. When God's people work together, needs are met. It's a beautiful thing!
If you have never heard of Angel Food Ministries, I encourage you to check it out. Each month they offer a box of food for $30.00. The retail cost of the food averages around $65-80 and will feed a family of 4 for a week. There are also convenience/senior meals, produce boxes and meat boxes available. The best part, if you eat, you qualify! We can all use a little help on our budgets these days. The boxes are also a wonderful way to bless a family in need. If you spend $60 on groceries at the store, use that $60 to buy 2 Angel Food boxes, one for yourself and one to share. You can go to their site and enter your zip code to find a church near you that distributes Angel Food. At church, we distributed our first boxes this month and it was indeed a blessing. And the food is good. This month we are enjoying strip steaks, eggs, fajitas, ham steaks, frozen veggies and more. The only item in our box that we don't like...lima beans. Lucky for us, we found someone who likes them so we are happy to pass them along ;).
Hugs from the R-ville Harps!
On Sunday we enjoyed the potluck following the church service. Potlucks are interesting, aren't they? Some are tempted to assign the dishes to ensure a good variety, but that would be a pot-plan, not a potluck! Who cares if most of the dishes are dessert?? Not me. Now, in truth I might care if the table was dominated by squash and lima beans but it is the unknown that makes it fun. Our kitchen crew usually does a big main dish and this time it was chicken and stuffing, yummy stuff. There was plenty of variety and this time, yes, we were loaded with desserts. Brownies, pumpkin pie, carrot cake and more, mmmm. The best part was that the fellowship hall was packed out! We had to scramble to add more tables. Food and fellowship are always a good combo to draw the crowds.
Later Sunday afternoon, we had another unplanned opportunity. I have told you about Farmer Butch, the man with the fruit orchards. He is an incredible man of faith, with a big heart. We are currently collecting money to purchase Thanksgiving boxes through Angel Food Ministries. These boxes will be given to families in need in our church and community. Well, Butch offered up a box of apples to go with each food box, the only catch was the apples needed to be picked. So, I made an announcement at the potluck and several people showed up to help. Butch had a trailer hooked up to the tractor and we got a fun, bumpy ride out to the orchard. We decided that 25 half bushel baskets of apples would cover our needs. Being the well-equipped farmer, he gave us straps to hook onto the baskets so we could work hands free. Those straps were the bomb!! We were picking big, beautiful Rome apples and in 15 minutes (maybe even less), we had every basket filled to the top. We hopped back onto the trailer and enjoyed an apple on the way back to the barn. But the fun didn't stop there. Butch let us run the apples through the washer/polisher machine. I really wish I had thought to bring my camera. This machine is an oldie and so cool! The guys carefully emptied the baskets onto the conveyor belt at one end, the apples traveled up the belt where any leaves or debris were removed, into the washer and out onto these foam rollers that polished the apples clean. From there they rolled down onto a rotating platform where we packed them back into the baskets. We joked how it felt a bit like that episode of I love Lucy where they were working on the assembly line at the chocolate factory. Once they were all packed up, Butch put them into the cooler where they will stay until we need to deliver them. The whole process only took one hour but every bit of it was so fun. I like that the boys get to be exposed to so many different things and in this case, learn what it takes to get an apple to market and be part of serving someone in need. Butch shared a bit of his heart and why he wanted to donate the apples. It was a blessing to be part of blessing someone else. In a couple of weeks we will deliver a big box of food, along with a big box of apples to several families. When God's people work together, needs are met. It's a beautiful thing!
If you have never heard of Angel Food Ministries, I encourage you to check it out. Each month they offer a box of food for $30.00. The retail cost of the food averages around $65-80 and will feed a family of 4 for a week. There are also convenience/senior meals, produce boxes and meat boxes available. The best part, if you eat, you qualify! We can all use a little help on our budgets these days. The boxes are also a wonderful way to bless a family in need. If you spend $60 on groceries at the store, use that $60 to buy 2 Angel Food boxes, one for yourself and one to share. You can go to their site and enter your zip code to find a church near you that distributes Angel Food. At church, we distributed our first boxes this month and it was indeed a blessing. And the food is good. This month we are enjoying strip steaks, eggs, fajitas, ham steaks, frozen veggies and more. The only item in our box that we don't like...lima beans. Lucky for us, we found someone who likes them so we are happy to pass them along ;).
Hugs from the R-ville Harps!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Whoa!
I am such a blog slacker!
Time is again, or should I say still, whirring by at an incredible pace. We have had signs of snow already! Ack!! I haven't even fully enjoyed fall yet. We better get crackin' with my list of fall things to do. There are foliage walks to go on, cider to drink, butternut squash soup to be cooked. The changing leaves are beautiful at the moment and the crisp air is nice.
Josh is nearing the end of his football season. The coach now has him playing on both the offensive and defensive lines. At yesterday's game he only sat out for 2 plays the whole game. He is tired, sweaty and smelly by the end. I had to drive home with the windows down yesterday, peeeyewwww, lol. Look for #54 in the photo below, that is our boy...
Our Pig-a-palooza event last month was a smashing success. For the first time in the 3 years we have been here, we had incredible weather for the event. We had the largest turn out to date, we figure there were somewhere around 500 people that attended. The best part was the people lingered, enjoying the animals, antique cars, food, games, music and fireworks.
October is Pastor Appreciation month, did you know that? I think a week would suffice, even a day, but it is in fact all month long. Check out the sign on our church lawn...
Isn't that great? The folks here in Ransomville sure do know how to bless their pastors! Almost everyday this month they have received a phone call from someone letting them know they appreciate them. Priceless words of encouragement. Then there are the cards in the mail, the gift certificate for an oil change, the gift certificate for dinner. The first Sunday they even invited the wives to come forward and we were presented with a bouquet of roses.
I can not tell you the last time I got flowers (in fairness to Greg I tell him not to buy them for me, I am too practically minded about the money). It is wonderful to know that we are appreciated as well. The boys wondered when it was their turn, lol.
On Sunday we wrap the month up with an all-church pot luck after service. Yumm-O.
If you haven't already, do something this week to show your pastor appreciation. Or the person in your life that spiritually encourages you. A kind word of encouragement will lift their spirits.
I hope my next post isn't a month away! In the mean time, hugs to you all!
Time is again, or should I say still, whirring by at an incredible pace. We have had signs of snow already! Ack!! I haven't even fully enjoyed fall yet. We better get crackin' with my list of fall things to do. There are foliage walks to go on, cider to drink, butternut squash soup to be cooked. The changing leaves are beautiful at the moment and the crisp air is nice.
Josh is nearing the end of his football season. The coach now has him playing on both the offensive and defensive lines. At yesterday's game he only sat out for 2 plays the whole game. He is tired, sweaty and smelly by the end. I had to drive home with the windows down yesterday, peeeyewwww, lol. Look for #54 in the photo below, that is our boy...
Our Pig-a-palooza event last month was a smashing success. For the first time in the 3 years we have been here, we had incredible weather for the event. We had the largest turn out to date, we figure there were somewhere around 500 people that attended. The best part was the people lingered, enjoying the animals, antique cars, food, games, music and fireworks.
October is Pastor Appreciation month, did you know that? I think a week would suffice, even a day, but it is in fact all month long. Check out the sign on our church lawn...
Isn't that great? The folks here in Ransomville sure do know how to bless their pastors! Almost everyday this month they have received a phone call from someone letting them know they appreciate them. Priceless words of encouragement. Then there are the cards in the mail, the gift certificate for an oil change, the gift certificate for dinner. The first Sunday they even invited the wives to come forward and we were presented with a bouquet of roses.
I can not tell you the last time I got flowers (in fairness to Greg I tell him not to buy them for me, I am too practically minded about the money). It is wonderful to know that we are appreciated as well. The boys wondered when it was their turn, lol.
On Sunday we wrap the month up with an all-church pot luck after service. Yumm-O.
If you haven't already, do something this week to show your pastor appreciation. Or the person in your life that spiritually encourages you. A kind word of encouragement will lift their spirits.
I hope my next post isn't a month away! In the mean time, hugs to you all!
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