His Last Sermon

Sunday Brian preached his last sermon at our church.

For 7 years (since August 2004) Brian has preached at our church Sunday mornings, Sunday nights and Wednesday mornings.

Truth be told I am glad for this day to have come...

not because I'm glad he's done pastoring or that we'll eventually be finding a different church (one closer to our new residence... wherever that might be... LOL!!) In fact those two things I will miss the most!!! I know I'll be missing sitting under Brian's teaching! And I love our church members and definitely miss being with them (when that time comes).

but because since Brian started working part-time and then full-time... he's been soooo busy!! Too busy!

From leaving the house a little after 7:30 each morning, working until 2 (or now 4:30) at the college.

Coming home he went to his home office... to return calls, check on church members, prepare sermons, visit with deacons, hospital visits, event organization and set up. And work on the TWO classes (last semester he taught 4 in one semester!!) is teaching!

We'd usually see him emerge about 6:30-ish to catch the national news and eat dinner. Usually he was with us until the kids went to bed about 9... and then it was back to work!!

Weekends were the same... just getting everything done. Saturday didn't include any time at the college, although he usually has a book with him to keep up with his classes :(

In Brian's words "I have no weekend, no breaks" and he didn't! And that meant we didn't either... at least not with him :(

So his last sermon hopefully lets him have some downtime now... although his plate is still pretty full... working full-time at college, teaching one class at the school on week night, one online class and trying to find us a house!!

But it is sad to think that "this season" has come to an end! We have enjoyed our time at our church.

We came to this church as a young couple holding their one little babe in their arms.



LOL! ..... has our family changed in these 7 years!




We have often said that we have grown a TON from serving this church. Learning about pain and loss. Encouraging those struggling and giving generously. Growing in maturity, knowledge and love for others. And serving.... in a small church everyone does their part... big or small!

Brian's last Sunday sermon marks the end of his pastoral service to our church. But because we do not have a house picked out or ready for us, we are staying!! The church is being soo gracious by allowing us to stay in the parsonage a little longer while we make permanent housing arrangements!

We are soo thankful for their generosity!! And excited to be able to stay, worship and serve with them now as regular church members!!

Funny though that they are just as happy to have us stay as we are happy to stay:)





281. a delicious meal fixed in Brian's honor
282. church members happy to have us stay
283. tokens of gratitude
284. tears of joy and sadness
285. families attending church together
286. good memories
287. friends to share burdens
288. church family that "holds up" those struggling
289. wise men and women of the faith
290. a nursery volunteer;)... thanks Sue-sue... I really needed THAT!
291. boys room totally cleaned
292. answer to prayer for a family member's health scare
293. hearing children practice memory verses on their own
294. a new loved series for an emerging reader
295. possibilities

296. a gift of fall mums

Tiny Talk with Lydia

Lydia came in holding her baby close. Sweetie Pie had been MIA for over a month now, I found her over that weekend on Chris' top bunk... AKA the hidden toy chest:)

Me: Are you taking good care of Sweetie Pie.

Lydia (4 yrs) : It's Sarah, not Fweetie Pie! [shaking head her] No one knows her right name. You and Daddy keep calling her Fweetie Pie!

LOL.... it's getting harder to keep up with everyone's dolls and their names;)

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We had a sweet church member pass away last week! It's been a hard summer :/

After the family meal Sunday afternoon, Lydia was talking to me...

Lydia: Everyone is sad about Mr Jule, but I'm not sad he died?

Me: really, why? (her words kind of surprised me by I tried to not be too surprised so I could understand what she was trying to tell me!)

Lydia: Mr Jule was sick and now he's in heaven. And heaven is a better place to be. His family is sad because they miss him, but they should be happy that he's in heaven.

Oh.... the sweet, simple, trusting faith of children!!

************************************************************************

and the kids' favorite phrase this week....

You've got to be kidding me!

Usually said after I give them an assignment they think is really easy (Chris practicing his math facts!) or that they don't want to do (like wipe off the kitchen table) !

His First Day

I've left everyone hanging about "Brian's schedule" changing....

I"m sorry about that! It's actually a really big change and I really have VERY mixed emotions about it!!

About two or three weeks ago now, Brian announced to our church family that he had accepted a position at our local community college. He had volunteered to teach a course (to get some college teaching experience) years ago. Last year they contacted him about teaching some online classes and he excitedly agreed. Then last August they called to see if he'd be willing to help with student registration since they were in the process of finding a new adminissions counselor and needed some extra hands! We thought it was going to be ONE 20 hour week!!


But he's been at the school ever since... part-time though, learning what he could and helping where needed. We waited for the day when they said "you don't have to come in anymore, we found someone." But that never happened.


Instead he is been there a year and interviewed for the counselor/director position he had been somewhat learning to do already. They liked him and offered him a full-time job!


Many have asked why he can't work at the school full-time and at the church preaching at night and on Sundays.... all I can say is WOW!! For the last year he's been teaching online classes (as many as 4 in one semester), working part time in the mornings at the college,  preparing 3 sermons and trying to visit with sick/hospitalized church members.... it has been WAY too much for all of us! Especially since Brian pours all his energy into each sermon, class and project he takes on!! And because he has 4 little ones wanting to jump on the trampoline with him:)

This is a HUGE change for us though... tons of new things

• Brian leaving the house and being at work (miles, not steps away) from 7:45 to 5ish everyday!!
• Having to move
• Where to move
• House hunting
• Leaving our beloved church family :(
• Possibly changing our homeschool group:(
• and the list goes on..... 

Anyway... enough "stress" ... LOL!!!  

This is a fantastic opportunity for Brian! He is getting to teach (which he likes) but also getting to work with students as the Student Services Director /Counselor (which he has really likes) !! I think the position fits his desire to work with college students and his abilities and strengths:)

So instead of getting bogged down with all the new "uncertainties" we were excited about his first day at his new job... September 1st!!

Brian leaving in the morning

  

The kids and I bringing him lunch on his 1st day :) 

 The kids visiting him in the office:)Don't they look like angels;)

Anyway, so there it is... our BIG change news!! And I'll definitely be sharing more and keeping everyone updated about all the exciting (and still sad) changes we'll be making!

Until then the search for a house continues:/

Weekly Wrap-up: Leaf Collecting, Momma's Rash and Tortillas

After a busy weekend with me being away, having family visiting, and a quick visit from I was ready for a relaxing day with the kids so Monday morning we headed out for a walk.

I thought it would really fun to collect leaves on the walk so we could do rubbings and identify them... I'd love for the kids to be able to identify more trees, foliage, flowers, etc! SO we when got home that was what we did... and they DID enjoy it;)

Monday evening we had friend come over for a relaxing pancake supper followed up with some Popsicles;)

Tuesday we spent most of the morning outside, playing and trimming Nate's hair. we finished the morning with reading (individual and aloud) and then learning about the Mayan culture;) Anna and Chris also worked with the Mayan number system... it was fun:)

After naps and dinner, Brian took the kids on a bike ride through the community while Nate and I did some "deal" shopping at a local Food Lion. we brought home some delicious fresh fruit... peaches, grapes, strawberries and blueberries:) I love the fruit of summer;)

Wednesday we prepared for our afternoon outing. Anna and Lydia were attending a Tea Party at our local library:) The girls got dressed up and I prepared "safe" food, so they could eat like other little girls;)

I had been planning to get help with the boys so I could go with the girls alone, but the night before I thought the plan of dropping off the girls and having a sweet friend keep them for me while I spent the time grocery shopping with the boys would work... attempting to multitask... but it never works for us!!!

Lydia wanted to participate but was being bashful and didn't want me to leave. Then I had the two boys in the corner... bored... and boys are even more loud and busy when they are bored!!!

Needless to say... the boys (and Lydia) and I made it through Anna's Tea Party!! Just very thankful I made a LOT of cookies... they became our lunch during the tea party:)

Then we went grocery shopping all together... yes, all 5 of us;) And because we all needed some motivation to be civil at the store... everyone was treated to Slushies on the way home :)

Our church service Wednesday night was cancelled so we could attend the visitation of our sweet, faithful church member who has passed away earlier in the week. We were thankful to see a nice crowd supporting the closest family and friends!

Sometime Wednesday i noticed a little rash on my skin. At first I thought it was a misquito bite, but then I knew I can gotten into something.... our Monday leaf collecting!!! I must have collected something poisonous!!

By dinner I could tell that I was also breaking out in a few more places on my arm and around my eye. I went to bed covered in a baking soda/vinegar paste hoping that it would dry up a little and NOT spread any more.

Thursday I woke with my eye swollen along the bottom. The rash itched everywhere!!! I seriously am sticking with my phrase that "I'd rather be in labor w/out pain drugs than itch"!! Thankfully, something worked (either the Benadryl or the paste) because the itching and swelling seemed to calm by lunch.

The kids and I spent a little of our morning outside:) As I baked for the funeral lunch (I had to make cookies!) the kids played school. Anna was the teacher and did a fabulous job.... they actually completed reading work, reading through a book for the reading program at the library and some math practice;)

We enjoyed lunch and then the younger three napped in the care of a sweet teen while Anna and I attended the funeral. They are always bittersweet... thankful for a life of faith, prayer, generosity and an end of suffering. But mourning over their absence from our life.

After naps we headed back outside in the heat.... Popsicles and Water;) So nice to have a simple evening at home;)

Friday was back to the books even with a Momma supped-up on Benadryl;) We learned about the final 2 early Central American people, the Inca and Aztec:) And the kids and I made tortillas from scratch...

then we covered them in butter and cinnamon sugar:) Delicious!

Pic of the Week
I saw this Wednesday night... i felt it summed up that day:) Random.Kid.Antics.

Linking up to :

Processing...

I feel like the last few days I have been in a "processing" mindset.

We've just been through our church's revival week. It's busy with getting the kids ready for activities each evening, meals a little earlier than usual (trying to get lunch earlier, too) and then our actual revival services. But I do love revival weeks..

I love setting aside time each evening to sit under biblical teaching and worship. Daily life is filled with dirty dishes, dirty kids, school assignments, etc! SO it's nice to break from the normal routine and spend time learning and growing spiritually.


I also enjoy the time with the revival pastor and our church members. The revival pastors are all different and it's nice getting to know them more. Be encouraged and challenged by them as well as attempt to encourage them, too!!

And my church members.... oh, we are soo blessed to be a part of a church that loves the Lord, each other, neighbors and US as much as they do. Each evening they took turns fixing meals for us... even taking time to figure out how to safely feed our family!! And they serve us! And love and encourage us!! Who won't want to spend evenings with them...

And now revival is over...


Time to process. To apply. To change.

I was already in a "processing" mode before revival.... just wanting to be a better MOM... not react so poorly to everything. To demonstrate GRACE to my children. To better lead them to the Lord through my actions and attitudes and words.

So now I have more to process!

It is GOOD to keep growing as a wife, mom and Christ follower. I'm thankful for these periods of challenges, praying that they lead to growth!

**Pictures are unrelated! They are from our last visit with Grandma and Grandaddy and I am soo sad that I"m just getting around to share them!

Smirk Photo Challenge

The kids helped with our Church Clean-up Day on Saturday!! Oh, it was great to get pictures of the kids hauling mulch with the grown men... and the kids gladly worked.

At one point they all "rested" and got some cool drinks! Anna sat on the church stairs with one of our members...

who tries to be serious and grumpy!! But once you get past his tough, hardworking look you'll see he's quite the opposite.

We caught him (with the smirk to prove it) "teasing" the pastor's kid... and she obviously didn't think he was funny!! LOL!! Looks like she drank something gross...



My obvious regret is that Anna isn't totally in focus!! Welcome to "just learning"!

But I LOVE the different generations pictured! And getting that SMIRK was a "perfect" shot because it's not often displayed from this fellow:)

It's a fun challenge this week:) With all the smirks... we'll have plenty of smiles!

The Afterschool Crew & Outreach

And if you think I already had my hands full....

I want you to meet the "afterschool crew"!!!! We have 2 friends stay with us afterschool for a few hours!!


If all kids were as easy as these two... I'd take more in:) Love these kids;)



I saw this Outreach linkup from The HomeSchool Village on a friend's blog. To be honest, I get soo overwhelmed and consumed with all the "book learning" the kids and I do that I often neglect reaching beyond our home. Sure, occassionally we'll have friends over for dinner and always stop to talk to neighbors on walks, etc!! But there could be soo much more!!

We are involved with outreach activities through our church. Being pastor kids, they get volunteered a lot;) But I really think my kids LOVE picking up neighborhood friends for Awana or helping on Operation In As Much projects,etc! And we pack our Christmas Shoe Boxes for Samaritans Purse (actually recieved a letter from Botswana this year!!).

Funny thing is that I've already been brainstorming how to pray weekly for some of our "shut-in"/older church members. And then having the kids make something for them and us visit them. Our members LOVE seeing the kids (not sure if they would LOVE seeingthe kids in THEIR house... just kidding... LOL!!!). But I do think many would appreciate more visits;)

So this has really challenged me to start placing some simply ministry and outreach items on our schedule weekly! Looking forward to getting more ideas from this linkup:)

I Really Want to Blog....

But it's impossible to share all I want to right now. So I'll give you the run down of what's keeping me from blogging right now:)

The biggest thing is VBS!! I LOVE VBS!!! It's just an awesome way for our church to minister to the children and families in our community. We've had the privilege through VBS of watching soo many of the children of our town "grow up" these last 5 years!


This year is even more amazing!! A senior adult team from Virginia has come to basically run our VBS! Oh, they had perfect timing in asking us and their being in our church and town is soo encouraging to me.

Monday was our first day and we enjoyed the 30+ children that came into our "ranch"! I can't wait to see what the week holds!!!


Nate's schedule has changed on me again!! When he sleeps longer than 40 minutes he sleeps hard, otherwise it seems like he is trying to get down to 2 naps already with cat naps between. The good news is that he is starting to be more content watching us and looking at toys so he's not needing to be held constantly (although I'm trying to get in all the snuggle time i can!)



And yes.... that is a cloth diaper on his bottom!

I have used cloth for a day or so... there are some pros and cons!! I've always wanted to try cloth diapers for economic and environmental reasons. So I'm glad to have this chance.

I really want to share.... the good, the bad and the gross!! LOL!! But I'll save that for another time that I DON"T need my whole family out the door the next morning by 8:45am so we can "VBS" with 40+ people all morning;)

And we can't overlook continuing to prepare for school starting sometime next month, keeping the house in order, meals and our normal outings.... it's enough to keep this girl busy:) And keep the blog simple this week!

Joining the Gratitude Community

For almost as long as I have been blogging I have enjoyed Holy Experience and have been wanting to join in on the Gratitude Community. Thanking God for the big and small ways He blesses my family and I. This blogging community fits well into my desire to live out Ephesians 5:20 ...

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So here goes ...

1. Our Heavenly Father who offers us His perfect love and complete Salvation!! And gently guides us to be more like Him when we seek to know Him more!!

2. My gracious and loving husband- who is very much my "perfect mate"

3. Anna - my sweet first born who keeps us straight and loves to learn

4. Christopher - my delightful, full of curiousity and energy boy who keeps me on my toes

5. Lydia - my snuggly yet independent little girl who thinks her smile can get her out of all sorts of trouble

6. Our godly extended family- we know we are soo blessed to have 2 sets of grandparents who love the Lord, eachother, and their grandchildren (and children), and aunts and uncles that also serve the Lord!

7. Our quiet little town

8. Our sweet church family- who have modeled service, generousity, faithfulness and graciousness to us and our family. We have learned soo much by being apart of our church family!

9. Our daily bread.... we are soo blessed that we have what we need

10. Our health.... in the midst of flu season, living with food allergies and a momma in her first trimester... I am soo thankful that we have stayed healthy these last few months!! And our prayers go out to our friends and family who are fighting sicknesses and /or recovering from major health situations!

11. And my new sweet blessing growing inside my womb.... I praise God for this awesome gift and I DO NOT take it lightly that we have given Baby by the Lord.

Oh.... I could go on... there are still many blessings that I have not listed:) But every Monday (or Sunday night) I will be taking the time to truely Count My Blessings.

Our Church Family

We moved into the church parsonage in August 2004 without knowing a soul in our area (except the pastor search committee) and a 2 month old baby!! Brian and I were new parents, new to the pastor/pastor wife role and new to the community.

I'll be completely honest that the first couple months were HARD!! Not because of anyone or anything that happened.... but here I was a new mom knowing no one! I was alone with my little baby all day! My highlights of the week were outings with my husband and church functions, when I could listen to great teaching (right honey) and have fellowship with others:)

I praise God that after 4 years now I've grown to love my town, my neighbors and especially my church family!! We have been blessed being apart of their community and lives. The have encouraged us and loved us, loved our kids and demonstrated Christ's love to us in soo many ways. I truely have never met such a generous and loving crowd:)

So tonight, while we're away from our church family and community during our Comunity Thanksgiving Service we just wanted to say how thankful we are to you guys and the time we've had to enjoy your fellowship, friendship and Christ-like example!!

Our Friday Night Out

Our Friday night plans included meeting Uncle Scott, the future Aunt Beatriz and Miss Virginia (Beatriz's mom) for dinner. We actually ended up meeting them closer to home, which was nice on our part:) The restaurant was definitely more upscale than what we're used to... ha ahaa...not quite like McDonalds and Wendys!!!

Christopher sipping out of a real glass!!

Uncle Scott, "Aunt" Beatriz, and Miss Virginia

Grandma and Anna
Anna was eating Smarties... very smart for parents to bring!!

Uncle Scott getting Smarties off of Lydia

Hugs for "aunt" Beatriz from Christopher:)

The "originial" Crew.....
thank goodness for some daughter-in-laws...Grandma has been outnumbered long enough

Church Easter Egg "Party"

A couple of weeks ago, Addie called to see if we could join up forces to put an Easter egg hunt on for our children's classes at church. Since we are both from smaller churches in the same town we thought it would be fun to have to hunt with more kids than just our kids separately on Sunday morning....... so we planned our joint Easter Egg Hunt/Party!!!!

And what a blessing to plan and work to get something together and then have a crowd of people there to enjoy it!!! We had 19 kids, but 3 were under a year old (and two expecting mommies). And we had 18 adults!!! So that is 37 people......wow that's pretty good since we were originally expecting 20 but planning for 25 :)

So great idea and job, Addie!!! And thanks also to the ladies that jumped right in to help with laying out food and drinks.....and cleaning up!!! You all are such a sweet blessing to me!! And all the people who provided us food, drinks, eggs and candy!!!

We did try to take some pictures of our festivities......we had a craft, egg hunt, resurrection story with numbered eggs and a snack time!!! Anyway, while "hosting" a gathering and keeping up with our three little ones our pictures aren't the greatest....but we did get some!!

Recovery Day

Many might be wondering how the Deacon Dinner went last night.....it was a blast!! Everything was great....although I wish I could have done more visiting and serving...I did what I could. Having the deacons and their wives was nice though because they really served one another and were a blessing to us!! We also played a little game and got to know eachother even more.....somethings that they didn't even know about eachother:) We have been soo thankful for our church family.....they are a great group of people to serve and worship with. And then many have blessed us even more by being our extended family since our families live hours away.




BUT WHAT a DAY we had getting ready!!! In fact, Brian said about 2pm...you have to blog THIS DAY.......

Morning:
*Eat breakfast and clean up kids
*Entertain kids while dusting living and dining rooms
*Tidying bathroom and washroom
*Getting plates and silverware together in kitchen

*Make tea
*Do "reading" lesson with Anna
*Start fixing lunch for kids
*Brian chased a bird out of the attic (might be good news b/c we thought it wa a squirrel....hopefully it was just birds)

This is when it just got NUTS......right before lunch
*Bring over table and chairs from church
*Put up new fireplace screen
*Vaccuum out the fireplace..............soot got into the air and created a haze in the living and dining rooms. we first noticed it when Christopher was leaving black footprints on the plastic table from the church......
*Redust the living and dining rooms with PLedge (didn't work..still left a film of PLedge and soot)
*Redust the furniture with Windex (we were desperate and it worked)
*Vaccuum all the cloth furniture
*Feed the kids lunch
*Christopher saw us cleaning and swiped the Windex and started spraying all over our TV stand, TV, antenna, end table......soon after we put him to bed....and the TV started turning on and off by itself.
*Hang a picture The finished fireplace
*Kids off to nap
*Set-up tables, move out highchair and booster seat
*Iron table cloths
*Wash and dry remaining dinner plates, the dessert plates and remaining glasses
*Bake ham
*Set the tables for dinner,
*Finish washing off counters
*Touch up floor (soo glad I washed it Monday night)
*Touch up bathroom (so glad I did that Monday afternoon)
*Brian mowed the yard
*Kids wake up
*Set-up chairs so Lydia and Christopher don't steal silverware off the tables
*Fix kids dinner - eating on a blanket on the kitchen floor. We gated them in the kitchen so they wouldn't mess with everything and so their dinner would be contained in the kitchen
*Get jam, butter, salt, pepper and extra napkins on the tables
*Make gravy and homemade biscuits

Here are a couple more pics from the evening:

Christopher climbing on the chair, getting into the conversation

The kids talked them into playing doctor. Anna asked "Do you have your insurance card?"

So this is what we're doing today:

Princess Castle Day!!!