Sunday, July 5, our church will host a "Great American Bake Sale".

If you've not heard of this effort, check it out at
http://gabs.strength.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GABS_homepage

If you're in the neighborhood, come see us. Buy a brownie, or cookie, or whatever...

We will look forward to seeing you!
Blessings

Hospitality and Love

Almost every Sunday night, the Youth Group gets together for a meal and some study and, of course, fun.

This is a great time for a couple of reasons...

First, these students genuinely love getting together and enjoying each other. They are a loving and social group, rarely walking the "clique" or "exclusion" path. Typically, they are beautiful at enfolding new comers and visitors.

Second, it's a more relaxed atmosphere where they seem to have their guards down, as well as do those who are teaching or leading them.

And, finally, it's a great time because it allows the students to see hospitality and love for them in action. We have somebody from the church provide the dinner for them. They come, drop it off, and leave the students happy and well-fed. And, it's rarely one of their parents, rather somebody who doesn't even have a child in the group. Somebody with no obligation, other than caring deeply for that particular group of the church.

A couple of Sunday nights ago, a sweet family offered not only the meal, but their home...their property...their time to the students. We all met at the church and carpooled to Madera where the students were greeted with the smells of amazing BBQ cooking just for them. The horse shoes were waiting to be played along with a couple of bikes and a volleyball court. They enjoyed playing and laughing together while the meal was being laid out for them. BBQ chicken, garlic bread, beans, salad, lemonade. Amazing meal, amazing love for the students.

Lex brought them together and talked about being the aroma of Christ. Just as the BBQ smells filled our hearts as we got out of the cars, so should we be to a world so hungry for a Savior.

And finally, a big campfire with songs and prayers.

The kids were definitely filled with goodness from that night. They were covered with the aroma of Christ from adults who let them know how important they are to the Kingdom.

The Big 2 - 0 !

20 years ago today, I was holding a beautiful, quiet, precious baby boy for the very first time.

20 years later, he is still beautiful and quiet...
He is also extremely intelligent, very strong, and full of amazing talents and gifts that have been developing steadily over his journey. And he's not really a little boy any longer.

Today, we celebrate our son turning 20!

There are so many things about him that I am proud of. And although I could go on for days about all the things that make him special, I will spare him the embarrassment and just simply say he is a tremendous blessing in our lives, as well as any one else who is blessed enough to know him.

Happy Birthday, sweet son.
You are precious to me...

Ministry & Marriage

On Saturday, husband and I celebrated 22 years of marriage.

Some people go out to a nice cozy dinner. Some actually go out of town for a romantic get-away. I'm just sure that some even spend the day gazing in the eyes of their beloved whispering sweet nothings all day long...

We threw a party for the High School graduating seniors.

It's very hard to find a date that all, or most of the folks involved can agree on. There are the folks you want there to honor, there are the folks you want there to support the folks you're honoring, and then the folks whose house you're using, and, of course, you and your family need to have a free moment to help throw this little gathering. So, the date that popped up was Saturday, June 13. Our anniversary.

I whined and griped for a quick minute, then got over it and moved on.

Here's the interesting thing. As we enjoyed our church family, loved on these beautiful seniors who have graduated, listened to the sounds of happy families and children, and laughed with friends at a delicious BBQ with gorgeous 80-ish degree weather...I realized that if I were honest, there's really no place better to spend your anniversary.

For 22 years Lex and I have grown in love for each other and the Lord. Our service to each other is also our service to God. I could look around Saturday and see the fruits of a marriage rooted in service...bound by love for each other and Jesus Christ. I could sit confidently watching my precious husband lead and love those young people and know, without question, we will be celebrating many, many more anniversaries...(as long as we both shall live!)

I guess the best part of growing old together is just that...growing old together.

There are sad days. There are rough roads to travel. There is a darkness that would love nothing better than to obliterate our marriage...but, our love will continue to withstand anything as long as we continue to put God, and service to Him first.

I'm proud of you, Lex. I'm a blessed woman!

Something Good Turns Bad

I'm quite irritated this morning. A virus has infected my computer because of a Facebook worm or virus that went out to a large number of people...I was one of those people, and being a big dummy in the "Facebook" world, didn't recognize a virus when I saw it and...well, ...OPENED THE DARN THING!!

My computer is overrun with some stupid virus now which, I just found out, doesn't have a virus scan/protection program on it. So, I'm struggling to get emails out and normal functions are quite difficult at the moment.

Now, about this Facebook thing...I don't get it. I'm on it because my sweet daughter helped me sign up and so forth...but I don't manage it very well, and truthfully, really don't understand the whole concept of "poking" or telling every little move you make. So, along with sounding very old right now, I probably also sound grumpy and ignorant.

Daughter said I can completely drop out of Facebook, which I might do, but for now my main concern is that there is now a virus running rampant all over my computer...AND, (here's the best part), messages keep going from my facebook account to gazillions of others on my "friends list" that say something like "found sexy video of me" or "sexy video of you" or something like that.

Obviously, if you know me, I keep my sexy videos to myself! ;) My advice to you all, until I get this silly thing under control would be don't open anything with the words "sexy" or "video" or "me" in them until further notice! And be careful out there! It's a crazy world...

Blessings!

Below Average

There is a term that really hits me the wrong way...

"Below Average"

I don't like "Average", most of the time, much less "BELOW Average".

If you're talking finances, education, appearances, talent, intelligence, etc..."below average" is an ugly term.

HOWEVER, I was listening to the news while getting ready for bed the other day and heard this term in a whole new light.

The weather man told me we were going to have temperatures for this next week that would be "below average".

Now that, I loved hearing. Instead 98 degree temps, we will be having low 80's. Beautiful!

Enough of this nonsense...back to work!

Blessings!

Hanging On...

There are days when you, personally, are just barely hanging on.

And then there are times you're solid, feel confident of your direction, have harmony in most or all areas of your life, BUT ...

Others you love, care for, minister to, whatever the case may be are "just barely hanging on".

Sometimes it's because life can deal dirty hands. Other times, you can directly point out the moment your loved one or friend took the road that led to this difficult time. However, whatever the path, the fact that they are struggling gives you sadness and breaks your heart.

So, if you are there, or know someone who is...

Spend some time in Philippians...particularly the beginning...Paul says in v. 6: I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again..."

and at the end in chapter 4 he reminds us to stay focused on what is healthy and valuable as a Christ follower...v.8 says: And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

There are times that life on this earth is hurtful, difficult, frustrating. It creates anxiety that is unnecessary because we forget that God is sovereign over all things. We get caught up in today and our (usually selfish) struggles.

I hope today you will recognize that the God of peace, the sovereign God, is walking beside you and has never left you...and never will.

Blessings.