Bitter Sweet Day

Ever have one of those days where even though it seems nothing is going right...God is still in control? I call them Bitter Sweet Days. Knowing that God is there and that His plan is being worked out is comforting, but knowing that you'll have to say goodbye to people or the way things were is so heartbreaking.

My heart is breaking right now. Withing a week, I've had to hear the words, "I'm leaving and I wanted to be the one to tell you" from 2 people on our team here at Southeast. Seriously! 2 of the coolest people you'll ever know in ministry...wise beyond their years and hearts full of passion for children's ministry. I've enjoyed working with them immensely and will miss them a whole bunch. They both are moving on to ministries where they will get to work closely with the kids and families of their churches, they will both be closer to their families and I think they are going to make a huge impact. I'm SO happy for their opportunities, but I'm REALLY sad for us.

Like I said...Bitter Sweet. Can't decide if I really like these kind of days or not. I'll have to give it some more thought.

Whirlwind

Been in 3 states in a day and a half.
Had an incredible visit with Doug.
Had lunch with Stan and Misty and their 2 adorably cute boys.
Drove home and almost ran out of gas...God does answer prayers!
Saw The Crossing Crew - John, Nathan and Neal.
Saw the MPCC Crew and had a wonderful talk with Keith.
Finally made it home to the good old 1500 block where the parentals and I are currently kicking back and waiting for the boys to come home for supper. Mmmm...spaghetti and cresent rolls...my favorite!!
Awaiting the 8:00 hour for the LOST party with the Quincy Crew.
All of this in 24 hours!! :)

Morning Bliss

So I'm sitting here this morning at my desk and thinking what a great day today is.

The weather is not perfect by any means, but the cool and cloudy drive to work this morning was pleasant.

Reading everyones' blogs this morning and it sounds like God has been good to my friends lately.

Getting to leave this afternoon for home.

(Well, first I'll be stopping in Springfield to spend the evening with my good friend Doug Welk...who I might add I haven't seen since May.)

Can't wait!

Then I'll be heading home Wednesday for the blessed town of Quincy. Oooo buddy:)

Pondering all of this while eating the perfect banana...talk about it!!

Home Awaits!

5 days remaining before I head home for Thanksgiving.
Things I'm thankful for this year...

1. My family who is expanding. My new sister-in-law, Melissa, who was added to our family in October. Shawna who is promised to be added in May:) My two brothers who are incredible guys that I wouldn't trade for the world and for my parents who continue to be the most dedicated and loving parents anyone could ask for.
2. My friends...old and the new. For friends, who over the years have become like family, and remain a constant source of joy and for the new ones I have met since I've moved to Kentucky. You all are my God winks!
3. For the opportunity to be working with this tremendous church. I'm learning so many valuable things from the people that work here and have been blessed by every one I've come in contact with.
4. For a place to live. The Allen family has been so gracious and wonderful.
5. For email and cell phones to keep in contact with everyone. :)
6. For growing churches back home in IL and for ministries being blessed.
7. For friends and loved ones to have found their nitch and seeing how God has used their struggles to produce glorious things for the Kingdom.
8. For an opportunity to daily fall in love with Jesus. To feel His presence, to see His provisions, to sense His love and to know He is God. To know that no matter where I live or what I do, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever".
9. For the opportunity and freedom to study His Word and to see how my faith has grown because of it. To see my spiritual heritage come to life in the pages of Genesis and to be thankful for the many who have gone before whose faith has been tested and strengthed and blessed.
10. For life, for love, for happiness, for all the things that bring smiles to our faces. God is good and I am thankful.

Hawaiian Christmas: Tacky or Just Plain Fun??

Southeast hosted their annual Women's Christmas Tea last night. The place is filled with gorgeously decorated tables with beautiful center pieces, Christmas China, creative themes, etc. It's basically a women's "fru-fru" event...something I've never really been into, but I've come to terms with my "anti-fru-fru-ness".

A bunch of staff girls got together and decided to decorate 2 tables. The theme chosen this year was Hawaiian Christmas. On the back of the chairs were grass skirts and flowers, we had plastic plates, bright colored everything, flamingo forks, funky paper cups, blow-up pink flamingo on the table and to top it off Santa and Mrs. Claus wearing grass skirts and lais!! It was SOOO TACKY...but SO INCREDIBLE FUN!!

Ladies showed up in nice Christmas dresses, gowns, sweaters...
Our table showed up in Jeans, Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts and lais...
We got tons of comments on our "fun" table. Everyone seemed to love it!
The night was a good time. :)

Cell Phones

Left my phone in Steve's car yesterday. Must have thought it made it into my purse...nope! Felt completely lost and out of touch with the world...disoriented...didn't know what to do for about 4 hours.

Seriously...what is our obsession with these little things anyways???
I'm way too attached to this little bugger. I take it with me everywhere. If I miss a call, it's like it's the end of the world. (Not that I get many anyways...but that's beside the point.)

Realizing this morning that I'm pathetic.

The Incident

Funny story today involving....

A. Shower
B. Shaving Legs
C. Slippery Tub
D. Savior of a Shower Curtain
E. Sore Bottom
F. Soaking Wet Floor

If you want to hear details LADIES...I'll be glad to laugh through it again with you!! :)

The King and I

Went to the Kentucky Center last night for what we thought would be an incredible performance of The King and I, paid a good chunk of change for our pretty spectacular seats in Row Z (serious about that one), got our programs and awaited for the curtains to open....

In one word we can describe the whole show. It was TERRIBLE! The whole lead cast was pitiful. It was a real shame. If any of you know who Stephanie Powers is - Hart to Hart lady - well, she is now maybe 50 or 60 years old. They casted her as Anna, the schoolteacher, who is written to be a 30 year old young lady. Talk about gross! The guy who was the King of Siam was actually younger than her in real life...it was just sad my friends...just sad. I brought back the word "grotee" into my vocabulary last night when I was describing the romantic scenes...it was the only thing I could think of that could do it justice.

Even though the casting was horrible, the set, the support casting, and the orchestra were great. Good times were had in Row Z by my friends Karla and Jeff. "Can't touch this!" :)

Weekend in NashVegas

Karla and I took a roadtrip to Nashville this weekend and had a Grand Ole Time!! Headed out Thursday after work to visit her friend Traci. Nashville is a great city! Didn't get to go downtown too much (which is my favorite part) - just drove through the outskirts and walked across the Pedestrian Bridge. So many cool restaurants and shops. It's all fun and full of history...especially the Ryman Auditorium - LOVE that place!

We did however make it to the Opry Mills Mall which is one of the coolest malls...big circle of fun! Got sucked into the vortex of Old Navy and spent more than I should, but I got 10% off:) Watched The Wedding Date with Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney (sweet eye candy). Eehh-the movie was just okay, but the soundtrack was amazing. Lots of songs by Michael Buble (who is my new found favorite)!! If any of you like Harry Connick Jr., then you will love Michael - go by the CD...it's incredible! And his last name is fun to say too:)

Roadtrips are such a blast! And spending time with friends whom you can laugh with makes it ten times better. Karla and I learned so much about each other this weekend and I found out that I've become an influence on her in various and interesting ways:) Sorry bout that girl!! Thanks for the invite this weekend!

The Magical Post

The post below has a special secret...you have to highlight and scroll over the text to get it to appear. Don't understand why, but it has serious magical powers! Watch Out...it's weird:)

Big Night at SECC!

So REAL excited that Nichole Nordemann is here in concert tonight! Heard over the Events radio earlier that she was about 15 minutes away and after lunch we drove around the back of the Worship Center and saw her tour bus. I like her...I think she's great. Met her once before at the GMA week. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. It was meaningful and really deep...

"Hi there! Would you like a bottle of water?" I said.
Nichole responded, "That would be so great! Thank You! Hey I have a spot open on my tour for a personal assistant...would you be interested? I think you have an incredible personality and would love to work with you!"
So I said..."Oh, that would be great, but I just got offered the internship position at Southeast CC...thanks for asking though!"

Okay, so that last part after thank you was a complete fib, but I thought it would be hilarious! Enjoy your day...:)