Hey, Everyone!! :) So, since I've started back to counting points again, I've lost 8.2lbs!! :) That's in 3 weeks!! :) YAY!! So, kinda slow, but I know that's the healthy way...plus, I haven't been going to the gym, that's straight water & eating numbers...SO...

VBS went GREAT!! I wish I had a picture to share with you, but our camera is broken...actually, it's the battery door that's broken, so it won't stay on without holding it HARD...a pain...bummer, too, cause I love to take pictures...

Our VBS numbers were down this year, we think it's because it was pretty late in the summer...SO, we'll know for next year. We're hoping for a July VBS next year...and we've already scoped out the materials...After fitting this one together piece by piece, I asked Traci, my partner in crime, "Um, next year, can we, um, buy a kit?" LOL The next day she got a thing in the mail (at church) for a LifeWay VBS 2008 Conference in Nashville, TN in January...and our Youth Minister said, yes, we could go, and the youth fund would pay for our conference fees (not room & board while we're there, but he said they might take up a collection closer to time to go towards that...) Anyways, isn't that AWESOME?!?! That might not be a big deal to some of you all, but our church isn't doing great financially (there are issues from the past that are "haunting" us today...the "founding preacher" & all that...) Anyways, the not so funny joke is, whoever leads a ministry is in charge of paying for it...out of pocket...There just doesn't seem to be enough to go around after Pastor's paid (and he's barely paid, really, imo) and the bills are paid...So, this VBS thing, to me, is a big deal!! LOL :)

I'm thinking that for the next few women's things, we'll have to start charging a little. This also means that you get a better turn out because they're literally invested!! I hadn't thought about it that way, but it makes sense. Whatever surplus there may be leftover, we could plug it into the Women's Retreat fund. Women's Retreat is fun...and is gonna be fun this year :)

I just got to listen to Chuck Swindol a little on the radio this afternoon, and he was talking about churches taking collections for different things, not just tithes. He said it's absolutely Biblical to do this because God Himself instructed Moses to take a collection from the Israelites when they left Egypt. Gold, Silver, Bronze, purple cloth, grains, etc... I hadn't thought of it that way, but that's exactly what He told them to do. They had a specific need & took up a collection for it. Now, that's all I heard, and there may be more to the story. Just typing that out I know that there is still an issue of being a good steward with our funds & relying on God to fulfill all our needs. And, having said that, don't you think He fulfills those with special offerings?

Okay, enough about that...

I watched Katie for Chelle this morning/afternoon...That girl is at such a fun age right now!! She's starting to say words, and makes all kinds of silly faces, she's just a hoot. I felt brave, and needed laundry detergent!! LOL, and carted both of them with me to Target. We had fun!! We also ate lunch there, and things went very smoothly, I thought...by the time we got home, they were both ready for a nap, so that was good timing, too. I finally got to clean the bathroom!! What an exciting life I lead!! :) LOL

I had a dr's apt. this past Monday with Dr. Hemmelgarn...no, we're not pregnant...yet!! :) I can't believe it...I'm off my pills, so we'll see what happens. She said she'd give me until Thanksgiving to see what my cycles are going to do, and if they're not regular, then she's starting me on Clomid...Missy, funny, she said, "You've been on Clomid before, right?" LOL I said, "Um, no, but my cousin Missy has!" LOL Funny how they get us confused still...

SO, prayers for that, please? Not just getting pregnant...but a HEALTHY FULL-TERM & HEALTHY BABY pregnancy...On some ttc message boards I've frequented before, they ended every post with "baby dust" & some .-*-.-*-. thing...anyways, I've got a blinkie somewhere that blinks "TTC" I'll have to find...I don't want to get "baby dust" on someone who doesn't WANT baby dust!! LOL :) Actually, it's nothing like "dust" if you ask me...but I'm getting gross...

On that wonderful note!! HAHA!! :)

Love you all...

"I have value. I have worth. No matter how I feel, God’s word is true. He loves me. He values me. I am important."

Bonita Lillie, She Speaks Graduate, Proverbs 31 Ministry

I Peter 3:3-4, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hear and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gently and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (NIV)

So, this is a deep-thought moment…for now!! Hehehe…I read my Proverbs 31 devotion today, and, of course, it hit me right where I’m at today. I’ve been struggling this week with my self-image, if you will. Probably on a few levels because of what the Lord brought to mind today. First of all, I’ve been feeling inadequate. I’ve not finished college. Actually, I did really horrible the last few quarters at Sinclair, and have always felt like I’ve left something undone there. Now, I’ve shared with you all my dream of going back to school to become a certified teacher. Well, my “lack of schooling” has been making me feel inferior lately. I realize in my head that it’s the evil one trying to discourage me, especially this week, from being effective in VBS ministry, but it’s been bothering me nonetheless. But, did you read that first statement up there? No matter how I’m FEELING, I am worthy because I am God’s. That is such a hard concept for me because of all my feelings of inferiority. I don’t talk about it much, but this stems back from school, I think. Just that “never good enough no matter what I do” kind of thinking. When I didn’t do great on a test, that was like telling me I was below average. I didn’t get the message that I had it in me, and could try harder…I probably heard that message, but because of whatever, I didn’t REALLY hear it, ya know? So, anyways, just something to think about. To ponder with my heavenly Father. I love to hear from Him that it’s not all about me, but HIM IN ME that’s so important!! I don’t do anything by myself… It’s not just me…and I’m not just doing “stuff” just to be doing “stuff.” All for HIS glory, His kingdom, so that HIS message, through me, gets to as many more people as possible before He returns…

The second “level” (I don’t know if it ranks above or below the other one!! LOL). I don’t know if I’ve shared things with you about my perception of God changing…For some reason, I got the impression that every consequence the Lord dished out in the Old Testament (i.e. specifically the banishment from Eden) was done out of the wrath of God. While this may be true to an extent, I am learning that it was more out of His mercy for us that we were banished. Because, out of His unfathomable love for us, he didn’t want us to LIVE FOREVER with our sin. He had plans to send us a Savior. Well, out of this “wrath of God” mentality, I’ve been re-evaluating my view about His Word. Take that I Peter section above. If you had asked me, I would’ve told you before that I wasn’t sure if that meant I shouldn’t fix my hair and dress like the Amish!! LOL But I’ve seen that verse in a different light…Not as a “don’t do this” command, but a “That’s not where your true beauty lies.” Now, when Chelle & I were little, we went to all kinds of churches with Dad’s quartet, and inevitably someone would comment “Oh, what pretty girls!” Mom & Dad had us trained to say, “Girls, can you tell ----- what makes you pretty?” In unison we would say, “The way we act.” Well, this tells you how slow I am…I’m just getting that they were teaching us scripture!! LOL Not a specific scripture address, but a principle that the Lord wanted to instill in ALL of His children. So important that He put it in His book!! :)

Well, that’s as much as my brain can handle, but I needed to journal that so I didn’t forget it. I love writing in a prayer/devo journal (hand-written, just between me & the Lord), but there doesn’t seem to be much time for that. I’ve got to start making time…probably in the mornings before Abbey gets up? Sorry, “type-thinking” out loud…

So, tonight is the start of VBS…I’ve been struggling the past week with “adequateness” and the perception that other volunteers (not the other director, but the other volunteers for the week) just didn’t care about it, really, and that all of our work was silly or unimportant. SO, yesterday at church, I got a CLEAR word from the Lord, through His people, that He approved, and wasn’t that all that mattered, anyways? I can’t make others do or feel how I want them to feel. I can’t make them do anything. God’s in that business, and as my favorite SCC songs says, “God is God, and I am NOT!” I LOVE that!! And, some people better be glad that I’m NOT God!! LOL Makes me think of Bruce Almighty a little…BTW, has anyone seen Evan Almighty? It’s at our cheap theatre already, and I’d love to see it soon…um, not this week, though!! LOL Anyways, so, all of that to say, I was struggling with that, but the Lord affirmed me that that was only MY perception of the situation…not the reality…*side note, The Lord’s also teaching me that I shouldn’t always go with my perception of “stuff” because it’s always gonna be skewed by something!! Emotions, situation, body language, misunderstanding, the list could go on & on, so I’ll spare you!! LOL

Okay, better go…Talk to you all later…and more prayers for VBS & stuff?

Love you all!! :)

So, remember all that "heart-motivation" I was talking about yesterday? Here's what I read today in my quiet time...

I Peter 4:7-11

7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Okay, so, talk about affirmation!! LOL I love how God truly speaks through His Word!! :) He's so awesome!! I took that to mean, for me specifically, at this season of my life, to give up maybe one more commitment at church...right now I'm thinking it's between Sunday School & Children's Church...I still don't know...Still need to pray about that, I guess...It would be awesome if we could get another teacher for the preschoolers (that would be Abbey & her friend Alex, and a couple of others, actually...I think more would come if we could get that class started...) Anyways, would you please help me pray about this? Children's Church isn't that big a deal...it's one Sunday a month, and without worrying about Fellowship, now, that's not such a big deal...And, Sunday School gets me there early!! LOL

So, today was spent hopping over to church to talk to the secretary for a bit (I decided to skip Women's Bible Study today because I need to get on the ball with a bunch of VBS stuff.) Anyways, after that, we met Mom @ Chick-Fil-A!! :) YUM-O!! :) (While there, I asked about coupons or something for VBS, of course!! LOL Should I be able to write that lunch off as a business expense?!?! LOL). After lunch, Abbey wanted to go with Mammy (like I didn't know that was gonna happen!! LOL), and Mom said she'd take her to the store with her while I ran to Family Christian...I LOVE THAT STORE!! I could literally spend hours there!!

Unfortunately, I didn't have a coupon on me, OR my letterhead note, so that was a "me" trip...sorta...I did end up getting the split trak I needed for VBS...everything's VBS right now!! LOL

But, it was a nice afternoon. I picked Abbey up at Mom & Dad's & saw Matt & Chelle...they were all gussied up for a night out!! They're seeing The Wizard of Oz @ La Comidia tonight to celebrate their anniversary (which was last month!! LOL) Anyways...Abbey fell asleep on our way home, but that didn't last, so she's gonna be a handful tonight @ church...we're watching a video for choir tonight, and limiting practice to 15 minutes or so...It's kinda like a "light" potluck...mostly snacks & stuff, but someone's bringing chili!! :) Free dinner!! WooHoo!! :) Steve bought 50 cookies from Wal-Mart's bakery on his way home so I didn't have to heat the house up more...

So, before my inlaws came last month, I moved a few things around the house. I decided to put Abbey's big toybox in the living room to make her room not feel so crowded, and to do that, of course I had to move the couches around, which means the toybox fits perfectly under where the thermostat is on our wall...Well, this morning before we left Abbey was playing with some toys in her toybox. I was in the bathroom (which is only a few feet from where her toybox is) and I heard the lid go down, and she got realy quiet...then she asked, "Mommy, how do you turn the air conditioner on?" I told her there are buttons, but only Mommy & Daddy can "make the air conditioner come on." I didn't check it before we left...WELL, when we got home this afternoon, the house was HONKEN hot!! Like, there was no difference between outside & inside...I checked the thermostat, and my little princess had turned the thermostat up to 78 degrees!!!!!!!! YIKES!!!!!!!! I love that "whoosh" of cool air you experience when you first come in from outside...oh, well, I talked to her again about it being only Mommy & Daddy's job to "make the a/c come on..." She asked me what her job was!! LOL Then she says, "I think it's my job to play..."LOL Cute!!

Another cute Abbey story, then I'll close this UBER long post...

En route between Huber & Beavercreek, we were listening to the radio, but Abbey wasn't asking any questions or telling me anything (this isn't normal behavior for her right now!! LOL) So, here's the conversation that followed:

Me: Are you okay? Are you thinking?
Abbey: Yes.
Me: Whatcha thinking about?
Abbey: Papa.
Me: What are you thinking about Papa?
Abbey: How we play at my Mammy's house.
Me (trying not to giggle): What do you & Papa play at Mammy's house?
Abbey: We play horseys.
Me: You do?
Abbey: Yeah, Papa says 'Neigh!' and I say 'Geddyup!'

I love to hear what kids are thinking about!! I thought it was so sweet that she was really thinking hard about her Papa & how they play together...Mom bought Abbey a stick horse, and she named it Brownie. When I asked what Papa's horse's name was she said, "Blue" & I had to giggle...Dad uses a blue broom for his "horse"!! LOL

Well, that's it :) I love you all, and Sara, I didn't take offense at all to your first comment for me yesterday!! :) I just tend to dive deeper into my own rationale about things...

Okay, better go get ready...Actually, it's starting to cool down some in here :) THANK THE GOOD LORD!! :)

Love you all!! :)

I just feel the need to blog tonight...does that happen to anyone else? I realize I've been MIA this summer, but there have been a few times where I've just wanted to stop everything & blog!! LOL So, tonight I did!! LOL

VBS is REALLY CLOSE!! Less than 2 weeks away, now!! :) I'm not really nervous about things not working out right...I'm just ready to stop talking about it, and DO it, ya know? We've got quite a few things going on, though, in order to get ready for it...One is, we're selling VBS T-shirts this year, (for a very cheap price, and a great profit margin), but the catch is we're making them ourselves...They're not hard to do, and they're VERY cute, but it's just one more thing to have to worry about...Anyways, I'm also getting excited about the set design & stuff...We have to construct a puppet area this year, and there's nothing we can use on the stage already (like a baptismal someone could sit in or whatever...) so, we have to make a "puppet stage" that will blend in with the rest of the themed scenery...and, let me just say, my scrapbooking/paper piecing experience is definately going to come out!! We're making a huge tree out of bulletin board paper, and lots of flowers & stuff...VERY COOL, and pretty easy, really, when the teens & older kiddos help out...Anyways, I'm looking forward to it...I'll have to take pictures again & let you see it...I'm not painting as much as I thought I would have to, either...SO, THAT's GOOD!! :) We'll probably try & keep the puppet thing neutral, but I can use cardboard squares to paint "buggy" pictures on...

Sorry, just thinking "out loud."

Okay, after VBS, we'll start gearing up for Reunion & vacation at the beginning of September!! I can't believe it's so close already...Unbelievable!! Mom & Dad, Chelle, me, and the girls are all going back to the Smokies again after Reunion. That's always such a great week to go, and most of the hotels are cheaper that week, too...So, REALLY looking forward to that!! :)

Then, in October, our Women's Retreat is coming up...The last weekend of October, to be exact...I'm excited about that, too, but we need to get more "on the ball" with that...I've been saying to myself, "After VBS is over, I can really focus more on Women's Retreat..." blah blah blah...

Then, in November, just a few weeks after Women's Retreat, is our Church Bazaar...and guess who crafts for that?!?! LOL Yep!! I actually work there that weekend (Fri & Sat) personalizing ornaments & such...Well, like the ones I showed you like I did last year...I posted those pics, right? That's what I do (mostly) for the bazaar...

Really, though, it's already time to start thinking about a Christmas play, too...I'm really not into all this "production" stuff!! LOL I feel like everything I do is a big "production"!! LOL I'm hoping everyone will be OK with what we did last year...It went well, and we can always use what we learned about doing it last year, as far as set-up & stuff...It can grow, and we can advertise in the community more...

So, always busy busy busy!! LOL I did step down from doing Fellowship (it's a team of people on a rotation that bring in snacks for after church on Sundays). That was just always something I was always forgetting & my heart just wasn't in it...Plus, I need to just let a few things go, ya know? Just because I "stay at home" doesn't mean I have more time for everything else!! A lesson I'm really learning right now!! LOL

I've been wondering about Sunday School & Children's Church, too...I only have CC once a month, but sometimes it can be a little too much since I'm on the Praise & Worship team, too...So, we'll see...We were talking tonight about changing up Children's Church a little, and just re-organizing it & putting more structure (as far as designating each Sunday to a "theme" like "Movie Time Sunday" & "Game Sunday" & "Craft Sunday" etc... I like what Bethany does, too, and has a "Family Sunday"...that could be the 5th Sunday when there is one so it's not all the time...interesting...have to talk to Traci about that one...)

So, lots of stuff going on...especially with church. I really love working like that in the church, and planning fun stuff & things like that. I just want to always check my heart-motive. I always want it to be for God's glory, and not because I like that "accomplishment" feeling, ya know? And, in the midst of all the planning, I don't want to lose that heart-motive, either, and get so wrapped up in the work, that I forget the REASON for the work, ya know? I realize we all can struggle with that, and it's just a season in our walk with the Lord...prayers, though? Thank you!! :)

Okay, better go...There are so many other things that don't involve church (I know!! LOL Shocker!! LOL), but I've run out of time...it's after midnight, and Steve turns back into a grump then!! LOL Oops, I mean pumpkin...LOL

Love you all!! :)

I just have a minute...I just found out about this, and thought you all who are WOF fans would appreciate this article.

http://www.womenoffaith.com/newsroom/mediacoverage/barbarajohnson.asp

Barbara Johnson was the only WOF speaker I really knew anything about that first year I went. I read her books, and they made me laugh & cry, and were instrumental in knocking down the misconceptions I had been taught about God's incomprehensible love for me. Check out her books...