things i'm thankful for (2009 edition) version 1.0

new friends
tiny neighbors
cooler weather
catalogs
clean carpets!
babies on the way (not me - just lots of folks in my life)
netflix
movies
books
new to me furniture

October in Review

I'm a little late on this one...oops.

Listening to... b.reith & lots of randomness on the radio

Watching...All Creatures Great and Small (on Netflix)

Reading...for book club - The Help by Kathryn Stockett
                other reading - Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery

Eating...my made-up version of stir fry (i don't think this is actually how you make stir fry but it works for me!

Drinking...sweet tea

Wearing...my snazzy new brown jacket!!

Lusting after...

Laughing at...the random things you deal with when working with children! 

Brainstorming on...Christmas!!!  It's coming!!!

Excited about...putting up my Christmas tree in 13 days!  (yes, that's before Thanksgiving) there is a method to my madness!

Getting ready for...my mission trip to Louisiana next month - UMCOR Sager Brown - have i mentioned that i am the youngest person by at least 30 years going on this trip?  definitely going to be interesting...

why i love high school football...

i love high school football.  i didn't like it at all when i was in high school but over the last three or four years, it's one of the highlights of my life!  the joys of living in a small town!!

Here are the reasons why i love it so:

1. marching bands (good or bad)

2. excellent people watching

3. everyone in town is there

4. the joy of sitting with the older ladies from my church doing something that is not typically related to old ladies.

5. watching the children of the community goof about and not actually pay any attention to the game.

6. being in this town long enough to actually know some of the players on the team and the cheerleaders.

7. the fact that the concession stand sells things that you wouldn't think of as stadium food - like gumbo, chili and gator tail (welcome to florida!)

8. the announcer who says happy birthday to anyone and everyone whenever there is a lull.

9. at one of the first games i attended here, a dog got loose on the field and they had to stop the game for 15 minutes until they could catch it!

10. the actual football game itself.

enjoy your friday night lights!

GO SHARKS!

September in Review

I can't decide if September has flown by or not but it does all seem a blur.

Listening to...Fellowship of the Ring on Audio CD in my car (almost done!)

Watching...The Vicar of Dibley - ah-mazing!


Reading...anything I can get my hands on but mostly Jan Karon's Mitford Series

Eating...Fried Chicken every Wednesday night because that's what we have at church.  the best fried chicken EVER. Period. End of Story.

Drinking...believe it or not...more water!  and also diet coke.

Wearing...some stuff other than flip flops!

Lusting After...new brown boots - i want flat knee high ones.  and also new floors for my house.

Laughing at...some of the prayer requests I get from the children...I love this part of my job!  For example, this week I prayed for a fish named Snake Eyes, a puppy, a little girl to get wings, and for another little girl's house to turn into a castle so she could be a princess!

Brainstorming on...what to get Dad for his birthday

Excited about...the cooler weather that has FINALLY arrived in Florida.

Peeved about...the wasps that were trying to build a nest in my shutters.

preparation

I once again learned the value of preparation as a part of ministry yesterday.  I know that I need to be prepared ahead of the time actually spent with the kids, but for some reason I got REALLY overwhelmed yesterday.  Actually, scratch that.  I have been REALLY overwhelmed for the majority of the week.  Maybe it's the rain, maybe it's not having a space for the children's ministry to call our own, maybe it's just me.  I don't know but I was overwhelmed.

I did let the kids play in the puddles at the church yesterday.  There was no keeping 26 third, fourth, and fifth graders inside.  It wasn't raining but the church yard was flooded.  About four minutes into letting them play in the puddles, the little boys were coming out of their shirts.  Too funny.  

We survived the TruthWalkers and then had some INCREDIBLE fried chicken for dinner.  Then we started our practice for our Children's Sabbath, which will be held on October 11th.  This is where the kids will be running the service.

**side note - what do you say to a woman who comments, "I always skip that service."??**

Practice was a disaster.  I was not prepared and I was ill.  Totally my fault that I couldn't get control of the kids.  There was one injury and one pouty sourpuss and about 12 wild hooligans.  Needless to say, I learned my lesson.  Wednesdays come whether I like them or not.  Preparation is key.

Picture from here.

Disciple

In a small turn of events, I will be starting the Disciple Bible Study tomorrow evening.  This will be an online study and I am really excited about it.  If you are interested in this, visit www.beadisciple.com.

I was originally registered for a different group on Monday nights and was told that one couldn't happen.  After my utter disappointment, I had decided to just get a refund and attempt to find a study somewhere else.  God pulled through and so I will be starting tomorrow!

great quote

I'm watching Evan Almighty and was just reminded of a great quote.

"When you pray for patience, God doesn't give you patience.  He gives you the opportunity to be patient.  When you pray for courage, God gives you the opportunity to be courageous."

I like this movie.

Have a great Labor Day.