Mama said ther'd be days like this, days like this, my mama said!

Ahhh, I am chuckling to myself because you either cry from exhaustion or laugh at your mess.  I choose to laugh. 
We had such a busy weekend, but I loved it!  We had sleepovers (i.e. extra kids) every night and we had so much basketball, my rear.end looks like to flattened, but fluffly ones - ha!
In the next room, I hear my girlies laughing then griping, then laughing again.  Praise You God and thank You!
Grace in Moundridge is going "Awesome" (imagine me saying that with an octave change and a slight singing).  It really is amazing how people of God come together from all walks, completely different walks, I mean we are talking some really crazy walks and serve Him--to the glory of Jesus Christ.  It just dumbfounds me and amazes me each time . . . it truly humbles me, because i am seeing such love poured out on people, on me because they love Jesus and our serving Him--not because they know me and want to help me (they do, because it is serving God first).  I am so immature and I am reminded of His Grace over and over.

Okay - funny thing:  we were at Ell.Saline for MAYB basketball games and Erin & Ellen were playing on 2 different teams.  Probably 70% of the time Miss Emily is done on the side of the bleachers, by the wall with 2 feet in the air doing handstands.  "Where is Emily" I would ask Melissa and she looked forward and said, "Well, there's 2 feet in the air - i think that's her!"  Goodness, that girl has got ants in her pants and she moves like it.

The girls did great and it was fun watching them play!  They are both so different, i marvel at how 2 people can produce such variety - truly vanilla & coffee beans and then there is a chili one thrown in, ha!
Seriously, i made no bake cookies and they did not turn out AGAIN - alright, scratch using that worthless recipie (seriously, how hard can they be?  I used butter the 1st time and tried margarine the 2nd and same result, so i have cookie crumbles for ice.cream . . . . hmmm, how can i be creative here?).
Oh, before i run to a variety of meeting tonight (4.h foods, 4.h-where i am helping host-rec board meeting) i need to relay what i learned this weekend.
IT PAYS!
It matters how you treat people always!  It pays to be nice and kind and make an effort with others!  I ran into a highschool opponent, who is a great person and it was neat to visit with her!  Sat by Damian's dad and had a neat conversation (love that kid); Ryan ran into his old College baseball coach - that was cool!  Touched base with my old HS BB coach, very cool.  Ryan ran into another BCCC baseball player, fun!  And, just some other neat connections.  Thanks God for your divine appointments; thank You for the grace You give.  Please help me to always be a better person because You are in my life; amen!

Honey, if you love me will you please, please smile!

Hellooooo World!

Oh my - it has been way too long and sooooo much has happened for almost 2 years now; wow!
My God has been so faithful and so loving . . . walking me (us) through valleys and carrying us to the other side - LORD Jesus, You are Good - Praise Your sweet, sweet name.

We have walked through some open doors and are part of planting a new church here in Moundridge through Grace Community in Newton, Kansas.  Glory be to God - help us to focus on Col. 3: 1-4 - setting our minds on things eternal; keeping that eternal perspective here and now in this world.

It has been very hard . . . there has been much loss . . . in this battle, satan has snuck in here and there and we know that prayer is the warfare against him.  Relationships have been shaken and changed and things are different in how we do church, where we do church, why we do church and they are good things, but different things.

People have a hard time with "different" because "different" usually entails change and we are a "hard.headed"people (forgive us Lord).  I am only beginning to realize the blessing God wants for me and my family; the growth He is allowing and the relationships He is forming . . . I wish I would have been fully obedient sooner because I am FREE of so many things that burdened me before.  Thank You Lord Jesus for opening the eyes of my heart to see things more like You.

We are serving because we are "saved to serve" and because we seek God's blessing and favor now, knowing we have life eternal with Him.  Give us strength Lord for the journey; give us wisdom (we ask believing); give us grace as we tarry at times and give us guidance Lord for the way we should walk.  Praise be to You.  We stand securely behind the shield and hold the Word high.  You know the needs, the desires, the hurts, the crys . . . we lay them at Your feet, Lord, Your pierced feet, Lord, Your bloodied, pierced feet, Lord . . . we lay them down.  Amen.

I cry out to You, Oh God!

My sweet, sweet Jesus. My precious Lord & Saviour.

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you.

I call as my heart grows faint;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."

Psalm 61: 1-2

Father God, hear my pray and attend to my cry. I lift up my dear friend Carina and her family as they experience a new pain in the unexpected death of her father. I pray Psalm 61 for her. Lead her LORD to the rock that is higher than she.

I reviewed again Your promise that death WILL BE defeated and that death is the FINAL enemy and that CHRIST WILL PREVAIL and there will be death NO MORE. (1 Cor. 15:26 & Rev. 20:14). Your word is alive and powerful. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Dear God,

I pray also for my husband. He loves You. He trusts You. He needs You. God, as his earthly dad is soon leaving to join You in the heavenlies, prepare Ryan's heart to rejoice in the fact that Love never ends and to dwell in the knowledge that he (Ryan) is loved by his dad and that his dad is loved by You! Prepare a place for us, LORD, where we will dwell with You forever.

. . . Praise, I will praise You LORD with all my heart . . . let my eyes be focused on You. Let my words utter kindnesses from deep within regardless of any circumstance . . . praise You!

Chivalry or Shivalry (aka Pancakes)

Okay, this evening I will be soooo tired! Up early every morning (worked out - yea! Good for me!). Yesterday, met the BCO Ladies for lunch at Jillians - extremely good! An Italian grill which serves wood fired pizza etc... I had french onion soup & the signature salad. I love the soup because it reminds me of my mom taking me out when life was good and ignorance was in.
Anyway, went to the Newton Fire Dept for a tour with Melissa and her kids (Duane is a firefighter there). Really, really cool! Lorena's uncle is in the fire brigade in Germany so we got him a shirt and hopefully he will send one back to Duane! I am amazed at what they all do & have to know. Quite impressive!

So, the shivalry???? Went to Tara & Chad's at 11:00 pm for pancakes w/ mom & dad, Steve & Steph and kids. Quite a surprise. Quite fun. I will be quite tired I'm sure.

LORD, You are faithful. Bless me indeed. Indeed, let me blessing to others. Amen & Amen.

Lolly & the Girls

A brief run.down of Christmas tidings:

Manheim Steamroller - Kirk Office Party.

Ryan's Sr. Manager 40th Celebration.

R.D.'s Desk trashing.

KC Chiefs FB Game w/ Lolly, Dad, Duane & Melissa.

Erin & Emily's Christmas Concert.

Emily's 6th Birthday at Steve.Stephs.

Ellen Basketball games.

Library Board Christmas Gathering.

Bradbury Co Christmas Party.

Wed. Night Christmas Celebration.

Lolly's Winter Formal.

Piano & Dance Group Classes & Visitation.

New Spring's Christmas Eve Celebration w/ Yia Yia's Dinner beforehand.

Grandma Nikkel's Christmas Gathering.

Lorena Christmas Concert (Jamacian Noel was my favorite).

CLAY Christmas Caroling.

Christmas Eve at Eden (Ellen & Erin played piano solos & a duet).

Christmas Dinner serving in McPherson.

House Dilemas.

My favorite gift was from Lolly - a Marilyn Monroe calendar & a picture of Emily Michelle. Absolutely beautiful!!! Lolly is so talented and God, I praise You for her in our lives! I praise You in my own personal storm right now as well. You are so worthy. You are so Loving.

" . . . why do you say, O Jacob, and complain O Israel, 'my way is hidden from the LORD, my cause is disregarded by my God?'. Do you not know, have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired & weary and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait on the LORD will renew their strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint." Praise You LORD Jesus. King of Kings and LORD of Lords. You ARE Mighty to Save. Amen and amen.

My Favorites!

I have this pix in here because it's more fun to have a picture:) Love you miss Em!

This is what I gave the 11 ladies at SK's Annual Fav Party:

A Snuggie & some Parchment Paper with the following note ~

Hey Girls!

My fav’s this year are things to keep me warm--on the inside (use in baking) and on the outside (cover up).

Now, a few others:
Absolutely Love, Love, Love this song by Bryan Adams, Sting & Rod Stewart ~ All For Love. Seriously, I spent an absurd amount of money on this CD at an extreme emotional time for THIS SONG. Now, I can honestly say, it was worth it.

I love you.tube videos. I enjoyed 2 complete hours ‘you.tubing’ my favorite songs and watching them over & over (Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Mark Schultz’s Closer to You, Phil Collins’ Against All Odds and so on . . . can you tell I am product of the 80’s???).

The very 1st cup of coffee in the morning. And, it’s much better if I’ve worked out, because then I eat something sweet with it!

Beth Moore bible studies – I can’t wait for her new one on James to come available.

Merry Christmas & God’s Blessing
on a wonderful New Year!

I thought it was a neat idea! SK gave a really cool plate - RED with the saying "Jesus is the Gift".

Other gifts included - Bath & Body, gum, honey, coffee mugs. Some I regifted (shhhh) and I gave my full permission to regift mine!

I still miss a good friend; however, very thankful I have one close by.

Ryan's 40th Surprise

This is the video I made for Ryan's 40th Birthday party - a surprise!
We had a quilt made from his old t-shirts. We went out to eat with the Mgmt Team at BCO (to an Italian Garden styled home, near Inman).
We did a surpise BD party - with full meal, quiz, roast, serenade (my dad impersonated Elvis & the girls were the Presley sisters) to the song "I've Been everywhere, Man" & video (which I feel honored his family very nicely).
We went to the KC Chiefs FB game the next day with my dad, Lorena and Duane & Melissa Helms - very COLD - Brrrrrrrr!
I survived the weekend.
I can't believe it! I told Ryan the next 'big one' we go somewhere!