VBS God Sighting

This year I served in the Preschool room for VBS and Elia got to hang out in there with me the three days I worked. She went to the toddler room the other two days. 

  

Today our lesson was about when Jesus washed the disciples feet. Each crew leader used a pitcher of water and a towel to wash each of their crew members feet. This meant that ever single child had their feet washed. 

  

After this we had a plate of crackers to share for each crew to represent the breaking of bread Jesus did with His disciples. Well, in the preschool room there was 5 groups of kids.  In our group of 6 kids there was a boy who was having a very rough day and because of some medical things he is going through he had a very hard time sharing crackers with the group.  To cope he went off by himself upset. 

Our next step in our lesson was to ask each child if they knew someone who was going through a hard time. I asked Elia and she pointed over to the boy and said "he is having a hard time". I said "you are right, I think he is having a hard time".  Then we were instructed to ask the children "what should we do to help that person?" And I asked Elia what we should do to help the boy having a rough day and she thought for a moment and then said "cheer him up!" I said "go ahead, go cheer him up." She then walked over to him and stood right next to him quietly, the way Elia does and just stayed there...after a few moments he turned to look at her and started talking to her very calmly. She had cheered him up...by simply "being there".  I walked over and gave them a few linkin logs to play with and they played for a good 20 peaceful minutes. I finally walked over and said "Elia do u want to come and do a craft?" And she said "no, I am still cheering him up." They both then decided to come with me to do the craft with the group. 

Wow! Prior to all of this I had worked up a sweat trying to calm the boy down and get him to stay with our group. It was SO beautiful to see God use Elia in such a powerful way, right before our eyes. The other leaders in the room saw what happened and we touched. The most precious part was that Elia's heart in her actions was pure and simple...it wasn't about "look at me minister...", it was truly about A. Someone needs help and B. This is what we need to DO. And C. Do it. That simple. What a lesson! 

Love you, Princess! God loves you and has awesome plans for u...He is already seen in you! 

Project 365 Week 7

Monday, January 7th

Big sister trying to help Elia sit up by herself.

I have always thought Elia had Daddy's hands...

wow... the kitchen walls are not this color... I promise!!!

Another Milestone: Discovery and fascination of the Remote Control!

Tuesday, February 8th

No picture... hmmm... we stayed in an had a wonderful day. :o)

Wednesday, February 9th

No picture. I helped out the WM, Liliana went to AJ's to play with Emma and we had a wonderful time at church that night.

Thursday, February 10th

Liliana took a long cozy nap... she will do this 2 or 3 times a week, but most days she is like the Energizer Bunny.

The Nott's brought over pizza and we made rocks for the "skit/testimony" we had planned for that coming Saturday at the Women's Breakfast. Donnie was at work late... I loved showing him this crazy picture the next day...

Friday, February 11th

No picture. WM's. L @ AJ's, Noah and Daddy salted driveway.

Saturday, February 12th

AM: I went to the Women's Breakfast. Diane Nott told her testimony - so fun to be a part of that! Love the ministry!!!!! Woooh!

Later that day:

Today was Elia's fussiest day yet... awe, I can feel her two bottom teeth on the virge of pushing through, so I imagine that is making her want mommy to hold her more... so sweet! I love our sweet little love bug!!! Liliana was helping to sooth her by sharing her musical jewelry box with her. And, what a shot... just happened...

Project 365 Week 4

Monday, January 17th

See our handsome boy's "bubble. :o) This "laptop" case was Donnie's old dvd case... we gave it to Noah for his toy laptop he got for Christmas and he loves it! He feels big like daddy and says he going to work. He has slept with it numerous times.

Tuesday, January 18th

No picture - I think we were iced in all day this day... Daddy stayed home due to the dangerous driving conditions... we played LOTS of Dance 2 and Mario Kart. FUN!

Wednesday, January 19th

He wanted to wear Liliana's fairy costume... it didn't last long though, I guess it just didn't feel right... ha! :o)

Thursday, January 20th

No Picture... hmm? :o)

Friday, January 21st

Liliana learned to write 4 words this week. Here is a test I put together. I drew the picture and she got a big star for 4 out of 4 correct!

Elia sucked her thumb and fell asleep on the living room floor. She is amazing! So good at soothing herself and just the sweetest thing ever! :o) See the toy on her arm...

Saturday, January 22nd

We enjoyed taco soup for lunch, left over from the night before and Noah really got into the theme...

Sunday, January 23rd

We had a CCIF/CCIBI graduation banquet at church tonight where I was one of 4 ministers brought forward to public recognition of our credentialing as newly licsenced ministers. I have known the call of God upon my life since I was 18, so that is something I have walked in and been doing ever since, but I finally stepped out this past year to make it "official" with the Assemblies of God. They joyfully recieved me and recognized God's calling upon my life and were SO encouraging and excited to see what God has in store for me in the days and years to come!

Praise Jesus!!! :o) A very special day for me! The banquet was lovely and eveyone in attendance was incredibly encouraging and supportive.

Full-Time MOMMY!

For the past two and a half years I have had the honor and pleasure of serving our church as the Nursery/Toddler Division Coach. This meant that I was responsible for recruiting volunteers to staff 8 classes per week. In a church our size, we have somewhere around 100 children under the age of four (fluctuating) and at least 75 volunteers... in real terms, this is the size of most churches in America. I loved getting to know the moms and dads of the children and the workers and seeing people become more fully devoted followers of our Jesus! :o)

All this to bring me to the news that I have felt the Lord's direction to have me step down from this role for the time being to concentrate on being the wife and mother He has called me to be! :o) I will continue to teach, preach, write, work on marketing my dvd, hospital visits, etc, etc...

All in All, I am blessed beyond measure and anticipate God to use me to bring His Love and Life to people in some way each and every day.

New Believer's Retreat

This past weekend we had the wonderful opportunity of going on the CCC New Believer's Retreat. It was in New Hampshire at a Christian Camp and Donnie was the keynote speaker. He spoke Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning. They also had workshops during the day Saturday and Communion on Sunday morning. There were about 35 people in attendance and they were all so hungry for God. Donnie and I have always felt a calling to the ministry as a couple and he has always been more than 100% supportive of utilizing the gifts God has placed on my life in ministry. They have asked Donnie and I to be the regular retreat speakers and for me to also share the speaking opportunities there with Donnie. I am so excited and we both are looking forward to next year! It was such a special and relaxing time in the Lord!
The group took a bus out to the retreat center, but we drove the van because we were under the impression that Noah was too young to ride on the bus. We let Liliana ride on the bus with her friend Will (age 4) and his parents, Jessica and Jamie. I drove the van so Donnie could study on the way.

Liliana's big thing over the weekend from was twisting her tongue... she did it and showed off the whole time! At every meal! ha! Speaking of meals, the food was FANTASTIC!


We got to stay at the coolest old house. There were so many beds and rooms to choose from, I felt like Goldie Locks.

Here is Will with the kids.


They had childcare for all of the services so the parents could really relax and be ministered to. :o) Noah went up and down these stairs 800 times! :o) He was so good to only play on the parts that he could do.

Here is Clay with the kids. He is a foster kid of one of the faithful attendees of our church.

The kids had a blast!!! This is how they looked on the way home. The are SO in the ministry! I love it! Thank you Jesus!!!!! :o)

The Priest of Our Home

No pun intended. hehe.

I am a little shy to write from my heart on this because I have "readers" out there, but like you, I do this blog for me and for my kids when the grow up to look back on. So, for that reason, I will write on...

Last night we had our CCIF (Crossroads Community International Fellowship) Annual Leadership Banquet at church. It was exceptional. I am not really into banquets, because I am such a practical person and really look for how everything we spend our time and energy on effects people in their common lives. Well, I saw the beautiful big picture and the great value of this banquet last night. I appreciated all of the testimonies given of the various CCIF credential holders and their ministries within the church and I really feel that coming together and having them share from their hearts brought them, in a sense to a deeper realization of what God is doing in and through them. I appreciate each and every leader and servant in our church and have such a heart to cheer them on for the kingdoms' sake and see others step up into service too.

A personally special part of the banquet was when my love, Donnie, walked up those steps to that chior stand of a pulpit and proceed to give a most beautiful and excellent graduation ceremony for CCIBI (Crossroads Community International Bible Institute). He is the Academic Deen of CCIBI and also a professor. I saw him in such a "prestigious" light and as he walk up those steps, I saw how mature he has become in the Lord and it just made me think of our Bibleschool professors and how I use to see them in that light and now that is Donnie. I just love him so much and am so proud of him and of God in Him. Thank you Lord Jesus - it is all for you!!! I Love you!