Happy Holidays

We had such a good time at Christmas with all of the kids around. I thought I would share a few fun family moments with you.

Hanging with Uncle David:

Time with Aunt Michelle:

A new toy, and a new trick (sitting)

Trying to get a picture :)


Success:

All of the kids :)

Dec 19 Blizzard

On Dec 19, we enjoyed what is now knows as the Holiday Blizzard. I thought it was SO pretty. I know many people have pictures of this event, and they are all fascinating, but, thought you might like to see my pictures as well.

Views from my backyard:

I'd like to get out and start shoveling, but I can't even get the door open!!!Down the street from my house, it's SO PRETTY!!

Isn't it a problem when the snowman gets buried?

Or what about the sheep?

(hint: that is their heads sticking out)

Or what about the deer?

I thank the Lord for the beauty of his creation.

Pat's Party

Every year in December I host a party at my house for the KidsZone team...those that work in the offices, or Key Directors. The party has to be the same every year, we have the same menu, (we have clam chowder, cheesy broccoli soup, little ham and cheese sandwiches, veggies, chips and dips, punch, and for dessert, Cherries in the Snow!) Yummo!

We also have the same activities. Everything is the same because they want it that way. I'm not allowed to change it. They love the comfortable, relaxing, FUN atmosphere. The REAL entertainment is the people. They just bring themselves, and they are sure FUNNY!!!!

Party Preparations are Ready

Everyone is having FUN

There are some negotiations going on here over the gift exchange.

Ask Charlene about the NILLA Wafers


What is SO FUNNY?

Testimonies

This fall, among alot of other things, I have been leading a bible study group that is studying "Believing God", a Beth Moore Study. It has really been a good study (but then again, I don't normally engage in a study that I don't think is good...I always learn so much, and I LOVE it...and sometimes, I wish I could just do bible study all day long).

Anyway, we have had a very interesting assignment over the last couple of weeks. We have been talking about remembering God, and what he has done in our lives. So, we were to take our age, and divide it by 5, and then start writing your tesitmony accordingly...so, if you are 30, then what happened in years 0-6 that was of great impact to you or where you can see that God was there in spite of the circumstances.....and you continue that through each 5th of your life. Then, after you finish all of that, you put it on a timeline.

I found this project much more interesting as I completed it than when I started it. At first I was like, oh, I don't like this, b/c sometimes you don't like to recall things of your past that are not so pleasant...and you are thinking, I have moved past that, so why bring it up?

However, as I took the information and then put it on a timeline, I was really impressed as I could so clearly see God's thread in my life, for my whole life, even though as a child I was not raised in church. It is amazing how God places people in your life that know Him. Personally, I think often of the people in my life, neighbors, that took me to church when I was a child, and I think, they will never know here on earth, the impact that made on my life. I think often about my job, over the years, in children's ministries, I know we have touched the lives of thousands of children, and I often wonder what impact has been made, and again, for many of those lives, I will never fully know that until I get to heaven.

Also, it was amazing to see on paper just how active God has been in my life, and He is just as busy now as He was when I was younger.....and that is encouraging, like I guess He is not done with me yet!!!!

Anyway, so, yesterday, we took the time in bible study to have everyone share their testimonies, and I am still quite in awe of the women in my group. Many of them have been through very difficult circumstances during their lives, but they shared how God had been with them during that time, and how their relationship with God grew during those times......it is so amazing. I'll bet if you take the time to go deeper with the people in your circle of friends, you will find some amazing stories, just beneath the surface!

So, I'd like to leave you with 2 thoughts:

First of all, maybe you should try to write out your testimony like this. Divide your life into 5 sections, and write down what impacted you during those years, and where God was in your life during that time....then put it on a timeline....I think you will find it quite interesting.

Secondly, if you think you have been through alot of hard things in life, get to know other people, and have them share their lives with you....you might discover rather quickly that life has thrown alot of hardships on them as well, but that God has always been there for them. It is so often easier to see that God was there for you after the fact than when you are going through the difficulty, but He IS always there, and at work, and I think we would all be so much more encouraged in our Christian walk if we would share our testimonies more often of how God is at work daily in our lives.

Enjoying Fall

The last week of October, Joel and I went up to PA to OhioPyle State Park. They have this really cool bike path there that is 20+ miles long, we went 17 miles one day and 12 miles the next day. Would have gone farther, but that bike seat was getting pretty hard by then! Below, you can see pictures along the way..........It was so peaceful and quite, OH MY GOSH, I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!

Enjoying Jacob

So, I have not posted any pictures of little Jacob lately. He is almost 3 months old now, and of course we are enjoying him so much! My house has all sorts of baby equipment around again. (who knew that as soon as the last one moves all of their stuff out, that you start all over again?)

Faith in Action

I am doing a Beth Moore Study called Believing God, and I really Love the study. We are taking a closer look at the Hall of Famers (Heb 11)......

What I always find amazing when you do bible study, is that you could have read the same story over and over before, and even taught the story, and yet, you miss the little details...(well, maybe you don't but I do sometimes)

So, we were studying about Joshua and Jericho. Now, you probably know that Joshua was a warroir, he was the head of the Israelite military.....and his speciality weapon was the sword...

So, he was heading to Jericho to conquer the city (as we know he had been very successful in doing, so he is heading up the road, and was was close to Jericho, and he looked up, and a man was standing in front of him with a drawn sword. Hummmmm....so, Joshua are you for us or against us? The guy tells him that he is the commander of the Lord's army....

Can you imagine that.....can you imagine being Joshua? What would you do.....would you believe the guy? ( I'd say probably not)...anyway, Joshua did believe him, and fell facedown and asked him what message he had from the Lord.....

Well, we all know the rest of the story....he told him that they were to march around the city for 6 days, and the priests were to carry trumpets. On the 7th day, they were to march around the city 7 times with the priests blowing trumpets.....and of course they did, and the walls collapsed, and the victory over Jericho was easy.

I have been so impressed by so many of the stories of the famed people in the hall of faith, but this one really stands out to me b/c God did not use Joshua's strengths...what he was trained in, BATTLE, instead, he resorted to his FAITH, and the victory was through faith.

Sometimes, I think having faith about something is harder than just fixing the problem with our natural abilities. It's harder sometimes to wait on God for an answer and just trust in him....but the amazing thing is that when you actually do that, the results are SO SO SO much better than what we can come up with. Wouldn't you rather march around and let the walls fall down, than to actually go into battle? I would too....

Ok, well, back to finding out what the other hall of famers are up to........

Returning to Life in the Fast Lane

This seems to be my life. Life in the fast lane. I'd like to be in the middle lane, or maybe even the slow lane, but I can't seems to get over there, so, I guess in the fast lane I will remain.

People sometimes are surprised that my job is full time, or that I have a staff to help out with KidsZone. They wonder what in the world we do all day. Some people even think that if you work at the church, that life is easy for you....so, I thought I'd just take a moment of time to let you in on a day in the life of working in KidsZone.

So, I returned to work on a Wednesday (what was I thinking???)...my in box was so full of emails, I thought I'd never get caught up (that was to start with), and each email normally has something for me to do, or follow up on, so that takes time to follow up on things, make sure things are getting done, solve issues that arise, talk to people...sometimes one person, sometimes several people back and forth.

We share the building with the school, and they had just started school for the year. We always have to work things out between us so that we can all function easily during the year...it just takes alot of communication sometimes.

Then, there is Wed nights to think about. We were getting ready to start up for the fall, so that means you need to keep making phone calls to try to get enough help, and then have people come in for training, which, when they all can't come at the same time, that takes extra time, but it is very important.

Then there is Sunday morning coming fast. YOU HAVE to be ready for that. So, that means meeting with the children's church team to make sure we are all on the same page for all of the details for Sunday, and that everyone knows what their piece of the action is, then you divide and conquer. My piece is to make sure we have leaders for all of the small groups, make sure they have curriculum for that week, and make sure they know what they need to do. If people can't make it, then I need to email or call for subs...after all, you can't have kids and no leaders!!!

I also am in contact with the Preschool Director and Nursery Director to make sure that they have enough help for the upcoming Sunday, and that they are all ready to go.

Then choir is beginning on Sunday, so you need to have a choir meeting to make sure that everyone is all on the same page about choir, and work out any last minute details for the upcoming Sunday, so that things will run as smooth as possible.

Then there is AWANA to think about. They also start up on Sunday, so just like with the other groups, I am talking several times with the AWANA commander to make sure that everything is set and ready for them on Sunday.

All of these groups have a few special requests, which need to be taken care of, and each activity that will be running or starting has alot of people and details involved. I just work with the key leaders of each area, but still, it takes time. It is very important to me that all of our leaders feel supported and that we do whatever we can to make sure their needs are taken care of, so that they are equipped to minister to the children when they arrive.

On Wed, my first day back from vacation, I worked 12 hours just trying to get caught up and make sure that everyone was as ready as possible for the upcoming events. So, Welcome back to me!!

Thursday, another long day. I am also leading a ladies bible study, so that means I need to attend a meeting for that, and then of course I need to follow up with all the ladies attending my group. (I do attend bible study during work hours, but I come in way early so I don't lose the time b/c I can't get done if I do).

When I was finished with bible study, the KidsZone team had lunch together. We all brought our own lunches and ate together in Zone 56 and had birthday cake for one of the ladies. It is important to have team time together, and besides, we had a birthday to celebrate! Making each person on the team feel special and cared for is important.

Then it is on the children's church run through, and a race till the end of the day including a few not so good surprises, just more things that needed fixed.

Oh yes, and I forgot to mention that I answer alot of questions each day and make a lot of decisions...sometimes it is little decisions and sometimes it is bigger decisions, but life in my office is busy and buzzing most all of the time. Life in KidsZone is sort of like housework, there is always something else to do. I also didn't mention that I seem to get included in a lot of meetings too. So, if I can't be found, I'm usually in a meeting someplace :(

If we ever do feel like we are getting caught up, then we are normally planning for the future...so I guess the motto is, if you are getting bored with today, think about tomorrow. :)

I hope you can see though that life in KidsZone is full of life and energy, all of the time. I love my team, they are great, and the bottom line is that we are dedicated to ministering to the children, so whatever it takes.....

Now, it has been almost two weeks since I returned, and thankfully, all the fall activites are up and running smoothly...I LOVE THAT......now I just have to keep up with all of it week to week, continue to plan ahead, and deal with all the meetings and surprises!!!

Wonderful Vacation Time

I love vacations....but they never seem quite long enough. At the end I'm always thinking, well, I could just be gone another week or two or three.....and then when I return home and to work, I think, I can't believe I thought I could take a vacation!! But, we do know that rest is good for the soul, and it was SO good!

We went to Hilton Head Island. I love that place. I love it because it is beautiful there, you can rent bikes and ride all over the place, and it's not too crowded.

Here is a picture from our room where we stayed. I LOVE this picture. I think I'd like to enlarge it and put it on a wall in my office. (I'm talking taking up the whole wall here!).

After a very restful, fun week at HHI, we drove to Atlanta to visit Joel's family. While we were there, we went to see the Hindu Temple. It is SO AMAZING. The detail inside is really something. The whole thing is put together without any nails. It is sort of like puzzle pieces that fit together. There are "gods" all over the place, and people come in and pay money so they can take part in a communion ceremony. I was sad as I saw all the different people coming in and laying on the floor to pray to and worship the statues of their "gods". It is very sad to know that these people believe that the statues will answer their prayers, and that they don't know the one true and living God. But, we can all learn from them about reverence and respect for their place of worship.

Following Directions

Have you ever noticed when you buy something new, or try something new, there are usually directions to follow if you want to be successful? Well, I hate to stop and read the directions...I mean how boring is that? I'd much rather just sort of figure it out myself, or make up the directions myself....it is so much faster...don't you think?

With that in mind, I have had to laugh at myself several times this summer, as I made up my own directions with my fun habit of gardening. The directions say to plant radishes so many inches apart. (I read the directions, b/c they were SHORT).

Well, if you have seen a radish seed, it is SO SMALL, so, I figured well, why bother to plant them so far apart, I'll do the faster thing, and just you know, sprinkle them in the ground, I mean what is that going to hurt? Well, the result is that you don't get a radish worth eating. It's not good for anything. No good fruit. A wasted effort.

Then, I decided to plant tomatoes. Again, the directions say to plant them so far apart....and again, I decided I had a better idea, so I planted them closer together than that. Someone said I was suppose to prune them, so they would not get too tall, so I'd have better fruit, and well, I hate to cut things back, so I just let them go.

Well, you can see some of my tomato crop, it's good, but, I also have a tomato jungle!, and I really do wonder, if I HAD followed the directions, how many MORE tomatoes I could have had.....hummmmm...

So, of course, it makes me think about God, and what he thinks about us when we take the directions he gives us, and well, shall we say, add our own ideas to it. His word clearly tells us that we should not follow after our ideas....

Prov 3:5,6,7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes.

Ps 119:32-35 I am quick to follow your commands, because you have set my heart free. Lord, teach me to follow your orders. Then I will obey them to the very end. Help me understand your law. Then I will follow it and obey it with all my heart. Teach me to live as you command, because that makes me very happy. Make me want to follow your covenant laws instead of wanting to gain things only for myself. (Pat's paraphrase....instead of making up my own rules).

So, I am thinking that in keeping in line with trying to follow God's directions....and not adding to it or making up my own options, maybe I should try to do the same in other areas of my life.....I wonder how successful I will be at that?

Life's Blessings

August 4, 2009

Jacob Andrew Stiles entered our lives, and we became grandparents.......

He better get use to me, b/c we are going to have fun together!!

Doesn't get much better than this!!!

Finishing up VBS

Yes, I know that was a few weeks ago, but I promised some closing program pictures, so, I wanted to be sure to get those in before moving along to other things.

Our closing program was certainly a great time for all, and the Lord blessed us with great weather, great attendance, and great fellowship!!

Comfortable seating

Lots of great voices

Everyone got to sing :)

A good time was had by all