Remember the tree story? Well, their insanity did not stop at the tree. That was just the beginning. The tree incident blew over rather quickly.
But soon we started getting calls from the church we rented from. Apparently every time their cable went out, they would call the church and blame my kids. It worked in the bedroom, but not the living room, so it was my kids. It didn't work on one tv, so she had to bring a different tv in the room, so it was my kids. Seriously. When it wasn't my kids, it was because of the trees in the back yard touching the line.
Never once were they right, but we kept getting calls.
Then, one time we were using the grill, and the lady called the church and told them we were having unattended fires just all over the place. The church people actually came out and checked out our yard! Umm, yeah, that is smoke in our GRILL. Where is the fire that is just crazy out of control and unattended?
Oh, and then there was the time the kids and Donnie did some legal fireworks, which means they make noise but don't go anywhere, in a wheel barrow. THAT one was fun, too. Got another call.
Turns out the lady, who was really pretty much in need of a nursing home, was terrified of fire, so our grill made her freak out. The cable I have no idea what was up her craw.
Why did we move???
Well, there was that stuff, and then the house itself and the church people we dealt with. But that is another story.
Showing posts with label church stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church stuff. Show all posts
October 20, 2007
September 19, 2007
My game with the teens
In order to gain teenage workers in the technical and sound boards at church (otherwise known as the audio visual guys) I was to make an announcement to the youth group. Well, I knew that a bunch of teens didn't want to listen to me, so I had to do something interesting.
I called up 5 boys that run the system. I then pulled out $1 and said that I would give it to whomever can tell me what the people standing up on stage had in common. They're all boys? Nope, I am not a boy! All sorts of guesses, everyone has blue eyes, everyone is wearing a shirt, blah blah blah, lol. No one got that we could all run the computer system. Not even the boys I called up.
I wanted to show them that you didn't need to be a certain type of person (computer nerd) to learn it. I told them how these boys now have something wonderful to put on their college apps and resumes. Trying to entice them into a mentorship.
I hope it works!
I called up 5 boys that run the system. I then pulled out $1 and said that I would give it to whomever can tell me what the people standing up on stage had in common. They're all boys? Nope, I am not a boy! All sorts of guesses, everyone has blue eyes, everyone is wearing a shirt, blah blah blah, lol. No one got that we could all run the computer system. Not even the boys I called up.
I wanted to show them that you didn't need to be a certain type of person (computer nerd) to learn it. I told them how these boys now have something wonderful to put on their college apps and resumes. Trying to entice them into a mentorship.
I hope it works!
Washers, boogers, and teens, Oh My!
I subbed for our church secretary today. That is always fun. I love working at the church. My bosses are not insane, and believe me, that is a problem, I've had insane bosses before.
Tomorrow and Friday I babysit, which I love doing.
And then Monday I'm back at the church.
Tonight I am going to attempt to gain my husband some help in the technical aspect of his job at church. I'm going to speak to the teens and try to coax them into WANTING to work the cameras and computer. Yes, I think they will want to do it! I'm going to first gain their attention. Because they ARE teens, they will not want to pay attention to what a 36yo woman has to say, right? I am going to play a little game with them. I'll blog about it if it goes well.
Yesterday I took my abundance of laundry to the laundromat. I took pics, I'll have to upload them when I have a chance. (yeah, right!) But seriously, I counted washing machines, and I used 18. They are much smaller than I would do for a load in my washer, though. It is weird, I thought they would have larger washers. I did decide I do not want a front loader. I'm too stupid to have one. I would load up the soap and start it without putting the clothes in and then I wouldn't be able to get the clothes in until it was done. Really. I often start loads and then find things to add to it, I couldn't do that if I had a front loader.
I also found out that I am the worst person for stained clothes. Why?? Because everyone wipes their noses, faces, hands, feet, boogers, food, drinks, all over me when they touch me, hug me, steal my food and chug my soda. Then add my own natural grace at eating, and it is a recipe for disaster. I'm going to go all black. Black sweat clothes.
Tomorrow and Friday I babysit, which I love doing.
And then Monday I'm back at the church.
Tonight I am going to attempt to gain my husband some help in the technical aspect of his job at church. I'm going to speak to the teens and try to coax them into WANTING to work the cameras and computer. Yes, I think they will want to do it! I'm going to first gain their attention. Because they ARE teens, they will not want to pay attention to what a 36yo woman has to say, right? I am going to play a little game with them. I'll blog about it if it goes well.
Yesterday I took my abundance of laundry to the laundromat. I took pics, I'll have to upload them when I have a chance. (yeah, right!) But seriously, I counted washing machines, and I used 18. They are much smaller than I would do for a load in my washer, though. It is weird, I thought they would have larger washers. I did decide I do not want a front loader. I'm too stupid to have one. I would load up the soap and start it without putting the clothes in and then I wouldn't be able to get the clothes in until it was done. Really. I often start loads and then find things to add to it, I couldn't do that if I had a front loader.
I also found out that I am the worst person for stained clothes. Why?? Because everyone wipes their noses, faces, hands, feet, boogers, food, drinks, all over me when they touch me, hug me, steal my food and chug my soda. Then add my own natural grace at eating, and it is a recipe for disaster. I'm going to go all black. Black sweat clothes.
August 11, 2007
Ladies Night Out~ Just batty!
I do not miss a ladies night out unless I am puking. I love going to ladies night. Even the time that Nikki threw a boxelder bug at me and I thought it was a spider and screamed and cried and threw my baby at Jody. I can't imagine anything but a spider to be worthy of screaming like Nikki was doing, and then to throw it at me, well, I just sort of flipped out a little. Jeannie, brave, brave, Jeannie just flicked the bug off of her and stepped on it. I cried for awhile and Nikki had the heebiejeebies for awhile. Sarah missed that night because she was too busy having a baby or something like that.
Other nights we get really goofy and laugh until the wee hours of the morning. Not that we'd ever divulge what is said at ladies night. But it is a lot of fun. Nothing gets us down. We are die-hard for our night out.
But tonight, tonight was a whole new level of terror/fun. We get in the church, just us ladies, late into the night, all alone. In the basement. Its dark outside. Typically its not bad, we walk out to our cars together, so we are not too scared.
We were sitting at our normal table, doing our normal things, like playing games and eating and talking and laughing. Minding our own business, not gossiping at all, well, maybe a little, but mostly minding our own business. When all of a sudden we have an unwelcome guest crashing our party!
Really! Not just unwelcome, but completely unfriendly! We were terrorized! We were screaming, running for other rooms, the phone to call for help, and Cindy took a silver tray and tried to beat our attacker off. We did get him out of the room and locked ourselves in, but soon he was back through a different door and terrorizing us again! This time we got him locked in a room! Whew! Several of the ladies left at this point. We had sore throats from the screaming and help refused to show up! (that would be my husband)
But the rest of us are die-hards, like I said, and we are not giving up our ladies night! But the rascal got out of the room and went for us again! This time I got the tray and went for the stupid bat!
Everyone except Jeannie and I ran to the bathroom screaming. We went and chased it out again. I'm feeling pretty brave now. Cindy left and someone had to do it. (thankfully she doesn't know how to get pictures off her camera to show anything to the contrary)
Ok, its gone again, so we sit back down and clean up a bit. Sarah has to feed the baby before we leave.
We get to talking about how we can get the church to seriously get an exterminator because we are not the first to see the bats. We decide it would be funny to put one of the dead ones recently found onto the silver tray and put an M&M in its mouth and leave for proof. (ok, its after midnight and we are a little loopy and full of adrenaline from 3 bat attacks, don't judge us) So, Jeannie and I go into the big, huge sanctuary, which is actually a gymnasium, looking for dead bats. We didn't find any, though. That's ok, because really, who was going to pick it up?
But wouldn't it be funny to go running and screaming back into the room and watch all the chickens scatter into the bathroom? Oh, yes, it would be funny! But Jeannie doesn't play along, she just wanders back in there, knowing what I am about to do. I trail behind, shutting off lights and doors. Then I start screaming! And they start screaming and jumping out of their seats! Sarah is almost standing up fully with the baby in her arms on the way to the bathroom until she sees my face.
Yes, she should have known with me!
Sarah double dog dares me to make sure the bat was still in the room since I believe this was a different bat. The room was empty. Yes, I did go check it out!
Really, we should leave, the bats are getting angry.
So we pack it up and of course its tricky getting out and turning off lights and getting through doors not knowing where the next bat might turn up. Jeannie leads the way turning on lights, and I tail the crew turning lights off. As the other 3 crouch and hide behind doors and walls, I let out a blood curdling scream. And they all jump and start screaming, too! Oh, it was sooooo worth the little bit of pee in my panties, soooo worth it!
Other nights we get really goofy and laugh until the wee hours of the morning. Not that we'd ever divulge what is said at ladies night. But it is a lot of fun. Nothing gets us down. We are die-hard for our night out.
But tonight, tonight was a whole new level of terror/fun. We get in the church, just us ladies, late into the night, all alone. In the basement. Its dark outside. Typically its not bad, we walk out to our cars together, so we are not too scared.
We were sitting at our normal table, doing our normal things, like playing games and eating and talking and laughing. Minding our own business, not gossiping at all, well, maybe a little, but mostly minding our own business. When all of a sudden we have an unwelcome guest crashing our party!
Really! Not just unwelcome, but completely unfriendly! We were terrorized! We were screaming, running for other rooms, the phone to call for help, and Cindy took a silver tray and tried to beat our attacker off. We did get him out of the room and locked ourselves in, but soon he was back through a different door and terrorizing us again! This time we got him locked in a room! Whew! Several of the ladies left at this point. We had sore throats from the screaming and help refused to show up! (that would be my husband)
But the rest of us are die-hards, like I said, and we are not giving up our ladies night! But the rascal got out of the room and went for us again! This time I got the tray and went for the stupid bat!
Everyone except Jeannie and I ran to the bathroom screaming. We went and chased it out again. I'm feeling pretty brave now. Cindy left and someone had to do it. (thankfully she doesn't know how to get pictures off her camera to show anything to the contrary)
Ok, its gone again, so we sit back down and clean up a bit. Sarah has to feed the baby before we leave.
We get to talking about how we can get the church to seriously get an exterminator because we are not the first to see the bats. We decide it would be funny to put one of the dead ones recently found onto the silver tray and put an M&M in its mouth and leave for proof. (ok, its after midnight and we are a little loopy and full of adrenaline from 3 bat attacks, don't judge us) So, Jeannie and I go into the big, huge sanctuary, which is actually a gymnasium, looking for dead bats. We didn't find any, though. That's ok, because really, who was going to pick it up?
But wouldn't it be funny to go running and screaming back into the room and watch all the chickens scatter into the bathroom? Oh, yes, it would be funny! But Jeannie doesn't play along, she just wanders back in there, knowing what I am about to do. I trail behind, shutting off lights and doors. Then I start screaming! And they start screaming and jumping out of their seats! Sarah is almost standing up fully with the baby in her arms on the way to the bathroom until she sees my face.
Yes, she should have known with me!
Sarah double dog dares me to make sure the bat was still in the room since I believe this was a different bat. The room was empty. Yes, I did go check it out!
Really, we should leave, the bats are getting angry.
So we pack it up and of course its tricky getting out and turning off lights and getting through doors not knowing where the next bat might turn up. Jeannie leads the way turning on lights, and I tail the crew turning lights off. As the other 3 crouch and hide behind doors and walls, I let out a blood curdling scream. And they all jump and start screaming, too! Oh, it was sooooo worth the little bit of pee in my panties, soooo worth it!
July 15, 2007
Romans 8:28
This is our youth pastor and his family. Chad and Nikki and their two little C's. (she hasn't given them blog names yet) They were at our church when we started coming regularly, not yet married.
I was so excited to find out they were going to have their first child, C1, and soon afterwards we found out we were having Trinity. They are 4 months apart. Within days of me announcing Sam was on his way, they announced C2 was on the way, and we were due within days of each other. C2 and Sam were born the same day, 12 hours apart.
I can't even begin to tell how much we love them. My teens have grown so much under their leadership and love and encouragement. I know that they love my kids, not just because its their job, they love our kids.
Our church sent them on a sabbatical for the summer. But one day they showed up at church again "for a youth activity." But then announced they were leaving us for their home church. We were very sad. We love them so much! But I just knew that it would be good for them to be back home and near their family.
I hate change with a passion! You have no idea! But God gave me total peace about it. And I held onto Romans 8:28 All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. I just knew that everything would be good for our church no matter what happened.
And that was the same verse the elders used when praying about a search committee for a new youth pastor.
Today at church there was a big announcement. Drum rolls and everything. The elder told how that verse had proven true and God was honoring His word and everything IS working for our good because we are called according to His purpose.
Chad and Nikkie are staying! We're not sure how it all came about, but we are so incredibly blessed and so unbelievably shocked and thrilled! I cried and cried!
My teens will have Pastor Chad for their graduations, which is a big deal to them, graduating is not the big deal for them, having Chad speak is important to them. My future teens will have Chad around, too. At least the next couple of kids. Devon is a ways from graduating and Cody joins the youth group this year. (I can't even think about having 4 kids in youth group!)
I can't think of a better reason to blog twice in one day than this!
Drew and Kaytlin are both out of town and do not know about it yet! We got a copy of the service and are going to make them watch church since they missed it today, then they get to experience it too, if they don't get a call that spills the beans first.
Nikki, you need to rename your blog now! Keepers4PEFC works! We love you guys and are overcome with joy that you are staying with us!
July 14, 2007
Yummy!
This is Kaytlin's friend Mary (named changed to protect the innocent) and Kaytlin. Kaytlin is so sad Mary is graduated and moving to college soon! When we first moved to our town we were living in a former church parsonage and were attending that church, but also looking around. When we visited the one we attend now and found that there was a youth group activity to a ropes course, and the youth pastor let Kaytlin go along, even though she wasn't technically old enough yet. When we got there all the seating was arranged by the kids. All the girls in the bus, the boys in that vehicle. The only room for Kaytlin was with the boys. She didn't care, she didn't know anyone anyway, she just wanted to go. But the girls in this church said "We can't let her go with the boys by herself! Here, you two go with the boys and Kaytlin will ride with us." Mary was one of the girls making those arrangements and brought Kaytlin into their circle of friends. I cried that day, and I still cry when I talk about it. Why did these teenage girls do that to someone not even of youth group age? They were raised right and they LOVE the Lord. We joined that church and have never looked back.
(excuse me, I have to go get a kleenex for my tears...... be right back)
Ok, this post had nothing to do with that at all. But looking at Mary and Kaytlin 5 years later just brought me back. Mary also taught Kaytlin to play guitar. Her family is very special to us.
Ok, the reason for the post being titled "Yummy" is because Kaytlin was at Mary's house last week and they were bored because the rain and the lightening prevented them from going boating. So they amused themselves between rain by going out in the garden and picking fresh mint and raspberries and having Mary's dad go pick them some fresh whip cream from the store. We'll just assume that after eating the concoction that he felt the trip was worth it.
This is their mint brownie extravaganza. They have crushed mint leaves in the brownies, which they split in half and filled with a layer of whip cream and chocolate chips. It was served with a topping of fresh raspberries. I was skeptical, but it was good. I normally don't even like brownies.
June 22, 2007
Christians?
What does a Christian have a responsibility to do when someone is facing a situation? Lets assume both parties are truly saved, Jesus loving people.
Do you just accept their side of the story and assume there is no other truth, and just offer complete sympathy? Do you sympathise but still discuss where an area of sin could be a problem?
I'm not saying make the judgement call, just point out the possible problem, and leave it to them to work out with God.
Is it tickling their ear to just say "Oh you poor baby!" and not address the issue? (or possible issue)
If its not a sin, and they have sought God, and are comfortable with where they are, then all is as it should be, right? But if it is sin, and they are not seeking God, but all the other Christians did was sympathize with their situation and not try to point them to God, is that sin?
Why does this keep coming up for me? I can't talk about one situation and I won't bring on more publicity for the other situation. But I am left hurting for trying to love on someone and point them to God for direction and truth. Not my truth or their truth, but God's Truth. With no opinion on what the truth is. It hurts to have our sin pointed out, I know, but I love my friends who are willing to call me on it, or to make me be SURE of what I am doing.
I have had to make some tough decisions in following God, things that really go against the grain even in Christian circles. Things that make other Christians mad because they think if I am called to it that I think they are in sin or something. So I have learned not to judge others for what they stand up for. Because God has called each person to a different stand and a different life. I would never presume to know what God wants for a person outside of wanting each and every Christian to be pure of heart and totally surrendered to God's will, humble.
So, which way should we go? The way that causes other's to be mad at us and hurt us but could lead someone to a closer walk with God or out of possible sin or just hug them and let God deal with it?
People have suggested to me that I should seek God in something because I could be wrong. If they are wrong, it has not bothered me because I knew that God had called me to it. If they were right, I tended to get mad and defensive until I gave in to God's leading. And I love the friends so much!
*This is my 200th post!
Do you just accept their side of the story and assume there is no other truth, and just offer complete sympathy? Do you sympathise but still discuss where an area of sin could be a problem?
I'm not saying make the judgement call, just point out the possible problem, and leave it to them to work out with God.
Is it tickling their ear to just say "Oh you poor baby!" and not address the issue? (or possible issue)
If its not a sin, and they have sought God, and are comfortable with where they are, then all is as it should be, right? But if it is sin, and they are not seeking God, but all the other Christians did was sympathize with their situation and not try to point them to God, is that sin?
Why does this keep coming up for me? I can't talk about one situation and I won't bring on more publicity for the other situation. But I am left hurting for trying to love on someone and point them to God for direction and truth. Not my truth or their truth, but God's Truth. With no opinion on what the truth is. It hurts to have our sin pointed out, I know, but I love my friends who are willing to call me on it, or to make me be SURE of what I am doing.
I have had to make some tough decisions in following God, things that really go against the grain even in Christian circles. Things that make other Christians mad because they think if I am called to it that I think they are in sin or something. So I have learned not to judge others for what they stand up for. Because God has called each person to a different stand and a different life. I would never presume to know what God wants for a person outside of wanting each and every Christian to be pure of heart and totally surrendered to God's will, humble.
So, which way should we go? The way that causes other's to be mad at us and hurt us but could lead someone to a closer walk with God or out of possible sin or just hug them and let God deal with it?
People have suggested to me that I should seek God in something because I could be wrong. If they are wrong, it has not bothered me because I knew that God had called me to it. If they were right, I tended to get mad and defensive until I gave in to God's leading. And I love the friends so much!
*This is my 200th post!
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