Some of my first Christmas memories are of my childhood home. My mother was very particular about the Christmas tree. We always had a real tree. I'm not sure where it came from - I don't think we bought them. Perhaps my dad went out and cut one down. The tree was always a cedar tree, usually somewhat mis-shapen, and almost always too tall. We had colored glass balls of many sizes with which to decorate the tree. We always lost one to the hard wood floor but we were repeatedly told how fragile they were and to be careful. The family got to help put on the Christmas balls, but it was Mother's job to put on the silver icicles. Most trees in the early 60's had silver strands of metallic strips called "icicles". Most of them were thrown on the tree in a carefree, globby fashion, but not ours. Mother would spend hours putting them on one-by-one and really didn't want any help. She always wanted her tree to be comparable to a "department store" Christmas tree - done to perfection. The strands of lights were bulky and heavy, but no one had anything else and so they were acceptable. We always had multi-colored lights. Dad's job was to string a few lights around the window outside, and maybe the door, too.
There were six in our family and sometimes we had Aunt Joan's family at our house for Christmas, too. We always opened gifts on Christmas Eve. I do remember Santa coming on Christmas morning when I was really small, though. I remember one Christmas morning getting up and running into the living room. I had a big stuffed yellow poodle dog and a teddy bear under the tree. I loved them very much and kept them until I was an older teenager. I only received one bicycle that I can remember and I was probably in the third or fourth grade when I got it. I don't really have any more clear memories of "Santa" gifts other than those which were marked from "Santa" at our family time.
One year I remember pouring out a box of Barbie clothes in the floor and all over me. There were so many and I loved them. I found out years later that Mother had made them. They didn't have a lot of money that year and she was a terrific seamstress, so she made Barbie clothes for me. My friend Candy had a lot of store bought Barbie clothes, but she liked to play with mine because they were different.
One year I got a wig with which to play dress up and a red stuffed fox. I have pictures of myself in the wig and holding the fox on our front porch. I got a "Posey Pixie" doll for Christmas one year and a Wedding Doll, which I still have, too. One year after I was an adult, Mom gave them to me restored. Posey Pixie was just too fragile and her foam body began to deteriorate so I had to dispose of her but I still have the Wedding doll. I must admit, she has seen better days before Lacey decided to drag her around by her neck and draw on her face with ink when she was a child. Kelly hated her and still does. Maybe I'll have a grand daughter some day who will appreciate her.
Most of my memories have more to do with people than with presents. Our house was always full and loud at Christmas. We tore open gifts and found ourselves knee deep in paper most years - the one time a year we were allowed to be messy for a few minutes. Being together has always been the most fun and even today, our children think of Christmas as being at Mother's house more than our own. Tomorrow is Christmas. Most of the traditions are gone. The house will be quiet, but memories live on.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Waiting...
My sister says there is value in waiting. I have always heard this, but it is when people are not waiting that they often come up with this wisdom. Not that she is wrong, but I have found that in the midst of waiting, we don't often recognize the value. We are "waiting". I am a "doer", a multi-tasker, a visionary, a change-agent - and waiting seems just useless and a waste of time. I don't like to walk for health - not because I don't like the activity - but because it bores me. I think of the myriads of things that I could be doing instead of "walking". I don't like to go to bed at night and sleep - not because I don't need rest - but because it bores me. I am the most creative during those hours and I want to be writing about it or doing it instead of "sleeping". To sit and wait is frustrating. I know that is what we are suppose to do right now, but as I told someone a week ago - "It is all very exciting right now, but ask me in a week - by that time I'm sure it will be less exciting and I will be tired of it." It has been a week. I am growing tired of it. I am praying for endurance, humility, and patience. Yikes! I've been told that whatever you pray for, God will "teach" you! There are some mighty powerful lessons in those words! My hope is in Christ. That is what makes it all worth while. As I am waiting, He is working and I am expecting big things of Him. It makes me weak in the knees to know that He is going to use us to accomplish those big things, but I am ready to get ready!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Mission Lab New Orleans/Worship Project
The posts following are my memoirs of the week we spent in New Orleans with the youth of Batesville First Baptist Church. It was an amazing week with an amazing bunch of wonderful young people and their leaders! To enjoy reading it to the fullest you will need to scroll down to the last post and start with it...then read them by scrolling up to the next and the next. I wrote them as I had time and so the last to you is the first of the story...good luck with that!!
So, start with "Moments to Remember".
So, start with "Moments to Remember".
Winding Down - MLNO/WP
Thursday morning arrived and by 6:45 am, most of us were in the cafeteria for our daily coffee, diet coke and/or runny eggs and a shout out from the lady whom we had lovingly named The Breakfast Nazi. Each morning she would give us a gentle shout that we had only 3 minutes left, although some of us had only been there for 2, before we had to get out of there. I have never seen biscuits and gravy stabbed whole by a fork and scarfed down in one bite by so many wet headed boys, in an effort to avoid the 30 second call, in my life! Following breakfast each morning we had morning devos. It was good to begin the day in the Word and with a fresh falling of the Holy Spirit for a day of service and submission.
The Excite camp BYBC ended on Thursday and so we made the decision just to pull out the stops and do everything we could to finish the week in three days. The dramas were an excellent way to relate the Word without having to do a traditional Bible story. The students really stepped up and made their characters come alive to effectively get the point across. They worked with last minute run throughs and very simple costumes and props. I kept reminding them that it wasn't "Broadway". We did a couple of crafts, played a couple of games, sang a couple of songs and finished with the dramas. To close the day, we used the "blooming flowers" to wow the children and left them with the message that God is love. The Excite campers and leaders gave us a certificate of appreciation as our time together came to a close.
Because I wasn't at the other BYBC, I don't have a play by play of what they did. I do know this, however - they were consistent and loved on the children every day. They could have easily just decided to go somewhere else or do something else, but they had made a commitment to these neighborhood children and their parents and they were determined to see it through. They endured the heat and humidity, the rough vacant lot they had to use as a playground, and the inconsistency of the children as they came and went freely. They were a great example of stability in a very unstable environment.
Thursday afternoon, some of the boys, Emily and Kayla and Greg decided to go to the 9th Ward to finish the yard which we had started on Wednesday. They had a mower and weed-eater available to them that day. They used shovels and rakes and removed stumps and weeds once again. They cleared the yard of metal and trash and in the end, they had made an incredible difference. Everyone worked hard. Everyone went away with a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.
Those who opted out of the yard work were sent to the food bank. We went with the expectation of making up boxes of food to be given out to individuals or sacking up beans and rice for individual distribution or something of that nature. We expected to be working in a clean air conditioned warehouse and didn't think about other people being there, too. Wow, did we get a surprise! We were shown a quick video of the jobs that are done at the food bank and given a brief overview of what to expect. On the video when they mentioned "ruined food" and "gnawed on boxes" that was when I realized that we weren't in Kansas any more. We were ushered out to a loading dock and introduced to our supervisor. I can't remember her name, but I wouldn't want to play a contact sport with her. We were told to join a table and just had to find a place to stand between seasoned volunteers and with others who were new to the work, as well. There was a group of senior citizens who volunteered on a regular basis at the food bank who were there in full force that day. They pulled, lifted, slung things, and barked orders. Some of them were gruff and I actually think may have growled. We were brought banana boxes filled with every imaginable kind of food and non-food items to be sorted. We would look them over and decide if they were keepers or if they needed to be tossed. We were told to use our judgement, deciding if we would want to take the product home with us to use. Scarlett and I agreed that we would not have taken any of it home with us. We saw crushed cereal boxes, out-dated products, slimy bottles of water, and even a box of food full of maggots - yuck! When we found something that was too old or had peanuts or tree nuts in it, we had to toss it out. All of the discarded food went into a huge dumpster bind that was on the lower deck behind us. At one point the supervisor began going through the dumpster, questioning our decision making and taking some things back out to be re-boxed. Finally everyone left except our group and we finished up the job and cleaned up the loading dock. I must say, this was my least favorite job of the week! I wanted to go back to the dorm and just stand in the shower! I was reminded, however, that when you are hungry, you will eat what is offered you. God is great, God is good - Let us thank Him, for our food! Amen.
Thursday night we enjoyed a time of worship again. We were awed that the Father planned for the MLab pastor to speak on Paul as a captive in his own house, under house arrest - the very lesson that our own Paul and Brutus drama had depicted to the children that week. This was not planned. Mission Lab did not give us the material and didn't know what we were using. I love the way God orchestrates the lessons He wants us to learn - giving them to us over and over in different ways and forms and through the words of different people.
The girls had a "To dye for" party on Thursday night. Their favorite guinea pig was Mickey. I honestly think they could talk him into anything. He is a sucker for the teenage girls in our youth, remembering days of old with his own girls. They had purple hair dye and were itching to use it in his lovely silver hair. They like to give just a streak or "high-light" of color to their victims, and so the process began. Amberly donned the gloves and the quirt bottle came out. There, surrounded by the experts, Mickey received his first streak of permanent purple dye. He will be having job interviews in the next week or two, hopefully...wonder how that will do? These girls have left their mark on him, but not only with a bottle of dye. He loves their drive, commitment and desire to serve their God. What a privilege to live and work among them!
Friday was our last day. Both groups worked together at the 7th Ward BYBC. There were way too many of us and so we made the decision for some of us to prayer walk the neighborhood. This was my favorite day. We split up into three groups, each having an adult and three to five students. The group that I was with were privileged to pray as we walked, stopping on occasion to speak to a passer-by or someone sitting on their porch and then to pray for their specific needs. No one was hostel, and in fact, not even negative. Everyone that we asked was ready to give us their requests and very glad we were praying for them. That day we, and the other prayer walkers, learned so much about the people of the 7th Ward. We learned that they, too, once had a life. They once had cars and jobs and family around. We learned that they live in fear of the crime surrounding them and that they don't want the crime to continue. We learned that Katrina had not only devastated lives but had also changed lives for Christ's sake. We learned that some people were happy and doing just fine and that others had illnesses and family problems. We discovered that community and family was important and that the people of New Orleans desired both. I was compelled, as were some others, to reach out and touch the people as we prayed for them. We prayed that through God's answers men would be drawn to Jesus. We returned to the street and the small vacant lot where the BYBC was still going on and joined the rest of the group there. It was a delight to watch the children leaving with their treasures in hand - hoola hoops, balls, and jump ropes - as they also took away the knowledge of a Savior who loves them as they were embraced by students who had been His hands and His feet that week.
Finally Friday afternoon arrived. This was the day designated for a trip to the French Quarter where the gift of the Worship Project would be given to the tourists, artists and shop keepers who passed by Washington Artillery Park. It turned out to be a rough beginning. We couldn't find the park and drove around and around. Finally, we found the park and realized that we would have to park a distance and walk with instruments and other items needed for the set up. Lacey got permission to park in front of the steps leading to the park where the Worship Project would be presented. That was a blessing. The instruments were pulled together and Renda and I "babysat" them until we realized that they could be moved to a location which would not require us to sit in the beating down hot sun. Finally, we found the electrical outlets that we had been told we would find and set up began. Mickey's "well oiled machine" went to work. Right on time, at 3:00 pm, the Worship Project began. We didn't really have a captive audience and only a few stayed to hear the complete message, but that is when we realized how powerful the words are and how critical that the message could be delivered in such a manner. The songs are full of single messages that are repeated and shouted out which can stand alone without explanation - "I can't image life without You", "Our God reigns", "You are stronger" "Chains are broken, lives are changed". Anyone hearing just a few words - maybe just one line - could be effectively ministered to, just by walking by. Jesus name literally hung in the air in the French Quarter. When the students had torn down all the equipment and it had been stored away, we all split up and became tourists ourselves. I think everyone had a beniet at Cafe Du Monde before we loaded up to go. We were so tired, but happy and felt blessed to have been a part of a week of missions and worship in New Orleans.
Saturday morning we loaded up early and headed back to Arkansas. As we dragged our suit cases into the camp dorm where we were staying on Saturday night, hardly a word was spoken. Everyone claimed a bed and some fell into it without even changing clothes. We needed sleep and to get prepared for the long day ahead. Sunday the Worship Project would be given to two small churches, Sunday morning and Sunday night, with many parents and friends in attendance. It was a great way to end a wonderful week, praising the Father and giving glory to His name.
The Excite camp BYBC ended on Thursday and so we made the decision just to pull out the stops and do everything we could to finish the week in three days. The dramas were an excellent way to relate the Word without having to do a traditional Bible story. The students really stepped up and made their characters come alive to effectively get the point across. They worked with last minute run throughs and very simple costumes and props. I kept reminding them that it wasn't "Broadway". We did a couple of crafts, played a couple of games, sang a couple of songs and finished with the dramas. To close the day, we used the "blooming flowers" to wow the children and left them with the message that God is love. The Excite campers and leaders gave us a certificate of appreciation as our time together came to a close.
Because I wasn't at the other BYBC, I don't have a play by play of what they did. I do know this, however - they were consistent and loved on the children every day. They could have easily just decided to go somewhere else or do something else, but they had made a commitment to these neighborhood children and their parents and they were determined to see it through. They endured the heat and humidity, the rough vacant lot they had to use as a playground, and the inconsistency of the children as they came and went freely. They were a great example of stability in a very unstable environment.
Thursday afternoon, some of the boys, Emily and Kayla and Greg decided to go to the 9th Ward to finish the yard which we had started on Wednesday. They had a mower and weed-eater available to them that day. They used shovels and rakes and removed stumps and weeds once again. They cleared the yard of metal and trash and in the end, they had made an incredible difference. Everyone worked hard. Everyone went away with a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.
Those who opted out of the yard work were sent to the food bank. We went with the expectation of making up boxes of food to be given out to individuals or sacking up beans and rice for individual distribution or something of that nature. We expected to be working in a clean air conditioned warehouse and didn't think about other people being there, too. Wow, did we get a surprise! We were shown a quick video of the jobs that are done at the food bank and given a brief overview of what to expect. On the video when they mentioned "ruined food" and "gnawed on boxes" that was when I realized that we weren't in Kansas any more. We were ushered out to a loading dock and introduced to our supervisor. I can't remember her name, but I wouldn't want to play a contact sport with her. We were told to join a table and just had to find a place to stand between seasoned volunteers and with others who were new to the work, as well. There was a group of senior citizens who volunteered on a regular basis at the food bank who were there in full force that day. They pulled, lifted, slung things, and barked orders. Some of them were gruff and I actually think may have growled. We were brought banana boxes filled with every imaginable kind of food and non-food items to be sorted. We would look them over and decide if they were keepers or if they needed to be tossed. We were told to use our judgement, deciding if we would want to take the product home with us to use. Scarlett and I agreed that we would not have taken any of it home with us. We saw crushed cereal boxes, out-dated products, slimy bottles of water, and even a box of food full of maggots - yuck! When we found something that was too old or had peanuts or tree nuts in it, we had to toss it out. All of the discarded food went into a huge dumpster bind that was on the lower deck behind us. At one point the supervisor began going through the dumpster, questioning our decision making and taking some things back out to be re-boxed. Finally everyone left except our group and we finished up the job and cleaned up the loading dock. I must say, this was my least favorite job of the week! I wanted to go back to the dorm and just stand in the shower! I was reminded, however, that when you are hungry, you will eat what is offered you. God is great, God is good - Let us thank Him, for our food! Amen.
Thursday night we enjoyed a time of worship again. We were awed that the Father planned for the MLab pastor to speak on Paul as a captive in his own house, under house arrest - the very lesson that our own Paul and Brutus drama had depicted to the children that week. This was not planned. Mission Lab did not give us the material and didn't know what we were using. I love the way God orchestrates the lessons He wants us to learn - giving them to us over and over in different ways and forms and through the words of different people.
The girls had a "To dye for" party on Thursday night. Their favorite guinea pig was Mickey. I honestly think they could talk him into anything. He is a sucker for the teenage girls in our youth, remembering days of old with his own girls. They had purple hair dye and were itching to use it in his lovely silver hair. They like to give just a streak or "high-light" of color to their victims, and so the process began. Amberly donned the gloves and the quirt bottle came out. There, surrounded by the experts, Mickey received his first streak of permanent purple dye. He will be having job interviews in the next week or two, hopefully...wonder how that will do? These girls have left their mark on him, but not only with a bottle of dye. He loves their drive, commitment and desire to serve their God. What a privilege to live and work among them!
Friday was our last day. Both groups worked together at the 7th Ward BYBC. There were way too many of us and so we made the decision for some of us to prayer walk the neighborhood. This was my favorite day. We split up into three groups, each having an adult and three to five students. The group that I was with were privileged to pray as we walked, stopping on occasion to speak to a passer-by or someone sitting on their porch and then to pray for their specific needs. No one was hostel, and in fact, not even negative. Everyone that we asked was ready to give us their requests and very glad we were praying for them. That day we, and the other prayer walkers, learned so much about the people of the 7th Ward. We learned that they, too, once had a life. They once had cars and jobs and family around. We learned that they live in fear of the crime surrounding them and that they don't want the crime to continue. We learned that Katrina had not only devastated lives but had also changed lives for Christ's sake. We learned that some people were happy and doing just fine and that others had illnesses and family problems. We discovered that community and family was important and that the people of New Orleans desired both. I was compelled, as were some others, to reach out and touch the people as we prayed for them. We prayed that through God's answers men would be drawn to Jesus. We returned to the street and the small vacant lot where the BYBC was still going on and joined the rest of the group there. It was a delight to watch the children leaving with their treasures in hand - hoola hoops, balls, and jump ropes - as they also took away the knowledge of a Savior who loves them as they were embraced by students who had been His hands and His feet that week.
Finally Friday afternoon arrived. This was the day designated for a trip to the French Quarter where the gift of the Worship Project would be given to the tourists, artists and shop keepers who passed by Washington Artillery Park. It turned out to be a rough beginning. We couldn't find the park and drove around and around. Finally, we found the park and realized that we would have to park a distance and walk with instruments and other items needed for the set up. Lacey got permission to park in front of the steps leading to the park where the Worship Project would be presented. That was a blessing. The instruments were pulled together and Renda and I "babysat" them until we realized that they could be moved to a location which would not require us to sit in the beating down hot sun. Finally, we found the electrical outlets that we had been told we would find and set up began. Mickey's "well oiled machine" went to work. Right on time, at 3:00 pm, the Worship Project began. We didn't really have a captive audience and only a few stayed to hear the complete message, but that is when we realized how powerful the words are and how critical that the message could be delivered in such a manner. The songs are full of single messages that are repeated and shouted out which can stand alone without explanation - "I can't image life without You", "Our God reigns", "You are stronger" "Chains are broken, lives are changed". Anyone hearing just a few words - maybe just one line - could be effectively ministered to, just by walking by. Jesus name literally hung in the air in the French Quarter. When the students had torn down all the equipment and it had been stored away, we all split up and became tourists ourselves. I think everyone had a beniet at Cafe Du Monde before we loaded up to go. We were so tired, but happy and felt blessed to have been a part of a week of missions and worship in New Orleans.
Saturday morning we loaded up early and headed back to Arkansas. As we dragged our suit cases into the camp dorm where we were staying on Saturday night, hardly a word was spoken. Everyone claimed a bed and some fell into it without even changing clothes. We needed sleep and to get prepared for the long day ahead. Sunday the Worship Project would be given to two small churches, Sunday morning and Sunday night, with many parents and friends in attendance. It was a great way to end a wonderful week, praising the Father and giving glory to His name.
Mid-Week MLNO/WP trip
Wednesday afternoon was devoted to set up for the Worship Project at Edgewater Baptist Church. Our friends, Josh and Ashley Lane and Matt and Jacque Middlecamp had attended and worked in this small Baptist church while in seminary in New Orleans. The church was a victim of the flood, however, it has been remodeled and blessed to have the doors open to minister to it's hurting community. Mickey proudly stands back and watches as the youth set up the sound, instruments and lights for Worship Project. He smiles and says, "It's a well oiled machine!" Each student has a job and knows what to do proficiently. They unload, carry and set up the stage making ready for Mickey to come in and begin plugging in and adjusting the cords and knobs for a perfectly balanced sound. All the while Greg is moving about with the lights and others are helping set them up for the "icing on the cake". It is very amazing to watch this "well oiled machine". No one is complaining or slacking. Everyone knows their job and does it until it is complete. On that particular Wednesday night, the crowd was low with their youth being away at camp and the seminary students having gone for the summer, but the youth sang with conviction and an attitude of worship that reached and touched the lives of those who were there. Alison declared her little media room her personal space of worship and assured us all that the Holy Spirit did indeed abide within those walls. With servants' hearts the students began the tear down (a job that goes much more quickly than set up) immediately and Mickey was able to smile, once again, at the way they worked as a team - "a well oiled machine". As we returned to campus, we claimed a spot in the student center lobby for a time of reflection. Chase led us as we recapped some important revelations and spiritual markers that had brought us to that moment through the work and worship we had experienced so far in the week. We had a sweet time of prayer. By the time we were finished we had missed the window of opportunity for McDonald's ice cream, but no one minded that much. We knew we would face a full day the next day and headed to our dorms.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
More of MLNO/WP
On Monday afternoon, the students went to the local Lowe's store to give out care packages to the homeless men who congregate there. They are lined up hoping for a job opportunity. Many of the men have alcohol issues and/or mental illness issues. This was a real stretch for our small town, Arkansas students and leaders. Once they began handing out the packages, they got a little braver and began making light conversation with the men. Some of them just grabbed the packages and tore into them, eating what was in them and not responding verbally at all. Some of them wanted to engage in "crazy" talk - non sensible conversation with no point, and others said they could pray for them. Our students had never encountered people who were in this position in life, and I think it was a growing experience for most of them. I'm not sure of the real value of this type of ministry as far as bringing them to Christ, but it is a step and it is an opportunity to "do unto others".
Just a side note...while the students went to Lowes, Mickey and I went to Target. It was necessary trip - for some "necessities"! Mickey forgot unmentionables and I forgot PJ's! Some other folks forgot other things such as shampoo and body wash. We also realized that water was not provided by MLab and that it was most definitely a necessity. It was a two story Target, a new experience for these old small town people. First we discovered the elevator that was designed to carry not only us, but our cart also. We quickly discovered the escalator, which had a nifty cart carrier attached to it, as well. It was so much fun that although we didn't intentionally have to make two more trips upstairs, we were a little giddy with the option.
Tuesday afternoon was very interesting. The Worship Project was taken to a Juvenile Detention Center which housed young men in the age range of many of our students. Some of the wards of the center were there for a short stay and others were there for the duration of their teenage years. We pulled up at the front of the building and sat in our vans waiting to enter the locked down facility to begin setting up in their gym. The students had to surrender their personal ID's and leave everything electronic, as well as bags in the vans. Finally, the guard came to the walk in gate and we filed in single file to the location where we would begin making ready for delivery of the Worship Project. Mickey and Greg had to be led to a back gate where the van and trailer and Yukon were ushered inside. They were asked at one point to move the vehicles further away from the razor wire fence as a security precaution. The guards were concerned that an inmate might try to escape via the top of the van and over the fence. The atmosphere in the building was less than exciting and the captive audience not so much engaged, however, the message of the Worship Project is simple and clear and just to be in the room, I am sure that someone caught the idea and a seed was planted. The students did an excellent job in a difficult situation. They were all very glad to be able to leave and to know that freedom for them was just a key turn away. Our vehicles which were inside the securely locked gates waited as a guard attempted to unlock and free us without success. Mickey, who was walking, was asked to help turn the key - a humorous moment and picture opportunity - however, another guard had to be called and finally we were free to go. We were late for supper but made it just before the closing of the cafeteria. We just had time to clean up and make it for worship.
Wednesday, the Excite BYBC was not meeting and we needed to find another project to do. With the help of the MLab site coordinator, we received another assignment. We were asked to help clean up a yard in the lower 9th Ward, the area of the city where the flooding from Katrina had been most devastating. It is 4 years since Katrina invaded New Orleans and the levies broke and the lasting effect is still overwhelming. As we traveled to the 9th ward, we saw the results first hand. On many of the still standing yet totaled homes were big X's. Some of them had numbers on them, some had words written indicating a pet was found inside, some were marked with TFW (toxic flood waters or totalled by flood waters), and yet others were big red X's indicating that a body had been found in the house. There were a few rebuilt and remodeled homes sprinkled in among the devastated neighborhood, but still so many that had been completely ruined by the hurricane and flood that followed yet standing. The yards of many of those unoccupied homes were just as they had been left the day of the flood. The grass and weeds were as tall as the house and they are a breeding ground for insects, mice, rats and vagrants. The yard that we were asked to tackle was not unlike that which I have described. An elderly lady lived next door and had no means by which to clean up the yard. We were issued rakes and gloves by MLab and then given hack saws and sling blades by the home owners association of the lower 9th Ward. The pastor and his wife who are overseers were very grateful and as helpful as possible. The group began working on the yard, hacking and slinging and pulling and picking up trash. Everything had to be put in the street for pick up because the city will not go on to private property. Many of the homes were abandoned and no one will ever return to clean them up or claim them. Those without flood insurance lost everything and there is no incentive to return, however, it is still private property and so the city can do nothing with those houses. Those who did have insurance had to build back on the original foundation and now are just waiting in their new homes for the next flood right next to a totaled, devastated property. It is very sad. The students and Greg worked very hard to make the property look good and in the end discovered a house behind the weeds and grass. While we were at it, we began cleaning up the front yards of two of the houses across the street. One of them was a big two story house with the front door missing. The barred storm door which was missing the glass had been chained to a whole in the door frame to prevent entry. There was a rusted little "Welcome" sign still hanging on the door. As we peered through the bars we could see the gutted out down stairs and the rotting parkay flooring which was once the entryway into some family's home. The stairway was opened up by the missing sheet rock and we could see to the second floor. It almost looked as though you could have gone up stairs and lived still - the white walls and ceiling fan. The boys, and a couple of girls, and Greg returned on Thursday afternoon to finish well. Our job was done and at least we had cleared some of the rubble left from the devastation of 4 years prior. It was a very small effort toward a massive undertaking of which New Orleans is in a desperate need. As we entered the ward we saw the new "Brad Pitt" homes which have been built with solar panels and on stilts. Although they are an oddity for this crumbling neighborhood, they are also a sign of hope. I suppose that a newly cleared lot is also a small sign of hope for those living around it.
Just a side note...while the students went to Lowes, Mickey and I went to Target. It was necessary trip - for some "necessities"! Mickey forgot unmentionables and I forgot PJ's! Some other folks forgot other things such as shampoo and body wash. We also realized that water was not provided by MLab and that it was most definitely a necessity. It was a two story Target, a new experience for these old small town people. First we discovered the elevator that was designed to carry not only us, but our cart also. We quickly discovered the escalator, which had a nifty cart carrier attached to it, as well. It was so much fun that although we didn't intentionally have to make two more trips upstairs, we were a little giddy with the option.
Tuesday afternoon was very interesting. The Worship Project was taken to a Juvenile Detention Center which housed young men in the age range of many of our students. Some of the wards of the center were there for a short stay and others were there for the duration of their teenage years. We pulled up at the front of the building and sat in our vans waiting to enter the locked down facility to begin setting up in their gym. The students had to surrender their personal ID's and leave everything electronic, as well as bags in the vans. Finally, the guard came to the walk in gate and we filed in single file to the location where we would begin making ready for delivery of the Worship Project. Mickey and Greg had to be led to a back gate where the van and trailer and Yukon were ushered inside. They were asked at one point to move the vehicles further away from the razor wire fence as a security precaution. The guards were concerned that an inmate might try to escape via the top of the van and over the fence. The atmosphere in the building was less than exciting and the captive audience not so much engaged, however, the message of the Worship Project is simple and clear and just to be in the room, I am sure that someone caught the idea and a seed was planted. The students did an excellent job in a difficult situation. They were all very glad to be able to leave and to know that freedom for them was just a key turn away. Our vehicles which were inside the securely locked gates waited as a guard attempted to unlock and free us without success. Mickey, who was walking, was asked to help turn the key - a humorous moment and picture opportunity - however, another guard had to be called and finally we were free to go. We were late for supper but made it just before the closing of the cafeteria. We just had time to clean up and make it for worship.
Wednesday, the Excite BYBC was not meeting and we needed to find another project to do. With the help of the MLab site coordinator, we received another assignment. We were asked to help clean up a yard in the lower 9th Ward, the area of the city where the flooding from Katrina had been most devastating. It is 4 years since Katrina invaded New Orleans and the levies broke and the lasting effect is still overwhelming. As we traveled to the 9th ward, we saw the results first hand. On many of the still standing yet totaled homes were big X's. Some of them had numbers on them, some had words written indicating a pet was found inside, some were marked with TFW (toxic flood waters or totalled by flood waters), and yet others were big red X's indicating that a body had been found in the house. There were a few rebuilt and remodeled homes sprinkled in among the devastated neighborhood, but still so many that had been completely ruined by the hurricane and flood that followed yet standing. The yards of many of those unoccupied homes were just as they had been left the day of the flood. The grass and weeds were as tall as the house and they are a breeding ground for insects, mice, rats and vagrants. The yard that we were asked to tackle was not unlike that which I have described. An elderly lady lived next door and had no means by which to clean up the yard. We were issued rakes and gloves by MLab and then given hack saws and sling blades by the home owners association of the lower 9th Ward. The pastor and his wife who are overseers were very grateful and as helpful as possible. The group began working on the yard, hacking and slinging and pulling and picking up trash. Everything had to be put in the street for pick up because the city will not go on to private property. Many of the homes were abandoned and no one will ever return to clean them up or claim them. Those without flood insurance lost everything and there is no incentive to return, however, it is still private property and so the city can do nothing with those houses. Those who did have insurance had to build back on the original foundation and now are just waiting in their new homes for the next flood right next to a totaled, devastated property. It is very sad. The students and Greg worked very hard to make the property look good and in the end discovered a house behind the weeds and grass. While we were at it, we began cleaning up the front yards of two of the houses across the street. One of them was a big two story house with the front door missing. The barred storm door which was missing the glass had been chained to a whole in the door frame to prevent entry. There was a rusted little "Welcome" sign still hanging on the door. As we peered through the bars we could see the gutted out down stairs and the rotting parkay flooring which was once the entryway into some family's home. The stairway was opened up by the missing sheet rock and we could see to the second floor. It almost looked as though you could have gone up stairs and lived still - the white walls and ceiling fan. The boys, and a couple of girls, and Greg returned on Thursday afternoon to finish well. Our job was done and at least we had cleared some of the rubble left from the devastation of 4 years prior. It was a very small effort toward a massive undertaking of which New Orleans is in a desperate need. As we entered the ward we saw the new "Brad Pitt" homes which have been built with solar panels and on stilts. Although they are an oddity for this crumbling neighborhood, they are also a sign of hope. I suppose that a newly cleared lot is also a small sign of hope for those living around it.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Moments to Remember MLNO/WP Trip
We just spent an incredible week with an awesome bunch of young people from Batesville First Baptist youth group! Under the direction of Lacey and the leadership of Chase, they spent a semester learning the music of Hillsong - doing all of their own instrumentation and vocal work! Some were skeptical of their possible success but pushed through and with a lot of hard work, they were exceedingly successful! By May 31, The Worship Project was ready to debut! They exploded into the summer at First Baptist Church, surprising and pleasing the gathered parents and friends with their professionalism and excellence. The most critical element however, was the worship - they truly brought all who listened and observed to the Throne in an act of worship. They were, indeed, ready to take their worship event on the road and New Orleans was waiting for them. Lacey and Chase had planned a trip which would include Mission Lab of New Orleans Theological Seminary, a program which is intended to give home missions experience and opportunity for young students and their sponsors. Because of their desire to present the Worship Project as a part of their trip, Mission Lab set up opportunities around New Orleans as a part of their plan.
Following the early morning service at First Baptist, 30 people (22 young people and 8 sponsor/leaders) set out for a long drive from Batesville to New Orleans, with high expectations. Little did we know the challenges of entering another culture, climate, and life style that we would encounter and overcome by God's grace that week.
First of all, we knew the mileage when we left and knew that New Orleans was a long way from home. The trip was still new when we stopped outside of Memphis to pick up the Barnes and eat a little lunch. We were very tired, and definitely ready to arrive by the time we found the seminary and finished our registering process that evening. We got in on the end of the first Worship session and to our surprise were asked to follow a staffer from Mission Lab to the student center! IT WAS SO FAR...and we were walking! Mickey and I decided at the last moment to ditch our Hotel room and opted to stay with the rest of the "trippers" when we discovered that it would be possible. We all gathered in our designated room for "church time" - the last time I actually saw that room that week...but we did indeed experience "church time" again through working together and sharing our hearts.
What a great, pleasant surprise that our mattresses were new and very comfortable! Our rooms were clean and adequate. The showers were a little cramped and I am convinced that a do-do must design those things...come on, couldn't you design them for a little more privacy and convenience? Anyway, other than the very loud flushing toilets and the room doors with slats (which allowed even whispers to escape down the hall), our home for the week was nice. I thought the food was actually excellent...well, it began that way, any way. By the end of the week, my daily breakfast was grits with Splenda (VERY GOOD...I don't care what you say!) and a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios along with a diet coke. I tried the bacon and sausage and they just tasted like someone had sliced them straight off the pig and served them...the eggs were powdered, I'm sure. Lunch every day was a good old ham sandwich on white or wheat, depending on what was left (was there also turkey?) a package of mayo or mustard, a bag of chips and a cookie. Every day. Until we got smart enough to do something about it, the drinks were hot - and really not enough variety to please everyone - but we survived. We had our lunch on the sidewalk in front of the dorms under the shade trees. It was really too hot for us to care much about what we were eating. No one complained. Supper was really pretty tasty. Chicken strips, spaghetti, red beans and rice, chicken alfredo and noodles...not bad. One night everyone went to the Dairy Queen for ice cream...that was fun to watch. On Friday night, we ate at the French Quarter - I think everyone had beniets - even me!
Before telling about the exciting days of ministry, I just have to devote some time to how God protected our group. The trip to New Orleans was fairly routine - no big bobbles or loop de loops. Mickey and Greg drove the whole way, pulling trailers and Alison spotted me in the Yukon. It was an incredibly long day and we were very tired by the time we saw the red full moon over Lake Pontchartrain. That we made it safely, with no major incidents was an amazing act of God in itself. We wandered around in New Orleans some during the week, not knowing where we were going exactly. The caravan, however, was able to stay together and made it through the many stop lights and turnabouts without too much hastle. Everyone was sun burned and a few people got blisters and minor cuts, but no trips to the hospital. Good health, for those of us with some issues, was well maintained. We were made keenly aware of a phobia that Alison has while on the trip. Alison was driving to the correctional facility as we entered the Huey P. Long bridge. She had said earlier that she didn't like bridges and so we all became a little anxious for her. This bridge was the highest, longest and most dangerous looking bridge in New Orleans! To top it off, there was construction going on and we entered the very narrow bridge beside a bus. Alison was petrified! She sat up and held on to the steering wheel with all of her might! It turned out that the construction work was a blessing - traffic had to streamline and travel in one lane which put the bus in front of us instead of beside us. We made it across the bridge safely and I drove on the return! We were never in real danger, but the perceived danger was unnerving and God's protection was very real. The time for us to leave came with few problems and other than every day aggravations, our week had been uneventful and we had been watched over and cared for by the Father. We all loaded in the vans and Yukon and headed back to Arkansas. As we rounded the second corner, the second van "kerplunked". Greg stepped out to access the situation and got quite a surprise. As he had driven over the speed bump, the trailer had come loose from the van! Even in this moment, we recognized God's hand over us. Had he not hit a speed bump, we might have discovered the loose trailer on the interstate and it could have been a tragedy. This says something for speed bumps in our way, doesn't it? It could have only been God's protection. The long trip home finally began. We were nearing lunch time and planned to stop soon. The trip had been uneventful and everyone was tired enough to sleep - well, except for Mickey's van, who were bored enough to play "hide-n-seek" in the van (don't ask, I don't know). Suddenly everything went wrong. I could see a white car ahead, stopped dead still on the interstate and Greg was sliding toward it. The car which had gotten in between us was throwing on its brakes and I was pumping mine, thinking about how I could get out of Mickey's way to give him more room while watching him swerving, smoking and breaking in my side mirror. There was no possible way that we would all come out of this unscathed. But we did! Praise the Lord! No damage, no injuries came from any vehicle involved in the potential pile up. The students on Mickey's van said he was literally standing up on his brake! Isn't our God good? We knew and felt that it was His total protection. We exited and took a much needed lunch break, looked over Mickey's tires and thanked the Lord for His watch care.
One week prior to our trip we were alerted that we would need to provide for our own Back Yard Bible Clubs. At this late hour, Bro. Gary helped to secure some materials for us. While the students spent hours practicing the Worship Project, I spent an unscheduled day cleaning out the resource room at the church in an effort to see what we could use for crafts that would be cost effective. This was important because we really had no money allocated for this part of the trip. To my delight, I found a lot of left-overs from Vacation Bible School the following year and used my years of pre-school experience to develop some ideas using the available materials. On Wednesday before we left the curriculum that Bro. Gary had ordered came in. I went to work, editing and planning out days of what I hoped would be flexible material to meet our need in any situation. I thought it was really good material and would work well for what we needed. Our students complied with my request that each of them get a costume and play a part in the on going dramas that we would present to the children. They each brought a small blanket or towel to use for sitting on the ground. I think that everyone kept up with their own packet which included a script and information to help with the daily Bible Verse and craft that we would use. These young people are amazing. For five years, many of them have been involved with Terrific Tuesdays at our church. It is a free morning event, offered to the community's families for children 4 years through 5th grade, every Tuesday. The students work the program leading the children in games, crafts, music and Bible stories. Terrific Tuesdays served them well on this trip. We really didn't have a lot of information about the places that we would be leading in a Back Yard Bible Club, so we knew that to be flexible would be important. (Put your index finger out and move it down and out and back in...our sign for flexibility for the week). One of the groups would be at an indoor location working with a community based program with the children already gathered and ready to begin. The other group would have to gather their children by going door to door and would have a vacant lot to meet in. Both places presented their own challenges, but the empty lot group definitely had to stretch themselves and be more creative and flexible.
The community based camp, "Excite", was held in an air conditioned building with two available rooms for us to use. They also had a canopy set up in a small grassy field across their parking lot which was great for early gatherings, snacks, and games. Mrs. Penny and Mr. Jerrold were the directors of the program and were very cooperative and helpful. The children were already divided into three groups by age when we arrived. The big surprise for us, was older children - tweenagers. The students each took a group to lead and developed relationships with them quickly. Victoria was the lead teacher for the older students and adapted so well that you would have never known that she didn't expect it. We "flew by the seat of the pants" changing the schedule and adapting to the unexpected arrangement of the rooms. Quickly we knew that we would need to use "Matt's Place" a coffee house atmosphere and the room the middle age group of children used for crafts and Bible verse learning, as our large group gathering where we would do our dramas and our music. My biggest surprise was that we discovered a stand up comedian among us. I had asked Spencer Barnes to play the on-going part of Paul and Zach Smith to play the part of his Roman guard. The first day we were all left in stitches and amazement at Spencer's delivery - totally relating to the children but effectively getting the message across. Zach was appropriately mean and scary and the children immediately sided with a captive Paul who was under house arrest. On the second day, Mrs. Penny told me that Wednesday was not going to work out for them, as a water slide was coming for the day. She also told me that Friday was field trip day, so we would not be needed then, either. I must admit that I was a little disappointed that we would not be able to do everything we planned with the children, but put up my finger and flexed. This meant that we would be available for some other mission for two mornings, but what that would be, we didn't know. On Thursday, our last day with the children, we decided to do all of the dramas for Day 3, 4 and 5 and all of the Paul and Brutus skits as well. We also brought along a couple of guitars and the djembe drum to sing a couple of Worship Project songs for the children. All through the week, the students stepped up. They taught songs they didn't even know themselves, loved on the children, maintained order - even through the fire ant attack - and pulled out games and songs from their past T-squared experience. The children and the directors were happy and grateful.
Although I wasn't at the other BYBC site, I realize they were the real heroes of the week. They had to "find" their children. It wasn't easy and keeping the ones they found was hard, too. Many of the children they had attend were very young - preschool age. They found their vacant lot and found a disappointing surprise. It was a small grassy lot (too grassy - needed to be mowed) with sticks, glass, and trash on it, sandwiched in between two houses. They were blessed by the gracious people who lived in one of the houses who offered their tiny front porch as a shade from the blistering heat. Each day they would go expecting more children. Each day they would go and there would be different children, most of whom would come and go through out the morning. It was hot and it was hard, but the students and leaders were consistent and loving and flexible. They lost balls under the house and gave away the rec equipment as the children left. These children of the 7th Ward lived in poverty and came from homes that are surrounded by crime and the threat of disease and devastation. It was an honor to send them home with a craft and with a new ball or hoola hoop or jump rope and with a glimmer of hope that someone cares.
I must stop here and publish and post...I will continue this blog at another time...so much more to tell.
Following the early morning service at First Baptist, 30 people (22 young people and 8 sponsor/leaders) set out for a long drive from Batesville to New Orleans, with high expectations. Little did we know the challenges of entering another culture, climate, and life style that we would encounter and overcome by God's grace that week.
First of all, we knew the mileage when we left and knew that New Orleans was a long way from home. The trip was still new when we stopped outside of Memphis to pick up the Barnes and eat a little lunch. We were very tired, and definitely ready to arrive by the time we found the seminary and finished our registering process that evening. We got in on the end of the first Worship session and to our surprise were asked to follow a staffer from Mission Lab to the student center! IT WAS SO FAR...and we were walking! Mickey and I decided at the last moment to ditch our Hotel room and opted to stay with the rest of the "trippers" when we discovered that it would be possible. We all gathered in our designated room for "church time" - the last time I actually saw that room that week...but we did indeed experience "church time" again through working together and sharing our hearts.
What a great, pleasant surprise that our mattresses were new and very comfortable! Our rooms were clean and adequate. The showers were a little cramped and I am convinced that a do-do must design those things...come on, couldn't you design them for a little more privacy and convenience? Anyway, other than the very loud flushing toilets and the room doors with slats (which allowed even whispers to escape down the hall), our home for the week was nice. I thought the food was actually excellent...well, it began that way, any way. By the end of the week, my daily breakfast was grits with Splenda (VERY GOOD...I don't care what you say!) and a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios along with a diet coke. I tried the bacon and sausage and they just tasted like someone had sliced them straight off the pig and served them...the eggs were powdered, I'm sure. Lunch every day was a good old ham sandwich on white or wheat, depending on what was left (was there also turkey?) a package of mayo or mustard, a bag of chips and a cookie. Every day. Until we got smart enough to do something about it, the drinks were hot - and really not enough variety to please everyone - but we survived. We had our lunch on the sidewalk in front of the dorms under the shade trees. It was really too hot for us to care much about what we were eating. No one complained. Supper was really pretty tasty. Chicken strips, spaghetti, red beans and rice, chicken alfredo and noodles...not bad. One night everyone went to the Dairy Queen for ice cream...that was fun to watch. On Friday night, we ate at the French Quarter - I think everyone had beniets - even me!
Before telling about the exciting days of ministry, I just have to devote some time to how God protected our group. The trip to New Orleans was fairly routine - no big bobbles or loop de loops. Mickey and Greg drove the whole way, pulling trailers and Alison spotted me in the Yukon. It was an incredibly long day and we were very tired by the time we saw the red full moon over Lake Pontchartrain. That we made it safely, with no major incidents was an amazing act of God in itself. We wandered around in New Orleans some during the week, not knowing where we were going exactly. The caravan, however, was able to stay together and made it through the many stop lights and turnabouts without too much hastle. Everyone was sun burned and a few people got blisters and minor cuts, but no trips to the hospital. Good health, for those of us with some issues, was well maintained. We were made keenly aware of a phobia that Alison has while on the trip. Alison was driving to the correctional facility as we entered the Huey P. Long bridge. She had said earlier that she didn't like bridges and so we all became a little anxious for her. This bridge was the highest, longest and most dangerous looking bridge in New Orleans! To top it off, there was construction going on and we entered the very narrow bridge beside a bus. Alison was petrified! She sat up and held on to the steering wheel with all of her might! It turned out that the construction work was a blessing - traffic had to streamline and travel in one lane which put the bus in front of us instead of beside us. We made it across the bridge safely and I drove on the return! We were never in real danger, but the perceived danger was unnerving and God's protection was very real. The time for us to leave came with few problems and other than every day aggravations, our week had been uneventful and we had been watched over and cared for by the Father. We all loaded in the vans and Yukon and headed back to Arkansas. As we rounded the second corner, the second van "kerplunked". Greg stepped out to access the situation and got quite a surprise. As he had driven over the speed bump, the trailer had come loose from the van! Even in this moment, we recognized God's hand over us. Had he not hit a speed bump, we might have discovered the loose trailer on the interstate and it could have been a tragedy. This says something for speed bumps in our way, doesn't it? It could have only been God's protection. The long trip home finally began. We were nearing lunch time and planned to stop soon. The trip had been uneventful and everyone was tired enough to sleep - well, except for Mickey's van, who were bored enough to play "hide-n-seek" in the van (don't ask, I don't know). Suddenly everything went wrong. I could see a white car ahead, stopped dead still on the interstate and Greg was sliding toward it. The car which had gotten in between us was throwing on its brakes and I was pumping mine, thinking about how I could get out of Mickey's way to give him more room while watching him swerving, smoking and breaking in my side mirror. There was no possible way that we would all come out of this unscathed. But we did! Praise the Lord! No damage, no injuries came from any vehicle involved in the potential pile up. The students on Mickey's van said he was literally standing up on his brake! Isn't our God good? We knew and felt that it was His total protection. We exited and took a much needed lunch break, looked over Mickey's tires and thanked the Lord for His watch care.
One week prior to our trip we were alerted that we would need to provide for our own Back Yard Bible Clubs. At this late hour, Bro. Gary helped to secure some materials for us. While the students spent hours practicing the Worship Project, I spent an unscheduled day cleaning out the resource room at the church in an effort to see what we could use for crafts that would be cost effective. This was important because we really had no money allocated for this part of the trip. To my delight, I found a lot of left-overs from Vacation Bible School the following year and used my years of pre-school experience to develop some ideas using the available materials. On Wednesday before we left the curriculum that Bro. Gary had ordered came in. I went to work, editing and planning out days of what I hoped would be flexible material to meet our need in any situation. I thought it was really good material and would work well for what we needed. Our students complied with my request that each of them get a costume and play a part in the on going dramas that we would present to the children. They each brought a small blanket or towel to use for sitting on the ground. I think that everyone kept up with their own packet which included a script and information to help with the daily Bible Verse and craft that we would use. These young people are amazing. For five years, many of them have been involved with Terrific Tuesdays at our church. It is a free morning event, offered to the community's families for children 4 years through 5th grade, every Tuesday. The students work the program leading the children in games, crafts, music and Bible stories. Terrific Tuesdays served them well on this trip. We really didn't have a lot of information about the places that we would be leading in a Back Yard Bible Club, so we knew that to be flexible would be important. (Put your index finger out and move it down and out and back in...our sign for flexibility for the week). One of the groups would be at an indoor location working with a community based program with the children already gathered and ready to begin. The other group would have to gather their children by going door to door and would have a vacant lot to meet in. Both places presented their own challenges, but the empty lot group definitely had to stretch themselves and be more creative and flexible.
The community based camp, "Excite", was held in an air conditioned building with two available rooms for us to use. They also had a canopy set up in a small grassy field across their parking lot which was great for early gatherings, snacks, and games. Mrs. Penny and Mr. Jerrold were the directors of the program and were very cooperative and helpful. The children were already divided into three groups by age when we arrived. The big surprise for us, was older children - tweenagers. The students each took a group to lead and developed relationships with them quickly. Victoria was the lead teacher for the older students and adapted so well that you would have never known that she didn't expect it. We "flew by the seat of the pants" changing the schedule and adapting to the unexpected arrangement of the rooms. Quickly we knew that we would need to use "Matt's Place" a coffee house atmosphere and the room the middle age group of children used for crafts and Bible verse learning, as our large group gathering where we would do our dramas and our music. My biggest surprise was that we discovered a stand up comedian among us. I had asked Spencer Barnes to play the on-going part of Paul and Zach Smith to play the part of his Roman guard. The first day we were all left in stitches and amazement at Spencer's delivery - totally relating to the children but effectively getting the message across. Zach was appropriately mean and scary and the children immediately sided with a captive Paul who was under house arrest. On the second day, Mrs. Penny told me that Wednesday was not going to work out for them, as a water slide was coming for the day. She also told me that Friday was field trip day, so we would not be needed then, either. I must admit that I was a little disappointed that we would not be able to do everything we planned with the children, but put up my finger and flexed. This meant that we would be available for some other mission for two mornings, but what that would be, we didn't know. On Thursday, our last day with the children, we decided to do all of the dramas for Day 3, 4 and 5 and all of the Paul and Brutus skits as well. We also brought along a couple of guitars and the djembe drum to sing a couple of Worship Project songs for the children. All through the week, the students stepped up. They taught songs they didn't even know themselves, loved on the children, maintained order - even through the fire ant attack - and pulled out games and songs from their past T-squared experience. The children and the directors were happy and grateful.
Although I wasn't at the other BYBC site, I realize they were the real heroes of the week. They had to "find" their children. It wasn't easy and keeping the ones they found was hard, too. Many of the children they had attend were very young - preschool age. They found their vacant lot and found a disappointing surprise. It was a small grassy lot (too grassy - needed to be mowed) with sticks, glass, and trash on it, sandwiched in between two houses. They were blessed by the gracious people who lived in one of the houses who offered their tiny front porch as a shade from the blistering heat. Each day they would go expecting more children. Each day they would go and there would be different children, most of whom would come and go through out the morning. It was hot and it was hard, but the students and leaders were consistent and loving and flexible. They lost balls under the house and gave away the rec equipment as the children left. These children of the 7th Ward lived in poverty and came from homes that are surrounded by crime and the threat of disease and devastation. It was an honor to send them home with a craft and with a new ball or hoola hoop or jump rope and with a glimmer of hope that someone cares.
I must stop here and publish and post...I will continue this blog at another time...so much more to tell.
Friday, June 05, 2009
"Free as a Bird!"
Today was Mickey's last day in the secular world - working that is. His company no longer has the need for his services and in a world gone mad and an economy that is stinky - there was not much he could have done about that. Here we are at 52 years of age, having been married for very close - in one week and a half - to 31 years, and facing a new horizon. It is exciting and amazing, if I can just remember to breathe! It is very strange to have no real plan. A few weeks ago I was reading in the Perspectives Reader and there was an article that helped me form a clear understanding of where God wants us to be. The article said that in general, we all would like to have a map, while on the journey, but God provides us with a compass. The compass is His Word. I would like to add that not only do we have a compass, we have a personal Guide - the Holy Spirit, who was present at the creation of the Universe! He knows all! The article reminded the reader that a map can only take you as far as another has gone, with a compass you can go outside the boundaries of a map into uncharted territory. So...that is where we are - in uncharted territory! The page is blank. I can't wait to see how God shows up and where He is going to guide us. Two things...a couple of years ago, I believe he alerted my heart to "expect big things" and I have been praying for a power encounter that I can be a part of - to see Him show up in an unusual way and be aware that it is only the work of His hands. My heart is becoming more and more tendered toward the lost...I weep for them. I pray for divine appointments. God has now freed up my partner to live life dangerously for Him, so here we go!!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
This is my life...I am married to my best friend - the man I love and adore. We have been married for 30 - almost 31 years and there has never been a dull moment! We love to laugh together. We love to spend time together - sometimes, we will just ride to the post office or to do a quick errand together because we like to be together. I am so blessed!! Really - how many married people are that crazy about each other? Over the years we have had many days apart with his job taking him all over the United States. I never look forward to him going and am always anxious to see him coming home, but we are both really ok with the separation time, too. I totally trust him and am very confident in his love for me. One time I remember thinking that the only two couples that would completely shock me by getting divorced would be my parents and us. We both know that we are complete in Jesus and that we compliment each other strongly - and both facts are what makes it work so well. It seems that every day is a new adventure when we are together. Our children and grandchildren are God's gifts to us and we love to be with them. We are so proud of them. However, they are not our only source of joy. We cautiously decided to make our number one focus on this earth, each other. Our marriage comes first, even before the children. When they grew up and left us, we were appropriately sad, but we knew life was not over. We had each other and a new journey to begin. If you came to our house you could easily find us sitting at the card table playing a strategic game together. We are competitive but really just like each other's company. When we were on a college choir tour many years ago and engaged in our first intentional conversation, I knew that I was going to marry him! It is unbelievable, but it is true. I didn't know that I loved him, but I knew that we fit like a "hand in glove" and that he was the one. I thought then, that he was perfect. I know now that he is perfect - for me. Meeting and marrying him was the beginning of a great adventure, and crazy as it is sometimes, I wouldn't want my life to be any other way!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Writings
I decided to transfer over some of my favorite writings and some I just wanted to keep from my Facebook notes. You will find them here if you scroll down - 4 0r 5 things. I love to write. I love to put into words how I feel, my thoughts and reflections, memories, and opinions. I'm sure that no one will ever be interested enough to read my babblings, but I still get joy from seeing them in print. It is a form 0f therapy, perhaps. I have written a lot of things that I have just organized on my computer and I will probably be transferring some of them to my blog. BUT not tonight! Think I'll call it a night!
Benjamin Ellis Parks
Facebook post
Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 9:04pm
Yes, it's true!! I am a grandmother twice now. I know it is hard to believe but it is true! Today, Kelly gave us our second grandson in 15 months! He is 8 lbs and 3 oz and 20 inches long. I told her that no one should have such an easy birthing experience...and that the only birth that I know of that was easier was Simon Birch's...his mother sneezed! She is doing great and the baby is doing great. I really think the most tired of them all is Aaron! They are such awesome parents and God has blessed them richly. Kelly has decided to be a stay at home mom and is very excited about getting to live her dream. Pray for them as they begin a new phase of life. Oh, and you can help support the dream...Kelly will soon be on I tunes! BG
PS...I should have mentioned Asher...he is pure joy to this nanna and I can't believe that I'm allowed to have this much fun! When he firsts saw his baby brother, he gave him lovin' and then clapped his little hands!
Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 9:04pm
Yes, it's true!! I am a grandmother twice now. I know it is hard to believe but it is true! Today, Kelly gave us our second grandson in 15 months! He is 8 lbs and 3 oz and 20 inches long. I told her that no one should have such an easy birthing experience...and that the only birth that I know of that was easier was Simon Birch's...his mother sneezed! She is doing great and the baby is doing great. I really think the most tired of them all is Aaron! They are such awesome parents and God has blessed them richly. Kelly has decided to be a stay at home mom and is very excited about getting to live her dream. Pray for them as they begin a new phase of life. Oh, and you can help support the dream...Kelly will soon be on I tunes! BG
PS...I should have mentioned Asher...he is pure joy to this nanna and I can't believe that I'm allowed to have this much fun! When he firsts saw his baby brother, he gave him lovin' and then clapped his little hands!
Life - After the Wedding!
In a series...a Facebook post
Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 1:48am
Well...it is over. Chase and Lacey are now married and the wedding and reception have come and gone - but the marriage still goes on! The wedding was beautiful, Lacey was a beautiful bride and Chase a very handsome groom. The wedding party all behaved themselves and looked impeccable! I made it through the wedding without throwing up (even though I spent most of the "getting ready" time on the bathroom floor trying to recover from some unknown illness which caused me to lose my cookies violently)! I made a vow that if I could get up and be at the wedding and hopefully part of the reception, that I was not going to care what happened or didn't happen as far as our plans...just to be there was my goal. My family and dear friends did an awesome job in pulling it all together and everything was perfect. My dear friends and the bridesmaids who knew I was sick (and kept it from the bride!), prayed for me and I know that is why I was able to pull myself together and walk down the isle on my own groom's arm - I'm sure that my sister-in-law's help of "anti-throw-up" syrup helped, too! The day was pretty much perfect...but NONE of it happened by accident! People who love me and Mickey, Chase and Lacey, and the church just came out of the wood works to make sure it was an awesome day of celebration to be remembered. God provided a beautiful day - cool breeze and sunny skies - after a spring of heavy rains and flooding and saturating the ground! Chase and his best buds mowed and worked on the grounds and our friends, the Gillmores worked magic on the muddy gateway to the parking area to solve our last problem! The tent was whopper-jawed but still "looked" safe enough and beautiful from the highway! The dance floor was worth the trouble and money and everyone had fun! I want to name people and express my gratitude, but there are too many!So...away they rode into the sunsets of Jamaica!Mickey and I spent the next week just returning things and tying up loose ends and resting. On Sunday following the wedding we sadly said goodbye to Ozlem and Sebastian, our German friends, and to Aaron and Kelly and our precious grandsons. It was also our dear friend, Mark's, last day at our church...NOW...we have several busy things to do this summer, but mostly we are trying to figure out what we must do for the Kingdom and how God is directing us. Some unexpected things have happened...Chase and Lacey are now acting as Youth Interns for our church for the summer and so they are living in Batesville and attending First Baptist with us. Many of our ministry jobs cross over and we are weeding through to see how that will all work. Mark is gone. For five years, he has been a huge part of our lives...in ministry, family, and personally. We spent a lot of nights playing games, talking, and laughing (or crying) together. There is a void in that place that we aren't sure how to fill. In the immediate, we have to figure out transportation...I wrecked the Yukon.I hit the Sonic. That is right...I hit the Sonic...the building, and I took out a speaker along with it and messed up the Yukon pretty well. (I thank God that a car hop wasn't in my way!) DON"T drive in flip-flops!! It got hung on the gas and took it to the floor and there was nothing I could do! SO, the police came and investigated and turned in an accident report...only they got my name wrong and so "Betty White" ran into the Sonic...not me, apparently.Mickey is going to a sleep doctor specialist tomorrow...he apparently has idio something or another, hyper sleep disorder (I can't remember what it is really called). I don't believe it and so we shall see.We will be married 30 years on June 17 and he still likes me enough to take me to Florida on a mandatory work trip so that we can be together on our anniversary day. We are going to the Perspectives National Conference first and then fly out of LR for Florida. In August we will make a trip to Gulf Shores for Kevin and Amy's wedding...and a side trip to play some Settlers of Catan in Montgomery, Alabama! So...now that I've bored you to death with our lives...I think I'll go to bed with my own version of the elephant man (Mickey in a c-pap machine - that I LOVE!) Happy day to anyone who is psycho enough to read all of this!!
Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 1:48am
Well...it is over. Chase and Lacey are now married and the wedding and reception have come and gone - but the marriage still goes on! The wedding was beautiful, Lacey was a beautiful bride and Chase a very handsome groom. The wedding party all behaved themselves and looked impeccable! I made it through the wedding without throwing up (even though I spent most of the "getting ready" time on the bathroom floor trying to recover from some unknown illness which caused me to lose my cookies violently)! I made a vow that if I could get up and be at the wedding and hopefully part of the reception, that I was not going to care what happened or didn't happen as far as our plans...just to be there was my goal. My family and dear friends did an awesome job in pulling it all together and everything was perfect. My dear friends and the bridesmaids who knew I was sick (and kept it from the bride!), prayed for me and I know that is why I was able to pull myself together and walk down the isle on my own groom's arm - I'm sure that my sister-in-law's help of "anti-throw-up" syrup helped, too! The day was pretty much perfect...but NONE of it happened by accident! People who love me and Mickey, Chase and Lacey, and the church just came out of the wood works to make sure it was an awesome day of celebration to be remembered. God provided a beautiful day - cool breeze and sunny skies - after a spring of heavy rains and flooding and saturating the ground! Chase and his best buds mowed and worked on the grounds and our friends, the Gillmores worked magic on the muddy gateway to the parking area to solve our last problem! The tent was whopper-jawed but still "looked" safe enough and beautiful from the highway! The dance floor was worth the trouble and money and everyone had fun! I want to name people and express my gratitude, but there are too many!So...away they rode into the sunsets of Jamaica!Mickey and I spent the next week just returning things and tying up loose ends and resting. On Sunday following the wedding we sadly said goodbye to Ozlem and Sebastian, our German friends, and to Aaron and Kelly and our precious grandsons. It was also our dear friend, Mark's, last day at our church...NOW...we have several busy things to do this summer, but mostly we are trying to figure out what we must do for the Kingdom and how God is directing us. Some unexpected things have happened...Chase and Lacey are now acting as Youth Interns for our church for the summer and so they are living in Batesville and attending First Baptist with us. Many of our ministry jobs cross over and we are weeding through to see how that will all work. Mark is gone. For five years, he has been a huge part of our lives...in ministry, family, and personally. We spent a lot of nights playing games, talking, and laughing (or crying) together. There is a void in that place that we aren't sure how to fill. In the immediate, we have to figure out transportation...I wrecked the Yukon.I hit the Sonic. That is right...I hit the Sonic...the building, and I took out a speaker along with it and messed up the Yukon pretty well. (I thank God that a car hop wasn't in my way!) DON"T drive in flip-flops!! It got hung on the gas and took it to the floor and there was nothing I could do! SO, the police came and investigated and turned in an accident report...only they got my name wrong and so "Betty White" ran into the Sonic...not me, apparently.Mickey is going to a sleep doctor specialist tomorrow...he apparently has idio something or another, hyper sleep disorder (I can't remember what it is really called). I don't believe it and so we shall see.We will be married 30 years on June 17 and he still likes me enough to take me to Florida on a mandatory work trip so that we can be together on our anniversary day. We are going to the Perspectives National Conference first and then fly out of LR for Florida. In August we will make a trip to Gulf Shores for Kevin and Amy's wedding...and a side trip to play some Settlers of Catan in Montgomery, Alabama! So...now that I've bored you to death with our lives...I think I'll go to bed with my own version of the elephant man (Mickey in a c-pap machine - that I LOVE!) Happy day to anyone who is psycho enough to read all of this!!
Lacey's Wedding - a LONG story
Another Facebook post
Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 1:20am
Hello everyone! I wanted to be able to send some pics with news of the wedding, but we haven't really gotten any yet! I know!! Hopefully, we will get a peek at some next week...if you have any and want to send them to us...PLEASE!! I am talking about Lacey's wedding, of course. Actually, we have a FEW snaps that some friends and family sent by email, but the pro's pics aren't ready to look at quite yet and so...we would love to see any that you have.OK...here is the run down. First of all, if you didn't know or have forgotten...Lacey is now Mrs. Chase Moore. Chase is a true-blue Texan and over the last three years Mickey and I have gotten to know him very well. You see, while Lacey was overseas, we dated him! HA! Really, we spent a lot of time together because he blessed us with weekend visits while he was in school and honored us with his presence. We love him very much and count him as our own. Chase is a Christian Ministries major from Williams Baptist College as of May 3, 2008. He is very gifted with words and public appeal. He is a quick thinker and any public delivery whether it be announcements or preaching a sermon is well received and much admired. We are very proud of him. Mostly, we love his character and the way he cherishes the Word of God and loves the Lord with all of his heart. He unashamedly loves Lacey and would not hesitate to make that clear in any public setting. Chase is a risk taker...he loves rock climbing, caving, jumping off of high cliffs into pools of water (doing as many back flips as possible) and all water sports, and playing and watching soccer and football. He is daring and adventuresome and in the past, sometimes it has gotten him into some tight spots but we also love that part of him. Chase and Lacey will go back overseas to reach an unreached people group...probably not an easy place...and we are comforted that this time, Lacey will have him there with her...and we are confident that they will take care of one another well. Right now, they are living in Batesville and working with our Youth at First Baptist for the summer...and then we will see...Now...to the wedding...the day was unbelievable! It had rained so much in April and May and Batesville had flooded BIG time twice and the ground was totally saturated...and the week of the wedding CALLED FOR MORE rain! We planned an outdoor reception at some friends' house and the parking lot (a field) was pretty much "mushy" going into the week and the "ditch" where we planned to cross over into the field was really just mud and goo! We prayed a lot...and worried some...and talked...and went back and forth and I tried to follow Lacey's lead...which was to just wait and trust! Whew! It was stressful - BUT - with Chase and Mickey and great friends and church family and relatives...the day came and all of our issues were taken care of and God provided a beautiful sunshiny, but not too hot, day! I have to mention that I had planned a very stress free day...for myself! ALL of our family came in by the droves and took OVER and moved EVERYTHING that had to be moved and put the WHOLE reception together (Mickey did SO much work that morning...my hero!) My dear friend, Kathy Brooks, helped so much and I can't leave out our caterer and my dear friend, Joella Huddleston, who worked herself almost to death that day!! As I said, my day was SUPPOSE to be smooth sailing as I had asked my two dear long time friends to "kidnap" me from it all and "take me away"! So Jeannie Whitener and Susan Parker came and got me...and took me for a pedicure (that was awesome...I loved it so much and it WAS a great time for me!) The trouble came when they took me to lunch at our local "special events" place "Elizabeth's" and I took one look at my food and KNEW it wasn't going down...they graciously took me to church (quickly) and well...I lost all of my cookies - and lay in the bathroom floor trying to get well enough to get ready for the wedding. Jackie Martin...my niece whom I knew I could count on, took care of me...while not letting Lacey know that I was sick and getting herself ready, too ( She didn't know going in that taking care of a sick mother of the Bride was going to be a job for the Maid of Honor!) My God is so good! He not only allowed me to get up and get dressed right on time, I also got to go watch Lacey's dress go on and walk her to her private meeting with her Groom before the pictures began. The wedding was beautiful...with so many people! Lacey had 9 (I know!) Brides Maids and Chase had 7 groomsmen with an honorary one (Matt Duran - serving in Iraq)...There were 6 (I know) flower girls and 3 ministers involved. The Bride's Maids wore copper skirts with either a copper or espresso brown top and some wore sashes and belts while others didn't...they each had a different top on...kind of like a fashion show! The little girls wore rings of baby's breath in their hair and tea length off white dresses and went barefoot...they were so cute! They all came down the isle together throwing flowers as they went...and we had benches at the front for them to sit on when they got there. They were perfect! 3 of them were Lacey's little cousins and 3 of them were Chase's little cousins (all either 4 or 6-7 years old). The men wore black tuxes with copper colored vests...so handsome. The sanctuary was decorated with two black wrought iron candle stands with chunky candles, and lamp post stands on each of the banister posts. They had wide off-white ribbon tied in single bows with the ribbons cascading to the floor. Each window had black wrought iron candle holders which filled the windows with 4 chunky candles in each of them. The first six rows of pews had off white bows cascading to the floor on each end. The unity candle was on a wood and glass table in front of the baptistry with the curtains open and the lighted cross visible and lighted. There was an off white swag on the top of the table which just lay over the edge of the table in the front in a half circle. We didn't have any flowers or plants except the vase of calla lilies in the foyer. All of the girls carried calla lilies and the men had calla lily bouts. Flanking the sides of the stairs, we had backless benches which were covered with off-white and tied off with a big off white bow in front for the flower girls to sit upon. Some of the highlights of the wedding are...Sebastian - our German friend - playing a German/French original love song on guitar and singing, Lindsey - Chase's twin sister, placing a rose on the Unity Candle table in memory of their mother, Christian and Megan Baxter, Tim Byers and Brandon Smart playing praise and worship, Todd Kaunitz - Chase's youth pastor, speaking about marriage before the wedding, Lacey in her stunning off white Danish designer dress which we bought in Paris, Chase's love poem and declaration to Lacey - spoken during the processional of the B. maid's and flower girls, Mark McLendon - our precious friend - marrying Chase and Lacey as his last act as a minister at our church (the next day was his last day in Batesville), the slide show - which Aaron (our other son-in-law) put together and made very special, Kelly playing and singing a special song that she and Chase had collaborated on for the lighting of the Unity Candle, the three ministers (Mark, Todd, and Bro. Gary Buckner) commissioning Chase and Lacey with a prayer time over them, and our dear friend Marcus Buckner pulled it all together on a great DVD!
Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 1:20am
Hello everyone! I wanted to be able to send some pics with news of the wedding, but we haven't really gotten any yet! I know!! Hopefully, we will get a peek at some next week...if you have any and want to send them to us...PLEASE!! I am talking about Lacey's wedding, of course. Actually, we have a FEW snaps that some friends and family sent by email, but the pro's pics aren't ready to look at quite yet and so...we would love to see any that you have.OK...here is the run down. First of all, if you didn't know or have forgotten...Lacey is now Mrs. Chase Moore. Chase is a true-blue Texan and over the last three years Mickey and I have gotten to know him very well. You see, while Lacey was overseas, we dated him! HA! Really, we spent a lot of time together because he blessed us with weekend visits while he was in school and honored us with his presence. We love him very much and count him as our own. Chase is a Christian Ministries major from Williams Baptist College as of May 3, 2008. He is very gifted with words and public appeal. He is a quick thinker and any public delivery whether it be announcements or preaching a sermon is well received and much admired. We are very proud of him. Mostly, we love his character and the way he cherishes the Word of God and loves the Lord with all of his heart. He unashamedly loves Lacey and would not hesitate to make that clear in any public setting. Chase is a risk taker...he loves rock climbing, caving, jumping off of high cliffs into pools of water (doing as many back flips as possible) and all water sports, and playing and watching soccer and football. He is daring and adventuresome and in the past, sometimes it has gotten him into some tight spots but we also love that part of him. Chase and Lacey will go back overseas to reach an unreached people group...probably not an easy place...and we are comforted that this time, Lacey will have him there with her...and we are confident that they will take care of one another well. Right now, they are living in Batesville and working with our Youth at First Baptist for the summer...and then we will see...Now...to the wedding...the day was unbelievable! It had rained so much in April and May and Batesville had flooded BIG time twice and the ground was totally saturated...and the week of the wedding CALLED FOR MORE rain! We planned an outdoor reception at some friends' house and the parking lot (a field) was pretty much "mushy" going into the week and the "ditch" where we planned to cross over into the field was really just mud and goo! We prayed a lot...and worried some...and talked...and went back and forth and I tried to follow Lacey's lead...which was to just wait and trust! Whew! It was stressful - BUT - with Chase and Mickey and great friends and church family and relatives...the day came and all of our issues were taken care of and God provided a beautiful sunshiny, but not too hot, day! I have to mention that I had planned a very stress free day...for myself! ALL of our family came in by the droves and took OVER and moved EVERYTHING that had to be moved and put the WHOLE reception together (Mickey did SO much work that morning...my hero!) My dear friend, Kathy Brooks, helped so much and I can't leave out our caterer and my dear friend, Joella Huddleston, who worked herself almost to death that day!! As I said, my day was SUPPOSE to be smooth sailing as I had asked my two dear long time friends to "kidnap" me from it all and "take me away"! So Jeannie Whitener and Susan Parker came and got me...and took me for a pedicure (that was awesome...I loved it so much and it WAS a great time for me!) The trouble came when they took me to lunch at our local "special events" place "Elizabeth's" and I took one look at my food and KNEW it wasn't going down...they graciously took me to church (quickly) and well...I lost all of my cookies - and lay in the bathroom floor trying to get well enough to get ready for the wedding. Jackie Martin...my niece whom I knew I could count on, took care of me...while not letting Lacey know that I was sick and getting herself ready, too ( She didn't know going in that taking care of a sick mother of the Bride was going to be a job for the Maid of Honor!) My God is so good! He not only allowed me to get up and get dressed right on time, I also got to go watch Lacey's dress go on and walk her to her private meeting with her Groom before the pictures began. The wedding was beautiful...with so many people! Lacey had 9 (I know!) Brides Maids and Chase had 7 groomsmen with an honorary one (Matt Duran - serving in Iraq)...There were 6 (I know) flower girls and 3 ministers involved. The Bride's Maids wore copper skirts with either a copper or espresso brown top and some wore sashes and belts while others didn't...they each had a different top on...kind of like a fashion show! The little girls wore rings of baby's breath in their hair and tea length off white dresses and went barefoot...they were so cute! They all came down the isle together throwing flowers as they went...and we had benches at the front for them to sit on when they got there. They were perfect! 3 of them were Lacey's little cousins and 3 of them were Chase's little cousins (all either 4 or 6-7 years old). The men wore black tuxes with copper colored vests...so handsome. The sanctuary was decorated with two black wrought iron candle stands with chunky candles, and lamp post stands on each of the banister posts. They had wide off-white ribbon tied in single bows with the ribbons cascading to the floor. Each window had black wrought iron candle holders which filled the windows with 4 chunky candles in each of them. The first six rows of pews had off white bows cascading to the floor on each end. The unity candle was on a wood and glass table in front of the baptistry with the curtains open and the lighted cross visible and lighted. There was an off white swag on the top of the table which just lay over the edge of the table in the front in a half circle. We didn't have any flowers or plants except the vase of calla lilies in the foyer. All of the girls carried calla lilies and the men had calla lily bouts. Flanking the sides of the stairs, we had backless benches which were covered with off-white and tied off with a big off white bow in front for the flower girls to sit upon. Some of the highlights of the wedding are...Sebastian - our German friend - playing a German/French original love song on guitar and singing, Lindsey - Chase's twin sister, placing a rose on the Unity Candle table in memory of their mother, Christian and Megan Baxter, Tim Byers and Brandon Smart playing praise and worship, Todd Kaunitz - Chase's youth pastor, speaking about marriage before the wedding, Lacey in her stunning off white Danish designer dress which we bought in Paris, Chase's love poem and declaration to Lacey - spoken during the processional of the B. maid's and flower girls, Mark McLendon - our precious friend - marrying Chase and Lacey as his last act as a minister at our church (the next day was his last day in Batesville), the slide show - which Aaron (our other son-in-law) put together and made very special, Kelly playing and singing a special song that she and Chase had collaborated on for the lighting of the Unity Candle, the three ministers (Mark, Todd, and Bro. Gary Buckner) commissioning Chase and Lacey with a prayer time over them, and our dear friend Marcus Buckner pulled it all together on a great DVD!
Sometimes God asks us to do hard things...
More of my writings transferred from Facebook
Friday, August 29, 2008 at 2:45am
My friend and boss once told me this...and I know it is true. I've been thinking about doing hard things. The first hard thing I remember doing was moving. I was 17, had a boyfriend and had grown up in the same hometown with the same people, loved my high school, church and friends and was about to enter my Senior year in high school and my parents told me we were moving...to Batesville (a rival town which was too far away!). I literally cried all night! I grieved (and sometimes still do...) for my loses. The next hard thing that I can remember is my Father-in-Law dying when I was 25. I had to tell Mickey that he had to quickly go to his mother's house...she thought his dad was dead...and he had to go alone because Kelly was small and I had to stay with her. It was hard when I had to move to Oklahoma when I was 33 with my mom telling me that she would NEVER come to see me because she was so hurt (she did though). AND living there was numbing...too much sky! I had a giant hole in my heart...aching for Arkansas and home. Mickey's business failed...we had no money and no job and were facing our children needing braces, driving cars, their Senior years and college. It was the hardest time of our married lives...but He was there and we wouldn't trade what we learned of Him through it all. Physical Therapy...boring, tiring, burned out...when I had frozen shoulders and had to go three times a week for 6 months...it was hard (it was successful and I can put on a coat now because of it). Watching Lacey walk down to the gate to get on a plane that would take her away for 2 long years to a third world country, in many ways, with no one that I knew and I couldn't get to her if I needed to was very hard...I decided to allow myself to cry about it every day (not for long, but unashamedly...and I did). The first time I had to shoot my self in the belly with an insulin shot (in fact, I didn't...Lacey did it for me!)...it was hard, but really nothing to it now. Recently, I had to share bad news with my precious son-in-law...that his dad was seriously ill...perhaps the hardest thing I've ever done. Maybe "hard" is relevant to the moment. All I know is my God is a great sustainer and even though he asks us to do hard things sometimes, He is always there. Sometimes all we can do is just sit in His lap and watch while he takes care of things...a safe place to be.
Friday, August 29, 2008 at 2:45am
My friend and boss once told me this...and I know it is true. I've been thinking about doing hard things. The first hard thing I remember doing was moving. I was 17, had a boyfriend and had grown up in the same hometown with the same people, loved my high school, church and friends and was about to enter my Senior year in high school and my parents told me we were moving...to Batesville (a rival town which was too far away!). I literally cried all night! I grieved (and sometimes still do...) for my loses. The next hard thing that I can remember is my Father-in-Law dying when I was 25. I had to tell Mickey that he had to quickly go to his mother's house...she thought his dad was dead...and he had to go alone because Kelly was small and I had to stay with her. It was hard when I had to move to Oklahoma when I was 33 with my mom telling me that she would NEVER come to see me because she was so hurt (she did though). AND living there was numbing...too much sky! I had a giant hole in my heart...aching for Arkansas and home. Mickey's business failed...we had no money and no job and were facing our children needing braces, driving cars, their Senior years and college. It was the hardest time of our married lives...but He was there and we wouldn't trade what we learned of Him through it all. Physical Therapy...boring, tiring, burned out...when I had frozen shoulders and had to go three times a week for 6 months...it was hard (it was successful and I can put on a coat now because of it). Watching Lacey walk down to the gate to get on a plane that would take her away for 2 long years to a third world country, in many ways, with no one that I knew and I couldn't get to her if I needed to was very hard...I decided to allow myself to cry about it every day (not for long, but unashamedly...and I did). The first time I had to shoot my self in the belly with an insulin shot (in fact, I didn't...Lacey did it for me!)...it was hard, but really nothing to it now. Recently, I had to share bad news with my precious son-in-law...that his dad was seriously ill...perhaps the hardest thing I've ever done. Maybe "hard" is relevant to the moment. All I know is my God is a great sustainer and even though he asks us to do hard things sometimes, He is always there. Sometimes all we can do is just sit in His lap and watch while he takes care of things...a safe place to be.
The Devil Wears Prada - and so do I
This is a fun little post that I put on my facebook a while back...just didn't want to lose it, so here it is!
I just picked up my cute little black and red purse that I bought at Macy's in NYC a couple of years ago...it started a series of thoughts running through my head and I decided to share. What got me to thinking was..."I like this purse...it is light weight and just the right size for the things I carry." From there my mind drifted to the purse that I have been carrying for quite some time. It is sitting across the room, waiting for me to remember to take it to the repair shop because a handle broke. Any way, I really buy purses for the convenience factor...not for fashion. You know, I decide if it would "go with most things" (I never change purses ...too much hastle and usually I am running out to go somewhere). I also look at the way it is made...will it sit flat on the bottom or when I put it down, will it go all limp and fall over or be unbalanced. I also look inside...is there a cell phone pocket...which, by the way, I NEVER use! AND of course, I look at the price...is it reasonable and affordable! I really wish I could be like the Baxter girls...Megan, Nicole and Alison - buy it and use it because it is so cute!Well, let me tell you about the former purse that I carried, which is what made me write this note. Lacey sent home this purse with Jackie when she visited her in India a couple of Christmases ago. I thought it was cute and so I called to ask her if she wanted me to put it back and keep it for when she got home. She said, "Oh, no, Mom. I will NEVER carry that purse...it is way too pretentious for me! I bought it on impulse and knew that I really could never carry it...but you can." Well, I didn't know what all of that meant but I liked the purse (the color, the shape, the cell phone pocket and the price (free to me!), so I loaded it and began carrying it. I asked a friend...What is PRADA anyway? I was told that it is "what the devil wears" and was satisfied so I began using it. Now when I look back on it all, it just tickles me. I can not tell you how many people NOTICED my purse!! Random strangers would stop me to tell me how much they liked it. Young store clerks would "Oooo and awww" over it...almost drooling. A few of the teenagers at my church checked it out. I decided to go on line and look at PRADA purses and discovered my PRADA purse was listed at $2000!! How funny!! NO ONE ever said they liked any other purse I carried - ever, and suddenly my purse had made me trendy and fashion aware! Now to me it was - practical. It served it's purpose! Anyway...I was just thinking of all of this and it made me laugh. OH - by the way, for those of you who are skeptical and ask...."Is it real?" Well, all I know is there is a "certificate of authenticity" in the pocket! You decide...
I just picked up my cute little black and red purse that I bought at Macy's in NYC a couple of years ago...it started a series of thoughts running through my head and I decided to share. What got me to thinking was..."I like this purse...it is light weight and just the right size for the things I carry." From there my mind drifted to the purse that I have been carrying for quite some time. It is sitting across the room, waiting for me to remember to take it to the repair shop because a handle broke. Any way, I really buy purses for the convenience factor...not for fashion. You know, I decide if it would "go with most things" (I never change purses ...too much hastle and usually I am running out to go somewhere). I also look at the way it is made...will it sit flat on the bottom or when I put it down, will it go all limp and fall over or be unbalanced. I also look inside...is there a cell phone pocket...which, by the way, I NEVER use! AND of course, I look at the price...is it reasonable and affordable! I really wish I could be like the Baxter girls...Megan, Nicole and Alison - buy it and use it because it is so cute!Well, let me tell you about the former purse that I carried, which is what made me write this note. Lacey sent home this purse with Jackie when she visited her in India a couple of Christmases ago. I thought it was cute and so I called to ask her if she wanted me to put it back and keep it for when she got home. She said, "Oh, no, Mom. I will NEVER carry that purse...it is way too pretentious for me! I bought it on impulse and knew that I really could never carry it...but you can." Well, I didn't know what all of that meant but I liked the purse (the color, the shape, the cell phone pocket and the price (free to me!), so I loaded it and began carrying it. I asked a friend...What is PRADA anyway? I was told that it is "what the devil wears" and was satisfied so I began using it. Now when I look back on it all, it just tickles me. I can not tell you how many people NOTICED my purse!! Random strangers would stop me to tell me how much they liked it. Young store clerks would "Oooo and awww" over it...almost drooling. A few of the teenagers at my church checked it out. I decided to go on line and look at PRADA purses and discovered my PRADA purse was listed at $2000!! How funny!! NO ONE ever said they liked any other purse I carried - ever, and suddenly my purse had made me trendy and fashion aware! Now to me it was - practical. It served it's purpose! Anyway...I was just thinking of all of this and it made me laugh. OH - by the way, for those of you who are skeptical and ask...."Is it real?" Well, all I know is there is a "certificate of authenticity" in the pocket! You decide...
Things I love about my church!
26 Things I love about my church - plus 12 more and 2 more - and 10 more makes it 50!
Here are the first 26 things that popped into my head...I know there are more, so I will add to the list as I think of them. I just want to start accentuating the positive...rekindle a lost love...encourage the body...remind myself of things of which I have lost sight. By the way, they are randomly placed...God is first and his Word being preached is of utmost importance, so don't freak out that it wasn't first on the list! I would LOVE to see some more from YOU...
1) I got married there, Kelly got married there, and Lacey got married there
2) My church loves missions
3) Our Youth are the most amazing people in the world!
4) Kathleen Hill, Sylvia Pegg, Thelma Parker and Marian Fulbright
5) We have very talented people who attend our church
6) Special needs adults attend our church, are comfortable there, love it, and participate without inhibitions
7) My family - Mom and Dad, Curt and Marcia, Chase and Lacey, and Mickey and I all worship together there
8) We have a rich heritage of community and family surrounding us there
9) AWANA
10) Terrific Tuesdays
11) Vacation Bible School - still in the mornings
12) Chelli Pollet - an EXPERT early childhood professional
13) A very good facility for our preschool and children
14) New property - completely paid for and a dream for a new church plant
15) ESL
16) Men who work on the Disaster Team! Heroes - every one!
17) A great Main Street facility that lends easily to community events (Main street Halloween, Christmas Parade, Garage Sales, Give away events, Election site, Perspectives, emergency shelter)
18) People...some that I have known and worshipped with for over 30 years...some that are long time friends...some that are new
19) We are debt free
20) Many sweet memories
21) God's name is famed
22) The Bible is preached here
23) The Angel Tree
24) Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - worthy goals are set and met
25) College student care packages
26) We have a vision for the future!OK...you encouraged me...
27) I LOVE to hear the men in our choir sing...they are soooo good!
28) Codi Richardson - Lyon College student who has been so faithful to our church - joining, attending and serving and loving Jesus!
29) NEW lightweight tables!!!
30) Codi Richardson, Gloria Vaughn, Lacey Moore and Kristi Price - young ladies who love to sing and honor us by singing in the choir!
31) Taylor Toon - College girl, loving on our Junior High girls and teaching Sunday School - you rock!
32) The way the church pulls together (old, young, male, female) to pull off big events - we may not commit very early, but we show up and get 'r done. (Fall Festivals, Steak Dinner for Revival, Garage Sale give-away, Outreach events)
33) An AWESOME preschool playground!!
34) The quilt in the West Annex that is patterned after the stained glass windows in the Sanctuary that many of our women worked on...so creative!
35) That we have missionaries who are on the field but have chosen to entrust us with their membership while they are overseas!
36) That almost every room in our church is USED on Wednesday nights!!
37) Diane - a great custodian who does her job well and is one of the sweetest people on earth.
38) That even though I don't know everyone well, it makes me warm to see their faces on Sunday morning and delights me to greet them...greeting time on Sunday morning is one of my favorites
Oh, and one more - how could I forget...actually, I'll do two and make it 40...
39) My church overwhelmed us and Lacey with love, gifts, notes of encouragement, Christmas cards, prayers and a beautiful commissioning and reception when she went overseas...so much so that her partner was AMAZED - commenting that Lacey has an awesome church who supported her and loved her and even she felt included! Thank you, church - THIS is the body of Christ at it's best!
40) The Worship Project and Youth Praise Band - girl DRUMMER! yea...Heather!
I have 10 more...I want to let everyone share in these thoughts of loving my church
41) We still gather on the front steps for VBS - children still want to walk down or slide down the wide concrete side guards of the front steps
42) When we have pot lucks or meals, so many people stay to help clean up - it is almost like a party
43) Showers - wedding and baby
44) Weddings and Funerals - the place we meet to rejoice new beginnings and the place we say good-bye for a while - sometimes the church (the body) goes to another location other than our building to help celebrate and mourn...I love that!
45) I know that my brothers and sisters pray for me - they tell me so
46) Invitation for response - a thing of the past in some churches...seeing my Daddy praying at the alter, knowing it is for the church
47) The youth - down front and to the left - the place they have been for at least 35 years (they were sitting there when I came to Batesville as a 17 year old youth)
48) The preschool greeters desk and that we care enough to protect our babies and preschoolers!
49) Celebrating the Lord's Supper together in whatever form that takes AND that we stepped out of the box this year and did a foot washing - very moving! (lets do it again!)
50) The return of college students - to Sunday School or worship - Christmas Break, Spring Break and Summer Break - I love to see their faces dotted over the church!
Here are the first 26 things that popped into my head...I know there are more, so I will add to the list as I think of them. I just want to start accentuating the positive...rekindle a lost love...encourage the body...remind myself of things of which I have lost sight. By the way, they are randomly placed...God is first and his Word being preached is of utmost importance, so don't freak out that it wasn't first on the list! I would LOVE to see some more from YOU...
1) I got married there, Kelly got married there, and Lacey got married there
2) My church loves missions
3) Our Youth are the most amazing people in the world!
4) Kathleen Hill, Sylvia Pegg, Thelma Parker and Marian Fulbright
5) We have very talented people who attend our church
6) Special needs adults attend our church, are comfortable there, love it, and participate without inhibitions
7) My family - Mom and Dad, Curt and Marcia, Chase and Lacey, and Mickey and I all worship together there
8) We have a rich heritage of community and family surrounding us there
9) AWANA
10) Terrific Tuesdays
11) Vacation Bible School - still in the mornings
12) Chelli Pollet - an EXPERT early childhood professional
13) A very good facility for our preschool and children
14) New property - completely paid for and a dream for a new church plant
15) ESL
16) Men who work on the Disaster Team! Heroes - every one!
17) A great Main Street facility that lends easily to community events (Main street Halloween, Christmas Parade, Garage Sales, Give away events, Election site, Perspectives, emergency shelter)
18) People...some that I have known and worshipped with for over 30 years...some that are long time friends...some that are new
19) We are debt free
20) Many sweet memories
21) God's name is famed
22) The Bible is preached here
23) The Angel Tree
24) Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - worthy goals are set and met
25) College student care packages
26) We have a vision for the future!OK...you encouraged me...
27) I LOVE to hear the men in our choir sing...they are soooo good!
28) Codi Richardson - Lyon College student who has been so faithful to our church - joining, attending and serving and loving Jesus!
29) NEW lightweight tables!!!
30) Codi Richardson, Gloria Vaughn, Lacey Moore and Kristi Price - young ladies who love to sing and honor us by singing in the choir!
31) Taylor Toon - College girl, loving on our Junior High girls and teaching Sunday School - you rock!
32) The way the church pulls together (old, young, male, female) to pull off big events - we may not commit very early, but we show up and get 'r done. (Fall Festivals, Steak Dinner for Revival, Garage Sale give-away, Outreach events)
33) An AWESOME preschool playground!!
34) The quilt in the West Annex that is patterned after the stained glass windows in the Sanctuary that many of our women worked on...so creative!
35) That we have missionaries who are on the field but have chosen to entrust us with their membership while they are overseas!
36) That almost every room in our church is USED on Wednesday nights!!
37) Diane - a great custodian who does her job well and is one of the sweetest people on earth.
38) That even though I don't know everyone well, it makes me warm to see their faces on Sunday morning and delights me to greet them...greeting time on Sunday morning is one of my favorites
Oh, and one more - how could I forget...actually, I'll do two and make it 40...
39) My church overwhelmed us and Lacey with love, gifts, notes of encouragement, Christmas cards, prayers and a beautiful commissioning and reception when she went overseas...so much so that her partner was AMAZED - commenting that Lacey has an awesome church who supported her and loved her and even she felt included! Thank you, church - THIS is the body of Christ at it's best!
40) The Worship Project and Youth Praise Band - girl DRUMMER! yea...Heather!
I have 10 more...I want to let everyone share in these thoughts of loving my church
41) We still gather on the front steps for VBS - children still want to walk down or slide down the wide concrete side guards of the front steps
42) When we have pot lucks or meals, so many people stay to help clean up - it is almost like a party
43) Showers - wedding and baby
44) Weddings and Funerals - the place we meet to rejoice new beginnings and the place we say good-bye for a while - sometimes the church (the body) goes to another location other than our building to help celebrate and mourn...I love that!
45) I know that my brothers and sisters pray for me - they tell me so
46) Invitation for response - a thing of the past in some churches...seeing my Daddy praying at the alter, knowing it is for the church
47) The youth - down front and to the left - the place they have been for at least 35 years (they were sitting there when I came to Batesville as a 17 year old youth)
48) The preschool greeters desk and that we care enough to protect our babies and preschoolers!
49) Celebrating the Lord's Supper together in whatever form that takes AND that we stepped out of the box this year and did a foot washing - very moving! (lets do it again!)
50) The return of college students - to Sunday School or worship - Christmas Break, Spring Break and Summer Break - I love to see their faces dotted over the church!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
New Day...New Look...
OK...I am trying this again. It is a cool winter Sunday afternoon, Mickey is watching football, and I am trying to figure out the new "blogger". Hope that I did everything right and that it will be easier to do now. I always forget what to do in between times.
Mickey and I started working on "healthier living" a couple of months ago. It is working! For the first time in our lives, it is really working. His goal was to lose weight and by doing so, help control his high blood pressure. My goal was better blood sugar control. At Christmas, he had lost 30 pounds and I was removed from all the insulin I was taking! We know that it means a huge life change to maintain it! Christmas was a little hairy with company and going and coming, but we are back into full swing again and seeing good results. I still have some hard work ahead...walking and losing 20 more pounds by May...that is my goal. Mickey just seems to look at lettuce and the weight falls off of him!! Really, for the most part, he is so disciplined and consistent! Sometimes, I just WANT candy or sweets - or something different - or to NOT have to eat at home. I just keep reminding myself of my precious grand babies and of my dream to take Jesus name to foreign lands and then I am back to celery and carrots (which, I love, by the way - it's a good thing!)
The Vision Team's work is coming to an end. That is a team which has been meeting for over a year with the purpose of developing a new vision for our church to follow. It has been a long process with a weekly all night Monday night meeting and lots of praying, talking, listening and following. The church will vote on whether to follow the recommendations of the committee next week. We are praying for an overwhelming response and that the church will be on board. We need to see our people willing to make changes that will allow our church to grow and flourish together as the body of Christ and all for His glory.
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement is starting up! We are excited to be offering the college level course in Batesville and to co-coordinate the class with our dear friends, Sheril and Donna Middleton. This will be our fourth semester to offer the class at First Baptist. We have an awesome team and have the BEST instructors lined up to present the lessons with a heart of God! We will be meeting on Monday nights for 15 weeks and so it is a good thing that the Vision Team's work is coming to an end!
Family is all well. Mom and Dad are in relatively good health and such a pleasure to live above and share life with! Kelly is "living her dream" as she says - staying home with Asher and Ben and doing housewife and mommy type things. She is an incredible mother and wife...plus an unbelievable singer/songwriter and now recorder/producer of her own music! Aaron is the best dad that I know...very interested in the lives of his children and seeing that his family is taken care of...plus always finding new interests and hobbies that fit well into life's plan and don't take away from family time. Asher is in a new "big boy bed" and loves it! I'm not sure I'm ready to see him moving out of the "baby" stage so quickly, but also, want him to mature and grow and have a productive life for Jesus. Ben is learning to walk...it won't be long until he takes off and then, before I know it, he too will be in a "big boy bed"! I'm not really sure what God is doing in Lacey and Chase's lives right now. They seem to be set on "go", yet no wheels are in motion. Once again, I will struggle with letting them go, yet knowing that they must and my inner soul desiring it for them and the sake of the Kingdom. I am truly blessed!
So, what is up for me this year? Right now, I will continue to mobilize and pray for as many college students and Perspectives students to get a word from God about how they will impact the Kingdom with their lives. I will continue to look to God for guidance on getting healthier and staying on track...because I will fail without Him! I will pray for how He will lead me and Mickey in the coming months and years in Church and in global work for the Kingdom. Right now, there is a lot of listening and waiting to be done.
It is good to see it in print...for those of you who said you "miss me" on Nanna's Nonsense, hope this is the beginning of a new love affair with words and musings...see you again soon.
Mickey and I started working on "healthier living" a couple of months ago. It is working! For the first time in our lives, it is really working. His goal was to lose weight and by doing so, help control his high blood pressure. My goal was better blood sugar control. At Christmas, he had lost 30 pounds and I was removed from all the insulin I was taking! We know that it means a huge life change to maintain it! Christmas was a little hairy with company and going and coming, but we are back into full swing again and seeing good results. I still have some hard work ahead...walking and losing 20 more pounds by May...that is my goal. Mickey just seems to look at lettuce and the weight falls off of him!! Really, for the most part, he is so disciplined and consistent! Sometimes, I just WANT candy or sweets - or something different - or to NOT have to eat at home. I just keep reminding myself of my precious grand babies and of my dream to take Jesus name to foreign lands and then I am back to celery and carrots (which, I love, by the way - it's a good thing!)
The Vision Team's work is coming to an end. That is a team which has been meeting for over a year with the purpose of developing a new vision for our church to follow. It has been a long process with a weekly all night Monday night meeting and lots of praying, talking, listening and following. The church will vote on whether to follow the recommendations of the committee next week. We are praying for an overwhelming response and that the church will be on board. We need to see our people willing to make changes that will allow our church to grow and flourish together as the body of Christ and all for His glory.
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement is starting up! We are excited to be offering the college level course in Batesville and to co-coordinate the class with our dear friends, Sheril and Donna Middleton. This will be our fourth semester to offer the class at First Baptist. We have an awesome team and have the BEST instructors lined up to present the lessons with a heart of God! We will be meeting on Monday nights for 15 weeks and so it is a good thing that the Vision Team's work is coming to an end!
Family is all well. Mom and Dad are in relatively good health and such a pleasure to live above and share life with! Kelly is "living her dream" as she says - staying home with Asher and Ben and doing housewife and mommy type things. She is an incredible mother and wife...plus an unbelievable singer/songwriter and now recorder/producer of her own music! Aaron is the best dad that I know...very interested in the lives of his children and seeing that his family is taken care of...plus always finding new interests and hobbies that fit well into life's plan and don't take away from family time. Asher is in a new "big boy bed" and loves it! I'm not sure I'm ready to see him moving out of the "baby" stage so quickly, but also, want him to mature and grow and have a productive life for Jesus. Ben is learning to walk...it won't be long until he takes off and then, before I know it, he too will be in a "big boy bed"! I'm not really sure what God is doing in Lacey and Chase's lives right now. They seem to be set on "go", yet no wheels are in motion. Once again, I will struggle with letting them go, yet knowing that they must and my inner soul desiring it for them and the sake of the Kingdom. I am truly blessed!
So, what is up for me this year? Right now, I will continue to mobilize and pray for as many college students and Perspectives students to get a word from God about how they will impact the Kingdom with their lives. I will continue to look to God for guidance on getting healthier and staying on track...because I will fail without Him! I will pray for how He will lead me and Mickey in the coming months and years in Church and in global work for the Kingdom. Right now, there is a lot of listening and waiting to be done.
It is good to see it in print...for those of you who said you "miss me" on Nanna's Nonsense, hope this is the beginning of a new love affair with words and musings...see you again soon.
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