2nd Durango Daddy Daughter Dance

2011 Durango Daddy Daughter Dance

The Princess all ready for her date:

 Their "Fancy" Dinner:

The Princess and Her Prince (King):
Funny Story: Anna wanted to take a picture of her dad holding like they had just gotten married, and this is what she wanted.

Benen and Somer (because when you take a picture of one you have to take a picture of them all).

Jo Lee

Christmas Program 2010

Anna and Benen sang their Christmas songs in church on Sunday (12-12). 

Jo Lee

This Weekend I ...

... went to small group - love them.

... got up and had a lazy morning.

... load up the car went to Bayfield.

... load up a trailer with a car we have that needs an engine. Took it out to my grandparents house to park for the winter.

... loaded up a newer dryer they gave us.

... brought the dryer home.

... went on a date - 100% kidless.

... eat a cajun broil and yummy desert with the hottest man in Durango.

... came home to kids bathed, in pjs, and the dishes done - thanks Heather you are the best.

... went to church. Worshipped, leader about the Lord, and played with toddlers.

... eat a yummy sandwich for lunch. 

... took a 3 hour nap.

... enjoyed an evening at home, and dinner made by the awesome hubby.

Jo Lee

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

... big kid snuggles.

...baby snuggles.

...coffee.

... church family that is bring us meals - they are awesome and so helpful.

... Somer figuring out a pretty good routine and has already dropped one night feeding.

... an amazing husband that is willing to take a week off to be at home and that is so helpful around the house.

... Matt fixing the power sterring on the Burban.

... God providing finances for our Burban and giving Matt mechanical knowledge so he can fix our cars.

... my family - my parents and siblings - they are a blessing in my life.

Thankful Thursday on Friday

(Let me tell you that grocery shopping at Wal-Mart and City Market can really take it out of this prego. I am convenced it was mostly Wal-Mart) So what I am thankful for this week...

... conversations with the hubby (Matt) - they are the best.

... a little princess (Anna) that has people in her life that love to spoil her and treat her special.

... a little super hero (Benen) that wants to help all the time and loves being with his sister.

... that in 10 (or less) very short weeks I get to meet this little girl growing inside me.

... for FLYlady - my house has been clean and the laundry caught up for 2 weeks now and it is not overwhelming me.

... a group of ladies to go listen to Beth Moore with tomorrow.

... the creative youth group that decided to do a family fundraiser tonight and celebrate 50's style.

... that my kids love to learn about Jesus and they get excited to go to riverKIDS on Sunday mornings.

... children worshipping - there is nothing like hearing kids sing Jesus Loves Me; especially when it is your kids singing it.

What I have been learning.

Okay I have a lot of thoughts and I am going to try to write this without rambling or confusing everyone so here goes.

Two Sundays ago out pastor cast his vision for church and it was big one; then on Friday at Connect Group we talked about the sermon. Everyone had good things to say and made some good points and in all of this I have been hit with some things. We talked about tearing down the church and rebuilding it to look more like the New Testiment Church. I think in order to have the church that has the vision we want than yes there has to be a tearing down of what church looks like now; but at the same time you do not what to tear down that church so fast the you distroy the God laid foundation. I think that we so often get ahold of a vision and the end resolute of something God wants us to do and we forget the steps to tear down and rebuild. Honestly for me right now I am stuck on the tearing down; how do you tear down a church without hurting the foundation? Right now the things that God keeps pointing me to see - Seek Him and Surrender. Seek Him - seek what he wants to stay and what He has put into place as part of the foundation. Surrender - everything; even my idea of what the church should or should not be doing and should or should not look like; to Him.

Seeking Him - this has been something that God has been challenging and opening my eyes to, and not just seeking Him but Seeking Him First. In book club we are reading a book about finances; and the funny thing is that it is challenging me in other areas of my life; not just finances. The author points out that in the bible God repeatedly asks us of put Him first, and he makes the point that with Sunday being the first day of the week it is a good opportunity to Seek God First in our week every week. By making Sunday God's day focused on what He wants us to do; not on what I want to do or do not want to do. That is blowing my mind - how much to I spend Sunday afternoon's focused on what I want to do... Give God the Whole Day and Seek Him First.

Surrender - this is a hard one for me. I admit I am a control person and a planner. I like to have a plan and know what the plan is; and I get really uncomfortable when I see no control and I want (and to often do) to step in and take control. So God has challenged that a lot lately. I need to surrender my plans - daily - to Him. With this has also come the realization and I assert to much control on family things (especially outings) and things with the kids. I make fun relaxing times so planned and controlled that I do not have any fun and I miss the time to enjoy my kids and husband and just play with them. So I am challenging myself to relax and Surrender my control and need for control to the Lord.

I am sure God is not done with me on any of this, but those are my thoughts and ramblings for now.

Anna Labels Daddy

Anna and Matt were in a skit at church. As a very proud mom and filmed it and thought I would share with all of you. Enjoy! (Sorry about it being sideways; but I can not figure out how to rotate it).

Christmas Season

So we have been busy this Chirstmas Season here is what we have been up to (if you want a better veiw of the collages just click on them and they enlarge)...

The kids did a Christmas Family program at church. Anna had a speeking part, and was super excited about it.

We made cookies with Auntie Toots (new tradition that the kids love). Anna was all about the ginger bread cut outs, and Benen helped with the wreaths and did a very good job with the candies on them.

The kids had fun with our Santa hats one night.

Bayfield Fire Open House and tRC Barn Party

Saturday was a fun day with the Bayfield Fire Open House and tRC Barn Party.

First Pictures of the Bran Party, because the loaded that way and I did not want to change them.

Kale and Anna, just being friends. I thought this was a really cute picture.

Anna in the bounce house.

Anna playing musical chairs; she got a cupcake every time she played and on Sunday she told me she was sick of cupcakes... she had also had them for snack,

Benen pretty much played with the Dogs and he also found a ball.

Benen just being himself.

Before the Barn Party on Saturday we went to Bayfield Fire Departments Open House.

The head phones in one of the fire trucks.

Waiting to ride a fire truck, but Benen decided he did not want to go.

Anna wearing the head phones.

Anna rode the fire truck.

A fire truck... as if you did not know:)

VBS Sports Camp

This last week Anna got to participate in a VBS Sports Camp. She had lots of fun and was totally worn out by Friday. She played soccer; will she kind of played soccer.

Enjoying worship. They also had bible stories and then were sent home with a devotional.

Kicking the ball.

Running.

Taking a break.

... or maybe I will do a roll.

"So I said" - Anna talking to a friend.

Church Warning for Anna

So church can be an unsafe place... okay not really but my daughter did find a way to hurt herself there today. I guess it was really only a matter of time. When spend as much time there as we do. As I am typing this I am actually remembering that both me and my brother had our first major injuries at church; and by major I mean ending in a ER visit. That is were Anna's ended today.

We were getting ready to leave church and she trip into the stage stairs. She hit her lip pretty good. At first I thought it just scared her and that it hurt; then it starts bleeding and I take her to the bathroom to see a pretty good cut in her lip. Okay I think maybe we should take her to the ER. We load her up and off her go. Fortunately no stitches and it should heal just fine. She did bruise her gums and we need to have her tooth check out; but other then that and her fat lip she is fine. 

When we got home she wanted me to take pictures so I thought why not share them in a blog moment with you all; so do enjoy:

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful...

... that we got to go out as a family of four for $2 last night. We went to a restaurant opening and got dinner for free and then to Baskin Robins for 31 cent scoops (to support the firefighters) and got ice cream. ... that Matt was totally fine last week with the kids for 4 days by himself. He got them to the sitter, home, feed, bathed and in bed. Thank you for being such a trooper.

... for great friends that watch my kids and love on them.

... for FC Kids and the C3 Kids conference that gave me and the other River Guides lots of ideas for children's ministry.

... for the sun.

... for Anna.

... for Benen.

... for Matt.

... for our home.

... for chocolate, Dr. Pepper, crushed ice, and Coffee.

... for Matt's job.

... for the River Church and the blessing that it is to serve there.

... for pastors that do not let the enemy win.

... for my sister (Tammie) that leaves tomorrow to go to Uganda for 2 weeks... for the growth I have seen in her when she stepped out to do this... for the path that God is taking her on... and for the things God has already provided and is going to provide. Please keep her in your prayers. 

Church Ministry

Our church is going through a lot of changes right now (we have 3 of the 5 full time pastoral staff all leaving because God has called them to move on to something else); and there is the possibility of the one staff member (besides the Senior pastor) having a different job. The last few days I have heard a few people in our church become and express their anxiety over these changes; and last night it got to me. I did not sleep very good and while I was in and out of sleep I was talking to God about the situation and all the "what if's" in my head. 

Finally God got ahold of me and I realized that while I believe that He is in control I was still holding on to what I do in ministry and to all that I see that this church could become. The freeing thing that I realized is that God really just wants me to throw my hands up in praise letting go of every hold I have on ministry; and letting Him truly have control. When I do this I free myself form things that I should not be taking on as a burden and I let God us me however He wants. Does this change what I have a heart for or wear I ministry  - no, but it frees me form false responsibility. 

God also should me that He really wants to do something different and amazing with our church and in order to do that He has a plan of how, who, and when those ministry positions will be filled. God really wants to turn church in America - and our church would be included in that - upside down; not only does He want to He is in the process of turning church upside down.

So God I surrender; with arms raised high. This church, these ministries, and this community, and the people in it are not mine to manage and carry the weight of they are yours. I am sorry for taking on all the "what if's" and not just doing what you are telling me to do. 

riverKIDS Christmas Program

Anna preformed in the riverKIDS (the kids program at our church) Christmas program last night and here are some pictures. I helped the little kids sign 3 songs and recite a Christmas verse; and Matt played back-up guitar. It was busy but fun. 

Funny story: for some reason Anna ran down the stage holding herself (like she had to pee) saying ow-then 2 minutes later she was fine and back on stage and made it throw the rest of the night as any angel in the nativity sense.