How do you spell FUN?

W H E E!!! When you're a little guy, that's how you spell fun! Check out these photos of Stone enjoying the slide, sand pit, bubble blower lawn mower (which doesn't blow bubbles, but he still likes it anyway) and his new trike that his Gi-Gi gave him!! Yeah, that's him climbing up to the slide all by himself and going down all by himself!

I love this commercial!

Well, I can't figure out how to post a video to my blog, so to view my current favorite TV commercial, click HERE

Flowers for me....

So, for those of you who read my blog and think you have the best husband (not naming any names!), I am here to tell you that you're WRONG! I started a new job today and just after lunch, these beautiful flowers arrived! Kevin just wanted to surprise me and wish me a good day. It so happened that my day was pretty crappy (not because of co-workers or the job itself, but due to some other mishaps). So, getting these flowers was quite a pick-me-up. And, of course, all the other girls in the office were jealous that their significant other doesn't send them flowers. One girl said, "Here's my husband's #-- have Kevin call him and hang out with him so he will rub off on him!!" HA! I told them that I told Kevin while we were dating that he could send me flowers any time he wanted to, for any reason, as long as we didn't go broke over it! I make no bones about enjoying flowers. And, he actually likes to send or get me flowers to surprise me, not just for the "obvious" occasions like our anniversary, my birthday, valentine's, etc. Anyway, I'm here to say that just because he sent me flowers does not denote the only reason that makes him the best husband. He has many other fine qualities, which I won't bore readers with here. Enjoy looking at them!

Weekend Trip and Job Update

We leave tomorrow for my parent's home in WV.. the town and house that I grew up in. We go to celebrate and honor my dad, who is retiring after 36 years in the ministry as a pastor. This is a good thing; he needs to retire! But it will be a bit emotional for me, as for after this trip, I'll no longer visit them in this house (it is the church's parsonage, back in the day when churches had those!) That is hard, as there's LOTS of great memories from that house. And I loved going "home" every Christmas, as I usually only made one trip home a year. My mom decorated the house beautifully and there always seemed something magical about Christmas in that home. Anyway, I know it's just a house, but it really was a home, for the time I grew up in it and for many years after I moved out. So, I will celebrate my dad's retirement and say good-bye to a place that offered good memories and a safe haven for many years. We will be back Sunday night.. long trip (5 hours each way) in just a few days.

On the job front news: I will be starting a new job at the Greenville Eyecare office as the receptionist on Tuesday. My friend Melissa works there and knew about the opening and put my name in. I went in today to get a feel for the job and I liked it a lot. All of the office staff and the docs were incredibly friendly and nice and everyone who had a moment to talk to me commented on how much they enjoyed working there. So, I am thankful to have a job, as we needed the extra money to pay off our never-ending student loans! Actually, as another friend put it once, "I'm counting on Jesus to come back before we have to pay off our student loans!" HA! I agree... it would be nice if he came back before we had to pay off ours, or if somehow, a rich benefactor dropped some major $$ in our laps and said, "Here, pay off your education so you can actually use your money to bless others." And of course, that would be too easy! We count it a blessing, though, to have an education (even if we have to pay it off for many years to come) as many people do not get that opportunity. So, I join the workforce next week. My wonderful, awesome, amazing, sister-in-law Gini will be taking care of Stone during the day. Did I mention how awesome she is?? I'm not sure I will like being away from him so much, but I know he's in great, capable hands, which makes it just a itty bit easier. And, he gets to play with his cousin Mercy even more (we hang all the time anyway!) So, thank you Gini (I'm more than happy to be providing you your grocery bill each week!! ha!) and thanks to those who prayed for me as I looked and interviewed. That's all for now....

PLEASE PRAY....

....for our friend Monica.. we got to know her through our Bible study, Mom to Mom. She is precious, a believer and has 3 children, her newest is only 5 months. She has just been diagonosed with stage 4 cancer. Details are below, as written by her husband. I admit honestly, that I am struggling right now with this. I know God can heal her but I also know that sometimes He doesn't do what we feel should be "right." I experienced a similar situation when I lived and worked in Memphis. A mom had lung cancer and our entire church and staff prayed for her regularly. She passed away and I couldn't understand why. She had a precious husband and 2 children (one in high school and one in 5th grade). We all believed she could and would be healed. I know that we can't control God and that we don't know all His ways, but I am praying for complete healing for Monica.. that through God healing her, His glory will be shown to all the doctors, nurses, and people who hear about this. Please pray along with me....


(Email from her husband last night)

Tonight the Oncologist came by and gave us what he knows at the moment and what needs to be done this week. Monica has been diagnosed with large cell adenocarcinoma cancer. The exact type and treatment of the cancer is yet to be determined, as well as the origin of it. It is stage 4 cancer, but it is not in the left lung, pancreas or the liver.

Treatment will be aggressive chemo over the months into the summer. The first concern to stop the fluid buildup in the lung, so that the tubes can be removed. This is a cancer that cannot be cured, but can be managed.

Please pray especially for the children as Meghan is a sharp girl and knows things are not right, and Jason who doesn't understand and is frightened. Please also pray that Monica can get some rest while at the hospital.

John

Quit Inviting People to Church

So, I found this article and thought it was interesting. In light of the events that happened to the campus at VA Tech yesterday, the author of this article is correct: we don't know if we'll have tomorow or if someone we "want to witness to, but are afraid to witness to" will be around tomorrow either. (My emphasis is added through italics and bold throughout the article.) Something to think about....


"For many years I used the same illustration when it came to my approach to witnessing. It was a story about waking my grandpa up in the middle of the night by waving a flashlight in his face. My point was that he did not respond very well to my method of awakening him and that if I wanted to wake him out of his spiritual slumber, I should gently whisper and pat him on the back.

Similarly, my approach to sharing my faith was very non-confrontational; it was a relational approach. Getting to know as many people as possible and building relationships without verbally sharing the good news because they would see it in my life and how I treated them and others. This approach would be perfect for anyone running for mayor in town, but not for someone telling others what Jesus did on the cross for them and warning them of a judgment to come.

My approach of building relationships as a form of evangelism was resting on the fact that tomorrow is guaranteed. I cannot guarantee tomorrow. Tomorrow could be the end of my life, their life, or the world. Only God knows what tomorrow holds. Thinking that tomorrow is guaranteed is like playing God. That is not my place.

Having a sense of urgency with the good news has left the church because of its lackadaisical approach, believing that tomorrow is guaranteed. Church goers have been convinced that evangelism means inviting people to church. I would say quit inviting people to church and share the good news with passion, one on one. Churches are trying every shortcut possible when it comes to evangelism and are attempting to mass produce converts. Churches offer event after event and plead with the congregation to bring their neighbors for the chance that they may hear the gospel.

This past Christmas my family attended a musical at a church that featured live animals, professional quality lights and sound and high quality singers and musicians. It was top notch family entertainment. At the end of the performance, the pastor made a plea with every head down and every eye closed, for those that hadn't accepted Jesus to raise their hand. Then they closed the prayer and told those that had made a decision for Christ to mark the salvation box on the visitor card. That was it. Everyone left. This is really what outreach/evangelism looks like today in the modern church. Events that draw a crowd and then slip Jesus in at the end to try to get a response. "Go unto all the world and get responses." No, the bible says "preach the gospel" just like Paul and John the Baptist and all of the early followers.

I think we can see that evangelism has taken all types of different shapes inside the church. We peg basketball leagues, egg hunts, musicals, food pantries, thrift stores, concerts and other events or activities as evangelism to give them validation. All of the above are fine, but they are not evangelism.

Why would the bible say that the harvest is ripe and the workers are few? Because there are only a few that are truly saved and are preaching the true gospel. Evangelism does not fit into your schedule and opportunities can come at any time. Christians can't buy into this beat round the bush witnessing mentality. That's like a doctor only telling you the name of the disease you have but not the deadly effects of the disease. Evangelism is a dirty job; it takes you out of your comfort zone and exposes your belief that Jesus is the only way. Believers are always dialoguing about eternal things because a person's greatest need is repenting before Christ. That's more important than the hunger pains in their stomach, the bills they have or their health condition. To love someone is to tell them the truth and the truth is that people need to repent for their sin. Jesus is not a life enhancement, He is life saving.

My grandpa wouldn't mind me waking him up with a flashlight if the house was on fire, and I wouldn't care one bit about his reaction if that was the case. He may not believe the house is on fire but I'm not concerned with what he believes, I'm exposing him to the truth. My job is to preach the gospel and the Holy Spirit does the rest.

Evangelism is a believer's zeal for the lost, causing one to focus on the most important issue in life- repentance - more than anything else, not caring about the reaction or consequences of the truth being told.

Let's take advantage of today with every opportunity to preach the gospel like there is no tomorrow. Mark 15:16 - And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Article by: Ray Baumann
Distributed by www.ChristianWorldviewNetwork.com

Sweet Girls!

These pictures are a couple of months old, but I just got the film developed! During the first week of February, I went to visit my folks in my hometown of Oak Hill, WV. While I got to spend a lot of time with my family, I also got to spend some good quality time with my best friend from growing up, Jennifer. We have known each other since the 5th grade! We still keep in touch and even if we don't talk for a while, we just pick up where we left off, as if we didn't live far apart. I love having a friendship like that... I have several good friends who, although we don't live in the same city or state, we still keep in touch and when we do get to visit, it's as if we never left each other.

Anyway, back to the girls... here are Jennifer's sweet girls. The youngest, Morgan, is just a year older than Stone and Jennifer and I have already deemed that they are betrothed... ha! I can still remember when the oldest one, Sara, was born and how exciting that was! They are both beautiful and sweet and have great parents! (I was also good friends with Jennifer's husband Bart in high school, so I go way back with both of them.) So, here are a few pics...








(Just a note about these last 2 pictures. They are wearing their dad's pilot head gear..Bart has alwasy wanted to be a pilot, and he is now serving as one! I love it when people reach their dreams.)

Easter Pics

I love celebrating Easter... what better way to celebrate all that Jesus did for us than to worship him with all our being! Alleluia!

Here are some pics of our family. The little girl is cousin Mercy and then her parents, Jason and Gini. (Gini and Kevin are brother/sister.) All of us spent the afternoon after church at Kevin's parents' house along with some sweet church friends. Stone and Mercy love to hang together (see them hugging--how sweet!!!) and they enjoyed the extra attention from the other guests! I love having family near.. I've lived so long without any family close than I'm enjoying the time I get to spend with in-laws. Just wish my family of origin lived a little closer! But, we will get to see them soon, as my dad is having a big retirement party to celebrate over 30 years in ministry.

Anyway, the first pic is of Stone, of course, in his Easter outfit. He actually had dressier pants to go with his argyle sweater and shirt, but they were too big! So, we opted for the khakis that I knew fit. And no sandals.. it was too COLD!!! Although, I was loving the colder weather (sorry all you Spring-lovers!) Isn't he handsome??? And isn't cousin Mercy beautiful??!!

Newest Cake

My friend Beth had a birthday this past Sunday. So, I surprised her and made her a cake. She loves July 4th, so thus the patriotic theme. She loved it and said it was yummy. Happy birthday girl! (Click on her name to the left and see her blogspot.)

Our new car update..

See the post a few down about this.. complete with picture. Some of my friends asked if I got this picture from the internet. No! Believe it or not, I took this picture one evening outside a local mexican restaurant that we like to go to. For real! We saw it and couldn't believe our eyes. I know that can't be legal! Anyway, Kevin suggested taking a picture and jokingly saying it was our new car. I'm glad I took a picture then, because when we left, it was gone! So, I'm guessing someone actually got in it to go back home (there are some homes not too far from the restaurant, but still!) Anyway, just so you know, it's something we saw in real life, not made up!! HA!

My baby is 18 months!

Happy 18 months Stone!! Wow.. time flies. I still remember holding him in the hospital. And now, I'm wrestling with a toddler. Every time I hold a little one (I just got to visit with my friend Amy and hold her 2 week old AND I spent part of Easter Sunday morning in our church's baby room and held my friend Heather's 4 month old) I forget how little Stone once was. I almost forgot how to hold a itsy, bitsy, little one! Anyway, here's a couple of pics from his actual 18 month birthday, Saturday, April 7. I have some Easter pics I will have to develop first before posting... those will come hopefully soon.

My first hair cut....

.....on Kevin. I've been wanting to cut his hair for forever, mainly to save money since he needs to get it cut about every 6 weeks because he keeps it so short. However, he has never trusted me enough to let me cut his hair.. and I understand that, being that I have no formal training. Who could blame him? However, I have cut my friend's husband's hair, but his wasn't that complicated. Also, I've trimmed Stone's hair, and let me tell you, cutting Kevin's hair was a LOT easier, considering he didn't move every second! AND, after his sister's fiasco of hair cutting of Jason (just ask her for details of this funny story), he wasn't about to let me touch his hair. But finally, he said he'd let me try. We did it Thursday night, because he had Friday off of work (Good Friday) so in case it came out not looking so good, he could go get it fixed. So, here it is.. of course, i don't have a "before" picture because I forgot. But even if I had, you wouldn't be able to tell too much, because again, he keeps it so short! Anyway, I'm proud of my hair cut and that it turned out looking pretty good for an amateur. Also, check out the next picture of Kevin in a tux! He had to wear a tux for Friday night's Good Friday service at our church. Yeah, he looks good!

Our new car...

As some of you know, we sold my truck when we moved to Greenville. So, we have been looking for a new vehicle. We found this one, complete with 2 car seats... what do you think???? HA!!