VBS 2009

I am always the one behind the camera so it seems weird when I see a picture of myself. A good friend of mine snapped this one of me when I was doing a mission lesson with the kindergarten class during Vacation Bible School at our church a couple of weeks ago. We had great attendence & it went really great.

We were discussing some of the way's to teach the Aboriginal's about Jesus. They do some of it through pictures. Here is a picture I was using that I found on the internet.

Aboriginal art

When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie...

Came out of church tonight & seen this over the top of the back side. It was like a bright shining spot light over top. Isn't God amazing?

A Special Love Story

I would like to share with you an e-mail I receive around each Valentines Day. I am proud to say this is from my Associate Pastor. He is thought very highly of in our church. I know for a fact that man has a place in heaven waiting on him. He is about the smartest most humble man I know that knows the entire history of the bible. He goes in depth that is way beyond me. His SSClass has to meet in the gym because it is so large.

David Langerfeld
Feb 11, 2009

Although most of you have read this story many times, I share it every year during Valentine's Week in tribute to the greatest, most wonderful woman I know...

A Special Love Story

Her family had come to America from Sweden. She had a typical Scandinavian look... Long blond hair; blue eyes; long slender legs; soft, blemish-free skin. She was gorgeous - she was beautiful. In fact, a professional international photographer in her hometown thought she was so pretty that he used a photograph of her to advertise his business.
But that was not her real beauty.

She was raised by some wonderful Christian parents and had become a Christian at an early age. Integrity, honesty and sweetness were just a few of her characteristics. In fact, at her engagement party, her sister, who knew her better than anyone, said that she had never heard her tell a lie. All of her friends said the same thing about her: She was the sweetest girl they knew. She would never speak a harsh word about anyone. Everyone loved to be around her.

A young man she met in her freshman year started dating her and fell in love with her - both her exterior photographic beauty and the wonderful godly character of her inward beauty. She fell in love with him and they spent every free moment they could with each other over the next four years. They were committed to each other and they believed in waiting long before the "True Love Waits" Campaign ever existed.

One week after they graduated from college, they were married. They loved each other's company. They would walk together, exercise together, go on bike rides together, chaperone youth trips together - go to movies, watch TV, eat pizza, travel - all the things any normal couple would love to do together. They were so much in love.

She taught school for a year and then became a bookkeeper for a surgical supply company. One day, while she was working, for no apparent reason, she lost her balance and fell on the floor. She was later able to get up and went to see a doctor that night. He set her up to see a Neurologist.

The following day, it happened again. For no apparent reason, she lost her balance and fell. This time, though, she couldn't get up. She had lost all feeling in her legs. They wouldn't move. Her husband, had to come to the office and pick her up in his arms and carry her to the hospital. After six days in the hospital, the doctor gave this beautiful, active young lady the dreadful news. She had Multiple Sclerosis and she would continue to deteriorate.

This young couple, who had now been married only 18 months - who loved to go everywhere together and do everything together - would now face some new challenges. All their future plans would change, everyday life would change. They would change.

For the next 30 years, this young lady did deteriorate. She had to take steroids (not the kind athletes use, but anti-inflammatory steroids). Her bones became brittle, breaking easily. Her face became puffy and bloated and she could not even put on make-up. Her body was a mess. She went from a walker, to an electric scooter, to a wheelchair. She could no longer feed herself, write her name, or control her own bodily functions. She now had to have someone stay with her 24 hours a day.

If that couple had not had the kind of committed love that's based first on a personal relationship and a commitment to Jesus Christ and second, on a love that's based on a commitment to each other, the marriage never would have lasted. In fact, a large percentage of the marriages where a spouse has MS, the other spouse leaves them. The other spouse won't stay committed to the constant care and the continual physical, psychological and mental changes that continue to occur.

Please hear me carefully - those two people are not heroes. They are not super-saints or super-Christians. They will be the first to tell you that they are not super Christians. Those two people are normal, ordinary people, empowered by the Love of God and a love for each other, to do what the world considers beyond normal and extraordinary.

I know this for a fact - because that woman, that beautiful young lady who will never walk again, who can't even feed herself, is Lynda Langerfeld - my wife. She's not a hero. I'm not a hero. We're children of God, doing what the children of God are supposed to do. Doing what His children are called to do. Doing what God expects of every man and every woman who make a vow before God on their wedding day.

Quite often, Hollywood will portray a "hero" sacrificing his life for his "heroine" in a film. In the world's eyes, he's a hero. In God's eyes, he's an ordinary man making an extraordinary sacrifice that every Christian who's committed to his spouse ought to make. Sacrificial, Committed Love is the rule, not the exception. We're not super-saints, we're not heroes when we're being faithful and committed to our mates. We're doing what God has called every husband and wife to do since the beginning of time.

(c) 2002
David Langerfeld
dlangerfeld@HarrisburgBaptist.org
http://www.harrisburgonline.org/

Permission to distribute this article via email or individual copies is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes and will not be sold.

Elves watching

I had to go to my church Wednesday morning to make some copies for my M&M's class that night. While there I ran across a little surprise while I was on my way out the door.

See me previous post of Christmas Traditions about the Shelf Elf. I just think this is just the cutest thing. The tradition not the elf. He is kind of freaky looking.

It was at the door where all the little kids are picked up from day school. I told my boys while I was snapping a pictures (Yes...I had my camera with me) I thought I seen him blink. Just funny to tell my big boys they better be good because elves are always watching from somewhere.

My daughter & I (with my granddaughter Abbi) went shopping today for Christmas presents. We hit a few stores & did get some gifts. Seems mostly for Abbi. Well honestly I am the grandma/nana. That's my duty. We stopped back by my house to drop off some things before I took them back home & I gave her the Christmas Pickle I had found for her. I found pickle ornaments at a local store here. Village Green on Main Street had them but when I asked if they had a spider they looked at me weird. Come on...you have a pickle & you think a spider is wierd. They were all sweet but it was funny.

M&M's tonight

For our M&M's (Music & Missions) class tonight at church we had a party before we break for Jesus' birthday. All the kindergarteners had a great time. Double chocolate chip cookie, chips, grapes & drink. We had a great time. Since I do the mission & craft part I had little coloring books made for them to take home & bracelets that said Happy Birthday Jesus on them. We ate, talked, laughed & Kathy the one who leads the Music part shared her Nativity barn with them that her father made for her many many many years ago with some figures she has. She read The Crippled Lamb to them. A touching story about a disabled lamb who finds he has a special purpose and place in this world.

Thank you Lord for such sweet people you put in my life that love you & honor you.

Life is Good

Scouts this past Monday

This past Monday was a pack meeting for our Cub Scouts at church. My Tigers had been working hard to earn their Tiger Cub emblem/badge. If you know what it is you know what you have to do. If you don't... well being a new scout (Tiger rank) you have to start out learning the Scout Motto, the Scout Salute & Scout Sign. We also did our Cub Scout promise in front of everyone. It may seem so simple to the older scouts but this is a great accomplishment for 1st graders. My Tigers are so smart. Once they were shown the first time they had no problems. Just like little soldiers. We actually earned it a few weeks ago but really wanted to have the ceremony at the pack meet. It is a parent thing. Photo opportunity. Show off what we know to the older boys. Now that we have the badge we can start earning beads to attach to it. Working out of the book earns you those. Next pack meeting in January we will have several boys earning several beads. 8 of my 12 are in the ceremony. 4 couldn't make it that night.

My oldest son is already a Webelo II rank & it seems like it was forever ago he was a Tiger. He will cross over to an official Boy Scout at the end of the school year. It slips by quick. I have a really great group of boys. I have included some pics of my Tigers. No names for privacy reason's, except my sons though.

Chris (Webelo II (my son) receiving a pin for his uniform from his Scout leader.

Me showing the Tiger Emblem of what we had been working on.

My Tigers growling!!!!

My son Matthew is the 3rd scout from the left.

Cub Scout salute

Cub Scout sign

Something comes to mind. While selling Scout popcorn at Sam's one day some of our Tigers asked someone if they would like to buy some..... his answer was "He didn't recognize the Boy Scouts of America!"

What the...........?

What part could he not agree with.....

The 10 purposes of Cub Scouting are:
Character Development
Spiritual Growth
Good Citizenship
Sportsmanship and Fitness
Family Understanding
Respectful Relationships
Personal Achievement
Friendly Service
Fun and Adventure
Preparation for Boy Scouts

Cub Scouting's 12 Core Values
Citizenship
Compassion
Cooperation
Courage
Faith
Health and fitness
Honesty
Perseverance
Positive attitude
Resourcefulness
Respect
Responsibility

The Cub Scouting colors are blue and gold.

They have special meaning, which will help boys see beyond the fun of Cub Scouting to its ultimate goals.
The blue stands for truth and spirituality, steadfast loyalty, and the sky above.
The gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and happiness.

Sorry I will get off my band wagon now. Just could never understand narrow minded people. Did it phase me? No. I am still the Tiger leader for now. I wished he had not said something like that but he did, it is over & life goes on. The boys never gave it a second thought.

Into the week

So much goes on in the week. Not just loading shoeboxes Monday but one of my son's had a check-up Monday with his Ear Nose & Throat doctor. Several weeks ago he had some tiny knots show up in his neck. A parents worst fear. Well after a good thorough exam the doctor seen no real concern. None of the things are present that made him all to concerned. As a parent we still question ourself but I had to trust the doctor & the Lord to watch over my son. Now for the family that follows my blog...Guess which child it is that has given me the concern?.........You have it! Matthew....he does not do anything simple. After all of this it seems to be allergies. He was constantly clearing his throat. We thought it to be habit but it seems to be something else now. He is on a nose spray & pill at night & it has made a big difference. Had to get from the appointment to school & pick up Chris from Chess Club, get home, take a breath, eat a bite & get out the door for scouts. Just a normal Monday.

I am in a bible study at the moment on Wednesday mornings. My SSClass teacher is leading something she has written. Forgiveness. We have done this in class but she has added some to it & put it as a Bible Study. I wish everyone could have the teacher I have. (Sorry K but it is the truth.) Next week is the last week of it & it seems to come to fast.
Chris had a science project due the next day & after church that night we had to hit it hard. It turned out pretty good. It should after buying a hundred dollars of supplies from Hobby Lobby. It is a Decidious Forest. Can't you just tell? Click on the picture & find the deer eating apples from the orchard.

Thursday came & this week my church has a ministry that we got involved in a couple of years ago. It is called Courthouse Ministry. We have the entire week from 9 am to noon each day that we serve coffee & cookies to the people that are waiting for the judge & their lawyers on the second floor. The cookie dough is donated & our kitchen staff cooks them up fresh each morning for us to pick up before we go. Me & another lady from church have to find at least 10 volunteers each time our week rolls around every 3 months. Most churches have stopped doing the ministry so our time rolls around alot more. If you have ever tried to fill volunteer positions then you know it is probably easier asking for a kidney than their time. Sorry but its the truth. So sad to see alot of the cases that come in. People waiting seem to have their nerves shot just a tad. Talking with them, giving them a cup of coffee & a cookie & sharing Christ with them seems to put them a bit more comfortable. Anyone who knows me knows I can talk. I once carried on a lenghty phone conversation with an information operator. She was quite nice. My husband was not shocked.
Speaking of talking- I talked to one of my sisters Thursday night for 134.02 minutes. That was a short conversation. She has taken a 2nd job so she works all the time now. Don't really know much we talked about, just life is all. Something special is shared between sisters. I have wanted to choke her sometimes & she me but in the end we are always sisters.
Friday---Had another date night. My church has once a month Parents Night Out. We take full advantage to have the time together. Couples need that. The boys had fun. They had scheduled a guy to come in & do little tricks & balloon art. Matthew loved the balloon dogs. It popped within an hour of being home. What a surprise!

Happy Anniversary

Boy this day to day stuff on a blog is alot of work. I hate so much I do not get to share my day to day things. In just one week I have been so busy with things. I really want to share the really important things.

The most important was one week ago. Jeff & I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. The first picture of us is on our wedding rehearsal day. Alot thinner & alot younger. Hard to believe 22 years later. Alicia (our daughter) came over with her husband & our granddaughter & stayed with the boys while we went out to eat & to a movie. Felt nice not having to rush back to a sitter. Still though the wild & crazy couple we are....... made it back in by 10:30 pm.

Last Sunday at our church we had our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox dedication. It went really well. At last count we had up to 485. Boxes are still coming into church for the people that did not get to make dedication night. I believe our count should go over 5oo total. Our Minister of Music & his wife was over the program & ask if I would want to say anything. At first I said no but the more I thought about it I changed my mind. I guess I thought it may be rude not to at least thank people for all they did. I was so nervous I thought I would be sick. I am used to being behind the scenes & not right out in front of everyone. Monday I ran by the warehouse that we will be using as the Collection Center to be collecting all the boxes. I picked up some cartons to load all our boxes into. We have a great staff at church & they have already took all our full cartons to the warehouse.

Gotta go cook some dinner now......be right back.......I hope

Jump back a day!

Well can I actually get two post in one night?

I posted about my day but now the weekend.

We still have Cub Scout popcorn sell going on & had another 3 hour shift at Sam's Club to sell. The boys actually did pretty good which was my two & one of my Tigers from my den. They stalked errr...waited outside the exit door for customers leaving & ask if they would like to help support the cub scouts by buying popcorn. Some people ignored them but some nice people actually stepped over & bought. One guy actually said "he did not recognize the Scouts". Don't even get me started. That's another post in itself. Well we were tired & cold & finally got home about 9:30 that night & we were T-I-R-E-D. The boys want to know can we do it again Saturday............NO NO NO. All my two did was fight & punch each other the whole time & run everywhere not paying attention. One of my sisters has two boys & I ask her ALL the time "please tell me it gets better." I miss baby dolls & doing nails! Boys are not wired that way. Thank God.

Hubby was home all weekend. Before the weather turns to cold we hoped to get the 4 wheelers out & take to the land. Chris' had been acting up for a bit. Hubby got it out early Saturday to do a quick thing to it but nothing here is simple. He was stumped so it is off to the repair people. Here we go again! He gave up, we got the other one loaded & headed to a friends house to pick up his big 4 wheeler. Wait, we need to switch the little one to the back of the truck because both will not fit on the trailer, get gas in a can, air in the tire, the boys are hungry, We are never going to get there. We are trying to find a place in Pontotoc to pull the trailer in safely to get gas & guess what blue lights behind us. Yes, a city cop. We must have attracted attention looking for a station. No my husband was speeding. He didn't argue. He was. Proof of insurance. Guess what not in the truck. It was our leased vehicle we were turning back in so all of it was removed from the glove box. We decided to buy it instead but none of the papers were put back in. I guess the officer thought we looked honest enough & let that part slip. I now have it at my side ready to go back in the truck tomorrow. Well we try to proceed onto the land. We get there & are met by some wild turkey crossing the driveway in. Pic attached. We are now at the spot we will call home hopefully soon. All is well in the Pa'tty World. All three guys got muddy. Chris even had muddy underwear from riding. That is some serious mud riding. I weed eated around some trees, cleaned off my cats grave who I still miss something fierce, played with my toy (Nikon camera), road a 4 wheeler through the woods & back out & took a deep breath because by that time the sun was going down. Turned out to be a good Saturday ticket & all.

At church the next morning with Operation Christmas Child in full swing I have had things I have had to do. We picked that day to give out the empty boxes that Samaritans Purse provides. Only about 250 were passed out. We had a really great time doing it. Pic attached. Hopefully they come back all full to send over seas.

Shelley Farmer (Director of Childhood Education)

(me) Katrina Potter Patty (OCC coordinator for HBC)

Dale Taylor (volunteer for OCC)

Kathryn Walden (volunteer for OCC)

Rev. David Langerfeld (Associate Pastor)

Rev. Tim Alexander (Minister of Education & Single Adults)

Our 2 boys both have b'days this month & their grandparents sent them some money that was burning a hole in their pockets. Sunday after church we went to Wally World to spend that hot money. The boys both got toys since you know they don't have any. The pitiful things. S-P-O-I-L-E-D to the bone. Man time is passing quick. The boys are 7 & 11 this month. Our daughter turned 22 this past summer. Different seasons of our lives. Changes come. We deal. Me not as much. I do deal with it but in some ways I look back & wish for the old times. People are what I miss the most. Father, mothers, sisters & nephews that have passed. Time heals wounds. A blogger friend is having to bury a nephew soon. What I read of him all says he was a great guy & you wonder why was it his time. But it is God's time not ours. God has plans for him & he needed him now. My heart breaks for the family having to say their goodbye's. Patty I will be thinking of you. Please keep this sweet family in your prayers.

Well it is getting late. I have bible study tomorrow. I still need to finish the booth tomorrow. My husband comes back from a quick business trip that he left early this morning on. My oldest son has a b'day & I need to get a fire lit under me to get some painting finished around here. Got to get this house sold. Now I will try to download some pics for you to view. Click on them for a larger view.

Kickoff for OCC

We had a kickoff for Operation Christmas Child at HBC tonight. Here is a cute little get up my friend made.

Have you started getting your shoebox together to send?

Go team Go!

Chris had his first baseball game Tuesday. We have some really good hitters on the team. We did win! Chris does great in practice but once a game comes up he freezes at the plate. Should I share that with you? We cheered him on all the way though. It always takes a game or two to get over that nervous feeling. We hope to have a really good year. I was over talking at the side one day at practice & seen the group of boys huddled together tight. The coach had them in a prayer group. I love to have the coach prayer for the boys. That is a real coach.

(Click on pic for larger view)

Matthew starts T-ball games soon. They start later than regular baseball. He just can't wait. They are so fun to watch play. Score is not kept. That makes it all the better. They are just learning. At practice they sort of just run all over the field. This is Matthew's 2nd year of T-ball. If you need a good laugh...watch a T-ball game!

(Click on pic for larger view)

I had Wednesday night kindergarden mission's class last night at church. I love coming up with crafts for the kids. We worked on Mother's day cards. If you are one of my mom's "Do not read this or look at the picture". I had found a craft on an internet site I go to alot.You use your thumb to make thumb print cards. "Thumbbody says, Thumbody loves you & that Thumbody is me! Inie is a thumb print flower & butterfly. So cute! They have colored bookmarks that I will laminate at church & enclose in the card. Only 4 more Wednesday's left. The M&M's year is about over. (M & M stands for Music & Mission's)

(Click on pic for larger view)

My neice is getting ready to graduate high school next month. Boy where did the time go? Her mail labels came in & guess what? They had moved & the address was WRONG for mailing. I got her some cute one's made up & got them in the mail yesterday. All is well in the graduation world today. Graduation will be special. She will receive her diploma with a National Honor Society sash around her neck. She has the world at her feet, the brains to be anything she wants & the choose of any college that tries to get her.

Well I need to get ready & go. The Humane Society here in town is having a yard sale Friday & Saturday & I need to go see what help they need.

The answer to the Christian Cross puzzle!

I told you it could be done! Did you ever figure it out? Look for the puzzle from my Friday, April 4th posting.

Have I accomplished anything?

The days pass & I look back & have I gotten anything done? I have my hand in several pots stiring (Is that a southern saying?) I don't do those!)

The boys are great. Both had dentist appointments yesterday. Both had no cavities. Chris had to have a capped molar tooth pulled. It had been loss for a bit & the stubborn thing would not come out. While there the dentist did it for us. Boy that saved alot of whining & complaining around here not to mention what Chris would have done. When I was leaving to get them back to school I told them they would not have to go back for another 6 months now. My 6 year old shouted "Praise the Lord". The funny thing is he really meant that to the Lord.

My Wednesday night church Missions (w/Crafts) class----I have had so much fun taking over the roll this year. I always come up with a good craft I think. I want it to be something that is somewhat useful. You know the kind you usually get. You go to pick up your child from their room & they have made something that as soon as they are in the door it is thrown on the counter & as soon as they are out of the room you bury it deep in the trash so it is NEVER seen again. This past week we worked on a 5 peice puzzle that has to be put in the shape of a cross. Quite difficult. Even grownups have trouble. Our talk was even though life can be puzzleing in the end God has been in each piece of it." The Cross". I have attached a picture you can print it, cut it out & see if you can put it together. I will post the answer in my next post. I promise it is not a joke. It can be done.

The boys now have both of their baseball team assignments. Both coaches seem to be really nice over the phone. Practice starts Saturday. Can't believe the season is upon us. While fitting their games in I also play softball each season for the church league. We all have so much fun.

I got an e-mail a couple of days ago. I have found out what Russian Volunteered is. I believe it has to do with having a gun at your head & being told you will be doing something against your will. Part of it is true for me except the "against your will" part & the gun also. My youngest son will begin in Cub Scouts this summer. He will start as the rank of Tiger Scout. They haven't found a cub leader & have asked if I would be interested in doing it. I beleive I will. Tiger parents have to be present at each meeting so I might as well. I do like leading the younger ones & sharing the things I know. They are just young enough to not know the difference if I am just totally lost. We will be going camping this summer. Thank goodness my Webelo 2 will be sleeping on the ground in tents with his group but my husband & I will have a cabin with the Tigers. Me & the ground just do not go together.

Pray that the Lord will give me an answer if I should do this. I need the brick to the head answer.

Back to my Kindergartener missionaries. We have done several little mission projects this year. We collected food for the Sanctuary Hospice House, change for LeBonheur Childrens Hospital & still collecting Pop Tabs for LeBonheur. Our next project before we finish out our year next month is going to be the Humane Society here in Tupleo. Before you go out to ever buy your next pet please visit a shelter & save a life. The shelters all around are never for profit. They have a really low budget so they have to rely on the public to help. Our kindergarteners are so excited to get to help on this one. They have such giving hearts. We sent home a wish list to the parents & hope to collect alot in the next 7 weeks we have left. http://www.tupelo-leehumane.org/

---I had to throw this in. I am really not much of an April Fool's person. In other words I don't pull any major one's. Well we all got up to start our day & while the boys were eating breakfast I got on my laptop in the office to check my e-mail. I read a friends (C.P.) April Fool. So funny. She got alot of us. Well it hit me to try one. I went back to the breakfast room & told the boys because of the really bad storm weather that school had been delayed a couple of hours. You should have seen the cheers & jumps. How cruel---I had to tell them April Fools. They did not laugh as I did. Now to look back it was cruel (but so fun).

And after all of this we hope to get our house SOLD. Pray for a buyer for us.