10 years

Ten years ago today our twin girls were born into heaven. I wonder what a birthday party is like with Jesus. I'll bet it is spectacular!!! My grandpa is celebrating with them this year.

We remembered Lauryn & Cassie by buying gifts for 2 girls of similar ages our girls would be. These little girls live in a crisis home in a near-by town. While it felt good to buy gifts for them, I am saddened that they live in a crisis home and not with their own parents. I am sad that some children don't know what a loving family truly is. At least we were able to give them some love through gift-giving.

So, sweet girls, happy 10th birthday. We remember...and we love you.

Thanksgiving

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We went to South Carolina to see Paulo & Juliana and the girls for Thanksgiving. Our God-daughter was Baptised on Wednesday, so we were able to be at the church for her special night! The weekend was wonderful, packed with lots of playing NERTS, snuggles with the girls, Black Friday Shopping (all night--we got home at 7:30 am) and so much fun. I wish I could have packed all four of them in the car and brought them back to Florida!! We also got to see Pedro and Juliana (Paulo's brother and sister in law). It's extra fun when we can all get together.

The miles between us seem long. It was so hard to drive away on Saturday. I'm glad we have Skype and other forms of media to keep us in touch, but it is not the same as being there. So glad we got to spend Thanksgiving together!!

Happenings around here

I'm not sure when things got so busy. Two weeks ago Jordan & I flew into StL to see my family in IL. What a blast! We had a great weekend!!! It was all too apparent as we flew out that Monday that I essentially don't feel like anywhere is home. (A byproduct of transition.) I was glad to be back in FL with Lance, but this is not yet "home" in a true sense of the word. I still feel like I'm on vacation. :)

I never realized how busy the holidays get for a pastoral family!! There's hanging of the greens, get-togethers, cantadas, kids' programs...all so fun, but our weekends are packed until January!! I worry about Lance as he works extra hours trying to get ahead on sermons to be off some for Thanksgiving and Christmas. He's also had a funeral and wedding thrown in...just for added variety.

Jordan is keeping ME busy! Daily band, home schooling, youth group, "play dates", band auditions, band outings, cantada rehearsal and tonight we are going to the midnight showing of the Harry Potter 7th Movie-part 1. WHEW!! No wonder I'm so tired!!

While in Highland I was asked what my duties are as a pastor's wife...ummm...everything other than what the pastor does. Hee hee! I keep the house running so he can keep the church running...yup! There's no specific job description...although, I don't think he has one either!

So, if posts are slim the next several weeks, be graceful with me. It's going to be a busy season!!

Fall Festival

Our church had their Fall Festival yesterday. They didn't have it last year because of the economy and were very excited to be able to offer the festival again. It is FREE to the community and I think we had about 200 people show up! We had an inflatable slide/bouncy, cake walk, hotdogs, nachos, pie the pastor, pumpkin bowling, photo ops, a police car & firetruck, and 4-5 other games...for FREE!! (Well, admission was a canned good & we collected about 150# of food!!)

I was so proud of our church for their efforts and hard work. You don't put on a festival this big for nothing. So far, we have one family that may start coming to church because they think the pastor is really a good guy for enduring the "pie the pastor" and the other church members are very nice. Another family came to the church today and said they think they'll start coming; that yesterday was a lot of fun! OUTREACH...no Bible banging, no yelling in the streets...fun, laughter, love & service. That's OUTREACH!! Good job, St. Paul (& Pastor Lance)! I've got buttons popping today!!! :)

(BTW--these are pics from the local newspaper of Jordan "pie-ing" her dad.)

A great weekend!!

I'm a little late in posting this, but it's been a crazy week! We got a somewhat surprise visit from Lance's sister and her family last weekend. What a blast!! The 2 boys kept us in stitches all weekend!! "S" decided that their home state is boring and Florida is fun! He thinks they need to get an apartment and move here! Lance's sister likes our "radiant heat" in our floors. (Only warm because of the Florida heat!!) Husband "R" enjoyed the seafood and little brother "E" loved playing Wii w/ "cousin Jordan". A good time indeed!!!! The house was WAY QUIET when they left on Monday!!! Can't wait for their next visit to the beach!!

How do you measure success?

I know that pastors in churches ask that question all the time. How do you know if your church is successful? Is it through how much money is collected each Sunday or how many people are sitting in the seats? Do you count the Baptisms each year?

I have only been a Pastor's Wife for a short 3 months and I'm sure my view of success will change with time, but this is what I think at this present time in our season of ministry. I think success is measured by people coming to the alter for prayer, when their pastor can pray over them & for them and make a difference. Success is feeling a change in the church...a lighter, calmer, attitude towards worship, praise and prayer. I think success is a pastor that can't hardly get his supper at a carry-in dinner because someone wants to talk about what salvation truly means. It's a church that in one week collected almost $400 for a widow, gave food to a stranger & helped a mom keep her child in preschool. It's a church so filled with love that they took in a family of 3 from the Mid-West, allowed one to be their pastor, and loved on this family as if they belonged. Success is not measured in money or numbers, but in the love that is felt, the prayers that are lifted up and the service to others.

The "bestest" birthday

I think this birthday will be remembered as one of my favorites. One of our sweet church members took us out on his boat. (I have to say, he did not take us out for my birthday. He didn't know yesterday was my birthday. He took us on the boat because Jordan wanted a boat ride and she's a little spoiled by these church folk here.) We got to see about 8 dolphins play in the sound (water between the island and the penninsula where we actually live). We ate lunch at a local restaraunt w/ 2 couples from church (trustees chair and finance chair, so Lance said he was actually working). Then, sat on the porch of one of the couples, overlooking the sound, and got to know them a little better. (See slideshow for a picture of the view from their home.) Lance made my favorite cake and we dined on pizza while watching, "Phantom of the Opera". It was a GREAT birthday.

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