Opeartion Christmas Child

Christmas is starting early this year, and the best way to get in the Christmas Spirit is to give something to someone who may not get Christmas presents. Enter Operation Christmas Child. Make a Child's Christmas by packing a Shoebox full of little goodies and trinkets and send them to Samaratians Purse, an organization that will ship them virtually across the globe to children in need. Here are some simple instructions if you are interested in this project:

1. SHOE BOX-PRINT THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS
Click to download.Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

2. BOY OR GIRL?
Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. FILL WITH GIFTS-Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.

4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. DROP OFF Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week November 16 - 23.

For locations and hours of collection visit our Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

GIFT IDEAS
TOYS
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

A PERSONAL NOTE
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans.

Fall Fest

On Halloween Night, our church hosted its annual Fall Fest, this year for the first time in our new Family Life Center. We saw SO many cute kiddos dressed up as clowns, old men, construction workers, lots of Batmen and my two paticular faves:


Craig was George W. Bush and Cam was a bag of popcorn! Craig and I decorated or table with an American theme and "Re-Elect George in 2012!" We also had a game of rocket darts at our table. it was really fun, even though I was a humbug and didn't dress up this year! Katie opted out of Fall fest for a costume par-tay where she dressed up as a cowgirl.



As you can see, Cam had a ball with all her buddies and got loaded up on candy and goodies. We had a really great crowd and served tons of hot dogs and chips to all our guests for the evening.

After the Fall Fest, We hit Boo on Main, which islocated in downtown Westminster. The Local Vendors and Buisnesses close down Main Street Wesetminster and line up and give candy away to all the town's kids. Its really a fun way to see everyone, but this year there were LOTS of Scary Costumes and Cam got a bit spooked, so we headed across town to another Fall Par-tay and loaded up on Cotton Candy!! We also went trick or treating and can you believe it- Cam got NO Peanut candy! That was a first!

After the Sugar buzz wore off, we headed home and made caramel apples while Cam counted all the goods! Overall We had a great time!! Now we'll be eating this candy till Christmas!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Lessons From Wii Fit Running!

SO, I am becoming a runner, not a long distance runner, not running sprints or marathons, or even 3k's , but I am running , nonetheless, in my basement of my home either by way of treadmill or Wii Fit! How on earth do I do that? By jogging in place and running virtually through a green, plush landscape that never has bad roads, you can see virtually anyone while you run and even have a trainer along to keep you on pace. 21st century excercise at its best!

Not really, but it is fun and gets you moving, and sometimes can even teach us something new about our journey with Jesus!

A few weeks ago, as my husband and I were praying together over several family matters, I was reminded that my running the race with Jesus was similar to that of running with my trainer on Wii Fit. You see, the trainer keeps you moving at a steady pace. My trainer looks back every once in a while to make sure I'm still moving forward and waves me on in my journey. if I start to run too fast and overtake my trainer, he slows me down and keeps me on the path that has been set out for me. Also, the trainer knows where the finish line is, knows the best route, and how to get there, while I get all the benefits of running the race that has been set out for me!How often do I do those things when walking/running with Jesus? I often challenge the path that He has set before me to walk, or try to run ahead and blaze my trail. Often times I stop altogether when I then don't have Jesus as my leader, or injure myself by running into spiritual potholes or stumbling blocks. If I just keep my eyes on the path set before me and on Jesus, I will run a more steady course.

Of course there are times that we do need to stop and rest b/c of pitfalls and road hazards.

These are times when we especially need to have our heavenly dad with us, guiding us, cheering us. I heard a story a long time ago about a runner who was sprinting to the end of a race when he fell and injured himself to the point where he could not stand, nor finsh the race. His dad was nearby in the crowd, cheering him on, when he witnessed His son's injury. The father of the runner then went into the race, picked up his son and began to walk while carrying his son, to the finish line, thereby helping his son complete the race that he had started. My friends, there will be times when we fall, when we are injured, when we literally can not walk, that our Father desires to come and pick us up and carry us until we can stand on our own two feet alone. that is why it is so important that He runs the race with us and preferably, ahead of us!! How many hurtful things would we bypass if he was able to navigate for us?

Our journey is a beautiful thing , a real walk with Jesus, not a virtual one. He longs to come into your journey and walk with you! Will you let Him?

Youth Group Reunion

I just returned from a wonderful family reunion, but not an ordinary one. It was a reunion of my youth group from church- wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ that I shared many wonderful moments of laughter, drama, love, and most of all moments of spiritual growth.
We experienced the Lord together, and that is what drew us closer to each other, ultimately.

One of the most surreal moments was seeing 4 of the most influential spiritual influences of my growing up in one room! 2 youth minsters- one who led me to the Lord, and one who fostered my love for Jesus and ministry, one Sunday School teacher who singlehandedly helped me fall in love with Scripture and most of all, Jesus, and one fantastic mentor who helped mold me and shape my thoughts about who God wanted me to be in all areas of my life!! WOW!

One of the reasons I think this weekend was so amazing was because it reminds me of a family reunion that is to come!! Heaven will much like this, talking to one another about what God has done for us and seeing how far everyone has come in their personal relationship with Jesus. We'll have a chance to thank those who personally ministered to us and helped us grow, but most importantly, we'll finally be united fully with Christ!! What an amaing thing to look forward to. We will know and fully be known by the one who created us and bought us so that we would fully be His!! What a happy time that willl be!

Happy Birthday or Anniversary?

Yesterday, I celebrated a milestone- a spiritual milestone- twenty two years since I asked Jesus as my Savior, and began a relationship with Him. Until yesterday, I always refered to it as my "spiritual birthday"- it is , of course the day I was born into the Kingdom of heaven. But yesterday bloomed a new meaning from this sweet relationship.

It all started with a simple post on facebook. I decided I wanted to share what a special day it was for me on a status post. Then the most exciting comments began to roll in! A dear friend commented how cool it was to celebrate an anniversary with Jesus, another one commented how long she had been in realtionship with Jesus- 37 years! and it became more like a walk down memory lane for those who were relationship with my Jesus!!

What I discovered was a new perspective of my relationship WITH someone! I had viewed this day as a celebration for me (selfish as I always seem to be) instead of a celebration of a relationship that began that day! I spent the rest of the day recovering memories of the ups and downs I have had and how faithful Jesus has been to me over the years!

This new perspective vastly challenged me to think more in the terms of growing the bond with Jesus- like how I can work at my relationship with my Savior to make it stronger. Just like I strive to make my realtionship with Craig better, I need to constantly think of ways to grow closer to Jesus and to understand Him More and grow with Him! I have always seemed to think of this as "my realtionship" , but it always begins with Him, and is about Him!

Wow! I can't wait to celebrate my annivsersary with Jesus next year and look back on what we've been through together over this year! Its going to be amazing!!

Frenemies

Recently, I heard the term "Frenemy" on one of those reality type shows and the word just jarred me. Does this ever happen to you? You hear some new word and it just sticks with you?

I believe this word had a huge impact on me b/c of the situation I find myself in. Recently, my youngest daughter has really struggled with "frenemies". A person that by all means is not your friend at all because of their behavior toward you, but still calls you, 'friend'. Or this person is so double-minded that you never know where you stand with them. They get mad at the drop of a hat at you for nothing, really, and handle your friendship like a bargaining chip, only behaving when its good for them. This kind of behavior is exhausting and let me just say, I'm ready for a summer break from all this drama!

The reason that this has hit a chord of dismay with me, really, is because I felt the Lord whispering to my heart, asking me if I was His friend or if I was just a "frenemy". My flesh is so weak, that sometimes, I admit, that I treat the Lord in this capacity. I treat Him with disdain when something awful happens to me, like it's His fault, or use my affection toward Him, often in a controlling way, that He'll do what I want if I show my affection or act in obedience toward his statutues for me. These thoughts, quite honestly, level me at my very being.

How do I respond to this? First of all, I confess that I am prideful and selfish and honestly, I am worshipping myself- I say this because I am trying to get the Lord of all creation, the architect of my being, to do what I say and control Him emotionally . I am so messed up!! Next,I get myself in His Word, aligning my mind with who He really is and repositioning myself. Finally, I Worship him in Spirit and Truth. I cry out, thanking Him that His Kindness leads me to repentance. His question of me was not one of condemnation, but of kindness, so that I could get back into proper fellowship with my Savior- Praise Him!!

I know I have been brutally honest in this post, but I think the Lord wants to know where we all stand with Him, and if we are friends, or just "frenemies" of His....

Mommacita

I am really late posting this, but I have to take time to thank my Mom for all she has done for me and continues to do for me! Even as a adult, my mom has mothered me well, calling me to check on me or the kids when we're sick, letting me have company at her house or even parties at her home when I am there, picking me up at the airport and taxiing me around, calling just to talk and often just listen, counsel, or laugh with me and share great memories about the girlies!
A mothers work is never done and I am so grateful that God picked me out a good one! I am so blessed to call her mom and also friend! and I am even more thankful that I had a mom who taught me what mothering was all about!

biltmore house

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Craig Surprised me on my birthday by giving me tickets to see the Biltmore house in Ashville, NC. We had SUCH a great day together exploring the home and grounds and were so worn out by the sheer size of it! I could have spent several days there studying all the architecture and admiring all the art and tapestries. I also liked seeing how all the renovation and restoration that takes place occurs. We really made some fond memories, and I can't wait to go back!

Cameron is a State Champion!

Make a Smilebox slideshow This weekend Cameron went to the State Bible drill and became a state winner getting 21/24 correct!! We were so proud of her hard work and determination!! Best of all we are already seeing her recall this scripture and apply it to her sweet heart! That is worth all the time that she has spent working on it when we see God USE it in her walk with Him!!

ode to krispy kremes

This morning Jeremy, our youth minister, persuaded me (ha) to take some day old Kremes home with me. I mean- he REALLY forced me to (not)!

I was going to school to eat lunch with Cameron today and I took a few dozen up there for her class and what do you know?-you'd think I brought liquid gold!! Im sure it brought true harmony (and sugar rushes) to Mrs. Cox's Class this afternoon!!

Tim Hawkins paraphrases one of my favorite praise songs with,

"Krispy Kremes, Krispy kremes are what I long for,
Krispy Kremes, Krispy kremes are what I need;
Krispy Kremes, Krispy kremes are what I want to eat~!
take some dough and form it,
take some glaze and warm it-
chew it up, transform it,
oh Lord, oh Lord give me more!!"

Never underestimate the power of kremes in your life!

Little Book of Virtues or Lion King?

We're haing a crisis at our house.... and I have a question.....one that can only be centered on can you really learn moral truths from a book of virtues, or ( in my opinion in this case) learn from a movie? Could it be that Hollywood has something good to say to my child?! Well in this case yes.

My Cam is going through a true trial right now. Two girls in her grade, who have been good friends in the past, have decided to gang up on her and make her life miserable, culminating in yesterday's fiasco, and this morning's drama with my daughters' monolouge about how she needs to switch schools or stay home forever and let me home school her. She had a seious meltdown, and ordinarily I would make her tough it out, go to school and work on keeping a stiff upper lip, but yesterday was too much for her and I caved.

Then what marvelous thing did the Lord put in my mind but the Lion King!!!! What? I started with having Cam tell me the story of the lion king retracing details about how she felt into the story, and when we got to the part of Hakuna Matata - "No Worries" We talked about how today was a break like Simba took, but she couldn't stay that way forever. She needed to go back to where she was needed and where she belonged, even of it was difficult!!! Wow! The word picture really jived with her! We have had a wonderful Hakuna Matata day together, laughing hugging and just lovin on one another!! and tomorrow my be hard, but we've got each other to lean on!
I am so thankful that God reminded me of this wonderful story and used it to help teach Cam an important life lesson about facing your troubles!

Rainy Day Wishes

Top 1o :What I Wish For On a Rainy Day

10. Puddles to jump in

9. A cute umbrella

8. A good song on the Radio to drive to

7. Dry feet!

6. To bake something warm and gooey

5. T0 play games with my family

4. Good blanket to get cozy!

3. Watching storms roll in across the horizon

2. Watching a good movie

and the #1 best thing to do on a rainy day is:

1. Nap/sleep in!!

Enjoy this rainy day, everyone!!

All over the World

Does it excite you to think that God's message of redemption through Jesus Christ is spreading around the globe at a faster rate than ever before? Of the 6.8 billion people in the world, there are an estimated 11,500+ people groups that need to be reached across the globe! Those numbers astound me and sometimes overwhelm me! I am amped to think that these numbers do not intimidate our Savior, because He know each one of them by name and knows their every thought, dream, action, and even the hairs on each person's head WOW!! Our God is huge!!

Begin to pray today for people groups across the nations that need Jesus, and pray that the message of Jesus will reach them soon. He,after all, has entrusted us with His message!

check out this site: http://www.imb.org/globalresearch/maps.asp for more info about how the gospel is being preached across the globe and to see people groups across the world via google earth.

10,000 Steps a day?

Recently, I was watching Dr. Oz speaking about the importance of walking 10,000 steps a day!
Can you believe it!? I tried it yesterday estimating on my treadmill and walked a VERY long time (slowly, I am so out of shape!) and ended up about 90 minutes on the watch! Yikes!

I began to think about spiritual steps while I was walking..... if we physically need 10, 000 steps of walking a day, how many then do we need of spiritual steps a day? I thought that if I was willing to give 90 minutes of my time to walking, how much more could I receive from the Lord and our relationship of I gave Him 90 minutes of my day walking with Him?

I heard once from Louie Giglio, that our spiriual time should be divided into [my terminology] input ( hearing from God through His Word, through our local body of believers, accountability groups, discipleship groups) and output ( mentoring, ministry, service, etc. ) How much more would I shape up in Christ if I did these things on a daily basis?

Needless to say, I need to get physically and spiritually fit, and a great way to do that is just to begin a daily walk....

Memorizing Scripture

Recently, I have been reading a dear friend's journal of faith, and I am astounded by her knowledge of scripture! She readily has it at the front of her mind to draw upon it during this time in her life. You see, she recently lost her husband of 30+ years. He had suffered 2 longterm illnesses, with the last one taking his life. She began online journaling daily during his last ilnness in order to keep friends and family up on the latest news of his illness, but always closing with a word of scripture.
Now as she grieves, she continually has these scriptures on her mind to remind her of our Faithful and True Saviour who longs to share our burdens.
This has reminded me of MY need to memorize scripture. How many times do I find myself in a situation where I need to have scripture hidden in my heart so that I can draw upon it? I am convinced that because Scripture is our only offensive weapon to fight the enemy, it is vital that we have it rooted in our hearts and minds.
If you would like any verses to get you started in memorizing scripture, give me a holler, and I will help you get started with me as I begin this discipline anew!

Chilly Night Chili

I am making Craig's Chili since it is going to get down to 17 tonight!!

Here's the recipe!

Craig's Chili

Brown and drain:

1 1/2 lean ground beef

1 green pepper chopped

1 medium onion chopped

Add:

4 cups tomato sauce

2 15oz. cans stewed tomatoes

2 15 oz. cans kidney beans

5-7 tablespoons chili powder

1 tsp salt

Simmer 30 minutes or crockpot Enjoy!

Unwritten

Don't you just love new beginnings? I love to open a new book, watch a new movie, I still love the 1st day of school, so it's no surprise that I LOVE New Year's and the month of January!

I added one of my all time fave songs this time around( hopefully you're hearing it right about now!) called "Unwritten" by Natasha Beddingfield. I love this song- guess- Its about new things! Its about new beginnings. about the future being unwritten- we can dream, take chances, make mistakes ( which I do ALOT!), be creative, learn new things, go on adventures, enjoy our loved ones, and the list just goes on and on...... its about taking control of our circumstances and looking to the future with peace, hope and joy!

One of the things I love most about God is that HE loves new beginnings more than I do! He is always doing new things- He made a new covenant with us when He sent Jesus to die for our sins, and He makes us a new creation when we accept Him as our Savior! HE is making us new, renewing our minds and putting new songs in our hearts!

Its so great that He erases our past sins and gives us a new page to begin again! Not only do we have a chance to begin again with Christ, we have a new beginning- a blank page if you will!

As we start this year, will you take the time give this year to God? If you have not begun a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, call me or write me and I would love to talk to you about Him. Start this New Year with a new beginning with Christ. If you do know Him, this year is unwritten, and you have a chance to begin a new chapter with Him!

Happy New Year

Is it too late to post a "Happy New Year" to all of you? I hope not, because I am roughly 2 weeks behind on all things in my life right now.... haircuts, dr's appointments, you name it- I'm behind...... So Happy New Year!!