Hello, again, Friend, it's been a while!!!

And, here we are! I think this is the longest I've gone without a new 'post' to this blog...

SO sorry...

I'm not even sure you're reading any more!

The Ladies' Day at Oil Belt was a great success!!
Linda Mirante, Jackina Stark, Deanne Mott all did a great job of making us laugh, cry, and think! They also challenged us to draw near to the heart of God and live a life in pursuit of JOY!

Dee Ann Schnautz...let me just say, amazing job leading us in worship!

The team (they are the DIVAS) I get to work with to plan and carry out this event is so special to me...each time I think of them, as a group, or individually, I get 'weepy' considering how truly blessed I am to know them!!!

Another Great Banquet week end impacted me in SO many different ways...those 72 hours are truly amazing...every time I get to be involved, I stand amazed at the things that God does in those short hours!!

We finished our Monday night Bible study for ladies at the end of April...we will start again, in some form, in September. There was a great group of women to study with! And, I feel that I am truly blessed to work with this team, as well!

God is SO good to me!

Another cycle of GriefShare came to a close at the end of April, as well. This cycle was unique, as we were small in number...but together, made great strides toward turning 'mourning to joy.'

I get to do a Bible study each week at our local 'assisted living facility'. This year, two of our number have already 'graduated' to heaven...

Coral went on New Year's Eve...Miss Edna left this life last Thursday morning. Both were blessed in that they just went to sleep...no illness, no 'bad thing'...peacefully, and undisturbed, dignity in tact...

Both loved the Lord so very much...I'm thankful God gave me the opportunity to get to know these ladies! What a blessing they each have been to me!

The ones that are still here...well...we laugh and study and cry together, and sometimes we have coffee, or ice water...or even chocolate!

Sometimes, we talk about heaven, sometimes we remember the ones that have gone on, but, mostly, we just have a good time looking at scripture together and try to encourage each other!

Here's what these 'girls' have taught me:
1. Do not ask them 'how they like it there'...the question is of no use...none of them 'like it there'...it's the place that they've come 'to' in their lives...and so, they accept it and move on.
2. They all believe in the Sovereignty of God....it's this basis of their belief in Him that helps them get through the day!
3. They love to laugh...which says to me, laughter is truly good for the bones...and brings health!
4. You are NEVER too old for chocolate, if you're a girl or a woman...it is always yummy!
5. It's really a good idea to keep 'short accounts', so we express how much we appreciate each other 'in the moment'...keeping in mind that the time is 'short'...
Which brings me to:
6. When leaving, it's a good idea to remember to say 'See you next week, Lord willing!'!!!

That pretty much says it all, doesn't it? Don't take tomorrow for granted, or next week, or next month!!! All we have is NOW!
And, so, I'll be writing again 'soon'...Lord willing!

Beyond Measure!

Snow today: Beyond Measuring!

Snow Days. You have GOT to love them!

Yesterday was actually a scheduled day off from school for the girls. I had intended to be at the office, but I was able to do a lot of my 'work' here at the house before the girls even woke up! The girls and I did a lot of things around the house, cooked some, sang some, played some and talked a lot!

As things look right now in my world, the next eight weeks, or so are going to be packed with all kinds of opportunities for me to completely lean on God's strength for the day. And, many opportunities to listen as He places in my day the things that HE intends me to do!

For most people, the tendency is to just pack 'one more thing' in to the day...but I'm trying really hard just to do the 'next thing'...there's a difference. The next 'things' on my 'Spring 2010 List' includes, to name a few:

• Teaching a Bible Study on Monday afternoons from the book of Hebrews
• Participating in and sometimes speaking for our Ladies' Monday Night Bible Study at ESCC (we're talking about steps for Spiritual Growth on Monday nights--I can talk more about that later!)
• Mentoring a 5th grade girl at our local elementary school on Tuesdays
• Leading Wednesday morning Bible study for a delightful group of ladies (8-10) that cannot make it on Monday nights--they pre-view the Monday night study...sweet for everyone concerned, actually!
• A new session of GriefShare started 2 weeks ago...this session is a smaller group...so the conversations are good
• Sundays will find me attending worship at our church...teaching the women's Sunday school class, Daughter's of the King...and then pretty quick after lunch, heading to a 'Great Banquet' Team meeting.
• The Great Banquet team is such a blessing to me...those women are truly amazing...16 different denominations are represented on that team...amazing things happen in that arena, that are indescribable...
• Peppered throughout the week, e-mails, and 'writings' and phone calls that involve the other 'project' for spring: Oil Belt Ladies' Day! The team has affectionately named themselves the DIVAS (Divinely Inspired Volunteers And Servants) and this group represent 10 different churches in an 85 mile radius. The 'Day' this spring is April 17. God's hand is on that group, and the plans they make...the DIVAS range in age from 28-around 60. single, young married, professional, stay at home mom, retired, grandmas...quite a variety of women, those DIVAS...but such hearts to serve and serve well!

I cannot wait to see what God does with this spring. Not only in the lives of the women I will meet at these events and gatherings...but just the things His Word will teach me as I study and prepare for each one.

The women that I am SO very blessed to work with: whether I'm thinking of PC & Phyllis at the church, or the Great Banquet team, or the DIVAS...or the girls who attend Monday nights, or the girls who attend Sunday mornings...or the group I get to visit with on Mondays...they each, individually, and collectively, bless and challenge me on so many levels. There's always questions, or comments that challenge me to think 'higher' or trust 'more'...great insights are usually shared that I can glean from women that have walked the path I'm on!

Life is GOOD. And, here's the reason: What I just wrote looks like 'so much'...when in reality, there's still time for me to enjoy baking brownies with Will, and watch Ally do the 'chicken dance'...cook with Madison & Mallory and talk--or listen to Holly when she calls me from Florida. And, Randy & I have time for each other...because we purpose to do just that. The 'team meetings' on Sundays are sort of 'date time' for us!

Each day is really pretty laid back...of course there are things 'to do'...but they remain 'just things'...they are prayed over, and if they are on the list because God put them there, then they get done...there's always enough time to do those things!

You see, the God of the universe knows everything about me

...how many hairs are on my head, how many things I need to do today

...what I am capable of 'recalling on my own'...and what I need prompted to remember

...He gives me strength for the day...peace for the night's rest...and JOY in the Journey!

And, above all: I praise HIM for it!

I am blessed: Beyond Measure!