Merry Ch..............wait it's not even Thanksgiving yet!!!

Ok, if you're like me you love Christmas. Everything about it. The music, the weather is colder, there's an excitement in the air! But, I can't talk about that until I talk about the most overlooked holiday: THANKSGIVING!! I love Thanksgiving. It's a great time for family/friends to get together not just for a meal, but to catch up, have fun and just be together. I think it's what is missing in a lot of families today. When do we just get together to hang out? To spend time together and talk? Catch up with each other's lives? Not nearly often enough. We are so busy with daily life we forget to slow down enough to just spend time together! I am excited about this Thanksgiving. We're having our usual suspects over for dinner: Mom, Dad, Esther, David, the kids. Along with Aunt Marion and Uncle Hartley this year! It should prove to be a lot of fun! And just in case you don't love Thanksgiving as much as I do, here's some visual images to help.......... and just for the record, I'm a huge Norman Rockwell fan! : )

VETERANS DAY!

It's Veterans Day today. I haven't had anyone in my immediate family who's every served in the military. My uncle was in the Navy, so was my first cousin Steve, and my Great Uncle Tom served in WWII. I don't know what it's like to be in hostile territory 24/7, not knowing if I am going to make it back ok. I don't know what it's like to have a husband/wife serving overseas not being able to see them or sometimes talk to them for days on end. It cannot be easy. What a sacrifice. It reminds me of a passage of scripture. John 15:12-13 "This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." I cannot relate to what many families feel on Veterans Day. I can't because I've never sacrificed in that way. I can, however, pray for those who have and those who continue to sacrifice. Thank you to all who are Veterans and active duty military!

Bye bye band........for now.

Well, it's official. Marching band season is over. I was never in marching band. I was in middle school band in Northern Maine. When we moved away I joined chorus and found my niche. I loved chorus and even made Allstate 2 years. My daughter followed in my footsteps and was in chorus all 4 years. Jonathan has been in the band. He can sing but doesn't like anyone to know about it for fear he might have to actually sing. He has excelled at band though and has been playing the trumpet for the last 6 years. This last year he has been playing the baritone. He also taught himself to play the guitar and some chords on the piano as well. Anyhow, with some sadness I have to admit I'm going to miss it. He had marching practice Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday after school until 5 and then had a game on Friday and sometimes competitions on Saturday. It's been a busy season and no one has had a life, as it were. However, it's pretty amazing what 150 kids can do with some music, creativity and lots of practice. Our kids came in 2nd in the Georgia Marching Band Series. This is the second year of this competition (we were the "Grand Champions" last year, but they changed the rules a bit this year). I'm proud of them. All of them, even though they aren't my kids I feel like they are. I think that's why I wanted to be one of the chaperone coordinators. I wanted to be there to see every performance. They are very cool when they march into the stadium every Friday night! I'm so proud of them! Thankfully we have a few more things: Veterans Day Concert, Christmas Parade, Christmas Concert, and Spring Band Trip (I might be missing something). Anyhow, I love the chaos and busyness and will miss the marching band until next year!!

Last Youth Group Pic

Last youth group with Pastor John.

Pastor John

For those who have known Pastor John, you have had the rare opportunity to meet a great man of God. He is completely humble and a true servant of the Lord. He has been our pastor for the last 5 years. It's really hard to believe it's been that long, but it has. He came to us at a time when we had been without a pastor for quite a few months. Our church was in a different place than it is now. John came in not trying to be an agent of change, but rather a pointer of direction, the direction of the Lord. He came to cast no shadow and certainly did not do that. He wanted God to be glorified and He has been during his time here. He also came in explaining his commitment to the Lord's work through summer camps and a variety of other ministries, wanting us to know that was part of his ministry. He served all those plus the duties as our pastor, sent out as a representative of our small church and I can truly say I am proud to call him my friend. He has been to Thanksgiving, Birthday celebrations, concerts, games, visited in the hospital and quietly escorted himself out. He was there when Dad was diagnosed with Cancer, when I have had several surgeries, Mom had surgeries and Morgan was so sick. He is getting married a week from Saturday to a wonderful girl named Lisa Richard. She is one lucky woman and he's a lucky man! Then after marriage and a short stay in California they are heading to BICS in Lenox, MA to start a new ministry. John will be perfectly suited for that work. I guess I just wish everyone could know him (although truth be told he'd be a bit embarrassed by this blog post) because he's more than just our Pastor; he's been our friend. We will miss him and wish him the best of luck in his 2 moves, marriage and new job!! God Bless You Pastor John and Lisa!!!