Fall Retreat

This weekend we took about 27 youth and 8 adults to Camp Cosby for a youth retreat. The Lordship of Christ was the theme. I only have a few pictures. Shannon who had neck trouble was our photographer on the ropes course. She did a great job. Here are a few pictures:

Tea Party

I love junior high girls. They are so fun and silly. I really wanted to take them to a tea house, but that was getting expensive, not too mention the long drive. So the Lord completely put this idea together about the tea party for the 7th and 8th grade girls at our church. I thought I would also include a Bible study about friendship. I remember that in my 8th grade year that seemed to be the dividing line of whose friend you would be, what you would be in high school. Friendship can be hard sometimes and if you've seen the movie Mean Girls - that pretty much fits 7th - 8th grade years (in most cases, probably not all).

I asked our children's minister's wife to lead the Bible study and talked to some of the girls mom's about helping and bringing food. I had the tea at my mom's house. Okay - confession - it was not a real tea party, we did not have water chesnut sandwiches or hot tea. I wanted them to actually eat the food. So we had ham, turkey, and cheese sandwiches and sweet tea. Along with other food items and drink.

I wanted it to be kind of fancy and girly - it's fun sometimes. I had in my head what I wanted. Off white chiffon to hang around, hats, brown-wired ribbon, and flowers for centerpieces and other decorations, feather boas, gloves, big fake jewelry, and hats for the girls to wear. I orginially wanted orange table clothes and I was just going to use clear plastic plates and forks.

After I decided all this, I had no idea where it was all going to come from!! Where in the world do you find 15 feather boas????

A few days after all this was decided, I found the chiffon at Wal-Mart on sale!I was getting really excited. I didn't really get a chance to look for the next few weeks and I was getting worried. I saw a sign on the way back from work one day about a rummage sale - I thought that will a great place to find what I need. So mom and I went and I got 40 pieces of fake braclets and clip-on earrings (mostly pearls - which I really wanted!) for $20.00. Later that day I found 7 of the most perfect floppy straw hats for decoration in Wal-Mart - also on sale. As for gloves and hats and feather boas - nothing.

We were in downtown Hartselle going through the antique shops hoping to find gloves or hats - but the ones we found were expenisve and I really really didn't want to pay hardly anything for them! I was also getting annoyed, maybe I was trying too hard to do this, maybe I was asking too much. It was going to take miracle to find 15 gloves and hats!! So we go in to one store and I said oh I can already tell they don't have anything. So my mother proceeds to aske the store owner if she has hats or gloves, the lady says "yes right back here". We walk around the corner, and wouldn't you know it, a basket overflowing with gloves and a shelf and table overflowing with hats!!! We found out the gloves are 6$ a pair. I thought, well I guess I can buy 4. (i had a budget for this party) Well amazingly, my grandmother - who is with us - knows the store owner. She introduced me and my mom. About that time I asked her how much the hats are, she says to pick out the ones I want and she'll give me a price. Well my mom decided that she would ask if I could just rent them. She tells the lady why we need them. And the store owner looks at me and says "well I just love your grandmother, so why don't you just borrow them" take what you need and bring it back after the party". I almost cried. Then I had to apologize to the Lord for my lack of faith. So we walked out with 15 hats and 10 pairs of gloves!

A few days later, I found feather boas - the real kind I wanted - on sale. My mom's friend Lynn has glass plates and cups that she let me borrow for the tea.

I was amazed at how the Lord put this all together. The weather was perfect. He is soo good!!

Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61
The Year of the LORD's Favor

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations."



Isaiah 61. This is my favorite chapter in the Bible right now, in particular verses 1 - 4 (above)


I tried for a long time to figure out how I was to do this and I could never figure it out. Now I know that these verse are talking about Jesus. But for some reason I thought I was supposed help in this. I don't know, but apparently this is my Arrogance? Pride? So I'm reading the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. These verses are in the in chapter that I am in right now and as I read them - it hit me between the eyes - Jesus does this FOR us - we can do nothing to help in this process. He does this for us, if we let Him. Don't you love that!!!

(please correct me if I am wrong. thanks)

My Apologies

I would send my apologies to those of you who read this blog. Although by now you may have given up on me and gone on to another blog. This month of September has been hard to blog. With computers not working and now our laptop is missing and it has the computer cord to my camera, so now I cannot upload to this computer. I hope to update soon.

Don't give up on us!

Love to All.

Ministry Village

Last weekend, our pastor, Brent, me, and 4 others from our church made the trek to Leesburg, Florida. FBC Leesburg was hosting a mission conference. The Lord has used this church to reach out to their community in an amazing way. FBC Leesburg has what they call Ministry Village. All this was started in the early 80's. They have women's, men's and children's shelters/homes, a medical clinic, a pregnancy center, and a thrift store. I think there are a few others that I cannot remember. The purpose of the conference was to show others ways to reach out to the community around their church that is effective.

It was freezing in the chapel!

On the tour

First ministry house

This way to the medical center

Viewing the Children's Emergency Shelter

Wanda talking about the pregnancy center

Dinner table at the Residental Home for Teens

Brent has new sear-sucker pants

(also known as man-capris!!)

They were bought at the thrift store

Way cool youth center -

used for mentoring and tuturoing and Saturday Sunday School

Life-Size Connect Four Game! Are you kidding me?!?!

Destin's First Picnic

On Saturday, my mom, Brittany, and I took Destin to the park for his first picnic.

Our First Week

Well our first offical week has come and gone...in a flash!! This was such a fast week!
Brent set up his office (it's still a work in progress): Wednesday night Brent did his strength presentation at the church.

Thursday we went to our first pep rally and high school football game!

The school's mascot is the Warriors. The seniors were sooo pumped about this pep rally. (or the fact that they are seniors!)

The football game was quite exciting! We won - 21-14!

However, it was not as exciting as the high school football game our friend Tim went to in Houston, TX. There were 7 overtimes!!! The game lasted 4 hours and 45 minutes!!

We also went to the girls volleyball game on Friday. Our girls played their hearts out, but were defeated. Maybe next time!

I will add more pictures later. At the moment this internet is incredible too slow and my patience with it has run out! I don't know why Alabama has to have such SLOW HIGH-Speed Internet!!! Isn't that an oxymoron??
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The Musik Garten

Music. I love music. Music expresses the soul! My 9 month old nephew, Destin, also loves music. (as most babies do, I guess) However both of his parents are chocked full of musical talent, so maybe this baby has an extra love for music. My sister-in-law, Brittany signed Destin up for the Musik Garten. It is taught at church that has a fine arts school on Tuesdays and Fridays. I went with them on Tuesday to check out this class. I was pretty curious to see how they would "teach" to a 9 month old - in fact the classes start at 6 months!

It was pretty neat. It all started in Germany and has been adapted to a few different countries. The class Destin is in goes from 6 months to 18 months old. The class is 15 weeks long. There is a lead teacher. She starts by singing a hello song to each baby. This song says the baby's name over and over - which they love b/c most can recongnize their name.
As far as instruments, he has wooden sticks and a wooden shaker, and a scarf. Some of the songs they use are "POP! Goes the Weasal", She'll be Coming Around the Moutain, My Bonnie lies over the ocean, and a few others. It is a 30 minute session. For each song that is played there is an activity. Such as, in "POP Goes the Weasal", the baby is bounced on the knees and when the word POP is said you "pop" the baby in the air. For the song "She'll be Coming Around the Mountain" more bouncing and different actions are done during the verses. The babies are rocked and danced with scarves swiriling. They do leg excerises and tickle excerises. Tone excerises. Whoever brings the baby must participate as well! :) They use the sticks and shaker during some songs too. Now you'd think at 9 months old this would not be possible, but it is! Destin did not take his eyes off the teacher for minute! I had hoped to take some pictures, but it was so cute to watch the babies, I that I forgot my camera in the other room! :) Maybe later!

If you want more info on the musik garten: here is the website: www.musikgarten.org

New Places, New Faces

Well.....here we are in our new place. For me it feels like a vacation right now.....i'm not sure why? Maybe it's because we are staying with our parents and I'm not working and usually that means vacation in my world. HAHA!!

Our first Sunday at our new church was this past weekend. It was terrific! One funny thing happened, we got to the church for the 1st service and the power went out from the rain! Brent was telling everyone that we were going to tell our friends that we came back to the dark ages, that they don't even have power yet! haha! He was just kidding and the power came back on in time for the 2nd service. Afterwards we had lunch with the pastor and his family, along with the music minister and his family. We had a great time getting to know them. Tonight is the first Wednesday night and Brent is doing his strength presentation for the whole church.

Sorry that there are not any pictures just yet. I have to use the computer's at my mom's office and I keep forgetting to bring the camera up here with me! One day!!!

"All Persons Acquired"

To Our Dear, Wonderful Texas Friends/Family,

"Something brought you to my mind today

I thought about the funny ways you made me laugh

and yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you.

There's something about just being with you,

when I leave I feel like I've been near God

and that's the way it ought to be.....yeah

You've been more than a friend to me

You fight off my enemies

You have spoken a truth over my life

and you'll never know what it means to me

just know you've been on your knees for me

O you have blessed my life, more than you'll ever know......

May the blessing return to you a hundred fold....."

(lyrics and music by Watermark)

"Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan." Genesis 12:5

When I first read this last Monday - August 11 - I was very excited. All persons they aquired? Should that apply to us? All our friend will be moving to Alabama with us!?! Could it be true?!But alas, times have changed and no one will be moving with us. We are not allowed to bring all the persons we aquired in Texas. But then yesterday, during our 14 hour ride in a UHaul - (which by the way I do not ever recommend, even thought we did have fun) - , I realized that in some ways we are taking all the persons we aquired with us. You are coming within our hearts and within our lives.

We have learned so much from each of you! You have changed us by helping us grow - spiritually, mentally, and some physically! You have taught us, encouraged us, invested your time in us, loved us, befriended us, become our family. I cannot possibly name all the ways you challenged us to grow (and grow up!) nor all the things we have learned from you. You have become a part of us, a part our lives! (ha, when I first typed part - it came out party - so maybe you are a party in us! haha!) We look forward to using these things that have become apart us in our new place of service. We are SO incredibly grateful that the Lord has allowed us to be friends with you!!

These past few weeks have been a gift from the Lord. First, two years ago, He orchestrated that our apartment lease would run out on July 31. This would allow/force us to move out early and pack all our stuff and put in storage for a few weeks. Next, He used Kent, Jane, their boys, and their house. We were able to live with them for about 2 1/2 weeks. They are an amazing family! This way Brent and I would be able to see all of you our last week in Fort Worth without the stress of packing up. This past week, He enabled us to visit and see all the friends that have impacted our lives, including those we only saw on occasion or were leaders in our church!

Praise to the Lord for His indescrible goodness!! As my friend Brandy said, "it's by God's grace that He allows any goodness at all."

Dear friends, you are a gift in our lives. We will continue our friendship. We can't wait to hear from you and see how God uses you.

Thank you!

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Phillipians 1:2 - 11

Love to you all!

Brent and Marianne