Little goes a long way

I volunteered at our local Boys and Girls club this afternoon. I just go in and play with different kiddos at the different games that they have. I played air hockey with several of them for awhile. Then it was time for snack and there was a little guy named Connor. I hadn't even played with him but he came up next to me with his snack and said, "I want to sit with you!"

We went and sat down at a table. Then there were about five others that decided to join us. I felt like I had just walked into a dog pin holding raw meat. These kids were attacking me, with questions! Connor was educating me on how to speak Indian, as in Native American language. Alexis was quizzing me on my ability to speak spanish. Devon wanted to play catch and to know if I knew how this toy football from sonic worked. Then Connor gets on the floor and says, "Look what I can do?" He looks like he's having a seizure on the floor. Turns out this little white kid was break dancing. Silly me! Then Devon decides to join him. Two others then begin singing some song that I don't think was appropriate. But I could not catch all the words due to the noise level. I was educated by Alexis it was just a hip hop song.

All they wanted was my attention. They didn't care how they got it. They would ask questions... Sit in my lap... Tap my arm... Grab my hand... Ask me to play a game... They just wanted someone to make eye contact and carry on a conversation with them. They were starving for attention.

Moral of the story? Got any kiddos in your life? Make time for them. Give them some time where they have your undivided attention. Then see the difference it makes... A little attention will go a long way!

This day.

Today I found myself at Lowe's, Staples, and Wal-Mart with the secretary of my office and two cute senior adult ladies from her church. Oh the fun! It really was a fun morning with them. My problem came in at Wal-Mart. It is a store that I never go to! Today it's where they wanted to go so I went.

I had to go pee when I got there. So I went.

Remembering the mussings of my friend Lucy about the usage of a public toilet (you should go read here story). I decided against what I had been taught about the fine art of thigh burning hovering to avoid the germs. So, I sat on the toilet seat.

Got up and went to wash my hands. It was in that moment I realized there should be a new invention. My hands didn't feel dirty... However, my butt that went down on that seat dry and came back up less than dry was thinking through how I needed my butt cheeks washed not my hands!

Of course this doesn't even begin to describe what looked to be about a 4 year old on the babies changing table who had messed her diaper. Pretty sure most grown men don't even smell that bad! Whew... Can't wait to get back to Wal-Mart someday soon!

Post Summer

As usual of this time of year... Despite what some of you may think I am still alive! Summer has come and gone. We are still having some weekend retreat groups but no longer the really late hours. Of course more dreaded than the late hours were those ridiculous early mornings.

Summer was good. We had three girl staffers which caused a huge amount of concern for me at first. Girls and the drama are not something I care to deal with at all! Turns out it was pretty drama free this summer believe it or not. They didn't all turn into immediate best friends but they managed to serve together while they were here.

My new house served as a central spot for most everyone around here. The doors stay unlocked so I never knew what I was going to walk into. It was a great blessing to have something available though for everyone. And not gonna lie it was great to have somewhere so wonderful to lay my head down each evening!

We had the normal retreat groups as well as mission teams this year. Between those two different groups we definitely noticed a greatly level of intentionalness across the boards. Most groups were not just taking a trip with people to southeast Tennessee. They were coming with distinct things to teach their group (children, youth and/or adults) about the Lord. Not only that but during their course of being intentional many of the groups took notice of how intentional we run the camp and ministry. One step further than that was how many, many of the groups would thank us on the last day and begin to share how they truly "got it" during their stay. Perhaps they had been saved before but never knew what in the world to do now. But upon departing our gates they had a better understand of what their salvation was about and their roll in continuing to seek the Lord and honor Him with their life. It was those moments that make all other ridiculous moments completely worth it.

Before my school gets started I have been catching up on a little reading. Just finished crazy love by Francis Chan and am in the midst of Forgotten God by him as well. Next on the list is Radical by David Platt. Hoping to have all this read by September 7th when my classes begin again. I don't care who you are but YOU should read crazy love! It was great!

Hopefully, the video I am trying to upload will soon load. This was a hike that the staffers and I went on during their last week here. It was beautiful and the water felt great!

All I Can Say

I found this song recently and find it rather wonderful.

It defines where most of us live spiritually. In a place that is asking, "God where are?"

Just when you think you can move no further... You have nothing else to give...

You realize just where God is...

Listen carefully when you hear the words, "I didn't know..."

powerful.

Hebrews 13:5-6

2nd Bed project

Check out the bed that my sister in law and I built last week for my niece!

Plus a couple of cute pics of the kiddos.

April Texas trip

What is one of my favorite things to do in Texas you might ask?

Riding the 4-wheeler with the nephew and niece would be it!

A family friend has a barn and horses on the property that connects with my parents. Ty knows that Granbob feeds the horses around 4 o'clock. We had gotten the call that he was on his way so we all decided to go to the barn. Ty comes out of the house and tell him to get on the 4 wheeler. He then tells me that Nana says we can't all 3 ride on it. I asked where is Nana? Ty replies that she is on the phone. I told Ty to hurry up and get on the 4-wheeler!

And off we went!

Typically I try to teach him good things but I didn't think any harm would come from us on the 4 wheeler. Later my parents drove by to find we had company. There was 4 of us on the 4-wheeler. Possibly 5 if you count the fact that one of them was pregnant. (No, I was not the pregnant one. Just call me Mary if I am pregnant!)

No, little Ains was not as squished as she appears to be in the picture. She is nestled safely between her big brother and myself!

When Ty was barely big enough to walk and talk I remember coming home and him handing me this puzzle. He loved it! He is a tractor fanatic. Endless hours were spent on my Texas trips putting this silly puzzle together and taking it apart with this sweet kiddo. Well, this trip after a few times of putting it together with him... He puts it together by himself!!! I was impressed.

Just a few more pics of backyard play time at Nana's house.

Love them!

New Toys

A friend of mine recently started selling Pampered Chef. Another friend and I decided to have her first party. In a slight effort to move things quickly along with my house we booked a party for my house. Requiring the completion or at least kitchen completion of my new house. About a week before the party I finally informed the nice guys building the house...

"By the way guys. I have a Pampered Chef party here next Thursday." That statement was followed by a few faces. Of course they continued to work hard. The Wednesday before the party I still have NO STOVE! Well, I have the stove but not gas tank to make the stove work. We had called lots of people trying to find the right part but couldn't.

So my two builder guys decide they can "make it work."

My only comment was this.

"Please do not blow up my brand new house."

They worked way past the time they normally would to make sure the stove was up and running. I slept a little uneasy that night wondering if the part they took off of a camper was really going to work on my stove. The next day they got the slight gas leak of a smell out of the house and we were ready for Pampered Chef!

The part went great.

Because of that party a few friends booked parties. Below you will see a picture of the hostess discounted gift for the next month. I got a stainless steel set of pots and pans for 60% off. Incredible! It took about a month to get them. But they are amazing!!

Chicken pot pie was the first cooked item and it turned out pretty yummy.

Thanks to another dear friend I also have several stoneware pieces. She bought them years ago and never really liked using them. So I suggested she give them to me because I would use them. And sure enough she did!