It takes a Village!

Going to see these guys tonight at NLP. These brothers have like 18 different degrees between the seven of them. Now that's what I'm talking about! Also Pastor Dan will be talking about multi-cultural churches. If you want a great example of a multi-cultural church, then you need to check out New Life Providence. I'm learning so much by being there. I know that someday the knowledge we gain at NLP will benefit WABC. And I especially thank NLP for being so open and allowing my family to be a part of this ministry. Actually I applaud any ministry that is willing to be transparent and share with others in leadership who are just starting out ( I use a lot of resources from Granger Community Church). Last night I was checking out Angie's Blog and followed the link to her hubby' blog. I noticed this while looking around. Now how cool is that? So if you are a pastor maybe Pastor Byron can be of assistance in some way. I think God is pleased with us when we share in this ministry together. After all we should all be reaching for the same goal. Its not a competition people!

Well I have a busy weekend ahead and today I'm doing some housecleaning (Oh, the joy). See you all Sunday Night.

Sunday Mind Dump (through the eyes of the wife).

1) This week went by way to fast. So fast that I'm not even sure what I did (lol).
2) I made a commitment this week to go the extra mile to help Marc. I learned a lot from our Weekend to Remember. Now I'm trying to apply as many of those principles as I can to our marriage. Just because you have been married for over 26 years doesn't mean you can't learn a few thing here and there.
3) Wednesday we got to sing in front of our voice class. Nicki did a great job. I let "fear" get in the way and it was reflected in my singing. Which is funny because the first thing our instructor told us that first day was that "fear" could keep you from fulfilling your goal. I refuse to let that happen so I will be challenging myself to keep moving forward.
4) I missed the Esther Bible study on Wednesday morning. I hate that. Thankfully I can order the session online.
5) Thursday Marc and I put a lot of the finishing touches on his office at church. It now looks like a real office (my aunt's words not mine). I plan to add a few more personal touches here and there (including lots of pics of our family).
6) Its not official but it looks like Marc may have an associate minister really soon. Still leaving it in God's hands, but it looks promising. If I'm not mistaken, it will be history making!
7) I met today with what hopefully will be the ministry team for our Women's Ministry. Next month we will present some of our plans for the Women of WABC. The response to some of my ideas seemed to have been met with excitement. We even had a few ladies sign up to attend the Women of Faith Conference this summer. I think this will allow them to get to know me in a more personal way.
8) Marc will be meeting with the men next month and hopefully the Men's Ministry will be up and running around the same time as the Women's Ministry.
9) Speaking of the men. They will have their first get together (a Men's Breakfast) in a few weeks. Then at the end of the month some of the men (and women) will accompany some of the youth to a Wizard's Game. Should make for an interesting bus ride. To bad I won't be there to see it (I'm saving for the conference).
10) Even though our initial goal is to minister to the women and men of WABC, our ultimate goal is to go out outside of the walls of WABC and minister to our community.
11) Today we celebrated Black History Month. I hope that one day we will be able to celebrate the many nationalities of our people. I know for a fact that part of my family is American Indian, unfortunately there are no formal records ( just the same as my African American heritage) from which I can gather info.
12) This week will be just as crazy and busy as last week. Including the final week of voice lessons at New Life. Then Friday Nicki and I will be attending a Dinner Theatre program at New Life. Pastor Dan will be talking about being a Multi-Cultural church and the guest singers will be these guys.
13) Speaking of Pastor Dan. Nicki said he was especially funny this morning (and this is after preaching the night before and then having another service immediately following the 8:45 service). I'm sorry I missed it, but with two services at WABC today I thought it would be better not to spread myself to thin. I'm not sure what I would do if Marc ever goes to three services a week (heck, I'm not sure what Marc would do...LOL ).
14) I know that we are way more traditional then the modern churches of some of my blog friends, but I believe in my heart that God has plans for WABC. I'm so thankfully that God has allowed Marc and I to be a part of this. Each day I feel like I am opening up another gift. Sometimes I want just want to pinch myself because I can't believe he has placed us on this path.

15) Marc wore himself out today. His message really hit home the importance of rejoicing even in the midst of our storms.

16) One last thing. Today during our youth time, the Youth Director asked the youth what source do you use when you need information on something. She was talking about the bible, but their answers included....yahoo, google and map quest. LOL..that is what happens when you wire a 70 year old church with Internet.

Best of Friends

I love that our girls have such a strong bond with their cousins. They have learned the value of friendship early on. I hear next weekend my house will be filled with the laughter of giggling girls (actually grown women). I'm ok with that though, because it means I will know where they are and that they are together. They all have a pretty good head on their shoulders (let's face facts, they have some pretty fantastic mom's...lol). I can't wait to see what the future holds for them, and because of the friendship I have with their mom's, I know this bond will last forever. We are a pretty tight family, and thankfully we seemed to have passed this down to the next generation.

Thank You

I debated on whether I would write this post, but after much thought I knew I had to (and I will tell you why in a minute). There are three ladies who I have never met, who I happen to know have taken time out to pray for Marc and I and the ministry of WABC. I may never meet these three ladies, but I couldn't go another day without telling them how much I appreciate them and their prayers. I know they pray for other people (I'm not that special). But there have been occasions where I have received a note from them at just the right moment (so I know its God), when I needed it most. I know they understand in a way that many others never will. We belong to a very special "club", and not because we signed up for it (I can't speak for them, but growing up this was the last thing on my list of things I dreamed about being when I grew up...lol). Mostly because I grew up in this fishbowl called a pastors life. My grandfather was a pastor, my godfather was a pastor and several friends in our life are pastors. When I married Marc I must have been blind because I didn't see that one coming (other's did, but not me. Guess I was blinded by love, or God kept that one a secret because he knew I might run in the other direction and try to flee my destiny....lol). Anyway, to make a long story short...thank you Lori, Michelle and Angie, for taking time out of your busy schedules to bless this Pastor's wife from a small urban church in the heart of the city.

Note: the reason I write this is because we should never take for granted what impact a small gesture may have on someone. Sometimes it makes all the difference in the world.

Sunday Mind Dump (through the eyes of the wife).

1) We spent the weekend at a marriage conference hosted by Family Life. Two members of our Leadership staff attended the conference with us. We are hoping next year to send more of the couples from WABC.

2) We first heard about the conference through my friend Peggy who attended the conference last year with her husband. They were back this year, and because of the number of people they recommended to the conference they qualified for free registration. I highly recommend this conference to couples who may be in crisis, but also to couples who have not taken time out in a very long time just for themselves.

3) A friend of Marc's graciously stepped in to speak at WABC this weekend so that we could attend the entire weekend. We had a really great time, and the couple that went with us came back refreshed (as a matter of fact one of the members at WABC commented on the fact that they seem to be like newlyweds...lol).

4) Part of the "homework" assignment for the conference was that at the end of Saturday's session (which just happened to fall on Valentine's Day) the couples were to go on a date night. Marc and I attended Saturday night worship service at New Life Providence (this was a special blessing for me, because Marc and I do not get to sit together during Sunday services) and then went back home that evening to watch the movie "Fireproof" .

5) This week we will be in our 5th session of Beth Moore's Esther series. I'm learning that there is so much more to this story then I ever imagined. Beth's bible studies leave me wanting more and more of God's word.

6) I love planning events, and right now I am working on a Woman's Weekend Experience for the woman of WABC and for the women within our community. Part of the excitement for me will be introducing the ladies to our keynote speaker (who just happens to be one of my really good friends). We plan to use one of the resources provided by Group publishing, for our Saturday session.

7) One of the things down the pike for the Women of WABC is a possible trip to Washington DC for the Women of Faith Conference. We have several people in place who are doing a great job with our youth so I am concentrating a lot of my efforts right now on our Women's Ministry.

8) I know this is the typical area in which a lot of ministers wives find themselves (and usually not of their own free will) but I would not have volunteered to lead our women's ministry if I didn't feel a strong call to do it. Even though Marc and I have spent 17 years in youth ministry I am looking forward to the new direction my life is taking.

9) Speaking of woman's ministry...Marc requires that every ministry leader complete a Vision Statement and goals for their various ministries. As the new WABC Woman's Ministry Leader I am not exempt just because I happen to be the pastor's wife. Let me just say, this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But I did it!!!!!

10) Speaking of "Fireproof" , right now I am watching the movie (again) with my daughter Nicki. If you have young adult daughters (or sons. Nicki just happens to be the only one home right now) I recommend that they watch this movie, and if you know a young couple about to get married I recommend sending them to a "Weekend To Remember" event.

11) Lastly, each person at the conference was asked to write a love letter to their husband and wife. I have only peeked at the letter Marc wrote to me. I had to stop reading it at the conference because it made me cry (a good cry). We also reaffirmed our commitment at the end of the conference to each other. Marc started cutting up during the exchange, but we came out of this experience determined to take what we learned and actually apply it to our life. Otherwise (in the word of my husband) we might as well have stayed at home.

12) Sidebar: I know Marc is wearing a suit in the pictures, but I wanted you to know he did not wear one Friday or Saturday. He only wore one today because we were going to WABC after the conference ended. I love to see him in a simple pair of slacks and a shirt, but this weekend I have learned to accept my man just the way he is. And can you imagine if he wore torn jeans and a graphic t-shirt (lol). All joking aside, I recently saw a picture of President Obama playing golf, and one where he wore slacks and a shirt. Looked pretty good if you ask me and since we happen to be around the same age as him and Michelle I say if its good enough for my president its good enough for me.

Happy Birthday Honey

It doesn't take much to make this man happy. The Leadership of WABC hosted a surprise dinner for him tonight. Add in a mug with the name "Pastor" on it and a new chair for his office and you get a smile almost as big as the smile he gets on his face when he holds a baby (lol).

Sunday Mind Dump (through the eye's of the wife) with pictures!

1) We have had a really good day at WABC. The church surprised Marc with cake and punch after service today for his birthday.

2) After church we went to dinner with friends Di and Rob. I'm so full I can hardly stand myself.

3) Friday night Marc was able to attend my minister's wives association meeting. He got a chance to network with other minister's in the area, but the best part was spending time with some of the associates from our home church.

4) This past Saturday we cleaned what seemed like 70's year's of stuff out of WABC. It was fun watching everyone's face. I think they enjoyed tossing stuff just a bit too much.

5) There is a lot going on this week, my plate is overflowing with activity (just the way I like it).

6) Marc's message today was "Who Let the Dog's Out" (I almost fell out of my chair when I heard it). As a matter of fact I kept waiting for someone to break out in song (like my daughter Nicki).

7) We have a staff meeting this week, not sure we will get much done because its also a surprise dinner for Marc (don't worry he rarely reads my blog, so it will be our secret).

8) I missed the Esther bible study last week, but I will be back in full swing on Wednesday (including my voice lessons, which we also missed). Sometime you have to accept that you can't be in two places at the same time. My body kind of shutdown last week and I finally listened and sat out of a few activities.
9) This weekend we will be at the marriage retreat. I'm kicking myself now for not talking Marc into staying at the hotel, but since its next door we made the decision to just come home each night.

10) This weekend we began plans for our Women's Weekend Experience that will be held in May. I can't wait to share all of the details with the Women at WABC.

Note: I know this breaks all of the blogging rules, but since its my blog who cares! I'm so excited about where WABC is going that I can't contain myself. So forgive me if I get a little carried away (lol).

Harper Is Home!

If you recall a few weeks back I asked you to please pray for Harper. Thanks to all of you who prayed for her. Just wanted to update you (just in case you haven't been following her story). She is home, safe and sound with her parents. God is so good!

Sunday Mind Dump (through the eyes of the wife).

1) Wow, its been a busy...amazing week.

2) The Esther bible study has been awesome. I love the passion that Beth Moore has for teaching. Wish I could bottle some of it and use it myself.

3) Our voice lesson teacher said he will be calling us out to sing in the coming weeks. Lord help me, I can already feel my knee's knocking.

4) I attended an awesome women's weekend experience at New Life this past Friday and Saturday. It was just what I needed to renew my spirit.

5) The ongoing message this weekend has been "Freedom". Freedom from all of the baggage that holds us back. Freedom from Fear, Depression, Abuse, Drugs, etc. I heard it in the praise and worship music at New Life at 8:45 and in Marc's message at 11:30 service.

6) We had a full house again today (well, full for WABC. I would have counted heads but I was holding one of our littlest members). Now if we could just get people to move to the front of the pew line (lol).

7) I'm still in need of advice on children's church ministry (working within a confined area, with a small start up budget). Holla if you can help.

8) Nicki's friend's from NSU were at WABC to visit today and it just reaffirmed my thoughts that this is a group that we should be tapping into (we are within walking distance of the college campus).

9) I had these big plans to make a Superbowl lunch (yes, I was actually going to cook) but after church Nicki's friends asked us to join them for dinner at a local restaurant. If a young person wants to spend time with two old married folks who are we to refuse.

10) Today I am doing something I never thought I would do. I am sitting with my husband watching the Super Bowl (actually at this moment he is sleeping. He preached his heart out today and came home physically drained). I have never sat through a Superbowl game!

12) Well, there is a lot more I would love to share but I'm going to spend it with the family (even the one's who like to fall asleep on you...lol).

13) So apparently I scored points with hubby for sitting through the entire game. Usually by halftime he goes upstairs to his study to watch the rest of the game. This time he stayed downstairs with me the whole time.

14) Congratulations Pittsburg (think me sitting through the entire game had anything to do with it....lol)?