My Hero's!

My girls have been in ministry most of their life. Most of the time we can get them to do things without a whole lot of pressure. Sometimes they amaze me with the talents that God has blessed them with (you should hear them sing). Every once in a while they are asked to go above and beyond the call of duty. I think we must have crossed that line this week at Hero Headquarters! Talk about Hero's! These two girls are my hero's. Thanks Quisha and Nicki for all that you do for the ministry!

Father's Day Weekend Review

The weekend was crazy busy. Saturday Nicki and I attended my goddaughters recital, then ran from that to a friends home to celebrate her daughter's graduation from high school only to go back home, change and attend a celebration of the youth at WABC's academic accomplishments. I look forward to the day when I can share the more about the young people at WABC. Many of them are breaking boundaries, generational difficulties and will have some amazing stories to tell one day about where God has taken them! We had a pretty laid back Father's Day around here. Marc spoke on the love of our heavenly father. So thankful for having a heavenly father since I did not know my own biological father. Thank goodness for men in my life who stepped up to the plate and took over that role (especially my grandfather and my uncle). Marc also got to try out his newest toy in the pulpit. It came in just in time for father's day and the last few days he has been walking around saying how neat his iPad is! LOL He also has the new resort wii game and its been fun watching him play. You would think the man was in a league or something (smh)! I think the best gift he received this weekend was getting to spend time with the first baby he ever dedicated at WABC. Her mom came home with her last week to spend time with their family before her and her husband depart for Japan. Yesterday Marc gave Cece the biggest bunny I have ever seen in my life. Her poor grandma will have to send it via the post office because I don't think they would allow that thing on the plane. If someone doesn't get married around here soon and give this man a grandchild I don't know what he's going to do! LOL VBS starts next week so gear up for an influx of photos. Speaking of photography....Nicki and I just got our first professional photography gig. C & M Photography has been launched!

Babies, Babies Everywhere! And not a care in the world!

Sunday was Youth Day at WABC and my husband was in baby heaven. There were babies and children everywhere. His assistant Pastor Rob was the speaker for the day so Marc got to sit down and enjoy the service. Actually my entire family got to sit down and enjoy the service. I had forgotten what it was like to just be a regular person attending service on Sunday with no responsibilities. It felt good! Marc even ironed his own clothing that morning so the only person Cyndi was responsible for was Cyndi! So what's your weekend routine like? Do you get to breeze in with everyone else or are you somewhere behind the scenes helping out?

Note: I did slip out of my seat to take pictures, but that was fun stuff so it doesn't count!

Trans-Ethnic Transitions

This weekend Marc and I attended a conference on the Multi-Ethnic Church. The host church was New Life Providence here in Virginia Beach. Marc and I have gained a deep respect for Pastor Dan Backens who is the senior leader at NLP (its one of the reasons I feel very comfortable sending my son there). I think in part because he reminds us of our pastor. This was the 2nd conference of this kind held at New Life Providence and it was the 2nd year that Marc and I attended. I think in many ways Marc and I have known for some time that we wanted to lead within a multi ethnic environment. I really enjoyed the presentations, the break out sessions and the speakers. We originally heard about Pastor Mark DeYMaz two years ago while attending the conference at NLP. And I felt blessed to be able to hear from him again this year. I have read his book Building a Healthy Multi Ethnic Church and have followed him on his blog for a few years. Today was the first time I have heard Dr. David Anderson speak, but I so related to what he was saying. I think many people hear Multi Ethnic and think its just a fad, or a new way of reaching people so that you can increase the numbers at your church. But these three men lay out a pretty good biblical background for why we should be teaching multi-culturalism. I highly suggest that you check out their writings for yourself. It's been said that Sundays are the most segregated day of the week (in our churches mind you). I don't know about you but that bothers me and I feel its time that we stop just talking about it and actually start addressing it so that we can change it. Keeping in mind its not always related to race but also along economic or social lines. I know it's a hot button topic, but if we never discuss it then we as the church may have to answer for it when it's too late to change it!

Our Life In Pictures!

Just a small few of the 27 years we have spent together! Happy Anniversary baby!

27 Years and Counting

27 years ago today I married the love of my life. Sometimes I love him, sometimes I want to crack him over his head. But each and every day I thank God for bringing such a sweet, funny, complicated, generous, God fearing man into my life. Marc and I met when we were 15 and 16 (in church mind you). We spent the summer getting to know each other and then did not see each other for nearly three years. The year I graduated from high school I moved to Chesapeake to live with my aunt and uncle while studying fashion merchandising. I contacted Marc to say hello since we had lost contact. We spent hours on the phone talking and then he came over to my families home and we talked for a few more hours. The rest as they say is history. We have been inseparable every since then. Has it been an easy 27 years? No, not by any means. But when we got married we made a commitment to tough it out no matter what. Marriage is hard work. It takes two people who are willing to put the other persons needs (and sometime their wants) above their own needs and wants. There are some days when we do a good job of that and then there are times when we really miss the mark. That's just life.

Ministry is sort of like a marriage. It's hard work! You make a commitment because of the calling that God has placed on your life. Some days it will seem easy, and then there are days when you wonder why you do what you do. But in the end you realize that its important to stay the course. If I could give couples one piece of advice it would be to protect your marriage at all cost. You should never sacrifice your marriage (or family) for ministry (or for work, hobbies, friends or children). Is it hard to balance the two ? Yes! But in the end if you don't take the time to nurture your marriage, then you will find it hard to minister to those who may be having difficulty in their marriage. Marc and I don't hide the fact from our children that our marriage is not always easy. We want them to know that they can work through stuff, and that they don't have to give up and throw in the towel when things get tough. As a matter of fact I hope that we have taught them that despite some tough times their father and I still love each other. We talk things out, make up and move forward. So even though the last 27 years have not always been a bed of roses, I'm thankful for the 27 years we have had together, and I look forward to the years to come.

Monday Morning Ramblings (through the eye's of the Pastor's Wife).

I have not done one of these in a long time. But there were so many things I wanted to share.

1) We had a rough week personally as a family. Won't go into to details but the enemy was busy. Thank goodness I serve a God that is more powerful then that!

2) My mom had a slight delay with her home, but we are now back on track and the demo should take place soon. Good thing to since they are suppose to ship the new house within a few weeks. Not that impressed with Virginia Power right now. But very impressed with the folks at Oakwood Homes. The staff there has been a big help to my mom throughout this process.

3) WABC has had a lot of blessings in the last few months. This past weekend we baptised two people. On Sunday the wife of the man who was baptised joined her husband as a member of the WABC family. He said he had been touched by one of Marc's sermons on the first day that he entered the doors. And that Marc's preaching had taken him from the word to the water!

4) We are also starting to see blessings unfold through our children's Church Ministry. One of the young men who regular attends stepped up on Sunday to say that he had accepted Jesus as his savior and that he was ready to be baptised! Let's just say I shed a few tears on yesterday!

5) Last week I was able to participate in another Pastor's Wives Virtual Roundtable. This time I got to co-host with Brandi. I loved connecting with all of the Pastor's Wives. I know I have said it many times, but if you are a Pastor's wife you need to connect with the women at Leading and Loving It.

6) Speaking of Leading and Loving It. Lori announced the beginning planning stages of our first ever Leading and Loving It Retreat! I can't wait for you all to hear more details. Its going to be awesome! I feel so blessed to be able to participate in this ministry. It has been a dream come true for me. I hope to see many of you there next May!

7) We are about to gear up for our VBS Camp 2010 at WABC. After years of being a VBS Director and Co Director I so appreciate all of the work that goes into planning an event like this. Please pray for our director, teachers and volunteers who will be working that week.

8) After all of the events over the last few months I am really looking forward to vacation in July. I wish Marc was going with us, but I still plan to have fun hanging out with my mom and my daughter Nicki.

9) I wanted to give a shout out to my friend Michelle. She and her husband Rob along with their three daughters are on an amazing journey to India. If you are not following their story you should.

10) If you haven't learned by now I am an servant by nature. I would most likely have been Mary in the Martha and Mary story. Last week Nicki and I once again offered ourselves to volunteer at New Life Providence for their Mother and Son Event. I have a great time serving. Its in my blood. Sometimes I have to catch myself and say no to some things, because I feel guilty about not being more like Martha. Recently I read an article and it changed my perspective. Sometimes its ok to be a Martha and sometimes you may have to be a Mary! So are you a Martha or a Mary?

I'm A Suburban, Born In The City, Raised in the Country Kind of Girl!

How did you spend Memorial Day Weekend? We started on Friday running up and down the highway helping my mom move out of her home to make way for a new one. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more. There are so many reasons that we needed to get my mom out of that place (way to many to list). Sunday morning nicki and I attended service with my son at New Life Providence and then dashed over to WABC for baptism.

That afternoon WABC held a Music Ministry Anniversary and my mom and the community choir she sings with were our special guest. We were in panic mode for a bit when my mom called to tell me the bus had broke down. It didn't help that it was one of the hottest days we have had in a long time. Thankfully my uncle was in town and was able to get his church bus and pick them up and bring them the rest of the way.

Monday we headed back to my mom's to take out the last of her things so that the builders can come in and tear out the double wide for her new manufactured home. We were all so tired at the end of the day (not to mention a bit woodsy, gritty and in need of a shower. LOL) The one thing I learned this weekend is that this suburban, born in the city, raised in the country girl is not cut out for the rural life! I couldn't wait to get home and wash the country off of me (not to mention the dirt, ticks, ants, you name it what you want to bugs and sand)!