Cousin Time

Photo Haul

I finally got my 2017 planner in the mail. This will be my second year using a Happy Planner and I cannot wait!

Received my Ipsy bag last week. I will not be using the lip plumper. I'm pretty sure my lips are plumped enough. LOL

I did like everything else that came in the bag though.

Especially the bag!

I've had to step up my wardrobe now that I have become a minister. Not only for speaking engagements but because I attend funerals and sometimes have to stand beside Marc.

My one treat for myself after a speaking engagement over the weekend. Some ladies have a weakness for shoes..mine is for handbags. LOL

Glow 2016

Week before last I got to attend Glow Conference 2016 at Calvary Revival Church.

The highlight was definitely getting to hear Priscilla Shirer who I have admired for some time.

The theme of the week was all up on my sermon notes for the following weekend.

I also got to hear Lisa Bevere that week. This tiny lady packs a big punch (and she is funny).

The highlight of the week was definitely getting to spend time with my cousin Shelly.

And these two ladies tagged along with me for the entire week and part of the weekend.

It's in our DNA

This post should be before the post about vacation ending! Not sure why when I went back to correct some mistakes it updated and updated with today's date rather then the original! Ugh!!!

This weekend was suppose to start what should have been a two week "sabbatical" from ministry . I say should have been because my husband has a hard time saying no and in some cases some things just can't be scheduled (like the lost of a church member). Add in being a self employed bi-vocational pastor. Need I say more?? Marc can adapt way easier then I can. As much as I wanted to fuss (ok I did fuss a bit), I know me in my heart my husband wouldn't be the man he is if he could just shut the world out and just not care. 

Recently we took the 5 Love Language Test and surprise, surprise my husbands love language is....acts of service! Whereas mine is words of affirmation. Now I know the test is suppose to highlight the things that make our partner happy but it actually fits our personality (as far as how we treat others) to a T! 

Marc was born to serve and I am most in my element when I can encourage others! 

Ok, so this was a long round about way of getting back to our sabbatical situation! Long story short?? I was not surprised that my husband decided to take part of his vacation time to serve two other pastor friends during their anniversary. 

Us at a service on Thursday, celebrating the 15th anniversary of one pastor friend.

 Originally our weekend would have been free in clear to spend Saturday exploring one of my favorite local places to visit. Followed by a leisurely Sunday morning at my oldest daughters church (which we did), and then a relaxed Sunday afternoon doing whatever we pleased  (more my plan then Marc's lol).  

Instead I spent Saturday watching movies and reading books (so technically I got my rest in lol) while Marc worked on his sermons. One for Sunday afternoon and another for a church members funeral that would take place on that Monday.  

The only non recreational stuff I did was organizing his coffee "station" and my tea "corner". 

Even incorporated some left over wedding stuff into my plan. 

Marc Sunday afternoon at a fellow pastor friends 25th anniversary as pastor. Which by the way would be his second of three sermons for the weekend. 

Did I mention the ministers training class that he conducted yesterday?? I continue to be amazed by his heart for ministry, for people and his passion for teaching others to be equipped and ready for service. I honestly believe the man should be teaching at an University somewhere. I've watched over the years as people underestimated this mans abilities. I know he may never get the recognition he deserves down here on earth, but I do know the day will come when he will be rewarded by God for his faithfulness and service to others. I couldn't be prouder to call him hubby, pastor, teacher/mentor and bestfriend!   

I do however understand (probably more so then he does), the need for a time of rest and thankfully after nearly 34 years together I already know that it's going to be up to me to be the one that says...ok enough is enough. It's time for a break (because less face facts even if he doesnt need it....I do lol). And even though he has worked his butt off this week, he knows next week I'm going to make him take time out for rest  (granted its actually a stay vacation. But I will take it lol). We arn't in a position to go away this year (I mean less face facts we just finished this past year planning and finally pulling off a very large wedding lol). And as great as our mini trip last month to NOLA was it really didn't offer us an occasion to rest. 

Years ago I would have probably had a hissy fit over the loss of a portion of our vacation but as I've gotten older I've learned to appreciate my husbands love for people, for ministry and especially his love for God. 

This weekend the message at my daughters church was about love. At one point the speaker quoted from the song...what the world needs now is love, sweet love. No not just for some, but for everyone! And with all the crazy stuff going on in the media right now, with our political system at the moment , and on the streets of city with our police and civilians (not to mention the continued attacks across the world) the speaker was spot on! 

Marc and I are blessed that our children are all adults (I think doing ministry as we know it now would be much harder if our kids were still young). Our weekends don't really belong to us. Unlike the typical church member we don't get to just skip a Sunday when we want to. We don't have the luxury of free Saturday's to just go and do what we please. I don't think the average pew sitter who complains about their church really understands that a pastors family doesn't have the option to just choose the church they wish to worship at. We don't get to choose...we go where God sends us. We are blessed that Marc is self employed (but even that comes at a price...when work is good it's good, but as a tech he has dry seasons just like many others in the device community) and for the most part can create his own schedule. We have also been blessed that I got to be a SAHM for all of these years. So even though things didn't go as planned this week we live to see another day. Marc not saying no turned out to be a blessing not so much to us, but to those he got to serve! And in the grand scheme of things...that's what we have been called to do. To be a blessing to others! It's not always easy and some days it's downright depressing but if you were to ask either of us if we regret following this call God has on our life the answer from both of us would be a resounding NO (ironic huh??? lol). It's not only what we are called to do. It's a part of our DNA!