Treat, Retreat

We have been out of town at the annual CMA Pastor's Retreat in Arkansas. This is like no other retreat that we have ever attended. It is so refreshing and yet challenging. In order to attend, a CMA member must refer you, and there is usually around 120 ministers and their spouses. They honor the ministry couples in so many ways: lodging for each night is provided, lunch and dinner (the most fabulous tasting food), and awesome childcare is available. Upon arrival for registration, there are hors d'oeuvre and punch. The menus are wonderful and there is always dishes that I have never eaten before and sooo yummy! When the offering time comes around, they don't take an offering, they give an offering. Each pastor receives a gift and each pastor’s wife receives a gift. This takes place twice a day. There are three speakers daily and what awesome speakers they are! The last night is a concert. Each year is a different guest soloist or group. This year was Jeff and Sheri Easter.

Our little granddaughter went with us. This was her second year to attend and it will be her last since she will be starting preschool next year. We so enjoyed spending an entire week with her 24/7. She is such fun and keeps us laughing with the things she says. What a darling!

So, this week we have been treated and retreated! Blessed beyond description!

Life at the parsonage tonight…..feeling thankful!

Sherry

Whose Call Is It?

"It's your call...."

" No, it's yours..."

A conversation like this took place yesterday between two small town fire departments. Before they decided whose call it was, a 14 year-old boy perished in his burning home. The rest of the family made their way to safety, but he was somehow trapped in the inferno. The teen's family waited helplessly while the fire departments disputed over whose responsibility it was to answer the call. The family needs our prayers.

It makes me wonder if we are doing the same type of thing with the sinner. While we may be trying to decide who should step out of their comfort zone to reach them, the sinner perishes. Jesus commanded us to go. He went to controversial places to minister to a needy soul. Are we willing to do the same?

We discussed this subject in our ladies Bible study class Sunday night. I asked them a question: " If you were to see my walking out of a bar, what would you think? " Some jokingly said "Ah!" and the rest said nothing. What I would like for them to say is, "How many people did you lead to the Lord?" In reality, even though I am their pastor's wife, I'm afraid that might not be the case. For a few, it would be a juicy piece of gossip. There might be those who would use it as an excuse to give up. Then there are those who would jump on the bandwagon to help minister right where the sinners are.

One thing for sure, we should never "go" unless the Lord sends us. An obedient child of God will find themselves out of their comfort zone from time to time, but with their obedience comes wisdom, strength, and anything else needed for the task.

So, whose call is it? Yours and mine when we beckons us to step out with Him.

Life at the parsonage tonight ... somber.

Sherry

"Vroom, Vroom"

This past Sunday was our 5th Annual Biker Sunday. Members of the Christian Motorcyclist Association rode in for a special service. We have several CMA members in our congregation. This is a wonderful organization that ministers to people that probably you and I might never be able to reach. They are will willing to go to where the unsaved are and at time their safety is at stake. They ride their bikes and minister from tents in all weather conditions. They minister in the summer's soaring heat and the winter's frigid cold. God bless them!!!

This is their awesome logo:Each member wears the logo on the back of their vest or jacket. They do wonderful work all over the world. -- very mission minded. Some of them may look a little rough around the edges but that only helps them to get into doors that might not be entered otherwise. At the end of this month my husband and I will be attending a CMA Pastor's Retreat in Arkansas. We always have a wonderful time. They focus on ministering to the Pastors and their families.


Life at the parsonage today was bathed in beautiful sunshine.

Sherry

It's a Date!

I promised Breanna this week that I would take her on a play date with her BFF, Riley. So, today that’s just what we did. Riley, our Music Pastor’s three-year-old son, was delivered to me by his parents. After loading him in the car (car seat buckled in, bags with extra clothing, drinks, toys, etc) we stopped to pick up Breanna at Kid’s Day Out. I unbuckled Riley and we went in together to get her. I greeted her teacher, Brea introduced Riley to her teacher and then I gathered up Brea’s belongings, zipped her in her coat, pulled up the hood and then out to the car where I buckled in two three-year-olds. McDonalds, here we come.

It was a very cold day; in fact, it snowed a little. The McDonalds we went to has an indoor playground which is perfect for such a cold day. After Happy Meals the Tods were off to play for the next 1 ½ hours. While supervising their play, I telephoned my BFF from high school. We caught up on the latest in each other lives. She and I were as close as sisters and have kept in touch and spend time together as often as possible. She lives approximately 2 hours from me.

When the little ones felt they had enough of the play area, we headed for my house for more play. Before leaving McD’s we took a potty break. They were a little pumped and took off to explore other parts of the restaurant while I was trying to gather up bags, coats, Happy Meals, my purse & coat. I caught up with them just as they were making their way into (thank goodness) the women’s bathroom.

We had a nice drive home while listening to Brea’s favorite song “Awesome God” over and over and over and over again. It is on one of Travis Cottrell’s CDs (the kid has great taste in music). By the time we made it home and I unloaded the Tods, the bags, the Happy Meals, and all of my stuff, my thoughts turned to the show “Jon and Kate Plus Eight”. How do they do it?

Brea and Riley play very well together. It can be dangerous when these two put their heads together and think up things to do. They had been playing “clean up” with two of Brea’s fake misting bottles from her housekeeping set. I suddenly realized they were quiet. Oh boy! I knew they must be up to something. When I found them they were in my bathroom. Brea was up on the counter filling a real misting bottle with water. (They had already emptied it and needed a refill.) Not only had they sprayed an entire bottle of water on the shower door mirror, but they found a pump bottle of soap! Oh, yes they did! Thick blobs of soap were dripping down the shower door, in the door track and on the floor. I told them to stick with the pretend bottles and shooed them out of the bathroom so I could clean up.

Riley went home around 5:00 p.m. Breanna missed him after he left. She eventually crashed and took a nap. Delayna picked her up and now Grammy has toys to pick up and a “tent” to take down. The little ones had a great time and so did I. We are making plans for another play date. The next outing will be to McD’s and then the children’s museum for some hands-on fun.

Life at the parsonage is … sudsy!

Sherry

Just Rambling

I can’t remember when the weather has been so ridiculously fickle. We live in an area right on the jet stream which means the weathermen hit and miss on their predictions. We were to have snow today, but guess what? Nada! Not a flake. It was cold, breezy and overcast but there wasn’t any precipitation at all. As I have said before, I am so ready for spring to come – not just the date on the calendar but the temperature.

I’m having a good hair day J The reason; I just returned home from the beauty shop. My hairdresser told me today that I have enough hair for 5 people! He’s right about that. I am abundantly blessed with good hair on my head. One good thing about having too much fast growing hair is that if I get a bad haircut, in about two or three weeks, no one can tell – no joke! Most days I am very thankful for my mop of hair.

When I returned home from the beauty shop this evening I noticed we had a new front glass door. A few months ago we had horrific wind and as I was coming in the house, the wind ripped the door out of my hand and pushed the door closed so hard that it actually shoved the door past the frame causing it to be jammed shut. I had to ring the door bell for my husband to help me get in. It has continued to give problems off and on. This past Wednesday my daughter-in-law, DeLayna, brought Breanna over to spend the day. I could not, for the life of me, get the stupid door open. She had to come in through the garage instead. So, Hubby ordered a new door the very same day. The installer just happened to have a cancellation and was able to install it today – just one day after purchase – unheard of!

Life at the parsonage today… quiet.

Sherry

A Day with the Tods

Today was my day to spend with toddlers. Wednesdays begin with my darling granddaughter, Breanna, coming to spend the day. Today was beautiful! We were able to be outside for most of the day. The crazy thing about being outside today is that it snowed yesterday! The weather report predicts 4 to 6 inches of snow for tomorrow. I am looking forward to spring. In the meantime, Brea and I go to the McDonald’s indoor playground from time to time for some fun out of the house

Each Wednesday night I teach the toddler class at church. They are so precious. Class is about 1 hour and 15 minutes long so it’s pretty fast pace. They enjoy doing crafts. It’s messy but they get so excited and that makes me happy.

After keeping a 3 year old today then running off to church, life at the parsonage tonight is ... a little messy.

Sherry

I'm Still Here

It has been three months since I have posted to my blog. December is consumed with the holiday preparations at home and at church. We had a wonderful Christmas with our family.

January is like a black hole for me. Year end reports, taxes, payroll, taxes, financial reports, taxes, annual receipts, taxes, filing, taxes. I have taxes every month!

February is the month I make sure I have everything caught up.

March began like a lion. Last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the weather was absolutely beautiful and warm. We had snow today! It is not unusual to have the biggest snow of the year in March. However, it was a light snow. I am so ready for Spring.

Our granddaughter, Breanna, spent the night with us Saturday. What a delight she is and so much fun! Her favorite color is blue and her favorite song in “Awesome God” from Travis Cottrell’s CD, the” Lamb Has Overcome”.

Since I last posted, we have found out that we have a little grandson that will be joining our family in June! We have seen a 3-D ultrasound picture of him and he is so cute. In the pic he looks like his beautiful Mommy. Breanna looks like her Daddy. She likes the idea of having a baby brother. Hope her feelings don’t change after he arrives, but they probably will for a time.

I sign off for tonight. Life at the parsonage on March 4, 2008.…. relaxed.

Sherry