I Found Internet !

I'm still away working on our newest property. I discovered internet today! Apparently one of the neighbors has wireless -- so I linked to it so I could post. Aren't you just thrilled? :)

I lack two walls and a bathroom and then I will be finished with the painting. I painted the dining room Antique Red yesterday. I just love it. This red as some brown in it but it will look just red in the picture. See the pic below.



Breaks over and now I need to get back to business.

Life at the parsonage ... I don't know, I'm still away :)

Charwoman Am I

Charwoman: A woman hired to do general cleaning, esp. in an office or large house.

Well, I don't even rank up there with a charwoman! I will be cleaning for the next few days at one of our properties. And...I am not hired OR paid, but I do it because I love my man and it helps us both. To be really honest, I kind of enjoy seeing the progress made on these projects. I love a clean you can "feel". After I have cleaned the house, my husband will not only tell me that the house looks nice but he will also say that he can "feel" the clean:))

I will be out all week scrubbing, mopping and painting with no internet connection.

Life at the parsonage ... temporarily missing its charwoman:)

Sunday School Chef

I recently took on the responsibility of teaching the Young Adult Sunday class at our church. This class is primarily a video teaching class so that helps since I am married to the Senior Pastor, which in turn, brings other Sunday responsibilities for me. Last October, I was a guest teacher in this same class and taught on the book of Nehemiah. It took three months to complete and just about "ate my lunch" to get through it, but I thoroughly enjoyed teaching it. I would love to present it again since I now have all the notes (I was writing them as I prepared for the class).

Part of the privilege of teaching at our church is that I get to provide Sunday morning refreshments for my class. When you walk down the corridors of our church on Sunday mornings, you are greeted with the aroma of coffee brewing and the sight of plates full of muffins, cookies, brownies, etc. Now.... most of the adult teachers are men and its their WIVES that cook/buy the refreshments, make the coffee and clean up after class. I NEED A WIFE! (Figuratively speaking.) I like to take extra time at home after my husband leaves to spend time alone in prayer before the class begins. That cuts into my food prep time at church! Oh well, I guess I had better work more on my organizational skills so that I can get this new schedule down.

Life at the parsonage ... planning.

Love a Good Sale!

Mother's Day, right after the a.m. service, we left for Branson, MO for a Minister's Retreat. As we usually do, we stayed in a cabin at Big Cedar. It is so relaxing and comfortable. The management spoils you with a newspaper and freshly baked cookies everyday.

The shopping in Branson is awesome. There are always sales going on. I found as much as 70 percent off with an additional 30 percent taken off at the register. In my books, that's a good deal!

My husband's brother and sister-in-law drove up from Alabama to spend four days with us. What fun we had together -- lots of laughs. We saw a some shows and had a great time. Family is a blessing from God!

Life at the parsonage -- grateful.

Yours and Mine

How many times I remember my mother saying that she wished she could take my hurt away or take my place when I was sick. This song by the Isaacs portrays a mother's heart.

My mom has received her eternal reward and is waiting for me to finish my "race" in this life. Even though she is not with me in person, I carry a part of her with me -- in my heart. All the wonderful things she taught me has become a vital part of who I am. She was the one who led me to Christ. I will never forget that day.

Now that I am a mother and grandmother, I, too, want to bear the burdens for my dear ones. Isn't that exactly what Christ wants to do for us? Bring Him your hurts, burdens, heartaches and cares, for He cares for you.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you and your families.

Sherry

Wordless Post

:)

As If You Wanted To Know

This afternoon I ran errands in the "big city" of my state (approx 45 min. drive):

• Return extra Bible study workbooks at Lifeway
• Buy Kindergarten graduation gifts and wrapping (gift bags)
  
• Buy teaching material for my young adult Sunday School class
• Buy smocks for my toddlers class (for finger painting, etc.)
  
• Buy decor for my grandson's nursery (he's schedule to be born June 16)!
• Buy 2 circut cartridges: "Doodlecharms" and "Animal Kingdom" - on sale!
  

Whew! All this after I worked at the office! I'm ready for a relaxing evening of ... laundry!

Life at the parsonage ... busy!
Sherry

It's Raining, It's Pouring ...

It has been a day of RAIN -- ALL DAY -- RAIN! Right before church tonight there was rotation sited over our little town. We were under a tornado WARNING! Fortunately, nothing came of it and everything is now quiet.

In toddler class tonight we worked on Mother's Day cards. They just love to do crafts that involve paint and glue. We use LOTS of wipes in our class! They just LOVE glue!! Did I mention that they LOVE glue? :) Actually, they love anything sticky and gooy!

Breanna comes to my house on Wednesdays. Even though it RAINED, she was still able to play outside on the patio (it's covered -- thank the Lord). She decided that today would be a good day to watch a movie. I agreed. So what did we watch? Her choice was Dr. Seuss' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas"! Christmas . . in May! And . . we watched it THREE TIMES! I love Christmas, but I wait at least until July, for heaven's sake :))

Her daddy, my son, is in Cancun. He left this morning for a short trip with his office staff. Our daughter-in-law was unable to go because she's almost 8 months pregnant and the doctor didn't want her to fly. She's definitely planning to go next year. (Bless her sweet little heart.)

Well, I guess this is enough about a rainy day in the upper south.

Life at the parsonage . . . wet!

Sherry

Rejoice

I love the scripture passage in Zephania 3:17. This is what I picture: This morning before I ever woke up, the God of the universe knelt down beside my bed and sang over me! Does that not thrill you to know that our God delights in us and sings over us?

That's all.

Life at the parsonage . . . rejoicing!

Picture Day

Today was picture day for Breanna. She doesn't like having her picture taken; however, she is much more cooperative than she was a year ago. She is now in the phase of NEEDING to say C-H-E-E-E-E-E-E-S-E in every picture. She has a beautiful smile that will one day make its way into a professional photo . But for now, we have sweet little c-h-e-e-s-y smiles and I love every one of them :))

Oh, by the way,"Happy Cinco de Mayo"!

Sherry

Roadkill got me to think'n...

This morning I was on my way to Wal-Mart to pick up some donuts for my Sunday School class and drove past a opossum lying dead in the road; hence, roadkill. The scripture came to mind that tells us that God sees the sparrow when it falls and He even knows the number of hairs on our heads. Then I thought about God's inventory on the earth. I could just see Him go --one less opossum -- check!

That caused me to think about all He keeps up with. (It amazes me how our thoughts can soar and fly in so many directions in microseconds!) I thought about our lives and all we have to keep up with. It all starts when we're children; we keep up with our toys, school work, etc. As we grow, responsibilities do, too. Eventually we have jobs to take care of, then families. As time rolls on there are grandchildren -- I think you get the picture. We can become overwhelmed with life and all the responsibilities of keeping up with it all.

My thoughts then turned to God and all that He keeps up with! He manages the micro-organisms (is there anything smaller?). Then... all the way up through the animal kingdoms: in the sea, on the earth and in the air. Next, there's mankind. Not just us and our families. not just our city, county, state, country but all on the whole earth. He keeps up with the planets, galaxies and universes. Then, there's Heaven and Hell.... He keeps up with it all. And .. He's never overwhelmed. What a manager!

God knows every time one of His little creatures is born or dies. He cares. How much more, then, does he care for us; the ones He sent His only Son to be the sacrificed Lamb for the sins of all mankind (John 3:16). How, then, can we as believers, not have faith to trust Him -- for everything? He longs for us to trust Him. If we do not trust Him we are saying that He is not trustworthy! God...the one who made and manages everything -- not trustworthy? How it must break His heart to see us struggle and not ask for His help. He wants to be our everything.

"Lord, help me to not withhold anything from you but to give you all of me and trust you with everything within me."

Yep, roadkill got me to think'n . . . . .

Life at the parsonage ... in deep thought.

Sherry

Saturday Slide Show

Sherry

Wordless Post

Kona, HI

Sherry

Remind me, Lord

I like the True Value Hardware commercial. You know, the one where a lady is trying to pick paint and she can't make up her mind. The hardware store employee has a flashback of her own color choice dilemma and recognizes the customers frustration, The camera then shows the customer who looks a little like this:The employee assures the customer that she can help her make a good selection.

There have been times that I felt like the lady in this picture. How about you? Life can come crashing in some days but that's when I try to remember to turn the whole thing -- mess and all-- to God. I'm sure He would REALLY appreciate me turning my day over to Him BEFORE I make a mess of it:)

Today I had a full day with little toddlers. Let me give you two hints of how my day went ... broken glass and an "egg" on the head!! :o

Life at the parsonage ... hang'n loose!

Sherry