"Rejoice"

An unusual type of post for me.  This one is not really personal but I wanted to write about an amazing group of folks in my church who fill an important role in our community....encouraging and ministering to those in assisted-living and nursing homes.  This group is our senior adult choir named "Rejoice".  I work with them because my boss is their director.  Joe takes them out on a small bus once a month.  They put in a full day doing this important ministry.  I hope when I'm 70 or 92 years old that I can be that active and energetic!  Yes, our oldest member is 92 and he's pretty amazing!  Our folks are healthy and happy and sharp and they enjoy visiting with their peers in these homes.

Our minister of music enjoys a discussion with a resident

Favorite bus driver, David!

The 25 choir members sing 10 great hymns of the faith during their program and Joe ties each hymn together with the presentation of the gospel of Jesus.  He talks about our sin, our redemption through Christ, our abundant life here on earth and then the wonderful prospect of heaven.  The residents usually sing along (they have song packets that the choir brings to give out) and enjoy reciting scripture with the choir.  A gospel message is given, an invitation is presented to ask Jesus into their lives and hearts, a closing prayer, and then the choir members visit with the residents and give them a gift.

One of my favorites!

"Rejoice" is made very welcome in all the places they've visited in the county, not only by the residents but by their caregivers also.  It is a way to share Jesus' love to those who very rarely get to church and to those who have few other visitors.  Sometimes the minds are not clear in those who are listening (such as in the "memory" unit we visited the other day) but God works miracles...we never know when He will give a moment of clarity to hear His Word.
I admire and appreciate these sweet folks.  I loved getting to see them work their magic this past week and see what a needed ministry this is in our community.

Our choir members love to sing the hymns.

They never know what age "piano" they will find at some of the homes.

One perk of the day is going to lunch! They like home-cooking places AND the Varsity!

Which one is 92 years old? The one on the left! He's amazing.

Getting ready to present their program.

Listening to Joe as he presents the story of Jesus

A resident holds a cross that one of our choir members made for her

Leading the choir

Terrific and Terrible

The "Terrific Twos" have begun! 

My daughter warned me this week that this was happening.  The CHANGE has occurred.  And I'm not talking about the one that should be happening to me at age 53 which, by the way, has not.  I have mixed emotions about that but this is not the time nor place to go into that subject.

 Sweet Maddie is still very much an even-tempered girl.  Well, except when it's time to get out of the PJs and go shopping.  She has new princess PJs and loves them.  She cried dramatically when I tried to change her clothes.  Her hair stuck up everywhere and we just put shoes on her and let it ride.  She looked like an urchin.  But she was a HAPPY urchin. 

Off we went to Babies 'R Us and into the buggy she goes.  It was time for her "gofish" (goldfish) snack and apple juice.  Then two little suckers in the diaper bag.  I gave her one and turned my head and she had the other also. One in each hand.  She licked on them and then threw one to Landon.  We got it in time.  Landon is not ready for suckers. 

Then it was time for "mypeepee". Did I mention she's already potty-trained?   Off she went with "Ganmommy".  The bathroom has one of those little child seats that you can strap a child in while the adult is using the bathroom.  Maddie hopped up on that and strapped herself in.  She's always been good with buckles and belts. No problem!  We're finished up and she didn't want to leave the little seat.  "My seat"! She yelled several times.  She got a little louder each time as I tried to distract her.  We went back into the store as she yelled.  Then she saw the cribs all set up on display. "My nightnight" became the new yell! This time add tears and dramatic faces and motions. As we moved further up the aisle the cry changed several times as she saw new things that were hers. "MY shoes", "My dress", "My socks", "My backpack"!   We got our shopping done quickly and headed to the car.  (By the way, Landon, the 6 month old, was an angel during the entire trip.) 

Down the road to Lifeway where I had to pick up a bunch of VBS shirts for work.  A video was playing with an unsuspecting little girl watching peacefully.  Maddie grabbed a chair, brought it over and shoved it up against the little girl's chair.  Ready to watch with her new "friend" who looked a little alarmed.  Okay, chore done and back to the car.  Down the road we went into 5 o'clock traffic.  Landon was crying now, needed his pacifier.  Maddie gave it to him then took it away.  She wanted the blue paci for him not the white.  We got that settled.  She stuck her bare foot close to his face.  She loudly sang "Everyday", a song she's learned from my choir CD.  She unzipped her new backpack and put it over her head.  We had an entertaining drive home.

What a stinker! But I'm looking forward to this new phase...it will be a challenge for the whole family.  I can't believe that little redhead will be 2 next week.  I'm so thankful for her. She is pure JOY.

Sweet girl!

At the Foot of the Cross

"I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway."  Romans 7:19 (The Message)

I normally don't really like The Message translation but this one verse fits exactly how I feel.  I'm so thankful for the Lord's grace after the last several weeks that I've had. 


Love this song also by Kathryn Scott:

At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You received
And You've won my heart
Yes You've won my heart

Now I can
Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross

At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death You bore for me

Now I can
Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross

I'm laying every burden down
I'm laying every burden down

From: http://www.musicbabylon.com

Top Ten Favorite Things From the Week

10.  Sleeping in today

 9.  Patty Melt at Marietta Diner

 8.  Chicken Strips at Otter's (Yikes, that's 2 food items in a row)

 7.  Several sunny days!
 
 6.  Choir Rehearsal

 5.  Singing "Our God" on Sunday in worship

 4.  Laughing (out of control) with my co-workers and boss on Thursday

 3.  Tulips and Dunkin Donuts from my husband on Valentine's Day

 2.  Holding, Kissing, and Hugging my sweet little Maddie and Landon

 1.  What a Friend I Have in Jesus....all week long!

Here's a Great Photo of the Engaged Couple...More to Come

I'm waiting to hear from them soon on the location and exact date of the wedding. They visited a plantation today that is an event center for weddings,etc.

Looking forward to seeing them this weekend.

My Boy

My boy is 26 years old. And independent. And engaged to be married in June.  But he's still my boy. (As any mother will tell you, that never changes).  I'm proud of him. He's brought much joy to our lives. 

Stephen was an MK (Missionary kid) until he was 11 years old.  I believe that gave him his wonderful solid foundation in the Lord for his life and also some wanderlust.  He's always loved to travel.  We traveled around Guatemala planting churches, visiting other missionaries, helping with work teams from the States (Stephen helped with translating ) and he thrived on this lifestyle.  I have a picture in my mind of my blonde little boy with a backpack on.  He would walk into a house and ask "Where do I sleep?"  No one was a stranger to him.  He especially loved a place in Guate named Salama.  It was all desert with cactus, snakes, hot weather, plains, and hills off in the distance.  We stayed often with a family there and he considered that a vacation resort.

He would carelessly hop across the little streams of sewage in the villages we worked in, didn't care if his playmates had lice, or that the food or water he took in could make him sick. He enjoyed time with his fellow MKs and village kids as they played street soccer.  Stephen excelled in school and just loved life there in Central America. 

We returned to Georgia when he was 11 years old and he continued his excellence in school and sports.  He was single-minded in his determination to make excellent grades and enter University of Georgia.  He completed his four years and then headed to graduate school.  About halfway through he decided enough was enough and decided to work and travel.  Through his college years he had traveled out west and loved the beautiful landscapes out in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, etc.  He traveled to California and helped in a mission there for a week or so also.  Finally, he decided to settle down near UGA again and began dating Rachel, a beautiful girl who is in pharmacy school.  Now they are engaged and I am looking forward to that wedding and getting to know my future daughter-in-law well! She also loves the west so I'm interested to see where they eventually settle down.

Some random pics:

Stephen at age 8 with Erin and their dog, Kazan.  We were living in Antigua at this time.

Our landlord owned horses and Stephen often helped round them up in the evenings in Antigua, Guatemala

Stephen and Erin grown up

At Erin's wedding in 2007

 

On vacation with our extended family in Siesta Key (2009)

June wedding? Beginning of a new family within our own.  So happy for them!

Rachel and Stephen

So I get to be a mother-in-law again! Hooray! We are so happy that our son, Stephen, is marrying a beautiful, sweet, smart, Jesus-loving girl!  She is in pharmacy school at UGA so she has beauty AND brains. They have been dating about a year now and we've spent some time with her at different family functions.  Enough to know that we love her and think she's perfect for Stephen.  We are so happy that the Lord has brought them together.

I don't know all the details yet but Stephen gave her my grandmother's diamond ring on Tuesday night in the pouring rain. Sweet!!  Rachel was shocked, I believe. Never saw it coming.  There will be a June wedding more than likely. They are still discussing details.

I am looking forward to getting to know this girl better...newest member of the family!

HA! They were at some weird festival that involved triathalons and Vikings...????  They seem to be a perfect match!

These are the only pics I have of these two and I stole them from their Facebook pages! Hoping to get some more when we meet them in a couple of weeks for lunch or supper.

My Little Maddie

I'm calling her "Pebbles" sometimes these days. She's so cute and reminds me of the little cartoon Pebbles on the Flintstones. Yes, that tells my age. Mimi is 53 now.  Yes, "Mimi"...Grandmommy has morphed into Mimi now...just a lot easier to say, I suppose.  Fine with me...just glad she calls me something.

This child has such a sweet nature.  Not to say that she doesn't have her moments.  She can be strong-willed. BUT she is generally obedient and quick to hug, kiss, play, sing, run, help with her brother, and just be happy. Madison is JOY!

She never quits talking these days (somewhat like her father in that way, ha).  She's a very petite little thing and loves veggies...her favorite seems to be broccoli.  You offer this kid macaroni and cheese and broccoli and she takes the broccoli.  She is an apple juice junkie (as her mom tells it) and also loves my sweet or unsweet tea.

She follows us everywhere, even into the bathroom (moms and gmoms never get any privacy).  For some reason the bathroom entices her to want to climb walls. That's the only room I've ever seen her do this in. She puts her foot on the wall and says to me, "kime wall?"  I just laugh and say for the hundredth time..."nothing to help you "kime" there girlie."

Maddie loves church nursery and Sunday School and playgrounds and "papa" and Grandmama.  She loves her friend Audrey and puppies and kitties and colors(crayons).  She's a left-handed redhead with beautiful blue-green eyes and long red-blonde eyelashes.  She loves the book Go Dog Go and I recently bought her The Napping House which is one of my favorites.  She has a funny dance she does to any music she hears. Puts her arms out to the sides almost like a chicken...hilarious!

Tons more I could say about this baby girl but I'll just stop here. Except to say that I am proud and happy to call her my granddaughter. That I'm proud of her parents in how they have given her such a great start in life. How they are impressing upon her good behavior and manners and love for God as they take her to church every week.  I can't wait to see what kind of girl, teenager, woman she grows into one day with the Lord as her Guide. I pray I may be a loving influence on her.

My Church

I am in love with my church....the local "body of Christ" that I attend.  It is Roswell Street Baptist in Marietta, Georgia.  I've written about lots of other subjects but not this one and I can't believe that! This is absolutely the most vital thing I do all week.  Of course, I get to look at it from a unique perspective...I am on staff there.

I think the most obvious thing about my church is the concern and care that our members show to each other. Whether it's a death in the family, an injury, cancer or other disease, the members close to the family take over with caring actions..prayer, food, visits, whatever is needed.  It can be overwhelming and it is wonderful!

Another quality our church has is its commitment to missions, whether by volunteering on mission trips or giving financially.  Our pastor, Dr. Easley, has emphasized missions since he came in 2002 and, as a result, our international missions/home missions offering has added up to 350,000  to more than 450,000 dollars each year (just in the month of December).  Our membership comes through every time and that is just another way they show their love for our Lord and for others.  We are also a very patriotic group. The Fourth of July and Veteran's Day services are very important to our church and are always crowded and spirited.

We have ministries to the homeless, give food boxes and sack lunches out every week to those in need. There is a pregnancy center where women can come to talk about their crisis pregnancy and see an ultrasound of their babies.  There are many children alive today because of this ministry because their moms did not choose abortion.

From babies to children's ministries, to middle school, high school, college, young adults, middle-aged adults like me and senior adults, there are active and happy folks in the many varied music and Bible study programs and classes.  There is Upward Basketball in the winter months for 4 year olds on up through elementary school.  Many children and their parents have come to know Christ and their lives are thus changed forever through this outreach and fun.

A Brazilian congregation is part of our church as well as contemporary worship and blended worship.  Blended means a perfect mix of music...modern hymns and contemporary songs with traditional hymns. I love it!  I always look forward to our worship services and not just because the minister of music, Joe Buckner, is my boss. I truly enjoy all the elements of the service, from congregational singing, prayer, choir and orchestra, and preaching. Our pastor does not worry what anyone thinks about his preaching of God's Word.  He knows he is to tell us the Truth and that he does!  I rarely miss...it's just too important to my life and my well-being. Sure it can become routine but I try to pray each Sunday that I will learn something new about the Lord or that He will show me something I need to see and hear to grow in His love.

 We have wonderful musical programs for Good Friday,  Fourth of July, and Christmas.  I enjoy so much being in on the planning and preparation for these big events. I love seeing how these services all come together and hearing from visitors and members how much these programs mean to them in their lives.

I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 10 years old and in another church.  We joined Roswell Street when I was 12 and I "grew up" there definitely...in all ways, spiritually and emotionally.  I was married there, dedicated my babies there and then watched my own daughter marry there and then dedicate my grandchildren at Roswell Street. That church supported us in prayer as we lived in Guatemala as missionaries for 10 years, publishing our newsletters for us, sending work teams to us, etc.  When we returned, they welcomed us back and I felt like we'd never left.  I'm so blessed and privileged to serve the Lord there as an employee and a member.  I love my co-workers and enjoy great friendship with many.
 A few pics in random order:

A couple of my favorite co-workers!

Out to lunch with the boss

Choir doing some flag-waving on the Fourth of July

The old sanctuary at Roswell Street...many memories

Easter Sunday morning worship

Joe leading Easter worship

Banners decorated the Worship Center on Good Friday and Easter

Good Friday

My little Landon being dedicated

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

We have many wonderful Senior Adults who minister in Cobb County by singing in the Sr. Adult Choir and visiting area nursing homes

Children's Choir at Christmas

Fourth of July morning service

Children's choir and Trio at Christmas

Maddie's Dedication

Our pastor, Dr. Easley

Thank Heaven for Sunshine and Birthdays

What a week And I know all of my neighbors far and wide agree with me on that. Six inches of snow and then 1/4 inch of ice on top to "cement" it all in.  We didn't move for 2 full days and then on Wednesday we were able to get out at lunchtime and slip-slide away to work. John and I were desperate enough for exercise that we bundled up and walked the neighborhood on Monday and Tuesday in 20 something degree weather. Gorgeous snow but so cold.  Finally yesterday and today was more normal.  The roads still have snow piled up on the edges and in the medians but we are able to get around. I loved being at work and seeing my usual folks and sleeping well on these cold nights. We've had bright sunshine that, when reflected on the ice-covered snow, is beautiful but blinding when we drive.

Today is my birthday.  It's been a very happy one.  Lots of facebook greetings from friends, phone calls from my parents and son, gifts from my husband, daughter, and best friend, and lunch out next week with my boss and co-workers to look forward to.  Had supper tonight with my grandchildren at Jim and Nick's and my son-in-law paid! Brownies from my girl....just on and on.  Here's my favorite picture of the week:

My little "Pebbles"  

  

It's been a memorable week and birthday. I thank the Lord for my 53 "complete" years of  life and, as one friend so appropriately said, the Love that has covered me from the day I was born.