Great week with great friends!

So.. this week, we went back to Monroeville A/G. Rich spoke in big church, lol. Hey you do youth ministry for 20 years and see what you call it when you speak to adults:) Any way, it was great to see old friends (not to say they are old). After service we got to spend time with the Lecocqs. It was awesome. I need my Lorie time, lol! Friday night we went to dinner with the Jenkins. Always alot of fun. If you know Debbie and I you no there were laughs. Tonight we went out with the Uries. We took the motorcycles down to Robinson Town Center. It was so beautiful out tonight. Riding the bike was fun, relaxing and "carefree." I have been pretty stressed lately so it was nice to just ride! Thanks to all of my good friends! I miss ya!

Ever feel like you have no time, no energy and no money? What does that usually do to you? It probably makes you feel like you have no hope. Now, we all know our hope comes from God... so therefore why do I and so many others allow ourselves to feel down? Probably because too often we as human beings rely on feelings not facts. That is where my state of mind is today. I know the facts but I feel frustrated and stressed. I know what I am supposed to want and do but I just want to sit here and do nothing. So, then the feelings move on to guilt for not doing more and spending more time with those people or things that I feel like I neglect. The things become overwhelming. It poses these questions: 1) How can I get it all done? 2) Does it matter; it will only need done again almost immediately? 3) Does what I do matter? 4) What is really important? 5) Is it ever going to end (financial stress, etc)? Okay, I am just being real today.. but that is no way to write a blog, I guess! It is time to stop the pity party:)
I know and must believe that my hope comes from the Lord and he loves me and all of the "little things" in my life. I also know that faith comes from believing; so thats what we must do!

How can I be a good wife, mom and pastor's wife too?

Things are changing in my life all the time! Element Church is a reality!!! It is why I live here. But... how do I follow the call God has on my life and work 40 hours a week (more when you consider I have to go downtown) and still try to be a mom and maintain a house. I have been working 4 tens. That is incredibly hard because I am too tired to do what I need to do. I force myself to do it all anyway. But.. I am not always cheerful to say the least. However, at least I get a day off this way. So.. I am thinking well once summer gets here I will make the best of it and spend time with my kids, etc. Nope now for more changes......... no more tens allowed! If I work 5 days I am still gone all day, away from my kids all I get out of the deal is no day off! This just doesn't work for someone who is in full time ministry and parenting too! I don't live here to work at a credit union; I live here to be the pastor's wife at Element Church! I am excited about what God is doing in Millvale and I'm excited about what he wants to do in me and through me!

Wow, I'm a pastor's wife!

The other day, I was working at the credit union. I was really excited because Element Church was opening in only 2 days. I decided to tell a couple of members all about it. There response was not only positive but slightly comical. They loved the idea of Element church and wanted to be on the prayer team, and.... they said wow, you really can't judge someone on how they look. Now, previously I may have been insulted by this but not this time. I am not sure what they thought a pastor's wife should look like but they meant it as a compliment. I am proud to represent Christ there and at Element church!

Debbie Jenkins is awesome!

I have a great friend and her name is Debbie Jenkins. I mean it, she is awesome! I just spent the last few hours with her. We used to spend so much time together but in the past four years our lives have changed, ALOT! It hasn't always been easy for either of us, but one thing I can always count on is Debbie! One thing I hope Debbie will always know is that no matter what either of us go through there are two people she can count on! One is Jesus and the other is me! You are NEVER alone!

That's MY Girl!!!

JoLyn has been one busy girl! Beginning on Thursday, JoLyn was scheduled to go to her dress rehearsal for Aladdin Jr at school. Monday through Thursdays for a couple months she has been practicing for that. Sundays, all day, she has been practicing for Fine Arts. On Thursday afternoon, she hurt her elbow and has been in a sling since Friday. On Friday night she played a royal gurad in Aladdin. She and her friends were awesome! Saturday morning at 8 we arrived at SouthHills AG for Fine Arts.

Although JoLyn was exhausted, overwhelmed and in pain she just kept going. She participated in 2 human videos and a drama solo all before 1:00 pm. In the picture to the right you see her in her small human video. She did a fantastic job in all of the events but in this one she even reinjured her arm but finished. Following that, we jumped in the car so she could do her play for a final time. She actually fell asleep on the way to the school. JoLyn finished everything with a fantastic attitude! I was so proud of her! JoLyn has had some rough times in past few years. It was so exciting to see her just flourish. SHe is so happy and that makes me happy! Way to go JoLyn!

Great service!

This mornings message was awesome! It was something that I have been told more than once by more than one spiritual mentor, lol! It was all about your attitude being your choice. Attitude is something I have on occasion, struggled with. I feel that God has helped me come pretty far from where I once was. In 1992, at Valley Forge Christian College, my senior year wasn't 'FAIR." But as Pastor Jeff said this morning, life isn't always fair. I chodse, for a better part of the year to be pretty miserable. That is a year I will never get back. The dean of women, Jen Weinholt, told me then "choose to be happy!" I thought she was crazy. I mean, come on, so much was wrong that year and it wasn't my fault. But, I was the only one who could make that choice. I did not make that choice that year. Since then others have helped me realize that attitiude was a choice. I hope I have learned my lessons well! Pastor Jeff's sermon was so great and I hope that people listened. It is not worth sacrificing the time you won't get back. You can choose to be mad at the people or circumstances that you feel were unfair or you can change your own attitude and let God change you! God wants to use all of us but if we are unwilling to take responsibility for our own attitudes and actions, we won't be able to be used at all! I am not taking that chance again!