Ok, so I am little late getting out the details; but here they are nonetheless. Every year the church we attend here has an International Meeting over the holiday weekend. Fellow believers from all over the world gather together once a year to fill our sanctuary and our homes. I have always loved being able to keep people for a meeting. It is such a blessing to be able to serve God’s people in a home environment. I have always wanted to have a huge house where I could house families for varying periods of time and help them out. When I first got saved, or gave my life to Christ, an older couple took me in and gave me a good home to live in while I got myself on my feet.  I learned so much while living in that communal atmosphere, good examples and not so good:) But all in all, it put a deep desire in my heart to want to do the same for other young families. I want to be able to minister to them, show them a godly and biblical pattern for family life, for living healthy, for raising children for the glory of God.

Anyways, so if you hadn’t guessed, acts of service is my love language and I love to “do” things for others. And it also means to much to me when someone “does” something to me. It speaks volumes to me. (That’s why I rave over my new friend Jodi for helping me out at the end of our first homeschooling year - she’s awesome, by the way.) So, being able to keep my friends and their parents that past weekend was truly a blessing to me. They wanted me to sit down and relax, but I tell you, I got more pleasure and joy from serving them than I ever would just resting:) So, thank you my sweet friends, Amber and Rachel, for allowing me to take care of you for a few days. I had such a great time of fellowship and wished our time had been longer where we could have just spent days talking and working together. Rachel’s mom had suggested that I open a “wellness center” where I would take people in and teach them how to live a healthy lifestyle and prepare/cook healthy meals and snacks. If I did, Rachel and Amber would the perfect people to help me pull that one off:) I am blessed to have such wonderful friends.

I am sure the messages were great during services. I did not hear all that much, working in the nursery most of the meeting. But the night service that I was out (and the one I snuck out of during song service) the Spirit was rich and I had a wonderful time praising and worshipping the Lord with friends I do not see so often. I know some might call this just an “emotionalism”, and you can call it whatever you want. God made us with emotions and if He wants to use those as a vehicle to allow me to “feel” what being in His presence must be like, I am totally in for it. I know that serving the Lord is not all in what you feel and that your feelings will often lead you astray, but it is refreshing when God uses them for what He created them for - to assist us in praising Him. As the song says, “The reason I live, is to worship Him.” I was created to serve and bring glory to God. And I have to say, it is the most fulfilling reason for living I have found, and trust me I looked.

Well, I was asked for some recipes that I used this weekend. So, here they are:)

Partially Baked Granola

2 cups barley flakes

2 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup raw honey

1 cup sunflower oil

3/4 cup flax seeds

3/4 cup sesame seeds

1 cup mixed premium nuts

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup dried fruit (cherries, cranberries, apricots, etc.)

dash salt

cinnamon to taste

Mix all dry ingredients first, then add oil and honey. Stir. Bake in glass casserole dish in oven on the lowest setting your oven will go (mine was 170) for a few hours (you could leave the door partially cracked if you don’t have little ones running around at that time). If you have a dehydrator, that would be the ideal way to have some raw granola. (But for me this, is just going to have to work. I consider it to be partially raw, kind of like Ezekial bread.) Stir occasionally. Remove when slightly browned. Place on aluminum foil to dry and cool. When it has cooled, place into an air-tight container. And enjoy:)

Double Chocolate “Oatmeal” Cookies

Preheat oven to 375

1 cup butter

1 cup turbinado or raw sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 egg

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 cup whole grain flour (I use spelt)

1 1/2 cup barley flakes (or rolled oats)

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Mix. Bake for about 10-12 minutes.

I usually double this recipe for my family (cookies don’t last very long around here).

Nut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 375.

3/4 cup butter

1/2 cup nut butter ( I use sunflower)

1 - 1 1/2 cup raw sugar cane (the less sugar the better;) I often use 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce as a substitute for 1/2 of the sugar allowance, then I just have to add a bit more flour to make the consistency thick enough)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 cup whole grain flour (still using spelt)

2 cups rolled oats, or barley flakes

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Mix. Bake for about 10-12 minutes.

Oat Bran Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Preheat oven to 400.

1 cup whole grain flour

1/2 cup flax meal

1/2 -3/4 cup oat bran

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 beaten egg

3/4 - 1 cup milk ( I use vanilla almond milk) (May need more milk, oat bran seems to absorb the liquid)

1/4 sunflower oil

1/3 cup raw sugar (or use some applesauce, or honey, or xylitol)

1 cup chopped apples

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix. Fill paper muffin cups about 3/4 way full. Bake for 20 minutes.

I usually triple this recipe so that they will last for a week or so around here. They make great quick breakfasts for the kids on busy days. Add in a protein smoothie and they’re good until lunch.

Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake

This is a treat around here. I was glad I was able to make it and enjoy it with my friends. It’s a lot of work, but worth it for those who truly appreciate a not too bad for you, once in a while treat.

Preheat oven to 325.

1 cup walnuts or pecans, coarsely ground

1 cup cookie crumbs ( I used the double chocolate cookie crumbs that are left in the bag)

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons raw sugar

12-16 ounces of dark chocolate, cut up

1 cup milk (I use the vanilla almond)

5-6 beaten eggs

3/4 cup raw sugar

1/3 cup whole grain flour

1. For crust, combine pecans, crumbs, melted butter and 2 TB sugar. Press onto the bottom and about 1 1/2 inches up the sides of a greased ( I use coconut oil) springform pan. Set aside.

2. In a large saucepan or double boiler, melt chocolate and milk over low heat till completely melted. Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, 3/4 cup sugar and flour; beat 10 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Fold 1/4 of the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture. Fold chocolate mixture into the remaining egg mixture. Pour into crust-lined pan.

4. Bake cake in a 325 oven for about 45 minutes or until puffed around edge and halfway to center (the center will be slightly soft). Cool pan for 20 minutes. Remove sides of pan. Cool for 4 hours. Serve with fresh strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.

Cover and store any leftovers (yea right) in the fridge.

Be careful! This stuff is really, really rich. A small piece goes a LONG way:)

Okay, I think that was all the recipes I was giving out. The grilled Mahi-Mahi recipe I got off of allrecipes.com, and the wild rice vegetable side dish as well. Oh, eggplant! Okay, here’s how I do mine:

1. Peel eggplant. Slice into 1/2 inch circles. Set out on towels and sprinkle sea salt over all. I use about 2-3 eggplants for my whole family. Let the eggplant dry out for as long as possible (all day, or all evening and then dry and put in the fridge for the next day). Flip eggplants and re-salt.

2. After they are done drying, I rinse off the excess salt and pat dry. Now you’re ready to assemble your “lasagna”.

3. Put it together just like you would lasagna. Layer of tomato sauce, then eggplant, then ricotta mixture, then sauce, then cheese and repeat until eggplant is gone.

4. Bake covered for 40-45 minutes in 325 oven. Remove cover and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until liquid is dried and top is slightly browned.

Ricotta mixture:

1 tub of ricotta

1 beaten egg

1 TB of parsley

1 cup Parmesan cheese

For the cheese on top, I use a mixture of Asiago, Romano, and Parmesan (all freshly grated).

I can’t give away my famous Italian tomato sauce, sorry;). (Just kidding, if you really want it, email me.)

Enjoy!

I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at Campground next week (Lord willing that we can make it!). I also had a great time visiting the White Bear Lake assembly in Minnesota. Hopefully, Aaron will post some pictures from our trip to the zoo online. It was fun. The kids had a great time. The Patton family in White Bear are such wonderful hosts and always treat us so kindly. Makes us want to stay longer and visit more often:) I had a really, really awesome time fellowshipping with Priscilla, Jessica, and Rebecca (and the guys too). I especially enjoyed our late night talk. Why is it that we always bond over those last few moments before we turn in for the night? I always have such good conversations then! Anyways, I am thankful to be able to call them my friends and look forward to seeing them again.

Looks like we are going to get as much traveling in as possible before our newest arrival makes her long awaited debut. I love this time of year when we get to visit and spend time with good friends and make new ones.  Looking forward to seeing more of everyone next week!

It’s been forever since I blogged! I have had so much I wanted to write about, but fear that my incredibly blunt presentation would ruin it:)

The weather is finally gorgeous and I have officially shut the heat off! Hurray! We have been trying to get the house ready to keep our wonderful friends from KY and MI this weekend. I am really looking forward to fellowshipping with the Hunts and Halls, as they are such delightful people with whom I have much in common. It is always nice to be able to be around others that share similar views on health, and children, and of course God:)

The children are doing a lightened load of academia for this week of just one lesson in their Saxon Math. We do schooling year-round, as the whole purpose of the summer break was devised during the time when so many children had to leave school to stay at home to help with the crops and harvest.  We will be taking time off here and there for times we are out of town or for “field trips”, but I do not ever want my children’s minds to be idle. There’s always reading time each day - from the classics and pre-1960’s literature (before children’s reading materials were “dumbed” down). Being an English major, I am prone to not want my children to feed their minds “fast-food fiction”; but rather, want them to enrich and challenge their minds to rise above the mediocrity of today’s youthful literature.

Anyways, I have quite a tendency for going off on tangents, huh? I have about 9 weeks to go before the birth of our sixth blessing! Hurray! The last trimester is always the hardest, isn’t it? I feel absolutely gigantic! I got that waddle thing going on in the evenings when my lower back starts telling me how annoyed it is that I have used it all day long. Oh well, I still think it is all worth it. 9 months of some personal suffering for a lifetime of joy is hardly worth comparing. And the healthier one is before they get pregnant and during pregnancy, the less problems there are anyways. I am very thankful that I have not had any complications or problems (besides the varicose veins - ew!) with any of my pregnancies. God has been good, allowing me to find and learn, study and research in the area of health and wellness. It also helps when you’re mom is a CNHP:) We are getting a birthing “hot” tub for this birth. I am super geeked about this. I have read so many helpful and good things about water birth and am looking forward to adding this to my experiences.  I thought home birth was the best ever, but home birth with a hot tub might just be the absolute tops:) Of course, I will have to chronicle the experience. Maybe I will even have newborn pictures! hehe… We always have the camera out and ready when we do and go places, but forget to use it. So, we’ll see.

Alright, enough of the ramblings! I am praying that God will meet with us this weekend and bless the efforts of all involved; that those traveling will be covered and the fellowship will be uplifting and insightful. The meeting review will be up shortly after this weekend, I hope:) God be with us all.

Okay, so today is get involved day…

 But seriously, we watched The Business of Being Born last night on netflix. It’s crazy, because I knew like the tip of the iceberg when it came to the state of the billion dollar birthing industry we have in America; but this documentary went further. It went to the roots of where this all came from and where it is trying to take us, if we let it. I am disgusted with the false amount of information American women are being fed; and also disheartened to know that we digest it without doing our own research, or checking up on things.

Even if you are done having children, or too young, this documentary really should be seen by all Americans. This is our children and our lives that are being harmed, put in danger.  Our way of life and all its natural principles, put into place by God, have been altered to fit an industrialized country since the 1920’s. We have not progressed as a nation, but rather have digressed. We have put the good of nation-building before God, before family, and before the health and well-being of children and mothers. 

As I have been researching and listening to various films about this and other issues regarding homeschooling, and even entrepreneurial avenues, I am finding that our country took a serious nose-dive for the worst when it began its nation-building during the early 1900’s. It was at that time that our country really lost its focus. No longer was the family, freedom, God, or biblical principles the lead, but instead it was power,money, and greed of the few “most important”.  “Social efficiency” became the accepted philosophy of the day - and has continued since.

Family businesses were discouraged and the spirit of independent thinking and the entrepreneurial spirit was broken as “bigger” businesses became the thing to do. Public schooling was introduced and enforced as the corporate powers realized that if you can control the mind of the youth, you can control the mind of the nation. Evolution and other philosophies were placed into the curriculum that directly challenge God and biblical teaching.

Hospitals were introduced as the “safe” place to give birth. In 1900 almost all births were done at home (like over 80%). By 1955 only 1% were at home. What happened? And since that time our country has become second in the world for the highest number of infant deaths. The philosophy that “professionals” are smarter, better qualified, and better equipped to handle the issues of life was largely promoted through propaganda. Ads portraying scary looking, backwards, “old-world” looking, uneducated, unintelligent type of women as midwives were shoved down every American’s throat as the hospital and medical field went out to convince people that birth was a medical procedure to be handled by “trained professionals”, of whom, not one had actually witnessed a human birth.

America has been on a slippery slope since that time. That was also the time where the government illegally slipped in the 16th Ammendment  that would create income tax for all Americans, since they were all employees now of the large industries that were coming into power… Our constitution was being thrown out even then, and has been snowballing ever since.

I find that I cannot just sit on false information. Especially information that I once believed and now am coming to terms that we have been lied to over and over again. We are in a spiritual battle. I do not believe that any one person is to blame for what has happened to our country; but I do believe that the devil is trying his best to destroy a country who started its journey because they wanted to worship God the way He was leading them to.

The battle is not over. And if you read the back of the book, we win. I am determined to fight this good fight of faith until God sees fit to move me out of the way. When our world gets the darkest, now it is when our Lights will shine the brightest. It is not time to cower back in fear, or retreat to our own little corners of the earth, but it is a time to stand boldly for all that is holy, true, and right in the strength and power of the One who created the heavens and this earth. 

I was checking out this site that I found through my new favorite book;) and I came across this testimony that just really spoke to my heart. I love to hear how God deals intimately with those who are called by His Name.

 Anyways, check it out here.

So, how’s everyone been?! I am sorry I have fallen off the face of the blogging community;) It has been crraaaazzzy here. We finally moved (seems like a really looong process) on Friday. I can’t get over how much stuff we have. Like we need all this stuff!  But then again, I go through the kids’ clothes and things and get rid of what we can live without like every season; the problem is we aren’t sure if we’re done having babies, so I am holding onto all my baby stuff and the baby clothes, etc.

Anyways, the new house is a wonderful blessing. We sooo needed the space for our kids to homeschool and grow in. We took a week off of school last week as we were back and forth from the old house to the new one, painting, moving, cleaning, getting appliances, etc. It was nuts. I love being HOME with my kids and am really glad that all the running around is over. I do not like running around with them with a “to-do” list and a ga-zillion things to accomplish. The goals suddenly take top priority and my children’s needs come secondary. I like it much better when I can stay home, and play with my children, read to them, and be there for whatever they may need (like discipline;) and of course lots of hugs, direction, instruction, the list here is endless).

This week we started back up on school; though they may not like the idea that “vacation” is over, they are slowly starting to get back into the swing of things. One of the first things I made sure to set up were their “offices” so that they could have their own spaces in separate rooms to get their schooling done. Micaiah is in the office, Isaiah is in the formal dining room at a children’s table, and Caleb has the eat-in dining room table. I printed up their schedules and posted them at their desks. It was hard to find a time for family devotional, since Micaiah usually starts school earlier than the boys and I have been trying to find a good time that works for everyone. Today we had our first devotional in our new house. I want to make it a top priority that they understand that time with God together is the most important time of the day. This comes from modelling. I pray that I can be the right example for them to follow.

This weekend we heard about how important individuals are personally to God. Our pastor talked about Paul in the book of acts and how he had went to this one city because of one person - Lydia. Her salvation was so important to God that He sent Paul and Silas there for her; and while they were there, they freed that one damsel of the spirit of divination. And because they cost the owners such a loss in their business, they are beaten near to death and thrown in jail. All this because of Lydia and that damsel. It wasn’t like they saved thousands of people there, but God is interested in saving one person at a time; using human instruments. Also, a side note was added that Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed unlawfully - they were Roman citizens - and could have voiced up their rights; but they suffered for the name of Christ, to bring Him glory.

The main point was that instead of murmuring and complaining or whining to God of why He let them come to this city and suffer all this for a couple of people, they prayed and sang praises to God! And were freed as a result of their joying in their tribulation. Amazing God we serve. And after all that suffering, they turned and assisted the jailer, who had no doubt caused them much pain and suffering, in being saved as well. What forgiveness and compassion!

I can’t even imagine. Paul had a right to write everything he did in the book of Philippians, to that very group of people who had started out with just a couple of families. He had been there as a witness to them and an example of how to act in persecution, during trials and tribulations. His example gives me something worthwhile to emulate. I pray that I can “rejoice always”, no matter what is going on around me. To show an example to my children, my “disciples” for Christ, of how to deal with the daily stresses of life, the struggles and the tears.

At any rate, hope all is well with everyone and I hope to get back into the swing of whatever “normal” is suppose to be for me and mine;)

It’s been the theme of the weekend. What is your vision? Why did you come to the Lord in the first place? What is keeping you in church? What drew you to the body of Christ in the beginning?

I am sure that everyone could have very different responses to this. All the same, it has really had me thinking. Why am I here? Why this particular church? What is my vision for being here?

How do we even define vision? ” Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18) The word vision there means, “dream, oracle, revelation, or sight.” Even more interesting is that the word perish here means, ” avenge, avoid, bare, go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse, and uncover”. If you don’t have a vision, you will turn back; what keeps you going is your vision.

To me, a vision is the mission or purpose that God has ordained for your life and all that pertains to your life here on this side. Noah Webster said, “Faith here is turned into vision there.”

People often refer to their vision of the body of Christ and their revelation of the same. No one can give you a revelation, or a vision. Only God the Father can reveal His Son to you. So, it seems that a revelation of Christ and a vision could be synonymous.

So what is my vision? I came to the body because the of the love that I felt in the Spirit of God that was there when I came in for service. I came in and people hugged me. I felt loved and accepted. It was such a stark contrast to the cold rejection I had felt out in the day to day, dog eat dog world. I longed for a family, for connection, for a bond that transcended petty squabbles and pointless arguments. I was searching for a people who could love me, who would work with me, and help me to become more like this Jesus with whom I had completely fallen head over heels for.

When I found such a people, God confirmed to me through so many experiences that I had indeed found the place where I was to be planted.

When God brought me to the body, He did not plaster me into an organization, but rather a living being. A body - none other than that which belonged to Christ. A body is not the church building. It is not the school building. It’s not a building at all. It is a group of people, who have been called by God to work together for a common goal. That goal is to reach heaven. To save as many as we can on the way. That is my goal. First and foremost, to train and guide my children to Jesus so that they might be saved. This responsibility is mine first, not society’s, not even the church’s, but the Bible is quite clear that I am responsible for my children. Secondly, I have a duty to my brother to help keep him. To do my best through the grace of God to love others as I want to be loved. To help others in the “church” to feel loved, accepted, wanted, and included. I don’t go to church for a social gathering or for a popularity contest. I go because I am seeking my Savior, and I am called to do so with other believers. We are to strengthen and encourage one another, not exclude or huddle off with a select few. Though my vision has been questioned and scoffed at by those whom I love, I cannot deny how the Lord has dealt with me; and I am not sorry for following His call.

So, what is my vision? A revelation of the truth of Christ Jesus, His amazing, transforming love which I desire to cultivate in my life so that it might be felt by those around me. My vision is the purpose God has given me in my life - first to my family, then to my fellow man. I know what God has called me to do. And I am determined to remain faithful to the task He has laid before me.

But this is what I really wanted to talk about…

I have had a lot on my mind lately, so since this is my “outlet” I thought I would talk them through here:)

The messages lately have been about being a holy people and getting the secret sins out of our lives so that we can have a greater connection and greater outpouring of God’s Spirit in our midst. Holiness is such a “controversial” issue so it seems, but really what it all comes down to is who am I going to serve today - myself or God?  In every situation this question can be asked. From the time I get up in the morning and I “am too tired” to get up early and pray (serving self) to the time when I get angry and talk harshly to my son and then don’t want to say I am sorry (because of pride - and serving self)…

Or the day could go the other way around. I could get up early, though the baby woke me up all night long to nurse and be next to me, and pray and talk to the Lord, because I love Him and I WANT to be with Him more than I want to get some extra sleep. I lose my temper in front of my son, because I am human and I do make mistakes, but I go and repent both to God and my child, because I don’t want sin to separate me from the Lord. As I go through the day, I try to put God first. And when I miss the mark, I repent, accept forgiveness, and try again.  Proverbs 24:16 “For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again…”

When I really stop to think about it, the simple life choices that arise throughout the day are decided upon based on whom I love the most. We are not going to be a holy people if we don’t love the Lord more than we love being “in” or “right” or whatever.  Each choice that I decide tells the Lord just how much I really think about serving Him and His ways. My choices will either take me closer to the Lord or further away. I don’t want to drift away from the Lord. Someone once said, you don’t have to do anything to drift away. Yet, if we are to really get anywhere with the Lord, it will take daily commitment and dedication.

This is what I truly desire in my life. My children will learn by what they see and not by what they are told. If I worship in service, my children will as well. If I through God’s grace temper my passions, they will try to do the same. If I handle stress God’s way instead of man’s, they will try to mirror my reactions and responses to life’s curve balls. As the mother in the home, I am the gage for the spirit and atmosphere that dominates my home. Aaron isn’t here all day, so I can’t blame it on him if the air is tight and snippy when he comes home. God help me.

That message Bro Wilkinson gave about grace was amazing. I still think about it. If I want more grace, I have to make the choices God has already shown me how to make. I have to live the way He has already shown me to live; to walk, dress, and respond the way He has already instructed me countless times. The more I show God I love Him through my actions, the more grace He will bestow. I know that I can make it through His amazing grace.

Amazing Grace will always be my song of praise

For it was grace that brought liberty

I do not know; just how He came to love me so

He looked beyond my faults and saw my need…

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary

To view the cross where Jesus died for me

How marvelous, that grace that caught my falling soul

He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

His grace is still catching me today…

The other song that really has been blessing me lately, is the song (though I know someone else recorded it) that they sang in Cross Plains while we were there.

My faithful Father, enduring Friend
Your tender mercy’s like a river with no end
It overwhelms me, covers my sin
Each time I come into Your presence
I stand in wonder once again

CHORUS:
Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
Your grace still amazes me
‘Cause Your grace still amazes me

Oh, patient Saviour, You make me whole
You are the Author and the Healer of my soul
What can I give You, Lord, what can I say
I know there’s no way to repay You
Only to offer You my praise

It’s deeper, it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
It’s deeper it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
than anything my eyes can see

I pray that I am always awe-struck by the grace of God and that His love never becomes common or ordinary to me; that my actions daily show my true Love how I feel about Him.

It’s been a while, huh?  It’s been crazy busy around here to say the least.  I did however, want to get in a little post about how the Warren Youth Meeting went. We drove up on Wednesday night and broke up the trip by staying a little outside of Chicago; then onward to Warren on Thursday. Hannah did MUCH better on this trip. Hurray! We stayed with Aaron’s aunt and uncle that night and spent some family time there. From there we went on to the Travis’ awesome house that they’re staying in until their house is finished (it had burned down last Thanksgiving and is being completely rebuilt.)  They are so sweet in keeping us for the majority of the weekend! There were several others staying there as well. Mike Davenport from Jerseyville was there (with all his camera equipment - he’s a professional photographer and took our family pictures in between services; I knew it would eventually pay to have all the children matching for church, ehhehe); Doug Fargher and his girls were there, they’re such sweet girls and Doug has so many awesome stories about his job, coupled with his zeal for the Lord and keeping kids away from those kinds of endings, he’s just an awesome guy. It was really a great time of fellowship there.

Services were just what the youth needed.  A good share of youth attended, from Sacramento, CA to Grand Bay, AL and everywhere in between and beyond. Different ministers spoke at the beginning of each service with a youth-directed message that really dealt with the younger people were they needed it. The remainder of services were worship, youth really getting in and getting their needs met, and other testifying at other parts of the services.  God really moved there and we are thankful His Spirit was there.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t in too many of the actual talks of the meeting, since there was no staffed nursery and of course, Hannah is not going to sit quietly by while I listen and take notes. (HA!!!) And I was NOT about to make everyone else miss service by keeping her in church while fussing. ( I cannot understand that at all. It is impossible to hear over a crying baby in church; besides that how unnerving for the speaker! Just a pet peeve of mine…)  Nonetheless, I would have done it over again.  When the Spirit was moving, older saints from our assembly would offer to watch the younger 2 for me in the nursery, or others would offer to hold Hannah while I went down front. They had a monitor in the nursery and I did get to hear some of what was going on. Plus, I really think it’s always good to go and mingle with the saints and get to know more family that I haven’t met yet:)

We then were privileged to stay with the Hall family (yet again;) on Sunday night. They invited just a “few” people over - -hahahahhah — like everybody and their sister came! I couldn’t get out though, because Hannah was having a clingy moment and wanted to nurse all night.  By the time I finally detached myself, it was almost 4 in the morning.  And would you know it, some of them were still hanging out by the dying embers.  Then they all decided that it was getting on toward dawn, they should go out for breakfast! I opted for bed, and they all went about their business; running on about 0-1 hour of sleep for the next day.  Crazy young people (heheh… I would have gone too, though, if I hadn’t had Hannah to worry about;)

Anyways, it was a great trip and we had a great time.  It was really awesome to see Amber and Josh and hang out with them on Monday day at the park and have some chill time.  We also had a good time seeing Jon D. come up from KY - he’s always good company.

I look forward to the next meeting we are able to go to. Not sure if we will be able to make it Campvention here in a matter of weeks, but hopefully soon we will all be in fellowship once again!

Well, since I wasn’t actually in the meeting most of the time… I am glad that Jonathan took good notes and posted on it:)

We were able to rotate out of the nursery for parts of the day services and I did get Thursday night out (the last night of the mtg - my favorite!).  It was awesome.  The Spirit came in soooo rich that night, I got such a good touch when I saw my former pastor’s wife down front. I went up and we prayed together… it was so nice.  I miss them so very much; though I am very thankful for where God has placed me.  Then later on in the service I was honored to get to pray with my friend Amber and Stacy; we just had a great arm-linked-Holy-Ghost-dance-down for the rest of service.  It was great.  I miss worshipping with friends and praising God together with other of like-minded youths.  To say my heart and mind were refreshed would be an understatement.

I also had a GREAT time fellowshipping with Amber and Rachel; with whom I had the privilege of serving.  You almost wish they’d start services later on in the day so you can stay up all night talking, and then sleep in that day:)  But it was all good.  It’s a good tired after the meeting, knowing you spent your time and energies all for the Lord.

I am definitely going to get the DVDs or wait until Aaron uploads the meeting online so I can listen to them.  I heard many ministers say they got soo many nuggets, that it would take time to digest it all:) I  look forward to hearing all the good talks from the many different perspectives and gifts in the body.

I didn’t take hardly any pictures, though (I could just kick myself for that one).  The few I have I will upload later…

Anyways, I hope we get to go to campground.  I just want to see everyone! hehe… and hear some good preaching;)  God bless everyone!

Just wanted to post a quick aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!  The meeting is coming up next week, the kids got out of school last week, and I am trying to get as much done as possible before Tuesday… needless to say, it’s been very hectic around here.

Anyways, please pray for the meeting next week and that God will be in every song, every talk, every every thing!  I would love it if everyone could make it, but I know that is not always possible:)  But if anyone can, that would be AWESOME!

I will try to post pictures and some service summaries of what goes on during the first “general” meeting here in many years.  God is just going to do something wonderful…

I just feel like something is about to happen…

I just feel like something good is on its way

He has promised that He’d open all of heaven,

And brother it could happen any day

When God’s people humble themselves and call on Jesus

As they look to heaven expecting as they pray

I just feel like something good is about happen

And brother this could be that very day.