Pause

We can see injustice all around us.  But it is so interesting that when we perceived the injustice to be on our behalf, we truly are blinded by the reasons the other person/people behave the way they did.  It is a hard pill to swallow when your child/children tell you that you were an unfair parent when they were younger.
Perceived experiences are so experiential that we forget to consider the place in which the other person was coming from for said experience.  We must remember to pause before we respond.  Because when we respond without consideration, we lose the opportunity for conversation.  It only invites dissent and argument.
So, I say pause and reflect.  You may not even need to answer or respond.  Be humble.

Senior Year

So my youngest is entering his senior year at Calvary Christian Academy in Philadelphia.  He will be the last of my children that will graduate from this school. 
He asked me yesterday if I was sad.  I am not.  I am excited to see what God has for our family as we end an era and begin a new one.
Seasons come and go all the time.  And while it is great to remember moments from them, we must not look back too long or we will miss what is right in front of us. 
This is going to be epic.  I cannot wait to see how the Lord will work.

New Building

Our church has been renovating a new rental space for our worship meeting on Sundays.  We will be able to call the space our own and it really has been a long time coming.  We were finally able to get into the space.  Woop!!!

January

Our photo booth at a Friend's Anniversary/New Year's Eve party.  Josh and Abs with some friends.

Me with Miss Grace and Miss Linda. Love these women.

Abby and Teegan.  Too cute!  The Shea girls.

The Hubby with The youngest.

Bill and sister Kathy and brother Mike.  First group photo of them in a loooooong time.

My nephew Kallen.  Love him.  He is blessed with such loving parents.

Children's Ministry

Children's Church fun 

So many good verses as we read through Proverbs

Route 56

Our church has a group that meets once a month for 5th and 6th graders. It was started the year Ste was in 6th grade. That was 5 years ago. Well due to various leaders being called away to other ministry the group was running for the last year with no head leaders. Bill and I started praying and felt The Lord calling us to step up and take control of His group. We are excited to see what God has in store for us. Sunday was our first meeting. While we only had 4 kids attend, we know God was present. 

Camp and a sleepover?!

Miss Abigail headed off to camp this morning.  A camp right up her alley.  All about organic farming.  Yes, she will be there the entire week from 8:30-4:00.   Then she will be sleeping over at her Grandparents house (Bill's parents)!!!  They live only 6 miles from the farm she will be at so my Mom-in-law said she would take her for some of the days.  Well today she said she could stay all week.  I will be shocked and surprised if that occurs.  Why? Because my daughter can be a handful and Bill's parents have not had a young one around in a loooooong time.  I mean Mike is 28 years old!!!   They do watch my niece Julia but she is only 20 months old, very different from my Abs!!!   

I am a little sad as I will not be able to see the excitement on her face upon pickup!!!  But, she really wanted to sleep over and I didn't have the heart to say no!!!!  My babies are growing up and I am not ready for this!

Stephen really wanted to attend a missions trip that our church goes on every year to a town called Coatsville.  It is in PA only about 1 1/2 hours from here but I was not ready for that.  I said NO and made up all kinds of excuses.  Well yesterday they departed and he was a little bummed as two of his closer friends were going.  :(  As bad as I felt, I also know I would have not made it the week without him.   He is currently spending some time with my parents.  So yup, you guessed it, we only have Joshua!   

You can judge me later, but just wait until they want to venture away from you and you're not ready for it!!!    I am preparing myself for next summer when the youth group goes to Belize.  Another whole country!!  AHHHH!  I think I may have to chaperone that one!  LOL!  Believe me it has nothing to do with the people who go!  I trust them explicitly.   It is my crazy thoughts that I must know ALL things in my child's life.  (Oh boy am I a head case!)  I like to experience things with them and see their reactions, thoughts, and concerns.   It is a good thing I only had 3!  I couldn't imagine trying to keep more with me for as long as possible.