Saturday, October 30, 2010

Saturday evening hanging out with 2 cute dogs. They are napping so that they will have energy to walk to their beds later. :)

I'm enjoying getting to be on the internet while house/dog sitting this weekend. I'm getting a lot of work done.

I finished up buying items for the Teachers at Northside Elementary School. This is the second year that we have asked the teachers for a wish list to help them in their classrooms. It's fun to shop for the items. I got to share about missions and FBCR with the cashier at Office Depot. Great stuff.

I got to have lunch with Nana Ruth today. I've been trying to spend some quality time with friends in the midst of all the busy-ness.

This week my youngest sister, Pam, found out that she has breast cancer. They think they may have found it early. She goes to the surgeon next week and the oncologist the week after. Hopefully, they will have a plan determined in the next weeks and get this taken care of. I'm asking everyone to lift her in prayer, for healing and for Christ's salvation.

I would love for as many believers as possible to send her email messages. pjboles@hughes.net I think she would be amazed at how many people who don't even know her are praying for her. A real example of just how big God is.

I'm still trying to get my mind wrapped around the fact that I'll be leaving for Nicaragua in a couple of weeks. There is still so much to do that I haven't really concentrated on all I need to do to be ready.

One by one, I'm handing off projects or wrapping them up. Kaylie did a great job getting some volunteers together to pack the latest group of Compassion Kits for Dubai. I'll deliver the teachers gifts on Tuesday. Hopefully, the people that God is calling to lead the Friday Free Meal Project will step up and the ministry will be in place soon. I think everything else is in good hands.

One thing that makes me cry every time I leave for any length of time is to be away from my wonderful church family at Cuerpo Vivo. I love these families so much. I am truly blessed beyond words to get to serve with them when I'm here in Rogers and then to get to serve with Voice of Hope in Nicaragua. God is so gracious.

I'm getting some much needed rest this weekend since I can stay in with the dogs and do computer work. I actually took a nap yesterday and hope to grab one tomorrow, too. It's easy to do here in sleepydog land. A good atmosphere to rest and spend time with my Awesome God.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

I'm so excited to get access to internet while I'm doggie-sitting this weekend. I can actually update my blog more often. I have a bunch of work to get done and it will be a pleasure to do it while snuggled up with 2 cute pups.

Yesterday I got to have lunch with Janalynn from FBCR staff and we caught up on family news and what's going on with us personally. I had a quick meeting with Kaylie, who is going to take over the project of filling 360 compassion kits for the Dubai missions. Then I spoke to the Youth really quickly about the Nic trip and got to spend a few minutes with the kids to confirm their info. We have 28 people signed up at the moment. I think we will have an awesome group. It's going to be a great trip next Spring Break.

I slept in my own bed again last night and it was wonderful. The clothes just keep piling up in my room as I am sorting what to take to Nic, what to pack for Dubai, what to store for next summer here and what to get out for winter. At least all the clothes are clean and they will eventually get put in their proper places.

It's kind of like my life right now. All these piles representing projects and ministry responsibilities that are being handed over to the appropriate people to continue them. One at a time, in the proper way and timeframe, God is directing what should happen with each 'pile'. Soon they will all be taken care of. And it will all be clean and fresh and orderly. Just like He plans.

Tonight I went to the Medical Clinic at FBCR and got my flu shot. I think I'm all immunized up for my stay in Nic. Of course, I probably won't get sick anyway, just run over by a fast-moving ox cart. ha

Yesterday, I was blessed by a love offering to add to my computer savings account. Now I can go ahead and get my new (used) laptop and hopefully have it all ready to go to Nic with me. I'm sooooo excited. God is so good to me. And I am so thankful.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Another busy couple of weeks. I'm loving it.

I finished up granny-sitting with Miss Juanita on Sunday, the 17th, so I wasn't able to stay for the Cuerpo Vivo church dinner. Someone was nice enough to make me a plate to go. It was yummy! Although my lips are still stinging for the green sauce on one of the meats.

I spent all last week concentrating mostly on the Cuerpo Vivo Marriage Conference. I think my shortest workday was 10 hours that week and the longest was 17 hours. It was action packed but I loved it all. The conference was a huge success. It started on Friday night with the couples in the sanctuary for the speaker and the kids were in the nursery wing and gymnasium. We were scheduled for 2 hours, but of course, we went to 3. Everyone loved it. Saturday we had a dinner for the couples before the speaker part and the youth served as waiters and kitchen help. They did such a good job. My friend Cathy did the food planning and most of the prep. I helped with shopping, prep and then cooked off the food before the dinner. We had salad, roast pork tenderloinl, sweet potato casserole, sweet & sour green beans, roll and tres leches (3 milk) cake made by another friend, Becca. Everyone loved the food and even asked for some recipes. At the end of the dinner, Pastor Jaime asked that all the dinner helpers come out to the dining room. The couples gave us a standing ovation. It was great to see how happy the guests were.

The couples wore dress-up clothes and had their pictures taken when they came in. The room was dim with candles and special harvest-type table decorations. Each couple was given a glass candle bowl with wedding rings tied on with ribbon. It was really pretty. I had a great time making the decorations with different friends who helped at different times.

We fed the kids pizza on the dinner night and they were happy. They got to play all kinds of games and even won some prizes from contests that the youth supervised.

Sunday morning was the end of the conference and they showed pictures of the couples on the screen. I got very teary-eyed as I looked at these lovely couples and thought about the families that I have come to love so much. Then Pastor Jaime took the stage wiping away tears and was choked up and couldn't speak at first. Then my tears really began to roll! It's such a loving church family. I am so blessed.

Last week I was also able to meet with Heidi and Katrina Mills, a mother/daughter team who are going to direct the Christmas Angel Tree and Christmas Food Boxes projects this year. I'm so excited for them to take the raines on this. I will miss being here for those December mission projects, but I will be loving that I get to serve in Nicaragua over Christmas, too. God has blessed me soooo much!

I need to get some more communication out to the people interested in the Free Friday Meals project. Hopefully, we'll get it staffed before I leave for Nic in three weeks. Becca Janes graciously volunteered to head up the meal planning and menus. Now we just need a Volunteer coordinator to help lead that part of the team and we'll be set to start up. It will be nice to get going.

I get to sleep in my own bed for 2 nights in a row! woohoo! Then 10 days of doggy sitting. This helps me save up for a new (used) computer. Maybe I can get it before I leave. Hmmm.... that's only 3 weeks. Looks like it will be after Christmas instead. But that's okay. I'm excited anyway!

Time to head home and get some laundry and housework caught up on. I'm in the midst of packing for Nic, so I have clothes everywhere in my room. I'm starting to feel the pressure of getting all my personal things done before I leave. I know it will all work out though. God's timing and plans are always the best. I'm so thankful.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Wow! It's been 2 weeks since I've posted. I've been so busy with work and with many, many sitting jobs (for which I am very grateful!).

I have been able to earn enough money for my new glasses (which I love, by the way), a dentist appointment and putting some cash away into savings for a new computer. It's kept me hopping getting everywhere I'm supposed to be. I haven't missed anything yet, but I'm keeping a list on my phone as well as on paper (in case I lose the phone).

I got to doggie-sit with Gus Krupka again. He is such a cuddler, but so heavy! He also has to sleep with you and he is a bed hog, not to mention that he snores like a lumber jack! I like being with him though. Those big brown eyes sure get to me...

I was blessed to kid-sit for Manuel Hulsey this past week. I picked him up from school and we ran errands, including have a nice meal at Olive Garden. After running to Walmart and then to my house to take care of the pets, I told him we were going to his house next. He said "Praise the Lord". I think he was getting a little tired. He played the drums for me with the Rock Band video. I had to clap and woohoo like I was at a concert. He is so funny. We had a very nice time together and then I took him to school the next morning. He told me that Don (his imaginary friend) knows Deanna. Evidently, he thinks that she is my imaginary friend since he didn't see her at my house. Manuel said that I could come back and stay with him another time if I want to. I think I'll take him up on that!

Deanna came home yesterday. yay! Of course, I'm granny sitting with Miss Juanita again, so I'm not at the house much. But it's nice to know that she is there. Jet is very happy. She gave him a huge brushing this morning. He laid on his back with his feet up in the air so she could get his tummy. He looks so much slimmer (for him) without all that extra hair. I was not very good at getting him brushed while Deanna was gone and it really showed. He is such a sweetie.

We had an informational meeting for potential team members for the Spring Break Nic Team. I'm working on getting more info out to the interested parties this week. I'm on the move so much, and a lot of places that I'm staying at don't have internet, so it's hard to get everything done and sent like I would prefer. It will all come together, though. I'm excited about getting the team put together and all we will experience as God works around us and through us in Nic.

I met with some people about Thanksgiving Meals. I will be in Nic this year, so I won't be involved with the meal project here, except to get the flyers printed. I'll be serving beans and rice to a community on Thanksgiving day. I can't wait to get back down there!

Well, better get off of here for now and finish my work at the church so I can get back to Miss Juanita. I'm thankful that there is work to be done while I'm at her house. God sure blesses my socks off!

I'll be running around this weekend buying more supplies to fill 360 more Compassion Kits for Dubai. It's fun to buy so much stuff and get to talk to the sales clerks about why I'm buying it. It's fun to share what God is doing and how easy it is to be a part of His work. I'm hope I'm planting seeds everywhere I go.

There's so much to do and I'm so thankful that God allows me this life to help with His Kingdom! All glory to Him in everything!!!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Friday evening and I'm chillin' with Miss Juanita. I like hanging out with her. Especially when she laughs. It's a sweet sound. We are both tired and thinking of going to bed before sundown. :)

This has been a busy and productive week. It started out as a sick day on Sunday (too much contraband over the weekend). But Monday was a full day of Food Pantry, Staff Meeting and then childcare for the Cuerpo Vivo classes in the evening.

Tuesday started out with attending Cuerpo Vivo class and then quarterly (sort of) Team Celebration for workers at FBCR and the Christian School. We had lunch out on the patio on the grounds of the new church. It was a nice fall day.

On Wednesday, I picked up the 4 oldest Janes kids and put them to work at the Olive Street church building. We worked on cleaning out a resource closet and helping to get some items ready for Trunk or Treat later in this month. We moved many hymnals, Bibles, coffeepots, office supplies and other items out of some of the classrooms. I think Matthew's favorite job was to ride on the cart. They worked hard and our 'pay' was lunch at Schlotzkys. It was yummy! Then I dropped them off at the new park for a play date.

Thursday morning, Shirley and granddaughter met me for another hard work shift of cleaning out some more of the classrooms. It's amazing how much stuff is left in these rooms. It's taking lots of hours of work, but it is worth it to get it all cleaned out and spruced up for the realtor to show the building.

This morning, Shirley and Elizabeth and I worked very diligently on cleaning out and organizing the small kitchen. We moved many cartloads of stuff to a staging area for a 'yard sale' later this month. It felt so good to have that little kitchen all ship-shape. It worked out great to have Sam there at the Food Pantry to cover that while we worked on the 'stuff'. I did a little computer work, and then left about 2pm very tired. I actually went home and took a nap before coming over to Miss Juanita's house.

One of my exciting things this week was to be able to get my eye exam and order my much needed new glasses. My sitting money added up to covering the cost and I was so excited to get them ordered! I should be receiving them next Wednesday. yay!

Deanna's son was sick this week, so I took a few shifts of getting Mel to and from school and gathering groceries for the family. It was fun. I'm glad that I can fill in for Deanna when she is away. I can't wait till she gets back, though. I sure miss her.

Jet is tired of me running around and leaving him alone so much. He was sleeping by the front door this morning and he followed me around everywhere while I was getting ready for the day. I thought he was going to get in the shower with me for a minute there! ha I'll get to spend most of tomorrow afternoon and evening with him, so hopefully he will be happy. The cat doesn't seem to mind as long as there is fresh litter and catfood. I do need to clean the filter for the fish pond tomorrow and they will undoubtedly be happier with me, too.

God has been so wonderful to me. I appreciate all His blessings. Even the hard times. That's when I grow closer to Him. I am so happy and thankful to be able to live this life that He has given me. To work with so many different people on many different projects. He makes my life full.