Thirty Years.

That’s how long we have pastored Crusaders Church in Decatur, Illinois.

All I can say is, if we had known then what we know NOW, there might not have been a church. Or at least not started by US!

But what I know is that God has been with us each step of the way. Through all of our stupidity, fear, lack of talent, and even laziness. He has brought us through.

We have a small church. Some may say it’s not worth the trouble, but if just one child’s life is changed, that’s worth 30 years of my life. If we have shown one family that a life with Christ as the center is beautiful, we've not failed.

Yesterday was a good day. 52 in church. Meghan and I taught 25 children in Sunday School in a room smaller than many bedrooms. The good thing about that is we’ve finally figured out a way to manage many children in a small place, we’ve finally figured out a room arrangement so that I can even take a step or two while I’m teaching. Megz and I work well together, and if it weren’t so exhausting, it would be fun!

And the best thing of these thirty years is that I have done it with a faithful man that I love with all of my heart. We’ve been able to show our children that life is not about the money or the house, but about serving others for God. I think they’ve learned that and that is worth it all.

I switched the kitchen cabinets...

And I'm sitting at the computer, silently waiting for comments. DH just walked to the kitchen for his morning cup of tea. Just waiting ...

It has occurred to me that the kitchen cabinets were not loaded logically. Stuff right above the dishwasher goes in and out of the dishwasher. Those things that aren't used as often were above and to the left of the dishwasher. So it was always awkward to put dishes away.

I had a quiet morning, so I switched. It started with pulling out the OTC med bin and throwing away old stuff and straightening that. Then the first aid bin, checking that, writing down needed stuff like UNEXPIRED hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol.

Then I unloaded the dishwasher. And did the whole gotta put the dishes on the counter first, then close the dishwasher door so I can reach the shelves. Hmmmm. Everyone is still asleep. No one to comment or get in my way. So I did it!

Just heard a HMMMMM in the kitchen. I'm just going to wait and see what he says...

The Big Day!

The day finally arrived! Andrew and Sarah's wedding day! It was a beautiful crisp October day! Everything went perfectly.

Andrew and his cousins/groomsmen drove through McDonald's before the service.















Here's Meghan as a beautiful bridesmaid! I can't believe how grown up she looks (and is!).




















And Charles was a very handsome groomsman.




















Sarah was absolutely beautiful. Her dress was wonderful!




















Waiting for Sarah.















Here comes the beautiful bride




















Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Durst.

Sequins....

Did I say that I bought a beautiful light blue dress with a beaded and sequined brocade jacket? And did I say that I hate beads and sequins? So I am picking them off. I thought it would be a 2 hour job, maximum. NOT!

So far, I have invested 7 hours in this project, and both sleeves are bling-free! I have sequins everywhere, and still hundreds of them on the dress. I WILL get this done, I just didn't realize how stupid it was to attempt this!

I love the dress, hate the bling. Pass the seam ripper, and change the channel to TVLand.
thankyouverymuch.

10 days until we get another daughter! Woo hoo!

Counting Down....

Less than two weeks until Andrew and Sarah's wedding. We are so excited. We met Sarah in Atwood where she picked up her dress and we also picked up my dress and Meghan's from the lady who altered them. Sarah looks like a princess in her dress. It still needs some work, but it looks wonderful!

Millie fell at home late Wednesday night and cut her head. She has been in the hospital ever since, being treated for anemia and high blood pressure as well as the staples in her head. We're all hoping she will be as good as new by a week from Saturday!

I'm sure there's a lot to do, but no one has assigned any chores to me yet!

Meghan and I went scrapbooking Friday night at 2 Scrappy Cats. Our scrapbook buddies are so funny. There's a whole roomful of ladies quietly working on their projects. Then there's OUR table. We talk, we giggle. We snort. We laugh out loud. And the other ladies try to get a look at us without actually turning their heads. And that makes us laugh harder. Those quiet ladies don't even TALK! It's just so weird. But for me and Megz it girl friend time and we thoroughly enjoy it.

Sunday morning in Sunday School.

Five year old Bless: Miss Meghan, you're old!

MegZ: I'm OLD? If I'm old what are you?

Bless: NEW!

Bridal Shower

As we count down the days to the BIG DAY (October 13th -- Andrew and Sarah's wedding), we keep checking off the things that need to be done. Of course, *I* don't have nearly as much to do as the kids do, but it's fun to see the time passing and their wedding day come closer.

Today was Sarah's bridal shower. It was also the first time I got to meet her Mother (Leah) and Aunt Georgia. What beautiful ladies. They are just as beautiful as Sarah!

The theme of the shower was an English Tea. The tables were beautifully decorated with ivy and old tea pots.































Sarah's good friend Amanda Blue was the shower hostess.

Both of Andrew's Grandmothers were there:
Grandma Millie Durst and Grandma Ruth Kelsey.






















And here is the whole gang:

Bride, Mother, future mother-in-law, Grandmothers and Aunts.

Who's in charge here, anyway?

I constantly ask (okay nag) my family to clean up after themselves, put their dishes in the dish washer, clean up the counter. And put their leftovers away, rather than leaving them out on the counter to dry out.

So, this is what I find when I come home. Yes, someone put their stuff away. No, no one left their leftovers out to get gross.

But. This is not what I wanted!

Last Days of Summer

So much has happened since my last post. In late July, Andrew proposed to his sweet Sarah, and a wedding is fast approaching. We are making lists and checking them twice! We could not be happier with his choice of a wife to be! She is everything we could ask for in a daughter-in-law!

In addition, school starts tomorrow. We have plans for putt-putt golf and ice cream tonight to say goodbye to summer.

And I need to make sure that both kids have found their uniforms!

But we've had a great summer! Youth Camp, and Great Commission mission trip for the kids. A trip to Nashville, and a few days in Chicago. I wish it would never end. I love the long hot days.

Monday, Monday

So, it's Monday at the parsonage again -- one of the most challenging days of the week. After a very hectic weekend, I decided to leave work early so that I could just be in my house for a while -- and to spend some quality time with the washer and dryer.

Laundry seems to be my downfall. I can not get it all done -- washed, dried and put away. There seem to be so many other far more interesting things to distract me.

But today was perfect. The sun was shining, and I always get lots more done when it is bright and sunny. The Amana has been chugging and chugging, I made Italian beef for dinner, and we've had a peaceful (so far) evening.

I' m getting ready to go get my sheets out of the dryer so I can make the bed, decide what is for dinner tomorrow night (my other huge procrastination issue) and maybe plan a scrapbook page or two.

Last week Meg and Charlie were on Spring Break. It was wonderful just not to think about homework, clean uniforms and schedules. But today they went back, and now we are just hanging on for summer vacation.