Today winter is mild!!! The kind of weather that makes me want to go outside, organize the garage (again), and go for a run/walk! All of the above is still on my list to do today ... so blogging will have to be brief!
The snow is melted. It's in the forty's today and going from zero to this seems 'not so cold'. I am liking the change of weather!!!
We had such a fun weekend being with some good friends! Life seems to take us on different paths at times and having a good group of close friends scatter to different churches within the past year is tough. We miss everyone so much and so when we do actually see them (or at least some of them), it's a real treat!!!
On Friday afternoon, Mike texted me and said that we are meeting Matt Lapp's for pizza at a nearby pizza shop! I was all into that!!! We bundled up the kiddoes and us two families filled a big table on our own. Our families are growing since we first started being friends! The kids had just as much fun as us adults. Trying to carry much of a good conversation though in a crowded pizza shop wasn't the most ideal ... but it was being with friends that made it still meaningful! We ate pizza, wings and fries and then we both went to our warm homes. The short night out was a tease!
Saturday was a day of cleaning and doing odds and ends here at home. Mike wasn't feeling the best. He has this soreness in his legs. I think a cold settled in his muscles and when he rests, his legs get achy. We babysat Sierra and Dylan in the evening and being inside from the rain outdoors was good!
Sunday morning we woke up just a little earlier because we decided to surprise Matt Lapp's and visit the church they attend. We walked into the church service trying to find them in the rows of people. When we spotted them, there were a few empty chairs right next to them so we nicely just filled the row! When they saw us, we hugged and smiled! Friends are so awesome and surprising them was fun!!! Again, our children and their girls smirked at each other and sat through the praise and worship. Our three children didn't go to Sunday School but sat in on the message. Here are some notes I jotted down during the message: The message was encouraging the younger generation to rise up. Every generation needs a fresh move from God. The message was titled "Experiencing an Encounter with God". The minister talked about Jacob and how when crisis hit Jacob ... he went alone before God. God will use a crisis to get our attention. When we are willing and go before God alone, He meets us there. Jacob had an encounter with God that day. God loves those who are desperate for Him! Jacob was honest about his weaknesses and that's what God wants from us. Sharing with Him all our faults and mistakes is what God loves from us! Sometimes we can't get free until we start confessing our weaknesses and ask for God's help! God answered Jacob's plea and even changed his name. His name went from Jacob to Israel. God wants to see us in our 'new name'. He wants to change the way we see ourselves. We are children of God and being a daughter of the KING ... does for sure change my name! Maybe not literally, but when we are born again and put off the old man and put on the new, we become different. Then the minister said that even though God takes us through things in life that we don't always understand, He is still God. Jacob made a memorial so he would never forget his encounter with God. Sometimes we just need to make a memorial too and remember the things that God has done in our lives!!! (We've heard a message about this at our church the other week too. I think being reminded and reflecting on the good that God has done for me is so healing and refreshing!!! It's exciting!!!) From that encounter on, Jacob walked with a limp. The minister encouraged us that all true servants of God should walk with a limp. A spiritual limp. A walk through life that reflects God! People should be able to notice Jesus in our daily walk with Him! We are called Christian's if we are followers of Jesus!!!
The service was over and we sat and chatted for a while before heading back home. Then after some naps, a visit out to Matt and Lena and watch some football with their football fans :), Matt Lapp's met up with us ... again!!! We both grabbed some cereal from our cupboards and both a gallon of milk. We followed each other over to JR & Ruthie's!!! We haven't seen them or hung out together in such a long while and we hoped that they were home!!! We pulled in and things looked dark. We went to the front door, carrying our cereal goodies! :) We were delighted to see that they were home and they welcomed our cereal party!!! The evening was spent together eating cereal, catching up, and enjoying each other's company! Again, the kids played together so nice! Ashlyn enjoyed seeing Ava and Colson again! Hadassah and Matthew always have a good time with the twin boys and the Lapp girls! Thanks JR and Ruthie for letting us come and spend the evening together! Thanks Matt Lapp's for the fun weekend together!!!
It's a Monday today and that means laundry, grocery shopping, getting the kids back into school, Mike went off to work and Ladies Bible Study for me! Bible study was also encouraging and reflecting on all the "good" that God has done for us/me and believing in His promises, makes me feel free! God really does want "good" for us and He looks out for His children!!!
Well, it's time to get to my list of chores! I hope you were blessed this past weekend too and look forward to having a good week! Blessings to you as you serve Him more!!!
