50.004

As my previous posts illustrate, I did not complete my 50 prior birthday posts.  Wow...just a busy time.  I am appreciative, though, of the life with which I have been so very blessed.

Today, four days after my 50th birthday, I spent with The Husband.  We just got in the car and headed out for the day. We stopped when we wanted, ate when we wanted, and returned home when we wanted, for we are both quite the home bugs.  Today was just a blessing getting to spend this time with him, for, thanks to our work schedules and my tendency to become over-involved, we often do not have enough hours to slip away as often as we would like.

Tomorrow, I am skipping out on church as part of our two-day weekend get-away, and we are secretly staying home.  Nerds, aren't we?   This we like!  I do believe the Lord has given me His blessing to do so...to take a day's break from teaching, playing the piano, driving the van...He's okay with it, for He knows this is just one day of rest that I need.

May I set some goals for the next 50 years of my days here on earth?

1. To ever continue getting to know our Lord Jesus Christ.  I so enjoy Bible study.  I pray that I love it more each and every day of the rest of my life...both by myself and with groups.  
2. To spend quality time with my family.  I so enjoy this also.  I really do like them...very much!
3. To find the right mix of time spent on church, school, and personal activities.  Right now, that mix is just not quite calibrated correctly.  Sometimes, the first two do not allow time for the third.  This needs to change.
4. To love more as Jesus does.  To act more like Jesus would act in the places He will send me.  To laugh and enjoy life as He enjoys it.  To serve as Jesus serves.  To lead, to go, to believe, to be...more and more like the Great I Am.

Five goals are enough, for should I accomplish these, I will be so blessed.

Now, to finish this day watching movies with The Husband.  I really do like him.  :)

In 37 Days...

In 37 days, I will be 50.  I have had an incredible journey; thus, as the days pass, I am reflecting on 50 highlights with family and friends.
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This evening we celebrated our son's turning 22 tomorrow. He entered my life as a ten year old and watching him grow into a young man has been interesting, rewarding, and, at times, challenging.  Blending families may be compared to a roller coaster ride.  Fun, exhilarating...and windy at times!

The Boy served his time in the Army and is now back home living with us, working and going to college.

The Husband did most of the cooking as he was off today; thus, coming into a prepared dinner after working all day myself was quite the treat within itself.

Raising kids, whether mine, ours, or theirs, comes with some Bible-driven convictions:  to raise them up in the ways they should go, so it won't depart from them.  Currently, only two of our three are actively attending church.  I pray for this to happen, for God to raise them up to be warriors for Him.  That is my prayer.  I am excited to see the day when this becomes a reality.

In 38 Days...

In 38 days, I will be 50.  I have had an incredible journey; thus, as the days pass, I am reflecting on 50 highlights with family and friends.
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After church this morning, several of us had lunch together to celebrate some of the "newbies" that have either been attending or visiting...or I suppose both!  Today's lunch entailed ten adults and Baby O...such a cutie this six-month old is!

One of the young men is a football player at a local college, who one day began driving around to find a new home church.  When he saw our BIG church sign, he drove to our church parking lot, sat, and upon perusal, decided that, because our building reminded him of his home church, this would be his new church family.  OR did God intervene and set up an Divine Appointment?

A win-win for us!

Two of the others are young teachers with whom I work at our local high school.  Just made my heart happy to see  them there and be in worship with them.

Others included our pastor, his wife, their daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and good friend Brenda.  Such a lovely time of testimony, laughs, food...yes, true fellowship.  So happy to be a part of such a church family.

Thus, at this point in my life, I am blessed to be "adopting" those that God sends our/my way.  My family does seem to be growing.  I should share, though, that adopting at this age definitely has its perks...they go to their own homes when our fellowship is complete!

Blessings!

In 39 Days...

In 39 days, I will be 50.  I have had an incredible journey; thus, as the days pass, I am reflecting on 50 highlights with family and friends.
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Today, I attended the Beth Moore Simulcast with two church lady friends. For this event, we traveled to a nearby church...where I have visited for the past four...maybe five?...years for this same inspiring time.  

What a blessing!  She took us on a study of the word agree...and a journey through a metaphor to a symphony. So very powerful!

We all have a part, a chair, an instrument...and when working together...tuning in and up...and keeping our eyes on The Great Conductor, we make the most beautiful of music. Can you hear those melodious sounds?  Simply incredible.

Today we were blessed to have a group of 25+ ladies in attendance from a Christian-based rehab center. What joy, what energy, they brought to our day. Throughout the simulcast, I found myself praying for them...that they find their chair, their instrument, that they lock eyes with Jesus Christ and never look away!

Today, from around the world, twelve countries, 450+ groups...over 12,000 women joined their souls together in praising our Redeemer. What a powerful day. Just tremendous. 

I so wish more ladies had shown up, but as I am learning, when the time comes for an event to begin, The Lord is there for who have shown, for as we were so powerfullly reminded today, where two or three are gathered in His Name...He is there. 

He was there today. 

Thank you, Jesus.

May Mrs. Mary and her team of ladies be so richly blessed for hosting this event for all of us. I so enjoy going...and sitting...and simply absorbing.

In 40 Days...

In 40 days, I will be 50.  I have had an incredible journey; thus, as the days pass, I am reflecting on 50 highlights with family and friends.
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Fridays in my classes mean coffee...and for one class, those brownies I baked last night!  (All the other classes have already received their brownies.)

I like coffee...with some tasty creamer stirred within. These kids, though, they love coffee. 

Will you keep a secret?  The coffee is decaf, for we are not supposed to serve anything caffeinated before noon. True. 

Shhhh....

The obvious perk of all this coffee?  My room smells divine!  Even if it is decaffeinated coffee!

I really like these kids, and I work them bell to bell.  For that cup of coffee, they will work even harder. 

This coffee...it does to the kids what the Holy Spirit does for me. Just a refilling, a rejuvenation, a resting in Him...keeps me wanting to do more and more for The Good Lord. 

This coffee costs me little compared to what He did for me on The Cross...for that I am eternally grateful.

In 41 Days...

In 41 days, I will be 50.  I have had an incredible journey; thus, as the days pass, I am reflecting on 50 highlights with family and friends.
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Today, I am very thankful for students who love Gillmore Brownies. And do they ever!

At the beginning of the school year, while teaching them a grammar song, I told them the best sounding song would receive brownies. They sang...and sang...and I began to invest in boxes of brownies!

A few months ago, a teacher friend said one of my love languages is through food. Yes. I had never thought of it that way, but I do enjoy caring for people through food. 

I have mixed about 20 boxes of brownies already this school year.  Why?  I love watching the response that my students...whether in my high school classes or my classes at church...love the response they exhibit to the stimuli of food. 

The Lord has blessed me to be able to bless others this way...and it just works. 

Now, to take the last of two pans out of the oven for my 5B Eng class. They have waited patiently for their sweet reward. 

In 42 Days...

In 42 days, I will be 50.  I have had an incredible journey; thus, as the days pass, I am reflecting on 50 highlights with family and friends.
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Tonight, I met with our group of kids who attend the Wednesday evening service.

Tonight, I was blessed to work with a friend and The Girl who are filling in while two helpers are out after having had surgeries. Bless them...all four of them!

Tonight, I did not have to drive the church bus because one of the ladies and her husband are helping out...giving me a break. Bless them!

Tonight, I am reminded that God answers prayers...for He dearly loves His Chikdren and wants them provided for...and I remain convinced attending church is the best place for them. 

Two weeks ago, we had 21 kids. Wow!  Our mission field is alive!  These numbers, of course, fluctuate, as bus ministeries do. Two weeks ago, I was not sure from where the helpers would come, but several have volunteered. God is so very mighty!

My prayer is that God gives me the love for this ministry that He has for it...until the teachers come along that He is preparing the hearts of, for my calling is not with children. In my day job, I teach grades 10 and 12...I really like the older ones!...but He is training me to fulfil needs, whether it's my "calling" or not. Very powerful lesson!

In what way(s) is the Lord using you...that you may not have intended for Him to do so...?