Debt-free!!

Wish I could say that Steve and I are the ones that are debt-free: we're not, but our church is!!  Praise God!!  Yesterday, at Homecoming, we burned the note for our children's wing -- paid it off a couple of years early, too!  God is good!!

It's a good thing we paid off the children's wing because our membership is growing so fast that we need to build a Family Life building with extra classrooms. Two weeks ago 10 people were baptized, and there are 7 more waiting to be. I guess we'll soon be choosing a building committee to get the ball rolling for the new building.

Homecoming was wonderful! The sanctuary was full -- the music was great -- the Spirit's presence was evident -- and the food and fellowship were outstanding!! 

Steve and I are both ailing with our backs today -- hurting more than usual. When I got home from church yesterday, he had a temp of 102. He hated to miss homecoming, but couldn't make it. Glad he didn't with a temp!!  I don't think it's the H1N1 virus because he doesn't have any of the other symptoms. He feels better today, so we don't know what's up.

Love to all!  Remember that no matter what happens, it's all in God's hands.

A great weekend . . .

It's been a great weekend in the piedmont area of NC. The weather's been fantastic - very fall-like. We've opened the windows and enjoyed cool breezes for almost a week.

Friday I had lunch with two good friends. We tried out the new Chinese/Japanese restaurant in our area. The food was hot and fresh -- very yummy!

Today we had a good church service and had lunch with some friends after church. For supper we had BBQ chicken cooked on the grill -- at Bill and Melanie's again. Wow! 2 meals with them within 3 days. Can't beat good food, good fellowship, and loving on grandbabies!!

Hope everyone else is enjoying cooler weather and that you're safe and healthy and happy!!  Much love!!

Checking in . . .

It's been so long since I wrote anything. I've been busy with grandbabies, church, and READING.  I watch very little TV now -- I read instead. I fix dinner, clean the kitchen, then read until bedtime. Yesterday I actually managed to work some vacuuming and window-washing into my schedule. It's so hard to put my book down and do chores! I need to start praying for some self-discipline!

We spent some time with our son, Jeff, and his family last week. We spent one day on the lake, cruising in the boat and enjoying the sun. It was very hot when we stopped moving on the water - in the 90's - too hot to be sitting still on the water for very long. We ate at a nice waterside restaurant. We just pulled the boat into a spot at the dock, like you'd park a car, and hopped out to go inside to eat. It was so COOL in the restaurant - I hated to go back out into the sun. Alex (2) LOVES riding in his daddy's "water boat". Little Maddie, who is 5 months old, was oblivious to the whole adventure.

I'm keeping Bill's 2 little ones, Owen and Makinley, while he's working. I pick up Aidan, who started kindergarten last week, at 2:30. So far he's enjoying school. I think the teacher makes all the difference in how their school experience begins. Praise God that this teacher is reputed to be one of the best at his school. We're looking forward to a good year.

I'll be tutoring in first grade again this year, but haven't been told when I'll begin. I'm looking forward to working with those teachers and kiddos again this year.

Even though I haven't posted in a while, I have been reading everyone else's posts. Love to all!

New Computer!!

Actually it's not new - I bought it from a friend - but it's new to me and it works!!  My old computer DIED - the motherboard bit the dust. This one is much nicer than the one that died and the monitor screen is about twice the size of the old one. The friend sold it to us for very little. God is good!! He even cares about our computers!

Love to all!

Mini-Getaway . . .

Yesterday I drove to my younger son's home to spend the day and stay overnight. He's out of town for a few days, so I had some good fellowship with my daughter-in-law and their two precious little ones. Alex is 2 and Maddie is 4 months. It was wonderful to spend some cuddling/loving-on time with them! Maddie has her first cold, though, and didn't sleep well last night. Lee Ann and I took turns sitting up with her. She slept well for brief periods of time, but then would begin to fret when her stuffy nose prevented her from breathing normally. I didn't get much sleep, but I got plenty of snuggle-time!

Next week I will begin keeping my older son's children again while he and their mommy work. I haven't kept them on a regular basis since my first knee surgery in April. I've kept them a few times, but am looking forward to being their regular caregiver again.

I've been reading some good books by several new (to me) authors: Marie Bostwick, Tracy Peterson, Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, Terri Blackstock, are the names that come to mind. Their books are just GOOD stories with good values - no sex, no violence, no bad language.

We have about 3 weeks left in the Beth Moore Esther study - OH SO GOOD!!!

Much love! Hope everyone is staying cool - I'm tired of 90+ temps everyday.  I shouldn't complain. though, when I think of our service men and women in the Middle East sweltering in 120+ temps.  God protect them and send them Your cool breezes!