Month: July 2019

getting to hear the testimonies of my fellow kitchen workers was so ministering.  It’s a great reminder that every person has a past.  Every persons past contributes to their belief system and choices they make now.  And when we submit to God and listen to HIS voice, our future can and should look so different.

We joined the congregation of Tents of Mercy on Shabbat….Saturday.  What a fun reunion getting to see many of the adults and kids at camp and then participating in the service.  Wow!  Goodbyes were also difficult.  The “Camp high” is still lingering.

One of the coolest events was seeing my kiddo lead worship on the Sea of Galilee.  Goodness!  Tucker has many talents….music is one of them.

My prayer today is God…..show me who you are.  I want to know you better.

What a gift to be given time off of work for 2 weeks…..and to be in Israel.

My daughter, Scotty, loves oatmeal. She eats it nearly every morning she’s home with me. We’re each having a bowl as I type this.

The past two weeks off work have been such a treat – an exhausting, much-needed treat.  Connor and Scotty have been with me for almost a month now.  Even though our time has been chock-full of fun activities (we went to a place called Rainbow Vomit, and it’s every bit as cool and weird as the name suggests), my favorite times have been sharing breakfast with the kids.  The quiet moments before the day starts are the ones I treasure most, and the ones I miss the most when the kids aren’t with me.

On Wednesday this week we got to deliver Meals on Wheels to folks who couldn’t otherwise get out and get food. I remember my grandmother delivering MoW through her church when I was a kid, and I always thought it was cool that she gave back in that way.  Now, I get to show Connor and Scotty that same example – how important simply delivering a warm meal can be, and how a smile can brighten someone’s day.  I’ll admit, the recipients are much cheerier when they see two cute kids with their meals than when it’s just Ruben and me who show up (ha!).  Our route wasn’t the usual “FD” route, either – we were in abjectly poor neighborhoods – which was eye-opening for all three of us.  Connor navigated our way, and made observations about the environment and people that were intelligent, compassionate, and telling that he understands how lucky he is to have all that he does in life.  He’s a smart one.

I’m grateful for a company who allows me this time to relax and spend time with my kids. I’m grateful for the opportunity and ability to give back to others who aren’t as fortunate. Mostly, though, I’m grateful to have some amazing people in my life who love and support me.

Today, Emily will join us to deliver MoW again!  We’re sure to start an ongoing game of counting how many cats we encounter on the route, and which ones are cutest.  Scotty and Emily will probably win.

Cheers,

P

Instead of my typical helpers of people leave service where I go to kids camp or youth camp or even volunteer physical efforts at Live and Care, I wanted to do something different this year. So I began months ago putting out feelers with people I know to volunteer using my administrative giftings. Turns out there are people who need help with spreadsheets. I couldn’t imagine a better fit for me. In case you’re not familiar with Prepare International, they develop and encourage leaders and churches work around the globe. My friend Tommy connected me with Beth who works in their home office. Working with Beth, I had the opportunity to learn of some workbooks that needed a little attention. One specific example, they needed an efficient way to keep track of petty cash and the deposits and withdrawals. However, being a ministry that travels all over the world, the maintain balances in numerous currencies. This was just one project of a handful that I helped with, al of the objectives being to improve a process they were doing or create a way for them to analyze and digest data. All things considered, it was a fantastic way for me to serve and I pray my efforts and work is helpful for many years to come! I do hope to maintain a relationship with the people of PI and I even volunteered to be available going forward as other workbook needs arise.

As I reflect on my time this week, it was a sweet combination of peaceful, rewarding and fun.  I sometimes take for granted my administrative abilities and gifting in Excel but this week I am praising Jesus for blessing me with talents and opening opportunities to use them to benefit His kingdom. I’m also grateful to have the opportunity to serve in new ways and I am blessed to work for a company that encourages this opportunity.

I’ve been back from my trip to Israel for a few days now. It was a wonderful trip. The highlight of the trip was being able to be baptized in the Jordan River. On the day we left, we stopped in Akko to visit with Susan Heagy from Abundant Hope International. This organization serves Holocaust Survivors in Israel. Susan always lives in a house where she can let volunteers stay while they are there. She is having to move into another place because the beautiful house she is renting now has been sold. While we were there we helped her disassemble some of the beds in the house and pack up some of her dishes, books, etc. It was a joy to visit with her and learn about her ministry to the Holocaust Survivors and their families. Thank you Kris and the board for allowing me to take extra time off to take this trip of a lifetime. I was so blessed. I would also like to thank the accounting department for all they did for me while I was gone. Not only did they get my financials done, they also went to visit my mother at the rehab hospital across the street from the office. She really enjoyed having them stop by to check on her. FDLIC is truly the greatest company to work for. Thanks again.

As I type the title of this blog, I’m reminded in Proverbs – “We make our plans, but God determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9).  The last time I blogged was last July when I was taking off of work to host the TX SLAM Tennis Tournament.  But, God had a different plan.  My husband Jon landed up in ICU.  I never made it to the tournament.  So, it’s with great reserve I say I’m leaving for Israel in 3 days….at least I think I am!

Our daughter, Tucker, and I determined after Jon died to keep a journal for a year.  We wrote all the character traits Jon possessed that made him Christ-like and incredible.  Then, we both picked one of those “Jon” traits to work on through the year as a tribute to his lasting legacy.  We decided we would need to compare our journals on a trip that commemorated his death.  Well, our church takes a group to Israel annually and well, it just seemed the right thing to do.  We’ll be working a kids camp the first week in Israel, then touring the 2nd week.  Of course, we’re planning on talking a lot about our journals on the long plane ride.  (Just so you know, Jon Smith was one of the most kind persons I know.  He really never let his emotions get the best of him and always treated people with respect.  This was an obvious trait for me to work on this past year because I can be very unkind at times & I hate that flaw. My journal is full of successes and failures in this area! And yes….I’ll be working on it the rest of my life!

Can I tell you how grateful I am to be making this trip with my daughter?  I’m excited for what God will reveal to us and how much we’ll learn about God’s country, people, HIS character,….  I’m also looking forward to serving with other members of church that I hardly know and getting to know the people in Israel.

Thank you Kris and FDLIC for allowing me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Nadene

I’m sitting by the pool at our hotel in Tiberias by the Sea of Galilee. We came her on Saturday and will spend the remainder of our trip here. On the way from Jerusalem, we were able to stop at Jacob’s Well in Samaria. This is where Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman about living water. We also went to Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean Sea. Yesterday we sailed on the Sea of Galilee worshiping on the boat with Danny the boat captain. Today we went to Magdala where Mary Magdalene was from. We also went to Capernaum. It’s been a blessing to be able to go to all these places and worship.

It’s been a fast, furious, tiring and glorious first 4 days of my mini-sabbatical. I left for Israel on Monday morning and we arrived here on Tuesday about 4:30 pm local time. I was able to sleep some on the 10 hour flight and I still had no trouble sleeping thru the night Tuesday. Wednesday morning we wanted no time getting started on our adventure. We boarded our bus and headed out of Jerusalem to Masada, En Gedi, Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Then we went to the Dead Sea where floated in the salty water. I even found a camel there to ride. We got back to the hotel in Jerusalem and ate our evening meal then we had a worship and praise time before turning in for the night. Thursday we headed to old Jerusalem (City of David). We walked through Hezekiah’s tunnels. We also went to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. We also went to tunnels that run along the Western Walls under the Temple Mount. It was a long and exhausting day, but totally worth it. Tomorrow we will walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

I am so very thankful for the Helper’s of People week that I was able to take.  I went back to camp this year as a counselor but not as a kids counselor-I went as a middle school counselor.  I must admit I was just a tad bit nervous to be an 8th grade girls counselor.  Originally I had not planned on going to camp this year.  I told myself that I would only go IF they needed counselors and guess what they still needed counselors at the parent meeting in early May.  So that was my sign to say, Okay I am going to camp.  Thankfully, the other counselor, Cara, that was with me just happen to be a friend of mine as well as a junior high teacher.

Once at camp we met our girls in our cabin and the hustle and bustle of camp began.  I enjoy camp because it is a time to witness the younger generation worship and let down their guards they are all slowly and quietly building up throughout the year.  Camp is also a time for me to slow down and not worry about the everyday, but to refocus and have more conversations than normal with God.

From the moment I walked out of the cabin each morning my glasses fogged up-gotta love the humidity.  Days were fill with games, free time, worship, family group Bible study, evening service, and finally coming back to the cabin with 15 teenage girls.  There was a lot of eye-rolling and huffing, but I would not trade it for anything because the message each day was powerful and to see the message through their eyes was very worth a sweat filled week.

Of course I did get to see my own child at camp as well.  He would find me after each meal and ask for money for candy and ice cream at the store-yep that is definitely why enjoys having me go to camp.  My trade-off is seeing him worship with his friends and not caring who is watching.

One of the best lines I picked up from camp was: “The Bible and God’s word is like deodorant.  It does not work unless you do”……yes this is odd but I do have a middle-school aged boy who let’s just admit does not smell the best a lot of times.  This was a great description and really caught their attention.

The week flew by.  I do enjoy camp greatly, but I so enjoy coming home to my own bed!