Month: October 2020

From my honey.

Either he wants me to cook more (so I’ll see it), OR he knows I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and wanted to tell me he loves me. It’s the latter. Love you baby.

It was a bit puzzling at first. Tatum received this gift from her MRI appointment last week. It was actually a gift for all of us because we all enjoyed adding a piece here and there.

504 pieces. And it took all of us. Seriously, it was a bit addicting. It made us all realize we need a puzzle out at all times. Ha!

It’s a day off! Columbus Day is still celebrated at PVCP, and for that I’m grateful. To celebrate America, red white and blue.

Also, we got Tatum’s costume! Oh, boy, I’m so excited because what she chose was something she could wear again. Those boots!

We went on a bike ride to our McCormick home and enjoyed time watching the changes!! SOOOOOOOON!!!!

To top it off, we had a sundae bar. It’s always more fun when you get to build it yourself.

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Cooper! Whipped Cream!! He’ll be right here.

What a fun day!

It was to be a special evening. I had thought of celebrating being grateful, and it was time to have a dinner to commemorate our gratitude. Now, I would like to make this a monthly dinner.

The only obligation on the part of the attendees (our family) would be to bring something that represents gratitude to them.

We got the table all ready.

(I’ll tell you about the beautiful candle in a moment)

Tot loves it!

Mama arrived and we took some wonderful pictures of this beautiful lady. (and my Tot and HHH).

My turn. Coopy had to give Tot a kiss since he adores her.

Now it’s time for our presentations.

Daddy first. WHAT!!!!!!???? Wow, he decorated a candle!

God is in the middle with His light (brilliantly symbolic) and the rest of us surround His Love.

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I’m blown away! teehee! Just beautiful.

Tot, what did you do?

Pictures of all of us. Homemade. Our family is what she is grateful for. Wow. I love you, Tot!

Mama now shared her gratitude. She read to us from her gratitude book.

Oh, yes, Coopy had to stay on his place and focus. Good boy!

She wrote a letter to Jesus telling that she hopes He’s taking care of Mimi. This was written on her birthday Oct. 3rd. She’s been with Jesus now for 8 years.

Beautifully written. She also found a recording of me delivering a Bible verse (Genesis 12) to a group at St. Thomas Church 46 years ago. Sheesh. I was 5!! Crazy!

I’m listening in awe. She saved it all these years. Thank you, Mama.

Now, my turn. I wrote a poem and drew the Cross.

Here it is:

Tot loved it too.

So blessed.

Ok, so now it’s time to eat!!
Turkey, potatoes (and mashed cauliflower), gravy, green beans, and gratitude salad.

Here’s the gratitude salad!

Gratitude Salad

Romaine Leaves: Leave your negative thoughts at the door

Tomatoes: Round: We have a circle of family who are always there for us.

Sugar Snap peas: The mini-orb is cradled in its sleeve, like God’s love for us

Cucumber: The cucumber is a vegetable, however, it is widely debated that it is a fruit. Is it not wonderful that no matter if we are a fruit or vegetable….we are loved and accepted!
Dried cranberries: a cranberry is a superfood! Packed full of anti-oxidants. It’s a FIGHTER FOOD, just like this family! We survive and stick together.

Butternut Squash: As we ripen and grow deeper, just like this sweet treat, it becomes a bright deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer.

Top it off with some parmesan cheese: A little goes a long way. Be grateful for the LITTLE things in life.

We served our dinner and played ABC’s of gratitude. Around the table, we took a letter and said one thing we are grateful for.

We had a delightful time. I cannot wait to celebrate gratitude next month.

I love you, Family!!!

Our SBC pastor, Jamie Rasmussen, had a tremendous sermon on Sunday pointing out the 6 values that each voter should bring to the voting booth. Now, there are so many more, but each of these 6 are backed biblically. This is what we as Christians should use to evaluate our candidate.

Now, I have already chosen to vote for President Trump (he passes the test for each of these), but I wanted to share this for Tatum someday when she enters the voting booth in 11 years.

The candidate I choose shall have to pass the test on these six.

1.The sanctity of human life

He quoted a statistic which brought me to tears. 60 million babies have been aborted (killed) since 1970. We believe (and it has been proven) that life begins at conception.

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works and that my soul knows well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16, NKJV).

2. The poor

How does the candidate view how to help our poverty problem? Does he/she (I’ll use “he” in this blog) want to throw money at them, or will he provide resources to HELP the poor. This doesn’t mean more welfare but opportunities for the poor to get out of their situation. A hand up not a hand out.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:33)

Now, this means that God CARES about the poor and as the church so should we (and so should our candidate)

The candidate’s financial plan is also key. Will his tax plan help our country’s economy or create more taxes for the rich so they cannot invest in our country to keep it going? They employ others we must remember!

3. The family

Family values. Why is this so important? Does the candidate care that family is where our country remains strong?

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

This is VITAL that a candidate cares about this because it is the lifeblood of our country. You cannot legislate morality, but you can do what you can to promote families staying together and children honoring authority.

4. Equality/racism

Need we say more?

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:28)

Example: The recent movement, Black Lives Matter, is not an organization that promote equality. It promotes truly the opposite.

5. Religious freedom

Our founders came to this country to escape the religious persecution they experienced in England. God wants us to choose him freely not by force.

The rich young ruler approached Jesus and “went away sorrowful,” choosing not to follow Christ. (Matthew 19: 16-23) Jesus did not follow him because God does not “force” belief in Him. God gives us the freedom to choose or reject Him; so should our country.

6. Strangers in the land

How does a candidate handle these “aliens” in our country? There is no answer to how to handle the illegal immigrants who are here, but we can protect our borders from dangerous outsiders. For those who are here, what is the HEART of our leader? Is it gracious? kind?

“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 22:21)

“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)

Putting a candidate through the filter of six values can ease the stress of picking a candidate.

I’m so grateful that Jamie illustrated this for us.

May God bless our 2020 election!!!

You need a hug.

NOW!

We adore you, pup. XXOOOOXXXOOOOXXOOOO

We want to be this kind of family and these kind of people. What does this all mean?
First, we started out our meeting with our verse: 1 Thess 5:15 and our Mission.

Then we went through the three traits of what kind of people we want to be (vs. the antithesis)

First, Contributor vs. Consumer

Yes, contributors serve. They give. They add to others’ lives. Consumers? They use others for what they can get. They have ulterior motives for being kind or loving. They take take take.

We want to contribute!

Encourager or discourager?

Oh, we can all work on this. Do we build up or tear down? Do we look to help each other grow? Or do we criticize, condemn, and complain? Such a huge difference in how we treat others (and really our happiness quotient).

Influence or distract?

Influencers are leaders. But lead others to do the right thing. They make a difference. Distractors can lead too, but they can lead to the wrong direction.

We came up with scenarios for Tatum for each of these. (and the WHY to being contributors, encouragers, and influencers).

For the activity to illustrate, we said, this cup represents you, Tatum.

Psalm 18:29: For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

Colossians 1:29: For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Ephesians: 3:20-21: Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Wow. Now, this is power, love and strength our GOD gives to us!

Now, decorate your cup with HIS love all around you, in you, and through you. (Smiley faces)

Now: Ephesians 2:10; For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Tatum, you are his masterpiece, and He has prepared you to serve and do good! Your purpose is unique to what that looks like.

So, how do you fill up daily with his SWEET SWEET LOVE? (we filled it with juice)

PRAY (talk to HIM!!) and READ His Word. Build that relationship with Him.

When you fill up on HIM, guess what happens!!?????? You can now:

Contribute

Encourage

Influence

We are filled with His Spirit and we are equipped. Great illustration.

We ended the meeting with hugs, prayers, and a yummy dinner!! Hooray!

Let’s be contributors, encouragers, and influencers today.