women's ministry

My mind has been a whirlwind lately of thoughts about Women's Ministry.  So much so that I am wishing I had a degree in Women's Ministry from SEBTS and not just Biblical Counseling!  I'm having to remind myself that God is in control and knows exactly how to reach the women in and outside of our church.  We collected almost 50 surveys from women on Sunday and I spent almost all of Sunday evening collecting data and making charts of what the women in our church want.  (Remember my comments about organization yesterday...yeah).

Bottom line, I know that women are busy.  Whether they work at home or outside of the home. Whether they have young kids or grown kids.  We women seem to have trouble saying "no" I have realized, and that can almost leave no time for "extra" stuff.  Unfortunately, church can sometimes get put in that "extra" category.  I know I'm a little bit different because as a minister's wife, I sometimes feel that church is our only category!  (And I'm ok with that!)  I guess because church can sometimes feel like it is my "only category" I am so eager to spend time with women at church, but I realize that not everyone else is that flexible.

Why am I writing about this?  Well, I need your help!  I have heard from the women in our church.  Now I want to hear from you!  What elements of women's ministry at your church are most relevant to you?  What Bible studies have you most enjoyed?  What is the most important element of a women's ministry?  What aspect of an event, study, or program makes you look at your busy schedule and decide it is worth your time?  What element would you love for your church to include in a women's ministry?

I know what I think - and it would take a ton of posts to fill you in on what's going on in my head write now about Women's ministry ideas.  So I would love to know what you think!  If you can, please take a moment to share your ideas.  Thanks!

musical monday

I've been really slacking on Musical Monday lately.  Not only have we been sick the last few Sundays or I've been in the nursery, so I'm missing out on our church worship service, but I really just don't listen to the radio any more.  I'm in need of an Itunes update!  I've got an Itunes gift card from Christmas and I'm ready to spend it.  So I need your help!  What are you listening to lately?  I mean, anything!  I usually listen to Christian music, but I'm so out of the loop in any genre, so I'm up for anything!  Please share...what songs are you listening to these days?

spring cleaning!

Before I head to church tonight, I have got to clean out my purse! I'm going to take you along with me...there's no telling what we'll find....

In order of appearance....

Day planner for LifeLine
Cell phone user manual
Food & Fitness Journal
My cell phone
My day planner
List of videos at LifeLine
Note pad
Receipt from Wendy's
Wallet
Map from last week's training
Receipt from Hibachi Xpress
Copy of Psalm 51:10-13
Paycheck
Reimbursement check
Another paycheck
Justin's paycheck
Wachovia deposit envelope (you see what I didn't get done today!?)
Crayon
Small tub of playdough
Quarter
Empty gum container
Button & thread
Checkbook
Receipt from Chick-fil-a (3/13/08)
Nametag
Pen holder
Receipt for a Kohl's survey (3/12/08)
Lipstick
Pencil
Animal Crackers Pet Spa & Resort Pen
Another pencil
Hope for the Heart Abortion Recovery Pen
LifeLine cell phone
10 pieces of gum (just lost two to Jazz!)...make that three!
4 gum wrappers
Mini Krackel wrapper
Mini Hershey wrapper
Another Quarter
Real Simple Speed Cleaning pamphlet (!?)
Entry Code for the church in Cary last week
Wal-mart Receipt (12/28/
JCPenny Receipt (11/30/07)
Chapstick
Mini tape measure


Whew! All of that and only 50 cents?! I was really in need of a purse cleaning! How about you? I'll give you a reason to clean yours...anything interesting hiding in there right now??

Oh...and..I'll answer any questions you have about this random list of items!!

v is for very important mission

I'm getting toward the end of my alphabet blogging days and I've decided that its more fun to let you (my readers) help me out! So...over the next few days we will be playing my version of BLOG MAD LIB! Yay!

Here are the rules:

1. Choose as few or as many words as you'd like to provide (but please leave some for others to do!...don't go crazy!...especially you teachers out there!!)

2. Help me complete the list by Thursday so you can read the completed mad lib!

3. I don't think I have to say this, but keep it clean!

4. If you don't know what a Mad Lib is (if you missed that in your childhood), then you can check it out here.

5. You don't have to keep the words in order, but I'll pick the first ones I get (or maybe the funniest!)

Here's what I need:

Adjective
Noun
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Noun
Verb
Noun
Verb ending in "s"
Body part (plural)
Adjective
Place
Verb
Shape (plural)
Noun
Noun
Animal (plural)
Noun

Have fun!

t is for total count!

Thanks for the fun feedback on the Quiz! As of midnight on Friday night...here are the results!

1. Sheets at the bottom of the bed tucked in or not tucked in?

(5) tucked (2) not tucked (1) mostly tucked

2. Waffle or Pancake?

(5) Waffle (3) Pancake

3. Do you eat or not eat the peach peel?

(7) Eat (1) "I don't eat peaches"

4. "Deal or No Deal" or "1 vs. 100"?

(6) Deal or No Deal (1) 1 vs. 100 (1) Either

5. Crunchy or chewy cookies?

(7) Chewy (1) Crunchy

6. Do you voice the "h" in humble or not?

(8) Yes!

7. Do you use a bathroom cup?

(1) Yes (6) No (1) "only at Grandma's"

8. Do you eat pizza crust?

(7) Yes (1) "If I'm in the mood"

As for me and Justin:

1. Obviously...Justin is 6'5"...he doesn't like the sheets tucked in. As for me, I didn't learn how to perfectly tuck in the sheets "hotel style" from my mom for nothing!

2. Justin's the waffle guy. I'm the pancake girl. But, as the book says anyway, Men are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti....now that makes sense!

3. Justin thinks I'm crazy for eating the peach peel. He doesn't "eat fuzz"!

4. Justin prefers Deal or No Deal. I like 1 vs. 100 But...I do agree with Sheila about Bob Saget!

5. I love chewy, gooey cookies. Justin loves the chrunchy ones! I'm amazed by this!

6. So...I agree with Rebecca, who doesn't say the H in humble?? I discovered that my husband didn't say the h in humble a while ago....that's right...just umble! He said that was always how he heard it growing up. And...it's hilarious...his family is from Winston-Salem and...sure enough, now that we live here I have heard so many people say "umble." Who knew?!

7. I also haven't used a bathroom cup since I was little and got excited about the Barbie cups...or something like that. My husband likes to treat himself to a nice drink of water from a bathroom cup each night after brushing his teeth. Me...I just cup some water in my hand! But lovingly I continually supply him with little cups for his pleasure!

8. Maybe it's how he stays so skinny (and I don't). Justin leaves the crust on his plate...so I just eat it!

q is for quiz

I would love some input on the following topics that Justin and I will forever "disagree" about. Let me know your thoughts! Comment by Friday and I'll tally them up and also let you know how Justin and I think!

1. Sheets at the bottom of the bed tucked in or not tucked in?
2. Waffle or Pancake?
3. Do you eat or not eat the peach peel?
4. "Deal or No Deal" or "1 vs. 100"?
5. Crunchy or chewy cookies?
6. Do you voice the "h" in humble or not?
7. Do you use a bathroom cup?
8. Do you eat pizza crust?

Don't worry! You can't "fail" on this quiz....unless you don't pick what I like! ;) And...no one is exempt!!

feedback friday

So...I want to hear from you...whoever is out there reading this...

Please let me know how you handle those ever-popular telemarketers! It's been weighing on my mind because (and I'm not exaggerating) we have averaged 7 calls a day from telemarketers since we have moved. I get so upset because I will run around the house to try and find the phone when it rings just to see "unknown number" or an 800 number or something that makes it clear it is not anyone who I want to hear from. I definitely should have listed caller id as my #1 "household item" because i hope to never live without it!

So...tell me what you do...do you ignore the calls (as I do most of the time)...do you try to be polite (I'm not good at that)...are you rude (that's what I want to be everytime I talk to a telemarketer)...do you try and witness to them (easier said than done)...how do you handle those unwanted calls??

We may just be losing the house phone soon. I can't take much more. Maybe it's just really bad because I've basically been in the house 24/7 lately, who knows! Maybe I should keep the phone so I atleast get some exercise running around to find it! :)