Randomness for sure...

It's almost been a month since my last post - wow. I've always maintained that May is FAR busier than December. c.r.a.z.y.
So, here's the latest family update:
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Steffen ended his Landsharks Running club on Monday. He really enjoyed it. Amazed me, because it's a pretty LOW KEY club, with only having 3 "meets" and the kids only run 1 race at each meet, everyone gets a ribbon. Thankfully it wasn't too much a family commitment to the practices etc. He loved it, his best friend Timmy also ran, so it was fun. RYAN, of course probably loved it more. Practices were held at a neighborhood park, and the siblings of the runners got to play at the playground during practice. Ryan met "new best friends". Some who could likely be in his class next year since it was a team from our school. I got to dialog with a parent about their dog, a golden doodle, as we are casually researching breeds for our next pet. Anyhoo, it's over, and I'm glad to have my evenings back to "normal". Steffen has just a few more weeks left to school, lots going on. They have their school-wide "field day" tomorrow - which is bunches of fun for the kids. I should help volunteer with the events, maybe next year. I just like to follow Steffen's class around with my camera.
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Ryan just finished his swim lessons. He passed his level with flying colors. Truth be known, I think he could have been bumped up to the higher level right away. Can he swim....hmmm, not sure I"d feel comfortable throwing him into the middle of the pool. He really didn't learn some of the swimming strokes - just going under, floating etc. Our pool at our health club opens Memorial Day weekend, so we're not long for me to go and see for myself his ability level. Again, glad to have it over, and my Tues/Thurs mornings available.
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Dan's job is going well.
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Ryan turns 5 next week (20th). We've got quite a party planned for him, and his friends. Because the weekend AFTER his birthday is Memorial Day, we're putting the party off until May 30, school will be out, so it will be a good time for all the buddies to all get together. I'm making it a Knight and Shining Armour and Princess theme (since he's got lots of girlfriends). Should be a photographer's dream. Stand by for pictures.
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Adam's girlfriend is coming into town next week as Adam finishes up his Jr. year at the Air Force Academy. It's hard to believe he will be a Sr. next year. He's certainly part of our family now, and I will be very sad to see him go off and start his life. Speaking of which, he just got notice that he did get "into" flight school. So he will go train to be a pilot once school is out. He will not get his base until next February. Apparently they do not know what plane they will get until flight school starts???? He's torn between a fighter jet, or a cargo plane. As his "mother" I hope for the cargo. But I can imagine that fighter jet would be pretty darned exciting. Let's hope by then, we'll not be in war. Pretty proud moment, none the less. I don't think Lindsay (his girlfriend) is too hip on the plan, but I'm sure once it's sunk in, she'll come around. :) Speaking of Lindsay, she graduates this weekend for SALVE. Lots of big life stuff going on around here. We're equally as proud of her and all her accomplishments. Adam heads there this week for her Ball and commencement program.
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We're taking in another college student this summer as he comes to town to "work" at Compassion International on an internship program. We've not met him yet, but it seems he'll be a good fit into our family as well. Because he'll be here at home "full time" (unlike Adam, who is here on occasional weekends) I will have to step up my cooking! I don't think cereal dinners will cut it with a college boy.
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Gotta run, just wanted to give y'all an update. LOTS going on. We've got plans to camp the weekend of memorial day weekend. We've got TWO sets of friends that are moving this month. BOTH military, one is a neighbor, so we will all feel their absence profoundly since the kids seem to be playing non-stop these days. Sad days ahead. The other family, the wife, is my playmate. (she likes to get out and enjoy nature like me - hike, ski) It took me 8 years to "find" her, and now she leaves....sigh. God is faithful, I know.
Toodles - check in at our Picassa site, since with business, comes lots of pictures!!!

Teaching to Change Lives...

I received this book from a woman I deeply respect. A sister in Christ, but more importantly, someone I am watching very closely - my unofficial mentor. I co-lead a woman's Bible Study this past year and was so amazed at watching her. Anyway, she gave me this book at the end of our time together. So when Marion gives me something to read, I sit up and take notice as I esteem her highly. (taken from 1 Thessalonians 5:13) I know, Paul was talking about our Elders, but I still esteem her highly, and thank God for her in my life continually.
So, back to the book. I opened this book up today and thought I'd jot down my initial impressions as I embark on this reading, and thought it could be interesting to compare my thoughts AFTER I read it. Here's the "note" I made on the inside cover:

April 21, 2009. Initial thoughts as I start this book. This book was a gift, not one I purchased myself. A gift from a woman who's life I admire greatly. If she felt I would benefit from this book, let me learn what it has to say. "Teacher" would not be a word I'd use to describe myself. Not one of my "giftings". I feel I struggle with clear articulation, so how can I effectively communicate my "material"? No, I would not call myself a teacher. (except where my boys are concerned). I would, however, think I have some "leadership" qualities (not necessarily my strongest gifting) but it made me wonder where the difference lies. Again, I'd cite my "lacking" in ability to articulate concisely - I"m the Queen of Rabbit Trails - a horribly frustrating quality in a teacher. (IMO) (But, I'm working on this) Leader? perhaps. I have a strong heart's desire for spiritual maturity. I LOVE to contemplate God's Word, and apply it to not only MY life, but lives around me - and really strive to encourage those in my circle of influence to pursue things of God. Therefore, I ask, where do teaching and leadership differ? Where am I thinking incorrectly? I tend to gravitate to books that talk about good leadership (Twelve Ordinary Men, by John MacArthur comes to mind - may dust that off again), as opposed to good teaching. So this could be interesting. I look forward to finding these answers, and what God is about to teach me. (LOVE THAT)

So, like my other book, I'll pipe in now and again what I'm learning. I'm already diggin' what I've read so far. Still not convinced I'm a "teacher" - except where my children, and perhaps as a neighborhood mom is concerned. It's good stuff ladies - come follow along if you want - I'd love the company.

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Thank you for all the encouragement from my last post - I needed that.

I'll keep today's post short, and give you time to go out and get your own book and follow along. :-D

I am OUT OF SHAPE....

This full time motherhood thing. I thought I had it all figured out. I realized this week how OUT OF SHAPE I AM. WARNING: serious whining ahead This week kicked my b**t in the motherhood arena. I knew Dan was a fabulous help to me around here, but I had no idea HOW MUCH he helped me until this week. Dang! My hats off to all you friends out there whose husbands have "regular" jobs (which is all of you) I AM NOT WORTHY. Not once, not twice but three different occasions this week I was feeling pretty ticked off at this new "employment" thing. Then he deposited his check on Friday and I got over it. Let me explain.
Tuesday I had it all worked out. Dan would come home from work, we'd have dinner, and he could go deliver a refrigerator we had bought on Craigs List. I even had the open bed truck all lined up, had the refrig already paid for, all the people in their places. Dan had to stay late at work to finish up a bid. EXCUSE ME???? No, send my husband home on time, please. I was pretty indignant as this hiccup really messed with my evening. I had to go pick up the truck, which now meant I had the boys with me, which made it complicated, how could I get a refrig into a truck. The seller was not cooperative to reschedule.... it all came together, and the kids and I ran through McDonalds at 8:15 pm that night - and Dan met us in the driveway - he was just getting home as well. GRRRRRR. Wednesday, both boys have school, so it's my "free" day. My tummy was experiencing some "odd" pains, so I thought I best stay close to home, and didn't take long to realize I was coming down with a flu bug. Chills etc. A little hiccup in car pool, meant I had to go get both boys from school, so going to bed was not an option. By my 3:30 carpool, I was good and trembling, but knew I had to push through it, Dan could not come home. I did ask him to meet me at Steffen's running club practice field so we could tag team ASAP and I could get home and get to bed. (5:30) GRRRRRR. Friday - snow day. It was so beautiful, and I was feeling better from the flu bug, so it wasn't so bad. Then about 3:30pm the sun started to peek through and the kids wanted to go sledding....nooooooooo, can't you wait until daddy gets home? No, here in Colorado, you cannot wait for those rare sledding moments. when the time was right, you have to jump on it. Especially this time of year. God's agent (aka the Holy Spirit) worked quickly on me for this one, and I announced OF COURSE we'll go sledding. Lets get our snow pants on. (I so did not want to go do this) We had a ball, and sure enough, as we stomped through the door at 5pm, another storm started and we wouldn't have been able to go sledding at that time (daddy home time). By the time Dan rolled in the door after his long week at work - I had a great appreciation of how much time I have been taking off these past two and a half years from "stay at home mom". VERY HUMBLING my friends. I've got to step up my game and get much more organized around here. Daddy is just not here to fill in for play like he has. Momma has to play and engage. WOWSA.
For the record, Dan let me sleep in, wAAAAY in today (saturday) and I sorted Lego's much of my day, playing with Steffen. Daddy built a very ugly snowman in the backyard with the boys.
This slacker is signing off. May I be much better tomorrow than I was yesterday. I can do this.

This is not necessarily a bad thing....

Apparently, according to our President of the United States, we are no longer a Christian nation. At my first hearing of his talk where he stated this, I was appalled, outraged, very offended. Where does he get off......???? After pondering on this a bit, I thought, perhaps this is not such a bad thing. Let me explain.
Several years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Ireland with a girlfriend who had an unexpected "extra" ticket. We travel with a bus tour company, but took a few extra days and went up to Belfast and got to experience their "Orange Parade", and all the glory of all the trouble up in the northern part of that country. We stayed with family of friends of hers - strangers basically. We really got to hang with them and really get a taste of what real Irish folks do with their days. We sat around the house a lot, drank copious amounts of beer and smoked cigarette after cigarette. (my friend and I didn't, they did :) In our just hanging around, talking about any and everything it led to very interesting conversations of what these regular folk thought about Americans. I am not kidding, their impressions of America comes from the Jerry Springer show. They REALLY thought this is how the American family lives - as lived out on Jerry Springer. We were flabbergasted. Certainly they could not believe that.....yes, they believed that. We took no time to set the record straight of what Jerry Springer really represented in our culture. Many years have passed, the internet and all, have hopefully broadened their horizons to who we are (and are not).
9-11 happened, and I remembered vividly hearing the prayer that Dr. Dobson gave his staff gathered for the occasion. In part, it was sobering to really dig deep within ourselves and know that we are not such a "great" nation as most would lead you to believe. As a nation, we are, and have long been, on a slippery slippery slope of moral chaos.
Recently I read on a blog, sort of a tribute to the recently departed Paul Harvey, one of his excerpts as follows:

IF I WERE THE DEVIL...

Paul Harvey speculates about what he would do if he were evil.

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;

I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's effort, instead of God's blessings;

I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around;

I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;

I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership;

I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;

I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent machines to make it convenient;

I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that the life of animals are valued more than human beings;

I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit;

I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them;

I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the mind of every family member for my agenda;

I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation.

I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation;

I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movie screens, and I would call it art;

I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;

I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agenda as politically correct;

I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and the Bible is for the naive;

I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional;

I guess I would leave things pretty much the way they are.

All this to say, perhaps it's a good thing that our president has "declared" that we are NOT a Christian nation. It would give us a place to get to, a place to work towards, righting the wrongs we as Americans have let slide for so many years. Maybe we're not so far off from the image Jerry Springer portrays? (Is he still even on the TV???)

Just something to ponder. I've not made up my mind yet - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

so like God....

Dan and I have been very aware, and very careful to not pull out our "wish lists" just yet. Dan is only 1 1/2 weeks into employment and we struggle with the temptation to celebrate by all the possibilities we can now "afford" to do/buy, which a week and a half ago were not a reality. Before you think I'm crying poverty here, I'm not. It's just that we WERE faced with the reality of really looking at our lives and the "dreams" and "plans" we had for our recreation, our home beautification project (aka bottemless pit). It was a great place to be. Nothing like a dwindling savings to really get your wants/needs into perspective. I digress... So now that secure (this is relative, I know) employment is now again in our lives, we started to resurrect our lists. Then crazy me.....I put window wiper fluid in our radiator. Not once, but realized that I had done it the last time I "topped off" my wiper fluid. Call it hormone craziness, not sure - I"ve had A LOT of absentmindedness lately. So I took my vehicle in to get flushed out, and $600+ later.... I'm back humbled by our savings numbers. What???? I know I can be guilty of over spiritualizing things. But I do think in this case, God did want to get my attention before I got too far ahead of Him. Fortunately all our landscaping plants have not been purchased yet, and the travel plans to Old Faithful and Mount Rushmore have not yet been booked. Sigh. FYI, the radiator flushing did not cost us $600, but you know how it goes when a mechanic gets a hold of your car, especially one with 75K miles on it. Wah. I do, however, celebrate that I do have a Father that DOES care about His Children, and DOES reel me back in when I step out in traffic. Sheesh. For the record, God, I'd rather not put our $ into our vehicle - can you call on Your Spirit to pull me back BEFORE I pour that wiper fluid???? Thank you.
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Today was our last day with our small group Bible Study. With the exception of one gal, all 12 of us were present today (and that gal has a busy busy busy ministry, and near impossible for her to attend). In my history of Women's Bible study, at our church as well as others, by this time of the year/season, life just gets the best of us - the numbers dwindle. These ladies were so awesome. They came hungry to learn God's Word. We had such lively talks about the subjects at hand (1 & 2 Thessalonians/Ruth) and those books are not easy ones to grapple with at times. We had ladies from the full spectrum of "maturity in their faith". And yet the "wise" as well as the "apprentices" asked such profound, real questions throughout the past 9 months. It's group like these that keep me excited to come back for more (and of course His word too). Ladies, what a privilege it was to Study along side you these months. My life is much richer because of our time together. Sweet sweet times. My heart is full. (and I'm sure God's is as well)
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Another shout out. When we see parenting done "right" it deserves a huge shout out. Last weekend our Sunday School class enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship with our families. Pot luck and a little Easter Egg hunt for the kiddos. Because our crazy Colorado weather, seldom do we get to enjoy Easter Egg Hunts outdoors, so we're confined to make do indoors. Let me set this up for you. I'd say we've got upwards of about 20 couples in our SS class. Most in the life stage of grade school age and younger families. Most with 2-6 kids. You do the math. LOTS of munchkins running around crazy seeking out plastic eggs filled with candy and the sorts. Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. Recipe for disaster. I know myself well enough to just stay CLEAR of the room where all the eggs were hidden. I sent Dan in. God Bless all the parents who ventured through those double doors. Steffen is not my aggressive type, so I knew he'd probably be safe in there and I wouldn't have to closely watch him (he was with the older group). With Ryan (almost 5YO), I knew it'd be a "teachable moment". Aggressive would probably be a bit strong, but his personality would be one to fill his basket at all risk to limb of others. So, I had a little talk with my youngest that there were plenty of eggs, he need not FILL his basket and once he had perhaps 10 or so, to please step in and help the younger ones (he was with the 1-4YOs) find some for their baskets. Good parenting right??? Because I was too cowardly to follow through to see how he "did" with these marching orders. I just had to trust that my words would ring through his head and head to his heart and just accept the outcome and hopefully his father would intervene if he got too ugly. I have no idea how he did. He did emerge with 10-12 eggs. However, Dan did experience one child do exactly what I had hoped my child would do. His basket was full, and he was starting to "hand out" his eggs to the little ones. Dan wasn't' sure whose child this was, but I think we figured out it was one of the Wilson kids. So today's shout out goes to Dan and Marcea Wilson to a job well done my friends. It does this mom's heart good to know that once in awhile we do get it right, and our kids do hear us. Even with the formidable temptation to all that candy!!!!!
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Go hug your kids, smooch your hubby and GET OFF THIS COMPUTER!

The Safety of Self Control

Today's post comes from a chapter in my book Feminine Appeal. Yes, going at this one v.e.r.y. slow, but that's ok. Self Control is (WAS) typically a sin I really didn't think I had toooo much problem with. It's one of those that I always thought I had pretty much in control (pun intended). Then I read this chapter, and then God did His work. As He always does so fabulously. CONVICTED. and I learned a thing or two. First thing I learned, I need to re-read the chapter and really ponder it a bit more. I thought the title "safety of self control" was a bit odd, and now I'm just loving it. Basically (you can go read it for yourself) where the "safety" comes in, was totally new to me. Our SELF CONTROL is God's way to keep us "safe" from our sins. (duh) When we exercise self control in the areas where we struggle with our self control, victory means safety from sin. How cool is that? I thought it was. Going in a little deeper into my world....self control over sleep really hit home for me. I am, what we call "not a morning person". When said like that, it's quite acceptable right. I just do not get up easily. I sleep hard. (as my roomie at the woman's retreat will attest, poor thing, giggle) It's just the way it is. woa, not so fast my fellow sleepy heads. One point she raised, which stung deep was: "I am often tempted to stay up late at night and indulge in some form of relaxation." Amen sistah. I hear you. LOVE my night time. Then she quoted Martha Peace: "I have heard of women who pride themselves on being "night people." That means they have trouble getting up in the mornings because they come alive at night. They may stay up to all hours reading, watching television, or pursuing some sort of interest. The next morning they are too tired to get up and care for their family. . . " Ok, I caught it - zing. I don't necessarily need to get up, Dan is already up, he, after all is a "morning person". She continues with her quote of Martha Peace: "These women are not "night people." They are lazy and selfish." Now wait a minute.....lazy and selfish??? continuing "Who would not rather stay up late to do whatever they pleased and sleep late the next day? Once a young wife begins getting up earlier than her children (what is that?) and her husband (I cannot even imagine this), she will cease to be a "night person." She will be tired at night and go to bed at a reasonable hour so she will be there to serve her family the next morning." Waaaa. I've been nailed. Let me first disclaim here, just cuz I was convicted by this, doesn't mean you should be. God works at us differently - so I am not proposing we ALL need to work on this. I'm just saying this really hit me, and came right out of left field. Which when things like this happen, I can be most assured that it's God working, and when I know it's God, I DO sit up and listen. So Guess what....I'm going to take it to prayer and ask God to help me serve my family when they wake up. I was thinking about this over the past days. How about I post a few pictures of my sleeping brood? I just cannot imagine being the first one up in the house. I LOVE the idea, but typically I'd say it's just not realistic for me. Now I'll remember "lazy" and "selfish". Yep, I'd have to agree with it, now that it's been put in front of my face.
If my childhood friend Carolyn is reading, I'm sure you are laughing to yourself. I remember many a days you'd come "wake me up" for grade school, only to find me in a huge tangled hair in my face mess. I've never been a morning person. We'll see how this goes.
There was much more I learned/was convicted from this chapter, but I'll let it go at the sleep one. Maybe post more another time.
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BIG NEWS
Dan got employed today! Unbelievable. I just sit and shake my head at how God works in his life (Dan's). The kicker here, it's a GOOD JOB - not "just a job". Not a job to "pay the bills", but a pretty decent job. He started immediately (today) I'll have to post more about it later. I'm tired, and I've got a crazy day tomorrow and so much to do, and you know, see my blurb above. Time to get to bed at a decent hour.
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So, in my randomness, what are your thoughts on Self Control? What comes to your mind when someone suggests practicing Self Control? I think of over eating, drinking, drugs, sex, anger, shopping. See, where I was coming from, these areas, I'm not so bad, not perfect, but not so bad. But then she suggested I was "lazy" at serving my family because I was in bed when they get up and start their day. Again, good stuff. Really enjoying the book - easy read, have been getting good stuff to ponder. Will you ponder with me?

Home again...

We're home from our trip to Arizona for Spring Break. (see the link at right to our Picassa web albums) We were able to enjoy the week with my mom who "snow birds" there a few months of the year to escape the Wisconsin winters. Her sister, my Aunt Eileen, joined her again this year. What a blessing. My Aunt Eileen never had children of her own, but you'd never know it. She hovered and cleaned and played and cleaned and really entertained the boys this week. She's 83 (will be in July). We had fabulous weather - not too hot, not too cold. The boys swam every day. Ryan is almost good to go. Steffen, he has a healthy fear of the water he still needs to overcome, but it will come. Most of my readers know Ryan, so you can just picture him. Everyday he entered the pool, made new friend(s) and on Saturday when we had to say our goodbyes to "the pool" his exit was quite grandiose. He knew all the kids by that time, and most of their parents as well. Elvis has left the building. He is quite a trip to watch him work a crowd. I can hardly wait for his school years to begin and his friends to stabilize.
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Like any ends to Big events, I start my Monday with big plans to "start over". So today I made my menu:
Mon: Fish Sticks
Tues: croc pot chicken italiano (Ryan's swim Lesson on Tues/Thurs nights)
Wed: bean and rice rollups
Thurs: croc pot potato/corn chowder
Fri: not quite sure yet, my friday has some plans that need to materialize, and Dan may be in charge of Friday meal. Otherwise, Sweet and Sour Meatballs.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I return to the gym. Goal: make it to they gym 3X week
Today, I started to be more conscientious about drinking more water, cut out pop (Pepsi) and less coffee. Neither of which I drink a whole lot, but I'd like to eliminate from my diet completely.
Today I stopped taking one of my medications I've wanted to for awhile now (anti-anxiety) and it's never a good time, so I just need to do it and rely more on God in these areas that drove me to the medication.
Today I did my quiet time and Bible STudy early in the am.
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So it starts. I find after spring break, the chaos starts, preparing for summer stuff. Ryan starts his swim lessons tomorrow (2X week for 1 month) I presume these lessons will put him over the hump and he'll be a bona fide swimmer at age 4 and 3/4. I sign up both boys for their t-Ball and modified T-ball for the summer. They start in June. Steffen starts a running club with his school next week. It's pretty tame stuff, but I like to get him involved in group activities to help him with his shyness and he loves to run, so we'll see where it goes. They only have 3 "meets" so most of it is practice. ahhhh, I think that's it, other than preparing for end of school stuff. Ryan "graduates" from pre-school (yes, they do it with a cap and gown!!!) on his 5th birthday (May 20)
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My Bible Study has only 2 more meetings - ends next week. I'll miss this a lot. I stepped into leadership this year and got to enjoy meeting with the leaders before our small groups and what a wealth of wisdom that has been. LOVE IT. I hope to return next year (if they'll have this rookie) I just love studying God's Word and this has been so rewarding. I also just love to meet other women in our large church - it enriches my life immensely. I've enjoyed our small group as well. What a great group of ladies hungry for the Word and faithful to their study. It's been wonderful - seldom do they miss, seldom do they not finish their study. WONDERFUL discussions. I'll hate that we have to disperse and all get in different groups next year. Rumor has it we're studying Romans in the Fall (or is it Hebrews?). I can not wait. I look forward to hear what's going on for the summer in women's ministry. Last year we did a casual format going through "I am". (I think that was our topics) Again, met some great ladies in our church I would not have met otherwise.
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I'll close here - I've rambled enough. I'll try to post more often, since I've promised profound thoughts (Ha). Thanks for sticking with me.