Gainfully Employed

I owe, I owe, it's off to work I go! I'm all set to be a sub associate for the Ankeny School District and have my first gig next Tuesday at the high school. I'm booked to work a whole week at Parkview Middle School actually filling in for the gal who replaced me when I left to work for the church. Should be fun to teach with my buddy Jim, the computer teacher who I directly worked with and shared an office.

Plus, I'm super excited to be speaking at chapel for Des Moines Christian next Wednesday, December 5. I just love going there and I'll get to see some familiar faces!

I have gotten a couple calls for possible ministry opportunities but am carefully waiting on direction from the Lord before I make any decisions. It is nice to have some possibilities, though!

Mike Huckabee for Pres

Here's another reason I like Mike Huckabee.... In last night's debate, Anderson Cooper asked Huckabee what Jesus would do about the death penalty, he came up with the laugh line of the evening. "Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office,". Awesome. He's gaining ground in Iowa, thank God. I know there is no perfect candidate but I feel pretty good about Huckabee.

Pictures and People

I have two picture frame/bulletin boards that hang in the hallway going into our bedroom. It's kind of a hodge-podge of pics that are family, friends, and "my kids." All of a sudden they are super full. I recently got some new pics of kids from church and my buddy, Trudy, sent pics of her cutie boys in their Christmas letter. (Side note...way to go Trudy...I haven't even started my Christmas letter!) Anywho, I was looking through the pictures and smiling at the faces and remembering when they were taken. I've been feeling extra sentimental lately and am so thankful to have those pictures of so many that I love. I may need to buy another frame or bulletin board to hold them all.

I have also been blessed to reconnect with a very special friend through Facebook. It's been fun catching up with the older kids that I had at previous churches but I was very excited to hear from Amy Griffin who has been a friend since Micaela and Keaton were in elementary school. We are planning to get together this Friday for lunch. I haven't seen her for about 4 years so I am thrilled to have this opportunity. Amy is one of the funniest people ever! We met at church camp as councilors and really hit it off. She is someone who understands my passion for children's ministry and is a strong, Godly woman. We are sure to have some good laughs. I need to take a picture and hang it on the board!

Speak to Us, Lord

As always, Perry Noble hit it out of the park with this post. It's always amazing how God uses others to speak directly to us.

Happy Dance

I am doing a happy dance. Our buddy Paul tweaked our antique computer and I now can actually get online in a mere few seconds! Thanks Paul....I owe you BIG TIME. He could ask me for just about anything right now and it would be his! I even had a beautiful delivery gal who brought the tower to my front door! Service with a smile and a hug. I'm so blessed.

Micaela's Christmas Break

Micaela wants me to put the word out that while she is home on break from December 20-January 6, she is available to be your holiday elf. She's looking to earn a little cash by wrapping gifts or babysitting your cherubs. Her e-mail is micaela.eilers@gmail.com if you would like to "book" her before the rush! Just a hint...have plenty of scotch tape if you want her to wrap....she LOVES tape!

Thanksgiving 07

Thanksgiving day was great except that my boy was very sick. Keaton couldn't even eat one bite of turkey dinner. I felt so bad for him. As I'm writing this, he is still sleeping and I pray feels better when he gets up.

It has been wonderful spending time with my dad and step mom. They are always such a blessing to have around. They are leaving after lunch today to travel on to the Sioux City area to see me sister and aunt. It's always tough to say goodbye; we generally only see each other once a year and it's just not enough. The phone and e-mail are better than nothing but just not the same as being able to hug their necks and watch their faces as you talk. Maybe I need to get a web cam!

I'm anxious to hear how Micaela and Lis fared staying out at the Main's house last night. Amy so generously opened their house to the girls so we could have room for my folks to stay. Lis is an avid scrapbooker, so Amy offered open access to the craft room at the "Main Bed and Get Your Own Breakfast!" I thought Lis was going to do a happy dance when she heard she got to play in the craft room. They are off to Archiver's for some shopping today and wherever they think they need to spend money. Lis is a wonderful young lady with such a sweet spirit and fun to have around.

We have so many things to be thankful for! I'm counting all my blessings and they sure include all of you who read this!

Updates

I haven't been able to blog much due to our antique desk top computer. I'm now a library computer user until I can get a new laptop. It is so frustrating waiting literally 1 hour and 15 minutes to connect to the internet. Hopefully my buddy Paul can speed things up for me!

I am out pounding the pavement for a job. It looks like I will be able to work as a sub associate for the Ankeny schools. I figured it was a logical job in many ways. I have knee surgery coming in February so who wants to hire me now? Plus, I can still have a flexible schedule when needed. I worked for the school for 9 years so enough people know me that maybe I'll be requested.

We visited Christian Life Assembly yesterday and the message was soooo for us! Pastor Glenn is a great preacher. We are planning on visiting a few other churches and praying for God to show us where to land. It was weird just going to church and not setting up or tearing down. It felt like we barely got there and were leaving again. I know I need to enjoy this season and rest in God's Word until the next door is open. It's so nice to see some old friends at that are a part of other churches.

Micaela gets home Wednesday afternoon with her friend Lis! Super excited for the weekend. Thursday, my dad and step mom arrive for the big dinner about 2 PM and are staying overnight. This will be the first time I have had Thanksgiving dinner with my dad since I was a 3 or 4 year old. I LOVE to cook Thanksgiving dinner! Of course...I love to eat it too. :) Lis is a big crafter so she was thrilled to hear we have an Archiver's store here. Guess we will be going there this weekend!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I have so much to be thankful for.

Road Trips

I, who rarely travels, have taken two road trips in less than a week! Last Friday, Amy, Becky the kids and I all went to Omaha to the zoo and to see the Young's. It was a great day, the weather was beautiful, the kids were angels and it was so awesome to see Michael, Lindsay, and Reese. Lindsay is the CUTEST pregnant woman, EVER! So much fun to watch the kid's reaction to the animals and just to hang with good friends.

Yesterday, I drove down to see Micaela at Evangel. I'm sitting in her dorm writing this. We had lunch in the caf with all her buds. Last night we went to a flag football game for some of the guys and they won so tonight they play again in the "play-offs." We are having open dorm night so a bunch are coming over to eat the pumpkin bars I brought and then we'll go to the game again. What a wonderful group of friends my daughter has. No wonder she loves it here so much.

It has been so good for my spirits to be with Mic and have a change of scenery. So good to have five hours alone in the car to cry and pray, sing and praise, reflect and dream about what new thing God has for me and Randy. I am still so very sad and cry at the drop of a hat but my resolve is strengthening and my spirits WILL be lifted as I trust God. I know He is not done with me yet. I have too much passion left in my heart to not continue ministering to children. I have been leaning on Jeremiah 29:11 and Proverbs 3:5-6 daily. I have had so many wonderful phone calls and e-mails from friends and fellow pastors just to encourage me and say they are praying for us. The family of God is amazing.

I am totally enjoying campus life and Mic's friends have treated me like royalty! I'm headed back tomorrow afternoon. I have a feeling there will be a few less tears on the way home! :)

Changes

Change is always difficult, I think a little more so for women than men, but changes come. I think by now everyone knows that my last day as JCFC's children's pastor is this Sunday, November 11. I know there have been many tears and heavy hearts but God IS in control. He has a plan and purpose for each of us and I know He is not done with me yet! :)

I must say that the whole experience of planting a church has been fun, mind expanding, muscle burning, victorious, lesson filled, times of trial and error, and overall one of the best experiences of my life. I am so thankful for our time as a part of this wonderful church. I don't have to tell those who are a part that it is a unique place that God is blessing and lives are being changed for the better. It is truly a place where you can "build relationships and encounter God."

I know it is hard to say goodbye, believe me I have used more Puffs this week than I have in many years, but let's focus on the positive. JCFC will go on and do even more and greater things without Randy and me. It's such a weird phenomenon but for whatever reason when a pastor leaves a church there is growth. So ya'll better get ready!

Pastor Josh has taught me many things and I hope he has learned a little something from me, too. He has given me some incredible opportunities and totally gets how important children's ministry is to a church. I love that about him! He really needs you all now. I ask that you pray about how you are going to be a part of helping him in this transition. There are a million little details that will need done each week and it is a time when it will be "all hands on deck!" I will be able to leave with some peace knowing that all "my kids" will be taken care off on Sunday mornings. It's not always a glorious job changing diapers or wiping noses but I promise you will be blessed in ways you can never begin to know. The first time you see a child "get it", come to understand who Jesus is and how much He loves us, you will be hooked on children's ministry!

Thank you all so much for taking such great care of us and always loving us and welcoming us into your families. We want to stay in touch with you all however much is comfortable for your family. I know your children will have an adjustment time but the health of it will depend on you. If you, as their parents, will focus on the positive - so will they. It's okay and healthy to cry and ask questions but they need to know it's gonna be okay and that Randy and I are alright. We serve a wonderful Savior who watches over us and always gives us what is best.

I'm looking forward to hearing of all the wonderful things that JCFC will accomplish in the next few months and how you all grow together! Randy and I love you all very much.... thank you!! I think I will still be blogging so don't quit checking in!

Kid Movie? I Don't Think So

I've been meaning to post about this and my friend Trudy's post said it so well I copied it for mine. I know that a lot of kid movies are good vs. evil based and so therefor debatable in whether they are appropriate for our kids but this one crosses the line. My personal opinion about certain children's fantasy programs and movies is just that...my personal opinion, but ask yourself if it's something you really want your child's head filled with.

The Golden Compass
I'm sure by now many of you have heard about this movie. I checked it out on snopes and you can too http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp. I've read about it and it just blew me away on what I read. This is from a friend of mine: "This is the first in the trilogy, and it's the TAMEST. The hope is that the kids will like the movie, and it seems harmless enough, so they'll buy the books and read this author's garbage. The author makes no qualms about his beliefs, as stated in interviews, and the books are very obviously encouraging children to abandon their belief in God and religion." I took this off snopes: Written by Phillip Pullman, a proud and outspoken atheist who belongs to secular humanist societies. He hates C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia and has written a trilogy to show the other side. The movie has been dumbed down to fool kids and their parents in the hopes that they will buy his trilogy where in the end, THE CHILDREN KILL GOD, and everyone can do as they please." It breaks my heart that there are people out there who are making movies like this. The sad thing is that families will go to see this movie and think nothing of it. Please don't hesitate to pass along to your friends and family about this movie. This movie is to come out in December (and stars Nicole Kidman). Let's start praying that it won't be a hit in the movie theaters and it won't stay out there very long.

New Babes in Christ

Sunday was an awesome Creek Kids service. We finished our sermons on the virtue of respect and the Big Idea for the day was, "Show respect to God because He's in charge of everything." When I came to the end of the sermon, I asked the kids if they would like to know how to show the utmost respect to God. Of course, they all said yes. I went on to explain the plan of salvation and how giving our WHOLE hearts and lives to Jesus is the ultimate way the respect God and what He has done for us. Nearly every hand was raise to receive Jesus and even one of our Creek Kids workers got saved on Sunday. God is so good to us! I thank Him every day for the opportunity to serve Him. We talk about uniqueness this Sunday and how learning more about others helps so we can know more about ourselves. Gideon - one of my fav stories!

Crazy Daughter

Okay, just when you think you have taught your children to make wise choices, they go and do something like this! Micaela decided to go bridge jumping last spring while still at Evangel. I cannot believe her! I get nervous standing on a chair! I have threatened her with a beating if she ever does it again!! I'll never forget that phone call...."Mom, guess what I did today?"

Last school year she also received a concussion playing powder puff football and hyper extended her elbow playing in the snow with some friends. We won't even discuss how much that doctor bill was. :) Gotta love her spunk...or whatever you call it!

My Babies

I snagged this pic from Amy's blog. I'm so proud of my kids. People probably get tired of me bragging about them, but I just can't help it. Mic is having a great year at Evangel University, although she is super busy. Did you know she's doing a four hour radio show every Thursday night with her friend, Trey? It is broadcast on Evangel's TV network, too. Keaton's new job in Montezuma is going very well and his ministry at Community Hope is growing. He also has been preaching nearly every Wednesday night at First Assembly in Newton as they are without a youth pastor. It sure helps the empty nest syndrome to know they are doing well on their own. Love my babies!

Conversations

I had a conversation with the Sustala kids today that went something like this....
Me: So guys...do you think momma's gonna have a boy baby or a girl baby?
Jake: BOY
Jordan: GIRL baby
Jadyn: Silent
Me: So if it's a boy baby, whatcha gonna name him?
Jake: Jackson, that's mom's favorite and it HAS to be a "J" name! We need a boy so we have three boys and three girls in our family.
Jordan : Baby Jessica for a girl.
Me: Jadyn, what do you think?
Jayden: Silent
Me: Jadyn, do you think it's a boy or girl?
Jadyn: Big sigh...I just don't know yet!
At least the twins theory seems to be put to rest!

Amazing Idea

I shared with our Parenting Life Group a challenge Pastor Mark Batterson issued his son, Parker, on a recent birthday camp out. He made a three part covenant with his boy that for the next year, they would do a physical challenge together, an intellectual challenge together and a spiritual challenge of reading the New Testament together. At the end of the year long challenge, if Parker fulfills his part of the covenant, he will be rewarded with a trip. Batterson's theory is that if the sweat together and learn together, they would grow together. I thought this was an amazing idea! Today, Batterson's blog had this entry....

"Just thought I'd share a parenting idea. One of the things I'm doing this year as I disciple Parker is keeping a journal for my son. I feel like one of my roles as a dad is biographer. And I want to be a student of my kids. So I journal thoughts, ideas, and prayers for them. Helps me keep track of the things I'm learning about my kids!"

How cool would it be to give that to your adult child as a gift after years of entries? God made us in His own image. If God is creative, and you KNOW He is, then so are we. Let's ask Him to give us all creative ways to disciple our children. Almost makes me wish I could have more babies to raise and disciple!

Web Site

Here's a fun web site that teaches kids about missions! Check it out together...make it a devotional time. The family that "knows together"..."grows together."

http://www.simkids.org/index.htm

Tons of Pictures

This past weekend was the Family Fall Festival and Micaela's Evangel University ministry team, Oath, was here to assist so of course I took tons of pics. Here are a few highlights. I think I need to add Bubbleshare to my blog site!

Micaela's friends were so much fun to have around. We laughed and laughed. A special thanks to the Main and Mumm families for hosting some of the kids! I really appreciate you opening your homes to the kids. I even had more offers to host but had to do a "first come, first serve"! JCFC peeps are so generous! Thanks Mic, Trey, Josh, Sal, Nicola, Clover, Erica, and Kendra! Iowa and JCFC love ya all!

Great Weekend

Well, I'm going to do a quick post this morning to give a praise report and then add some pics of the weekend later. First, the Family Fall Festival went very well with at least 100 people in attendance. We had a few new families from the community, too! Awesome! I had a GREAT team of people helping and must give a shout out to Kyle and Krista, Christian and Jessi, Devon, Randy and Micaela's ministry team Oath. They all blessed my socks off! And to all the ladies that made/brought cakes for the cakewalk...WOW...nicely done. Got some pics of those, too. Jenn's JCFC popcorn bucket cake was super cute!

Next....we had an incredible service in Creek Kids. The JCFC kids department hit a new record attendance with 75! Haven't heard how many adults yet but heard they were super full in Big Church. I have some new Creek Kids team members and one started yesterday. Ashlin is already a wonderful help and she has committed to working with me every Sunday. I know you can't see me but I'm doing a hallelujah dance in my pajamas. Baby Steps was rockin' when I peeked in on my sweet little babes. Do you know how much it blesses my heart when I stopped in the toddler nursery and heard those sweet little voices saying, "Hi Past-o Lowie." ? Melts my heart!

I'll be phasing out the pink hair....sure has been fun, though. My button gave me tons of opportunities to talk about JCFC and my kids!

Family Fall Festival

Don't forget...Saturday, October 20, 6-8 PM at Westridge Elementary School, 5500 EP True Pkwy, in WDM is our first annual Family Fall Festival!! It's all coming together for our Wild West night! Remember we have prizes for all ages in the costume judging which will happen around 7 PM. We have carnival style games, candy, lots of prizes, face painting, a craft, more candy and a good ole fashion cake walk! Bring some friends for a bag of popcorn and a great night of family fun. Of course...it's FREE!! YeeeHaw! Don't be a party pooper...at least break out some jeans and a cowboy hat.