Dear Kristi,

I don't quite know how to tell you this, so I'm just going to come out & say it. You call me - quite often actually - on your Blackberry - without meaning to. At first, I thought it was because I was "special" or there was something really important, funny or juicy you had to tell me. Then I realized it was probably your butt or your purse or who knows what else dialing my number. I can't believe I haven't remembered to tell you yet considering we talk at least once a day pretty much every weekday. It's usually on the way to or from picking Evan up from school. I must be the first number in your phone. Makes me feel important even if it is only because my names starts with the first letter of the alphabet!

Thanks & Giving

My friend Hollie wrote this post last week about Operation Christmas Child. I was so excited to see it because last Sunday when we were visiting the church I grew up in, they had a special presentation of the boxes the church had collected so far. During the last praise song of the morning service, children began to file in down the aisle carrying boxes that had been donated - as many as their little arms could hold. After the first dozen or so kids came in, there were several children pulling wagons filled and overflowing with boxes - boxes full of dolls, and toys, and crayons, and card games, and even more things we take for granted like tooth brushes & paste, wash cloths and underwear. As the children came in they all sat along the steps of the alter. And then as the line grew shorter, my little Abi was the last one to walk in carrying the 392nd shoe box. That was it for me. I guess it never occurred to me that she would be there because we were visiting and she was a year or two younger than any of the others. But nonetheless, there she sat, holding a single shoe box, in the center of the worship center, beaming.

They then handed the microphone to a sweet 8-year-old girl who said a prayer of dedication over the boxes & for the families that would receive them as well as the people who had donated...it was definitely the highlight of the morning's worship for me. I knew at that moment that this was a great opportunity to teach about about "Thanks & Giving." During the car ride home, we talked about the importance of being thankful and how God wants us to share what we have with others. We decided to make boxes for a "special boy" and "special girl" to receive this Christmas. Abi & I made a list of some fun items to include in the boxes along with some staples & toiletries.

I had a schedule work trip on Thursday evening, so we planned Friday was set aside to work on the boxes together. Abi had a such a great time packing the boxes together. I think her only real disappointment was from discovering that she didn't get to personally deliver the boxes to the "special boy" and "special girl."

On Saturday morning, we went to a birthday party for one of Abi's friends; and after that we drove out to the Washington Baptist Association for the OCC drop-off. We were greeted by 3 very friendly faces, and Abi cheerfully gave her boxes to David Self, Director of Missions. We were sent home with cute Operation Christmas Child stickers for Abi & Drew along with commemorative ornament for the event. I look forward to tracking our package to discover the destination of our boxes, and continuing this tradition of "Thanks & Giving" to kick-off the holiday season for many years to come.

Mouthwatering Monday

Ok. So this isn't your typical "Mouthwatering Monday" post, but it sure has my mouth watering! Our dishwasher (circa 1986) finally bit the dust a few weeks ago, so we decided it would probably be more cost effective to get a new one than to try to repair the one we have. Considering Terry is a musician & I'm a "drama queen" - no, literally, I have the theatre degree to prove it; this was a wise move on our part. Anyway, the diswasher & range were the only built-in appliances that came with the house; but they were both black in a white kitchen. Call me crazy, but I never understood the logic there. SO! If we replace the dishwasher (may it rest in peace), then common sense dictates that we must also replace the range. Whoo! Hoo!

This seemed like a simple-enough task, but definitely proved to be one for the books. The diswasher was easy-peasy. They all come in one standard size that hasn't changed since 1986, so we were good on that front. The range however was a different story. See - our range was a drop-in range...didn't go all the way to the base of the cabinets or the full depth of the countertop. And guess what? "That size is no longer available...hasn't been for almost a decade." Really?!? Who knew? Ok, I thought. We'll cut out the counter & cabinet around it, and get a slide-in or free-standing range with no problem. We measure (3 different people on 3 different occasions), and agree on the dimensions that will work.

Lowe's provided a great selection to choose from & I found my favorite.

We get one of God's greatest craftsmen (OE) to cut out the cabinet & countertop and scheduled the delivery. I guess at the point in the story, it would have been smart for us to "re-measure" the opening. You guessed it...when the delivery guys brought the range in, the opening was 1 1/2 inches too small! Gasp! See - the "cooktop" part of the existing range was 30", but apparently it was only 28 1/2" down the main part of the oven. Once again, "OE to the rescue" came to cut out an additional inch-and-a-half of cabinet & countertop; so we could get the range in over the weekend. Needless to say, I had to stay home from church on Sunday to clean all of the sawdust out of the kitchen; but I think the results speak for themself.

Here's to many more Mouthwatering Mondays with the help of my shiny, new friend!

Count Your Blessings

MY TRIBUTE by Andrea Crouch

How can I say thanks For the things you have done for me

Things so undeserved Yet You gave to prove your love for me

The voices of a million angels Could not express my gratitude

All that I am and ever hope to be I owe it all to thee

To God be the glory, to God be the glory

To God be the glory, For the things He has done

With His blood He has saved me

With His power He has raised me

To God be the glory, For the things He has done

Just let me live my life And let it be pleasing Lord to thee

And should I gain any praise Let it go to Calvary

With His blood He has saved me

With His power He has raised me

To God be the glory For the things He has done

Amen