Thankful Thursday (on Saturday)

What can I say? It's been a full week. We're trying to catch up after a great week of VBS, and get as much done before Missions Impact "Weekend" (that has been going on since this morning and will continue until next Saturday). Our church does three such Weekends per year in lieu of an annual week long missions conference. This has proven to be more effective in getting people involved as well as keeping missions before them more continually. This would have to be one of the reasons I'm thankful this week. I love getting to know the international workers who come and share with us! It's a huge privilege to be by my husband's side and to participate in one of the ways we partner with others to hasten the coming of our Lord while encouraging them in missional living.

I'm also thankful for several good friends here in Ohio. This is something we prayed for before moving almost a year ago in August.

I'm thankful to be teaching Spanish again to a few eager and excited kids. I had forgotten how much I love to teach Spanish. (I love teaching, and am realizing that it's also another creative outlet for me as I prepare lessons and activities!)

Continue to be in prayer for us and for our team (8 of us ) going to Spain in a few weeks. We've all had major health issues since signing up for the trip and have also had multiple obstacles to overcome. We desire so much to be light in a dark place.

Thankful Thursday

Well, if you read last Thursday's post you will see that this week is VBS at church. We do it a little differently than I'd seen before, it's from 9-12 in the morning. And they offer a ladies' study and craft. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to teach the ladies' craft which is jewelry-making. The ladies have made beautiful necklaces and bracelets and tomorrow we're making "Wordless Book" bracelets which will be a great end to a fun week.


I'm also thankful for a great small group that José and I are a part of. This past week, we were able to get together with one couple who cooked us a delicious dinner and challenged us with Sequence after. The homemade pies and mango salsa-topped burgers were just wonderful!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday.

Just a few thoughts of what I'm thankful for this week.

I'm thankful for being able to attend a marriage seminar with my beloved husband.

I'm thankful for more details coming together on our trip to Spain (COMING UP SOON!!).

I'm thankful for beads and creative thoughts and ideas this week.

I'm thankful for less weeds and DOUBLE CHOCOLATE mulch. : )

I'm thankful for kind and generous landlords.

I'm thankful for God-ordained moments.

I'm thankful for all the baptisms that are STILL going on at church (I believe we're over 150 now!)!

My latest projects

I've been preparing this week (and the last few weeks actually) for the craft portion of the Mom's/Women's Bible Study during VBS next week. While sorting beads, finding pictures of examples and inspiration as well as sorting through my beads and latest creations, I was inspired. Here are three of my latest pieces: (I usually make them in sets of : necklace, bracelet and earrings so I can coordinate or mix and match according to my outfits.)

(L to R): Turquoise and tiger eye semi-precious stone beads with a hand painted ceramic center bead and silver spacer beads. The necklace in the center is make of grey semi-precious stone round beads with black glass beads and silver spacers with a focal bead made of black jasper and painted jasper (Pretty amazing how the painted jasper is a type of semi-precious stone and naturally designed). And the far right is all jasper and silver, the rectangle jasper is African jasper from a little bead shop in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

Why beading? Well I needed something I could pour money into, ahem, I mean a hobby. And beading is something that I can do just about anywhere in the world. It's a great creative outlet, something I can do with my hands. It's something that I can do with others, a very relational and instant gratification kind of project. And just about every woman I know likes jewelry, including me! And I figure why spend money on something I can make for less or make with nicer materials. It's fun, and I have different beads from a few countries now that are part of my memories and now jewelry.

The View from my Guitar

So I was playing a few songs that have been on my mind lately, as I sometimes do before I have a time of reading the Bible and praying, and as I looked down, this is what I saw. Yes, I laughed hysterically! I guess Diego thinks it's a new soft bed for him to lay in.....