Special Effects

I was sitting at my computer at work today, typing away when all of a sudden, I noticed a lot of movement on the wall behind the monitor. The wind had picked up quite a bit (as it often does in West Texas) and the shadows of the trees outside my window began to dance and put on a great show. I had to stop for a second just to enjoy the play of light and then to watch the trees themselves bob and sway in the autumn wind.

I had to stop and thank God for the free special effects that he brought to my day. No Hollywood, $9 movie ticket, or obscenely priced consessions necessary.

Creative Costuming

I had to share this idea I found online today. I found out that a party I'm going to tonight is costume-optional. I hadn't even THOUGHT about costumes this year because I'm going to be a clown for our church's carnival on Halloween so I had to find something quick and easy. I looked online and found a super easy costume idea. I wish I could say I thought of it myself. I am dressing up as "partly cloudy with a chance of rain". How are you going to pull this off, you ask? Why, I'm glad you asked!

I'm going to wear a blue shirt and pin cotton balls randomly on it. Then I will carry a squirt gun around and I may or may not squirt the people around me when they ask what I am!

I think my favorite costume of all time was when I dressed up like Mimi and JJ was Drew Carey. We were supposed to insult each other all night, but (thankfully) neither one of us is very good at insulting the other. It was still a cute idea. And the bright blue eye shadow and neon blue and pink moo moo was very attractive.

Are any of you dressing up this year?

Campaign for REAL Beauty

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail the other day about Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty. They have a video on their website about the "before" and "after" picture of a model and all that went into making that final gorgeous billboard of her look absolutely nothing like the woman she started out to be.

It really helps you to see how unnatural the images are that we are innundated with every day. We scrutinize and frown at that reflection that we see in the mirror every morning because we're comparing ourselves with a standard that is so unrealistic and preposterous.

So how about thinking about your best features today and appreciating the beauty that God made you to be! It's a challenge, especially when our enemy is a great liar - the best - and he tells us whoppers about ourselves every day. Don't let him do that to you! And maybe you can send the link of the Dove video to a friend that may need some encouragement to appreciate her unique beauty.

A Whole Lot Shakin'

Well, our little country church suddenly has a full plate! We had quite an opportunity that we couldn't pass up and so now we are in the process of closing on a new building. We've been renting and so now we'll have a place of our very own. The church is only a few years old and everyone is really excited. I'm happy for them, but I also wonder why it is that we sometimes feel we need a building in order to be a legitimate body of believers? I know there are pros and cons to both sides and honestly as far as our church goes I have my opinion but because JJ and I are so new there, I care more about the church making a harmonious transition than I do about the actual decision to buy the building.

We've also recently started a Wednesday night children's ministry. That's been fun, but quite a challenge since there are not many of us. As a small church, we tend to fly by the seat of our pants rather than plan things out very much, mostly because we can get away with it. I hope people don't wear themselves out because the kids enjoy it so much and get a meal out of the deal too!

We're really hoping to be in the new building by Halloween because we're going to do a "Trunk or Treat" and a carnival inside. I'm going to do a little clowning around since I know how to make balloon animals and juggle (sort of). When I'm a clown I can get away with dropping the balls a lot when I juggle since it makes it funnier anyway! So we've got lots of prep to do before the 31st. Anyone have any ideas on cheap and easy carnival games?

How 'bout some shrimp on the barbie, mate?

Today JJ starts his first official shift at Outback Steakhouse. So now he's a full time graduate student, a part-time minister (which means Sunday am, pm and Wednesday pm responsibilities), AND he'll be working 5 shifts a week "down under". How is he going to do this, you ask? GOOD QUESTION. Sometimes, when you need to do it to pay the bills, you just do it.

I feel bad that I'm just here working my safe little 8-5 job, but someone has to do the laundry, the dishes, pay the bills, and make sure that our family functions, at least on a basic level. (I never claimed our house was tidy or that I am the next Betty Crocker, mind you.) I contemplated waiting tables too, until I realized it really wouldn't do for us BOTH to be working ourselves into the ground. Someone has to be there to pick up the pieces later (ha, ha)!

And there's LOTS going on at the church where JJ's been serving and I'm really enjoying getting to be a part of things there. I'll have to fill you in on some of the details later, but for now, I'll just say it involves a new building, lots of kids, and a little clowning around.