personal witnessing

Today, I took the opportunity to share some of God's love with some neighbors. I made homemade chocolate chip/oatmeal cookies... wrote notes and put in the envelopes a tract on how to be saved. I hope they enjoyed it, and that they read the tract... I want them know how much God loves them, and how He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for them. I was only able to share the cookies with 9 homes today. I tried one myself, and it was pretty yummy... I tried to be careful about the baking soda, because I know I don't care for a strong soda taste in my cookies. I hope they turned out well for everyone. It took a quite a bit of time to write a note to each, but I wanted them to know I cared, and wasn't trying to be too formal.
It was rather fun, and I have some nice neighbors... Hope it made their day!

home-schooling the preschooler

I have decided to go ahead and begin preschooling Faithy... and, I was very impressed. Keep in mind that she just jurned 3. Here is some of her work this morning.

You can't see where she circled the "small" things very well because she did it in crayon.
This is listening/Bible story/lunch-time... We listened to "Your Story Hour"-Adam and Eve, then, I asked her questions to see how much she had learned and listened. She is one smart little gal! I still need to teach her the Scripture-verse of the week. It really didn't take too long... school may only last 2 hours (if that) a day. Thank God for His help!

Children's Church

Here are some pictures of the theme we are doing in children's church for the next few weeks... fishing. Last week was on Jonah and obedience, and this week was on being fishers of men- witnessing. Here are some picts. (The paintings on the walls went very well with the theme.) Most of these pictures were taken before class began this morning. I had a teenager, Amber, help out this time... She also spent the day with us at our house, and Ron's mom came over and gave me a birthday cake and a gift... Amber also made one... I think I am officially tired of cake!

Have a great Lord's Day!

cakes and car seats

Yesterday I went out to eat with my friend, Vicki, who lives next door, and we also went to Meijer's. When I got home I bagged 25 bags of gummy fish for children's church Sunday. Then I spent much time making a car seat cover for Charity's car seat... The one it had on it had holes and was very tattered...Okay, so it's VERY girly... it has plenty of pink in it! It's very soft too! When you don't have lots of money, you either can whine or you can get creative. She was wanting to sit in it before I was even done. I was pretty proud of myself... I will confess, it certainly is NOT a professional looking job, but, it will work. (The old cover, which is blue, is underneath, and this adds even more cushion.)

Last night, Ron and I went to Aldi's and Walmart... needed groceries pretty badly, and got stuff to make a poster of youth camp for our teen class.

Today, my parents and sister came over and we ate a big meal. (I was so glad it turned out yummy... and, that Ron helped clean the house up before they got here... not that it was all clean, but it was much better.) They brought me birthday presents (bath and body type of stuff), and a yummy, but very rich, cake.

Ron left a little while ago to trim a tree for someone. (He does some of this type of work on the side.) Then, tonight we need to study our lessons for children's church, and get ready for Sunday, the Lord's Day. My nephew is getting dedicated tomorrow, but I will not be able to go... so sad... but, I have to follow-up on my responsibilities at our church.

Just about 16 more days until my ultrasound! So excited!

In the morning

My girls are almost ready for the day...

I bought these dresses at the thrift store. I loved the farm animals on Faith's dress. I actually bought both of them apple dresses (see Charity), but decided that today they did not need to match each other. Charity's dress was only .49, I believe. I love thrift store shopping!

Also: Just thought I would say "thank you" to those in the Radcliffe Bible Mthodist Church (where we've been trying to help out some) that gave a love offering to us last night... It was so sweet. May God bless your kindness.

Time for bed

After my girls have had their baths, teeth brushed, nail trimmed, ears cleaned, been lotioned down, hair combed, etc, etc...

They are so beautiful and so clean... it makes you want to cuddle them.

I do have to confess that they very much dislike getting their toenails cut... but, a mommy's got to do what a mommy's got to do.

For their bedtime story, I told them about these little girls, named Faithy and Charity (imagine that!), whose mommy went to the hospital for a couple of days, then came home with a new baby that the little girls loved and kissed on. Faithy was very much interested in this story!

Good night, my little princesses!

New hobbies and much work

Here is the beginning of a quilt I am making for a special person.






Here is a crocheting project I am doing for my baby to come.





Just a little home update.

Saturday, we spent many, many hours setting up the children's church for a fishing series... it looks like a modern day camping spree... it is cute. (Pictures to come, Lord willing.) Fortunately, Ron's parents came to clean in the church, and were able help with the setup. We also went to their house and visited them. They bought us pizza, and that was really nice.

Sunday, Ron and I taught children's church with the lesson being on obedience. In the evening, I stayed home with my girls, because Faithy had a fever of 100.8 axillary.

Monday, I had tons of work to do on my house... so I power cleaned, I guess you could say. My house smelled strongly like bleach, Pine-sol, and carpet cleaner... I washed lots of laundry, and worked so hard that I needed to go to bed by about 9:30pm, and Ron had to entertain the girls and put them to bed later.

Tuesday, I worked on a quilt I am making for someone for Christmas... I have already broken one sewing machine needle on this because it is so thick and heavy. Then I began crocheting for my baby who is due to be born at Christmas-time. That evening, Ron and I took a really long walk together with the girls in a stroller. We got a snack at Wendy's, and I really think we ought to walk together more often, it was so nice.

Wednesday, I put away much clean laundry, did some housecleaning, and worked some more on my crocheting. Then, of course, we had church in the evening, and we went out to eat at Skyline.

Today, I walked up to the little bakery thrift store and got the girls some breakfast, and then Sandy Perkins came over for a lesson on how to upload pictures, and I enjoyed her company... My girls dumped a bunch of bubbles on the patio carpet! I still have to clean that up somehow.

My house needs another power clean, then I need to call some of the teens to check on them, and then we might be having a Bible study tonight.

Tomorrow, I am supposed to go out to eat with my good neighbor... she is buying my meal as a birthday present for me. My parents are planning to come and visit Saturday, then Sunday, I am supposed to teach children's church again, and I might invite some teens over for the afternoon... Sunday, I will be 26 years old.

The Cook family at camp

Strollers and umbrellas... lots of church services and many teenagers... playing outside and bathing in tote boxes... a different bed and different food... don't forget the mud... strange games and following daddy's church bus... that is what camp means to my little girls.

Lots of prayer, praise, pictures, preparing, and packing...

that's what camp meant to me.

This is a bad picture, I took it myself just so I could have one picture to prove I was at camp.

Guard duty and bus driving and lots of praying, and believe it or not, Ron actually got to rest during camp... Ron's camp

Another plus this year was the fact we got a nice room... even had a little refrigerator... I was thrilled that we were very close to the lady's restroom... that is a great blessing when you have little ones.

Praise and worship

Come, now is the time to worship...

Come, now is the time to give your heart...

One day every tongue will confess You are God...

One day every knee will bow...

Come...

God came in a mighty way... A spiritual "tsunami"

This was a week that I know the eight young people we brought to camp should never forget.

They were able to bond together, and make new friends as well. Even those with injuries enjoyed themselves.

They played volleyball, baseball, kickball, wacky sports, dodge ball, memorized scriptures, quiz bowled on the book of Romans, got rained upon, and did tons of screaming, clapping, and laughing.

But, nothing compares to what took place as God moved upon the camp. Wednesday night, God was so very present. One person even called it a tsunami as young people by the dozen swarmed to the altar to pray... many were saved, or responding in some way to God's voice. Weeping of repentance and submission to God kept going until late at night... there wasn't even time for Daren Fourman to preach, no time for the afterglow game... God was there, and that was all that mattered. The young people from our church didn't escape this, as God poured conviction and love upon them and several of them were seen weeping in prayer.

Those who weren't up at the altar dealt with conviction or stood to their feet and raised their arms in praise and adoration for their Lord. You could see the young people rise from the front to the back to their feet as God Almighty swept through the place. I wouldn't want to have missed it for the world... I, too, couldn't keep from crying and praising God... for He is so very worthy. The altar was packed, then young people testified, then more prayed... When I left at almost 10:00pm people were still praying.

Thursday, young people gathered around the altar to indicate that they felt God calling them into some work. One of our young people had prayed to get saved on Tuesday night.

What an incredibly beautiful week, and may God help and strengthen these young people as they go back to their environments... may they find that the Anchor really does hold... Praise God!

I will try to add more pictures through out the week so that you can see more of what took place. Please help me pray for them.