Half Empty or Half Full?

Is your glass of water half full or half empty?

This Sunday is the first day of July. Each month Lifesavers Children learn a new Virtue, and Memory Verse. Weekly we teach Bible Stories that support them. (See side bar for this month.) This week the Bible Story is called; "A Perfect World". (Genesis 2-3) Included in the lesson we will hit the following 4 points; 1.) We will be talking about contentment—deciding to be happy with what we have. 2.) Remember that since God is the Creator of contentment, He certainly wants us to be content. 3.) Understand that when we’re content we're happy with what we have. 4.) When we’re happy with what we have, we’re able to change the world around us. How? When we’re happy with what we have, we’re able to have a nice day anyway. And when we’re having a good day, it affects those around us.
Final Thought; If you aren't happy with what you have you will never be happy with what you don't have.
~ My glass is half full. (Big Smile)

Jesse's Miracle Strawberries

In May, Jesse decided that he wanted to grow strawberries, raspberries, and tomatoes. We went to the plant store and picked out a few starts. Every day Jesse waters them. In the last couple of days the strawberries ripened for eating! It's been a fun experience for us to watch God grow fruit with the perfect recipe of love, water and sunshine. A couple days ago while I was mowing the lawn I notice a baby bird in the grass. It must have fallen from it's nest. I showed my boys and they were very concerned. We put it in the bushes so that it would be safe. (it had very protective parents ~ another story in itself) It lived over night, the parent's must have been feeding it. Later the next day Jesse found the little featherless creature in the middle of the yard. He had a great idea, he was going to feed the poor little bird some of his yummy strawberries. He asked then proceeded to feed it. The bird actually ate the strawberries! He was beside himself excited! He went to bed that night thinking about the bird. The next morning he ran outside to check on it. To his and our surprise it had climbed up on a brush pile we have in the middle of the yard. As he moved toward it, it flew like a true novice to a tree close by! All of us were shocked... a little helpless, featherless bird grew enough wings overnight to make it to safety the very next morning! We all agree that those were miracle strawberries that God helped Jesse grow.

Mowing the Lawn

I found a new hobby! Mowing the lawn. It is an absolute blast! The smell, the stained feet all of it! Don't get me wrong, this wasn't the first time, I have mowed a lawn. It is however the first time I have up kept a lawn. I had a blast battling the lawn mower on Monday. After the mower died about 50 times (yeah, the grass was wet) the blades froze. Being the "fix it myself" woman I am, I decided to flip the mower upside down and fix the blades. I found out why it froze! A stick and a bunch of grass piled up and wouldn't allow the blade to move. I unstuck the stick and picked out the grass, then flipped the mower back on it's wheels. It was fixed right? WRONG! I flooded it and at the same time got oil all over the carburetor. If any of you know anything about motors, you don't want to do that! It filled the carburetor filter up with oil which doesn't allow air to flow through, so in turn the motor won't start. Long story short, trying over and over to start the old girl (I think I sweat a gallon) I fowled the plug. Off to Coast to Coast I went. Thankfully Todd was around to coach me through this... After cleaning the air filter and replacing the spark plug she started right up! It was a 1 hour job that took 3 hours. (Big Smiles) The up keep happened on Thursday. I was a pro-mower by then! It only took 45 minutes. I actually enjoyed it~ the maintenance. Practice is great, repetition makes it easier each time. I'm thankful I didn't quit. It looks beautiful! Next time I will try to make the cool checker board lines. Does anyone have any tips on keeping my dog from creating a lawn mower 4X4 track in beautifully fresh mowed yard? Life is good!

The Race Information

Details, details, details........! "Let us run ... the race" (Hebrews 12:1)

Who? The Rock Church.

What? The Race Children's Adventure

When? July 16th - 20th, 9:00am to 12:00pm. Pre-Register June 24th after 1st and 2nd service.

Why? To have fun while teaching your children about the love of Jesus!

Cost? If Pre-Registered the cost is; $15 for 1st child $10 + sibling $5 + 2 or more siblings and $8 for a T-shirt. After the 24th the cost goes up to, $18 for 1st child $13 + sibling $8 + 2 or more siblings and $10 for a T-shirt. It is going to be a week full of fun and adventure! Make sure to pre-register to get a price break! I look forward to seeing your child signed up for The Race!

The Race: Children's Adventure will be running daily from 9am to noon, July 16-20 here at The Rock Church. This is an opportunity for kids to get out of the grandstand and prepare for the all important race of Life! Reserve your racers' position on the track today! Sign up at our Qualifying Race on Sunday, June 17th and Sunday, June 24th.For more information, contact Staci Scheffer at sscheffer@trclife.com or 360.805.0699 x114.

Happy Father's Day Dads!

Happy Father's Day! I spent most of the day at The Rock Church celebrating Dad's. What a blast that was! Pastor Jeff Knight delivered a great message. Dad's deserve time to recharge their batteries! Pastor Melinda Knight and the worship team put together a great set, what an anointing! After service the car show started. For the belly there was Kettle Corn, Barbecue Hamburgers & Potato Chips, even an Ice Cream Truck came. A great band came out and play. Of course there were tons of cars and motorcycles, basic models, custom, classic and new. I wouldn't have missed it for anything! After that the guys (Todd, Jayden, Joshua, and Jesse) and I headed out to Grandma Norma's to celebrate some more. We had a Lasagna dinner with Apple Pie. (Kyle Pearson's is still better!) Dad, (Russell) had double portions on the pie! If you knew him you wouldn't be surprised! All in all it was a great day! Today I celebrate all the Dad's in my life! You know who you are! Big Huge Hugs! ~

Congratulations 2007 Quarry Interns!

Congratulations Quarry Graduating Class of 2007! You are a great group and will be missed tremendously! Thank you for all your help and support with the LifeSavers Children's Ministry! Love you tons!

S'more Smores Pleeeeze!

Todd's home! After the 6+ hour surgery and a day an a half at Harborview he's home 2 days early! Yay! To celebrate we marshed marshmallows & made Smores! Who would have thought, home early and cooken' on the open fire?! Take the time to thank Him for all the good. Today we made a point to say thank you for a bunch of things here are a few; Daddy (Todd) being home, friends, bonfires and Smores! YUMMY!

"What's Up Doc?"

Introducing Harborviews own, Bradford Henley, M.D. Professor and Todd's Orthopaedic Surgeon. What an amazingly gifted guy! (this picture was taken straight from the operating room directly after surgery while Todd's ankle was still being closed) Many people have spent a lot of time praying over this surgery. So, I thought this would be a great time to share. Like all days, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" That is exactly what kind of day it was. A day to rejoice! I made some great friends in the waiting room! Props to Barbara Gregg (the waiting room lady) a very patient woman with a super gift of compassion for all, especially children! Surgery went as well as we all expected! It was a full 6 hour surgery with a couple plates and a few screws. (Only a genius with some help from above could put that puzzle together!) The three pins were removed. ~ Yay! (Grr...I forgot to ask if I could have them for show and tell.) Doctor H. says that surgery went smooth even better than he could have imagined. The joint is nice and smooth now. We are told that recovery would include 3-4 months on crutches and then Todd can start barring weight slowly after that! The plates and screws will stay in. Best news yet is there will be no need for anymore surgeries! ~ Can I hear an Amen! Originally we heard it could be up to 5 surgeries! As always, God is good all the time! It's late and I need sleep so I will touch base later this week. Thank you all again for your support! We love you tons! ~One more thing, everyone keeps asking about the boys. They are having a blast camping out in a fort made in the front room at an awesome friends house. Jenny & Ryan ~ Thank you for taking good care of our babies! We love and appreciate you!

"The Birds and The Bees"

Last night my family of five gathered for our weekly Friday night movie night. In the first hour of the G-Rated movie, very nonchalantly my middle son Joshua pops out with a very innocent question/statement about The Birds and The Bees. "Isn't it weird that you don't have a baby when your not married, and when you get married you have a baby?" RANDOM!.... My 9 year old son Jayden starts busting up laughing. Poor Joshua's face turns bright red with embarrassment and begins to ask, "what, what's so funny?" Needless to say Todd (my husband) and I had to think fast. In defense to Joshua, I asked Jayden if he knew the answer and wanted to share? (I didn't realize he did!) Thankfully he replied, "NO WAY!" He quit laughing pretty quick. LOL! Our answer was simple, "Yes, Joshua it takes and woman and a man together to have a baby, women can have babies when they are not married, but God likes it best when a man and a woman have a baby after they are married." Joshua proceeds to ask, "How does a woman who's not married have a baby then?" ARGG.... (a little uncomfortable here) Acting as if it were no big deal Todd and I responded, " When a man and a woman kiss and get all romantic is the beginning of how a baby is made. To obey God you wait for that until you get married." He swallowed that well and simply said, "Oh." There were a few Yucks, Ews, and Grosses after that then it was dropped. ~ Parents hang in there you have a very important role to play. Don't blow off these very important questions. These are doors of opportunity to teach our children about purity. I'm glad to be the one to tell my child about life and not a public school or someone else who has a different view.

Friendship & Hot Chocolate

For those of you who don’t know me I have the blessing & honor of being the Children’s Director for The Rock Church, Monroe. This morning I sat down to study and pray over the children and this month’s curriculum. Each month we focus on one Memory Verse and one “Virtue”. We plan months in advance, so I should always be prepared. This morning when I started to read the months Virtue and Memory Verse I was moved. The Virtue for this month is; “Friendship” Sharing special times with someone you trust and enjoy. The Memory Verse is; “A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes.” (Proverbs 17:17, NIrV) I knew it was coming I just didn’t realize it was this month. God’s timing is amazing! The last week and a half has been a time where my faith was tested. Todd, the love of my life had a very serious dirt bike accident crushing his right ankle into 15 countable pieces. Evergreen Hospital couldn’t help him so they sent us to Harborview Hospital telling us that he needed ankle replacement, and many surgeries. We called our Pastor Jeff Knight to tell him what was going on. He was not going to let anyone replace any ankle with out letting God work first. First test of faith there! He and many other great Pastors of The Rock Church prayed over us. The prayer warriors were notified and more prayers started. Out come? No ankle replacement is neccesary! The second test of Faith for us is financial. Todd is the main provider in our household. His job is very physical, carrying heavy materials up and down stairs etc. God has provided thus far and we have the Faith that he will continue. One of the great messages God is sharing right now is, Friendship. Sharing special times with someone you trust and enjoy. In His word he reminds me that, "A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes." (Proverbs 17:17) This week we have had an outpour of friends come running in time of trouble. We praise God that he gives us friends, people that we have been able to trust and enjoy. In close I want to share a poem of an unknown author; Warm as a crackling fire, Sweet as hot chocolate, Comforting as a child's embrace. Few things are more precious, Few more cherished, than the value of a genuine friend. ~ Blessing today friends!