CHRISTMAS 2012 HAPPENINGS #1

December is always a very busy month for us - It always began with celebrating Suzette's birthday on the 13th.  Then Jacque's on the 22nd & granddaughter, Jessica, on the 23rd, and mine on the 25th.

It has been our custom, over the last # of years. for us "girls" to have lunch out and then go get manicure & pedicures.  This year was a little sad because, first we did not have Suzette with us, second Jessica went to Dallas for a football game, and Oksana was not with us this year. 

SO----I picked up Jacque for lunch but had not told her I had also made appointments for our manicures & pedicures.  When she got in the car I told her about the appointments.  She looked at me like--what???  "Mom, you know I can't get a pedicure with my broken foot!!"  Oopps!!!!  That had not even registered with me so she has a "raincheck" for those when her right foot is completely healed.

Off to lunch we went at The Apple Barrel and when they found out it was her birthday she was served this complimentary nice big piece of cheesecake with strawberries.  We had a wonderful visit and talk and of course shed some tears over it just being the 2 of us - sob-sob.

My gift to her, was a pair of sterling silver conch style earrings with black onyx stones in the center.  forgot to get a picture) I had bought these for her while in Santa Fe in September and I told her these were to go with the sterling silver conch belt I have that will be hers someday.  

Then I took her shopping at Bass Pro, since she had a little more Christmas shopping to finish and of course can't drive!!

I OWE YOU ONE manicure & pedicure Jacque :o) 

 This is our wonderful friend, Ronnie, and his youngest grandson, Cody, all dressed up like Santa Clause with the bread and sweet rolls he had just picked up from Pan*era Bread for The King's Kitchen, after school tutoring program, and to distribute where needed.  What a blessing each week to our church and others.

 This was Marc, with his dirty Santa Christmas gift from his work party.  He assured, or would it be warned, everyone this lovely item will make a return visit at the 2012 Christmas party!!!

Every year our church has Missionary Christmas.  We "adopt" a special Missionary family to come and we have a party and bless their socks off with gifts. This year was Wednesday, December 19th.

 The tree laden with gifts

 The Mission Family Elizabeth & Brad Ward (on each end) and Denise & Teddy Wyatt (our Church members who head up this project in the cente)r.  The Wards also have 3 children, Luke, Jacob & Felisha who were present but not in this picture.  The Wards will soon be going to Chili as Missionaries.

 Our small group Real Christianity collected enough money to purchase this iPod for them as our gift to them. 

Last, but not least, on Tuesday night, December 18th the WOW Woman Bible Study celebrated with a little Christmas Party and a dirty Santa gift exchange.

(left to right) Cindy W, Christina, Kathy, Susan, Jeanne, Phyllis, Glenda, Jennifer, Sandra & Connie.

It was a fun evening, away from our studies, to eat too much and have a really good time.  I love these woman.  They bless me each and every Tuesday evening with their presence. 

LIFE IS.......BUSY

About 6 weeks ago the Lord prompted me to go to our Pastor Steve and offer to volunteer 1 day a week helping in the church office.  He was delighted and said he'd run it by the Office Manager, Melody,

and if it was okay with Melody he would then present it to the Church Deacon Board for approval.  It was okay with Melody and the Deacon Board did approve me.  I have worked the last 4 weeks.  The first 2 weeks I worked on Wednesday and the past 2 weeks on Monday.  I will be helping each Monday.

The King's Kitchen is still running smoothly.  We have been blessed with such a dependable, faithful group of kitchen help and 5 delivery teams of 2 that help us week after week.  We have now been operating this program, of sending a meal each and every Tuesday to shut-ins, for past year and 8 months.  Pictured is a salad we delivered to them recently.  Of course we also always have milk, bread of some kind, and a dessert. 

I am still hosting a Bible Study every Tuesday night in our home of 12-13 woman.  I'll try and post a separate post about this in the near future.   

My favorite Bible Teacher, Perry Stone, was in Tulsa at a conference September 9th - through 11th.  We went to hear him Friday evening at 7 pm - then Saturday we watched the streaming video for both the 10 & 5 services - then were able to attend on Sunday evening at 6.  What a blessing to hear him in person.  We had only seen him in person one evening 2 years ago at a conference in Arkasas.  We were NOT disappointed!!!!

Our daughter, Jacque, and granddaughter, Jessica, participated in the Race for the Cure last Saturday, September 17th in honor of Jacque's sister and Jessica's aunt, Suzette.  They asked me to join them but I felt that was a little too much for me :o)  I am SOOO proud of them for doing this.  They were joined by 3 of Jessica's friends.  Jessica & Jacque are the 2 on the left.

Yes, our lives are very busy & very full. 

To answer Ginger's question about my working 1 day a week in the church office - No, this is not a paid position - I volunteered.

A NEW THING - built on a firm foundation

Remember a couple of days ago I told you I was so excited about a new surprise I would be sharing with you?  Well, here it is!!!

If you've been a reader of Penless Writer for very long, one thing you know I never cease to be amazed at is HOW God works and HIS timing.

One year ago, on January 17, 2010 Mickey held the organizational meeting at our church that launched The King's Kitchen.

Last night, January 18, 2011, I held the first meeting of a new Bible Study group here in our home.

The Lord placed this on my heart the first of December when I ordered a book called BORN for BATTLE  - 31 Studies on Spiritual Warefare by R. Arthur Mathews. Before I had finished the 1st chapter I knew this was a book that needed to be studied by a group of woman who were ready to press in to what God desires for us.  I felt God was telling me to start a Bible Study in my home to do just that.   

Just before Christmas my friend Sandra came by the house.  Sandra held a Bible Study in her home, which I attended faithfully and loved, from March, 2009 until the 1st week in October, 2010 called Third Day Sisters.  I wrote a lot during those 19 months about what a blessing that Bible Study and my Third Day Sisters were to me and my life.  I shared with Sandra about the book and asked her about re-activating her study and doing this book.  She said, for this time, the Lord has told her to step aside and it was my time to host.  Then she said, "I'll come!" which totally surprised me as she lives some distance away.

  

I believed there were probably 4 or 5 woman who would be interested in joining me every Tuesday evening at 6:30 to use this book as a launching pad to becoming a strong, committed prayer group.  I needed to wait until Christmas and the New Year holidays were behind us but I was going to be faithful to what God had placed in my heart and was calling me to do.  During these few weeks I have been in daily prayer for God to bring in the women HE wanted to be here. 

I knew God was truly in this when Sandra told me that Gloria was going to come!!!  Gloria is the reason Sandra began her study in 2009.  She is married to Sandra's husband and had asked Sandra to start a Bible Study group.  She also lives in Tahlequah which is 50 miles from Coweta.  I was so honored when I heard Gloria was willing to come that far to be here. 

Here they are.

Left to right:  Cindy O, Kathy, Thelma, Jeanne

Norma, Britney & Cindy W

Carmel, Wantha, Gloria, Sandra

and, of course me, makes 12 of us!!!!!

Six of us are from the former Third Day Sister group:  Sandra, Wantha, Gloria, Norma, Cindy W and myself. 

Last night I did a brief pre-view of the book, stated my objective of what I felt God wanted us to accomplish, told them I wanted a commitment to stay the course - "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." and planned for us to begin to just all get acquainted with each other. 

Praise God, He had other plans and we ended praying and worshiping HIM.

I was excited before we began.  I am REALLY excited now.

What a mighty God we serve.