Duh duh duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh...

(That was for my friend Will, who I'm sure has never read this nor will he ever. It's our special sound effect-like in the scary movies...)

With D-day the 1st day of VBS lurking around the corner, I have officially settled into panic mode. Most people would see that as a problem, perhaps even an indication of the tone of VBS...but not me! I see it as the most productive time for me. I work VERY well under pressure and am looking forward to the next few 16-18 hour days. Crazy right? I know. But honestly, for me, the planning and organizing of big events is just as satisfying as the event itself. I am ALL about creativity & ideas. I absolutely LOVE planning & organizing things. So this VBS has become my "baby" of sorts. I started with the 1st ideas and researching curriculum and I'll see it through to the end of Thursday night, complete w/a July 4th fireworks display just down the road from the church and on to clean up and follow up with the kids. I'm excited, just nervous. I want it to be perfect (duh, I'm a perfectionist) and I'm doing all I can to make that happen. Let's just hope the kids show up to enjoy it!

In other news, why in the world (literally) are people reading my blog? I write mainly for myself and my parents so I really only expected to see 2 visitors from Maiden & 1 from Paris (me) on my NeoCities list. What's up w/all the other random people reading? If you're one of them, would you care to identify yourself and let me know how you found me and what you think? I love feedback-especially constructive criticism (so be kind, harsh words won't get you far). Anyway, just curious about all you readers out there. (And Mom & Dad, if you're logging in under other names & hiding behind profiles listed in CA or Amsterdam, give it up already. I'm ok w/my audience of 2.)

Blessings,
Bethany
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

It has happened...

Today, while I was browsing the Yellow Pages online, the unthinkable & totally unexpected happened. I was searching for a restaurant in TN (where I moved from) and as I typed the state abbreviation, my fingers automatically typed TX!!! I never thought I would adjust to being in the second "T" state on the drop-down list but apparently I have. I guess I am officially a Texan-especially now that my car has been branded. :( All that's left is for me to get branded (i.e. change my driver's license) which I'm holding out on as long as I possibly can...

There's no song...

for Tuesdays that I can think of off the top of my head so I'll guess the soundtrack to my life is on *pause* for now. But, I guess if I had to pick a song for today it would be...

Time Is by DC Talk

But mainly just the chant: Time is tickin' away, time is tickin'-tick, tock That is def my theme right now w/T-4 days until the big event.

Which brings me to this question of curiosity: Who thought up the idea that the sounds of a clock are "tick, tock"? I guess it's a bit of onomatopoeia but who would have thought???

And yet I digress...again...

Today is a busy day as usual. Last night was quite productive. I spent some time doing laundry at a friend's (who is now my fave friend b/c she brought me chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream from the store while I was there-the diet is out the window until after VBS) and I finished up most of the computer items I needed to accomplish for VBS. When I got home, I cleaned house-mainly my floors b/c I want to try the whole "no shoes=less dirt" thing. I figure it's worth a shot-I get so many bugs & dirt in my house and I'm so tired of it. I think I will ask my landlord to get an exterminator to come or see if I have to hire one myself. I'm tired of killing all these bugs. I've never had them anywhere else I've lived like I do here.

Ok, don't be grossed out but I also actually wiped my kitchen floor down w/Clorox wipes which was my first time to do anything that even resembles mopping since I moved in-last October. So for almost 9 months I've had dirty kitchen floors. They're still kinda dirty looking (I think it's the laminate) but at least they're pretty germ-free. (*Special friend who eats sausages off the floor, you can now rest easy...) ;)

So today, my day is filled w/sending off birthday cards, picking up flags to borrow for VBS, working at the church, & doing our last minute shopping for final items (although I know I'll have to go back Sunday afternoon right before it starts). Yes indeed, panic mode is setting in but at this point, there's not much else I can do. I am trying to psych myself up w/each passing day. Hopefully by Sunday, my mouth won't be broken out w/ulcers from the stress and I will have found just a little time to sleep. (Yeah, right...who am I kidding?)

Wow, I just read back over this post & I'm pretty boring aren't I? Who, besides me, will be glad when I can stop writing about VBS??? (Yes, I see those hands.) I do apologize for my boring entries as of late. I just haven't had a life for the past 6 weeks. But I promise you, July 4th-let freedom ring-For our country & for me! :)

Monday, Monday

ah ah, ah ah ah ah

And so reads the subject line of the e-mail I sent my mother today.

I don't know whether to be thankful it's Monday or dread the day altogether. We're at T minus 5 days until VBS and I don't think I could have worked on it any more this weekend if I tried. After my Friday night chaos, Saturday I was "blessed" to be able to spend 12 hours working at the church. The men have been working basically non-stop all week to raise the ceiling in the sanctuary so my 12 hours is almost a non-contributor when looking at the overall picture. But for me, it was a big deal. Especially after getting 3 1/2 hours sleep Friday night and not much more than that Wednesday or Thursday.

But I will say this: Our church looks FANTASTIC! I am so proud of all the effort everyone has put in to work on this project and I absolutely can't wait to see the finished project once the carpet is installed. There's still a little painting to do in the sanctuary, but once it's finished, I'll be sure to post before & after pics. As I told Pastor, it makes me smile every time I walk by it and I can't wait to have VBS in there. :) Who knew what a difference a raised ceiling could make? As one lady said, "Our building is starting to look like an actual church now." We are such a blessed people to have a Pastor who has goals and visions for our church and actually helps us realize them.

My Saturday was spent passing out flyers for VBS in neighborhoods in the AM, then picking up lunch for the workers and organizing VBS (a little) when I wasn't answering the "Sister Bethany, where do we keep the...?" or "Sister Bethany, where could I find the...?" or "Sister Bethany, where would ... be?" questions I got all day. And the last few hours, I spent cleaning and organizing for Sunday. In all honesty, I LOVE working at my church. The people, the smells, the building...I love every aspect of it. But Saturday I would have done well to get some actual work done. I guess it will all come out in the wash as they say.

By the end of the day Saturday, they had the sanctuary back in functional order-I'll admit, I had my doubts when they were still less than 1/2 way done installing panels on Thursday. But it looks FABULOUS! Everything was cleaned and ready to go for Sunday. I even conked out on my couch at 11 after a late supper and TOTAL lack of preparing my Sunday School lesson. At 6 I got up and took my contacts out (a lotta good that did) and went back to be for what was supposed to be an hour. But I didn't get up until 8:15 which is SO not good.

So my Sunday started a little rough because not only did I oversleep, when I finally got to church I got caught up in helping a few people and trying to get the VBS promo DVD working and got to look over my lesson, um...once before we started class at 9:45. I really can't do my kids that way. It's not fair to them and it's a total disrespect to God. Def gotta work on that...

But it went well as did church. My VBS skit went great-especially since I had to rope a new guy into helping me (but he and his wife are a lot of fun & he did SUPERB). And Pastor's message was PHENOMENAL! I didn't think he'd have that much energy after working so hard and so long last week but once again, he brought the Word and brought it hard. He spoke about giving God what we have left -even if it's just a little bit-so He can give us what He has for us. We have to take what the widow had in 1 Kings, 2 sticks (the cross), a little bread (Jesus, the Bread of Life), and some oil (the anointing) and live by that so that God can do the greater work in us. It really spoke to me b/c here lately, all I've had is just a little bit to give God and I haven't felt like that's good enough. But I was reminded that whatever I have, if I offer it all to God, is good enough b/c it's not what I have to offer, it's what God can supernaturally do with it that counts.

Ok, enough re-preaching of his message. So Sunday afternoon I went and ate lunch, ran home, totaled up Sunday School counts, finished up signs to be painted for VBS and by that time, my kids were showing up for puppet practice. We had a good practice but have some work to do. It'll be fine though-I think. Church went well & Pastor brought another good message about discipleship being demanded not requested. I enjoyed it a lot as well although my body started shutting down about 1/2 way through. By the time church was over and I had wrapped up what I needed to do, I was pooped. So I called home and chatted w/dad (whose 1st night of VBS was last night), chatted with Ash to check on her mom (who is home and doing better-not 100% but better) & hit the sack. I was in bed before 10 and planned to get up early as I mentioned before but we all know how that ended.

Needless to say, today has been a blur of work, VBS stuff, bank stuff, and being tired. It may take me a while to recuperate but it'll be worth it-for the kids. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. Lots left to do-shopping, picking up items, making signs/handouts... I'm getting nervous and am about to hit panic mode (as I do w/any major project) but at least in panic mode I get VERY productive.

Until next time...VBS ON THE BRAIN :)

Blessings,
B
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more.
Psalm 71:14

Life Is Fragile

I just got home a few minutes ago from a very emotionally draining evening/night/morning. I don't have my wits about me enough to mess w/html formatting or even know if this blog will make sense but I had to write to get it all out (even though I called and woke my poor mother up on my way home at 4:30am EST).

Anyway, I was over at my Pastor's house w/his wife and 2 of his children watching something on tv when the phone rang. It was 10:30 so I told his wife that I hoped it was someone they knew b/c I would hate to have random ppl calling me that late. It turned out to be her mom who was just getting home from the hospital in VA where they live. Her father had collapsed and they had to take him to the hospital. He is ok at present but prior to being ok (but still in ICU), he had to have his heart shocked only to discover that the top half is working ok but the bottom half is not as good. There are some complications since he is 82 and has heart conditions but things are looking ok for now. At least he's stable. Needless to say, that sent my friend into panic mode-as she is already a worrier. I called Pastor who was still at the church working (since we have to have our sanctuary in functional order in less than 36 hours) and told him what happened and he rushed home. I stayed for a bit longer and then had to leave b/c...

One of my best friends here in Paris called me during the middle of my Pastor's wife's breakdown and told me they were taking her mom to the ER b/c she was very disoriented and didn't know who people were. She has multiple health problems but this evening, she just started crying b/c she didn't know anyone and felt very out of place. So I drove down to C-ville (30 minutes East of Paris) and sat w/them for a few hours. It was such a pitiful sight and I don't know how anyone deals w/the sickness &/or death of their parents. Someone would have to cart me out in a casket if something ever happened to mine. It would break my heart.

And the thing is, it's not so much these things happening that bothers me. It's being so far away from them if something were to happen. I can't imagine what I would do. I would FREAK! But I bind that power of the enemy's in Jesus name & know that I will be ok when that day comes.

So tonight (this morning), I ask you to pray specifically for Ash & Shay & their families. God needs to intervene to change things and I believe He will satisfy our every need-material & immaterial. I love Him & trust Him with my heart. Do you? And be kind to those you love. We all too often take for granted the grace of Jesus but remember to have grace with others. And please, as my last request, please share with those you love that you do. Don't take them for granted. Make them feel loved, unique & wanted. God will do the rest.

Walk in blessing & victory today!
Blessings,
Bethany
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more.
Psalm 71:14