July Newletter article

Oh be careful little mouth...

Life for the Jellison household has been emotional lately. Sarah has said numerous times, "You try being pregnant". With no response from me until recently when I started replying, "You try being a husband to a pregnant woman". There seems to be a lot of emotions circulating not just for us but for a lot of people lately. There are different issues and things that need to be resolved and instead of brainstorming and figuring out ways to resolve them people have been blamestorming around. It does few people any good to complain and gripe about things without bring a solution to the table. Listen to what Paul says in Romans 14:6-9 (The Message):

"What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It's God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other."

We are all so persistent in letting others know how we feel and making sure that our opinions are known. However, that is "unChristian". Again in Romans 14:10-12 (The Message)

So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit.

Goethe puts it best in this quote:

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of.

We can use our freedoms, given to us by all those who fought and gave their lives and fought and came home, to uplift and help those around us become better people. Or we can use those freedoms to tear down others and hurt them.

Life and death. Encouragement or disdain. Your freedoms are just that. Yours. You have to use them as Christ told us to and Love those around you just as much as you love yourself.

I will leave you with this verse that it may be true of us all as we strive to love each other better:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
-Phil. 4:8

Supporting vs. Not Supporting

Caution: The next few paragraphs will be filled with the ventings of a man who is about to head off for vacation and has had his fill. Just thought I'd give a warning before you read it all and found that out. :)


So there I was. Stretching and warming up for a church league softball game (with very few people on our team that actually go to our church, 3-5 depending on what you consider "going to church means") and I hear someone with family members on our team and that claim Shiloh as their home church say, "Well I don't support the youth group." Now, I know that when you are in leadership and in any place of power, you will have people that don't like you. They have this reason or that reason or you get that or you don't do this. This is one of those people. I don't ever remember doing anything at all to this person or her family and they just don't like me. I'm ok with that. However, what I am not ok with is her statement. Here's why:

Youth ministry has changed. It isn't just a bible study for teens anymore and maybe an outing here or there. It HAS to have something fun. It cannot be something boring and 1980's because these kids don't do boring and they weren't even born in the 80's! Seriously? I HATE when I hear that parents are keeping their kids from going to youth group because they THINK____________ (you feel in the blank). Here's the thing, some youth leaders or youth pastors even might have tainted the view of a generation. They think that youth group is all fun and games and their kids are just going because it is fun and their friends are there. Ask a student about youth group and what happened and they will tell you all the fun things. They won't tell you about their "God experience" that they will rely on 10 years down the road when they remember that and have something to stand on. They won't talk about the bonds of being together with other people who have the same goal (to look, act and become more like Christ every day). They won't tell you about the worship that is what they were made for. They won't tell you about the messages about honoring your parents, watching the words you say, watching the places and music and movies that you watch, giving respect to everyone around them, staying pure sexually, or the message about how much Jesus loves them and wants them to spend eternity with Him rather than apart from Him. They won't tell you that!

When this topic comes up I hear, "well that is just how parents are" or "we just have to deal with it because it isn't going to change". I am FED up with that! For someone to say that they don't support the youth group just makes me grit my teeth. Not just my group, all groups. All the youth pastors and youth leaders out there trying to make a difference in the lives of the teens. Here's the kicker:

If we are on God's side, trying to do what He's called us to do and bring these kids closer to looking and acting and being more like Christ. If we are preaching from the Bible and giving them solid truths. If we are telling them that whats most important is loving God with everything and loving everyone around you like you love yourself...and someone says that they don't support that, guess what? They are on the enemies side! They are a tool of the enemy of my God! They are helping Satan. Do you know what those people are called in the Bible? Demons!

I will leave it at that.

On the road again...

The great poet Robert Frost talked about two roads and which one to choose in his poem "The Road Not Taken". I got to thinking about all the choices we make each and every single day. Some, seem small and trivial. Others, large and heavy. We make decisions what to wear, where to go, how we'll spend our money, who our friends are, what to eat and when to go to bed. Other times we decide which car to buy, what to name our first child, whether or not to look for another job or when we'll buy a house. I preached a message to our graduating seniors this past sunday and I told them that wherever you end up will be determined by what road you are on.
You see, you can't end up somewhere, even if you had good intentions and good planning if you are not on that road. Our choices and decisions generally determine what road we are on. Circumstances and other people sometimes cause us to go down a different path but most of the time it is a daily journey that leads us and brings us to where we are today.
So, where are you? What is happening in your life that brings you passion and joy? How is Christ reflecting off of you? Can others see Him in your daily words and actions? Or is that light reflecting dimly to those around you? It is a daily process that leads us to look, to act and to become more like Christ. We must choose daily to make other peoples problems our problems. To come along the sick, the hurting and the oppressed and just be with them. It isn't someone elses job or something we should do because that would be nosy. It is the Church's job to be Christs' hands and feet. To accept all people but let them know that Christ loves them too much to let them stay on the path that they were on.
Where is your path leading? What choices do you think about that you haven't made in the past but should have made? Here's the kicker, we still have time. We have time to make a new choice. Start down a new path. One that leads to our lives reflecting the forgiveness, the grace, the mercy and the love of Christ daily to those around us.
Don't expect your path to lead somewhere where the road you're on isn't headed.

Jellyland Update Memorial Day Edition

Hey all...we have been uber busy lately...so here is an update from the Jellisons of the North!

10. Two out of the last 3 Sunday mornings I have preached and led worship. It takes a lot out of me but I love doing both things! I love leading worship and playing the guitar. I am so glad that I took the time and taught myself to play. Preaching on Sunday mornings is something else that I just love to do. Still, it takes a lot out of me.


9. I haven't been getting enough sleep lately because of the stupid NBA playoffs. I can't remember a more exciting playoff season than this year. Go Lakers!

8. We leave for vacation to Myrtle Beach a week from this Thursday. I am so ready! We are flying down this year because Sarah didn't want to make that trip being nearly 7 months pregnant!

7. It seems like time is just flying by. It seems like the year just started and yet here we are in the last full week of May! Summer is upon us and I am not sure that I remember Spring every getting here. It went from cold to hot.

6. We have painted the baby room. We did it in a dark brown and rich pink. It is definitely girly! I am sure that baby jelly will love it!

5. I have felt Baby Jelly kick already! It is an amazing thing to be on this journey. I can't wait!

4. A couple of weeks ago we held a fundraiser for our youth group missions week. Usually we do this fundraiser (selling chicken) in July. However we needed to do it earlier this year with everything going on. It was FREEZING!!! We sold a lot after the sale because one of the parents of a teen went around to different people and sold the leftovers! As soon as we were done, the clouds parted, the sun started shining and it warmed up. Fancy that!

3. I was shocked that Kris Allen won American Idol! We started rooting for him a long time ago and kept voting to the end. I love his style of music and his humble attitude (unlike someone else). We also liked JT from Survivor so we were two for two on winners this year.

2. Sarah and Baby Jelly are doing great. God has really blessed us with good health for both of my girls. Sarah is always concerned about this or that but overall, things are going as smoothly as they can.

1. We had our first shower this past Saturday in Bluffton. It was good to see family and friends. We also got a lot of the things we need, I am sure that the other two showers will help with that!

Target Lady

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Baby Jelly is a Girl!

Here are some pics of baby Jelly...wow...I can hardly wait!

What tests do you have? May newsletter article

Nothing frustrates me more than when some electronic stops working like it is supposed to. Whether it is a computer, phone, stove or the TV, I am an equal opportunity distributor of angst and gritting of teeth to one and all. I hate when things hang over my head because they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. I try to move and they follow me. You know what I mean? We’ve all been there. Standing before this piece of plastic, trying to get something else done, but we can’t concentrate on anything save that solitary issue. We have expectations that things should do what they were meant to do and we don’t think about them when they do them.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. When bad things happen that are so much bigger than something not working, what do we expect of God? Do we pray and get no answer and expect God to “fix” our problem…now? When things aren’t going well we often turn to God and cry and beg and plead that this would be taken from us. Listen to what Jesus said to Peter:


Luke 22:31-32 (The Message)
31-32"Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start."
Most of the time when we go through trials of any kinds, the thing that Jesus most often does is pray for us. How amazing is that?! Jesus prays for us. We all have to be sifted and ground down sometimes. It is then that our faith grows and we rely more on God than before. Christ often intercedes for us rather than intervening for us.

So no matter what you are going through, no matter what the world tells you will happen to you, know that Jesus is praying for you. Right now. Before the Father. On your behalf. You can get through whatever it is you are facing because you have the same power in you that raised Christ from the dead! You have the same power in you that was used to create this world. God still reigns. He still loves you and He still has the best for you in mind. Period.

Jellyville Update 4.7.09

Hey all...just wanted to update on the goings-on of the Jellison's of the North!

10. Does anyone else HATE having something hang over your head? I was feeling very overwhelmed this morning and so I had a great idea (where most of my great ideas come from...) while I was in the bathroom. I went and wrote down everything. split it into categories of personal or church related. Pressing or Future. After I got done, I realized that there is always more above your head in your head than there is on paper! HA!

9. We turned in our Honda's...both of our cars for the past 3 years. Sarah got an '06 Ford Freestyle. I got an '06 Chevy Equinox. We are very happy with the new vehicles and are ready for Baby Jelly.

8. Sarah is really starting to show. She has gained 1 pound so far but everything else is shifting! It was like WHAM and everything decided to move up front! She is still so amazingly beautiful...

7. Basketball season ended last night. That means I can now look forward to an IU season in which they win more than 6 games. Only 213 days until they play again!

6. We go in for our ultrasound on April 22nd! We will definitely post the first ever pics of Baby Jelly soon after.

5. Only 58 days until we go on vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC! I love going down there. It is so relaxing and I love the people and family down in South Carolina...

4. I am stat heavy today...there is only 140 days (possibly) until baby Jelly joins us! wowsers!

3. I love the winter season. I love being able to put on a hoodie and taking off. I am always hot so the winter gives me a break. However, I am done this year with snow and cold and ice and snow...seriously...snow in April?!

2. It is odd seeing my sisters (on my Dad's side, that are younger than me) on Facebook. On the internet alone is crazy! We weren't allowed to have a TV...the internet wasn't invented yet but I do remember my Grandpa making a poster up one time that had the alphabet assigned to numbers and the word computer somehow added up to 666! HA...unbelieveable you say? Think again.

1. Please keep Sarah and Me and Baby Jelly in your prayers. Like always we need wisdom and grace and mercy as we are going down this crazy journey we call life!

Hope you have a great day!

April 09 Newsletter article

I was thinking about Easter and everything that it encompasses. The different family activities, the Easter egg hunts, the choir specials, the planning of meals and the general business of this time of year for those involved in a group of believers. I want to slow down for a second (or two) and focus on this though:

We all have a longing inside of us to be wanted. We need to feel like there is someone out there, some cause, some purpose needs us. There are moments that capture us and our hearts and make us feel like we are needed. However, those moments are fleeting at best. They are temporary and never really satisfy the thirst for us.

Enter Jesus. And the cross. His death. For YOU. He wants you.

That is amplified for me in this song by Squire Parsons called "He Came To Me":

The gulf that separated me from Christ, my Lord,
It was so vast the crossing I could never ford;
From where I was to His domain, it seemed so far;
I cried, "Dear Lord, I cannot come to where you are."

He came to me, O, He came to me.
When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.
That's why He died on Calvary;
When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.

He came to me when I was bound in chains of sin,
He came to me when I possessed no hope within;
He picked me up and He drew me gently to His side,
Where, today, in His sweet love I now abide.

He came to me, O, He came to me.
When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.
That's why He died on Calvary;
When I could not come to where He was, He came to me.


He came. He died. He lives. All for You.

What will you do with that kind of love?

4 months

Sarah is 4 months today! Holy Cow!

It is Amazing to think that in two weeks Sarah will be half way through having Baby Jelly! For real...

It has been fun and definitely exciting at every turn so far. We don't even know if we are having a boy or girl...we don't know a lot of things but we are so excited to finally be on this journey!

Sarah is doing well. She isn't having any major physical problems. She is INCREDIBLY, and UNCONTROLLABLY tired all the time. She is handling it great though...she is such an incredible person, friend and wife! You're going to be a great mom

New ImNotBuyingIt.com Video

this video makes my heart ache...i just wanted God to use it to touch your heart as well

Update from Jellyland 3.06.09

Hey all...

not a ton to post about recently...but here goes:


10. We got our tickets yesterday to watch IU play in the Big Ten Tournament next thursday. I am so looking forward to getting away for a bit.

9. That Friday, we are spending time with friends in Anderson and I am playing some ball with the SPEDS and others that night...I miss those guys!

8. I have a pastor friend who is able to get jerseys, like the real jerseys, for cheap and I am enjoying my Roethlisberger jersey as I write this. I don't like the Steelers but I wanted a black jersey and the Steelers are a franchise I respect because they do it right.

7. I am so ready for Spring and warmer weather...we grilled out last night...yum

6. Sarah will be 4 months next wednesday! YIKES!!!

5. We heard the heartbeat of baby Jelly last week...it was an amazing start of some amazing things over the next few months

4. Sarah is doing well...no sickness yet...just some uncomfortable days and tons of being tired

3. We are in the process of finding new vehicles...Sarah pretty much knows what she wants...I on the other hand am still quite uncertain.

2. We turn in our leased Honda's soon...we have never gone through a return-leased vehicle and are quiet unsure about how much they will charge us for wear and tear.

1. My Scrabble winning streak ended after I was beaten by Sarah and then my mom in the same week...oh well...nobody ALWAYS wins!

have a great weekend and don't forget to set your clocks back if you have to...later!

American Idol recap 3.4

Here's what my mom wrote first and then I my opinion second

1. Von Smith.......he was just ok for me
I thought he was much better tonight than previous times I saw him

2. Taylor Vaifanua.......she was ok.....she didn't blow me away
ummm...she was overcooked and the song was not good on her

3. Alex Wagner Trugman........his growling was weird....kinda different
I really liked this guy's personality but he just doesnt have the voice and yeah what was with the growling? seriously?

4. Arianna Afsar........beautiful voice......my favorite so far
Abba...for real? she was not good in my opinion...she was shaky at best!

5. Ju'Not Joyner.........very good voice......fav guy so far
he was silky smooth and I loved his spin on Hey There Delilah...really good

6. Kristen McNamara...............she

was ok...not my fav
ummm...no...she was fake all the way to her smile...she couldn't even get all the words in for the song she was singing because it was too fast

7. Nathaniel Marshall.............not too impressed
haha...Meatloaf? figures...he did ok...I felt bad because of his story and stuff but he isnt that good

8. Felicia Barton..........high notes were not the greatest for me.....just ok
she was my favorite girl not named lil rounds...she wasn't perfect but she was really good

9. Scott MacIntyre........he did a good job....still not my fav
dude is blind...he is an ok singer...but I wonder if he'll get votes because he is blind...he picked a really weird song...it's funny...sarah is liking most of these weird songs and I have no idea why...

10. Kendall Beard..................she could sing but not sure she's good enough to go on
uh oh...it looks like there might not be a top12 girl that sings country this year! what are all the hillnecks going to do? she was just not that good

11. Jorge Nunez........very good voice.........could go through
i told sarah it looks like enrique iglesias and marc anthony had a baby together and jorge came out! he did ok...he was too shaky for me...had the best line of the night though..."I get thinking so fast that I start thinking in Spanish"!

12. Lil Rounds...............good voice......could go through
wow...she is very good...the best girl of all three rounds so far. she is polished and fresh...gonna be a shining star...


My favorites were:
1. fav guys were Ju'Not Joyner and Jorge Nunez
2. fav girls were Arianna Afsar and Lil Rounds


Top 3:
Girl- Lil Rounds
Boy- Scott Macintyre or ju'not joyner
other- Scott or Ju'Not

I think that Felicia, Von, and Kristin could all be singing in the wildcard round

What do you think?

American Idol recap 2.24

The top comments are from my mom...mine are below ...
1. Jasmine Murray.......didn't care for the song..... didn't do the greatest, disappointed.
Everything she did was overdone...she wasn't that good.

2. Matt Giraud.....he seemed really nervous......didn't care for him. Liked him in Hollywood.
We really liked this guy and we hoped he'd do better...he didn't but i voted for him anyways

3. Jeanine Vailes.....sounded off key at times.....not very good.
Everything about her was wrong...she was needy and she picked a really bad song

4. Nick Mitchell.....what is there to say about this guy, I think he could maybe really sing, but he is more of a comedian. Shouldn't make it through.
I love Norman Gentle...we had to pause it once I saw that he was dressed like Norman...wow...he is so funny...I voted for him like 15 times!

5. Allison Iraheta.....sang really well.....one of the best so far tonight.
She did a good job but she was dead behind the eyes...she was like a singing robot...I didn't really like her

6. Kris Allen......he was ok.....nothing exceptional.
If he was allowed to play his guitar, he'd be going through...BUT he didn't and he won't...we liked him though...but we really never knew ye!

7. Megan Corkrey.....not too bad.
We loved her voice but she didn't do so hot...she was too focused on her dance and stuff that she neglected her song...

8. Matt Breitzke.....he just did ok.......not a good song.
Nice guy...ok singer...thanks for playing

9. Jesse Langseth......weird song for me.....unsure about her.
Not good...you can't pick weird songs and expect to get through...

10. Kai Kalama.....liked him...thought he had a good voice.
we liked him a lot...however...his song was boring and there was nothing that made you go wow!

11. Mishavonna Henson.......liked her voice........did a good job.
In our opinion...best girl of the night...she was on it and just needs some more personality and to not be so serious

12. Adam Lambert.......I think the kid has a voice..... yelled through part of the song, it seemed........good chance of going through.
Least favorite of the night...seriously? He was yelling and sounded like an altar boy who hadn't hit puberty yet...he'll probably get through but I will cringe all the way...yuck...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mom's picks...........
Boy..........Adam Lambert
Girl............Allison Iraheta
Third person........Mishavonna Henson

My picks
Boy... due to all the Twilight loving-emo-esque tweeners- Adam Lambert
Girl....allison Iraheta..
3rd...Norman Gentle-Nick Mitchell

I would love for it to be
Norman Gentle
Matt Giraud
Misavonna Henson

but we can't always get what we want...

Lightbulb Moment for today...

Here is a couple of things that hit me...

From the Message in Exodus 6:9...

"But when Moses delivered this message to the Israelites, they didn't even hear him—they were that beaten down in spirit by the harsh slave conditions."


It got me thinking...what is beating me down and causing me to "not even hear" or see what God is doing in my life? There are always things that are at us...Satan is ONLY out to tear us down and destroy us and we need to always be aware of this.

What is beating you down today? Talk to God about it...


Second...
Exodus 6:20 and Exodus 7:1
And Moses answered, "Look at me. I stutter. Why would Pharaoh listen to me?
God told Moses, "Look at me."

This made me laugh because I do this so often and God tries to tell me that very same thing.

I say "but God...look at me...I can't do this or I don't know if I can do this..."

And God says, "Look at me...I can do that and I know that you can do it too!"


Ouch...Ouch and more Ouch


Have a great weekend!

American Idol recap 2.17

Hey...

I was talking to my mom about Idol and told her to talk about the singers and I would tell her what I thought too...so here goes:

This is what she said and my comments are in bold:

WEEK ONE FEB. 17, 2009 AMERICAN IDOL

Contestant comments 1st 12

1. Jackie Tohn had a different type of voice.....not bad.......ok (I really like her energy and she is different...I don't think she'll get through)

2. Ricky Braddy very, very good.....really liked him maybe yes (He was a great singer but he didn't have that "star" quality to him...like the judges said, he needs confidence)

3. Alexis Grace she was pretty good sang really good maybe yes (Sarah and I both thought she was ok...nothing blew us away but the judges loved her...didn't get it)

4. Brent Keith good country voice ( one word: NO! He was not that good...and if someone likens you to Bucky Covington...that is NOT good!)

5. Stevie Wright not very good....didn't care much for her NO (Out of her element...nothing really bad or good)

6. Anoop Desai he is good....nothing fantastic though (He is just another so so singer that is different looking so they put him through)

7. Casey Carlson not impressed with her NO (I don't even remember her singing...that says it all)

8. Michael Sarver he is one of my favorites..wasn't crazy about song Hopefully yes (To me it seems he tried too hard. He is a good guy...but didn't stand out vocally...people just like him because of his story)

9. Ann Marie Boskovich One of the better girls so far maybe yes (She was good in the auditions but she picked a really bad song and sounded like Celine Dion...which in my book is not a compliment)

10. Steven Fowler he is ok...didn't like the song ( ummm....no)

11. Tatiana Del Toro did ok on the song....don't like the girl (she was really wierd last night...she had some moments that really surprised me...but she is a bi-polar type personality)

12. Danny Gokey one of the best tonight YES (I love his story...I love his voice...I love his attitude...I love that he works in a church as music director...He is my favorite so far.)

My favorite of the night was Danny Gokey!!

My guess on who will make the Top 3:
1. Danny Gokey
2. Rickey Braddy
3. Jackie Tohn/Alexis Grace/Ann Marie Boskovich could all make it...but I'll pick Alexis Grace

there you have it...what do you think?

Cadbury Eyebrows (official version)

Worrying

I've posted about worry before. However, I just wanted to pass along this too...

Last week, we had this "thing" that was causing Sarah and me to be well...worried. It had caused us cause for concern since last July! Seriously...


The time came for this thing to be taken care of and it turned out completely different and so much better than what we were told or expected. It got me to thinking...


When was the last time that I worried about something...anything...and after that thing happened...did any of my worrying matter?

No matter if that thing turned out good or bad...my worrying didn't matter. I always have to deal with the thing when it happens no matter how much or how little that I worried or "thought" about that thing.

"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Matthew 6:27-34 (The Message)

May God allow you to live your life...don't live tomorrow or the next day. Live today...you can't live tomorrow today so don't freak out about it! Seriously...live your life

Renewal Weekend 09

What a great time. In years past we have spent a lot of time with just one couple and really neglected getting to know a lot of the other couples in our district. This year was different. We really "got around" in a good way. We got to spend some great time with The Farmer's and Lee's and really were glad to have made those connections. You always go home from things like this and say to yourself, "we should have spend time with (fill in the blank)"...not this year. What a great group of leaders this district has and I really appreciate them all. We are looking forward to getting together more often with the couples. Jeff planned another great weekend!

update January 27.09

Hey here's what happening in Jellyville:


10. I am finding it fascinating to see all these people, who I wouldn't otherwise stay in contact with, show up on Facebook. People that you wouldn't think you should or could ever see on there...and poof...there they are...asking to be your friend. My biggest pet peeve is being friends with someone I have no earthly intentions of ever talking to but would feel bad if I said no. So I usually just add them as friends and then delete them later! I know...I'm mean.

9. Sarah is doing rather well. She hasn't gotten sick as of yet (fingers crossed). She has felt bad and has stuck out her tongue a million times when I bring up food options. Her nose has turned into the SUPER SNIFFER...for real. She won't go near a Subway!

8. I am loving me some online preaching! I have talked about Perry Noble before but now I am really getting into Steven Furtick from Elevation church as well. Listening to them makes me want to go deeper and be a better communicator to those listening to me. Peggy, Sarah's Mom, has been to Elevation church and said she loved the preaching and didn't love the music (too loud for her post-39 year old ears! lol).

7. The whole baby thing isn't really real yet. It is some abstract thought that is just out there and not actually tangible in ways that I probably cannot even imagine will be felt in 7 short months!

6. We got our oven fixed after nearly 3 months without having one. I made Sarah some wicked good PB and Chocolate Oatmeal cookies. dude....

5. Here is what I am getting ready to begin reading...ie...books I just ordered:
So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore by Jake Colsen
Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic by Anne Jackson
Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us by Seth Godin
Churched: One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite A Holy Mess by Matthew Paul Turner

4. Indiana Basketball is not doing well. They have lost 8 in a row and I have watched every minute of every game. I WILL NEVER become a band wagon fan. This season is separating those out for us. And yes, I did say US...

3. I have recently hooked my record player back up and love the nostalgia of listening to old music and hearing that popping and cracking...nothing quite like it is there?

2. We are in the planning stages of our 4th annual vacation trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Hurray!!!! Sarah will be 7 months pregnant though so it could be a long trip down having to stop every hour or so... :)

1. I am on a wicked streak in the world of Scrabble. I haven't lost a game, online or in person, since Christmas! I am unbeaten in 2009! I played two words yesterday against Sarah that got me 90 points combined! I know you don't care...but hey you are still reading this post...


later