transform

I took part in Transform for the first time today.  It was a success!  The Village Church has partnered with several schools over the past several years to serve during the summer with school improvement projects and relationship building.  This year the Flower Mound campus was at Hedrick Elementary in Lewisville hosting a Back to School bash for students and serving the school community.  From my perspective, the whole day was a success.  I volunteered with Dani, Garrett, Becca, and Caleb (a few of the other members in my homegroup).  In the beginning, I was outside with them cheering on a sack race, playing tug of war, and hanging out in the shade with some sixth grade boys eating Rita's. 

After a while, I began to feel as though I could be better used in a different location on campus.  Becca and I went in search of a greater need.  We found Room 302.  This 3rd grade bilingual classroom was in need of someone to level the classroom library!  I felt confident and purposeful in this role.  My knowledge of children's literature and my experiences in leveling libraries were quickly put to use. 

Becca and I fell into a rhythm of sorting, taping, and filing the books.  We spent the next several hours helping out Mrs. Porter, who also attends The Village (Denton). 

We took a quick break for a lunch of pizza or hamburgers in the cafeteria.  Later, Caleb came in to help us finish up the task. 

This is Becca and I with Mrs. Porter in her newly leveled classroom library!

Her English library was complete!  It was teamwork and community on several levels.  At the end of the event, the backpacks that we (Villagites) had filled with school supplies were distributed to the students.  Throughout the school year various individuals and groups will be adopting the classrooms to support with various needs.

Transform 2010!

throwback thursday

Way back...This is Big Daddy, Mama Pat, and Bigmama.  Obviously, long before they were known by those names. 

And another one of my Mama Pat.  Look at those cheeks and gentle eyes!

 

Unfortunately, I do not know any details about these photos--whether they were taken for a special occasion or even the year.

i scream, you scream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Rah! Rah! Rah!...especially Blue Bell ice cream!

Today was a great day for a sweet summer treat!  Blue Bell and KLTY radio had a partnership to collect fans and food for the Christian Community Action center of Lewisville.  In exchange for these donated items, the Blue Bell cold storage distribution center offered "tours" and a single serve snack.  When I heard of this fun adventure, only an hour remained in the project.  I didn't have to twist Brooke or Steven's arm, since they were already considering a trip to Tappys yogurt (sorry, but free Blue Bell wins!).   We dashed away for a little Wednesday night adventure with canned food in tow.  The "tour" consisted of being allowed to venture into the freezer, which is 20 degrees below zero...in your street clothes designed for 100+ degree temperatures!  Obviously, it took only a matter of seconds before the chill began to set in!

Oh, yes!  That is half-gallon buckets of ice cream stacked floor to ceiling!  I was tempted to see if anyone noticed me just grabbing a carton or two.

Next, on the "tour" was the opportunity to get in an empty ice cream truck.  "What you see, is what you get."  The truck had not been turned on in hours, so it was cool, but not cold--and without ice cream, it didn't look much different than an ambulance.

Finally, the highlight of the event--ice cream!

I chose a Country Cone, Cookies 'n Cream, enjoyed right on the back porch of the loading dock.  It was so good, I went back for a Cookies 'n Cream Sandwich!

We had a "Blue Bell country day"!

if you give jennifer....

If you give Jennifer clean carpets, then she's going to ask to paint the walls.  And if you paint the walls, then she's going to want....new bathroom furnishings to match the bedding.

 The face lift continues...

love note

To the one I will love,
Time continues to slip by and I have a pretty clear indication that this is not yet the time for us.  Goodness!  When will it be? I am surely anxious and have a great desire to meet you and begin sharing life together.  While at exactly the same time, I can not even imagine the scene.  I ran across this tweet last night and I could relate very much. "I can't wait for the day when I can look back on this season and everything will make sense. Trusting God's timing is not always easy" @stephanieshuler.  I have been trying to make myself available to meet you (Which I don't think is altogether a bad thing.  It has enabled me to expand on that comfort zone a little and develop some additional relationships with others in my community.)  I am continuing to pray that God will hurry the time for us to be together and guide the footsteps of possibility that I encounter.  However, I have seen God repeatedly close the door in the last few weeks.  On the second time, I had to laugh!  It was evident that my little view of things just wasn't a slice of his larger plan.  So I wait with hope in Him for you.
Your future wife,