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Being a Disciple of Jesus, Events, Kathy, Project 365

Women’s Retreat Part 2

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Tim and I are racing to post blogs tonight. He “forgot” (likely story) to take any pictures on the 1st, so no one blogged that day. Thankfully I had suspected such a thing might occur, so I snapped a few shots with my phone while I was at the women’s retreat. Whew! The sanctity of Project 365 was preserved. Hey, this is important stuff here. We’ve been taking a picture a day and blogging it EVERY DAY since January 1st. We can’t let lapses occur just because certain people “forget” to take a picture.

I managed to post date a blog for Tim’s day (the 1st), and now he’s writing something for the 2nd. I guess I’ll use the photo I took today, combined with the other retreat pictures from yesterday, and count this post as May 3rd blog.

Confused?

Don’t worry. You can just sit back and enjoy the pictures, skim the cheerful, rambling words, and go back to your busy life. :)

Our women’s retreat was exactly what I needed – a weekend away with some of my closest and dearest friends, a time of relaxation and reflection, a chance to walk several of the beautiful paths of Gig Harbor, a sweet opportunity to hear a beloved friend teach 80 of us from God’s Word, and the blessing to get to know some new women from our church.

Heading out on a hike

Heading out on a hike

One of our beautiful views

One of our beautiful views

On Saturday afternoon, a friend and I hosted a breakout session on homeschooling. I love talking about homeschooling with curious, interested moms. And it was an extra joy to have several faithful, long-time homeschooling friends join us for the seminar. We talked about 10 Myths of Homeschooling and answered as many questions as we had time for. We all agreed many of these topics could be whole seminars all by themselves.

Time for some research and review before our talk.

Time for some research and review before our talk.

And of course we had some giveaways.

A little Starbucks and Barnes & Noble gift cards for our audience.

A little Starbucks and Barnes & Noble gift cards for our audience.

The annual women’s retreat holds a special place in my heart. I have served on the planning committee many times. I’ve written and performed skits and co-taught various seminars over the years. I have enjoyed countless conversations, often lasting LATE into the night.

Love these friends!

Love these friends!

This year was no different except for one thing – I actually went to bed at a decent hour (for me anyway) AND I got up each morning to walk with the (I’ll just call them beautiful and crazy) morning walkers. The sun was shining so brilliantly this weekend, I couldn’t help but get outside and praise the Lord for the beauty of His Creation.

I know I’ll forget someone, but I just have to say a few Thank You’s!!!!

Thank you, Tim, for letting me sneak away this weekend.
Thank you, David and Sarah, for cleaning up the house BEFORE I came home today.
Thank you, Holly, for sharing your heart with all of us as you taught from the scriptures.
Thank you, Krystal and Michelle, for being great friends and roommates.
Thank you, Beckie, Krystal and Debi for taking the SHORT version of the hike with me on Saturday.
Thank you, Nancy for getting us outside walking each morning.
Thank you, to the wonderful women in my small group.
Thank you, Susan for co-teaching Homeschooling 101 with me.
Thank you, Debbie for putting together a relaxed, God-focused retreat.
Thank you, Krystal, Becky, Nina and Kirstin for planning and preparing and working on the retreat.
Thank you, Sue, Ellen and Lura for leading us in amazing worship.
Thank you, Amy, for picking me up some Starbucks on Saturday.
Thank you, Lisa, Karen and Jen for working the sound and PowerPoint for our worship this weekend.
Thank you, Amanda and Rebekah for selfie mixers and silly games.
Thank you, Shari, for making me laugh on Sunday morning with all your hugs.

Thank you to ALL the incredible women who came away from the busyness of our ordinary lives to celebrate together and learn something fresh about Jesus.

Until next year….

Project 365 – Day 123
Kathy

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Women’s Retreat

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Friday we had the end of the year, homeschool co op party. After which I snuck off to go to the women’s retreat. Between the party and leaving, I had a long list of duties.

I wrote welcome cards to the ladies in my small group at the retreat, I packed up a goodie basket for the retreat speaker, I printed out the notes for a seminar I was coteaching with a friend, I gathered curriculum to present at our talk, I wrote an important email, I picked up a gift card for our giveaway, and at some point I managed to get clothes packed.

Whew.

image

image

image

The retreat has been wonderful. My long time,beautiful friend is the speaker and she’s doing a great job.

image

I’m blogging from my phone. Tim forgot to write so I’m doubling up. Please  forgive any errors.

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Project 365, Rachel

In Honor of Rachel

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My beautiful oldest daughter, who is finishing up her freshman year at college, is sick. I HATE knowing one of my children is sick and feeling miserable so far away from home.

And so, because we’re thinking of Rachel and praying for her, this blog post is dedicated to her.

Today Rachel’s friend Jenny came over for a visit. We LOVE Jenny. She’s truly part of the family as she has gone on vacations with us, helped us plan, prep and celebrate countless parties, and spent many, many hours at our home. Seeing her car, Tim walked in the house saying, “Is my other daughter here?”

Come home soon, Rachel!

Come home soon, Rachel!

We had a lovely dinner together then the boys went off portaling. Sarah, Jenny and I hurried to clean the kitchen and do all the dishes (yep, still no dishwasher).

"We miss you, Rachel!" say the cats.

“We miss you, Rachel!” say the cats. Although I’m not sure why Misty looks so scary with those eyes.

After everything was put away, and the dishes washed and set aside drying, we went to pick out a movie.

“We need to pick something in honor of Rachel,” Sarah declared.
“Good idea!” Jenny agreed and they hurried to confer over movie titles.

We settled on the obvious – Megamind.

Megamind for our evening movie.

Because, really, is there any other movie worthy of a “Thinking of Rachel” night?

David and Tim never did make it home in time to see the movie, and Daniel is working a long shift at Chick-Fil-A. The girls and I, however, enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and chatted with Rachel while we laughed over the antics of the best supervillian ever.

Miss you, Rachel. Praying that you will feel better and get well soon. I know you’ll finish the semester strong. Hang in there! Study hard! Sleep when you can and soak up every bit of knowledge you can before you leave.

Love you,
Mom

Project 365 – Day 120
Kathy

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Being a Disciple of Jesus, Bible Study, Project 365

God’s Word Meets Me Once Again

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Each one of these was bought by a friend or family member who was thinking of me and traveled the world.

Each one of these was bought by a friend or family member who was thinking of me as they traveled the world. They make me smile every day!

I’ve been pondering, reflecting, studying, and meditating on a passage of scripture from I Peter 3 this week.

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. I Peter 3:8-17

With each phrase I find myself either comforted or challenged. I am serving in several different areas of leadership – in teams, in administration, in teaching. These positions take a great deal of time and energy, not to mention the responsibilities that accompany them. Every time I feel like I am confused as how to act, or am weary of doing good, or I am confident of my own abilities and talents, I am convicted to return to the Word. And I pray!

I can’t remember what brought me to I Peter 3:8-17. It’s not in my daily reading. It wasn’t in one of our family devotions. It might have just been something I skimmed past over the weekend. Whatever it was, I have been riveted and focused on these verses since.

Each portion seems to be directed right toward me. I appreciate the exhortation to have unity of mind. I know that in order to do that in the areas where I serve, I need to have a tender heart and a humble mind.

In my own strength, I seek for justice and fairness. I want “my rights” protected and defended. The scripture here says that I am to bless and not repay. And why do I live this way? What would cause me to choose this instead of the VERY gratifying satisfaction of justification and validation (and maybe even a little comeuppance every once in a while)?

It is because God’s Word is true. And I have lived it, breathed it, experienced it, and seen it to be proven true over and over again. And in this passage, it is clear that I am to keep my tongue from evil or deceit. I am to seek peace. I am to TRUST that the Lord sees the righteous and hears their prayers.

I am to act with gentleness and respect toward others. I am to honor Jesus and let Him do the protecting, defending, and upholding. And, even if I struggle or suffer, if that is God’s will, then I be sure that I am living righteously, that I am doing good, that I am following Him.

Prayer journal - hundreds of prayers in this little book.

One of my favorite prayer journals – oh the hundreds of prayers recorded in this little book.

This year in particular, I have felt God’s calling to serve in a new way. And with it has been the awareness that He wants to grow ME and stretch ME and meet ME in a new way. It’s not about the people I work with or the areas where I serve. Those things are just the means He is using to draw me closer to Him. It is a humbling thing to know how deeply I am loved and how much the Lord wants to bless, instruct, teach and pour into my life.

I truly desire to serve where He calls me. To walk in peace and humility. To love others. To honor Christ as Holy and follow Him. Thankfully these verses set my feet on a path to do these exact things.

Project 365 – Day 118
Kathy

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Thankful Sunday

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After a busy weekend of play performances and church responsibilities, it was nice to have today to relax. The boys played Ultimate frisbee all afternoon while Sarah did school work and Tim snuck in a little nap.

Apples to Apples with silly friends

Apples to Apples with silly friends

This evening we went to dinner with friends. Good friends, delicious food, and great conversation. A thankful day indeed.

pie for dessert

pie for dessert

Now early to bed for a full week awaits us.

Project 365 – Day 116
Kathy

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