Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts

January 28, 2014

Highlights from Our Holidays (Part 4)

Sunday morning, December 15th was the Kid's Christmas Program.  They did a stellar job.
Sunday evening was a special evening of music, including a Christmas Cantata.  I didn't get any pictures, since I was singing my heart out in the choir. 

 



On the evening of December 22nd we had a fun gathering at our house.  Between 6-8pm 35-40 people gathered, talked, laughed, ate food and just hung out.  I'm pretty sure a good time was had by all!










This was an evening that just made my heart happy, you know? 

November 24, 2013

Trunk ~R~Treat

 
This post is dreadfully late.... but better late than never I suppose.  
So this Trunk r Treat idea started growing in my mind early in the summer.  I was talking with a friend over lunch one day about various outreach ideas.  We brainstormed about locations for a trunk r treat.  Out church is not located inside a town, but is beside a busy highway- not a great place to host a group of trick r treaters.   Well as I learned more about my own little neighborhood... I found that this is the place where everyone brings their kids.  So the perfect place for a trunk r treat was my driveway.    Several of the church people joined in the fun.  We had three "trunks" and two tents and you could really add to your candy stash as you made the rounds in our driveway.   
 
We started the evening off with a pizza supper at our house.  Then we set up our tents, mixed up the hot chocolate, and decorated our trunks.  We had goody bags to pass out to the first 100 children and hot chocolate for the parents.    We had at least 156 children make the round in our driveway... our next door neighbor who also attends our church, estimates it was closer to 175 kids. 
 
 
 
Our trunk was "The Candy Kitchen"
 
 
We borrowed Kenzie's kitchen and put it in the back of the Yukon.  

 
 
For our costumes, Andy and I both wore aprons.  Andy borrowed Kenzie's apron as well.
 
 
My interesting crew.
 
 
My handsome cowboy.
 
My sweet little princess.
 
   The cutest Bugs Bunny ever.
                                
 
 
 
My thoughts on Halloween:  I have never been a big fan of celebrating this day.  I don't remember doing any trick r treating as a child.  I don't like gross or crude costumes.  I don't enjoy seeing crass lawn decorations.  I think blood, guts and gore are just disgusting... unless its a true emergency.  I don't like to be scared- I have been to two haunted houses in my life and that was two to many.  And when you see witches, demons, devils etc. you should run like the wind!  With that being said... one night a year, people will walk up my drive, and knock on my door looking for something.  I have a choice to turn off my lights, and pretend not to be home; or I can open my door, turn on my lights and let the Light of Jesus shine out into my neighborhood.  






And now more pictures of our evening... in no particular order.

This little flyer was in each of our 100 goody bags.

The hot chocolate and goody bags all ready to go.


Mrs. Eunice... our sweet little piano player.


Mr. J... sporting his pizza delivery truck.


Our very own Duck Dynasty stars. 
 
 





Our next door neighbors.







 

 


 

September 25, 2013

Game Night

On Friday night we had our first Countryside Church game night.  It was fun and we have plans to do it again soon. 

First thing on the agenda was eating... I forgot to get any pictures of the snacks.


The young ones were very busy.

And the older ones had a couple serious rounds of Wits and Wagers. 



And a good time was had by all.

September 22, 2013

Back to Church Sunday

Last Sunday was National Back to Church Sunday.  For several weeks in advance, Andy has been encouraging everyone to invite their FRANs (friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors). 
We had a brainstorming committee and came up with some cool ideas.   One of those ideas was goody bags for the kids.  (This idea was borrowed from my Ohio-friend, Tara.  Thank you!)
 

Here is the hard working crew putting together kids' bags.

Carson and Kenzie were so excited to help.
 
Here they are, all ready to go. 


Another one of our ideas was having a little after-church fellowship.  We had water, juice and Yellow Dog coffee along with pastries and cookies.  My request for a sunshiny morning wasn't answered so we jut put up a canopy and went with it.  


It was so neat to watch our church catch a glimpse of the vision, and invite people to come to church with them.  And it was so exciting when people excepted their invitation and came.   We had a goal and God helped us reach it.  

June 30, 2013

God And Country Day


Today our church had a God and Country celebration. During the service we sang several patriotic songs and then following church we had a picnic.  The weather today was absolutely beautiful-sunshine, blue skies, and a gentle breeze.     A good time was had by all.

For lunch we had grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and oysters and all the other important picnic food.  

My kiddies and their friend Jackson.
Lots of chatting....
 
 and more chatting...
and still more chatting.


Lots of music....

 
 
 


Lots of singing...
 

My littlest buddy~ so happy!!


These birds sure make my heart happy!