All Part of the Family

I am so thankful this week. Tuesday I got a phone call from a couple I became friends with when I started volunteering at More than a Meal last summer. It was filled with good news: he has a job that will become permanent next week and they have their utilities turned back on permanently because now they can pay on their bill [since he has a job]. The reason they haven't been at More than A Meal in awhile is their truck engine blew up, and I started this week giving them a ride to More than A Meal.

I'm also so thankful and excited about how much potential there is for my Kingdom Assignment money to be multiplied. I am going to use some of the money to buy supplies to make some crafts to sell. I'm going to make some more letters like I made for the prisoners in December, and some out of clay at the pottery studio. I'm also making some hearts for Valentine's Day since I am going to be able to sell some at the Bake Sale they have at work for Valentine's Day. The really cool part is that I have gotten one offer and leads to more from other crafty people who are willing to donate some of their goods to be sold for my Kingdom Assignment as well!

I will be looking for other opportunities to sell them, so if you are interested please let me know. I can do custom orders for specific letters and colors, so think of people who are getting married or having a new baby, or a friend or family member with a birthday coming up!

The title of this post refers to something my friend Robert said at our table at More than A Meal this week. [Robert is the man who told me he would buy school clothes and supplies last week.] In the last month or two I have started eating with the table I serve and last night Robert had saved me a seat and called me part of the family. The awesome part is that most of the people at the table are not related by our own blood, but certainly by the blood of Christ.

Blues & BBQ Gymnastics Meet

A few weeks ago Martha had a gymnastics competition in town. I need to learn more about how to take action photos with my camera, but these are the best photos I got. Martha came home with a neck full of medals to add to her collection. GO MAR!

A Round of Applause for God

Last night at More than a Meal, Earle welcomed everyone, made annoucements, and asked for a round of applause to thank the people who make the meal possible. First the cooks, then the volunteers/servers, and then someone from the crowd yelled, "And an applause for God." I got goosebumps when the crowd roared loudest for that last request.

That is just one of the reasons I love More than A Meal, that you can never know what to expect.

I also asked a few people what they would do if someone gave them $100 dollars.

• The first person I asked is a man who always comes with two boys who I don't believe are his biological children. I intentionally serve his table every week, so we have a built a friendship. He thought for a second and then he said, "I'd buy some school clothes, and some school supplies. And if I had any left over I'd get some new shoes from the thrift store." Then he inquired why I was asking and just told him someone had asked me recently and I was wondering how other people would answer. Then he said, "Well you would probably put it in the bank because you can do that." I was surprised that was his perspective of me and knew he was right. I didn't feel like I was being judged, but I wanted so badly to be able to relate to him. But instead, I felt like we were worlds apart at that moment.
• The next man I asked said, "I'd buy some gasoline, and then I'd pay some of my bills."
• Another man said, "I'd get somethin' for my baby for Valenine's Day." To which I replied, "How old is your baby?" And the whole group chuckled at me. Then I realized he was talking about his significant other and not his child.
• A lady sitting with that group said, "I'd give it away to someone who needed it."

More to come in the weeks to follow...

The Kingdom Assignment

Sunday night at Neighborhood Church Robert talked about the Parable of the Ten Minas in Luke 19. He chose 10 people and gave each of us an envelope with a $100 bill in it and gave us these instructions:

1. You must understand and agree that this is not your money. It is the Master's money and He has entrusted it to you.
2. You are to manage, multiply, and invest this money as a steward in some way that advances God's Kingdom agenda in the world.
3. In three months, you will come back and share what happened to the initial investment.

We discussed our initial thoughts at community group tonight, and my friend Meredith suggested asking a poor person what they would do with the money. A hundred dollars means a lot less to me that it would someone who is homeless.

She is right, and I'm curious. So my goal is to ask some people what they would do if they were given $100 while I'm serving dinner at More than a Meal on Thursday nights over the next couple of weeks. I'm going to share their responses here. I know I have a lot to learn.

A few weeks ago, we had a guest preacher and he said that the problem between the rich and the poor is not that they don't love each other, but that they don't know each other. I hope that I can get to know a lot of poor people through this assignment.

Oh What a Night! Late December Back in 2009

Danielle and Sam hosted a great laid-back New Year's get together. It wouldn't have been complete without The Office Clue: Who Killed Toby? or pomegranate champagne for toasts at midnight.
The only thing missing was a central time zone countdown. Thankfully, I was wearing my watch to count down:)

On New Year's Day, Callie, Robert, and I headed downtown for the Liberty Bowl Parade. Callie and I did not have tickets, so we were on the lookout when we went downtown for the parade. Thankfully, the Razorback Ticket Office had some random tickets for sale when we went to pick up Robert's tickets, so we enjoyed the afternoon without worrying about getting tickets.

It felt good to call the Hogs and sing the fight song on Beale Street. We followed the parade with some good ole Memphis ribs on Beale Street.

_

Callie and I got to the game early because we found Free parking quickly. It didn't take long to understand why our seats were still for sale:

But we shifted a little, so we could see more of the field.That game was the coldest I have ever been. I heard the wind chill was 15 degrees. My mom had stocked us up with hand and foot warmers, so we survived and stayed through Overtime. [I even put a hand warmer in my hog nose.] And the Hogs pulled out a win. It was ugly, but it was a win.

Woo Pig Sooie!

2010 Goal

One of my goals this year is to jog a 5K. I have never had a physical goal other than to lose weight, and so far my competitive spirit is loving it. [I also love that it will help in the losing weight efforts.]

I pray that I can remember how good I feel after jogging every time I consider skipping it for the day.

I also look forward to better jogging outside weather. Single digit actual temperatures caused Memphis City Schools to close yesterday and I have seen many local friends post about freezing pipes on facebook. Memphis can't handle this much longer!

Christmas Highlights

There were some great surprises at our house on Christmas morning this year:
Martha was beyond excited about her autographed National Champions Georgia Gymnastics Poster and Calendar and handwritten note from Courtney Kupets. [Carolyn met Courtney at a conference the week before Christmas, what an awesome sister.]I also got a gift from an Olympian. [see photo on the right]

This was one of my Christmas projects this year. Carolyn loves this Third Day song, and had mentioned doing a series of paintings awhile back, but she was surprised to open these. She even jumped up and down!

The most special part was spending time all together. This photo is from a Christmas Eve Party at a friend of the family's home.

My friend Callie brought back awesome gifts from her semester in London! She brought the entire City-In A Bag. Click on the link and you can see what other cities can fit on your bookshelf. I think the double decker buses are my favorite!