Blessed-STHS Luncheon

I am beyond thankful to have the opportunity to participate in a Moms in Prayer Group where we pray together once a week for one hour for our schools, children and other specific request. We had the opportunity to do a luncheon for the teachers and staff at Susquehanna Township High School. We had a great time talking with the people there. We so appreciate all they do and we were blessed by this opportunity.

 

 

I had a nice long day in the kitchen baking. It is a creative outlet for me and I must say it was done in record time while the kids were in school.

 

We had a steady crowd for each lunch period...

 

Alia and I snuck away for a few minutes with a teacher to take a peek at the production lab. We had a chance to talk with Mr. Andries and also two school board members that were there.

 Breanna has production lab three days a week within the School of the Arts. She is currently working on a student's prom dress.

 

Two walls are lined with top quality sewing machines and equipment. Supplies placed all around the room.

Back to to the luncheon : )

 

Blessed to have the opportunity to talk with the staff/administration/teachers at STHS.  Also, enjoyed  running into several students that have been woven into our lives the past 2 years. Not to mention running into your own daughter in the hall was bonus! 

 

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:6-7

 

Let's Play Some FOOTBALL!

It's hard to believe another year has come again and we are back on the field. Football, welp its no joke. Pre-Season is 5 days a week for 2 weeks and then you go to 3 days a week and a game on the weekend. Logan moved up to an older league this year and has adjusted well.

As a competitive mama, I love to see how focused he is during football

 

 

My "wild at heart" boy is growing up

 

The parents spend a lot of time together on the sidelines. I have enjoyed helping as team mom again this year. Perfect opportunity to talk with all the parents and get to know all the kids on the field.

 

Team Picture

2012 Susquehanna Township PeeWee Indians

Logan at Center

 

Huddle!!! Logan #55

what a tough looking kid

 

 

 Just a little talk between dad and son or coach and child

 

 my boy, ready to hit somebody

 

 

We head out on Friday nights to watch the High School Indians play. We have so much fun at the High School games. We go as a family and we are soon surrounded by many people that the Lord has woven in our lives, cheering on our Hanna Indians. Breanna scoots away to be part of the student cheering section and to hang with friends.  We scream and yell and the kids always find friends to hang out with. (click here for Lisa's post of the High School game)

 

 

Very cool for Logan to see his buddy CJ at Center too.

We love cheering on CJ #79!

memories in the making...the kids have so much fun at the games



Summer Days- let me not miss a second of it

Our very first Summer Break AND we are loving it! We are adjusting to the extended time off very well after having the kids in year round schools in NC. We liked year round and we also like having a long Summer Break. I have had many memories rekindled from childhood with having the kids home for the summer. I enjoy our late nights gathered around the front porch talking with neighbors, movie nights as a family, eating late dinners, kids rotating from one house to another creating and playing, going to the pool, parks and day trips to new places. The house has been quiet until 9:30 and sometimes as late as 10:00am with kids sleeping in, we are enjoying this time and it just seems to be flying by so fast.

Lemonade stand!

Hot DOG day's of summer!  Hanging out playing the yard with midnight.

friends and neighbors helping one another

.....or watching logan learn how to mow the grass.

friends over coloring hair...yipers I was one scared mama!

many nights of s'mores for who ever drops by.....

The kids  went fishing with the Dad's on Father's Day

 This little barbie pole catches a fish every time!  All 3 girls have used it and all of them have caught fish every time.

From wiffle ball, bike riding, Nerf guns, sprinklers and games of tag to basketball and beyond the kids are staying very active this summer.  

 Gotta stay cool in this heat!

Breanna learned how to change the oil and brakes on the car...love that girl!  I have many pictures of working on the car with my dad as a kid.

Breanna has biked a lot this summer. One of the perks of living in the city and having a great place to ride your bike along the river. The girls headed out for lunch, went to the Capitol, watched Senate hearings and hung out at the Jazz festival for the day.  

ohh I don't want to miss even a second, memories in the making it seems every day. Thank you God for my family and friends. I am truly a blessed woman.

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! Psalms:47:1

Celebration of a life well lived

Today, we are celebrating Ms. Judy's (Judy Morris) life as she went home to be with the Lord this past week. It was a priviledge to visit and get to know Ms. Judy as she battled cancer and other heath issues. I left those visits blown away by her faith and how she trusted the Lord in the timing of the events in her life. It was evident that God gives a gift of peace that surpasses all understanding when your hope is secure in the Lord. Please pray for this family today as they ache with sadness but celebrate Ms. Judy's life and the leagacy she left for generations to come.

Here is a video of Reyna and Kayla, Ms. Judy's granddaugters. They will be singing at the service today to honor their grandmother.  We had the awesome opportunity to have them sing this song at our baptism service back in April.  Listen to the words...

This is the passage of scripture Ms. Judy clung to for the past few months.

Psalm 71

¹ In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
² In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
³ Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
⁴ Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

⁵ For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
⁶ From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
⁷ I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.

⁹ Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
¹⁰ For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
¹¹ They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
¹² Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
¹³ May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

¹⁴ As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
¹⁷ Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.

¹⁹ Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
²¹ You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.

²² I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
²³ My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
²⁴ My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion

Here is a link to her obituary that appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot News.

http://obits.pennlive.com/obituaries/pennlive/obituary.aspx?pid=158245880

Celebration of a Life That is Changed!

On Palm Sunday we had a fantastic celebration service at Redeeming Grace Church. I am excited for my friend who was baptized along with a neighbor and Elijah, the Shay's son.  There is no way to adequately explain God's faithfulness in the details with how these lives were changed. 
To see God's faithfulness in our lives is overwhelming to me.  It was only a few short weeks ago that my friend and I met and began conversations about life.  She began coming to Bible Study on Sunday nights and soon after professed Jesus as her Savior and Lord.  She has quickly become a dear friend and I am so excited to walk along this journey with her.  Isaac, our neighbor who was baptized has been a faithful attender of our weekly bible study since the very beginning.  He has become a fixture at our house and has adopted us as his second home even though all the boys bounce back and forth from his house and ours.  He asked Jesus to be his savior a few weeks ago after a bible study one Sunday and immediately wanted to get baptized.  So here are  a few clips and pictures from the baptism service.

We are so thankful for our new brothers and sister in Christ. The first step of obedience for a person who accepts Jesus as Savior is Baptism.  Baptism is a rich symbol, publicly proclaiming the decision made to accept Jesus Christ as Savior.  The water is not what saves the person, but is a symbol of what has been done in the heart and an important way of professing one's faith in Christ.   Romans 6:3-4 says, "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."
Salvation is a gift of God, not something we can achieve on our own. (Romans 12:3). Baptism is a gift to the Church to allow the faithful a means of expressing their faith and gratitude for God's redemptive work.  Baptism is a walk of obedience to Christ after accepting the free gift of Salvation. As Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan, we follow Jesus' example when we accept the Lord as our Savior.
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Cross references:

1. Romans 6:3 : Matt 28:19
2. Romans 6:3 : Acts 2:38; 8:16; 19:5; Gal 3:27
3. Romans 6:4 : Col 2:12
4. Romans 6:4 : Acts 2:24; Rom 6:9
5. Romans 6:4 : John 11:40; 2 Cor 13:4
6. Romans 6:4 : Rom 7:6; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; Eph 4:23f; Col 3:10

Running the water hose for the baptistery

All hands on deck getting set up!

The Camp Curtin YMCA gym being transformed into church.

Here is a shot of the friends and family who showed up to celebrate along with us. As I look at all the precious people the Lord has woven in our lives I just don't have words to express the depth of joy it brings. We pray our bible study groups will continue to grow so we can soon gather together for worship each week. God is faithful.

Billy is introducing the gang and explaining Baptism. God is faithful.

These two young ladies blessed our time of worship with song.  Their hearts are so tender and are pursuing the Lord. God is faithful.

Pizza and hanging out after the service. God is faithful.

It is privilege to have all these ladies as neighbors. God is faithful.

The crew with the pastors. God is faithful.

While the lives being changed are personal and the connections are deep for both us and the Shays, we are excited about how God is building His church here in Harrisburg.  It is impossible for both our our families to separate life and ministry and for that we are all thankful.  God is faithful in the lives of all the people we have met and we are excited to watch His faithfulness continue as lives are changed for His glory.

Redeeming Grace Coat Distribution

We had the privilege of distributing coats to the homeless/poor Saturday.  It was more than distributing coats, blankets, bags, and bibles. It was pouring out the love of Jesus in every way possible. It was to listen to the life stories, to care, and to look in the eyes of hurting people and share the hope of Jesus Christ.  We were able to grip a hand and pray for that person by name for Almighty God to draw their hearts and to thank God for meeting needs today.   No matter the story, Jesus loves them and the Lord allowed our paths to cross with each person.  The Lord knows their pain, their past, their needs, He forgives, He redeems and He restores.

So as tears streamed down a few faces and welded up in our own eyes, the Lord was present in that dirty, breezy alleyway.  It was not neat and tidy, it was real.  My heart aches for the faces I flip through in my mind and the stories we heard.  I pray each person will feel the Lord's comfort every time they put on their coat or cover up with a new blanket. I pray it's not our faces they remember, but they remember words spoken about Jesus and perhaps even an encounter with the Lord in the alley. An alley that some call their home tucked under the stairwell that appeared so dark, scary, and dirty was bright with smiles, laughter & tears of happiness.

Thank you to Blanket America Ministries & Appalachian Outreach for your resources to love on the people of Harrisburg, PA. Thank you to all the wonderful folks that came to help serve and brought their time and resources to love on people in the name of Jesus. We are overwhelmed seeing pieces of the puzzle come together that God continues to assemble for the work in Harrisburg.  May God receive ALL the Glory for ALL He is doing in His church.

119  people served

Over 200 coats and blankets

Nearly 20 Bibles

80 gift bags

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Farm Show

Well, you certainly couldn't turn on the TV, chat with neighbors, walk through the store or talk with anyone around town and not hear the buzz about the PA Farm Show.

Several people told us that the farm show traditionally brings in the snow.  We had a few snow flurries the past few days however it certainly held true by bringing in the cold weather! The farm show is much like the NC state fair minus the rides and games. Plus the whole thing is inside! Rooms full of animals, crafts, food, tractors and much more. Food was a big deal at the farm show so we felt it would only be responsible to fully grasp the experience & try lots of fried, non healthy foods. The milkshakes were the best! Olivia and I went during the day on one day and then we took all the kiddos another day.  So here are a few pictures of our time at the PA Farm Show 2012.

The prize winning pumpkin

We watched a horse show, very cool

I have never seen this before, this is a carriage race.  The person on the back of the carriage worked so hard bouncing from one side to the other almost touching the ground when they leaned over to help steer the carriage.

The beginnings of a great milkshake!

Ohh yes, the Milkshake and cotton candy. All kinds of sweetness! (The best milkshake EvEr!!)

Watching the little chicks hatch.

Maybe some locals can help me out with the history of getting a peacock feather?  Our kids just had to have one and everyone was talking about them at school. Seems like many people get them..is it a tradition here at the farm show?

Maddy got all dressed up to go to the farm show, ya see this is my little country girl at heart so this was a great night for her.

Taking a few lessons from the Vet.

waiting for the horse show

My handsome guys

What a great scoop!

 my "sweet pea"

That's A LOT of butter!!!! The 1000lb butter sculpture.

This is a sheep before it is turned into a sweater.  They were shearing sheep the night we came through and then they would cover them completely with a blanket/robe type thing.  Olivia said they looked like "ghostesses"

Breanna had her own outing at the farm show after school one day with her friends Taylor & Maya.

Here is a picture they took of their afternoon together.

Well, the Farm Show has been over for 3 days now and we have snow forcasted for Wed.  We will see if the legend holds true...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.