Keep on Keepin' on Girls!

Welcome back, ladies!  I hope you all had a great day last Tuesday, no matter what you were doing.  Our group was making "tie" blankets for children who are going through scary medical procedures.  It was great fun and  I'm so glad that I finally learned how to make them!   I know all of you have been doing wonderful things as well.  It's nice to remember that we can't do it all....but what we do, we do with much heart!  And as always, we are grateful to have the means and time to do for others.  Thank you, Lord, for our myriad blessings!

      
Girls, do you ever feel like this?

Or this?

OK Ladies, let's talk stress.  Some days we women rush around trying to do everything for everyone else, and in the process, forget about ourselves.  Just so you don't end up like those cartoon cats this Holiday season, let's start early with stress-relief techniques to help you be the best you can be!    Here are a few ideas for you, and as your semi-professional encourager, I encourage you to partake....because there is nothing worse than a burned out, stressed out lady who doesn't take time to rejuvenate herself!

Go here - even if only in your imagination!

Get a Massage:  If you can.  This splurge will do a body good!  And for the times when you can't get a massage, try a self-massage with a tennis ball.  People think I'm weird, but I keep a tennis ball in my car and lean into it as I drive.  It hits those pressure points even as I'm running around.

Have a quiet day:  This means no phones or TV or radio.  Stay In your jammies all day.   You know you want to.  And, as I have experience with this because I've done it before....I highly recommend it for Lady Refreshment purposes.  Trust me, you get replenished by a day in jammies.

Laugh Girlie!  Laughing is good for heart and soul.  And it actually does have significant stress management and even health benefits.  Read a funny book, watch a funny movie, play a fun game.  It’s worth it to work this great stress reliever into your day. 

Have a spa day (or hour) at home.  Taking time to pamper yourself is an important but often-forgotten stress reliever.  Go get you some deliciously smelly girly stuff from Bath and Body Works, and relax in the tub.  Don’t forget a facial mask!  They feel so luxurious and are not that expensive.

Go on a News fast:  We all know News is important.  But, sometimes viewing the news can be stressful.  Consider taking one day a week to not read or watch any news.  Turn on a comedy instead (I love reruns of I Love Lucy and the Andy Griffith Show), or play Pictionary with friends or family!

Exercise:  You know this is good for you.  If all you have time for is a half hour walk, then do it.  Our bodies aren't going to last forever, but we do want them to be healthy while we have them, and it's also a great stress buster!

Goof off a little:  Yes, completely waste a day…or half a day….or even two hours.  You will be surprised how good that feels if you don’t get to do it that often.  If you put your feet up and watch Dr. Phil or read Ladies Home Journal, that time to yourself to just goof off can really benefit you.

Daydream:  That’s right.  Give your mind a break and let it wander for a while….on purpose!  Imagine yourself swimming in a pool of chocolate, floating on a cloud, landing in Hawaii, or skipping through Disneyworld with Mini-mouse.  You’ll feel less stressed in just a few minutes.

Read Kim's Blog!  haha....just thought I'd sneak that one in there to see if you would notice.  :)

Don't forget your vitamins!  Yes...it would not hurt you to remember your vitamins and build up your immune system - start getting ready for the sometimes-very-stressful-even-though-they-are-fun holidays.

The point, ladies….be good to yourselves so you can be good to others.  Jesus loves you, too. And too much stress with no relief is not good for your health. 



No matter what you choose, taking care of yourself is always a good idea.  It's not selfish....it's necessary for your peace of mind, body, and soul.  And just remember THIS little morsel:






This Month in History - November

This list was much longer.....but I limited it to ten.  Interesting stuff! 

1 The Bra was patented (1914)
2 Peter the Great becomes Emperor of Russia (1721)
3 First Opium War between China and Britain begins. (1839)
3 Clarence Birdseye marketed frozen peas (1952)
4. Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd (1842)
6 Abraham Lincoln elected President of the United States (1860)
7 Cartoonist Thomas Nast depicts Republican party as an elephant in a cartoon in Harper's Weekly. (1874)
8 Montana became the 41st State (1889)
8 President Franklin D. Roosevelt forms the Civil Works Administration to help create jobs for millions of workers unemployed during the Great Depression. (1933)
9 Giant Pandas are discovered in China (1927)
10 The United States Marine Corps was created. (1775)

Blogview - Phyllis Alderdice

What a pleasure it was for me to sit down with Phyllis this past week.  She is such a sweetheart, and let me tell you, this lady does NOT let any grass grow under her feet.  She is one busy lady!  Grab a cup of tea and let's get to know Phyllis better.

Phyllis was married for  51 years to Glen, and has been a widow for 3 years….Glen was a civil engineer so they moved frequently.  Both graduated from UK and they have lived in Indiana, Illinois, W. Virginia, back to Indiana, and then back to Kentucky.  Phyllis is a teacher but she stayed home for 14 years to raise her children.  Phyllis and Glen had three children.  Sadly, one daughter passed away in an accident when she was 23 when her car slipped on black ice.   Regarding her other two children, her Son and his wife have two daughters who are 11 and 14, and they have been homeschooled from the beginning.  Phyllis was a little apprehensive about homeschooling at first, since she is a teacher, but now that she sees how it works, she loves homeschooling.  Her daughter and her husband have a son and a daughter who are 9 and 11.  Her daughter just started homeschooling this year and resigned from fulltime employment so she could homeschool. 

Kim:  Do you have pets? 

Phyllis:  Not now.

Kim:  How long have you been going to SE Christian Church? 

Since 1986.

Kim:  Are you from Louisville? 

Phyllis:  From Northern KY (60 mi. S. of Cincinnati) and Glen was from Western KY, and we met in college.

Kim:  Tell me a bit about your childhood.  How many siblings, did you grow up in a Christian home?  

Phyllis:  Grew up in a Christian home, one sister who is older who attended Cincy Bible Seminary, an Uncle went to Johnson Bible College.   Both parents were Christians with a very strong work ethic and value system.

Kim:  Do you have a favorite bible verse? 

Phyllis:  There are so many bible verses that have helped me thru so many different chapters of my life….I don’t know that I can pull one out and say it’s my favorite as of this time.  If one thing sort of guided me it is Proverbs 31, talking about a virtuous woman.  To just go back and read that whole chapter. 

Kim:  What made you decide to be a Discussion Leader?   

Phyllis:  I do have a background in facilitating....so I prayed about it and asked for guidance. 

Kim:  How long have you been a DL? 

Phyllis:  This is my second time– did a home study group this summer.

Kim:  How’s it going with your ladies?  Describe your group to me.

Phyllis:  It’s a very mixed group, there are a couple from the previous group, there are some that were in other groups whose discussion leader decided not to continue.  I have one who was coming at night who is now coming in the day, and then I have some that bible study here at SE is brand new.  So it’s very diversified.  Age wise, we are probably more mature individuals.  And I think that basically there are a lot of mature Christians in there. (sounds like an awesome group of ladies!)

Kim:  What are your favorite things about Autumn? 

Phyllis:  The beauty and nature….God painted the trees so pretty.  This morning the sun was just up to where it was touching the tops of the trees and where it was darker down below and it was so pretty, and somewhere I went by a church steeple that was up by the beautifully painted trees….just the beauty, I don’t see how anyone could think that all this was a big bang.  (I don’t either, Phyllis….you’re so descriptive!)

Kim:  Do you have a Thanksgiving tradition that you’d like to share with us? 

Phyllis:  There is nothing in particular as far as "things" go that is a tradition within my family.  The big thing is that’s the one time of the year that my family (sister and children) all get together, and it goes from Wednesday through Sunday.  We don’t do as many family get togethers at Christmas time as Thanksgiving time.  I personally feel that the Christmas season is more for the nuclear family….so I’ve always encouraged my children to build their own traditions with their children.

Kim:  Do you have any  hobbies? 

Phyllis:  Reading is the hobby that has stayed with me all my lifetime. 

Kim:  Where do you work? 

Phyllis:  I'm a teacher, business administration at Jefferson Community and Technical College. 

Kim:  Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  

Phyllis:  No.  We don’t do gift giving as such, we do stockings and put just novelty type things in stockings that we share within the family.  After the grandchildren older, we started doing that, and everyone enjoys the stockings so much that we quit doing presents.

Kim:  What is your favorite Christmas carole? 

Phyllis:  I think my favorite one is O Holy Night.  

Kim:  What is your service project? 

Phyllis:  We went to Hosea’s House, which is a shelter house for women and children, and we took lunch and visited and toured the house, and now we are going to do food baskets for Thanksgiving.   (I so love hearing about all these projects)

Kim:  I found out through talking to Phyllis that she participates in many different service projects such as hospital visiting, and Blessing Bags to children in orphanages through the Hopeful Hearts foundation.  She even does missionary work in the Ukraine.  What an energetic lady!

Kim:  What good things are you getting from the study of Acts?

Phyllis:  From having grown up in the Christian Church, that was more legalistic…..the indepth study of Acts has helped me to look at legalism from the eyes of the first century Christians and to make the transition that the apostles attempted to instill as the foundation of the Church.

Kim:  What is your favorite tv show? 

Phyllis:  I like crime dramas and mysteries, because I like to try to solve them.

Kim:  What kinds of reading do you most enjoy? 

Phyllis:  I enjoy a diverse group….but I’m involved in so many studies right now I don’t have much time to read anything else.  J

Kim:  What kinds of things do you do for fun? 

Phyllis:  My children have always been high priority for me, and I was a stay at home mom for 14 years.  And the thing that I really like to do now is spend time with my adult children, and that includes daughter and son in law because they are just as much mine as my biological children, along with my grandchildren.

Kim:  Which biblical woman do you most identify with, and why? 

Phyllis:  The virtuous woman is my role model, but I think I’d more identify with Timothy's mother  and grandmother, both of whom are mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 

Kim:  If you could sit with Jesus and ask him just one thing, what would that be? 

Phyllis:  If I could sit with Jesus and ask him one thing.... there was a time in my life where I would just make the remark, “this or that was on the list of questions I was going to ask when I got to heaven”….but then I was enlightened to the point that I realized those questions would not matter….I don’t know if there is anything specifically I would ask at this point in my life…..because the answers will all be there when I get there.  (Amen, Phyllis)

Here's the game.  Guess which one thing below is true about Phyllis:  

1.       I always wanted to go white water rafting.

2.       I once weighed 200 lbs.

3.       I love water sports.

And here is the answer from last week regarding Beth:  The answer is #2 - she has been on a float during a parade!

Autumn Harvest Stew

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 25 minutesCook: 7 to 8 hours

Ingredients

• 1  pound  boneless pork shoulder
• 2  cups  cubed, peeled sweet potatoes
• 2  medium  parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 3/4 cups)
• 2  small  cooking apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices (1 3/4 cups)
• 1  medium  onion, chopped
• 3/4  teaspoon  dried thyme, crushed
• 1/2  teaspoon  dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  pepper
• 2  cups  apple cider or apple juice

Directions

Trim fat from meat. Cut pork into 1-inch cubes.
In a 31/2- or 4-quart crockery cooker layer potatoes, parsnip, apples, and onion. Sprinkle with thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Add meat. Pour apple cider or juice over all.
Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 31/2 to 4 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Ladle into bowls. Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition Facts

1. Servings Per Recipe 4 servings
2. Calories365,
3. Total Fat (g)8,
4. Saturated Fat (g)3,
5. Monounsaturated Fat (g)4,
6. Polyunsaturated Fat (g)1,
7. Cholesterol (mg)76,

                        
 

Coffee with Jesus.....Here's an insightful video clip I ran into this week.  It entertained me....but at the same time also made me think.....and thank the Lord for His great patience with me!

The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.
-- Martha Washington

The best portion of a good man's life is the little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.
-- William Wordsworth

It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.
-- Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Ozarks

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

Serving Others

Welcome back, ladies.  Hope you have had a good week.  Also, hope that you are having a wonderful Service Project day.  We are going to be making blankets for kids, and I'm really looking forward to it, because I've heard about these blankets a few different times but don't know how to make them myself.  So now I'm going to learn!   I consider it a privilege to serve others and I know you do, too!  Praying it will be a wonderful service day and that Jesus will be exemplified to all who benefit from our service.  That's what it's all about.....





Why, Hello November!  You kinda slipped in on us this year, didn't you?

 When you think of the month of November, do thoughts of Thanksgiving come to mind? There is a lot more to November than turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie.  Let's take a look!

November comes from the Latin word novem which means nine. It was originally the ninth month of the year in the Roman calendar which began with March. When January and February were added to the Roman calendar, November became the eleventh month of the Gregorian calendar. November is one of the four months that has thirty days.

Birthstones

Topaz is one of the birthstones for November. Topaz can be found in many colors, but it is the orange topaz that is the traditional birthstone for November. Topaz is a symbol of friendship.

Citrine is also a November birthstone. Citrine is actually quartz crystal and is yellow to orange in color. It is often mistaken for the orange-yellow topaz which is the more expensive of the two birthstones.

Flower 

The flower for the month of November is the chrysanthemum. The word chrysanthemum comes from the Greek words chrys and anthemum. Chrys means golden (the original color of the chrysanthemum) and anthemum means flower. 
The symbols of the chrysanthemum are optimism and joy.

The most well known holiday in November is Thanksgiving Day. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month.

Another very important holiday is Veteran's Day which is November 11th. We love our Veterans!

Election Day is the first Tuesday in November  (as we well know from all the ads!)

And don't forget that daylight savings time ends on the first Sunday in November.  Remember to set your clocks back!

Historic Events in November
President Kennedy was assassinated on November 23, 1963.
The end of World War I or Armistice Day was November 11, 1918.
President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in November 1863.
President Lincoln made the Gettysburg address in November of 1863.


And lots of monthly observances for November!  I didn't know all this!
Adoption Awareness Month
Alzheimer's Disease Month
Apple Month
Child Safety & Protection Month
Christmas Seals Month
Diabetes Month
Epilepsy Month
Hospice Month
International Drum Month
Native- American Heritage Month


            

NOVEMBER
November woods are bare and still;
November days are clear and bright;
Each noon burns up the morning's chill,
The morning's snow is gone by night...

Source: Helen Hunt Jackson - Taken from World Book Millennium 2000

As we go about serving others in our community this week, let me be your official cheerleader.  All of you are doing a wonderful job!  Here are your pearls for this week:





Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. 
Mark Twain

"Help someone who can't return the favor."
Author Unknown

"Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible."

Charles Dickens

Philippians 2:4  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

 A Touching Story

Author Unknown

A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100 yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy. They slowed down and looked back. They all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said,"This will make it better." All nine linked arms and walked across the finish line together. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know one thing. What matters most in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What truly matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.


       

And now....our blog interview.  Or I think I might make up a new word....."Blogview" - this week featuring Beth Henderman

                                     Beth Henderman

 What a pleasure it was to sit down with Beth and get to know her better.  Despite my computer glitches which took up a little too much time, she was patient and even offered helpful suggestions.  You will be glad to know, Beth, that we figured out what the problem was so it won't happen next time.  :)

Let's find out some things about Beth that we may not have known!  When I said, "What is your name?"  I was only kidding around, because I know her name is Beth.  :)  But, what I found out is that her whole name is Mary Beth!  She was named after two of her mother's sisters.  Mary Nell, and Elizabeth.  Her mom took half of each of her sisters' names and named her.  She's still called Mary Beth or "Bethie" by some of her relatives.

Beth has been married to her husband David, Sr., for 35 years (awesome!).  When they married, David had two boys, David, Jr., and Kyle, and she had her son, Joseph.  So they combined their families and became one family.  They have five grandchildren.  :)

Kim:  Let's get to it then.  Do you have any pets?

Beth:  No.....

Kim:  How long have you been attending Southeast?

Beth:  Since 1991.  As her husband says, "Not long enough!"  :)

Kim:  Where did you grow up?

Beth:  I was born in Nashville & lived in Ashland City, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Nashville.  We moved to Louisville when I was nine, but my mom & dad kept their Tennessee roots.  Both sets of grandparents lived there, so we went back often....and always at Christmas.  My mother always considered it home.

Kim:  Tell me about your siblings.

Beth:  I have one brother, Sidney.  He is exactly two and a half years older than me to the day.  My birthday is June 22nd, and his is December 22nd.

Kim:  Did you grow up in a Christian home?

Beth:  I grew up in a Christian home, but my parents weren't taught "relationship" with Jesus.  I believe it was denominational as well as generational.  After I learned about a relationship with Jesus, I did pray with my mother.  Growing up, I never saw my mother reading her bible, but I did see my grandmother.  Later in life when I saw my mother's bible and saw what she'd underlined, and notes she had in her bible, I knew she'd been reading it throughout my life.

Kim:  Do you have a favorite bible verse?

Beth:  Yes and no.  I have different ones for different seasons.  Right now it seems to be Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose.....and Philippians 4:8, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.  I especially like this one when my thoughts head to the "what ifs" of my life situations.

Kim:  What made you decide to be a discussion leader?

Beth:  A point blank question asking me to be one.  Lynn Reece just called and asked me.  I'm starting my 14th year as a discussion leader.  (Wow Beth!)

Kim:  How is it going with your ladies - are you a new group or have you been together a while?

Beth:  Some have been together  8-10 years, some 4-5 years.  It's going great!

Kim:  Do you see your ladies having a heart for discipleship?

Beth:  Yes I see they have a heart for helping people both in and out of our group.  They really meet each others' needs.

Kim:  What have been some of your experiences as a DL over the years?

Beth:  Years ago I was chosen to be a DL for a group of deaf ladies.  It really stretched me as a DL but it was a great blessing and I really miss them.  They taught me a lot!

Kim:  Do you know or did you have to try learn sign language?

Beth:  No, there was an interpreter. 

Kim:  What are your favorite things about Autumn?

Beth:  Bonfires, hayrides, fall leaves, colors, the sound of rustling leaves, hot cider.  I'm a cool weather person so I love it! 

Kim:  Do you have a favorite Thankgiving tradition?

Beth:  It's a Thanksgiving food.  I have to have cornbread dressing!  My dressing is different from my mother in law's dressing, and it used to be that my sister-in-law and her daughter would make a list for Thanksgiving dinner, and their list would read, "Beth's dressing" and then "Good dressing" (we laugh).  A little family joke.  But it had been my grandmother's recipe.  We still have it, and now my son, Joseph's wife makes it now too, and it has become the only Thanksgiving dressing.  The others love it, too.  (what time should we be over Beth?)

Kim:  Have you started Christmas shopping yet?

Beth:  I have two gifts. 

Kim:  What is your favorite Christmas carol? 

Beth:  Silent Night

Kim:  What is your service project?

Beth:  We are going to Wayside Christian Mission.  We're gathering coats, scarves, and hats to take.  We're even taking a tour.  This is different for us this year.  We normally do Dare to Care Back-Pack Buddies, which is where we pack backpacks for kids who won't get food over the weekend, so they have something to eat. 

Kim:  Do you have a favorite TV show?

Beth:  I like mystery shows like Law and Order.

Kim:  What are you enjoying most about the study of Acts?

Beth:  I like actually seeing the consistency of God in other scriptures.  I knew it, but I'm loving seeing it.  In the study proper, as a discussion leader, I love having a full hour of discussion so we can get through six days of study and prayer.  I love seeing Acts worked out in the lives of my small group - sharing possessions with others, standing in His Grace, and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ.

Kim:  Do you have a good sense of humor?

Beth:  I think so!  (I think so too.  We laughed a lot)

Kim:  What biblical woman do you most identify with, and why?

Beth:  Oh, I think Esther, because with the mood of the country and other things I'm involved with, I wonder sometimes if I am living "for such a time as this."

Kim:  Here is the Deep Question.  If you were able to actually sit with Jesus today....what burning question would you like to ask him?

Beth:  I think I'd be so awed and appreciative that He loved me enough to do what He did, that all my questions would no longer be relevant. 

Kim:  Do you have a special quiet place where you do most of your bible studying?

Beth:  My Tent of Meeting Chair is in my dining room.  If I get there early enough I get to see the sun rise.  It is out of the traffic flow of David going to and from bedroom-kitchen-out to car to leave.  It works well for me.  Just need to be more disciplined and get there every day.  (Beth sent me a picture of it!  See below)

Beth's "Tent of Meeting"

OK, here is our game.  Two statements by Beth, listed below, are NOT true.  And ONE is true.  Can you guess which one is TRUE?

1.  My favorite Fall color is orange.

2.  I've been on a float during a parade.

3.  I was on the High School drama team.


And the answer for last week:  With regard to Debbie Gahan....the TRUE statement is that she has an awesome memory for phone numbers.  :)  Did you guess right?


       


And now.....to honor the month of November's most infamous holiday......(I laugh every time I see this)

2 Timothy 4:17
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it

Back to Studies

                                              

Hello Again, Ladies!  We hope you have had a lovely desert day and a peaceful hour being silent with the Lord and listening for His voice.  If you are like me, you had a bit of a hard time quieting your mind and being still.  My mind goes a thousand different places...what I need to do for dinner...what errands I need to run, what book I need to read...(oh, this room is so cozy and comfy)....maybe I can get to the gym before I pick up our son....and random thoughts such as....wonder what the price of gas is at Costco today.....did I really dream about mountain climbing last night?  Oh heaven help me, because I am so easily distracted.  There is always something to read, see, do, call....silence and solitude are very difficult for me.  But I persist.....and I actually did get my cup filled.  I pray that you did, too.



       

Desert Day Pondering......

                    I have stilled and quieted my soul.  Psalm 131:2


      

           

Morning Solitude

by, Thomas C. Duck

My favorite time of every day
is in the morning when I pray.
Just me and God, all alone.
I bare my soul before His throne.
I bring Him my burdens, and all my concerns.
When I can’t express it, His Spirit discerns.
He gives back a peace beyond understanding.
Like a parachute gives a soft gentle landing.
So when life is a free fall that’s out of control,
Make solitude with Jesus your primary goal.
And when everything seems to be going okay,
Still get with God alone every day.
For life is a series of trial after trial,
And strength comes daily, alone with God for awhile


       


Hey gals, look what I came across as I was buzzing around the internet.  If you're tired of the same ole faces on your jack-o-lanterns, why not give these a try?  Aren't they different and pretty?

           

 

           

   

        Interview Corner - sitting down with Debbie Gahan

I recently had the privledge of sitting down and having a chat with one of our wonderful Discussion Leaders, Debbie Gahan.  I had a great time getting to know her, and she was very open with her answers and made it very easy for me.  Thank you, Debbie.  Read on to find out more about her - maybe some things you didn't know....and a little game at the end....

I found out right off the bat that Debbie is married to Tom Gahan, and they've been married 17 years.  They have two children, Olivia, age 11, and Andrew, age 9.

Kim:  Do you have a job, and if so, what?

Debbie:  I work part time for a chiropractor, and I like it.  I do patient insurance work, ten hours per week.  It's a perfect blessing!

Kim:  What's your favorite thing about Autumn?

Debbie:  Decorating the house, the candle smells like apple cider, pumpkin pie, and vanilla.

Kim:  Have you started Christmas shopping yet?

Debbie:  No.....

Kim:  What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

Debbie:  When we were young, one year my mom wanted a microwave oven.  After all the gifts were opened, it was clear that she had not gotten the microwave.  We all knew she was disappointed, but she didn't say anything.  Then my dad stood up and said, "What's this?"  There was a string on the tree that he then followed out to the car, where dad had put her new microwave.  That's a memory that I remember made me feel very secure, that he would do that for her.

Kim:  What's one Thanksgiving tradition that you can't do without? 

Debbie:  During dinner, we all write down our blessings on a strip of construction paper, and then save them to hang on the tree at Christmas time.  Also, shopping with my group on the day after Thanksgiving.  We have matching t-shirts and everything!  (I think she mentioned they get a little wild and crazy, so watch out if you are an after Turkey Day shopper!)

Kim:  What's your favorite way to waste time?

Debbie:  Facebook! 

Kim:  What's your favorite TV show?

Debbie:  The O'Reilly Factor

Kim:  What are some hobbies you enjoy, and your favorite weekend activities?

Debbie:  Reading, organizing (the closets), politics; on weekends we have kids' activities, church....we always eat out on Sundays after church...sometimes with friends....sometimes by ourselves, and save time on Sunday for a nap.  (Um, Debbie, can you come and visit my closets?)

Kim:  How long have you been going to Southeast?

Debbie:  Eleven years....I first went to a moms group when my daughter was a baby, which led to womens' bible study.

Kim:  Where did you grow up?  Did you grow up in a Christian home?

Debbie:  I grew up in Louisville, went to Catholic schools, and yes, I grew up in a Christian home.  :)

Kim:  What prompted you to become a discussion leader?

Debbie:  A discussion leader I had five years ago was moving to something different, and so I stepped up after that person asked me to.

Kim:  Have you been a DL before? 

Debbie:  Yes, five years of studies.

Kim:  What are you enjoying most about the study of Acts?

Debbie:  Realizing how relevant it is to helping us live out our faith now.  I also like the pace, slowly taking it apart.

Kim:  How are your ladies "meshing" together?

Debbie:  Wonderfully.  It's a large group, and I see them planning and ministering to each other without me.

Kim:  Do you see early signs in your ladies that indicate God is touching their hearts toward discipleship?

Debbie:  Yes, because they're starting to invite people to study their bibles - taking more ownership.  I see several that are willing and equipped to lead.  I love to see them ministering and praying for one another, lovingly challenging one another to trust.

Kim:  Have you read any good books lately that you'd like to recommend?

Debbie:  Radical, by David Platt.  Amazing!

Kim:  Where is your special quiet place or "mom cave" that you are able to use for quiet times with the Lord?

Debbie:  I love that question!  I have a very long closet, and so I cleaned out a spot in my closet.  (That sounds awesome, can we have a field trip to your closet?) 

Kim:  Deep Question:  If you knew the Lord was coming back tomorrow, how would you spend today?

Debbie:  I would want to spend today telling all the people that I love, that I've been reluctant or afraid to tell, about the Lord. 

Kim:  What is your favorite bible verse, and why?

Debbie:  My favorite verse is Psalm 113:9  He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

Thru a 6 year infertility struggle, I learned to trust God by leaning on this scripture.  The doctors told us that we would not be able to have children - no chances.  But I knew God was telling us not to give up, to believe Him for the impossible.  This was the first time I remember  choosing to believe God over men.  This verse always reminds me of Gods faithfulness and that what is impossible in the natural is never impossible for our God!!  I think this is the reason I cherish my kids so much, they are the result of a miracle of God.

And now something fun about Debbie.  Two statements below are NOT true, and ONE is true.  Can you guess which one is true?  I will have the answer for you next week:

Debbie says:

1.  I love animals and have 3 dogs and a cat

2.  I don't drink coffee, but love tea

3.  I have an unusual ability to remember phone numbers and can sometimes recall phone numbers I have not dialed in a long time

OK gals - take a gander!  Hmmmm......which is the true statement? 


         


           Recipe of the Week - Pumpkin Chili !!

3 pounds lean ground beef 2 cups solid pack pumpkin 2 cans red kidney beans 2 medium onions, chopped 3 (15-ounce) cans chopped tomatos 2 tablespoons chili powder (less if serving children) 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (omit if serving children) 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 bay leaves In a large casserole, brown ground beef and drain off excess fat. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir well, and simmer over low heat for 1 to 2 hours. Serve with crackers or garlic bread.

        



Here's an amazing David Crowder video done with the lite-brite toy that we all know and love....with time stop video, it took a long time.  Apparently they had "lite bright parties" to complete this....it obviously took quite a while.  You can click the X to get rid of the advertisements, I could not figure out how to get those things off as I'm still learning my way around these technical computer situations.  This is a love story, enjoy! 

    

He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.  Psalm 23:2

Hope you have a great week ladies.  We love you and are praying for you!