Rejoice, Even Though

The women's ministry team at church planned a retreat, a weekend getaway to focus on our relationship with Christ and to fellowship with other women.  My daughter, Jill Utecht, was asked to be the speaker and she was going to teach through Philippians where we would learn to "rejoice even though" (insert life situation here) and find joy in Christ.

We were going to have the retreat at a camp in Oklahoma, but an ice storm made the roads to the camp impassable!  "Rejoice even though"!  The retreat team scrambled and were able to get reservations for all of us at a hotel in Wichita!  It may have been disappointing to some, but truly, it was a great place!!  God provided!

Jill and I were rooming together and had a room overlooking the river.

Day view

Night View

After I checked in, I went to the airport to pick Jill up.  She had pre-recorded her first talk, just in case of a delay.  It was quite incredible that she was able to change her flight from Oklahoma City to Wichita.  When she was ready to board the flight in Atlanta, it was announced that they had over-booked by 1 person and they would pay someone $500 to wait for another flight.  Perhaps, just perhaps, there was someone who had been praying for help financially and God provided for them!  The fact that Jill was able to get that flight was just an answer to prayer!  "Rejoice even though"!

Jill and I got to the hotel just in time!   The group clapped as we entered the meeting room - a clap offering really, for God Who had allowed Jill to arrive safely and on time! 

They were in the midde of playing an opening game.  The women were divided into groups of 8 and were given instructions to get in line according various categories.  According to age, or according to how many countries you had visited, how many cousins you have, your shoe size, etc.   As soon as your group was lined up, you would blow a bazooka.  It was loud, it was hilarious!!

This was followed by worship.  Thank you, ladies for the singing time!!

Jill mentioned that she felt a little "discombobulated" after the day of travel.  Incidently, she mentioned that the airport had a  place "for passengers to put on their shoes, gather their belongings, and yes, recombobulate."

The retreat is a time when we can retreat from the normal pace of life and "recombobulate" and reconnect with friends and with the Lord!

Jill began the evening introducing us to the book of Philippians.  Even though Paul was in prison, his joy was in the advancement of the gospel.  The enemy thought he'd "won", putting Paul in chains.  But no.  That isn't what happened.  What about us?  

The enemy probably thought he'd won by bringing an ice and snow storm, trying to cancel these plans for us to learn what God had for us.  

Do we live for ourselves?  Or for Christ?  How would you finish the statement "For me to life is .........."

Paul was looking death squarely in the face.  If we were in prison, perhaps our first concern would be getting out!  It was not the main thing for Paul.

We are to live in unity; our common goal being the advancement of the Gospel - the Good News!  We live out our purpose with the Spirit of God IN us; the people of God BESIDE us.

Jill took us through Philippians on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning.  My heart was filled with the truths of that book.  The JOY of Christ "even though".

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It was a delightful time with friends!

Each session, names were drawn for gifts.

The team came up with such FUN games!!

"If you've ever in your life ever gone 3 days without a shower, move 3 seats tthe left.  If you've ever walked to school, move 2 seats to the right.  If you make your bed every day, move 7 seats to the left.  If you wear makeup every day, move 2 seats to the right."   We ended up in eachother's laps!

Singing around the "campfire" was GREAT, even if not around a true campfire!

We sang hymns but also silly songs like "The alligator is my friend."

Craft stations

Prayer stations

Since the retreat was moved close to home, Al was able to come and have lunch with us in the Delano district closeby!

Sunday morning, we donned our retreat t-shirts for a group picture.  Several had to go home early, so this isn't the whole group.

Thank you, Jill, for using the gifts God has given you to teach us God's Word!!

I can "rejoice even though" because, even though you were going back to Wisconsin, I would be driving to Wisconsin to see you in just a few days time!

Precious Gifts

Do you enjoy Scrabble?  When I was a kid, we played Junior Scrabble a lot!

A couple of years ago, I learned about Speed Scrabble.  You can read the rules here.  It really is fun!

I was at a craft fair one year where the vendor was selling scrabble tiles and the wooden trays.  Who would have thought of using Scrabble tiles for decorating your home?  Here's what I did for Christmas.

When the kids were here over Christmas, they began to play around with the tiles.

Too funny!

Eli had made wood burning coasters for us, so I took this picture and sent him a "thank you".

In January, I did this wording.

And now, in February, this:

If God were to make up tile words for us, it could be this.  He calls me His child.  He is my Abba, my Father, Daddy.  My prayer is that one day, all of our family (and so many others I pray for!) will call Him their Father.  All you have to do is ask!!

"I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."  2 Corinthians 6:18

THAT is a precious gift, to be called His own!!

January

 January went by rather quickly!  It was not so long ago that the kids all left.  Here we were doing "silly waves" when the first family left.

Silly waves started years ago when the grandkids would cry when they left.  We did these goodbyes to make leaving funny.

Tenley "driving" home!

After they all left, there was a mountain of laundry to do!  Not complaining!!

And, of course, cleaning.  I'm not sure why I keep finding candy wrappers in the oddest places.  Not sure why the grandkids don't just throw them away in the trash?  Ha!  I'm thinking it is one particular grandchild??  Emeri, per chance????  This could have been Eli as it was in his bedroom.

We took down the Christmas tree and decorated with a winter theme.

I put our Christmas cards in a basket.  Each week I will pick one out and pray for that family for the week.

We had our pastor's family over for dinner.  Should have gotten a picture of the whole family!  The younger ones were busy in the playhouse under the stairs!

Church activities started back up....Cubbies, young mom's Bible study and my older women's studies (that I lovingly call my "old ladies" Bible study).  I love studying and teaching God's Word!!

We had Legacy, an intergenerational women's meal with a speaker.

I met my friends from Japan for lunch.  We tried a new place called The Traveling Bowl.  AWESOME!  

I tried the Cream cheese chicken bacon rice bowl.

Goodness- GOOD!

We watched the most exciting game I think I've ever seen!  We were sad to see the Packers and Chiefs both lose.  Not going to the Super Bowl.  😞

I began a "book" for my kids about the stuff we have.  

"While recognizing that all we own belongs to the Lord and the things, the "stuff", we have are temporary and will burn one day, I think it is still somewhat beneficial to know the background to the things we have in our home.  I am sentimental; others are not and easily throw things away.  What you do with these are for you to determine.  I've enjoyed these things; many that have been passed on to me by our ancestors.  This is a record for you to know about some of these "treasures" in my home."  Mom, Nana

I took pictures of things around the house and wrote something about these things.  Like this wall hanging, made by my grandfather.

Crazy quilt made by my Great-Aunt Lydia, 1906.  

You can see the date she embroidered on one of the pieces.

The kids may someday pull up a big blue container and dump all the things I love in it to throw it away.  Who knows.  For now, I get to enJOY.  In heaven, we won't care about all this.  

I went to a conference with my friend.  Terrific!! 

It just makes me wonder why our country is so divided and misinformed.  Both sides claim that!  But what I do know is that ultimately, God is King; He is on the throne.  "The world is not falling apart, it is falling into place."

"You steer the stars and turn the pages of history!"  Robert Morgan

For dinner, we found a new hole in the wall close to the conference called Picasso's Pizza.  Amazing pizza!  Sold by the slice.   HUMONGOUOS slices!!

I found out that an old trail goes right under our property!  It is called the Black Beaver/Col. W.H. Emory trail.   We should do some archeological digging!! 

Continued working on my mother's geneology.

I did some prayer walking.  Some indoors at church, but we had quite a few really nice days in January (50s and 60s) and I was able to walk around our lake.

There were several amazing sunrises and sunsets in January!

God's paintings in the sky!

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  Ephesians 5:15-17