Fun With Play- Doh!

I know I am by far in the minority here...but at our house we LOVE play- doh. I know it is messy and crazy, but arts and crafts has always been something that is fair game at my house! Yesterday during our designated time to play together...we chose play do! As you can see we had the best time making little creatures and taking "family photos"!

I like a clean house as much as the next mom, but being involved in art and in imagination is so good for kids who are surrounded with media in their culture. I just love seeing them do new and inventive things each day here in our sunroom area. That is the designated art and school room. Anything including painting with acrylics, glue, chalk, watercoloring, finger painting, play do and more are all OK here. Through this, they have learned to be responsible and clean up after themselves and to keep the work area clean.

Have fun today with your kids, if you have them! If not, get out there and do an art project yourself. You'll be surprised at how much fun you will have...trust me I had a blast! Tomorrow I will share about our Harvest Seeds giveaway here at our apartments and how we celebrated Reformation Day! Have a blessed day today...

Yesterday I came in and saw that Anli had created a nameplate for her desk...just like Daddy's!
Virginia created a family of crazy animals. She wanted a "family photo"...since she's one crazy animal too!

We are the newest members of the Noonday Baptist Church family!!

Sunday was a wonderful day in our family! After visiting Noonday Baptist for over a month, we joined with this amazing body of believers! We are so excited and overjoyed!

We have learned so much about what it is like to be a visitor at numerous churches over the past 4 months. What amazing lessons we will take with us.

We have learned how important it is to have signs! Yes, we went to many churches where we couldn't find the right entrance or anyone to help us find our classes. As we drove up to Noonday, there were several wonderful signs that helped us to the right entrance, along with smiling faces all over the parking lot greeting us and helping us along. Then, as we entered the door to the children's area there were numerous people dressed in Noonday shirts to help us...very easy to find someone to help you and always with a huge smile!

We learned how important it is as a teacher to be on time to your class. We visited churches where the teachers were gone for 10-15 minutes from the children's class...while children ran around! We were a little worried about that!

We have learned how truly important it is to go beyond just a smile and a handshake. At Noonday a wonderful couple took special interest in us and always talked to us, made sure we didn't need anything, asked us to dinner, etc. Those kind of people are so valuable in make new visitors feel more like family!

There are too many things about Noonday that we love to list for you, but here are a few!

We LOVE that our service begins with a call to prayer at the altar. The worship team, staff, and all families are called to the front to cover the service together in prayer. What a way to focus and prepare for singing, teaching, and giving! We find that we feel such a unity and presence of the Spirit at Noonday! We know it is because they don't just rush in and begin the service with announcements and greetings...they begin by humbling themselves before a holy God and welcoming Him! Awesome!

We LOVE Steve the worship pastor. He often reminds us he's not the "music guy", he is a pastor. He takes it very seriously and his heart is amazing! He is candid, open, humble, and brings a freedom of worship I find so refreshing. There is not one Sunday that I haven't felt the tangible presence of God in that place. What a blessing to feel the freedom there!

Our pastor Billy really encouraged me when he shared about memorizing scripture. He puts it on a sticky note in his pocket so all day long the Word of God is literally STUCK to him! I love it!

The last thing that I want to share is how they opened their new facility about 3 months ago. They began on Monday before they were to have the opening on the following Sunday with a full reading of the entire Bible. It went on every day in the new facility...until they ushered in Sunday at 12am finishing the ENTIRE Bible! What a way to start a new phase of their church's life!! I was blown away and totally pumped about that kind of desire and passion for God's Word...with zeal and excitement!

All that to say we are THRILLED to be among the family of Noonday! It is such a "fit" for us. We are blessed to call this our home. Our girls love AWANA, Sunday school, and the worship service we attend together as a family. It is something the girls look forward to! I am in awe of God and the great grace and love He gives us each moment...I'm about to bust!

Week in Review!

So much has gone on this past week(end) that I thought I would give you a quick run down! It was so much fun and we had a blast! We couldn't believe that it was over so fast...

We made individual cakes with some new silicone baking pans made like fun shapes!

Virginia chose the star!

Anli wanted the teddy bear...yes that is a bear...he's just decorated very FINE!

Daddy's was the Man on the Moon! Very nice!

We got out the ELECTRIC juicer we didn't know we had! We LOVE fresh OJ and this was really fun for the girls to see how the juice comes out...and they could do this themselves since it was electric and did all the work for them. We really loved the juice too!

We spent one rainy afternoon being artists. We had real canvases and acrylics that we purchased at Blick. We made some creations that were really fun to do!

Virginia's masterpiece was a sunny day with pretty birds and flowers...even a nice butterfly!

Anli painted a sunflower garden complete with watering can.

Well, this part was not so fun...but not too bad either. Virginia got her expander this week and has been a real trooper. She is talking really funny and eating isn't very pleasant for her...but she is doing well!

This weekend I went to the outlet in Commerce with my friend Paula. We had a blast...just to get away for day and enjoy the food, shopping, and Super 8 motel! This is the only photo we took...isn't it nice! We were eating milkshakes and they put a little too much whipped creme on them...a little messy you might say! We were just goofing off and having a blast in this fall weather!

I finished the weekend with a baby shower for my friend Ginger! It was so much fun to see her open all the girl presents since she has 2 boys! It was great to see friends and enjoy a girl's day!

We had a wonderful week and weekend! The girls and I have begun taking each afternoon to do something fun together. It keeps us away from TV and video games and we have some great conversations during our activity. We have really enjoyed being together. We've done puzzles, painting, play do, riding bikes, walks, baking, juicing, etc. They don't cost much money and they really have been adding to our memories!

Take time today to carve out some special time for your relationship with God (first!) and your family. Even just a few minutes to do a puzzle will calm you down from all the things that take your attention and it will really bond you with those little ones in your home. Enjoy your day!

Friday's Top Ten!!

Top 10 reasons I have JOY in our family not being in vocational ministry right now:

10. People don't call Jay the "paid Christian" any more!

9. Jay getting home...and really being home...no more computer attached to his lap.

8. Going to a Sunday School class and NOT be the teachers!

7. Not living in the fish bowl at our church.

6. Lots of family time each night...without being so busy all the time.

5. Understanding what it is like to be visitors at a church again...wow!

4. People don't a have a clue who we are...very nice to be a student, worshiper, member, and follower.

3. Just being Jay, Frances, Anli and Virginia Worthington!

2. Being under a wonderful staff and being their biggest fans while really understanding what they are going through.

1. Allowing our identity to be in Christ and NOT a title or position!!!

This Top 10 was a hard one for me! I have not known anything other than our family being in vocational ministry. That was my comfort zone. I loved it and felt called to it! But, for right now God has another journey for us to be on for a while and we are finding JOY daily in this new place God has us to be.

See, that is JOY! God gives this supernatural fruit of His Spirit when we go through our days with a crazy kind of JOY...no matter the way that day goes! It's not easy finding this new place and we miss vocational ministry very much. But, guess what?!? We're STILL in ministry...we just don't get a check from a church with Jay's name on it!

We are still called to love others, to serve them unselfishly, to worship with passion, to love God with all our hearts, minds, soul, and strength. We are all ministers...really. Though some are called to vocational ministry, that doesn't give the rest of us an excuse to just hang out! The great commission applies to ALL of us and we are missing out on JOY when we pursue other ends.

"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

What is something that you are struggling with or feel burdened by in your life today? Take a moment to allow God to show you some of the things He is bringing JOY into your life through that situation. It is a blessing!

Virginia Update

Thanks to all of you who have been emailing, commenting, and calling to get an update on Virginia's spot on her back. We have been to both the dermatologist and the surgeon. We have her surgery scheduled for November 12th. Please keep her in your prayers.

They will use a local anesthesia (they wanted to put her under because of her age, but we did not want that) and then take what they hope will be all of the juvenile melanoma. They will send it off to the pathologist and they will determine if they got all of it. If not, they will send her to a Moh's surgeon...like the one that I went to in July for my skin cancer.

Today Virginia goes to get her expander. We pray that she won't be in too much pain for the next few days. We'll have to get used to cranking it every morning and evening. We'll update you further once we go and have it put in today. Please pray for that also!

Here is a photo of Virginia and I's spots...I've been reminding her that I also went through this just a few months ago. Thankfully God has allowed me to understand what she is going through during this time. Thanks again to those who have been so kind in checking in on her!

American Girls...

Last night we went to the long awaited dinner at the American Girl Boutique and Bistro. We have had the reservations for over 3 weeks now...so needless to say the girls were pumped! We have tried to get reservations on a weekend night for a long time, but that is nearly impossible to do...so we were happy with a Tuesday night for sure.

That afternoon we spent time getting our American Girl dolls ready for the evening with new hairstyles that matched my girls. We had fun picking out clothes that coordinated with the American Girl dolls' dresses. Dad got home and we went directly to the mall to eat dinner.

We had time to hang out in the shop and see all the new dolls, clothes, and accessories. One of the authors of the newest book was there signing. Then, we went to the table and that's when the fun really began! The dolls got their own little chairs, menus, and we all got some little star cookie cutters on our napkins.

We had some wonderful food complete with heart ravioli and an all American picnic meal complete with flags. We had so much fun and it was a night we'll remember! Thankfully, we have one super daddy that loves hanging out with his girls...even when it's in the middle of a girlie restaurant! He's such a wonderful daddy and husband and we loved having this very special night together.

Anli and Felicity

Virginia and Elizabeth...the similarities are scary!

Virginia and Elizabeth try to decide what they want for dinner...

American Picnic it is! A wonderful little all American meal with fruit skewers...Yummy!

Anli and Felicity check out all the wonderful appetizers, entrees and sides that all come with your trip to the bistro.

She decided on the precious heart shaped ravioli in Parmesan sauce...mmmm!

Awesome Video!

My friend Shane has a blog that I check in on sometimes and recently he had this video up. I don't know what I expected, but I was amazed. The quote that got my attention was..."my dream is to spend my life doing what I was born to do."




If you are a child of God...spend your life declaring His glory. That is what you were born to do! And though you may feel like a cell phone salesman...God can do anything!

Life is GOOD!!!

This weekend was such a BLAST! I mean we had so much fun we almost couldn't believe it! We started out the weekend with a trip to the YMCA for a swim in the indoor pool. Well, when we pulled up we saw that there was a free carnival in the park right beside the Y. So, we went to hang out there for a while. We got to ride on some huge tractors, eat some good food, buy some wonderful local sauces and butters, and finally finishing the night with a funnel cake. My kids had never had funnel cake and they LOVED it!

We then went and had a great time swimming in the indoor pool. We haven't been swimming in a while so that was really a treat. Exercise and fun all in one outing!

The next day we went to the Life is Good Pumpkin Festival in Flowery Branch. It was a little bit of a drive to get there, but well worth every moment of the trip. It was about the best festival I have been to! There were so many things to do...and all of it was FREE! We did donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters which is what the event was sponsoring. The best thing about the day for me...was spending the day with people who love Life is Good stuff as much as I do.

Family Photo taken by the Life is Good reps!

Jake 'o lanterns! Jake is the Life is Good little guy on all the shirts..he wears great sunglasses!

We had a blast in the sack races! I was terrible...I came in last place!

We loved the huge inflatables they had there!

The girls and Jay on the hayride...it was a beautiful place and the weather was amazing! Virginia trying to navigate the hay maze race!

There was a bridge out to a gorgeous lake. We went out and skipped rocks and explored.

The girls got to race electic boats on the lake.

Me and my girls by the lake...what a day!

The food was so yummy! They had lots of local vendors there with their best food.

These chocolate covered marshmellow sticks were to DIE for! And they even had chocolate chips on the outside...double death by chocolate! Jay and I had the carmel apple slices...WOW!

The girls got to pick any pumpkin to decorate...it was so much fun finding our pumpkins!You may not have any idea what I'm talking about! Well, Life is Good is a line of clothing and products featuring fun sayings for those of us who are the "Pollyanna's" of the world! Jay and I have been fans of the line since it came out about 6 years ago. The representatives of Life is Good even took our family's photo since we were a family of fans! It was just a wonderful, wholesome, fun family event for a great charity.

The weather was amazing and we had about the best time any family could have imagined! Our girls just kept saying "this is the best day ever!" I know it was because we were having so much fun...together!

I pray that you are carving out some special time to have the "best day ever" as a family. We have precious moments together and we want to savor each day that we are given here on earth by God. We pray that as we take time purposefully to grow as a family that we will be the light to those around us! God tells us that they will know we are His children by the way we love...those outside our family and those in it!

Take time today to have the "best day ever" with those you love. It can just be a quick card, a phone call, a text message, or a visit. And the great thing is...it can be that kind of day each day! God gives abundant life...it just keeps getting better and better with Him in our lives!