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Goodbye Northlake
Ahhh...the tears were a flowing on Sunday. I was honored in some really touching ways by the church I have worked at for three and a half years.
First, was a time on stage during the services. Pastor Dave opened it up.
And then they showed this video. Both services I cried at the end where it says "thanks...". And then I cried some more as I received standing ovations.
You know, you don't do work like this for the thanks. There are too many hours, too much frustration, and too little pay. You do it because the rewards are eternal.
But sometimes it is nice to be told "well done."
I didn't want to leave without sharing some thanks of my own. Oh yeah, and that present was pretty sweet too!!!!
So, so hard to walk away. And yet, this is something I've been asking God to give me for months. A chance to stay home. To be Darin's ministry partner instead of the other way around. To relax and play with Daisy without always trying to fit in work hours. I'm excited about all that. But I'm sad to leave. Sad to leave my friends. And sad to leave these kids.
Still I know, if it's not again in this life, I'll get to catch up with them all in the life to come. I can't wait to hear what kinds of amazing things they do to share Christ's love with our world.
ps: I started uploading my videos to vimeo because I noticed the quality seemed better on other blogs. Let me know if you've got an opinion.
office tour
Before I start the big cleanout tomorrow, I thought it would be fun to show you around my office.
Last week you saw my nameplate. It always made me feel professional.
I taped this poster to my door a while ago. I loved the words: "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." I wish I could take it with me, but alas it belongs to the church.
My office is pretty narrow, so it was a challenge to furnish. But I've loved working here for the past two years.
Left wall, from L to R: another poster I love (this is my favorite Bible story), a thank you poster from VBC, calendar (so important!) and a bulletin board that has less "info" and more "keepsakes" on. The "info" I just tape to the wall. And above the bulletin board is our church mission and vision, always important to keep at hand.
Everything on this board has significance to me. Now what do I do with it all?
My workspace:
And some closeups:
I love this nameplate my dad made me. Darin's excited to have an office now to display his. I'll have to find a spot in my new "home office" to keep mine!
My packed bookshelf, lots of resources are so helpful in this ministry.
My snack shelf, a vital spot in every office!
And lastly, the pink chair I bought at a garage sale. Can't really fit more than two people in this office, but that chair is perfect and comfy. And since I paid for it myself, it's coming with us!
Thanks for taking the tour. I'm gonna miss this little space that was all mine.
Happy Birthday Dad!
Yesterday was my dad's birthday. I hope it was a great one!
I wonder where you'll be celebrating next year?!
cultivating a love of books
One of Daisy's new favorite activities is standing at her book box and pulling books out one by one. For a while she'd just look at the book, and then toss it on the floor. But now she'll sit down and actually thumb through the book. It's really sweet to watch.
Gemmer girls
Last week, despite the crazyness with moving, we managed to sqeeze in one more Gemmer girls day. Sierra is off to North Carolina with her hubby (home from Iraq!!! Yipee!!!) and we're gonna miss her a lot. So we had lunch and did some shopping. I am so blessed to have sisters both from birth and from marriage.
The funny thing is, when all is said and done the only "Gemmer" girls will be those of use who marry into the name. But I think we'll keep it anyway.
The girls! Daisy (who stayed home with Gran), Dakota (who has a new boy in her life!), Summer (our honorary Gemmer girl cousin), Sierra, Tiffany and me.
Daisy loves her Aunts!
Someday when she's bigger, she can come too.
from the victory side, part 3
Turns out I was made for Children's Ministry. Turns out God knew what He was doing. Turns out I'm really good at this job. Turns out it becomes one of the most challenging and rewarding things I've done in my life.
HERE's an Easter recap that shares some of the story.
HERE's a funny from a kid-one of the better parts of my job!
Sometimes God comes through for you, even in the silliest of things.
Learning about the importance of church vision.
More good kid stories.
One of my favorite times of the year. Vacation Bible Camp!
And a great summation of why I love what I do.
Those of you who have been readers for a while, remember back in September of 2006 we were offered a "dream" job at Black Lake Bible Camp and turned it down. This experience was well blogged and is essential for the telling of part 4. Click HERE, HERE and HERE. Darin also gives the play-by-play on this one from his perspective HERE.
so sorry
Whoops, had the blog opened all day yesterday and never managed to get around to getting one posted. Last lunches, exit interviews, and curriculum edits kept me busy all day.
I'll make it up to you today! (look below too, somehow that one got published first)
contemplating marriage?
Charles Darwin's works are now all online for public access. Not a site I'm all that interested in exploring (there's hardly a scienc-y bone in my body), but I did enjoy hearing about his marriage "pro/con" list on the radio this morning. So I tracked it down for you. Try to read it without a chuckle or giggle. (And Darwin, it's probably more "nagging" than "chit-chat"!)
