Are You a Fan or a Player?

Football season.  We see just the games.  Players see all the practices day in and day out that we don't see.

Reminds me of the ministry.  

There is a lot of work that goes on in the ministry.  Many times for one hour of time...one event.  

May I encourage you to become a player on the team instead of the fan?  

A fan in the ministry just shows up on game day.  Yes, they may have lots of enthusiasm during that time...but where are they during all the practices?  Where are they when preparations are being made?  Fans aren't there.  They simply show up to the game and "claim" the fame.  

Woo hoo!  That's my church!  Yeah!  

Players are there long before the game begins.  They are there every time something needs to be done.  They are there involved and committed.  

This coming year in 2019, decide to be a player in your church and not just a fan.  

Someone has to...make the coffee...clean the church...make the visits and phone calls...contact absentees...work in the nursery...greet visitors...teach the children...host a small group.  Preparation...practices...work.

What can you do more this year in your ministry?  

In your church?  For God?

Sierra View - your church - needs a team of players.  Who will stand up and take the challenge?

Thanksgiving Friday 2018

The Friday after Thanksgiving was another busy day.  I was up early getting some things done.  The girls and I did a little Black Friday shopping at Wal-Mart and then I took Addie to work.

When I got home, we went over to Miss Dora's home (from our church).  She made a delicious meal for our family and then we cut down one of her blue spruce trees.  She wanted it removed and asked if we wanted it as a Christmas tree.  We were planning on going to cut one down this year so made this our adventure instead.

The weather was quite iffy all weekend - a lot of wind for sure!

We came home from Miss Dora's and I got to work cooking and finishing cleaning.  Picked up Addie from work and then we had the Musser family over for dinner.  We are together a lot - but much of it is working at the church or on church events.  So it was fun just to hang out and enjoy a meal together.  My husband cooked steaks and I made cottage mashed potatoes with noodle gravy, cornbread corn, rolls, and mac and cheese.  We had tea, punch, sparkling cider...cheesecake, apple pie a'la mode and peanut butter cheeseball for dessert.  So much yummy food!

After dinner, we played Dominoes and Phase Ten.  Good ending to the day!

Thanksgiving 2018

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!  Here is a few pictures from ours.

I was up early cleaning.  It was raining and dark and what a nice morning!  When I opened the curtains, I noticed I don't hear the rain anymore.  I did catch the little it did snow on Thanksgiving.  This is really the first snow we have had in the valley and as you can see - it was barely the first snow!

When the clouds broke for a little bit, we had blue skies and a snow covered mountain!

I made two pies that morning.  A pumpkin and an apple pie.  I forgot how long apple pies take to make!

I let Summer have the leftover pie crust to make cookies.

We decided not to have anyone over this year - just our family.  So instead of a traditional meal, we did a crawfish boil.

A crawfish boil consists of crawfish, hot smoked sausage, red potatoes, corn on the cob, mushrooms, heads of garlic, onion, seasonings, and lemons.

For dessert, pumpkin pie.  And boy was it good!  I am making this my keeper recipe!

After lunch, we cleaned up and decorated our Christmas tree, had some eggnog and cookies and watched a couple Christmas movies. :)

Blessings of Friends

During the holiday season, I researched and planned some fun family activities to do.  If you remember, we went to the Reno Philharmonic show the week before.  On Saturday, they had a free magic show at our local library.  Nothing super extravagant but he did some good tricks and the girls enjoyed it!  Especially Sierra - she is always trying to learn a trick here and there.

There are so many neat things to experience - just do your research and plan out your calendar!  And a lot are free.

On Sunday, I filled in to teach the kids for the 9am service.  We had a great time with Addie leading the singing - I taught on the ten lepers and we did this Thanksgiving turkey craft.  So cute and again, didn't cost very much. :)

After the morning services, we had our Christmas play practice and then we went up to Lake Tahoe to visit with friends that came to see us.  The Lockhart family - Robert and Amber and their three kids.  

They were renting a little house for a few nights and they made us hamburgers and chips and we enjoyed a great time of fellowship with them.

It was beautiful at the lake but OH SO COLD!

Robert, my husband and I went to college together.  Actually, I was already done and we were married and Robert was a worker on our bus route.  It was such a joy to hear him telling how they are involved in their church - he is the youth leader for the teens - he is preaching at his church.  

Sometimes, people have SO much potential.  And they have training.  Yet, they don't use it.  

They aren't interested in what they can do in their church.  They want to be comfortable and without responsibility.  I'm saved and that's good enough.  

I told my husband on the way home, "It was SO good to see Robert with his own family serving the Lord.  He has a love for God and for serving and it was evident.  It was not a show.  It wasn't put on.  It wasn't fake.  That visit truly blessed me and did my heart so much good."

Real people.  Real friends.  Serving God.  It is amazing!

Fun Memories

Wednesday, while Eric and Addie were at College Days, we had a beautiful sunrise. 

Boy was it cold though!

I loved seeing Addie on the Sparks Chick-Fil-A Facebook page!

Summer got to sleep with me while Dad was away. :)

Thursday night, we watched Prancer.  The original.  It was made back in my childhood in the 80's but I love it. :)  Of course, a little eggnog too!

Friday was a planned day to do nothing ALL day long.  This happens...never!  Since Eric and Addie were gone, we stayed in our pajamas and watched the entire Anne of Green Gables - all three movies!  Super long but I haven't seen it in years and years and it was so much fun.  Autumn was surprised how much of it I knew. LOL!

We had pancakes and sausage for breakfast.  Taco salad for lunch.  And Papa Murphey's pizza for dinner.  Yum!

On Saturday, I took Addie to work.  Her Chick-Fil-A was having a toy drive for the kids in Paradise, CA whose homes were lost in that terrible fire.  I took a few toys in for the drive.

Tiffany, the owner, gave out a free card when you donated toys.

Of course, gotta have Christmas music playing this time of year!

The rest of the Saturday was spent doing school stuff and house stuff. :)

Even Belle helps with school. :)

College Days at West Coast 2018

Wednesday-Friday, my husband and our youth leader, Carlos, took five young people to West Coast Baptist College for their College Days event.

West Coast Baptist College is a ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, CA pastored by Paul Chappell.

My husband on the left, Ben-a current student at West Coast from our church, Emily, Reyanna, Addie, Elijah and Jared.

For some reason, I can hear my husband saying, "Hey" in a feminine voice right here. LOL!

Checking out classes.

Such a nice picture!  I'm so happy that Carlos could be a part of this!

Church at Lancaster Baptist on Wednesday night.