Genesis 1 - My Goodness! There was light!

I forgot to post this when Ryan first made it.  It seems a few things have slipped past me lately. Anyway, Ryan is going to read through the Bible on YouTube when he has time.  This is a fun little video where he was playing with different accents. hehe  enjoy =)

No matter what happens...

trust God

Today: not so successful. I'm tired and stressed. Have not worked out all week and I have a headache. Not to mention a Kindergarten boy beat on me today, and I couldn't stop him without using physical force, which I was not prepared to do because I didn't want Preakness to be sued. But if he had been my kid, he never would've gotten away with acting like a rabid animal. Honestly, I can't believe how parents raise their kids. If they don't get their way they go ballistic. I told my boys on the way home today that if I had been a VBS leader before I had kids I never would have had any.

I don't know how I raised 2 such amazing young men, but it had to be completely and utterly all God's doing because I am unable to do any of that on my own. Today I was a failure, more than once, with more than one kid. Sometimes I wonder why I am involved with children's ministry at all. I am not good at it. I didn't take any guff from my own kids and I really don't have the "patience" to take it from someone else's kid, just because they are too busy (or lazy) to discipline them.

Yes, I am ranting...but seriously, today really opened my eyes. I might have to rethink CBC this year. Maybe I'm not cut out for this at all.

Blazing Light of God official music video

At long last here is Ryan's first music video. I am so excited about it. I hope he makes more as time permits. It is a very time-consuming endeavor.

Everything is possible with God

VBS is going pretty well this year! There are more kids this year than ever before but it seems to be running a bit smoother. Either that or I'm just getting used to the chaos. This is a picture of a little girl who kept crying so I got her to stop by telling her I was going to take her picture. She had to dry her tears and smile for the camera. hehe

Bible Lesson time (Kyle is in back)

Melissa and Pastor Karl doing their skit

Ryan holding the verse of the day

video of one of the wacky games...I think we should do this for CBC!  

vbs labor pains...

Ok, so I wasn't done yet. I worked at church most of the day getting last minute things done. Then I brought the name tags home to finish. NOW I'm done (until the big day)!

It was good to have a day off from working out today because I have a very sore calf ... the boys and I had a grueling bike ride yesterday that I'm recuperating from. This morning it was so stiff I could barely walk, so after supper I put some Icy Hot on it. Looking forward to getting some heavy duty exercise tomorrow!! I have to catch up to the weight loss I had last year. It's really too bad I cook so dang good because I just LOVE my cooking! And ok, yeah, I do love CHOCOLATE too. So I have to work extra hard to try to get back in to shape. Thankfully I'm on my way. I'm so glad the boys are doing it with me. It helps me stay motivated, and it makes it so much more fun because we get to be together in our sweaty anguish. hahaha....  We are doing a lot of the stuff that Ryan learned in Tae Kwon Do.  Pretty intense stuff, and oh what a work out.  We had to stop running because Ryan's shins are messed up and my knees were having a little trouble.  I'm glad we have other things to choose from.

Anyways......I'm rambling.  I'm tired.  I know I talk too much.  Everyone gets mad at me.....

I try not to talk.

When I was little my brother used to bribe me with a quarter to not talk.  I never made any money...

Think we are getting a new Air Conditioner tomorrow... Dana's boyfriend is coming to install it I think. Our old one is leaking bad in the attic and we don't want to have it flood our ceilings.

vbs birth pangs

here we go, one final heave-ho to get VBS name tags done so I can finalize all the bloody lists...
I don't think people realize that there is a real person putting these things together...
there is.

They don't just doesn't magically appear...

Blazing Light of God trailer

This is the trailer to Ryan's Blazing Light of God music video. It's so exciting...he will be releasing the video July 25th, so don't miss it!!

 
 Bloopers coming soon!

stepping it up

Look! We finally have steps! We took the carpet off the old ones and they were so messed up from the fire that we got new tops to put on them. No more carpet in the house (except family room... but not for long)! Yay!! I think Kyle is breathing easier.

I had a lot of fun hanging out with Isaac the other night while Kyle was doing the Amazing Race. Here is a video of him showing off his juggling skills. Enjoy!





There was another video but stupid blogger wouldn't cooperate with me uploading it.

Pastor Kyle and the yoyo

Today Kyle taught my Children's church class, sort of for practice for his possible career choice. I think he is a total natural! The kids like him and look up to him and he is fun and thorough, and just plain old charming, while remaining intelligent and knowledgeable. I love it!

Here is a picture from the week that he did the yoyo lesson with Pastor Karl.

Kyle and JJ

 This is the only one I have ready to upload so far... Blogger was giving me fits so I had to put it on YouTube.

ETHAN

Here are some very fun pictures of Ethan's visit. We all had a really nice time and it was good to see Dana! I'm also very happy that Ryan and Kyle got to finally meet their nephew! He is just adorable.

I keep pressing on for the prize

Ryan and Kyle doing one of Ryan's songs at church this week. This is the one he wrote after a conversation we had about different things we were both feeling and experiencing at the same time.




Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

summer is in full swing

Here's Kyle reading a commentary about Ecclesiastes under an umbrella on the deck. It was starting to rain... I think he needed a break from all the work he's been doing on his Rethinkyoyo ventures and the work around the house.

Here's Ryan working on his songs and/or his music video (before Kyle's computer died).  I am happy to say that he just got his first song on iTunes.  Pretty exciting!  He is working so hard on getting things done.  I hear both of them in the basement practicing for the concert as I type this.

There is so much to do to prepare for a concert!! And there is so much to do to take care of a house!!! And there is so much to do to prepare for VBS!!! Yes, we have been very busy. We have so much to do that a lot of times we don't know what to do first. We have been trying to take some time each day to work out so that we don't get too stressed out. I think it's really been helping all of us. Plus jumping in the pool after going jogging is a great reward for all the hard work.  I think at the end of summer we are going to see just how much didn't get done that was on our list.

On Saturday Dana is coming over with Ethan and the rest of her clan. I pray it goes well.

Ok I've had enough of a break, back to stuffing VBS envelopes!

PS: videos of Pastor Karl and Kyle's yoyo sermon to come!

“No King but King Jesus!”

We had a very delightful Independence Day! Finally got out of the house to do something, instead of staying here with nothing to do! After spending a wonderful morning and afternoon here swimming, we headed over to the Pavinci Italian Grill to hear Renee and her band, Groove rocking. We super enjoyed it! She sings great, and I was glad we finally got over to hear her.

After a bite to eat we went to the Netcong Park for a free concert with Steve Vervaet of the Symphonics do their oldies tunes.

It was a good day of much needed relaxation.

“It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.” –George Washington

new roof

Hey! So we got a new roof today. They aren't quite done yet, but almost! It's been fun watching the progress.

The boys and I had a great time today. Went for a bike ride, and later we hung by the pool, working out on rebounder, and swimming and stuff. It was a good day, especially in the evening when they came outside with me to our new little seating area in the front of the house where I put the hammock.  I wanted to have a place in the shade like my parents do.  So, that was nice.

Oh yeah, here's a thing we pass sometimes on our bike ride.