Tomorrow is Josh and Brittney's wedding...then the camp meeting starts the next day. Gonna be a busy weekend. The girls and I plan to leave this afternoon when they get off work and head to Clarksville. All of the girls will be staying at Keith and Lesa's (hope they have adequate restroom facilities!). Terry and Gena have graciously opened their home to me for ttonight. Looking forward to spending some time with them. Also looking forward to the wedding...I know it will be sweet and lovely...just like Brittney!
Dennis will be heading to Amarillo tomorrow evening when he gets off work. He is scheduled to speak Sunday evening. I hate that I won't be able to be there for his lesson (although I'm sure I'll get a "repeat performance" sometime in the near future). Chris and I will be leaving Sunday afternoon to head that way, after meeting with the Booneville congregation. Dennis and I plan to be at the CM until Wednesday. He is then hoping to make a quick trip to Benton to see his mom during the latter part of the week. Not sure if I'll be able to make that or not. I have my first court report due on the 9th, so I'll be working on that until I get it right.
Speaking of my court report, I am working a case! I was sworn in on Thursday, June 14. Monday morning, the 18th, my program director called and told me she had a case for me. My heart did somersaults...I was so nervous! It was a current case that another CASA had been working and had to leave, so most of the work has already been done. It is also an "easy" case with a very positive outcome. But, timewise, it left me left than a month to get all of my research done and contacts made before having to do my first court report. So I have been scrambling! But I've really enjoyed it. I've touched base with all of my contacts for this reporting period and have all the info I need to make my recommendations to the judge. Now I just have to get it all on paper in the proper format! (Court reports are the BIG stressor in CASA, if you hadn't noticed.)
Well, time to get busy with my day. Hope all of you have a wonderful 4th of July, and I hope to see some of you either at the wedding or the CM!
Ge 33:12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Family
Our weekend started with our regular Friday night with the girls. Sheila and Jessica came over for a supper of shrimp (YUM!) and a movie. We pulled out one of my old reliables, Anna and the King. It amazes me to think about the impact that one person can have on the world around them...very inspiring!
Saturday morning was the annual Putman reunion. This year had a really good turnout...the best in years. Lots of great-grandkids showed up...I don't ever remember seeing this many little ones at the reunion. There were nine aged 2 and under. My cousin, Sam, had five there in that age group: the youngest was 5 weeks old and there was also a set of 3 month old twin girls. So cute! I also got to meet my great niece for the first time. Paisley is such a little sweetie. I loved getting to hold and play with her. I also got to visit with my cousin, Debbie, that I hadn't seen in 20 years. We were inseparable as kids whenever all the cousins were at Granny's house. I also spent many a week during the summer or over holidays with her at her house. I'm glad to see her move back to Texas after living up north for many years.
Had a full house at the assembly yesterday...with a good lesson from Israel on taking measure of our spiritual lives. Leah and Rebekah showed up at Highway and then came home with us for lunch. It had been quite awhile since we'd gotten to spend time with Leah. It was a fun-filled afternoon visiting with and watching our girls enjoy their time together.
Last night, Donnie and Tammie surprised us by showing up at Highway. It was great to see them again! Brett Wayne also led his first song. I know they loved being there for that. (He was baptized last Sunday evening.) Heather was able to make both assemblies...for the second week in a row. It is great seeing her doing a little better!
All in all a great weekend with family!
Lu 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Saturday morning was the annual Putman reunion. This year had a really good turnout...the best in years. Lots of great-grandkids showed up...I don't ever remember seeing this many little ones at the reunion. There were nine aged 2 and under. My cousin, Sam, had five there in that age group: the youngest was 5 weeks old and there was also a set of 3 month old twin girls. So cute! I also got to meet my great niece for the first time. Paisley is such a little sweetie. I loved getting to hold and play with her. I also got to visit with my cousin, Debbie, that I hadn't seen in 20 years. We were inseparable as kids whenever all the cousins were at Granny's house. I also spent many a week during the summer or over holidays with her at her house. I'm glad to see her move back to Texas after living up north for many years.
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| This is my great-niece, Paisley. Isn't she a cutie? |
Had a full house at the assembly yesterday...with a good lesson from Israel on taking measure of our spiritual lives. Leah and Rebekah showed up at Highway and then came home with us for lunch. It had been quite awhile since we'd gotten to spend time with Leah. It was a fun-filled afternoon visiting with and watching our girls enjoy their time together.
Last night, Donnie and Tammie surprised us by showing up at Highway. It was great to see them again! Brett Wayne also led his first song. I know they loved being there for that. (He was baptized last Sunday evening.) Heather was able to make both assemblies...for the second week in a row. It is great seeing her doing a little better!
All in all a great weekend with family!
Lu 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
I'm a CASA!
I'm so excited that I had to share my good news. As of this morning I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children (CASA). After 30 hours of training plus several hours of courtroom observation, I was officially sworn in by our district judge. I'm hoping to receive my first case (actually it will probably be a co-case for the first one, for a little additional support!) in the next few weeks. I'm nervous about the responsibilities I'll have as well as the emotional struggles that it is bound to bring, but I'm really excited about taking on this role as an advocate for abused or neglected children. I pray that God will give me the wisdom and strength to faithfully perform my duties and provide good and well-founded recommendations for the judge!
Ps 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Pr 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Ps 72:4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
Monday, June 11, 2012
"The secret to a happy life is not in getting what you want. It is in learning to want what you get. Don't waste your time crying over what you're not given. When you have tears in your eyes, you can't see all the beautiful things around you." - Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate
I wanted to share with you some of the beautiful things I saw over the past few days:
Thursday morning I attended a benefit for a 5 year old girl who has stage 4 neuroblastoma. Her family has been separated for the past year while she and her mother have been staying in New York for treatments. You can imagine the financial strain this has put on them...aside from the emotional and physical. Four girls in the 5th grade heard about this little girl and her family and wanted to do something to help. Layne and Heather's daughter, Madison, was one of those girls. They formed a committee, contacted vendors and sponsors, shopped for supplies, sent out media bites and invitations, organized a little girl fashion show and put on a brunch/fashion show to raise money for this family. The mothers didn't do it, the girls did...they mom's just provided transportation and support. Maddie told me last night that they will be able to send a check for about $8000 to this family! She is already thinking about what she wants to do for next year.
These same parents, Layne and Heather, invited us all over last night after services to share in the baptism of their 9 year old son, Brett. He was convicted during the meeting at Queen City that he needed to be baptized. His parents talked and studied with him all week to make sure he was ready. Last night he made the step and became a new child of God! I'm so proud of this family and the efforts they are making in the training of their children. I have such hopes for the future watching young ones like this coming on!
Ps 78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
Thursday morning I attended a benefit for a 5 year old girl who has stage 4 neuroblastoma. Her family has been separated for the past year while she and her mother have been staying in New York for treatments. You can imagine the financial strain this has put on them...aside from the emotional and physical. Four girls in the 5th grade heard about this little girl and her family and wanted to do something to help. Layne and Heather's daughter, Madison, was one of those girls. They formed a committee, contacted vendors and sponsors, shopped for supplies, sent out media bites and invitations, organized a little girl fashion show and put on a brunch/fashion show to raise money for this family. The mothers didn't do it, the girls did...they mom's just provided transportation and support. Maddie told me last night that they will be able to send a check for about $8000 to this family! She is already thinking about what she wants to do for next year.
These same parents, Layne and Heather, invited us all over last night after services to share in the baptism of their 9 year old son, Brett. He was convicted during the meeting at Queen City that he needed to be baptized. His parents talked and studied with him all week to make sure he was ready. Last night he made the step and became a new child of God! I'm so proud of this family and the efforts they are making in the training of their children. I have such hopes for the future watching young ones like this coming on!
Ps 78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Thanking God for tribulations
I started re-reading a book from my favorite author today. I wanted to share the first paragraph from the book:
"Indian wisdom says our lives are rivers. We are born somewhere small and quiet and we move toward a place we cannot see, but only imagine. Along our journey, people and events flow into us, and we are created of everywhere and everyone we have passed. Each event, each person, changes us in some way. Even in times of drought we are still moving and growing, but it is during seasons of rain that we expand the most - when water flows from all directions, sweeping at terrifying speed, chasing against rocks, spilling over boundaries. These are painful times, but they enable us to carry burdens we could never have thought possible." -- from Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate.
Ro 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
"Indian wisdom says our lives are rivers. We are born somewhere small and quiet and we move toward a place we cannot see, but only imagine. Along our journey, people and events flow into us, and we are created of everywhere and everyone we have passed. Each event, each person, changes us in some way. Even in times of drought we are still moving and growing, but it is during seasons of rain that we expand the most - when water flows from all directions, sweeping at terrifying speed, chasing against rocks, spilling over boundaries. These are painful times, but they enable us to carry burdens we could never have thought possible." -- from Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate.
Ro 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
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