The Countdown - 13 days

I love it how the body of Christ works together when each person is doing what they're good at doing. My friends Joey and Mary are th' bomb! They each have the gift of servanthood and Joey is one talented cook. He just knows how to cook really good food for hundreds of people. So, our Student Ministry had their dinner theater this weekend and Joey and Mary were in charge of food. BBQ -- yum, yum! Johnny and I attended the show Friday night but tonight we worked in the kitchen. It was crazy at times with big rushes and then times when things slowed down. All in all it was all a great success.We were big on dinner and short on theater, however. The show was side-splitting funny but not theatrical at all! There was an improv team from one of our local high schools and then a walk thru the decades of pop music with some way hilarious skits to go along. There was some dancin' and acting -- even by some kids with my same last name -- that just about had me howlin'.

The big news of the day, however, is that we went to the animal shelter and played with some puppies. I have a feeling one will be making the Dickersons his (or her) family real soon! I got a little teary when we were there. That's where I first met the best dog ever, Jot.

No rest for the weary -- I am trying to estimate how many teenagers are in my house right now. I think 17 and my oldest is not even here. Some are watching a movie downstairs and some are upstairs playing Rock Band. They have spent the last 2 nights together at church doing the dinner theater. They're learning at an early age how to worship, learn, and serve together and they just wanna hang together -- I love it!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

The Countdown - 14 days

Graduation is two weeks from today. Today, however, I spent doing momma duty. When we lived in West Texas I was the queen of PTA and volunteering at the kids' school. I have done very little of that since we moved to Mansfield. The schools here are huge and it's been a little more difficult to get involved. (maybe I haven't tried as hard...) Our high school has a big "after prom" party so I've been trying to get involved in the school by helping with that. One of our fundraisers is selling cookies during lunch at the high school. So, today I went to the school to bake, package, and sell cookies for about 3 hours. I'm glad I went. I got to see some kids I know, including one I gave birth to, and I actually did eat a cookie (or two) as well. I also got to talk to some other moms about high school related stuff. I feel so much smarter now. Really! I gotta get the info however I can because it's like pulling teeth to get any information out of my senior. Good thing I was there, too, because after today the after prom party tickets go up by $5 each -- I just saved $10 because if I had not bought those tickets today they would not have been bought!! (does that sentence make any sense??)

Happy Friday!

Jeanette

The Countdown - 17 days

Really, the title of this blog should be "What influences you?" but I just cannot get away from the countdown...

So, this is what I want to know -- what in the media influences you? Whether it's the BOGO commercial that compels you to buy one so you can get one 1/2 off, the grocery store ads with the specials of the week, or something else, I want to know. Also, what Internet sites do you frequent, what magazines do you buy, what TV shows do you watch?

For instance, I read Rachel Ray's magazine and that does, I must say, influence my grocery shopping and dinner menu. What about you??

(This really is for a purpose so please, please leave a comment!!)

Thanks for your help!

Jeanette

UPDATED QUESTION - Thanks so much for all your replies! I obviously had shopping on the brain (BOGO & grocery store ads??) when I typed this original post but after reading my daughter's comment I want to revise the question and STILL need your replies - What in the culture influences you? (I just might add that I did BOGO the day my Jot died. My friends M & D said I should. It only supplied a momentary relief to my sorrow but I do have 2 pair of cute summer shoes!!)

The Countdown - 19 days

Finally, a day that begins with a one!! Nineteen days until graduation. I think my class I teach on Sunday mornings will be so glad (and, perhaps the readers of my blog if there are any left after all this self-indulgence) so they can stop hearing about it!

We were having lunch with some friends today after church and the conversation at the ADULT table (not the kid/teenager table) was about video games. I had to laugh but it reminded me about my great accomplishment that I totally forgot to post on my blog -- on Thursday night Johnny and I were playing Rock Band with our sons and I got 100%, AWESOME on singing "More Than a Feeling." As I was bragging at lunch, my friend Mary leaned over and said, "You're almost ready for American Idol." Despite the fact that I am well over the age limit, I am not quite American Idol material. I don't even think David, our worship pastor, would let me up on the platform with a microphone. But, in my mind and on Rock Band I am rockin'.

Blessings to ya,

Jeanette

The Countdown - 20 days

Less than 3 weeks until graduation! Johnny and I are back from our conference -- refreshed, renewed and full of new ideas. Well, I was refreshed and renewed until I spent the last 4 hours since we got home in the yard. We had a horrible storm here Thursday night with lots of hail. Our pool overflowed and our yard was a mess.

I was in the shower yesterday before we left thinking about how (and if) my Life Group lesson for tomorrow intersected with my OT research paper. (Is that an odd thought process to have in the shower??) The lesson tomorrow is on David's sin with Bathsheba. My research paper was on 1 Samuel 3, God's call of Samuel. When David is confronted with Nathan the prophet about his sin (the sentence that chills me because I have been guilty too - "you are the man!" from 2 Samuel 12:7) God sends this message to David -- "I (God) have given you everything you have even the position of King of Israel. And you know what? If it wasn't enough, I would have given you more. BUT, you didn't value the things I gave you." (My extremely loose translation of 2 Samuel 12:8 & beginning of 9) Nathan goes on to tell David what the consequences of his sin would be. Reminds me a little of Eli in 1 Sam. 3. He was the priest and in a position of spiritual authority. He didn't value the things of God the way he should have. His sons could have followed in his footsteps and continued to be leaders of the people. But, no, they were disobedient and despised the things of God and ended up dead. God gave the message of judgment for Eli to Samuel and Samuel relayed the consequences to Eli.

Here's where the stories intersect, I think. God's purposes will be accomplished on the earth. He is sovereign. He is looking for the faithful to use -- not because He needs to but because He wants to pour out His blessings. If one will not do it, God will find one that will.

I want to be the one.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

The Countdown - 22 days

...and the end is in sight. I am down to only 3 assignments/projects and finals. Whew! BTW, thanks to all my friends that have asked about how I am or said sorry about Jot. I was way more attached to that dog than I thought! Josh was gone earlier in the week (the prison visit) and today he came home for lunch and no one was home. When he came home later from work he said he was sad because he usually ate with Jot when no one else was home -- it was his first day to eat alone. Weird, how we were so crazy about that dog and used to him being around.

Johnny and I are leaving tomorrow to go to Austin for a conference. Me and Johnny and no one else overnight for a conference... Yep, lookin' forward to it!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

The Countdown - 23 days

The countdown continues. I am graduating with my master's degree in 23 days. Amazing that I've had this privilege. Truly, I'm in awe. It's more than just the graduating but it's how I can see God's work in the history of my life leading to this point. All the things that I have learned, observed, and experienced have prepared me for what's ahead. It's really scary, I might add, and way overwhelming. Johnny and I are seeking God's face about starting a nonprofit organization. I think this is where He's leading and pieces of the puzzle are coming together. Back to reality, though. First I've got to get through the next 23 days. I still have assignments that are due, finals that I have to take...

Josh has been gone this week taking a field trip to our state prison. Yeah, the kind of senior trip everyone wants to take! He wants to major in Criminal Justice and he was really excited about the trip. We were glad for him to have the opportunity. However, we could not help but think about how this was a mini-picture of how our life will be in just a few short months. Only four plates at the dinner table. Just two kids at home to ask about homework and schedules. The door to his room closed with no one going in and out.

Lots of changes up ahead, but:

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;

The Lord hs clothed and girded Himself with strength;

Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

Psalm 93:1

Serving the King,

Jeanette