Ben's Witness Moment

WMUMC Youth Sunday

Our church combines with another small Methodist church for weekly youth group on Sunday evenings. Ben loves it! They have been planning for today's Youth Sunday as a whole group at our church. Ben was responsible for the Witness Moment (which I videotaped and Glenn didn't take any pictures of so I'm going to try to post the video in a separate post as it was VERY sweet and heartfelt) and the Benediction. All of these students did a fabulous job leading the service and we were, of course, extremely proud of Ben.

practicing before the service
Ben doing the Benediction

the whole group leading worship (I also videotaped this and will attempt to post separately)

Good Friday

Wesley Memorial UMC held a Good Friday service that included a dramatic reading of the Easter story from John. Ben was asked to read the part of Pontius Pilate and again did a FABULOUS job!

Cookie Monster

Each month we have a potluck Fellowship dinner and this month it fell on the Wednesday night when we were going to Dianne's to celebrate Ben's birthday and Valentine's with Mrs. M, family and friends. Well, since Mrs. M. broke her ankle on Tuesday night things got a little crazy. Ben had baseball, I was sitting with her until Mr. Rick could get there, we wanted to go by the church dinner and then at her insistance we were still going to Dianne's. (See next post.)

Our February activity was "cookie decorating". The kids enjoyed it and so did the big kids, like my cookie monster.

Church Directory Picture

Back in October you might remember our church celebrated its 100th anniversary. The same photographer who did our engagment, bridal and reception (those will be coming soon!) pictures was there to take photos for an upcoming church directory.

I can be forgetful (in all fairness I was working, cooking, keeping up with Ben and Glenn, cleaning, doing laundry, planning a wedding, going to wedding activities, tailgating, going to church, going to social events and more...whew! no wonder I was forgetful!) and forgot to order our pictures that day. Ashleigh, from Turner Graphics, emailed me the photo the other night so I could FINALLY order it. I thought it was pretty good of all of us!

January Fellowship Dinner

One Wednesday a month we have a fellowship dinner at church. I am the Evangelism Chair for our council this year and as of next month this will be "in charge" of this event. Last night we picked up a couple of pizzas and headed off to eat some really good food! (We have some great cooks at WMUMC!)

Ben was decked out not just for dinner, by the way. He and Glenn were going to the basketball game afterwards. (The Gamecocks won...Go Cock!)

WMUMC Tour of Homes - The Smiths

A new event on our church calendar for 2011 is a "Tour of Homes". The third Sunday of each month a family will host an open house and snacks. The first stop on the tour was today at the Smith's house. Queena and Anna Lee did a fabulous baking job -- chocolate chip pound cake, lemon bars and yummy strawberry cupcakes. The kids and big boys (ie...Glenn and Van) enjoyed their big back yard and the swings, ride ons and croquet set.

I'm not sure who is the host home for February, but in March everyone will be "touring" Casa Matthews. :)

Men Cook With Fire (But Women Help Sometimes!)

Each month our church holds what is called "Men Cook With Fire". Its a time for the men to get together, cook (usually on the grill) and fellowship. Glenn is president of MCWF and this time around asked for my help so I went with him to Sam's to get the food and then joined him to set up. I made the guys a salad and hot dog chilli, too. They said it was a great time (although I thoroughly enjoyed my time at home along enjoying my new book on the Kindle and an gyro from Sammy's.)

the youngest "men"...Ben and Tripp
Hiram set up the tea and glasses

Glenn manned the grill, while Van made sure it was going well

Happy 100th Anniversary, Wesley Memorial!

This was such a busy, busy weekend and it culminated in a service and lunch in celebration of the church's 100th Anniversary. It was very nice to have my parents join us! (They took Ben to the fair after lunch.) They were able to finally see our church and meet some of the people there. It was a great day all around!

Wesley Memorial UMC Fall Festival

Each fall our church has a Fall Festival and it was held this past Saturday. It was the perfect, beautiful day! There were games for the kids, a BBQ lunch, bake sale, music, fire trucks, Hummer limos, bouncy houses and the Pumpkin Patch. It was a fantastic day spent having great time!

Tripp and Ben in the jump house

the boys in the Hummer limo

local news interviewing our pastor, Jeri Katherine

me and Jeri Katherine after jumping in the bouncy house

Pumpkin Patch

On the same Saturday as the Alabama game this year's Wesley Memorial UMC Pumpkin Patch pumpkins arrived! Glenn is president of "Men Cook With Fire", the church's men's group, and they had their monthly dinner last week. Ben wanted to go with him so we went early and bought a couple of little pumpkins.

New is in the Air

Tomorrow is the big day....Ben starts 6th grade and it is my first Monday back at work. (My students don't arrive until Thursday.) I'm torn between being excited and not excite this year. The summer was so good that I don't want it to end, although I really would like cooler temperatures and football season to arrive. I have a new teaching partner this year and I think she and I will get along just fine ---she's very vibrant. Along with this time of year come so many "new" things. Over the next few weeks I'll start leading a Bible study, Glenn starts coordinating the men's activity "Men Cook With Fire", Ben starts confirmation, a new Sunday School program is going into place for all of us, Gamecock football kicks of on September 2nd, and more.......its makes for a time of year where everything is charged with excitement. So, I'll do a quick recap since my last post and then move on with all this "newness" that is definitely in the air!

Ben spent last week in Spartanburg and I finished summer reading of my last book Summer at Tiffany, also my favorite of the books I read this summer. Then, went back to school on Thursday. I met my parents in Clinton for lunch and to pick Ben back up. We then bought school supplies! On Sunday, after church and lunch, we headed to the parsonage for "Open House" with Jeri Katherine and her sister, Macie, who lives there with her. They had some very yummy treats prepared for church members to enjoy while visiting!

Pictures: my parents at lunch; the delicious foods at the Parsonage Open House!; Ben and Tripp a few weeks ago at chuch

Weekend

Recently Glenn was asked to join the board of Workshop Theater. The first production since he went on the board was Willie Wonka. Because we were out of town and so busy during July we didn't try to go. However, last week when he stopped by for a brief meeting he found out that Willie Wonka had been extended through this weekend. We got tickets for Saturday and took Ben to his first theater play. It was terrific and he loved it! (We loved it, too!)

Then on Sunday Ben was acolyte for the first time at church. He was SO excited and did a great job. He had to light the candles before service, extinguishing after service and assist with passing out/collecting offering plates. Our pastor, Jeri Katherine, had asked if he would also be a communion assistant, so he was really thrilled. He held the cup and said, "The Blood of Christ shed for you" as the congregation took communion. What a great Sunday for Ben that I'm sure he'll always remember!

Chances

Sometimes I really disappoint myself with my haste judgements on things. Shortly after we joined our church, Wesley Memorial United Methodist, our pastor (and his family) that we loved announced they would be going to a new appointment at the end of June. Glenn and I were both very, very disappointed. Michael and Lucie had become friends, Ben had gotten to be friends with their children, Michael baptized Glenn and we had envisioned many years of him as our pastoral leader. Then our new minister was announced and I am going to admit that my first discussion with Glenn went something like, "I guess we should start looking at churches" and I started checking out others in the the area. We've debated back and forth since the announcement about where to visit/when to visit/etc. Glenn suggested that we at least let her start.

And, as I often do, I was hasty with my "let's move on". Jeri Katherine is young, just out of Divinity school, but she is also optimisitic, enthusiastic and her love for God is evident from the first moment of meeting her. She has a vision for the church --- one that continues to place God at the center of all things, while having a heart for people and above all sharing God's love with them. I'm glad Glenn encouraged me to give her a chance and not just jump ship. I truly believe after only two Sundays that God has great things in store for Wesley Memorial and its people. It's so interesting that we've been in turmoil over staying or leaving and what would be best for us and Ben. But, today after service (and a wonderful welcoming luncheon for Jeri Katherine) Glenn and I both, almost at the same time, said something to the effect of "Wesley is where the three of us are supposed to be." Even Ben agreed. As all things when God's hand is upon it there was a peace that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, when we are supposed to be there. I look forward to getting to know her and serving with her. I believe there are great things ahead. And, I'm so glad that I didn't let myself get in the way and miss out!

(The flowers are from Susan, a dear, sweet church friend's garden. She made them for today's lunch as centerpieces and encouraged me to take one and enjoy this birthday week!)

All Good Things --Even Spring Break --Come To An End

The last three days of Spring Break have been just as wonderful as the first. Clay and Ben arrived Friday evening and I got to see Clay's new ride -- a 2000 Subaru Outback. He took all of us for a ride to pick up a pizza at LaBrasca's for their dinner. (We ate the crockpot balsamic chicken that I threw together...it turned out sooooo yum, if I do say so myself.) They threw the football with Glenn for a while and we watched a movie. Great Friday night with the boys!

On Saturday, Clay had a scouting activity before returning to Spartanburg. Glenn, Ben and I headed to Carolina Walk Park to tailgate before the annual Gamecock Spring Game. Goooooood time!! Our friends, Ruben, Kim, John, Justin, and Van joined. As well as Tripp and Brennan, friends of ours sons that are about Ben's age that he has gotten to be buds with. Ben ended up going home with Tripp to spend the night and meet us at church on Sunday. Sunday was church and then lunch with Glenn's grandmother and two of her friends from her church at The Blue Marlin, a long walk, watching the Masters and then dinner at Garabaldi's with Glenn's family to celebrate his dad's birthday. After church we did a little mini-photo shoot in the church courtyard. The first pics are of me, Ben and Glenn. The last two are of our friend's (Van and Elsie's) children -- Andi, Tripp and Ginny. I LOOOOOVE the last one....those looks are priceless! Fuuuuunnnn Sunday!