Things are really looking UP....

....which is what we should have been doing all along, I guess. Last night I spent some time on the phone and some through e-mail as I spoke with one of our young parents from church. Her hubby and she went through BIC, which I also go through often with prospects, to get to know them better and help with assimilation into the church family. This couple needed no help from me! Married in 2005, they now have two little ones, with their daughter being our youngest member. Every Sunday I think to myself: "I need to get a photo of Joe Z. holding Sadie"--our oldest and youngest members!

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Kristin is enthusiastically attempting to put together a group similar to the Pioneers for the infant to pre-K children in the congregation, and eventually as outreach to our neighbors and the parents of our preschoolers with younger ones. This idea began with Kristin calling me in late January to pick my brain. She had been told by the preschool teacher about the program we used to have called "Moms 'n More" which sort of faded away for a couple reasons, so she felt I was the person to call first with her idea. I directed her to the Education Elder so this could be handled through the proper avenues. Brian was helpful and also excited, connecting her with other parents and those with education backgrounds to brainstorm. This is so exciting!

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She contacted me last night for the names and ages of parents with young ones which I sent to her as we spoke, and I also offered a name for the group: Little Lambs! This group of kids will naturally flow, then, into Precious Lambs Preschool, we pray. Last week I had found some information and other useful literature on the Synod's website which I had forwarded, and Pastor had told Kristin about an infant to pre-k program through another publishing house to use. I cannot tell you how inspiring this is, to have a number of our newer members taking the bull by the horns on projects----first the auction baskets by the two ladies who attend Tuesday night Bible study and then this program for the little lambs! Hey, Linda J.!---who do I talk to get a template of the lamb from the baptism board at F. G.??? Birdie??

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My home is extra warm today as I have flipped the switch and am cleaning my oven from three rooms away! I cannot remember if I have cleaned this oven before or not, but Tarren, I am thinking of you as I do it. Remember the story about the woman's oven door exploding, and her stove was just like mine??? I am hesitant to go into the kitchen in case that sucker decides to blow!

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This brings to mind another funny story from last night----Sunday I had made some pork ribs in the oven, using golden mushroom soup instead of bbq sauce and made the most delicious dinner for myself. Well, since the Ladies' Group meeting was cancelled, I decided to stay home and re-heat the ribs once more in the oven. When they had, I figured, sufficiently reheated, I took the roaster from the oven and removed the cover. Just as I was about to poke in and grab a piece, POP!, the thing spit at me! I got splashed with some hotness on my face a bit, but mostly my shirt took the brunt of the spit. Well! There was no call for violence! Later, though, as I talked on the phone with Kristin, I was running my fingers through my lengthy locks and felt something. What the....? As I picked and pulled, here came a chunk of pork which had lodged itself in my hair and I never even realized it! First I smelled like bleach and now like pork!