Stuff Christians Like
You have got to read this site:
http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/
I laughed so hard I was crying!
He has a job!
For those who haven’t heard, Mark has reached a decision about his future job plans. Unfortunately for me he decided that “Mr. Mom” wasn’t really suited to his spirtual gifts 
Instead he has decided to join with a Phoenix-based mission organization called In Touch Missions International.
ITMI has 20-30 projects, mostly supporting Nationals in Africa (Zambia, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Congo), and also projects in Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. The projects range from churches that help to run and support other ministries, orphanages in Romania and Poland, Bible College and Christian K-12 schools in Africa, Christian homeless shelter ministries, medical clinics run by the church, and much more. Mark will be working to meet with and assess the current structure and needs of the projects and see how ITMI can better resource those Nationals, as well as look for ways to help them grow their vision and opportunities in the future.
I never thought I would ever be a pastor’s wife and I CERTAINLY never thought I would be a “missionary wife”. And while he is working stateside for the majority of his job (there will be some travel) we will be true missionaries in the sense that we will be raising our own support to pay our salary, etc.
God has blessed us so undeservedly in the area of our finances and I have no doubt he will continue to provide.
Car Boot Sale
My SIL sent me this funny definition out of a British Slang Dictionary in honor of our preparations for our big garage sale coming up next weekend.
BTW – the “car boot” is known to us Americans as the trunk
Car boot sale – a merry event where people get together in a field and sell the rubbish from their attic, under the secret impression that some part of it might turn out to be splendidly valuable. Not entirely dissimilar to a jumble sale. The term stems no doubt from the fact that this is normally carried out using the boot of your car as a headquarters. This sort of nonsense is now largely replaced by eBay, where you can sell the 1950s engraved brass Hitler moustache replica your father was awarded for twenty years’ service in in the post office without actually having to meet the freak who bought it.
Exciting news!
Exciting news over here!
An extra special blessing for this Easter weekend.
The article in which I sound “really, really” smart…NOT
So I told you about the Spring Carnival right? Well part of my job at the church was sending out press releases to the media etc. On Monday I got a call from an Arizona Republic reporter with some follow up questions on the event. About midway through my conversation I realize I hear her frantically typing in the background. And a lightbulb goes on in my head. She could be quoting any part of this conversation – am I sounding like an idiot?
My personal favorite…
“The kids went out and got the eggs,” said Julie Gumm…” Duh! (In my defense I can’t believe they used that as a quote. I said lots more interesting stuff, like….)
“We had a really, really good turnout.” Not just good…really, really good.
So now in the office everything is “really, really”. Wonder how long that’s going to last
My boss likes the part where I said “The response was even bigger than we expected,” she said. “Next year we’ll do it up even bigger.”
I think that will be coming out of my paycheck!
WMFW: Is that E-mail a Hoax or Real?
You know those emails you get about how Bill Gates will give you $1 for every person you forward the email to…or that Glade PlugIn Freshners can burn your house down…or the serial killer who tries to lure you outside by sounding like a crying baby?
Well 95% of them are totally hoaxes. Or they’re about 5 years old and the problem has been remedy.
So before you forward on that really interesting email, do EVERYONE a favor and go to snopes.com to check it out.
In the search box just type in a few key words like “glade fire hazard” and you’ll mostly likely find a verdict on the story you were sent. I’ve never had something not on snopes.
If someone sends me something that is a hoax (and inevitabley sent it to 30 other people), I usually reply back with a quick email that says “Hey, just wanted to let you know this isn’t really true. You can get more info at (and paste the exact Snopes URL). I always check stuff on snopes.com before I forward.”
Spread the word! Stop the hoaxes!
Obvious God Thing
I love it when God shows up in a way that makes it so obvious that it’s him answering our prayers and not just things “working out”.
My best friend is a single mom of 3 who just recently lost what child support she was getting. So she went hunting for a serving job (that’s waitressing for you politically incorrect but ended up just finding a hostessing job at a big chain restaurant. They told her “maybe” she could move into a server job somewhere down the road but it didn’t sound too encouraging. She’s doing great and enjoying it but NOT making her bills. She soon realized the only way she could make her bills w/o working 5 nights a week (and being away from her kids) was to have a serving job. After much prayer and deliberation she decided she’d just approach her manager and tell her that she needed a server job or she’d have to start looking for one elsewhere. When we talked earlier today she said she “knew” they’d say they didn’t have anything or couldn’t move her, but she was going to try it anyways.
This evening I got a text message from her “I got it! Serving w/in the month. PTL!” (That’s “praise the Lord” in text-ese). How awesome is that! God showed up in a big way and I know it was a huge encouragement for her and fun for me to witness.
One Long (but fun) Day
It’s been interesting lately as Mark and I have had a small reversal of roles when it comes to me now working full time for the church and him not. Yesterday, for example, was our Spring Carnival. In previous years we’ve done the Church Picnic and Easter Egg Hunt with a few thousand eggs. But this year we went all out.
Carnival rides, 9 bounce houses, free cotton candy and shaved ice. And then there were the eggs…30,000 of them. And they were dropping from a helicopter (well, only about 10,000 came out of the helicopter – gotta leave room for the pilot). It was huge!
The people, they came and they came. Seems you advertise a free spring carnival and people are all over that! We had about 275 non-Palm Valley families attend the event and we’re hoping that they’ll join us for Easter services next weekend.
I was there at 8 to set up. The event ran from 10-1 during which I saw Mark and the kids for about a total of 10 minutes. He had to chase them around, stand in long lines, etc. while I ran from here to there. Afterward I had time for a quick shower and change of clothes before heading to Kim’s baby shower which was great fun. Today I am sore, sunburned and nursing a huge headache!
Here’s a few fun pictures.
WFMW: Reduce Credit Card Offers
I get greatly annoyed at the amount of junk mail we receive – especially credit card offers. They are especially a hassle because they should never just be thrown away but should be shredded. Some of them contain pre-approved offers that, in the wrong hands, will really screw up your life.
So I have to credit my MIL with this great tip that really does work. Open the envelope and find the application. In pen write “VOID. Remove from mailing list.” Now find the postage paid (it always is) envelope. Fold the application and all the other paperwork that came and put it in the envelope. I even fold up the original envelope and include it. Now mail it.
First, they have to pay the postage to get it back and second, they are now required by law to remove you from their mailing list.
Every time we move we kind of have to start this over but within a few months there is a dramatic drop in not just credit card offers, but other junk mail as well.
Head back to Shannon’s for more great WFMW ideas.
