MERRY CHRISTMAS

On Christmas Eve two of our daughters joined Mike and me for a movie in our hometown in Mississippi. We were trying to fill the emptiness left by the departure of our oldest daughter Jessica and son-in-law Lee, who had left to be with Lee's family for Christmas day. After the movie (We Are Marshall - highly reccomended) we realized how spoiled we had become in Houston when the ONLY restaurant open was a Waffle House. As we settled into a booth for waffles and coffee, our youngest daughter Lia asked, "What, for you, is the best thing about Jesus being born?" We all pondered and then relayed our gratitude, from the gift of eternal life to the very presence of God in every detail of our lives. Funny how our focus changes our attitude. The movie was enough to begin our shift to being grateful, but our focus on God's greatest gift to mankind - our Savior - completed the transformation of our hearts and minds.

Then we returned to my parents' home and an email was waiting for me, accompanied by the attached photo. The smiling faces reminded me of another gift from the Lord for which I am grateful: our Sunday School class. A few couples are not in the photo since they were unable to attend the Christmas party, but they are in my heart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to the most wonderful class anywhere.

WHAT A PARTY! (WHAT A CLASS!)

It was a wonderful night. Twenty-five us of (Lindsey, we're so glad you came with April!) boarded two church vans and journeyed near and far to four beautiful homes where we feasted on appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts and then exchanged White Elephant gifts, all the while laughing, talking, and having a merry time together. As I watched everyone jostle and embrace on Kelly's beautifully adorned staircase for a class photo, I fought back tears. Every single face has grown so precious to me. For Mike and me, you have become our friends...our surrogate daughters and sons...our partners in the sacred mystery of marriage...our fellow sojourners in our walk of faith...and men and women we love dearly. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. You have blessed us beyond measure.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Love,

Cindy and Mike

ELVIS CAKE

The Elvis cake was a hit last Sunday night at Bible study. I received several requests for the recipe, so I'm sharing it here. It's simple to make and easy to take with you to a party or family dinner.

Elvis Cake

1 Yellow or White cake mix, baked according to directions in a 9x13 pan.

1 can of crushed pineapple with juice

2 cups of sugar

1 box confectioner's sugar

1 stick of butter

1 pack regular cream cheese

Bake cake and leave it in the pan ( I used a Duncan Hines yellow cake mix). As soon as it is done, poke holes all over the cake with a toothpick. Boil the sugar, pineapple and juice until the sugar melts (a few minutes). Pour over the cake. Let it cool (I place mine in the refrigerator if there's room). Mix the butter and cream cheese with a mixer. Add confectioner's sugar. Spread over pineapple mixture. Sprinkle nuts and/or coconut on top. Keep in the refrigerator.

OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY IS COMING!

By now you should have received your invitation (thank you, Jodi Hendricks) to our Christmas Party/Progressive Dinner scheduled for Sunday, December 17. This is going to be a wonderful evening! We will meet at the church at 3:45 and load into two church buses that will take us to four homes for dinner.

Thank you to the following hosts/hostesses:

• Brandon and Bonnie Collins
• Michael and Margaret Weyler
• Dustin and AnneMarie Campbell
• Mike and Kelly Mingoia

At our last course (dessert!) we will exchange White Elephant Gifts. Just choose something you already have that you either (1) don't want; (2) don't need or (3) have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to "re-gift" and wrap it. Don't put a gift label on the gift. We will have a great time selecting and swapping, and no one will ever have to know what you brought!

Hmmmm......wonder if I can find a box big enough....

SOUL PATROL!

...agree with each other, love each other,

be deep-spirited friends.
(Philippians 2:2)

It's truly not whether you win or lose, but how much fun you have

playing the game!

We love our flag football team!

WE'VE MOVED!...(AGAIN!)

Approaching Worship Center






Across from Library


Starting Point is now meeting in Room EA90. It is immediately across from the library in the large breezeway between the Family Life Center and the Worship Center. See you there on Sunday!

SURPRISE!!!!!

The psalmist said in Psalm 90:12, "So teach us to number our days, that we may have a heart of wisdom," and I often pray those words, asking the Lord to impress on my mind that my life on this earth is but a breath on His kingdom calendar. But, lo and behold, members of our class gathered together last week to help me count the number of my YEARS! We had a great time together in the "Pope Room" at Buca di Beppo. Yes, it is true that I have always wanted to eat at the huge, round table in that room, but never did I dream I would also be able to sit in the "Pope (as in throne!) Chair!" I cannot tell you how moved I was by the presence of everyone who gave up their evening to celebrate with me. Even my daughter Lia and her friend Kate were there. What an amazing evening. What an amazing class.

October is here!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL???

There was no stopping the guys on Sunday when it came time to practice flag football!The hot dogs were barely off the grill when the guys piled into Rigo's truck for their first practice session on the neighborhood baseball field.

ARE YOU HAPPY?

I am still thinking about our lesson from Sunday. Far too many times in my own life I have been like David, absolutely miserable in the pit of my own sin. There is nothing like shame and guilt when it comes to destroying our happiness, our hope of ever changing, and our sense of ever being of value to God. I am shaking my own head as I consider how long it can take me sometimes to be so miserable with myself that I finally get alone with the Lord, agree with Him about the condition of my own heart, ask His forgiveness, and then, with much humility and gratitude, receive His gracious gift of cleansing. In every single instance, I have experienced the sweet freedom that comes from having my sins removed from me. Forever. And in nearly every instance I have asked myself, "Why did it take you so long?"
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.
(Psalm 32:1)

I have heard that our flag football team is having a great time and playing with an excellent stadard of sportsmanship, never forgetting that, after all, "it is just a game." The rest of us are invited to join the cheerleading spouses at the church baseball fields on Tuesday or Thursday evenings (refer to the schedule listed on this blogsite).

THANK YOU to April and Matt Landes for a wonderful Game Night on Friday. A good time was truly had by all.

This Sunday we will begin our evening Bible Study entitled "Love and Respect." I am looking forward to it with much anticipation. I believe our marriages will be enriched and blessed through this study. Please come. There is no homework. We will have workbooks with a listening guide so we can fill in the blanks as we watch the video. Then the guys and girls will break up into separate groups for discussion. I even heard talk of some guitars and worship music! So don't miss out! We will meet at my house from 6:30 to 8:30, but if you can, please come at 6 so we can have a little fellowship time before we begin. We will try very hard to adhere to our schedule so everyone can get home in a timely manner. Please let me know if you need directions.

I can't wait to see you on Sunday.

Football Schedule

Blog0matic 5000

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEEKEND!

This weekend we will have a chance to re-connect and relax together!

First, Friday night is GAME NIGHT at Matt and April's!
Here are directions from April:
50 Sweetdream Place, The Woodlands 77380

MAP

From I45 go North to Research Forest, exit and go left. Take Research Forest about 3-4 miles to Trillium (2 lights past Gosling). Go left on Trillium and take your first right on Sweetdream Place. We are # 50 Sweetdream all the way at the end on the right in the cul-de-sac (red brick 2 story).

From Tomball, 2920 & Kuykendahl area: Take 2920 to Kuykendahl and go north on Kuykendahl (toward the Woodlands) Take Kuykendahl to Research Forest (about 5-6 miles). Go right on Research Forest to Trillium drive and go right on Truillium. Take your first right on Sweetdream place. We are #50 Sweetdream place all the way at the end on the right in the cul-de-sac (red brick 2 story).

Everyone can begin arriving at 7:00. See you there!

Then, on Sunday after church Mike and I are grilling hot dogs for everyone at our house! Last time the hot dogs were a pretty big hit, so we are going for the dogs and all the trimmings again.
After lunch the guys will practice flag football.

Sounds like a great weekend!
See you there!

Let's Follow...

Thank you, Class, for the great discussion this morning. You blessed me with your comments.

I told you this morning about Mike's mentor. Mike was 12 years old when he met Mr. Bond, a Christian man who owned the trailer park where Mike lived with his family. A hurricane had created a lot of damage in the trailer park, so Mike offered to help with fallen trees and debris removal. The two became fast friends in spite of the 30-year difference in their age, and in Mr. Bond Mike saw faith, values and convictions that he had never witnessed before. As Mr. Bond taught Mike how to use a chainsaw and later how to hunt for deer, he also taught him to pray, to honor God, and to love family. Mike literally patterned his own values after the man who has been his best friend for nearly four decades. Mr. Bond has been a substitute grandfather for our three daughters and his family considers Mike to be one of their own. Even now, as Mr. Bond lingers in a nursing home awaiting his homecoming with the Lord, he is very much alive. He is in Mike's hands as they gently sand a piece of wood...he mouths the words Mike speaks in a blessing at the dinner table, and he is the motivating force that has driven Mike to be the best father of daughters I have ever known. In Mr. Bond, Mike saw someone who was different...someone he admired and wanted to emulate. As Mike copied Mr. Bond's mannerisms and borrowed his values, he began to look and act more and more like a son.

Let's hang out with the Lord this week. Let's take on His mannerisms and adopt His values. Oh, to look like His own son or daughter...

Then He said to all of them, "If anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross every day, and follow Me continually. (Luke 9:23, ISV)

We missed several members of our class this morning. If you were present, please consider emailing or calling someone who was not with us and let them know how much we missed them.

Our new room is wonderful! Remember it is Room AD-317.

We will let you know more about the Sunday evening Bible study that will be starting up soon. Please keep watching for further notice.

It is a privilege to serve as your Sunday School teacher.

NEW ROOM!

Beginning this Sunday, we will meet in Room AD-17. It is on the adjacent hall. See you there on Sunday!

Welcome to our new Blog Site!!!

Wow! I am so excited about this new site! Thank you, Matt McKnight, for creating a way for our class to communicate. I'm not quite sure about all our options here (I have much to learn!) but hopefully we will be able to post news about what is happening so you can stay in touch. I am looking forward to learning more.

For now, please know that I am praying for you individually. It is the prayer of both Mike and myself that you fall in love with the Lord so deeply that He alone is the Master of your marriage and your life. That, my friends, is true life...and true love.

I am leaving today (Wednesday) for Mississippi to spend a couple of days with our two oldest daughters. Alyssa (our 24-year-old) has invited me to visit her school, so I am taking Mexican pastries to her Spanish students. Our daughter Jessica is helping with Homecoming at the high school where she teaches, so I will attend the game with her and possibly help chaperone the dance! Most importantly, I will spend time with my daughters who are truly my best friends and who I see far too infrequently. But I will return to Houston on Saturday, so I look forward to seeing you at Sunday School on Sunday. It is a long drive, but I will have plenty of time to ponder the lesson the Lord gave me for our class on Sunday.

I know that Rigo and Susan have an anniversary party on Friday and the guys have flag football practices and games coming up, so perhaps we can get that schedule posted on this site.

Look to the Lord. Look into His Word. Pray for each other.
See you Sunday.
Cindy