The Outflow of God's Love

At Sunday school we're reading the book Outflow by Steve Sjogren and Dave Ping. It's about outward-focused living in a self-focused world. I can't explain the whole book in a single post, but it's about showing God to others through various acts of kindness. The hope is that someday each of us will constantly be thinking of how to help others in our daily lives, building relationships with others, and using those relationships to introduce others to God. Each week it encourages you to find simple ways to show God's love. I keep thinking I should do this or that, but never followed through. Today I was going to so something. Since it was so cold outside and it was trash day, I decided to make hot chocolate for the trash guys(I'm not sure what the politically correct term is for trash guy?). Simple, right? Making hot chocolate is simple. Walking to the curb is simple. Giving them the hot chocolate is simple. But for some reason I started having anxiety as I waited for the trash truck to pull up. Some of my thoughts were "They don't want your hot chocolate." and "They're going to think you're crazy." But I knew this was what God called me to do today, so to be obedient I followed through. I made the hot chocolate, carried it to the curb, and asked the man if he would like some hot chocolate. What happened next totally shocked me. That man, the one that was supposed to laugh in my face, thanked me and gave me a hug. A HUG!! I walked away feeling so good that I'm left wondering if I was showing God's love to him or if he was showing God's love to me??

Father, I can't thank you enough for letting me have this experience today. Thank you for giving me the courage to do something unexpected. Thank you for the response that the man had. Please allow me to continue to help others to your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Friend: So Sissy what did you get for Christmas?

Sissy: A Jump-o-line (trampoline).


Sissy also wanted to make sure we went shopping at the "fake mall." I still haven't figured this one out. I think she's talking about Kohl's because it looks like a mall. I told her Kohl's wasn't a mall, so I think she started calling it the "fake mall."

Our New Favorite Game

Precious has been such a good girl at school that she got to draw several items out of the treasure chest. Just before Christmas break started she came home with a very disgusting- looking plastic spider(thanks Mrs. S). I HATE all bugs. Spiders, crickets, june bugs, and yes ladybugs. I'm proud to say I'm an equal-opportunity bug hater. My daughter knows this about me, but she also has learned a lot of sneaky things from her father. Her new favorite thing to do is to stand around the corner so I can't see her and throw the spider at me. You would think I would learn after a few times, but she is SOOO sneaky about it, it scares me every time. She's sneakier than you would think a 6 year old could be (probably sneakier than me). Mrs. S--I'm really happy that Precious is good for you at school, but please, please do not send any more plastic bugs home with her!

Oh Krispy Kreme guy you make me laugh!

While Christmas shopping with my sister in Wichita, we both decided we burned enough calories that day to enjoy a Krispy Kreme donut. So we went through the drive-through and got two original donuts and one small coke. Our total was supposed to be ready at the window. So we pull up and this is what happens:

Krispy Kreme Guy: That'll be $137. (with a completely straight face)

Me: Okay (while handing over my debit card)

He was joking and I completely missed it. I realized it as soon as he busted out laughing. It was one of the wonderful laughs in a day spent making memories with my sister.

Faith

Check out this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO6DXOsKOw4

Fall Fun

The girls had fun playing in the leaves.

I got to go to the Pumpkin Patch with Precious and her class.Precious dressed up as Tinker Bell.Sissy wanted to be Minnie Mouse.

Rah Rah

Here is some video of Precious cheering at the Orioles game.