Sweet Sunday

We are almost all packed and ready for our trip. The kids are beyond excited. To tell you the truth ,so are their parents.

Today our pastor was back from his time of rest and relaxation. He seemed to really benefit from the time away. Preston and Kellie, (Preston is our music minister) were gone...they have actually made it to Seoul, Korea, very tired and ready for some rest. They are 13 hours ahead of us so it's already Sunday night there. In a few days she'll have that baby in her arms. Isn't that exciting?

We had a potluck dinner after church with our Sunday School class (which is about the size of some small churches). We have a missionary that is part of our class home on furlough and we ate and took up a collection to help meet their needs . Sweet fellowship and some good eating too. Sean is "every ones" friend and visited table after table. Daniel had rekindled a friendship with his friend Caleb who has the same birthday as Daniel. They are about the same size too. Both graduated from different Kindergartens this year..both handsome boys.

I'm going to grab a short nap, load our van and then try to rest before we go. I'm sure 3:00 will come earlier than I think.

Keep praying for my friend Toby. She was at church today. She lost her mother this week. I thought Toby seemed to be doing really well, but the pain is still fresh you can tell. Hugs and prayer to Toby.

This week I was reflecting over some things I brought back from my mom's. My dad had saved some valentines from when he was in elementary school. ( My dad was born in 1935). I still had a lot of children's book stored at my mom's and was going through the little building and ran across a little chest my dad had and in it was an old history notebook from his school days and the sweetest valentines you've ever seen. I loved reading the front of them and looking at the "quaint" drawings on eat. "To Edd Ray , Love Nancy" read one. "To my friend Edd Ray, from Billy" and so forth. Valentine's is that special time we "express" our love to those we love the most. One year David sent me the most beautiful long stem roses. Surprise! If that don't say "love ya" I'm not sure what does....2 dozen to be exact. Pastor talked today about his first verse he ever learned was John 3:16. I think it is so well known that we often attribute it to "children" mostly...but that verse is the heartbeat of our Bible and is for everyone. I have a heart drawn around it in one of my Bible's with red pencil.....That's God's Valentine to us, his expression to us that says "I love you " all the time, forever, not just one day out of the year!...."For God SO loved the world ( everyone! no exceptions) that he gave ( at no cost to us) his only begotten Son, that whosoever ( anyone) believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life."...It's Valentines day any day someone comes to saving knowledge of him. What a more precious love letter could we receive that John 3:16???!!

I saw a bumper sticker on the way home from church today that said "God Bless the Whole World, no exceptions". I pray for our missionaries that have gone to far away places to share his Gospel. May we be as faithful her at our home as they are abroad.

Happy Valentine's Day....a little late but still right on time in God's perspective!

We'll try to post from the Outer Banks if possible!

Aloha!