It's Christmastime in the ...country!

I sure do enjoy Christmas. I started shopping November 1st and, while I say I'm done, I need to pick up a few last-minute items. I wrapped the lot of the gifts last night which now makes the tree seem complete. Though it's not about gifts, garland, glitter or gold...I do love Christmas. [I had to squeeze that line in there since it didn't make it into my Poel poem.] Speaking of The First Poel Remasterd; it was a hit! Everyone I invited loved it that I know of and wants to know when the next performance will be. I told them something might be taking place around Easter. I even got a "Man, if I'd come Friday night I definitely would have told a lot of people to go Saturday night because it was that good." I guess it wasn't what people were expecting but I'm psyched it was a hit.

Christmas is in FIVE days. Christmas Eve, when we tend to celebrate it, is in FOUR days. I convinced Glenda to do stockings this year since on Christmas morning no one has anything to open but the boys "Santa" gifts. I love stockings. I mean, I REALLY do love them. I'm still that little kid trapped in this grown body who gets a little sick to my stomach the night before Christmas because I get anxious and excited, and just love waking up Christmas morning so much.

Oh, and for this year and years to come, I DO NOT say "Happy Holidays" (unless the person clearly appears Jewish) I say MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas to you!
KLB

Coming Up on One Year

It's hard to believe Phil and I have been married two weeks shy of a year. This time last year I was busy, busy, busy with all things wedding-related. I'll post a few photos to relive November 3, 2007.

Fathers & Sons

My Fall Conference Notes

The fall conference was truly amazing.

Wednesday 9/10/08 - Doug Kreighbaum

You wouldn't pair yourself with the people God pairs you with.

Eph 3:8-11 - God's grace
John 3:30 - He must increase and I must decrease
Luke 1:35-39 - Your destiny bears witness

Christian's sharpen each others graces and motivate one another "Iron sharpens iron"

Work consistantly to keep anything out of the way that will separate you from God

God is trying to maintain the integrity of the spirit - 44% is about how to get along, while 2-3% is about how to move in the gifts of the spirit

You will not survive on your own. God did not design us to be alone.
God joins husband and wives. Don't let "stuff" get between you.


Thursday 9/11/08 - Doug Kreighbaum

God's house isn't dead because God isn't dead.

Mark 12:28-31 - Love God, love each other

We're trying to get back to what is timeless

We're not looking for something, we're looking for someone (Him)

"I encourage you to read the letters of Revelation & The Gospel of John" - Doug

Unity = Father, Spirit, Son (ONE)

Jesus NEVER sent people out one-by-one. The plurality works together like the God head.

One heart, one soul. We want to be a family on a mission.


Friday 9/12/08 - Tom Bedford


No one wants to be alone. We're wired to want to be in a family.

The glory of the father, the brilliance of the weight of God is what a family is.

When we violate family values we touch something God's weightyness cannot touch.

At the tree of Good + Evil satan gave Adam and Eve the OPTION of following God.

You cannot bring evil, impurities and ungodliness into the family.

Humans cannot contribute to the glory of God, but, we can reveal the essence of His glory through our family.

When you come to get saved you're coming to join a family. Salvation, apart from family, is not true salvation.

Don't bring people to Sunday meetings before bringing them to your home first. Let them see the glory of God through family.

Anyone can be a prophet.

Family is the recipe for glory (under God.) American churches think it's the individual. (OUCH)

Point: The glory of God comes by gift or body.

Eph 2:19 - you're the foundation of christ

The family will be strong in years to come. "I'd much rather be a father than a minister" - Tom

PRAY: "Make us and mold us into the family you want us to be."

I have to say some hard things because I don't want to loose you (like you would with your children, God must do this with us, his children)

The content of preaching is the Bible - not just ideas.

How you see family will eclipse your gift in ministry.

Whenever a gifted leader is around you, it's going to be SOMETHING (i.e., gang or Godly)

Big Wheels & Boards are not what churches are about. Father's serve families.

Fifth click is a charm

I had to click Post New Blog a million times to get to this screen. Sheesh.

The Fall Conference was awesome. Very mellow and family-like, which was surprisingly nice. No fancy hoops to jump through or being slain in the spirit (well, just one.) Felt homey. Not like homey G but home-like. I wish we could have church while drinking coffee at tables together like that. Maybe corporate prayer? I quite enjoyed Tom Bedford. It was the first time I really connected to his message and took two pages of notes. I couldn't put my pen down or absorb enough of what he was saying. Overall, a great, God-centered, family-buidling time was had.

I APPRECIATE YOU. Yes, you, the reader. Whoever you are, I love you. I love being connected to you and sharing this earth and breathing this fresh, crisp air with you. I am so thankful for every day I wake and every person I encounter. Wasting time complaining, which I too often do, is just that...a WASTE. Let's appreciate the little things, the big things, the people we connect to and even those we do not. It's what God would want and what Jesus would do.

Life is good. I'm glad I have such a wonderful family.

A song, to express myself...

Thankful by Jonny Lang

Someones standing in a welfare line
Or off the freeway with a hungry sign
Someones stressing bout to lose their mind
I gotta be thankful, thankful

Someone just became a single mother
Someone just lost a sister or brother
Its so important that we love each other
And be Thankful, thankful

Ive gotta take the time to say, that
Im Thankful, thankful
For every single breath that I take
Ive gotta be thankful, thankful

Someones sitting in a prison cell
Wasting away in their own personal hell
Everybodys got their own story to tell
Ive gotta be thankful, thankful Man,
I used to think I didnt have a lot
Now I realize just how much Ive got
Now every day Im gonna take the time and stop to be....

Ive gotta take the time to say, that
Im Thankful, thankful
For every single breath that I take
Ive gotta be thankful, thankful

Any one of these so easily could have been me
But if it had not been for grace and mercy who knows where Id be
Ive been riding on this roller coaster ride
Round and round Ive seen the up and downside
And Im here to tell you that the secret of life is being...

Ive gotta take the time to say, that
Im Thankful, thankful
For every single breath that I take
Ive gotta be thankful, thankful

Happiness...Is This

It seems I only blog when things are bothering me or when I'm down.
Not every Sunday is a bad one, it is actually more rare to have a bad Sunday than a great Sunday. Last night at prayer Ryan mentioned not taking the kingdom's gifts for granted. Sunday's are the BEST days: we get to worship, pray, be in the presence of God more intensely, visit with God-loving friends and occassionally have lunch with a family or two. I mean why complain about that?! I love it.

Things that make me HAPPY...

Open doors/hearts
My Butler guys
Praying with others
Pop Dan's pasta and gravy
Interacting with different ages/sexes/personalities
REAL conversations (these are hard to come by)
Invites (these are VERY appreciated)
Grace of God


Those are just a few things that I am more than happy to have in my life.

Sunday Blues

I had another one of THOSE Sunday's yesterday.
Something inside of me takes over and the demonic take over. It's messed up and I feel I have zero control over it. It's beyond bad.

I went up and prayed for two sisters and it turned around that one of those girls prayed for me. Funny how insecurities can keep you from going up to an altar call. Funny? More like pathetic. Get over yourself Kerri! I should have been up there when they mentioned bitterness. I am the bitterness queen, sadly. Getting over stuff is hard work and as much as I pray to forgive I just can't get over some things. While some are way pety I still clutch onto them like a trendy Coach clutch...but uglier.

4th of July (photos)

Connections

When a Jehovah's Witness comes to your door it sticks in your head and, if you're like me, you tell someone(s) "A Jehovah's Witness came to my door today, blah blah."
I know there's usually a negative connotation with these types of encounters.

Imagine the kind of impact we could have on people if we at least mentioned Jesus to one person a day/week/month. It'll stick in their head and they may spread the word, hopefully in a positive manner, to others.

Reminds me of Six Degrees of Separation. Be the vessel that brings people to Jesus.

Summer....

Tomorrow is the longest day of the year: the first day of summer.

I am not the biggest fan of summer as I really don't like being overly hot.
Plus, where's the beach? I guess if we had a beach I'd complain about having to wear
a bathing suit. Yay for no beach.

Summer also rocks. Freckles sprout. Cool, tasty treats are consumed on a regular basis.
Kids swim and I take pictures (pool pictures are the best.) Schedules are thrown out of whack. BBQ's are had. [Nothing like food from the grill.] Flip flops flop frequently.

Back from Beantown

We are back from Boston.

While I greatly enjoy the trip it's so good to be home.

Life is Splendid

God reminded me again today why walking with Him is the only way to walk.

While talking to my aunt Steph and uncle Kenny on the phone this evening I realized
that holding grudges and clutching onto bitterness, like they currently do towards their sibling, is
such a waste of time. I explained to them that I get together with some friends
weekly (when life isn't so crazy) for a devotional and we've been talking a lot of loving those
we don't necessarily like. That's HARD work but it can be done. I hope it shed some light
that bitterness is not the answer.
Out of me saying that my aunt let me in on a secret: she's quite spiritual and has been
all her life. I was a little surprised that it was a big secret that she kept tucked away until this very day. She'd always been a very uplifting woman so it didn't surprise me that she's spiritual
but her keeping it mum was odd. At any rate, the conversation was great. They thought I was
holding onto feelings of resentment towards them all these years. I explained there are no such
feelings which helped them to move on and know they should carry no such feelings.

The conversation was uplifting for both parties and made me fall in love with my walk with God a little bit more.

"...you don't know what you've got til it's gone..." are lyrics from a song that I'm sure Patti will be able to recall. Makes me think of all I was missing before I was found. Being saved is splendid.

(FOR FUN)

splen·did –adjective

1. gorgeous; magnificent; sumptuous.
2. grand; superb, as beauty.
3. distinguished or glorious, as a name, reputation, victory, etc.
4. strikingly admirable or fine: splendid talents.
5. excellent, fine, or very good: to have a splendid time.
6. brilliant in appearance, color, etc.

A Bird Saved My Day

I was a complete and utter brat yesterday morning before church.

Nasty things were said and done for which I am ashamed and have since repented.

While in my worst stage I dropped Phil off at church and drove off in a horrific mood.

I pulled into my driveway and a bird was right in my path. I beeped several times and the

bird would not budge. I swore at the bird. Nothing happened. I shut my car off and jingled

my keys at the bird. Nothing. The little bird looked at me and puffed up but did not budge, as

if it were telling me to stop being so stupid, get over myself and get back in my car.

So I did that. I reversed my car and drove to church. I was mad at and thankful for that bird

all at once.

Thanks for coming to me in bird-form God. You're funny.

I took a picture for those who may think this is a too-good-to-be-true tale.

Canned Corn-eating Saturday

I'm weird. I eat canned corn as a meal.

There was a time in life when I did this regularly but not so much anymore.
Today, however, is a canned corn kind of day.
Reminds me of my Stop & Shop cashier days when I lived in Marion Gardens (one of the more decent projects of Lynn, Massachusetts.) I probably ate the canned corn because it was all there was in the cabinet.
Today I eat the canned corn because I bought it last nigth at Wal-mart with intentions of eating it when on the run. I bought no meat or anything of real sustinance: just canned corn and a few other items.
Now this may not mean much to you but makes me wonder what my deal is.

Since we're on the subject of food....Food & Family magazine is wonderful. It's FREE! Who sends free magazines with awesomely simple ideas? Food & Family does, that's who. Amazing.

Now if only I knew what to do with these pots, pans and ingredients...

$ $ $...

What are you doing with your stimulus payment?

Relay For Life 2008

Out Of Curiosity...

Which holiday do you think is most celebrated by Christians?
Which should be?

Pictures from April

Little Plumber

No sun for this pastey girl
Happy campers

kate and jonathan
Feet
Jeff and Nicole

Faith and I - with masks on!

Epiphany

Who says you can't write three blogs in one evening?

I teared up this afternoon. While sitting at a table decorated by Mary McClaskey's Relay For Life team I looked over at Faith and Mary and was suddenly overcome with intense emotion.
I was meant to be sitting there at that moment with two people who would never be involved with Relay For Life if it weren't for Faith being my little sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Timing just may be everything and it all made perfect sense. Two of my volunteer worlds were colliding but for one reason: it was meant to be - it was God's will.

Pretty awesome stuff.

On a lighter note

Silver Dollar City rocked yesterday with the Kbaum's and Co.

The Survivor Luncheon (for Relay For Life) went REALLY well.

It's gorgeous outside and I got to go on a few carnival rides with Faith today.

Life is good.

A Years Difference

One year and one month ago I was baptised. I consider that day the day I was truly saved.
I am amazed how fast a year, almost two since I started attending church, has come and went.
Time flies when Jesus is by your side.

I see things differently.

There's a SMILE, YOUR MOM CHOSE LIFE sign posted on 69 Hwy that I pass, and have passed, for over two years now. When I was lost, and I clearly was lost, I looked at that sign and did one of two things: laughed or wanted to post a PRO-CHOICE sign right next to it. My liberal, yankee ways were shinning through and thought the folks (surely they were "folks") that posted that sign were bleeding red and were just judgemental church-goers.
Boy am I wrong - and I don't even know the folks that posted that sign.
I am meant to read that sign every week. I am meant to read it ALOUD every week and really think about what it reads: SMILE, YOUR MOM CHOSE LIFE.

I don't think many people know this but my mom almost didn't choose my life. I was an unplanned, unwanted fifth child of a failing marriage. [Just now I am having a moment, if you will. Who tells a child they were almost aborted anyway? My aunt Kelley, that's who.] My mom went as far as having her legs in the stirrups when she opted not to abort me. Putting this into text is HARD...really hard. Putting this into writing someone eases the pain of it all.

The mocking of that sign no longer takes place. I actually smile a big cheesy smile when reading that sign now. My mom chose life. I am in Kansas reading that sign because of her choice. Really, because of His choice. When I think of the grand scheme of things and how great God is, I am filled with cheesy ear-to-ear smiles inside and out.

A year ago I was saved. Two years ago I had never attended a church more than once for anything other than a life event. One year from now I hope I am more and more broken of barriers, bitterness and un-Godly ways.

KLB

The Past 3 Months. . .in pictures

These have been by my side

Terrible Grammar

I know that "all get out" seems to be used as a simile to create an easy superlative for just about anything, but does anyone know the origin of, or basis for, the phrase?

It is such a horrific term.

Realization

I'm not a good blogger. I like to let the masses know as little as possible.
In person I'll gab your ear off....

God Thoughts

I'm really excited about the small devotional meeting I'll be joining next week. I haven't been as disciplined in my bible reading as I should be so staying accountable with a group of ladies will be refreshingly structured. I'm looking forward to the Tuesday night ladies meetings as well and hope God turns up when we least expect Him. As you've witnessed he likes surprise "attacking" me. God is showing me that he has quite a sense of humor and a sense of faithfulness.

Before Doug left, on Monday 3/10/08, his family and I were standing in his kitchen talking about loving those that we don't necessarily like. Boy is that difficult! It's been heavy on my heart and in my prayers lately. Loving people doesn't come easy and it's only by the grace of God that I love some of the people I love.

It's funny, my college-aged partying neighbors are drunkingly celebrating St. Patrick's Day and I am writing about the amazement of God. Life is good. Better yet, life is remarkable.

My devotional for today is incredible - so incredible that you should all read it....
_________________________________________________

It is God who is working in you, (enabling you) both to will and to act for His good purpose. Philippians 2:13 HCSB

THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?

Sometimes you don't really feel like doing God's purposes. Sometimes you'd rathertake the path of least resistance and just be "normal." But that's not the real you!The real you can never settle for just fitting in. The real you rebels at the line of lemmingsall walking in uniform brokenness toward futility. [This screamed out to me] You aremade for an extraordinary life!At those times of wavering, God breathes upon the embers of your soul and ignites anew flame of passion and ability. To do the improbable. The impossible. And it is GodHimself who activates both the "willing" and the "working."So which comes first, the desire o the ability? The answer: Whichever one He gives youfirst! Doing God's will increases your desire, and the desire leads you into more doing.
Cool, huh?

God, you know how much I need Your strength to do Your purposes
and to even want to do them. Remind me of who I am in You.

Kicking things off

• Firstly, I adore my friends. I am so thankful to God to have the people in my life that he's placed before me.
• Secondly, I am on an emotional rollercoaster.

That's all for now.