So, our church launched the new campus in Wicker Park last weekend. It went REALLY well. We have about 570 in the service and about 40 kids in the Children's ministry. I'd say that's a success. We are SO excited to have our church in the city. When we moved here we went to church after church in the city and never found one that we loved. It has been such a desire for us ever since we moved here and now it has become our reality! I was super nervous about the children's ministry. I was having trouble sleeping and even eating! How silly of me! God was there, guiding and protecting HIS ministry. I am so thankful that He has used our family to spread the gospel in our city!
So, everything did go pretty well, but I just HAVE to share this story. Of course, there had to be an . . . incident that made our first service memorable. Let me set the background for you:
We have started this new check in software throughout all of our campus'. It is crazy. Parents are able to come in, swipe their fab and check their child in on a touch screen computer. Then, a name tag prints out for the child and a tag for the parents with a matching number for security purposes. So, this new family came and I was getting them all set up with their fab and what not. Well, I forgot to give her child a pager number. Wouldn't you know it, that that child decided to have a horrific case of diarrhea that night. It was all over the floor and everything. Of course, I was feeling my failure big time! I couldn't believe I didn't give this lady a number for her child. We had no way of contacting her in the service and her child was contaminating all of the other children in the nursery! Well, luckily (not luck, it was God) one of the nursery workers actually knew where the lady was sitting and was able to go and get her. Yikes! It was pretty crazy. I can laugh about it now, but at the time it was NOT FUNNY! But like I said, something had to make my first day of Children's ministry memorable! Now I have a great story to tell!
You can check out some pictures of our first service here.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
So, I am always evaluating what I use and what I waste. I feel like I do a pretty good job of taking care of this planet that God has entrusted us with, but I know I can always do better. I always turn off and unplug things when not in use, I recycle everything I can, I cloth diaper etc. etc.
Well, here is one way I've decided I need to do better:
I am the wet wipe queen! I live in an 850 sq. ft. apartment and I have at least three tubs of wet wipes placed strategically around the house. I use them for everything! I also have them in the car and in the diaper bag at all times! I use them to clean the kids up after dinner. I use them if something gets spilled in the living room, I even use them to wipe down the sink in the bathroom if I'm in between cleanings. It's horrible, I know. So, I stashed a bunch of washcloths next to Charlotte's bibs in the kitchen and I've been grabbing kitchen towels to clean up spills and messes. I've stopped using them in the bathroom for ridiculous wipe downs (don't you just hate that bit of toothpaste that gets left in the sink?). I am still going to use them for diaper duty (the intended use) but I hope to drastically reduce my wet wipe usage from now on.
What ways are you working to reduce, reuse or recycle?
Well, here is one way I've decided I need to do better:
I am the wet wipe queen! I live in an 850 sq. ft. apartment and I have at least three tubs of wet wipes placed strategically around the house. I use them for everything! I also have them in the car and in the diaper bag at all times! I use them to clean the kids up after dinner. I use them if something gets spilled in the living room, I even use them to wipe down the sink in the bathroom if I'm in between cleanings. It's horrible, I know. So, I stashed a bunch of washcloths next to Charlotte's bibs in the kitchen and I've been grabbing kitchen towels to clean up spills and messes. I've stopped using them in the bathroom for ridiculous wipe downs (don't you just hate that bit of toothpaste that gets left in the sink?). I am still going to use them for diaper duty (the intended use) but I hope to drastically reduce my wet wipe usage from now on.
What ways are you working to reduce, reuse or recycle?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Gavin
This kid keeps cracking me up. On one of our trips to the Library he was convinced that he wanted to get some books in Spanish. I couldn't talk him out of it, so I decided to humor him. So, we bring the books home and the next day he asks me to read to him. So, I break out my best accent and go to work. Gavin was looking at me like I was speaking gibberish. I thought he was going to say that he didn't understand it. Instead, he looks at me and says, "So, can we speak Spanish now?" I was cracking up. He totally thinks he can speak Spanish. I need to get this kid a tutor before his desire fades. I would love to have a bilingual little boy! Of course when he is older I am sure he would teach Charlotte and they would use it against me somehow!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Family Update!
Ryan has been so busy with work and church, I think he is a bit run down. He unfortunately has bronchitis. He got some med's and seems to be getting better. He of course, has not missed a day for work. I think over the last five years at Starubcks, he's called in sick ONE time. He's been speaking at Starbuck's rally's all over the place - Illinois, Milwaukee, and even Boston via Skype! He's pretty much "Mr. Starbucks" lately. The picture below is of him speaking on the big screen in Boston!
Charlotte is a maniac. Yesterday she started pulling herself into standing position (sigh). Gavin taught her to click her tongue. It is really cute. One day in the car he was doing it to her and she just started doing it right along with him! She is pretty much crawling normally now, no more army crawl. She says 'mama' a lot but seems to think it means, "feed me"! She is eating so much! I just can't believe how much difference one month can make. Last month I was reading all of the stuff Gavin was doing at her age and she seemed to be doing none of it. Now, she's doing all of it and more! She's still our easy going girl!
Gav is still a big hoot. His new obsession is speaking Spanish. He has a little buddy who is bilingual and Gavin REALLY wants to be able to talk to him in Spanish. He just can't understand why I can't teach it to him! He had a play date with his buddy and his mom taught Gavin a little bit. Now Gavin says, "I speak a little Spanish!" He still adores his baby sister. He frequently tells me that she is HIS baby. He seems to be growing up right before our eyes. Everyday he is trying new things and becoming braver. His coordination is amazing to me. You should see this kid at the park!
Me, I've just been so busy with Church. Recruiting new volunteers, making schedules, buying supplies, learning new computer programs, etc, etc. This week is our BIG week. We start AWANA on Wednesday and on Sunday our new campus launches!
Well, that is our family update and what we've all been up to. Sorry to bore you!
Charlotte is a maniac. Yesterday she started pulling herself into standing position (sigh). Gavin taught her to click her tongue. It is really cute. One day in the car he was doing it to her and she just started doing it right along with him! She is pretty much crawling normally now, no more army crawl. She says 'mama' a lot but seems to think it means, "feed me"! She is eating so much! I just can't believe how much difference one month can make. Last month I was reading all of the stuff Gavin was doing at her age and she seemed to be doing none of it. Now, she's doing all of it and more! She's still our easy going girl!
New Tricks
Gav is still a big hoot. His new obsession is speaking Spanish. He has a little buddy who is bilingual and Gavin REALLY wants to be able to talk to him in Spanish. He just can't understand why I can't teach it to him! He had a play date with his buddy and his mom taught Gavin a little bit. Now Gavin says, "I speak a little Spanish!" He still adores his baby sister. He frequently tells me that she is HIS baby. He seems to be growing up right before our eyes. Everyday he is trying new things and becoming braver. His coordination is amazing to me. You should see this kid at the park!
Me, I've just been so busy with Church. Recruiting new volunteers, making schedules, buying supplies, learning new computer programs, etc, etc. This week is our BIG week. We start AWANA on Wednesday and on Sunday our new campus launches!
Well, that is our family update and what we've all been up to. Sorry to bore you!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Catching Up
It hasn't been ALL work and no play, around here. We have been busy, but we have been able to do some fun stuff, too!
Over labor day we went to Michigan and spent some time with Ryan's brothers and their families. We had a fantastic and relaxing weekend.
Jason and Will
Ryan giving Jenna a ride on the 4 wheeler
Jordan holding Charlotte - it's hard to believe that Jordan was Charlotte's age when I met the Dobbertin family!
All the bigger cousins - Charlotte and Will are missing
Charlotte was getting a little snuggle from Will - it was too cute!
That's what we did over labor day! I hope you all had a relaxing weekend as well!
Over labor day we went to Michigan and spent some time with Ryan's brothers and their families. We had a fantastic and relaxing weekend.
Jason and Will
Ryan giving Jenna a ride on the 4 wheeler
Jordan holding Charlotte - it's hard to believe that Jordan was Charlotte's age when I met the Dobbertin family!
All the bigger cousins - Charlotte and Will are missing
Charlotte was getting a little snuggle from Will - it was too cute!
That's what we did over labor day! I hope you all had a relaxing weekend as well!
Neglect
My poor blog has been neglected! I have missed it, but have NO time for it. I am squeezing it in today as things are settling down around here, sort of. Our church is launching a new campus IN THE CITY, and Ryan and I are heading up the Children's Ministry. On top of that, we are still doing AWANA. Ryan is the "commander" again and I am his trusty secretary! We officially launch the new church campus next Sunday and AWANA starts up this Wednesday. So over the next few days I'll be attempting to update everyone on what's been going on with us. We're still here, don't give up on us yet!
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