A little stage fright???

So today I am going to help lead worship at Elmbrook. And I think
for the first time ever, I am a little nervous! I think mostly because
I am trying to harmonize to songs I am not fully comfortable with.
I am afraid that I will be so busy trying to find the harmony that I
won't be able to truly worship. I guess if it gets too difficult, I
will just fall into the melody. Being on the stage isn't really scary,
I have done that before...it's more if I will be comfortable enough
with the harmony to let go of the "notes" and just give up my voice to
Him. If you've never truly experienced the Holy Spirit while you worship
in song...I challenge each of you to let yourself go the next time you
are singing in church. Close your eyes, lift your hand to the heavens
and sing with abandon. Allow yourself to feel the sweet feeling of calm
that will fill your heart. It happens. I have faith it will.
So for those of you going out tonight---partying, drinking and whatever else,
please be careful. Drive safe, if you can't-stay where you are at and sleep.
Think of the year past...all of the good and all of the bad and how it can
shape you and prepare you for the next steps in your life. Think of the year
ahead...all of the promise and opportunities that are waiting for you.
God is faithful and He is going to be there for you--don't wait to turn to Him
and make Him the guide of your life!
God Bless!

So much to tell...

The 23rd was so wonderful. It was so fun just to hang out with Crystal
and her sisters and Jeremy. A family friend brought their daughter over
too, so the boys and Jeremy had fun playing with her. We laughed and
ate, opened gifts, wrote thank you's, talked about things going on in her
life. Crystal and I email just about everyday and talk on the phone a few
times a week...but it was nice to just hang out and socialize with them
all. Marlon, Jordyn, Isaiah, Elijah and Israel came along and it was a
great bonding time for our family as well. It warms my heart to see my
kids give and share...devote themselves to helping others. I will not
soon forget that day and the time we shared. I hope it was as meaningful
for them as it was for us. For all of you who helped make the day
possible...please know that I know God will bless you tremendously for
your willingness to give and share with others.

Crystal

Crystal is amazing. It's so odd how she is so responsible and grown. At
20 she is handling so much more than most of us could. And yet, when given
the chance to just hang out and have fun, she really is still just a kid at
heart. She needs encouragement, love and support-just like any of us.
And oh yes, she loved the Karoake machine!! And she has a very nice voice.

The Diva Sisters!!

Left to right: Kayla, Candise and Iesha. These girls are a trip! So
smart and funny, grown beyond their years, but also just young girls
excited about gifts, food, music and fun! It was so nice to see them
just hang out and be kids-singing, coloring, reading...God is so good!

The Christmas Tree and all the blessings...

Here is the Green Christmas tree and all of the wonderful gifts they were
given. Penfield Children's Center, Jeremy's daycare, brought over some
great household gifts--this will come in so handy with a potential move in
the next month. I don't post this as a zoo exhibit, to oooh and aaah over.
I post this as testament to what the body of Christ can accomplish for
someone they will probably never meet...simply because of their love and
compassion for people and their servant hearts!

Meet Jeremy...

Here is Jeremy, Crystal's son, who so many of you helped make a wonderful
Christmas for. See that smile? I can't even explain in words the utter
blessing it was to spend the afternoon with Crystal, Kayla, Candise, Iesha
and Jeremy. To see them smile and hear their laughter. To watch them
interact with both affection and irritation...just as true family often does.
So many pictures to share...I will get to them all.

Is Life a Race?

This picture isn't of anyone I know, but I really like it because
it reminds me of how life should not be. Too often we are always
busy, running, hurrying to get things done...move onto the next
task...check something off of our to do list. For what?
Don't get me wrong, I know that there are responsibilities and
things that we need to attend to. But I truly believe that we
don't often enough just sit and be. Think, pray, love, enjoy.
Last night there were a million things that could have been done.
Our house is in quite disarray from wrapping and decorating, there
is always tons of laundry to work on, several phone calls I could
have returned, a tub that desperately needs scouring...and I left
it. Instead, we all ate dinner at the table-Marlon and I watched
this gameshow that we love, the boys and I played Monopoly Jr. and
I helped them all take showers.
It was such a relaxed evening and right before Christmas it felt
great. Take those times. Don't put off the love. Put off the
laundry.

I love the movie Elf!

What fun we had tonight! The boys and I went to church where they
were showing the movie Elf for the teen helpers. My friend Alison
is the teen helper coordinator and invited me to bring the boys.
I love that movie and it was very cool how they incorporated some
scriptural truth to the movie-about our need to belong and fit in,
and how sometimes we judge a book by it's cover, AND how we shouldn't
need to see to believe. Of course, it misses the point of Christmas
being Jesus's birth and not Santa, but that can be correlated for kids
and sometimes it's just fun to enjoy something and then talk about how
it's fun...but to remember that Christmas spirit isn't Santa--it's Christ!
There were also Christmas cookies, which of course the boys loved!
Marlon is in Indiana with his Pops. A close friend of Pops passed away
and he wanted to go to the funeral. I think it's great that Marlon was
able to take him and get to spend that alone time with Pops. I know
Pops really appreciates it. He will be home very very late tomorrow.
Tomorrow the boys and I have some shopping to do and then we have to go
to church for Secret Service day. This is a new initiative we started to
try and get the congregation more involved in volunteering and service.
They are hoping to do this several times a year. They have partnered with
agencies in the community that needed our help with Christmas projects and
then brought them to the church to ask for help getting it done. There are
almost a hundred people/families signed up to be bell ringers for the Sal-
vation Army, people signed up to wrap gifts for Angel Tree, shoppers for
the Hebron House and stocking stuffers for the Teen Center. We signed up
to take things in for the stockings and then will probably stay to stuff
stockings as well. It should be great and I love to see the kids give.
With all the many mistakes we make as parents, it is good to see them
have this faith and growing as Christians-putting others first and not
being afraid to tell others that they believe!! God is so good!!

Wow-time flies!!

I can't believe it's Thursday already!! This week has flown by! Monday we went to get our Christmas tree and started our Christmas shopping. It was fun! I always love shopping with Marlon and then coming home and hiding the bags.
Marlon is trucking along in his class. He is getting ready to start his next paper-so that is good. He is hoping to finish this class by the start of January. I am considering school in the fall of 06'. Elmbrook has a study center that is linked with Trinity College in IL, so I could take all but one of my classes there to get a master's in Biblical Studies.
Work is amazing. I love my job and it is so great to love who you work with as well. There are some busy, busy days and last minute requests-but it is always a joy to work together. Today we spent all day preparing gifts for Sunday school--about 800 gifts in all!! What fun.
The boys are coming in from Boys Club so I am gonna go see how it was!
Nite

Busy Busy

This is definately a busy busy weekend. Last night we
had a going away party for Jan (and Tim) Ryder from church.
They are wonderful friends of ours who are leaving
Elmbrook and returning to Nairobi for missions. We will
greatly miss them. I know Marlon especially with Tim
because he is such a great mentor to him...he really
taught him so much and Marlon respects him so much. I
have always thought of them as such a great example of a
ministry couple. They are so complementary, yet they are
so individual and such their own people with their own
agenda and walk with Christ.
Then today was Dee Dee's graduation party. There were
errands to run in the morning, then food to cook for the
party. Then we picked up her gift, went early to set up,
and got home at about 10-what a long day! Dee Dee enjoyed
herself-which is the whole point! It was nice that so
many people came, because I know that in the cold and busy
days of December it's hard to get people out...but many people
came to show her love. Uncle Jerome started the "presentation"
part of the night, having several of us say some short words
of encouragement, love, etc. for Dee Dee. He ended it by
making sure she knew just how proud of her everyone is. She
then got up and thanked everyone-then opened her gifts. It
was a nice night.
Now tomorrow is church (Marlon will be in prison in the morning)
That always sounds so funny!! And then my candle party in the
afternoon. We may go and get our Christmas tree afterwards, if
the place is still open. We'll see.
Well...it's off to bed for me now. Just wanted to take a few
moments and let everyone know what's been up :)
Nite

Pomp and Circumstance...

Graduate!! Yes! Marlon's sister DeeDee graduated last night from ITT! We are so proud of her, her dedication and perseverance! There were many obstacles against her and she kept going! Last year right before Christmas her paternal grandfather died and then this summer Granny-so she's dealt with loss and pain, but she's made it though. It was a very quick ceremony-only about 25 people graduated...but afterwards we all went out to this place called Elsies? or Elses? It's downtown Milwaukee off of Jefferson I believe. Anyway-it was very nice and we all got to meet her boyfriend. She just looked so old...she grown and matured so much since I first met her in 96!! Wow-almost 10 years. That means she was only like 14 when we met! Bizarre!
On a different note, tonight is a Christmas women's program at church. There is going to be an amazing speaker and worship led by Stephanie Seefeldt. I'm going with my mom, aunt and sister and it's always a good time. Plus I love Stepanie's voice...it's like an angel just wrapping their arms around you. Thanks to my dad for coming to watch the boys so I could go. Marlon has his bible study and Jordyn has Outtasight.
Anywho----congrats again to DeeDee!!!!!

Just some thoughts before bed....

So as I read back over Saturday's post, it hit me that I had
not shared the crazy news that happened on Friday. I was hit
by a car. Well, actually our car was hit by a car. This man
didn't stop at his stop sign and turned left right into me.
Totally smashed the front right corner of the car and took out
the light! Ahh...yes, I do not have a lot of luck driving!
Unfortunately, he did not have insurance...thankfully we do
and my parents were able to let us use one of their cars for
a few days. So good that nobody was hurt...he didn't leave
the scene...we were able to get the car right in to the shop.
God can just always make good of any situation. I think the
man was suprised by my calm demeanor and ability to have
compassion for his situation (no insurance, expired license)
but I guess all of my car wreck experience came in handy!!
Anyway...today Marlon's been gone since 9:30am and when he
comes home he will have driven over 500 miles today!!! When
he goes to Stanley it is always a long day, but tonight he
added New Lisbon which has two services...so it added quite
a lot of more time to the day. The rest of us went to my
parents for lunch after church, then came home and decorated.
All that's left is the tree and outside lights. I inherited
a lot of my Grandma Nickel's decorations after she passed in
2001...it always brings a smile to my face to see them out.
I can picture her apartment, before that their house in
Montello...full of these decorations; and I can hear her laugh,
see her smile, feel her love. Isn't it amazing how wonderful
our minds are?? That we can remember and be right back in
that place of comfort?? That we can still have those moments-
have them?? Maybe not in flesh...but most certainly in spirit!

More than gifts....

It's a great Saturday morning...there is a light snow
falling. The boys are downstairs playing (and I hear
no arguing!!) Marlon is at the table writing a sermon
and I am back and forth between cleaning/laundry and
the computer. Gonna get all of the Christmas decora-
tions out today and put the fall stuff up. I used to
be all neurotic about getting everything up in one day.
Not anymore.
If it takes a week, that's fine. I just get all of the
boxes and crates out and then work on it. We're getting
a real tree again this year, so that will come probably
this week. Tomorrow Marlon will be gone ALL day...he
has two prisons to go to.
I have been planning this Christmas for my old client/
friend Crystal. Many of you who read this have probably
helped out so you know all about it. I have to tell
you--God is amazing!! So many people have stepped forth
to help out...extend themselves for someone else. What
they are going to give the Green family is so much more
than stuff. Do you know what it's like to imagine
that people you don't even know, care about you? Are
concerned that you have a special Christmas? That you
have toys for your child? It makes my heart swell that
He can take something that started out as an idea to help
someone I care deeply about...and turn it into a testimony!
Crystal and I have grown closer since I left Lad Lake.
The talks we've had...the encouragement I can give her...
the sharing His love. I am filled with joy just
thinking about it. My deepest heartfelt gratitude to each
of you for being so thoughtful and generous. Their lives
will never, never be the same and many of you have been a
part of that incredible blessing!!
Back to laundry!!

So much to do...

It's December 1st!! Marlon will officially let us start listening to Christmas music now at home-YEAH!

I love Christmas. I always have. Before being a Christian,
it was more because of the gifts, lights, hoopla...but now,
I just see it as this peaceful, festive, time of hope. There
is always such hustle and bustle, but it's important to slow
downa and enjoy each moment.

There are some great things going on at our church...check it
out on the web. Look under events for upcoming stuff.

Above all else, remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
So as you open your millionth gift and eat your hundredth cookie,
say HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!