What a Breakaway...

Breakaway was such a blessing this year. Breakaway is the women's conference that Elmbrook has each year. This year it was held at the Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva. It was so much fun. The past 5 years or so, I have attended with my mom, aunt and sister and this year my good friend Missy came along too. God is really working in her life---actually he's always working in our lives :) But in Missy I can really see her searching and wanting to find things out for herself.

For me...it reminded me that I need laughter in my life. It's a stress relief, it's healthy, and it's just good for the soul. The speaker Ellie Defaro was amazing and I am looking forward to reading her books. My mom, Missy and I each bought a different one so that we can exchange when we are done.

Jordyn got to spend the weekend with her dad which she loves to do. She only sees him about every other week now that he is working in IL, so it's fun for her to hang out with him. He bought her the Rent movie--so we are excited to watch that together.

Marlon and the boys had a weekend of sports and male bonding. Isaiah's game was on Saturday and he scored a goal! In just a couple short weeks he has already grown playing with this more experienced team. He says he is ready for Select and the work that will be involved.

Life moves on and I am making sure that I am fully involved in enjoying it. I am praying for peace and tranquility amidst the chaos of my life. Letting go of the unnecessary and putting all of my worries and concerns on Him as He is more than capable of handling it.

Thought for the Day

As you interact today with others...be gracious and loving, have compassion and kindness. Think of this passage
Colossians 4:2-6 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Happy Anniversary!!

Today is my parent's 34th wedding anniversary!! So amazing especially since they are only 52 and 56! They've been married much longer than 1/2 of their lives. I am proud of the fact (and not in a bad way) that they have weathered many storms together and stood the test of time. We all went to dinner together which was very fun.
First we had a full day of sports. In the morning was the Upward Basketball celebration and then Isaiah had his first indoor soccer game. He scored a goal!! I know he was very nervous, but he played okay and it seemed to really boost his confidence that he was able to keep up with these "tougher" players. Outdoor starts April 8th already, so I know that he'll be more than ready for that.
In between all of that, I got some shopping and laundry done. Now tomorrow Marlon and I go to Taycheedah from about 11:30 until 5pm. I love going to Taycheedah. Even when I am tired or just wish I could stay home with the kiddies...once I am there, God just always blesses the day. The women there are such a varied bunch. Because we minister to the max unit, we really aren't allowed to chat with them, shake hands, have one on one conversations...as part of worship. Even still, after 4 years now of going there and seeing so many of the same faces...you have this sense of knowing them. Also, the chaplain does occasionally allow one to come and ask us a question if the guards say it's okay. There are some ladies who are part of the chaplains worship crew. They set up the gym, get Marlon and I water, run the CD player and mikes for us. We do have time to talk with them. And we often are able to pray with them and get to know them better. There are times we go when I wish I could just go back to their cells with them and talk all day.
Inmates really get forgotten. So much of society feels like because they've broken the law they deserve to be forgotten. Shame on those who feel that way. Ever driven drunk? Ever taken something that wasn't yours? Ever vandalized something? Ever wrote a check when you knew you didn't have the money to cover it? Ever lost your temper so bad you destroyed something? Ever got into a shoving match with someone? Maybe you just didn't get caught. Maybe God has a different plan for you. But don't think that just because they might deserve to be in prison, they don't deserve to still have someone praying for them, caring for their souls, attending to their spiritual needs.
Anyway--
A final Happy Anniversary to my parents!! I love them so :)

Faith Conversations

Hey everyone!!! Check out my hubby's interview with our Senior Pastor Mel Lawrenz.

http://www.elmbrook.org/audio/faith_conversations.shtml

Copy and paste that...then download the interview. He is talking about Prison Ministry and his role in Wisconsin institutions as well as his thoughts about inmates and the role we can play in their Christian walk. He sounds so excited for Christ and his heart really just shows through.

One more link...

I almost forgot the best link to add. Brother Bob's Outreach (Marlon's ministry affiliation for Prison Ministry) has a new webpage. Just skip past the intro-still working out a few kinks. This gives a good summary of what they are sharing and experiencing with the inmates of Wisconsin. Also, there is a cute picture of him on it :)

Links

So I finally taught myself how to add links. So you will see on the side I added a link for my friend Amy's family blog, my cousin's Bead Site--she makes her own beads, something to do with fire and blowing them?? and also a link for our church Elmbrook.

Also--so excited to share that Jordyn is Student of the Month in Algebra for January at her school!!! We are so proud of her. She is a hard worker and it definately pays off. Congrats Jordyn!!

Fun for the Pitchford men...

Marlon won tickets to the Bucks game last night. He was listening to sports radio while cooking dinner and there was the chance to call in--he got through! The boys were so excited!! So they quickly got ready and headed out the door. It's so fun to see them together-excited to be with their dad. I know sometimes he feels like all he gets is the big piece of chicken (for any of you Chris Rock fans you've heard that in his stand-up Bigger & Blacker) anyway...I know that our boys are sometimes mama's boys and probably because of my nurturing nature--they flock to me when hurt, sad, troubled. But I keep reminding Marlon that in a few years...Jordyn will be off at college and I will be in a housefull of men. And at 13, 14, 15...hugs and consolement from Mom might not be top of their list. When they have questions about girls, "men stuff", want to talk about sports...I hope that we are close enough that they will still love to come to me, but I'll understand if he is their go-to guy. In fact, I'm praying for it.

Dinner

On Saturday we had dinner with our friends Jackie and Justin. It was a fun time. It has been a longggggggggggggg time since we've done dinner with anyone other than each other and family. It was nice to be in that "getting to know you" stage where there is so much to talk about and learn about each other. Jackie and I work together at Elmbrook and became fast friends. We have a lot of past hurts that are the same.
Justin and Marlon have a lot of the same interests--music, sports, family--so they
hit it off pretty good too.
It's funny because as we were all investing in creating a new friendship, the
sermon this weekend was on having friends...and biblically what that means. As an
adult, I must admit that I don't spend much time on developing or maintaining
friendships. I do have friends, but some I think they are more aquaintances. There is nobody to blame but me for that. It is hard to find time. Whether that's right or wrong...it is just so. I think friends are different.
Some friends are convenience. They might be co-workers, or in a class with
you. This can develop into true life long friendships, but often exist only as long
as the circumstance which put you together. I think of people from Employment Solutions--Andrew, Christine, Kenya--we had a ton of fun at the time, but nothing substantial enough to keep in touch.
Some friends are a season. I think of some of my friends before I was a Christian as this. In my worldly days---hitting the clubs, drinking and partying---we wouldn't have much to say to each other now.
Some friends are comfort. These might be those long ago friends who are still
important today because of what you've been through together and what you've seen
each other through. Although you might not spend a lot of time together now-there
will always be that bond. I think of some of my friends as this--Alisa, Katie, Kasie, Jeri, Jenni---it is always good to see them, spend time together, I'm always praying for them, hoping their life is blessed even if we don't talk often.
Some friends are there to challenge you and help you grow. I think of Jackie, Roberta, Sue...they will keep me accountable and help me look at myself honestly. I need friends who I can be myself with and they won't hold my past against me--mostly because they don't really have a past with me yet.
Some friends are family. It's not just because you're related that you enjoy spending time together. My mom and sister, some of my cousins are truly my friends,
not just family.

I think having these realizations about friendship were hard for me to swallow at
first. I have always had a lot of people around me and just referred to them all
as friends. They are on some level, but EVERYBODY can't be your closest friend.
There are certain times where someone is just there for a season and that's okay.
There are certain times where someone is only surface close to you & that's okay.
Wow--look what dinner and a sermon can produce!! :)

Devotion

First-I must send love and congratulations to my dear friend Amy. She and her husband just found out they are expecting!! They've been so patient and God is so good.
Next-amazing things continue to happen at the Pitchford house. We serve an awesome God and He is so faithful to our sad, little selves! When you see the hand of God on your children, I think that is the best feeling and I thank Him that He gives us those special times. As I am "re" preparing my testimony to give in the prisons this month, I am truly reminded at what He delivered me from. The woman I see in the mirror...this is a true disciple of Christ--living each day for Him and trying to be where He wants me to be when He wants me to. It's the least I can do for all He's done for me!

Finally...in my devotion book this morning it is talking about how we so often look to the left and to the right, but don't really see what is going on around us. We either block out the hurting, distressed people or feel that since we can't do anything about it-it's not our problem. Imagine if Jesus had acted that way. You can't-because you know it wasn't His nature. But ours? It's so easy to fall into a pattern of disassocation and especially if we don't live in that world...
I think that's a copout we use. I am determined NOT to let myself get there. To that position of apathy. Jesus consistently showed compassion to those around Him. His disciples, the blind, poor, crippled, sinners...even those who sinned against Him. How often do we feel inconvenienced or "put upon" because someone needs us, or another cause needs money. The book suggested taking action today! It gave some options of how we could do that:
Make a love basket of food for a friend in need.
Write a note to a friend who has a need and tell her you are praying for her. Babysit for a friend who needs some free time to solve some of her problems. Call someone in need and lift her up with good thoughts of encouragement.

Better yet---do it for someone who isn't a friend. Do it just because it's what Christ would have done. Pray for someone you never would have imagined yourself praying for. The amazing thing is that in return, one day when you are down and out--discouraged and hurt, it just might be returned.