Taste of my own....

Sunday night, Joey invited our friends over along with his cousin, her fiancé and their friend, Aaron. Pete, Jenny, Yi and I started discussing language and how our words affect (did I use this right, Meg?) other people. Aaron suddenly chimed in with some scripture. I was taken slightly by surprise and we all ended up having a really good conversation. Then, I started asking him about the church he goes to. Apparently, Sherrie (Joey’s cousin), Vern (her fiancé) and Aaron belong to a very new community church called Red Cedar…something. They all began talking about it and became really excited because they are taking a different approach to reaching people. For the life of me, I can’t remember what the approach is (maybe you can help me, Yi?) but it had something to do with staying in community with everyone else in the church. For example, Sherrie was telling me how someone recently passed away. The whole church knew about it because they are all connected. It wasn’t just a part of the congregation, it was the whole thing.

So, then Aaron asks where we all attend: Riverview. The response was….not as excited. He said he had been a few times but it was just too big...which is fine. I understand Riv can be overwhelming for people. The three of them then began to compare Riverview to their church….making their church look a little better. I smiled and nodded and really listened to them. Or…I tried because of course, I’ve been around the church block a few times and…grrrrrr….Riverview is my home. But something else was happening inside me, too. I realized how I do this to other people when they are talking about their church. I’ll start talking about mine and maybe I won’t directly put their church down (as I have learned not to insult the bride of Christ) but I paint Riv in such a good light that it might turn people off.

So I listened.

But then…

I opened my mouth….

And said….

“Well, I really pray God blesses your church…but what if He blesses it so much that your church grows beyond what you imagined? What then? You lose that small community thing you have now but people are getting saved….which is what happened to Riverview.”

The answer was simple: we will plant other churches in the area.

I smiled as one of them came back and said, “well, maybe that will happen…”

It’s crazy. Sometimes I’m sure lessons cruise right by me but I feel like I’m picking a lot more up before they are leave town. I’ve got another major lesson to share but it will have to wait until another day….

Happy Birthday, Kelly Roo!

The boys got new collars and tags. They are happy.

Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend was fantastic. Almost too long to remember.

The weekend started with a half day at work and then a really awesome lunch with my step-dad at Texas Roadhouse. Joey and I went to Dan and Suzanne's for Suz's homemade pizza (delicious!) and then to Sweet Sensations for ice cream. It was fun listening to Jaden's new vocabulary ("sushi") and he also taught me how to play with helicopters. As we were sitting at Sweet Sensations, a really loud motorcycle went by. "Oh..that would be my step-dad," I said.

Saturday, I went running with Melissa. I couldn't believe we did about 3 miles. We could have gone longer but it was so muggy. Joey and I went to the mall for awhile after that and then on to Steve and Katie's wedding. It was beautiful. Hot, but beautiful.

Sunday, we went to church and then to Grandma Corr's for a picnic. After, Jenny, Pete and Yi came over to Joey's to hang out. Seriously, I don't think we need to buy a fire pit. The Koi Pond is way cool and unique. Joey's cousin Sherrie, her fiance Vern and their friend Aaron also came over. We had many interesting conversations around the Koi pond.

Monday, we cruised around town looking for Koi and other cool pet stuff. After a root beer with my dad, we joined the Kranzos and other Riv couples for a grill out.

Good times....

Jaden and Bear at dinner on Friday night.

Steve an Katie's wedding at the English Inn located in Eaton Rapids, MI. Beautiful wedding, you two.

I think this was the chicken dance.

It is not smart to take pictures of people while they are driving at night.

Last Thursday's storm

Joey making paper airplanes for my Sunday School class.

My computer works again, thanks to my friend Peter Awesome. Thanks, Pete (and God).

My mom and her mom (I love this picture)

Another meal at Joey's on Mother's Day

Grandma and Bradley on Mother's Day

Joey and I held an engagement party for Jenny and Peter. This was later in the night when things got a little crazy. Just a little.

Jenny and her mama doing a polka in the living room.

Peter and his groomsmen.

Jennwy and I at her engagement party.

The first tornado watch of the season? No, I feel like we had a freak one in the winter. Anyhow, you must know this girl is excited....

Kids are great.