Thanksgiving Preps with my Core GIrls

Last Saturday 12 of the Teen Mania young women came out to our house and spent the day baking, cooking, roasting and making a whole Thanksgiving dinner from scratch. It was lots of fun!
The turkey and all the trimmings...4 pies, rolls, a movie and lots of laughing and sharing!

Graduation and another new group of interns at the HA

Last weekend was graduation at the Teen Mania Honor Academy. It was a time of rejoicing and tears...the friendships made during the year or years there go deep and cause much ripping of the soul as they leave each other to live life in other parts of the world. David is the head of the Honor Academy and we are so proud of the work he does there. We learn so much from him!
I have mentored many of the women- some for two years- and it was very hard to see them walk out of the SAC for the last time. I am thankful for all the opportunities of have had to share their lives.
Dave and I both had opportunities to teach the class of 2009 so feel honored to have had a part in their time at the HA

You can go to my Facebook and see many more of the pictures of these beautiful women that I have had the privilege of knowing these past two years.


Sam heads up the Grad Intern department and works with the second, third and fourth year interns.

Cowboy camp day 2

We are at the end of day 2- a BUSY day...see the camp blog on the side bar for more details. I was hoping that pictures loaded faster at night...
Tonight we had the worship band and a skit....and the bobcat was seen lurking down the hill toward the lake..

Cowhands...here they come!!!!

WANTED!!! THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG!

Tomorrow is the day! For four days we will have the 11 oldest grandkids with us for 4 days of Grandkids camp! Woo hoo! can't wait!




Here is the agenda for day one.


Wednesday
10-Jun Camp 2009
3:00 check in/orientation
4:00 swimming
5:00 Red team report for KP
6:00 Dinner
7:00 counselor skit/horseshoes
8:00 Evening Game
9:00 campfire and smores
9:30 REady for bed/bedtime story
10:00 lights out

Check the side list for the cowboy camp link to stay posted!


WANTED!!!!! COWBOY HANK FOR DOG RUSTLIN! REWARD!!!!

March April...guess I spend too much time on Face Book!

Wow! I can hardly believe my last post here was March 7. I'm sure that anyone who ever was following this blog is long gone. I am so sorry!
On my birthday- March 8- we drove 1/2 way to meet up with the Smith gang- just one hour away- and celebrated at a Mexican restaurant and later at WalMart with ice cream bars! That was fun.
We also celebrated with Sam and Lisa and Jon and Kelly a few days before this.


Later in the month we kept the 4 youngest Smith kids for a few days- one of them happening to be Dave's birthday!




March was also the month that I put on the high tea for the 300 Teen Mania ladies. Actually- GEorge Portan and Sarah Nicholas and HOlly Baily did all the work- Amy's girls- came and played in a string quartet- it was beautiful! Here are the 2 youngest of AMy's girls who came along for the event.
In April- after shopping the internet, E BAy, Craig's list all over the country- trying to find a truck camper- we finally found one in the Rochester, MN Craig's list! The camper was in Wisconsin- we called the guy on Wed., Thursday after work drove to Dallas to get a part for Sam to install on the truck so we could attach the camper- got back home by 9 and he worked until midnight- (he had to get up at 4 am. to fly out the next day! That is true love) THe next morning we went to Sam's club to buy new tires- while we were waiting for them to be installed we were paged back to automotive where they talked us out of buying them! So we got a refund and spent it on a Garmin! FINALLY at 2:30 p.m. on Friday we got on the road and pretty much drove straight through to LaCrosse WI.
We loved the camper- bought it- and headed over to Williams Bay. We got spent a few days with Nancy and Terry Welsh-



such great hosts!We spent many hours catching up and also getting to see T's new baby



and WEndy and her children.













Also got to see Craig and Linda Curry (had breakfast at Millies) ,went to Milw. and saw Rose Hayes and spent a few hours with Gerry Grim. On Sunday we visited Full Gospel church and saw many friends we had not seen for years!




An overnight stop in St. Louis on on our way to Oklahoma allowed me to spend some precious hours with my sister Sandy. Her husband Tom treated us to a WONDERFUL roast dinner! What a treat! It was way too short but I was so blessed to spend that time there.
Oklahoma! Beaver's Bend State Park- we spent 4 days camping here with Sam and Lisa and family, Rex and Amy Albers, Russ Underwood and Joe Bellinger- we all work at Teen Mania. The guys did lots of fly fishing- producing very few fish but lots of fellowship and memories. It was a great trip.
We were glad to get home after our 10 day get away. Springtime in Texas is just the greatest- now Dave is off on his new project- building a garage to store all his tools, and equipment in. Sam actually will be doing the building! Dave's garden is up and we are eating radishes, lettuce and broccoli out of it already! The tomatoes are flowering and we are looking forward to lots of good veggies out of it. The nice thing about Texas is you get two gardening times- spring and fall garden!

So...that is the update on Dave and Marybeth Hasz! We are looking forward to summer- Lord willing, we hope to go to Colorado and then to Canada with Cindy and Dwight McAllister in July. Classes are winding down at Teen Mania. I believe Dave has only 4 classes left to teach and I plan to cut down my counseling time to two days during the summer plus take a month off. AHhhhhh...retirement is good! God is good! We are BLESSED!!!!!!

March Madness

Well, not really madness...just March! We began last Monday night with the ring banquet-the culmination of the "week of the Ring" at Teen Mania. There were 5 nights of sessions on how to live a live of honor- in the areas of "honor", "purity", "Integrity", Perseverance" and "The Ring- joining the line of 5,000 who have gone before and taken the pledge to live a life of honor. The sessions were all so excellent- oh to have had an opportunity to have this kind of teaching at 18-19 or 20 like these young adults are having. I am challenged to re-examine my life in all these areas and to commit to living an honorable all the days that the Lord will allow me to live! I don't have my ring yet..but hope to get it soon!
Last weekend we were visited by Amy and children. They came on Sunday evening and left on Tuesday. Monday Lisa and children and Kelly and children plus Amy and children and Dave's two oldest kids were all here on Monday! We had 15 or 17 grandkids here. They had a ball- they played outside all day- swinging, fishing, building castles and moats in the sandbox, riding bikes, scooters, skate boards and whatever else they could find to ride on! It was a fun opportunity for the girls to just sit and visit and talk about raising children, etc. What a fun day!
We went to Sam's later in the afternoon- Sam and Lisa have a great property and home-Room for the kids to run outside and a fun fire ring for a hot dog roast! THey hosted the Smiths while Dave and I went to the Ring banquet. Tuesday morning the Smith family had to leave for home early to get ready for Veggie distribution day! Wednesday and THursday were busy days at work- I spoke to the women interns on Thursday morning and had the Gen Lead TEam meeting at Kelly's in the afternoon.
We had dinner with Sam and Lisa on Thursday. Dave and MOSTLY Sam, replaced another part on the car and this one did the trick for fixing the problem! They replaced a wheel something or other.Friday night Sam and family came to help me celebrate my birthday- a few days early! They left tonight with a group of interns from Teen Mania for a Colorado excursion! Tomorrow we plan to be together with Jon and Kelly and kids and later in the day with Amy and children in Greenville or Rockwall. I am so blessed! Today I recounted all that GOD has done for me over these 68 years...I am so very blessed! He pursued me with his relentless love and saved me! He has given me friends, family, health, homes, a ministry in sharing his love with others...I am just so blessed! I want to spend the rest of my life sharing HIS love with anyone whom the Lord brings into my life.
Here are a few pictures of flowers from our yard..and Dave...so excited about the pear tree he planted a few years a go! He gets so excited about his trees and plants..and has the garden all in except for the tomatoes! I have the best husband!
Today we bought blueberry and raspberry bushes and planted them...along with flowers for around the tree...my one little flower garden! That is ALL I want to take care of so I am very happy with that...Dave has flowering bushes and plants ALL around the house that he cares for ...along with all his fruit trees and miles and miles of sprinkle system that he has installed around the property to care for it all! He is amazing!

The Week of the RING

This is the week at Teen Mania called "The Week of the Ring".
There will be five sessions this week designed to create a lasting impact upon the lives of the interns regarding "honor".
tonight the topic is "Honor"
Tuesday: Purity Ps. 119:9 How can a young person live a pure life? By obeying Your Word. Ps. 119:15 I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your principles and not forget your word."
Wednesday: Integrity Proverbs 12:22 The Lord hates those who tell lies, but is pleased with those who keep their promises."
Thursday: Perseverance/Courage Ephesians 6: 10-20 The Armor of God
Friday: The Ring/Fellowship of the Ring I Timothy 1:5 The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, sincere faith, and a clear conscience.
Monday- March 2- The Ring banquet- when the August Interns will receive their honor rings- to be worn as long as they are living a life of honor.

I plan to attend all the sessions this week and be ready to learn all that God has for me...I am almost 68...is this crazy or what? I wish I had these kinds of opportunities as a youth...but...it is never too late...I want to press into God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength!

Below is a quote I received the other day in an e-mail. I thought it was very timely.


"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.
Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.
Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed."

A trip to Mrs. Lee's Daffodils

It all started because Kohl's forgot to remove a "security" device from a suit coat that Dave bought last Friday. So...I had to return to Tyler...asked Lisa to go along to take advantage of the "additional 30% off" coupon I had...and she asked me to go with them to the Daffodil fields today. What a great experience!




Mrs. Lee's "garden" is spread out over 1,000 acres in East Texas.
Mrs. Lee purchased an entire boxcar load of daffodil bulbs from Holland and they were all planted with approximately 40 workers, including Mrs. Carolyn Owens Johnson's grandparents, Mamie and Nathaniel Scott, whom worked for Mrs. Lee from 1952-1984. Mrs. Johnson is the current manager of Mrs. Lee's Daffodil Gardens.
Mrs. Carolyn Johnson greeted us at the gate and welcomed us to the gardens- we made the 4 mile drive through millions of daffodils- stopped and walked through them- watched the kids run and play and thoroughly enjoyed God's beauty and creation.

All on a Sunday afternoon

Thanks to the 5 people who contacted me and confirmed that they check in on me at times! I so appreciate that!
We had a great day yesterday- went to Tyler and shopped most of the day. Then met up with Sam and Lisa and Jon and Kelly for movie and dinner. A special Valentine's day for us. It is such fun and such a blessing for us when our kids want to do things with us! We are blessed.
Today has been a lazy day- after church going out for breakfast then sitting home reading and checking out Facebook and lounging in front of the fire! A great lazy day!
Last Sunday Sam and Lisa and kids came up for dinner and the day. Sam and his dad spent a couple of hours constructing a kite from scratch- black garbage bags- having to cut strips off plywood with the table saw- experimenting with different weights for the tail...and then...getting everyone outside for the debut!

UP...up...up....oh...we need a few adjustments..

..
it looks like the tree got it but...fear not...it was just not...something..


bring it down and try it again...and again...adjust the tail...too heavy?...up...up...up.....


CRASH! BANG!!! KITE SELF DISTRUCTS!!! SAM CANNOT CONTAIN THE LAUGHTER (Good thing that Sam said on his Facebook this week in his 25 things about himself...that his dad is his best friend!) All in a day's fun with the fam... We all enjoyed the adventure...and the guys learned some things about kite construction...Dave says they need harder wood...we'll see next time!


BEST FRIENDS...AWWWW God...you are so good!!




What does this week hold? What does the Lord have in mind for us? We just want to be so totally submitted to HIS will for our lives! Dave is engrossed in reading Pilgrim's Progress in prep for the college class he is teaching at Teen Mania- He is teaching Great Books and Portfolio Papers- teaches 4 classes on Thursdays. I will be working 3 days meeting with girls as we discuss our lives and how to draw closer to God. What a privilege to work with young women of this generation and see their passion for reaching the world for Jesus. I am a blessed woman!

Does ANYONE look at this anymore

I am just wondering if it is time to can this...doesn't seem like anyone bothers to check in on it....

This is just a random picture of fun and fond memories- leaving for Canada with Sam and Lisa!

Oh Say Can you see...this is wonderful

Turn your blog in to a book

http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook

Check this out for turning your blog into a book.