Thank you to Pamela, Mrs. South Dakota and Kimberly, Mrs. Alaska for sending this clip out...such a simple thing and yet so important...
Being that we are in this wonderful era of technology I did a little weather researching for my trip to D.C. to "pack appropriately"...well, unfortunately all the technology in the world is not fool proof when it comes to weather...and the "78 sunny skies" was not to be. Needless to say, I didn't pack anything remotely warm and found myself freezing my tush off as Greg and I were walking the Mall. I finally got to the point where misery was setting in and poor Greg was getting the brunt of it (notice I'm wearing his jacket and he's wearing short sleeves - go figure!). We rushed to Union station where I proceeded to buy a turtle neck and thick sweater so we could head back in to the elements and enjoy the rest of our day. Once I donned my final defense against the cold - five dollar gloves from a street vendor - we continued our tour of the monuments and the memorials. Lots of walking but so many incredible things to see. We're definitely going to have to go back b/c we didn't get a chance to do any of the museums. There's just too much to see & do.
I know, I know, it's taken me forever to post...can I blame it on the kids ;-) I seem to be doing that a lot lately. At the beginning of April I traveled to Maryland to judge the Mrs. Maryland Int'l pageant. It has been a lot of fun traveling to these different states and getting to spend time with some of the ladies I competed with last July in Chicago. Sherry ran a wonderful pageant... great contestants and I throughly enjoyed my time. Greg flew in after I was done with my "responsibilities" and we had ourselves a little vacation - we needed it after all that has gone down the past few months. Those will be stories shared on another blog post.
For those of you in Texas that read my blog and might be interested in a great adoption seminar and workshop this is one to look into:
Adoption Ministry Mini-Workshop & Seminar
Connecting resources with East Texas churches
www.purereligionjames127.com
Pure Religion will host an event focused on better understanding the needs and processes involved with adoption, orphans and children living in the foster care system. This free mini-workshop/seminar is designed for enhancing the lives of these children through churches. Not everyone is equipped to foster/adopt, but everyone can help. The workshop will include complimentary coffee, snacks and literature.
Saturday, April 26th from 9:00am to 12:00 pm (We're anticipating 300 guests so come early for a good seat.)
Colonial Hills Baptist Church. 7330 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75703 (All denominations will be present.)
Michael & Amy Monroe, leaders of Tapestry at Irving Bible Church, will be leading the seminar. Their insight into an already successful church adoption ministry in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area is extraordinary. About Tapestry : "From the time this community began in 2000, we have focused on helping children and families as they travel the adoption or foster care journey. While all who have been touched by the miracle of adoption share a common bond, each journey is unique and presents its own joys and challenges" www.tapestry.irvingbible.org
Session A (9:30 to 10:45 pm):
Exploring the Possibilities - A Discussion About Domestic and International Adoption and Foster Care Ministry in Your Church. Facts, statistics, benefits & available resources. (Michael & Amy Monroe, Tapestry/Irving Bible Church) Designed as an interactive discussion about how some churches are living out God's heart for the fatherless in the adoption/foster care ministry areas.
Session B (11:00 to 11:50 pm):
Breakout B-1: What, Who, Where, When and How - Starting an Adoption/Orphan Care Ministry in Your Church ~Designed for churches that are just beginning to consider how to start a domestic or international ministry.
Breakout B-2: Practical Ideas and Resources for Adoption and Foster Care Ministry in Your Church (Michael & Amy Monroe, Tapestry) Designed for churches that are just beginning to start or have already begun an adoption or foster care ministry.
GRAND OPENING::::::
Pure Religion, JAMES 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
A Project of East Texas Heart Gallery
Pure Religion, JAMES 1:27 will be on display marking the grand opening of this faith based recruitment effort. Heart Gallery has created a unique traveling exhibit that is designed explicitly for churches. Heart Gallery designs a maximum 3-week tour, a speaking schedule, materials for bulletins and/or hand-outs and a follow-up meeting for interested congregants specifically for each church. The ease and beauty of this exhibit make it the perfect system for a congregation to learn about the needs of these orphans. Pure Religion bookings will be taken at the workshop. (You do not have to start a ministry to book Pure Religion at your church.) www.PureReligionJames127.com
Available resources include: Many, many helpful volunteers, Azleway, Tapestry, Faith Connection, Mission Tyler, (CASA) Court Appointed Special Advocates, CPS Community Partners, Child Welfare Boards, Family Court Judges, United Way, Heart Gallery, Council on Adoptable Children, Foster Parent's Associations of East Texas, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Baptist Home for Children and Forgotten Children's Orphan Ministries.
This will also be a great opportunity to meet and connect with resources as well as others in East Texas that are already involved in orphan ministry. Please e-mail the names, church/organization and your specific seminar interests to: PureReligion127@gmail.com or call 903-521-4570 (Denice Grugle) Invite anyone who would benefit.
Sandy Stuck & Denice Grugle - Volunteers
If any of you in the So. Cal area are interested in an adoption workshop the following may be of interest to you.
FamilyLife's If You Were Mine provides a relaxed, non-threatening environment where you can consider practical information about adoption from an objective and biblical point of view.
Find answers to questions such as:
* Is adoption for us?
* How does the adoption process work?
* How do we choose an agency that's right for us?
* Can I really love an adopted child?
* Can we afford adoption?
Join us Saturday, April 19, 2008, at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA from 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $20 per person.
To register, go online now or call 1-800-FL-TODAY (1-800-358-6329).
An outstanding workshop for any couple considering adoption. FamilyLife's If You Were Mine adoption workshop offers practical, biblical information to help couples overcome the misconceptions and fears about adoption.
-- Steven Curtis Chapman, Christian Recording Artist
