Day of Prayer

The Ministerial staff is on a rotating schedule to take one day a week to spend in prayer and meditation. Mine was last Tuesday. I have been trying to figure out what I got from that day because since then I have been under attack spiritually. I started by doing some meditation exercises and then I started to read chapter 3 from the book "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster. Chapter 3 was about the discipline of prayer.

Here are my thoughts in "raw" form.

To pray is to change. The central way God uses to transform me is through prayer.

isn't that the purpose of our lives? to be transformed by God? So that others can see our transformation and start their own by connecting to God? It is only through a transformed life that others see God.

Transformed means? To look completely different from when I started.

Allowing God to transform me is scary. It hurts. It's uncomfortable. it requires action and passion on my part.

I am tired. I am weary. I am ashamed that I try to hide from God so that He can't ask/require anything more from me.

I need to listen first. Listen for guidance. God--what is your will for FXCC? for me? for Jay? for Chelsea? for Alex? How do you want to use me to advance your kingdom?

God I don't want my desires to get in the way. I pray for courage to accept what you ask/tell/command me to do.

It was a great day! I went out their anxious and I came home peaceful.

Am I ready for this

Jay and I put Chelsea on a plane today bound for Abilene, TX. to go and interview for the Presidential Scholarship at ACU. I was completely fine with it. We came home...I have been very lazy today--it has been an emotional few weeks for the Sergio family. Alex went to help a family move this afternoon and Jay went to work. A few minutes later, there was a knock at my door. It was the volunteer from Lake Braddock (where my kids go to school) she had the sign I ordered.

It says Lake Braddock Class of 2009--Graduate!

I cried. Today, I would tell you I am not ready for this. Good thing that my God is bigger than me. I need to rely fully on Him.

God's heart to your community

We have 2 new ministers on staff at FXCC. We welcome Geoffrey and Phil! Our new executive minister and student minister, respectively. We love having them here! Fresh ideas, fresh outlook and new blood! Geoffrey has been here officially for 10 days and he has already given us 2 books to read to carry out our vision to grow God's kingdom. One is called "They like Jesus, but they hate the church" by Dan Kimball. LOVE IT! It is about how this generation of 18-30 somethings view Jesus and the church. For the most part this age group is the group we are not reaching for Christ. I suggest that if you are part of a leadership group at your church then you should read this book. Remember as Christians we are to "Go onto all the world making disciples and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:18. As a Christian we have no higher calling. Too bad Satan knows how to distract us and focus on things that have nothing to do with saving souls.

About a year ago, our church took on the missional/visional motto "To be God's Heart to this Community". Since then we have been trying to figure out what exactly that means and how we will execute it for God's purposes.

So I want to ask you, when you see/hear "...God's heart to this community", what does it bring to mind? How would you be God's heart to your community?

I am curious to see/hear what other people think.

More DR Magi goodness

This is the Outreach Center that our missionaries, the Bynums, have fixed up and will officially open in January. Here children and teens and adults can come and learn computer skills, watch weekly movies and have a safe place to hang out.

Mission DR Magi Distribution

Here are a few pics that the kids took from their DR trip! It was a success! My children were so happy to be able to share this experience. Thanks for all your support.

It is hard to believe

Last Thursday, Chelsea and I flew to Abilene-- via 4 other states (don't ask) with friends to visit ACU. It was ACU's homecoming and a homecoming for me. I have not been to Abilene in almost 20 years! Campus has changed quite a bit but the town...not at all! I found my way around without much help! It was great to see old friends and remember the good old days!

Chelsea's heart is at ACU but she is looking into one other college. Jeremy the ACU recruiter and admissions counselor is working hard on her and for her! Jeremy was great this past weekend! Thanks Jeremy! Lipscomb is calling her almost everyday wanting her to seriously consider them. We are going for a visit after the New year.

Chelsea has decided to major in Nursing. An area I know NOTHING about. I have a cousin who is an ER nurse. Jay's brother is in Nursing school but I know NOTHING about it. When we went to meet with the Nursing program director and talked with her one on one, Chelsea came out of the "interview" and said "I totally see myself here doing this!" I could have cried. I am just so proud of her and who she is.

I would get teary eyed at times over the weekend thinking that I am at this stage of life. I can't believe that in just a few months I have to let my first born go. It is hard to believe.

It is hard to believe that yesterday was Alex's 15th birthday! In 6 months....he can drive! How did we get here?! He has been struggling in school this quarter but has pulled up 2 class grades SIGNIFICANTLY by doing a lot of hard work...it helps that we pulled the t.v. and saturday time with friends. We are proud of him!

It is hard to believe that next Friday Chelsea will be 18. Two weeks after that Jay will be 40!

It is hard to believe...

It's official!

Well, I do believe that #9 won by a majority vote with #2 coming in 2nd and #8 coming in at a close 3rd. Now I can start on Christmas gifts and graduation announcements! Thanks for your help....see why it was hard for me to pick!? She is just beautiful inside and out.

It's been quite a week--we have lost a lot of money with the stock market this week. So much for retiring at any age below 65! But you know what...the Lord gives and He takes away. If He wants us to have it back...we will get it back...if not then He has a plan.

I am starting to stress about making sure I tell Chelsea all she needs to know before she goes off on her own in 9 months. My prayer is that God presents those things and that I can recognize them and put them to good use. There is so much I want to tell her but I feel like things are just spinning out of control...maybe a mom/daughter weekend away would be a good idea.

I could get into politics but I don't wanna...I don't want to hear it from the other side. I believe he is wrong...flat out wrong. I believe that even though he professes to love the Lord but doesn't use those morals/religious beliefs to guide him in his job is just WRONG....ok I said I wasn't going to get into it...sorry....

I am also tired of bullies. Christians who behave like a bully. It just makes me sad...very very sad.

I am very happy that the Biggest Loser 6 is on...it makes me happy...very very happy.

Ok now I have to brag about my kids--They have the opportunity to go to the DR this Dec. to deliver Magi Boxes to the children. Both of my kids came to me about it and we do not have the extra $600/kid to send them...so they are going to forego their birthday gifts in Oct and Nov. and possibly Christmas. They are only asking for family to make a donation in their name to help fund their trip. They said that they don't need or want anything other than to go to the DR and help out there! Jay and I could not be any prouder of them! I of course want to go--but my birthday is not until April! :( I am such a proud mom!

Happy weekend everyone!

Polls are open!

In the spirit of politics, voters making a choice, having a voice and the american way of life! (boy that was a bit much huh?) I am opening myself up to a vote. These are some photos of Chelsea that I took this summer for her "Senior Pictures". She did her normal drape pic for the school. These are for announcements, memorabilia, posters, documentaries for the Bio channel, etc.

I would like to know what you, the voter, think. Help me make my decision! Remember what you decide will live eternally as Chelsea's senior picture! No pressure! Thanks!

The nominees are:


1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.

9.

10.

Change is good

My friend Mindy just posted about change! You can find her over on the left under "Team Bedard". I love change to! My furniture tends to get rearranged at least once a year! Well since Suz moved out, I have dying to do something with our basement. 

Over the summer Chelsea has taken some GREAT black and white photos. Worthy of framing...sooooo....I got them blown up and framed....hence the inspiration for our basement! I already have one Ansel Adams print...now we have our own budding Ansel Adams.

My MIL came this week too and she and hte kids cleaned out and the back of my Expedition is PACKED full of stuff to take to Salvation Army or the used book store. Thanks Pat for all your hard work! I love to simplify!

I wish I had before pics but I didn't think about it until we were done. But the walls were a blue kind of like the curtains you see there...so it was dark. We wanted to lighten it up. Teh bathroom was an eggplant purple...I know..I don't know what I was thinking....Sooo now they walls are Almond Chip and Lime Curl!

 So here's the after. I am in the process of getting frames for the final 4 pictures--2 to go by the entertainment center and 2 more to go on the green wall. I am also looking for denim slipcovers for the loveseat and chair. Anyone know where I can get relatively inexpensive slipcovers in denim?

I LOVE a musical

My friend Lisa and I surprised our daughters this past Thursday with tickets to see Mamma Mia at the National Theatre! It was WONDERFUL!!! I heart musicals!! WE bought the sound track and have been singing ever since! Next on our list is Wicked!

By the way, I hope the movie that is released on the 18th is just as good as the musical!

The DR day one

The homes had one main room that might have a table and chairs and a kitchen. There were 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. The shower was separate from the toilet. 
This is outside the girls house. the orange tank outside is the gas that they use to cook with. These homes are very nice by Dominican standards.
Nice dominican homes have concrete floors. A lot of homes only have dirt floors. You are really rich if you have tile on the floors.


You see a fridge in this picture but they are not normally plugged in or used because they don't have consistent electricity. The slogan for this area is "hay luz?" which means "is there electricity?" The plastic lawn chair in the corner of the pic. is what most homes I saw had for chairs.

We arrived Tuesday afternoon and got our stuff situated and had orientation, dinner (delicious rice and beans!) and devo. It was a little unnerving to sleep on a thin mattress with mosquito nets over them. I had Cassey tuck me in! Thanks Cassey! In fact, Cassey or Chelsea had "tuck-in" duties each night for me! I never quite got the hang of tucking in my mosquito net!

We woke up on Wednesday, and ate breakfast...which consists of whatever food items we bring for this. The camp provides fresh fruit! We drink water provided by the camp that is bottled water but contains sodium...so yes, my feet got swollen!

We headed to the children's home that is just up the road to do painting of the houses. The rumor was that they were going to be inspected soon and Brian takes great pride in the children's home and so wanted everything to be just so!

It took my body about 24 hours to adjust to the humidity and only drinking water and sweating like a pig. I just kept drinking and drinking, I did not want to get sick. Our teens were troopers! 1/2 the group went to haul rocks from the river and the other 1/2 painted. We broke for lunch and a little siesta and came back and finished what we had started!

trying to find the words

Here's the group ready to go!

A nice Dominican Road

A nice Dominican house

I haven't blogged about the Dominican Republic Mission trip that I was blessed and honored to have chaperoned.

I don't know how to find the words for the amazingness that happened while there! I will tell you that Fairfax has the BEST teens HANDS DOWN of any youth group!!! I cried everyday watching them be uncomfortable and pushing that aside to do God's work and show the people we met what it means to be a Christian! They were so selfless and unselfish and poured their hearts out in some really nasty situations.

Thank you guys for allowing me to be a witness to that part of your life!

I will try to post pictures and a synopsis of what we did everyday! You will find to the right of this post, the links to the Missionaries who live everyday there--The Bynums, The Wallaces, The Lambs, and The McClouds. I encourage you to read their blogs and pray for their efforts.

Cardboard Confessions-AMAZING!

This is what happens when.....

your neice gets a hold of your camera.





Your son gets a hold of your camera.