Leadership retreat 2015

Went to the Abby in mount Angel for two days with Pastor Bud, Pastor John, Sue Morse,Holly Dueck, and Robin Eger and Debbie Stevens. We each had our own room. It was nice. Very quiet. We did some brainstorming and I made a point to make the children's ministry of more importance this year to the church.

End of the month

Well tommorrow is February 1st. Only 19 days until I'm 62. It will be the start of me drawing my social security check. It's not much but will pay for my medical insurance. That is a good thing. We had a productive month of January. We finished our remodel and today we got the vanity top for our new cabinet in the main bathroom. It turned out awesome. We also cleaned ou the garage and now I can put my car in it. Yea!!  We rearranged the computer room and got a new used desk so it almost looks like an office. When Joe gets moved into his office then I can turn that room back into the guest room. For February I want to trim back all the plants and get new bark dust down in the front and back yards. Also I want a new bedspread and curtains and area rug for our bedroom. Hopefully it will all be done before Meghan comes March 4 th.  I'm fighting a head cold and have to speak in front of the church tommorrow but looking forward to relaxing and watching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl .

Working out

I set an appointment for Monday to have the trainer go over my workout. Now that I kinda know my limits and what I like to do. I did 25 minutes on the bike and the arc machine each yesterday along with the ab machines. It felt really good but can only do level one.  We shall see what the trainer says about it.
After talking with my trainer I found out that the reason I had so much trouble with the ab machines was they were set to heavy. Now that I know how to adjust them, I did all the machines today. 3 sets of 15. Yea. And 20 minutes ab. Arc trainer and 20 minutes bike and 10 minutes stairclimber.  God workout today then off to the hairdresser and manicure.

Cleaning house

This weekend we got started again on cleaning out the old junk and making room for other stuff.  Since we took out one bedroom I have been juggling things around to make room for all the stuff we had in the fourth bedroom. This weekend we finally accomplished that. We now have a guest room and an office for Joe and Ian's room and our closets are complete. It's so nice to have things in a place. One trip to the dump tommorrow and I might get my car in the garage this week. Yea!

January 14 Humpday

Today is the third day in a row that I went to the gym!  Yea!!  I am doing mostly cardio and some AB machines.  I have a pretty good workout for me.  So far I am doing 5 different machines and the first day I did 10 minutes on all of them and now I am doing 12 minutes and hope to work up to 20 min. on each machine.  Then I did 3 sets of 15 on 4 different ab machines, and I really need to keep with this and just get stronger and eventually ad weight.  It feels great to be working out again.  Planet Fitness is very comfortable and when I go it is almost empty.

January 2015 Awana training

Well this year is starting off with a weekend at Cannon Beach for Awana Commander training. It starts Thursday and runs through Sunday afternoon. Joe will take my Sunday school class on Sunday. I can't wait for the training. It is all inclusive with food and overnight at the convention center.
The worst and best part of this weekend has been the food. I'm so not used to eating 3 meals a day. Luckily I can eat eggs and  even oatmeal and turkey for lunch and dinner but it's the English muffins and croissant sandwich and the cheese cake that's bad.  I have been pretty good but wow how can I pass up all this free food?  Well good thing I start working out on Monday. The conference is awesome. I feel like I am so much more qualified to be leading this program now.

January and Broke

Of course I spent every last dime on Christmas this year and the kids said it was the best year ever.  I will agree because they surprised me with wonderful pictures of themselves which I LOVE.  So now we are behind in everything and will need a couple months to get caught up.  Ian's truck is in the shop again and luckily he is going to pay for it until we can pay him back.  Probably over $800.  Ouch.

Working Out?

Today I did it.  I joined the planet fitness gym.  I got the black card membership which allows me to bring one guest everyday.  Because it is bran new the membership cost is $1.00 and the monthly dues are $20.05.  If I would of joined the regular for $10 a month then I would of had to buy another for Joe to go so this makes more sence.  Also it includes all the extras.  And it is unlimited and training available and 24 hours.  I have big plans for myself this year.  Im also going to start Dr. Oz weight management diet.  It looks like a better way of eating than medifast bars.  So wish me luck!!  I dont need to lose so much weight as I need to eat better and get some good exercise.  Here we go.  Monday Jan. 11, 10:30 am is my first visit with a trainer.

2015 New Years Resolutions

Ok, here are my hopes and dreams for this year.

I want to maintain 135 or less.  My dream weight would be a steady 130 but 128 would be amazing.  I want to join a gym this year and work out regularly.  I lost the weight by changing my eating but I want to be healthier and need to work out.
I would like to sign up for Social Security this year and start drawing it because I need the money to pay for health insurance for myself and Ian since Joe is now on social security and medicare and thats all.
I would like to pay off all the phones I got everyone for Christmas so I can have a decent phone bill again.
I would like to pay off the windows in our house.  This was alot and Im not sure I can, but I want to try.
I would like to change sinks in the laundry room and the cuboards and update that room to be nice.  Maybe even a new washer and dryer.
The computer room needs new closet doors and window sills and then it will be done but needs organized.
I would like to go on a Vacation with Joe somewhere this year.  Maybe Hawaii or maybe Catalina Island.
I would like it if Joe could build on or a new shed for himself this year.
I would like for Joe to get a new pickup this year.
I hope to keep Awana strong and growing and my goal for the whole childrens ministry growth is 20%.

Well that should do it.  Of course I always want to read the Bible in a year, so I will keep trying to do that to.

And so begins another year.

Well I wasnt very good at keeping up with my writing last year, but as I look back on my resolutions, I did pretty good.  We managed everything on the list except a mission trip, so I will put that on my list for this year.  What I really want is to take some kids around 12 on a mission trip.  We shall see.  The church is all landscaped and looks beautiful and we are enjoying the new worship center.  All of our events last year went off without a hitch. 

The year 2014 began with the starting up of Awana for the children of Alliance Bible Church.  We began with a small group of 3rd – 6^th   graders and had an average of 8 kids and 5 volunteer leaders, every other week.   This program ran through the rest of the school year ending in June.  In September of 2014 Awana started back up in full swing, including all ages from Cubbies, ages 3 & 4 to Sparks, ages 5,6,&7 and the Truth and Training T&T’s ages 3^rd through 6^th grade. We are currently serving 30 kids and have several children not from Alliance families attending. We now have 14 volunteer leaders and helpers that lead the kids through large group time, handbook time and game time. In December, we held the first “store” night, where the kids purchased, from the Awana store, items with their “bucks” they have been earning for memorizing and reciting the Scriptures and complying with the requirements.  

 The fourth annual Easter Egg Hunt was very successful this year again.  With the use of the new school yard in the back of the property, 700 candy filled plastic eggs were scattered around by the Jr. High class, making a sea of colorful pastel dots.  The spring brought the highly anticipated Pinewood Derby.

The first full week of August brought the 3^rd annual High Power Soccer Camp.  We had 27 kids in camp aging from 5 – 10 years old. 

The Fall Festival in October was a Castle theme and we created a large cardboard Castle for kids to run and hide in.  It was nice to have the extra room in the new worship center.

Sunday, December 14^th we did the fourth annual Children’s Ministry Pageant.  Our pageant this year was “Not so Silent, Silent night.” It was awesome. 

In September, Susie and I flew to Arizona for our Dad's 80th birthday party and then in December we celebrated Moms 80th in Everett, Wa.

Ahrianna (Shonnie) and Susie and I spent a weekend together at "Rhodas"   A trailer Susie lived in in Maple Valley.  This year we are suppose to all come here to my house.  We shall see. Maybe the beach.