My kid is not your kid…

Disclaimer: This is very personal, emotionally exposing blog to write. If you recognize yourself in any comments I mention, this is not meant to attack you or otherwise hurt you; this is a representative of life through our lens as parents to special needs children. I remember the sinking feeling in my gut as I expressed my concern about our daughter’s behavior at two years old at a playdate…

News and Notes 11.21.2014

Hey folks, It's Soup Supper Weekend!! Here is your volunteer list Kid Vespers Kelly McConnell Amanda Markwardt Nursery  Keith Brunson Anna Brunson Band Grey Skies no Keith Cook Corrie Wise Other Stuff As stated above, the soup supper is tomorrow. It starts at 6pm, please bring your friends and come hungry! Fallow  Month is soon upon us. If you want more info about things like Fallow month and other…

El Tour ’14

As just about everybody knows by now, I'm riding in the El Tour de Tucson this year.  I've dreamed about doing this ever since I moved to Tucson almost 30 years ago, and I'm finally doing it.  I've been training for several months, and am ready to do the 55-mile version of the race (hopefully, next year I can do the whole one!). This is really exciting for me,…

Pain and humor…

I spent Friday night and half of Saturday with Eric at a gathering of Christian Reformed pastors and leaders hosted by the Village with a mission to discover how we might 'be together' in new and better ways. How fun it is to see the beauty of Village hospitality on display. Thanks to those who hosted overnight guests in their homes and who cooked some amazingly delicious food for…

A Redeemed Daughter

Saturday's Walk for Freedom was a success. I speak of the success of awareness. There were 400 people in attendance and because these people are aware of the travesty of sex trafficking that number of people can only grow as time goes on. My heart was touched by something the founder of Free Ever After, Cynthia Magallenas said. She shared a bit of her story and confessed to a…

Village News Notes 11.8.2014

Hey everyone, Just a short email this week. Here is your volunteer list Kid Vespers Eric Cepin Sue Cepin A note - We are no longer doing Little Vespers, they have been combined and will be ages 3 to 7. Kids aged 8 will be in with Mid Kids when we have it every other week. Nursery Ron Layman Tamaki Layman Cook Shelly Neese(This is The Dean's friend, she…

I am not enough…..

I am not enough.  I feel it so many days, so many times.  My kids need so much more than I can give them.  I'm not talking about possessions or food.  I'm talking about meaning, assurance, explanations.  I am not enough and I will never be enough.  I am reminded of that everyday. Chris is struggling with focusing in class.  He can't keep up with the work because he…

I Can See

On October 1, I had eye surgery to remove cataract, I was born with, from my right eye, also had a cornea implant to correct astigmatism. On October 15, the left eye was performed. . On October 16, my right eye was 20/20, left eye 20/50, started to use "cheaters" for reading. Since then, I have been completely amazed with being able to see as clearly as I have…

Experiencing Intimacy With Jesus

When do you feel closest to Jesus? Is it reading his word? Or when you are writing in your journal; or when we are praying in the shower (c'mon we all have done it)? I feel closest to Jesus; and experience the greatest intimacy with him in my walks. It is the only time when I feel like I can clear my head from the clutter and confusion of…

I Do . . .

I Do . . . a lot of things I do a lot of things at the Village including preaching, cooking, counseling, encouraging, and leading and I have noticed a few things when it comes to compliments. The first thing I notice is how slightly uncomfortable they make me and yet how much I enjoy hearing them. A compliment is a part of our being thankful and we compliment…

Hey all!

Loved hanging with the high school kiddos tonight. They are a lovely group of kids except that they told me that had we lived hundreds of years ago I would be dead. :)

A note from Danielle

Reprinted from Danielle Flack's Website Sunday, August 31, 2014 A taste of blessing... Thank everyone so much for your thoughts of us and your prayers. For the first time, things seem to be 'smooth sailing.' The Lord Willing has gone out several times to fish and, all in all, has caught about 16,000 lbs of fish. Although little, we have made some money doing this! The crew is really…