I used to be a children's minister...

This video shows why I'm not one any longer, probably...


Patrick Has Such A Way With Kids from Bret Foster on Vimeo.

I'm pretty sure Bret pinched Harry causing him to cry.

Bolivia Trip

This week, several people from Crossroads are gone to Bolivia for a Mission Trip. Please take time this week to pray for their work and for their safe travel home. Listed below are their names:

Chris Keeton
Dale Melton
Karl Blackwell
Lori Clemons
David Gillis
Doug Durick
John Kelly
Lynn Buckles

The Greatest Costume Ever

Ok people, Halloween is one week from tomorrow. And in honor of said event I would like to give credit to the best costumes that I have seen over the years.
None of which are ones that I have worn because I am horrible at Halloween costumes- not sure why, it just always happens- like my geisha incident of 2005...anyway-

One of my favorites was Clark being Mugatu from Zoolander. I can't help it, it was hilarious. A washed up superhero was another-

So my question to you is... what is your favorite costume? Or, has a costume backfired on you?

Donald Miller's new book

Thanks to Bret for pointing out this short interview with Donald Miller about his new book.

Killing time until 5:00

In case you need something to help pass the time at work (other than work...) try this game.

It's a game where you're a cat with a bow and arrow and some string. I never would have imagined that something so stupid could be so addictive. As you play you begin to figure out little things that help you out - like the fact that you can shoot your arrow in mid flight.

Let me know how you do.

My No-Meter

About this time last year I realized that I was way overbooking myself. The reason was simple. I was having trouble saying "no" to people. Now, I would like to think that this was because I am just an utterly wonderful person... but it's actually because I wanted everyone to think that I was wonderful... and there's a big difference.

I knew I needed to get myself under control, so I came up with a plan. I made a drawing of a thermometer- like the ones they use with fund raisers- and I decided that everytime I said "no" to someone, I got to fill the thermometer up a notch. When I got to 25 notches I got a new pair of shoes.

It took a couple of months but I got my shoes and I found out that when I said ‘no’ to someone, someone else was able to say ‘yes’. I was actually getting in the way of an opportunity for someone else.

So my question to you is… What could you use a “No-Meter” for? And more importantly… What will be your reward?!!

This Really Happened.

It was one of those… you know. I woke up late- and at the same time as my daughter, which is never good . Her little bassinet thing is right outside our bathroom door, so I took a shower with my head out, trying to keep her from realizing she hadn’t eaten yet. Then of course the one dress I just had to wear to work, was the one dress that was still downstairs in the laundry. So I bring crying Lucy downstairs in the dark- I can’t turn the lights on because then the neighbors would see that I was scantily clad- and I don’t have shoes on because I left them in the car.

Ok- find the dress- throw said kid in car seat and proceed to the babysitters without the bouncer and medicine that she will need for the day.

Now half way to the babysitters, I start to smell throw-up. It’s still dark out so I’m hoping my daughter, still crying, isn’t yacking as well, when I realize that the throw-up smell is coming from me. Yes, I have Lucy lunch on my dress- which, if you were wondering, is why it was in the laundry in the first place. And where are my shoes that are supposed to be in the car? Yep. No shoes.

Of course I park outside the babysitters in the middle of what could only have been an all out acorn battle between the two rivaling squirrel gangs in the neighborhood- because there are shards of acorn shrapnel everywhere. And I have no shoes. And if you have ever tried to get a car seat out of a car- you know that you really need a good sensible pair of shoes on.

Point is… my brain is telling me to slow down. My schedule, however, has other plans. I know that God doesn’t have time management problems. He’s not going to make a mistake in how much we can handle. The mistake is ALWAYS on our end- So my question to you is what have you had to give up? Or what are you holding onto?

I would also love to hear something dumb you might have done trying to rush around in the morning. It would sure make me feel a lot better ☺

Congratulations!!

Congrats to Tim & Jess Stephan on the birth of their second child! Jackson Nash Stephan was born on Friday morning. He weighed 9lbs 5oz, was 21 inches long, and his interests include long walks and kick boxing. Congratulations guys!

A Little Front Porch WIsdom

Have you ever marveled at the stuff people could do a couple of generations ago? For the most part, our grandparents knew how to build houses, fix cars, grow food, live within their means, be neighborly, stay married, raise kids- and a hundred other things that seem so challenging today.

We live with more information and conveniences than ever- but is life really better today? Are we any better at living it? While we can’t recreate the “good old days”, we could stand to grab some of the timeless wisdom that blessed and sustained those who came before us. Our next teaching series will focus on some of the biblical values and life skills that seemed more widespread a couple of generations ago.

To get the ball rolling, we'd love to hear from you about the "front porch wisdom" you've gotten from your grandparents, older relatives, mentors, etc.

Are there any pieces of advice you refer back to time and again?

Any character traits you've tried to emulate?

Any fond memories or stories of the wise sages in your life that you reach back to for inspiration?

This Cool Weather Really Warms My Heart

The one great thing about living in Kentucky is that you truly get to experience all of the seasons. Now that summer has officially ended and Fall has begun, I'm excited about what this autum holds. You see, Fall just may be my favorite season of them all. Don't get me wrong, Summer is great with all the cook outs and fireworks and such, but there's just something dirty to me about summer. Maybe it's all my sweating, I don't know, but Fall.....oh, Fall feels clean and refreshing. Below is a list of what I love about this wonderful time of the year.


FOOTBALL: College or pro, I love it all. Especially this year with my CATS being 5 - 0! Also, what's football with tailgating? Anytime I can have an excuse to eat 8 bratwursts in a single sitting is a good thing.

KEENELAND: This weekend marks the opening of the Fall Meet at the best horse tack in the world. (Fun Fact: Did you know that Keeneland has been noted as having the most beautiful parking lot in the world?) Call me a sinner, but there isn't anything quite like the feeling of laying $2 down on a pony and watching that baby come in to win!

TURTLENECKS: OK, when I was in high school, L.L. Bean turtleneck sweaters were all the rage. However, the turtlenecks have gone the way of the cassette tape and other great inventions. It's replacement has become hoodies and corduroy pants I guess...but my point is that Fall is the time of year to pull out the cool weather clothes from storage and to start sporting those duds you haven't' seen in several months. It's like getting a bunch of new clothes without going shopping.

SEEING YOUR BREATH: The other morning as I was loading up the car, I exhaled and noticed my breath doing that steamy thing that happens when it's cold outside. I was so excited that I ran inside, grabbed my daughter and showed her how to make her breath steam too! She loved doing it so much that now she has been trying to do it in the warm air of the afternoon. Man, kids are really dumb.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS: I think it's called Big Blue Madness now, but to me it's always going to be Midnight Madness. When I attended UK, I went ever year just to get the first glimpse of my beloved Wildcats. But now, I just watch it on TV which in some ways is even better because you don't have to sit next to any of those crazies that have been camping out, without bathing, for two weeks. Is it just me, or is that not the dark side of UK basketball? "Me love me some UK basketball" is a quote I heard one of those nuts say on TV a few years ago and it's now branded in my brain. Unfortunately, I now say it at least 3 -4 times in every UK game.

FALL FESTIVALS: I love Fall Festivals. LOVE THEM! So far this year, I've been to the Burgoo Festival and Oktoberfest at Christ the King with plans to attend another festival this weekend. Maybe Crossroads should start having an Oktoberfest....hmmmmmmm

HALLOWEEN: I love that there is a holiday that allows me to dress up and act like a totally different person for an evening and everyone totally accepts that as normal.

Well, that's just some of the reasons why Fall is such an awesome time of the year. I could go on, but I wonder, what do you love about Fall? Or maybe, you hate it...but that's just ridiculous.