The Giveaway That Keeps on Giving Part 2

If you didn't win over at Melinda's blog, don't despair! Pat Layton has decided to keep this thing going and is offering an EXTENDED GIVEAWAY of 5 more DVD kits at the Surrendering the Secret Leader Blog!!! You can go right on over there and enter again...and leave an encouraging comment while you're there, as the leaders of STS groups would be so blessed by them!


This giveaway will be for 5 leader kits. The leader kits include the DVDs, 1 leader guide, and 1 learner guide. This extension of last week's contest will be very similar:

1. Leave a comment of encouragement to women who have had an abortion and/or women who are currently leading Surrendering the Secret groups.


2. Link the giveaway in a post on your own blog, then leave a SECOND comment, including the link to your post. This is NOT about blog promotion, but about spreading the word of healing!

Remember some of the ways to get involved that Melinda shared on her blog:

• Tell your church about the study and work toward getting a copy purchased for their use, if you don't win.


• Encourage your pastor to discuss abortion from the pulpit and include it in the sins mentioned from the pulpit that are forgiven through Christ. There are MANY women who walk away from a sermon feeling like their sin is unforgivable, simply because it's never mentioned.


• Invite Pat to come and speak to your women's group and/or leadership about ministering to women in crisis, or to train your leaders to present this study.


• Consider donating financially.

Autumn Vegas Style

Last night Richard and I went to the Bellagio Atrium located in the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. They change it through out the year. I love Fall so I just had to see their display. It was so beautiful. It was the closest I could get to Fall so far this year.
I would love to go on a New England tour some day and just take it all in. This is by far my favorite season.

Most all of the pumpkins were real. There were mums and peppers and all sorts of flowers and they were real.



Joshua and the Great Pumpkin

Richard & Josh

The leaves were suspended from the ceiling.


There were two trees with moving eyes, mouth and eyebrows.

Don't you just love Josh's expressions

Some of the peppers

Me & Josh

"Fall Delano"

There were two trees that were raining. It was so cool.

The Venus fly trap

More flowers and pumpkins


I will go back in December and take pics of the Winter Wonderland.

Baptisms

Oh how I love baptisms. They remind me of weddings. They both symbolize the beginning of a new life.

Here are a few pictures of baptisms we had this month. Praise God for these precious men. God and the angels are rejoicing in heaven with us.

Preparing for the baptisms.
I have to tell you what happened a few moments after this picture was taken. Our dear friend Liz who was so gracious to allow us to use her pool for baptisms decided that she wanted to get a bug out of the pool while my husband Richard was speaking on the meaning of baptism. While she was skimming the pool she accidentally smacked Richard in the head with the handle of the skimmer. It happened so fast that I wasn't even sure if it hit him or not. He moved his head so fast and just kept right on with his teaching. It did hit him, but not hard enough to make him lose his focus. Way to go honey!! We did capture it on video. America's Funniest Videos would love to see it I'm sure. We all laughed about it later.


Meet Stephen. This young man is such a blessing to us. He was very excited to be baptized. It was so emotional for him and for all of us.




Meet Sergio. He was so excited, he made me want to get baptized again. Oh I pray that we would all be able to keep the excitement and joy that comes with our new life in Christ.




Praise Him!!!

A Giveaway That Keeps on Giving

Melinda is giving away this study:



Did you know that one in every three women has had an abortion? In fact, 43% of women of child-bearing age have this secret. And I don't use the term "secret" lightly. While there is certainly a multitude of unbelieving women out there that tote this secret sadness in their hearts, there are as many BELIEVING women - FORGIVEN, SAVED WOMEN in YOUR CHURCH - who are walking around unhealed. Why? Because they are paralyzed by shame and fear at the thought of surrendering their secret.
Don't miss out on this giveaway!

Other ways to get involved:

• Tell your church about the study and work toward getting a copy purchased for their use, if you don't win.
• Encourage your pastor to discuss abortion from the pulpit and include it in the sins mentioned from the pulpit that are forgiven through Christ. There are MANY women who walk away from a sermon feeling like their sin is unforgivable, simply because it's never mentioned.
• Invite Pat to come and speak to your women's group and/or leadership about ministering to women in crisis, or to train your leaders to present this study.
• Consider donating financially.
  

Thank you Melinda for offering this to us.

The Wedding

What a wonderful day this was. I couldn't be happier for the two of them.
My sister-in-law who wasn't sure if she would ever re-marry, married her high school crush. I will never forget the night she called me after an old friend from high school gave her Craig's phone number. It went something like this:
Tari: Hey, guess what? I talked to one of Craig's friends tonight and he told me Craig was single. Me: Great, so did he ever marry?
Tari: No, he was engaged a few times, but he never married.
Me: Well, what's wrong with him? lol!!
Tari: I don't know but his friend gave me his number. Should I call him?
Me: Sure, why not?
Tari: I don't know, what if he doesn't want to talk to me? Forget it, I'm not calling him.
Me: Just call, tell him you were thinking about him and just wanted to say hi. You'll know from what he says if he's into talking with you or not.
Tari: I don't know.
Me: Just do it! What do you have to lose?
Tari: Alright I'll do it, but I'm calling you back as soon as I'm off the phone with him.
2 hours later.....
Tari: OMGosh, he was totally cool. We talked forever.
The rest is history.

Mr. & Mrs. Craig Louma

The beautiful bride ~ Tari

My handsome hubby

My beautiful Mom

My handsome son James and beautiful niece Leighanna

Love the cake topper. The bride has the key to the ball and chain on the groom's ankle.

Isn't this cake beautiful?

Getting ready to cut the cake. The view from their suite was amazing.

Catch up time

I'm going to try my best to catch you all up.

Let's start with Joshua's first day of Kindergarten.

Walking to class


Line up time


Hmmm, getting a little nervous


Piece of cake...home at last


4 days later, Open House


Showing us where he sits


He made this apple with a worm in it


The library, how cool is that art work?


Well at least it's a start. Stay tuned for the Deeper Still conference, a baptism, a wedding and more.

I'm Back!!

My goodness!! I haven't posted in over a month.
I need to go get my camera & download some pictures so I can show you what I've been up to.

The temps here are getting pretty nice. I think we might be out of the triple digits :)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday and getting ready for Fall, my favorite time of year.