MOPS convention. what an experience the convention had around 4,000 ladies and it was a great neat. Traveling with 3 other steering team leader made the trip for me. I couldn't have asked for better companions. we could have used better health. but that didnt ruin our trip we still had a blast. i may write more later . i am still getting over what might be the dreaded "flu" saw the doctor tomorrow it was funny she basically said that same thing!!

Insights from Elsa Morgans book Naked Fruit

There is this wonderful book that has been at hand lately. This year, Mops creative team will be going through a devotional at our monthly preparation meetings for the upcoming months activities. The book is about the fruits of the spirit and seeing them naked, an honest look at what the fruits of the spirit were meant to look like.

According to Morgan (2004)"Love, being there... in everything."(p. 53) A person that does not give up on love when one may have displeases that person. Simply put loving when love doesn't come easy. This is one fruit that is powerful; having a person see within our faults, seeing us naked from all the niceties that are used to conceal who is inside. This book has the ability to open the readers eyes to the possibility of how God would have the reader see others. What kind of a world would it be if we were to have God goggles on.(Morgan, 2004, p. 53)

Joy is the next of the fruits of the spirit. Finally, an easy explanation for what joy is; Jesus Others Yourself.... JOY having confidence in God. That no matter what the circumstances are happiness is found in everything. Because, God is there with the reader getting the reader through the situation.

Peace is the result of resting in God, knowing that He is there with the reader and the reader is not alone in what ever faces him/her. With the storm of life swirling all around still having peace with the knowledge of God's surrounding protection.

Patience. Continually this is a fruit that will be dropped. And then walked all over. Having children and being married and, well, just being around people, the reader needs to have patience. The Bible addresses patience in the fruit list as patience with people. Patience is hanging in there with hard to love people. People who make life harder than you would like it to be.

According to Morgan (2004) "Kindness cares, and because it cares, it acts." (p.92) This is a profound line found in Elsa Morgan's book. The reader may have not thought of it like that before but upon closer examination that is exactly what it is.(Morgan, 2004, p. 92)

Goodness is God like. We, as a people, can all try to be good but it isn't in our nature.This fruit is one that really pushes the reader because one must realize that God is good, in the good times and bad times of our lives. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. To understand that God is good in the times when we are content in ones life, with all desires met, it is easiest to see that God is good and has provided good things. for But, to see God as good when things get bad in our lives, when we don't have all our desires met, we still must see God as good. Because, God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Faithfulness being able to let God take care life's needs. It is explained in the book as having a garden that God has planted. All He asks is for a daily help tending to the garden so it will flourish. Elsa Morgan writes (2004) "we mirror God's faithfulness by being true to him and true to others." (p.116) (Morgan, 2004, p. 116)

Gentleness is explained as harnessed power. In our society gentleness is often compared to mouse like nature but it is more like a wild horse that has been reined in. A strong will bent to an others. Gentleness is our will bent to what God would have one to do. In that thought the author encourages the reader to strive to be gentle. Knowing that if God is holding the rein's that He will help bend the readers will to do His will.

Morgan writes (2004)"Self-Control hems us about, protecting us from losing ground to impatience, bitterness, greed, and the like."(p.131) It holds us together when all we want to do is explode. It means that the reader needs to ask God to help keep their cool, to help them to think before acting. (Morgan, 2004, p.131)

As a reader of this book I feel that with a basket full of these fruit, and the pursuit of the fruit, happiness is sure to be.
God is Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Elsa Morgan (2004) Naked Fruit : Getting Honest About The Fruit Of The Spirit
Fleming H. Revell Grand Rapids, MI

Paper written by Danette Roy

MOWING with daddy it is so cute to see liam doing the same things that elijah did at this age. i dont know where the picture of elijah mowing with the same mower that liam is
using.
looking at the two picts you would not be able to tell that it was the same back yard we have done so much to it.

i will have to upload a picture of the back yard now with the green beans and squash and sunflower and all the other plants that have taken off.

Lego ship this was birthday present that finally got completed. It was fun and lasted about a week put together. it can be so depressing to see something that took hours to get together come apart so quickly and knowing that it will never be put back together but Elijah had fun with it so i guess that is what it was about since it was what he bought with his birthday money..

Dentist visit!!

speaking of teeth Elijah and Liam went to the dentist the other day and they both did so GOOD i was suprised since liam doesnt like to bruch his teeth i thought he may bite the dental tech but he really came through and was an angel! I even got cute little xrays to scrapbook so this dental visit will have all kinds of memories it was a few days before elijah lost his tooth so you can actually see his tooth close to falling out. lots of FUN!!

tooth fairy

ME as the tooth fairy!! i put glitter on his bed and around the box we made so the tooth fairy could get to the tooth easily


I have to say this tooth fairy stuff is fun ..Elijah is buying it hook line and sinker!! so sweet!! we are onto the second tooth and he still believes he was thinking that she must become dust to get into the house. so creative!

THELMA KNIEP
Kristopher's grandmother went to be with Jesus a few weeks back. we we were able to attend the funeral and spend some time at her farm before we went on the our time planned with my family in oregon and all the graduations.

grandma kniep was a wonderful woman. she loved me just like a grandchild right from the get go.I always felt welcomed when we visited and when she hugged me it was like my grandmas hugs. i hope my grandparents who are also in heaven can say hi in heaven.
this window you see it at the kitchen table she would sit at every day especially in the morning with her coffee. I can see her sitting there...