This and That...

Tommorrow night, I will be teaching a class called, "Helpful Hints for Your Home." This will be practical hints on how I try to lead my children, as well as general household ideas.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed for and given to the Janke kids camp fund! We are very grateful because all four airfares are now paid. We only lack about $600 to finish their total camp costs!

Africa, Help is on the Way!

This past Sunday we had special prayer at Hillcrest Church for Jean-Aimee Gifford, a young lady who leaves soon for Africa. Jean-Aimme has been an AIDS nurse here in Dallas, has been to Africa, and seen the great need. Now, she is moving to South Africa to work with AIDS patients and their families.

As is my Sunday afternoon tradition, I read the Dallas Morning News. The cover article was about the health care crisis in Africa: A War Short On Warriors. There are many generous and kind-hearted people who give finances to this effort, but the primary need is medical workers. How amazing!! At the very time that the need is great, we at Hillcrest are sending Jean-Aimee, who can help many people physically, but spiritually as well. We will have a speical time of blessing her this Sunday, May 27th.

If you would like to contact Jean-Aimee directly, her e-mail address is: jeanaimee@worldinview.org If you want to find out more about the type of ministry she will be doing in Africa, here is two web addresses: www.handsatwork.org and www.masoyi.org. To support her, contact www.worldinview.org.

We love Jean-Aimee, and are thankful (and proud!) to send her out in the name of Jesus.

Mother's Day Thanks and Janke Project

This week is starting to feel like Summer Vacation. My daughter is out of school. Since I homeschool two days a week, I don't know who is happier- me or her. We are both enjoying the break!

Thanks to everyone at Hillcrest Church on this past Sunday, Mother's Day, for being such a supportive and receptive audience. I appreciate all of the positive feedback I've been given. You all made it easy to speak. I felt like I was among friends and a church family that loved me. Thanks so much for all of your prayers! It made a difference for me!!

As some of you know, I've been raising funds for Ken and Lord Janke's younger kids to come to Dallas and go to Camp Dry Gulch with our church kids. Ken was on the Hillcrest Pastoral Staff for many years before moving to Connecticut. The three younger kids have never been back to Dallas since their move. Although I've been given some funds, we still need about $1600 to cover airfares and camp fees. If you'd like to be a part of bringing their kids to Camp, please make out your checks to Hillcrest Church and put "Janke Camp Fund" in the memo line. Thanks!!

Also, the Mexico Missions Trip, led by our Senior Associate Pastor and Worship Pastor Alvin and Joann Miranda, as well as our Youth Pastor Rawd Jones, will take place this Summer. They need the following new items for their trip: Children's Underwear, T-shirts, hair stylist clippers and capes, shampoo, conditioner, brushes, combs, barrettes, ponytail holders, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, feminine products, lotion, nail polish, and nail polish remover.They also need new or gently used prescription and reading eyeglasses. You may put these products in the large boxes labeled for the Mexico Trip in the Atrium at Hillcrest Church.

It is more blessed to give than to receive!!

Thoughts on my marriage

My little boy is sick today, so I'm at home with him. I had a couple of minutes to write down some thoughts...

Since this past week was Valentine's Day, I was thinking about some of the reasons that Mark and I have a good marriage. I shared these at the Couple's Banquet on Friday night, and I'd like to share them with you.

1. We have created our own Mutual Admiration Society. I admire him and he admires me. I am always touched when he says "You're the best Christian I know." He lives with me, so he knows very well my imperfections...One of the reasons I was attracted to Mark when I was a teenager is because he wanted to make a difference in the world. Instead of driving a nice car or spending his money freely, he saved his funds and went on missions trips. He visited developing areas of the world or places where Christians were persecuted. In the last 21 years, I've seen Mark grow as a person and as a Christian. Mark is the most forgiving person that I know. Even in the last four years since we have been at Hillcrest, I have seen him over and over display the attitude of Christ. I try to DO what is right, but sometimes really feeling that way is tough for me. I respect him a lot and am blessed to be married to him.

2. There have been times that we have been more committed to God and to the institution of marriage than we have to each other. During the most challenging time of our marriage, I was depressed, was dealing with the disappointment of not having children, and probably experiencing hormone imbalance from multiple miscarriages, etc. One of the things that I held on to was God's Word, especially Psalms 15: " Lord who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous...who keeps his oath even when it hurts..." (emphasis mine) Mark and I knew that our covenant was to God, not just to each other. It helped us to hang on until things got better and easier.

3. We are no longer trying to change each other. I know that Mark wishes I wouldn't run my life so closely to my daytimer. (When my little girl was about 4, she once called it my Bible and I took that seriously...) I wish that he would arrive at the airport earlier and he is doing better, for my sake. We are striving to love and accept each other, and as I result, our marriage is better now than it has ever been.

My little boy has asked me several times to read him a book, so I'll go...