Wacky Tacky

Since we had sick kids and missed the Christmas party...I'd like to know who got the wackiest and the tackiest gift. Weigh in!

Parents' Night Out

The Singles and College ministries are raising scholarship money for their upcoming retreat. They are planning 2 Parents' Night Outs at the church that you can take advantage of...

This Friday, Dec 1 and Friday, Dec 8 from 6-10pm
at the church--they will be set up in the lobby in front of the worship center near the nursery area.

Tree cutting details

We will be meeting at the McDonalds on Hampden and Galapago (think Cinderella City or Englewood Light Rail station).

We will be departing at 9:15am. If you plan to eat MickyD's before heading up, plan to arrive before 9am.

Tree cutters--you will need
A handsaw (no chainsaws, axes, or sawzalls allowed)
Tiedowns to secure the tree to your vehicle (we always bring a tarp too)
A full tank of gas
WARM CLOTHES

Also great to have
4 wheel drive or chains (no ATVs, snowmobiles or motorcycles though)
extra set of keys that you can keep in a safe place
shovel, blanket, food and warm drink

The forest service recommends leaving pets at home, but if you bring them they have to be on a leash at all times.

Smokey Bear will be in the forest for pictures near Forest road 550.

After tree cutting we'll head to the fire house. Free pictures with Santa for the kids...lots of food available for all. (This is a fundraiser for the Voluteer Fire Dept...and they also sell crafts, fudge in gift boxes, and ornaments)

We're looking forward to seeing you next week!

Here Comes Santa Claus!

It's that time of year again! Time for the 3rd Annual Marriage Matters Christmas Social and Wacky Tacky Gift Exchange! Here's all the info:

Who: Couples (no kids)
What: White elephant gift exchange
When: Saturday, December 9th, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Where: The Dorband Home Map of 13875 N Travois Trl Parker, CO 80138
Why: Food, Fun and Fellowship!
Cost: $5 (scholarships always available!)

What to BRING:
1. You and your spouse (leave the kiddos with their favorite baby sitter)
2. A dessert or appetizer to share
3. A wrapped, WACKY*, TACKY** gift per person

*Santa defines WACKY as absurd, balmy, batty, cracked, crazy, demented, deranged, eccentric, erratic, foolish, hare-brained, insane, irrational, loony, nuts, nutty, odd, preposterous, screwy, silly, unpredictable, wild, zany

**Santa defines TACKY as broken-down, cheap, crude, dilapidated, dingy, dowdy, down-at-heel, faded, frumpy, gaudy, inelegant, mangy, messy, nasty, out-of-date, poky, ratty, run-down, shabby, shoddy, sleazy, sloppy, unkempt, unstylish, unsuitable, untidy, vulgar

Thanks to

Diving In

I'd love to get your feedback to the Diving In training that the church held the past 2 weekends. What did you learn? What was new information? How much was repeat info? Did you feel like it was useful? What kind of questions did you walk away with?

O Christmas Tree

Just a hour or so outside of Denver, you can find a sweet, reasonably priced, real Christmas tree and help the Forest Service keep up with vegetation growth. If you make wreaths, you can also buy a permit to cut a tree for that purpose as well. If you aren't in to real trees, you can still plan to join us for a trek through the forest and join us for lunch afterwards.

Marriage Matters Tree Cutting
December 2, 2006
approx time 9am-2pm

Plan to eat with us at the North Fork Fire Station for chili, hotdogs, pie, and other goodies after cutting your tree or bring part or all of a lunch. For more information check out this site. Permits are $10 and are specific to the day we have chosen. I (Melissa) will be buying permits on Wednesday, November 1, so I need $10 (per tree) from you before that date. We'll start sign-ups next week, so mark your calendar and bring your $.

Save the Date

Fall Social
Friday, October 20
Family event, so you won't need childcare
more details to follow

Just for the record

Noah William Saumier
Born September 07, 2006 10:03 AM
at Sky Ridge Medical Center
Weighing in at 8 lbs 9 oz
20 3/4 inches long
Via Planned C-Section

I know you got the email, but I didn't want to miss blogging it.

The early bird is....

Kyle Andrew Dorband! Born Sunday, Sept 10 at 5:22pm. He was 7 lbs 5 oz and 19 inches long. Mom and Kyle are doing great and already at home.

He may have been 3 weeks early, but he was obviously ready! Congratulations Dorbands!

Book study

The shepherd team is collecting ideas for teaching series in our communities on Sunday. Anyone read any Biblically based, challenging books recently? Ideas for something we could study as a class?

Labor Day

Anyone have any fun plans for Labor Day weekend?

Walk for Alternatives--Praise report

Congratulations to Ellie---6th place in the top Walkers (most pledges)! She got 28 pledges.

Congratulations to One Voice (our team) 12th place in Teams! $1210 raised.

Congratulations Grace Chapel--2nd in # of walkers(tied) and 7th in$ raised with 14 walkers and $2660 A little better than the 2 from Grace last year... :)

May God get the glory and many babies live to tell their story!

WOW!

If you haven't called Nick and Alyce lately, you should! Their voicemail message is so great that I may start calling everyday just to make myself smile.

Splish, Splash

Ladies, please join us in honoring new moms

Laura Saumier and Debbie Dorband
Monday, August 21, 2006 from 7-9PM
at Natalie McGowan's home

RSVP in class, to Ellie, or via comment.

Even if you don't know these ladies well, this is a great opportunity to share time with women away from the pressures of work or family. We'd love to have you there!

Shalom!

Well, Brad and Kim Slease spent time in Israel just a few weeks ago. They will be sharing about their trip on Sunday. Come see pics of the Holy Land...where Jesus walked...and hear them share some great insights.

I DID IT!

Ellie is a triathlete! This morning I completed my first triathlon, Tri for the Cure, A Women's Triathlon at Cherry Creek Reservoir. Together, we raised over $100,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Eric volunteered as a safety boater with his kayak, as he has been doing for 5 years.



Thank you for all your encouragement and prayers!
Ellie

Hiking ideas

Anyone have any ideas for a hike that would be free (no passes to get in) and would be a good day trip?

Welcome

Wilson Jenson Keepman

Born: August 5, 2006 at 9:13 AM
Weight: 9.38 pounds
Length: 20.5 inches

Mom and baby are doing very well.

Brunch this Sunday

In case you were not at Marriage Matters this week, we announced that this coming Sunday we will have a Brunch. If you did not sign up for something, you will probably be contacted soon about what you might be willing to bring.

:) See you Sunday

Introducting

Collette Rebecca Johnson! She was born on Friday, July 21st at 3:45 pm. She was 6 lbs 11 oz and 20 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great!

Eating at home

On a hot day, its hard to want to cook anything in the kitchen. When you don't have the $$$ to go out for dinner, what do you make?

OK, so I know its not a big content question...sorry

Found it on...

ebay! Rog and I are venturing into the crazy online circus called ebay? Anyone have any experience with it? Tips and Tricks?

Anyone heard the Weird Al "Ebay" song?

Summer movies

I love movies, and of course summer always boasts a lot of blockbusters...but are any of them really worth it? If you've seen or even rented anything (good or bad) lately, please post a comment and let us know your thoughts are on it.

summer fun

I think this would be a great place for people to share activity ideas for familes,date nights and the group.

saw a good movie? played a fun game? Want some company doing somthing? Going to the park and you want a pal?

my contribution today would be to share some redbox(for those that don't know,this is the rental machines they have at macdonalds) codes for free movies.


Free DVD Rental Code:
Date Last Tested:
DVDONME
06/19/06
SMITHS2006
06/19/06
BREAKROOM
06/19/06
FAMILY
06/19/06
FLAG
06/19/06
FREEDVD1
06/19/06
COINSTAR
06/19/06
ONLINE
06/19/06
FREEDVD
06/19/06
1FREEDVD
06/19/06

Who Reads This Blog?

I would like to know who actually reads this blog. If you happen to read this message, would you either make a comment or drop me a one sentence email. My theory is that only a handful of us (maybe seven at the most) actually check this blog regularly...but I would LOVE to be wrong!

Holy Spirit Series

I am curious to get some feedback/interaction about our current teaching series on the Holy Spirit. What have been your thoughts or reactions to the teachings? Do you find the topic exciting or intimidating? Do you think there is more of the Holy Spirit to be discovered (and enjoyed) or does the whole "charismatic" thing kind of freak you out? What have you agreed/disagreed with thus far?

Walk for Alternatives

Hello all! (Yes, ALL - not just ladies!)

We're two and a half weeks away from the Walk for Alternatives. (Details at http://www.walkforalternatives.org or by calling/emailing Ellie.) It's time to decide if you're going to commit to getting pledges and walking with us this year, or if you're going to sponsor one of our class walkers. Or if God is not calling to participate at all, that's fine, too.

Our team name is One Voice, and we are walking in honor of baby Anjolie, who is alive today because of the ministry of Alternatives Pregnancy Center.

Please let me know if you're planning to walk so I can keep you abreast of relevant information. I'll be at my godson's baptism on Sunday, so I won't be in class, but feel free to email, call or add a comment to this post.

Mother's Day

How did you celebrate Mother's Day?

How do you balance celebrating the moms in your life?

Than's Graduation/Bunko Night

I am counting the hours now until...G-Day! I think we sent invitations to just about everyone in Marriage Matters, but just in case something weird happened we would love for you to join us for the ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at Southeast Christian Church (E-470 & Jordan). There will be a massive reception for all graduates and guests following the ceremony. Your presence would make the experience of "walking" all that more meaningful.

And then...that's right...it will be Bunko time Saturday evening. Most of my extended family will be joining us, which will explain for many of you why I am the way I am. Let's just say...quirks galore. But I love them. We hope to see you Saturday!

Presenting...Andrew Wyatt Graf

Little Drew joined the outside world today, May 1, 2006 at 3:40pm. He was 7 lbs 1 oz and 19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. They are at Swedish Medical Center and will be up for visitors tomorrow...a call first would be great.

Debriefing Immigration

So now that we have finished our short teaching series on immigration, I am curious to get your feedback on the subject. How are you processing the issue? From the numerous scriptural references that we looked at, have any of them stirred you or made you a bit uncomfortable? What conclusions are you drawing?

Introducing: Ella Grace Bearman

Born today at SkyRidge Medical Center...she weighted 7 lbs. 9 oz. and has brown hair. And today is Brian's birthday (4/24) - What a birthday gift! Brian is convinced that this is his last official birthday...all future birthdays will be entirely focused on Ella.

Baby Bearman

Baby Bearman arrived this morning at 11am. I don't have more details on her yet, but I will update as I get more info.

Random Movie Night

If any of you ladies is interested in a random movie tonight, give me a call. I'm planning to see Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School at the Tivoli downtown. It's an 8:10pm showing.

Hospitality continued...

At what point in a friendship does hospitality give way to less formal preparation? Where is the line between hospitality and being real with who you are and how your house looks?

Rules for Hospitality?!

I hope and pray everyone enjoyed their Easter weekend. We certainly missed seeing all of our friends of M2.

So here is an ongoing discussion that Adina and I have been engaging...rules for hospitality when 1) you are having people in your home and 2) when you are a guest at another person's home. So we wanted to throw this question out to you. What are the rules for proper hospitality, at least the ones you know of? For example, is it a rule that you should have a plunger and freshner in the guest bathroom (and a good supply of TP)?

James 5:16

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." - James 5:16

On Good Friday, my Lord willingly died for my crimes, but I, consumed with worldly issues, barely acknowledged Him. On Easter Sunday, my Lord rose from the dead, proving His divinity and His ability to fulfill His promises. And I overslept and missed the annual celebration of the greatest event in all history.

I felt the weight of my guilt and shame, but my Lord said "Rejoice! I have lifted your heavy burden!" I wrote of my transgression in my journal to be remembered, but my Lord said, "Child, I remember it no more." Satan tempts me to punish myself so I will feel that I have made it up to God, but my Lord says, "Beloved, this is what it's all about. I died for moments like these."

I have experienced Easter today. My sin was my choice, not the Lord's. Yet, "He works all things together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Thank you, mericiful Lord for forgiving my horrible neglect of your incredible sacrifice. I am humbled in Your presence. I love you, Lord, and I want to honor you. Refocus my mind, and help me love you and honor you more.

Amen.

Baby, you're the one!

A Marriage Matters Baby Shower to honor

Becky Johnson

and

Sabrina Keepman

Thursday, May 11, 2006

7-9pm

The Williford home

Please save the date!

Easter memories

Anyone have any fun, funny, or profound Easter memories to share?

Minivan = Pink Dress

Here's an interesting quote I heard recently, from a fellow M2er... "Driving a minivan is like wearing a pink dress to church." Any thoughts on this, you minivan-drivers, SUV-drivers, faithful car-drivers, and the like?

Introducing Audrey Lauren Tiemann

At 6:09pm today (April 4th) Audrey was born. She was 5 lbs. and 14 oz. and was 19 inches long.

She was born naturally and all are doing well!

Tax Time

Just a reminder that the tax deadline (April 17 for individual tax returns) is quickly approaching. This is also the deadline to make 2005 contributions to your IRA, Roth IRA, and/or SEP-IRA. I am writing this as a reminder for my own sake...and Turbo Tax is offering no rebates this year - total bummer.

What we need

Well, my son is sick with a cold this week. And of course, all you can usually do is rest, liquids, and use a humidifier. For some reason he has decided that he can only sleep when laying in someone's arms...usually mine. I am not very patient after having little continuous sleep, so I get really frustrated when he cries just because I put him down. I keep telling him...you need to sleep.

Do you think God gets frustrated with us when we don't follow His directions? Does he get to a point when he wants to nudge us out of the comfort of His arms into something He knows will be good for us?

Hi, My name is

Mellifluous---I'm also known as Melissa

As I was reading comments, the first challenge with this blog occurred to me. Unless we identify ourselves, then we would be building a separate community instead of enhancing our current one. So, leave a comment here to let us know who you are. Than the Man is a given, and of course Glen is using his name and alias.

Question of Community

Leave it to me to raise a spiritual question. All this week, while being on Spring Break, Adina and I worked on painting our living area, kitchen, and dining area on the main level of our townhome. A major project for certain. Throughout the process, I encountered three distinct attitudes from others concerning the project. One attitude was: I am willing to help - just let me know when and where (what I am calling sacrificial service). A second attitude was: I know that helping is a great idea and I would love to assist, but I just don't have the time or motivation (what I am calling sacrificial intentions). A third attitude was: painting is a part of a being a homeowner, so it is exclusively your responsibility to take care of (what I am calling bovine excrament - my opinion, of course).

So here is the question: do you see this kind of home project as an individual endeavor or a community endeavor?

Hoppin' Down the Bunny Trail

Baby Shower to honor
Jen Bearman and Sheri Graf
April 1, 2006
1:30-3:30 pm
Saumier's home

Leave a comment if you have any questions.

1 Corinthians 13 - the Extended Edition

1 John 3:18—Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth

Love is watching hours and hours of Xbox
Love is eating cookie dough together
Love is sending him text messages at work
Love is scraping off her car on a snowy morning
Love is giving him the bigger pork chop even though I really want it
Love is fixing her computer
Love is proofreading his homework
Love is cutting my hair short
Love is leaving my hair long
Love is going to a bunch of different stores looking for thejust right gift
Love is letting him sleep when the baby cries at 2 am
Love is getting frisky
Love is letting me sleep
Love is watching the Bronco game
Love is getting his laundry done
Love is forgiving my past
Love is dealing with job changes
Love is holding her hair back while she pukes
Love is removing divorce from an unabridged dictionary
Love is helping her with her coat
And untucking my hair
Love is playing Myst together
Love is getting frisky
Love is letting me sleep
Love is changing another stinky diaper
Love is blogging together
Love is watching my movie
Love is finding movies that we BOTH like
Love is taking the early shower
Love is not... self-seeking
Love is not EASILY angered
Love is … not … self-seeking
Love does not delight in evil
[silent]
Love is patient
[silent]
Love always hopes
[silent]
Love perseveres
[silent]
Love remains patient
Love keeps no record of wrongs?
Love always hopes
Love keeps no record of wrongs?
Love forgives
[silent]
Love stinks
[silent]
Love keeps no record of wrongs
Love always hopes
Love remembers that divorce is not in our unabridged dictionary
Love is not proud
Love perseveres
Love buys flowers for no reason
Love ALWAYS hopes
Love is willing to meet a friend Way Too Early to develop accountability
Love rejoices with the truth
Love is NOT buying an Xbox360 for Valentines day
Love is playing another game of Star Wars trivia
Love is playing picnic with a 2 year old
Love is not mentioning that the laundry isn’t done
Love is calling to tell her when I’ll be home
Love always trusts
Love never fails

1 John 3:18—Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth

How to write a blog

Well, for those of you who I have sent specific email about the blog, I believe you can go to www.blogger.com and it will show Marriage Matters as a blog you can create a post for. It's called the dashboard.

If you would like to be able to post more than just comments, but I haven't sent you an invite, just leave a comment here, and I'll get your email added to our list.

Ellie's two-cents

Mostly I think the blog is a great place to share praises and prayer concerns (in addition to the existing prayer ministry, of course!) and to share spiritual thoughts.... I'm thinking of one I read in Roger's blog recently about his life is a parable. Some of these could spark insiteful discussions via the comments sections.

The MM blog might also be a good place for general announcements and reminders.

Community

At Growth Group last week, Roger mentioned that he had been a part of an online community that was really cool back when he was in college (way back when before the hills got dusty) So, we hatched this idea of adding a new dimension to M2 community. How do you think a blog could add to our community...if at all?

Marriage Matters

So I am trying to figure out how this works. I hit BlogThis! to see if I could post something, and as I am writing everything is being underlined...probably not a good sign. But...what the hey...I am going to click on publish this post just to see what happens.

Marriage Matters presents

a private blog for MM folks to add another dimension to building community.