IT - We're still human

I did my regular Thursday Morning IT Training today. I wasn't really excited about the topic since we were just covering Internet Explorer favorites, but I did get a couple semi-cool tips ready.

But things went south quickly. I had only tested on my laptop and apparently some settings are different for everyone else's computers - including the one I was training on. None of my tips were working. Amid much laughter and oops and a bright red face, I closed the training fairly quickly.

Quote from one staff person afterwards, "Thanks, Dorinda. I really liked the training this morning. It's really good to see the human side of IT every once in a while. It makes feel a lot better about myself."

I think I got more comments on today's training than on any other training in the last four years. At least I can laugh at myself.

The Perks of Valentine's Day

Walgreen’s has all their Valentine Day candy at 75% off, so I picked up several 12.6 oz bags of M&M’s at a cost of $0.75 each. But the only color of M&M’s they had was green. I hope you like green. If not, don’t stop by my candy bowl.

Real life quote from the back of the bag: MPORTANT NOTICE: consumption of The Green Ones may result in elevated Romance Levels. If you experience this effect, contact your Significant Other immediately. No official agency has verified these statements…but what do they know about romance anyway?

I tested them. No immediate side effects. You’re safe.

Soccer and sharing

Pastor spoke this morning again about evangelism and I had an opportunity to put in into practice after a short soccer game this afternoon. Although it was a bunch of GFA staff that had gathered at a local park to play, we invited Melinda, an interested bystander, to join us.

As the game ended, two of Melinda's friends came by to get her. I introduced myself and then found myself looking around for someone else to share the Gospel with them. But it looked like it was going to be me. I ended up talking to Melinda and Nicki and Jireh for about 30 minutes about their lives as 9th graders and about eternity. I talked to Melinda a little more personally and she'd like to get together and talk with me sometime. Please pray for the Lord to be working in these girls' hearts and for Him to draw them to Himself.

Two of my friends stayed in the background and prayed for me while I was sharing with the girls. That meant a lot to me. Thanks, E & S.

Kid Quote on Valentine's Day

Overheard in the kitchen this morning...

Andrew (age 3) to his older brother Kyle (age 7): "Why we have flowers this morning and music and why you make hearts?"

Kyle: "Because Valentine's Day is a heart day. It's for girls."

Valentine's Morning with the J-Fam

Ever since the ants invaded the candy in my third grade valentine cards, Valentine's Day has never been a huge holiday for me. But this morning at the J-Fam's was fun. J-Fam Dad woke up early and made breakfast for the family (oatmeal with cinnamon and nuts and raisins) and J-Fam Mom made blueberry vanilla tea and served it in the rose china teacups. J-Fam Dad had bought a red rose for his lovely wife. And Cody put on his favorite love songs and danced around while Kyle made happy valentine hearts for everyone. And J-Fam mom and dad told funny stories as they curled up on the couch and listened to "their" song - Alan Jackson's Livin' on Love. Now they're heading out on a date and I'm curled up here (still in my PJs) getting ready to start on reimbusement forms. *smiles* It was a fun lazy Saturday morning!


Just like an old-fashioned story book rhyme...

Fixing combines

I've been busy the last couple minutes fixing the header on the John Deere 9750 combine. The header kept coming detached and then the reel fell off the header and broke into two pieces. So I snapped it back together again and put it back in place again. (Dad, do 9750s still have quick-tatch feeder housing? I think this one does...) I returned the combine to its driver Josiah with a gentle reminder to push the combine gently on the carpet. He liked setting Gooey on top and driving it around.

I've just finished up my weekly report to my coordinator and I'm getting ready to join the rest of the GFA family for pizza and fellowship and a movie. And then take the J-Fam boys home to bed so their parents can have an evening out.

I'm so thankful for where God has placed me right now. Thanks for all your prayers and support.

*glances at time* uh-oh. I think all the pizza is gone...

God's Faithfulness

*currently playing through my headset*

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Oh God, My Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not; Thy compassions, they fail not.
As Thou has been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

So many who haven't yet heard...

There is a hunger, a longing for bread
And so comes the call for the poor to be fed
More hungry by far are a billion and more
Who wait for the bread of the Word of the Lord

So many books, so little time
So many hunger, so many blind
Starving for words they must wait in the night
To open a Bible and turn to the Light

- "So Many Books" by Michael Card

Out of pride or submission?

A quote from  Touching Godliness Through Submission that was convicting in my life this morning:

I know many who follow the Lord and work hard, sacrifice much and go to the ends of the world.  But the question remains for all of us: Is it out pride and self-assertion?  Or is it done out of obedience to God in the brokenness and submission of Christ?

The J-Fam is Home!

A quick reminder, I'm living with the J-Fam right now and loving it. They've been gone on a support trip/vacation for the last three weeks, but they came home last night and I'm so glad they're back!

I came home at the end of the office day and was greeted by excited cries from three young boys, "Auntie Dorinda! Auntie Dorinda!" They were in the middle of playing drums (pounding wooden train pieces on the couch) and playing guitar (with a wooden rifle as the guitar) as they danced around the room to praise music. But they stopped to give me hugs. :)

and Michelle had hot supper ready for me. how blessed I am.

It's Friday Night Prayer Again!

It's been a busy week, so I'm a little bit tired at this Friday Night Prayer. We're taking a stretch/food break at the moment, so I stopped by my computer to print off IT Prayer Requests for a 12:30 prayer segment. We're asking for prayer for some database changes, new firewall deployment, and STAFF! We need full-time helpdesk and desktop staff. I praise God that we don't have to figure life out on our own, but we can pray and ask him and he answers!

We got an updated from the team at NRB this evening. The booth is almost all set up and ready for the conference to start - praise God! But the news also came in that Gen is still pretty sick (see previous post). She was diagnosed with bronchitis on Tuesday evening, but went ahead and traveled with the team on Wednesday. Keep praying for her healing.

It was also really neat at prayer meeting since some of our staff have just returned from a trip to India. One of the group leaders was sharing about how her time visit the leprosy ministry impacted her in an unshakeable way. Maybe I'll snag one of her photos to post here soon.

I've got an empty house at the moment, but the J-Fam returns on Sunday. I'll be so glad to see them. Well, after I get the house cleaned... :)

Pray for Gen!!!

Hi guys!
Can I ask you to pray for my roommate Gen? She's supposed to be getting things arranged for a week at the National Religious Broadcasters conference, but she woke up with a horrible cold/flu thing this morning. She slept all day and didn't manage a word until this evening.

Can you please be praying for her healing so she can go with the team to NRB on Wednesday?

Thanks!

The Super Bowl

Okay, so I have to admit I'm looking forward to the Davis's Super Bowl Party. In the midst of a day when I need to rest, clean, and prep for a new HelpDesk person starting tomorrow (YAY!), I've decided to justify the Super Bowl party by using that time to catch up on Facebook lists and chats. And think up 25 or so random things. (Can I do that? Justify one frivolous activity by using that time to accomplish another frivolous activity?)

Due to a facebook status (Joe Skillen), I stopped by the msn.com homepage to see everyone's favorite actor Windell on the front page. Windell was a college friend back at Sterling. We were never on the stage together - usually I was doing props or house manager - but were still part of various discussions on faith and theatre and acting and life. He traveled with ACT1 drama ministry team the summer before I did.

We got the rental house cleaned up and the keys turned in finally (yay!). The new students all got logged in and working on their logins last week. I had a wonderful time with my parents and L. when they visited the last three days. God's faithfulness has been evident in so many ways that it's been fun just to rejoice in it. (Thanks for your prayers!) And we've been praying for the anti-converstion law they're trying to pass in Sri Lanka.

Aren't you glad we serve a big God who cares about each detail of our lives? Praise God!