Now, I think I have had all the help from other volunteers I can, and I have to do the rest on my own.

The buildings need to be one unit, and I need to do all the details myself.    I won’t be able to get anyone to do it like [...]]]> I’m still working on the mural.

Now, I think I have had all the help from other volunteers I can, and I have to do the rest on my own.

The buildings need to be one unit, and I need to do all the details myself.    I won’t be able to get anyone to do it like I do it, or to do what I want, cause it’s just too hard to explain.

Also, I think tomorrow afternoon, the mural will be going back up on the wall, which will make it a bit more challenging to paint, but it will be okay.

Here are 2 more pictures of the progress:

We were in New York for the weekend, and while there, I took the opportunity to sketch and add to my 30 places project.

Graffiti is, hands down, one of my favorite places, and it’s always wonderful to be there, but it makes me miss it more when we leave.

It worked [...]]]> There’s not much to tell here.

We were in New York for the weekend, and while there, I took the opportunity to sketch and add to my 30 places project.

Graffiti is, hands down, one of my favorite places, and it’s always wonderful to be there, but it makes me miss it more when we leave.

It worked out really good to have that kid in the front row, cause it helped give the stage some perspective.

Wish I could do more drawings there.

After all, there will never be a church that meets our needs like Graffiti. It’s the church where I gave almost 2 years of my life to, as a semester missionary, being a youth director, and even the children’s director for [...]]]> Before we ever left New York, we knew that finding a church would be tough.

After all, there will never be a church that meets our needs like Graffiti. It’s the church where I gave almost 2 years of my life to, as a semester missionary, being a youth director, and even the children’s director for a time.

Because of being on staff there, a variety of things led me to meet my husband.

We were married by Taylor, the pastor of Graffiti.  We dedicated both our boys to the Lord, there.

We’ve given countless hours to serve God thru the church in one way or another, and they’ve become family to us.  It’s beyond words, and yet I could go on and on….

So, how do we even begin to find a church that can be all the things that Graffiti is to us, and meet the needs of the whole family?  We can’t.

And frankly, I didn’t think we’d find anything for months.  I know that part of me just doesn’t want to like any church, because it almost feels like it’d be a betrayal to Grafiiti. Well, believe it or not, I think we’ve found a church already.  And it’s very different than Graffiti.

It’s a pretty BIG church, with upwards of 600 people gathering on a Sunday morning, over the course of 3 services.  It’s got an orchestra and a choir.  It’s got several buildings, with a gym, and a whole wing for kids with murals, Not to mention, plenty of parking for all those cars. You’re probably wondering, like I did, how we could even meet anyone?!  Yeah, I would have thought that same thing, except from the first visit, we were greeted warmly by people as we made our way around the different buildings, and we were told where to go, when we looked lost.  There was as place for our children, each in their own grade levels, which was welcoming, and well-stocked, and filled with many adults to take care of and love the children. During the service, from the very first song, I felt overwhelmed by God’s presence in this place, even as tears rolled down my face, knowing this wasn’t Graffiti; I wasn’t serving and leading in any way, and I didn’t know any of these people.  The power and reality of true praise could not be denied. The weeks to follow, had us visiting other churches, and even making a trip back to NYC to help my parents church with the “Brazilian Day” outreach. A month had gone by, and I really did not know anyone.  The kids were going to school and making firends, Fabio was adjusting at work, and I was at home, alone.  Not fun for an extrovert.

Another thing that stuck out to us about this church was it’s many ministries.  For one, they sponsored Missionaries all over.  Ones in Brazil and Papua New Guinea, to name 2 we heard specifically about.  Then there was the new church they started in a nearby town, the Pennridge mom’s prayer group(which is where the boys go to school), the kids club, the afterschool evengelism club…the list goes on.

So, it’s not an urban church.  There’s not a ministry to the homeless.  They don’t seem to have a food pantry or give lunch out in the park, but they are meeting the needs of the community where they are at.  Which by the way, is surrounded by farms, mostly.

Anyway, the boys are loving the church.  We’ve been dropping them off to the wednesday night program(which has been receiving more than 140 kids) and they are loving it!  We’re enjoying getting to know people, especially me.  I’m part of a group called Moms to moms, which meets every other thursday, and we’re trying to figure out ways we can serve here.

There’s lots of Brazilian people here, and that’s a nice bonus too.

It’s not Graffiti, and it won’t be, but First Baptist Church of Perkasie has found a place in our hearts, and I think soon we will become members and start serving somehow.

Pray for us as we figure out how and where we can fit in to serve.

There are also some other famous couples , such as Romeo and Juliet, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, Fred Astaire [...]]]> A few years ago, a friend’s birthday party was a costume party, and Fabio and I dressed up as Bonnie and Clyde. It was a lot of fun, and I think our costumes really worked.

There are also some other famous couples , such as Romeo and Juliet, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, who all are interesting and great in their own way, but here’s the real question: What couple offers to walk with your kids on the beach, while you ride a roller coaster…

Not too many people make you that kinda offer. The only couple I know, willing to do such a thing, who are not grandparents, are none other than the awesome Taylor and Susan Field.

Yes, they stayed with both my 2 boys, as well as Lisa’s boy, while we took a few minutes to ride what will probably be only a memory soon- the Cyclone in Coney Island. Keep in mind, this was the end of the day, everyone was a bit tired. Yet they offered to do this, so us 2 moms could have a little fun…

When we came back, Taylor was about to get them out to dip their toes in the water.

What was the last time your pastor offered to “babysit” your kid, so you can go ride a rollercoaster? This is just one of the many reasons why leaving Graffiti in particular, will be so difficult for me.

This is the wonder of Susan and Taylor, and they really have become much more than just my pastor. I am honored and proud to call them friends.

Driving is not an option, because finding parking elsewhere is unlikely, and I can’t sit in the [...]]]> Yesterday, Fabio had the writer’s guild meeting. Although I’m thrilled he has this space to share with other fellow writers, it is always a challenge figuring out what to do with the boys for 1.5 to 2 hours.

Driving is not an option, because finding parking elsewhere is unlikely, and I can’t sit in the car and tell the boys to go do something. Going out to eat is the most logical thing, since it is lunch time, but eating out alone with the 2 boys can be more trying than anyone bargained for. Walking to the park is a decent possibility, but often times, like yesterday, it had been raining, so that was also out of the picture.

I opted, instead, for a walk to the farmers’ market. That would provide some running time for the boys, along the park, and it would help us spend some time, and get some munchies, since we would be going for a late lunch at my mom’s, for a belated special birthday lunch.

After buying a couple things, one of the sellers asked Phoenix why he still had not drank his chocolate milk.  I replied that we were heading back to church, and we would then enjoy our munchies there.  Once I mentioned the church, the seller “next door” asked me more about the church, as the boys and I sampled her jams.  We enjoyed them as I told her about Graffiti and where it was located, and what some of our ministries were.  I was glad for the chance to invite her.

After Fabio was done with his meeting, we got in the car and started driving, when I remembered the  I designed for Graffiti most recently, and asked Fabio to turn around and return to the farmer’s market.  I quickly shuffled thru my backpack and found a new, clean, neat postcard and ran out of the car to hand it to Cynthia.  She was glad to have it, told me that back in the day her son has “lost his way” as well, and had possibly served, or been served there.  I was glad to have a chance to invite her, when it wasn’t planned, and it felt great to hand her something that looked nice, professional and inviting.  I also bought her garlic jelly.  It’s yummy.

I hope she’ll visit Graffiti soon.