PW Chat

It is a good day

2011-01-22T14:33:00.000-06:00

So I'm shopping at Hy-Vee today to stock up before the next big snow. I'm checking out and the check out girl asks me for my ID because I'm buying wine. What a good day! I almost went around the counter to give her a hug.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T10:22:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it is already Christmas Eve. We will have a white Christmas. The snow is so pretty - it was so peaceful and quiet this morning listening to the snow fall. As busy as it is, I think this is my favorite time of year. I hope all of you and your families have a safe and very Merry Christmas. Maybe I'll see you in church this weekend.
Chrissy

Vacation Bible School

2010-07-28T21:53:00.001-05:00

Vacation Bible School has been wonderful. Way to go Ann and all of the volunteers who have made it a success!

I miss my boy

2010-06-25T15:38:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Jeff and I dropped Alex off at his first Boy Scout camp (3 hours away!). He'll be there for 10 days. I know he's safe and will have a wonderful time, make new friends, advance in rank, work on merit badges, BUT I still miss him so much. He called me earlier today in tears telling me how much he missed us and was really homesick. Do you know how hard it was for me to not get in my car and drive down there and pick him up?! I'm trying to be a big girl. I reassured him that it will get better and he'll have fun. Parents' Day is Sunday and I cannot wait to see him. I'm going to have to stay really busy for the next 1 1/2 weeks! I don't know what I'm going to do when he goes to college. :)

God's Promises

2010-06-21T13:05:00.002-05:00

God has promised so much to us! Granting us courage is one. Good thing, because I don't have nearly enough on my own.

Isaiah 41: 10, 13

Don't worry, because I am with you.

Don't be afraid, because I am your God

I will make you strong and will help you;

I will support you with my right hand that saves you...

I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand,

and I tell you, "Don't be afriad. I will help you."

Lora Lee

Westside Girls

2010-04-29T05:42:00.001-05:00

Continued fun with Westside Girls. We are becoming "experts" at bracelet making!

Women's retreat

2010-04-18T08:06:00.001-05:00

The women's retreat this weekend was great. I never thought about using art and color to enhance my prayer life, but it is possible. Way to go Ann and Kathy!

Stumble fun!!!

2010-04-02T22:41:00.002-06:00

I want all you ladies to know what fun I've had with stumble. It is a great web site when you have extra time with nothing to do!!! Just go to stumbleupon.com , sip a cup of tea and enjoy!

Recipe please

2010-03-29T20:20:00.000-06:00

Does anyone have a good recipe for asparagus?

Lenten Series

2010-03-25T05:00:00.002-06:00

PW -

Last night was very somber, but very good. It really made me think about how God wants me to treat others. I am also very glad that the "Glorious Day" otherwise known as "Easter" is approaching!

Good Books

2010-03-10T14:28:00.002-06:00

I just finished reading Knit the Season, the third book in a series. I am not a knitter but I have especially enjoyed these novels. The first two, The Friday Night Knitting Club and Knit Two (or was it Too) are great reads also. I'm sure these are available at the library.

Would anyone be interested in started a monthly book club? I've heard of some great books recently which I probably wouldn't necessarily read on my own, but if I had a group to keep me on track with my reading and where I could discuss the book, I think I'd really enjoy it. One thought I've had is to try and build something into our new Wednesday night program which starts in April--maybe eating and meeting on one Wednesday a month.

Let me know if there's any interest.

Praying in Color

2010-03-10T14:21:00.003-06:00

Our women's retreat now has a theme! We'll be Praying in Color. The theme is based on a book by the same name by Sybil MacBeth. Kathie Jackson and I have made some preliminary plans for the event which includes FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP, and time for experiencing a new way of praying and reflecting using a sketch pad, crayons (markers or colored pencils). NO ARTISTIC ABILITY IS REQUIRED! We'll have plenty of time for some creative and colorful activities such as beading, making woven worship hangings and doves for Pentecost, and creating colorful paper flowers to share with some of our homebound members. We will, of course, start with FOOD (catered by Bleu) on Friday evening. Pick up a registration form from the kiosk in the Welcome Center. Very soon, I hope to get a on-line registration going, too.

Ann

good book--food for the soul?

2010-03-04T21:37:00.002-06:00

Okay, PW---can you all recommend some books for me? I lean towards non-fiction (you know, so I can LEARN stuff), but am definitely known to go on a good fiction spree every once in a while. Ideally looking for something the library would have, as I am too cheap to go out and buy something I will read only once (or twice). :)

Thanks all!

kjm

2010-02-26T14:48:00.001-06:00

Good Morning

Friday, February 26, 2010
Good morning, what a great day to live close to grandsons and school is out. Going to the ARC to swim. Yes, I have to put a swimsuit on. It's a frightning thing. What we do for the grandchildren. I don't care though, the sun is shining and we can get out and enjoy it. I enjoy this concept of sharing and getting to know one another. I'm a Kansas farm girl transplanted to Missiouri in 1996. Lost in the big city of St. Louis for a while, my sweetheart of 45 years and I moved to Columbia to retire close to one of daughters. My life with this church began only seven years ago but I was babtized Presbyterian 63 years ago. My life in the Church is stronger now than ever, simply because I have more time. Raising a family and working in your own business fills the days. This family of women in this church is amazing. As Kathie said" you rock". The more activities I am envolved with the more great women I get to know. This past year I received more notes from ladies in this congragation giving me support and cheering on the efforts and mission of church women. You are all great! More information another day.Got to go to the ARC now. Enjoy your Friday and see you at church.Kay Metcalf

Great women

2010-02-22T14:41:00.003-06:00

I just came back to my office after Beryl's memorial service. I know that all of you may not have known Beryl but she was a special lady. Especially since coming to serve this church I have been blessed to know so many really wonderful women and I find myself thinking "When I'm that age I want to be like _______. Beryl was one of those people I want to be like. I also think "Wow, I wish I would have been as great as ______ when I was her age." Are you blessed with knowing women who inspire you with how they live their lives daily? What makes them special? How would you like to be remembered? We are surrounded by strong and wonderful women but we must be willing to share, to teach and to learn or we will lose out on a great blessing.

prayer request

2010-02-21T07:42:00.002-06:00

Hi again ladies!

I have a prayer request: a friend of mine from high school, Heidi, found out after having odd back/leg/hip pain for nearly a year, that she has lung cancer that has moved into her bones and liver. She is 35 with a 3 year-old and a 1 year-old. It's difficult to imagine what she is going through, or how to best help her.

Thanks.

Kelley McMahon

Friday Night

2010-02-19T19:09:00.000-06:00

Hello Ladies.
I am so glad it is Friday. I've been trying to create a Facebook page for the church and apparently Facebook is smarter that I am. I'm sure I'll eventually get it, but for tonight, I'm quitting and going to eat a bowl of ice cream. Ice cream always makes things better; that and a nice cold glass of beer...mmmmm....beer. Well, not at the same time. I obviously don't have anything valuable to contribute tonight.

But I am so happy about the positive response to this blog. I hope it becomes a valuable tool to us Presbyterian Women.

We lost one of our Presbyterian Women today. Beryl Bierschwal passed away this morning. Beryl was such a class act. She dealt for years with pain, broken bones, and cancer and yet always had a smile on her face. She wasn't afraid of going to heaven and seeing old friends there. She was an inspiration to the very end. Her services will be on Monday. I guess I've been pretty bummed all day. I knew it would happen, but one doesn't ever really fully prepare for the inevitable, or at least I don't.

Okay, I'm going to eat a big bowl of ice cream now. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!
Chrissy

New

2010-02-18T17:57:00.002-06:00

Hello First Pres ladies-

What a wonderful idea, this blogging thing!

So...we are relatively new to town and new to First Pres. As a result of our move to town, I am also new at stay-home-mommyhood! Thus far, I love it all and am slowly getting involved at church.

Part of my "new life" involves two hobbies that I am trying to make productive enough to keep my husband from secretly changing our bank account information (just kidding...): photography and woodworking. Just today, I published a website to showcase my developing new business. While I DO NOT claim to be an expert at anything, including what you will see displayed on the website, I do enjoy myself tremendously and hope you will at least enjoy browsing.

www.kjmacphotoandframe.com

Go PW Women! Looking forward to this new blogging life. :)

Kelley McMahon, "kjmac"

Women's Retreat

2010-02-18T16:17:00.003-06:00

Ladies,

Mark your calendars for the weekend of April 16 and 17 for our FPC Women's Retreat. We'll begin on Friday evening with Happy Hour (non-alcoholic!), share a catered meal, get better acquainted with one another through some fun activities, and introduce our weekend theme. Then we'll all go home to sleep in our own beds! Saturday morning we'll begin with breakfast in the Chez followed by study sessions, crafts, and a mission project. Then we'll eat some more (lunch), do a closing session, and worship together. You can round out the day by getting a table of competitors and coming to our Youth Committee's trivia night to raise money for the youth summer mission trips.

Keep watching for more specific details.

Ann

Ash Wednesday

2010-02-18T06:15:00.002-06:00

I thought last night was very nice. The food was great and the service was meaningful! Way to go Ann and the FPC staff.

Thank You

2010-02-18T01:19:00.002-06:00

Chrissy,

What a wonderful idea. Thank you for taking the first step for all of us who choose to respond. I am catching up on emails and myself after a long and good day. I joined 250 people from across the state to lobby at the Capitol on behalf of Alzheimer's, a serious issue for all of us to consider, including all of the related dementias. The best part of the day, however, was the Agape meal and Ash Wednesday service at FPC. Wow! Our ministerial staff outdid themselves (hard to do!) as did Sally Swanson with her violin solo. The physical setting created by Ann was so meaningful, something that she does so well. I could literally hear Howard's voice in my head and see him as he delivered the closing reading at the Maundy Thursday service so well for so many years. I have much to thank FPC, its staff and the members of the congregation for over the years. We are fortunate to be women of FPC.

I have never blogged before...

2010-02-10T15:44:00.001-06:00

So this should be interesting. Something you should understand from the beginning - I am not a good writer. I have alot of thoughts in my head, but I'm not good at articulating those thoughts - just ask my husband. You may be asking, well why are you doing this then if you can't write? Well, I wanted to do something that would maybe bring the women of FPC a bit closer. I originally wanted to start this for the West Side Girls (PW that meets at my house monthly), but then I thought maybe more people might be interested. I ran this idea by our beloved Moderator of PW, Kay Metcalf, and she said go for it.

We (as in you and me) see each other at circle meetings or on Sundays at church, but we never really get past the "how are you", "how are the kids, family, etc." And we are always so busy we don't have time to just sit and talk, really talk. Some of you may have a best friend to share thoughts and vent to, but some of us might not. I have been fortunate to have some really good friends in my life, not many, but the ones I have are really good. And I'm hoping that the blog might be a tool to meet people and get closer to those we already know.

I hope you will join me on this blog to post whatever you like - comments, photos, recipes, cool videos from youtube...whatever....just hope you will be a part of this....this could be really good.

Chrissy