I saw a dear friend yesterday who said to me, 'I haven't gotten a newsetter in a long time.  Have you stopped doing them?"  The answer to that questions is 'yes,' and 'no'.  I added a lot of new people to my address list and somehow created a disaster in my computer!  Some people got the newsletter and couldn't read it, some got it by couldn't open it, and some got mutiple copies and still couldn't read it!  For someone like me who is not very computer savy, this was not a good thing!  At the same time I was very busy with my responsibilities as Women's Ministries Director at my church (Harvest Bible Chapel/Granger) and I just had to let it go(:
I do apologize for this and am happy to tell you that the issue as been solved!  I will new be posting my newsletter here on my blog (makingitmeaningful-paulette.blogspot.com)   I do hope this puts us back together again!
And now for the August Newsletter:\

Summer......
Can you believe summer is almost over and school will soon be starting again?  It seems to have gone by so fast but I do hope you have had a great time enjoying your family, loving on your kids and spending lots of fun time with them.  I also hope you had many 'memory making' moments and either wrote down an account of the events or took photos (or both) to place into a scrapbook. 

Looking Ahead
Since school is about to start I hope you are looking forward to this 'new beginning' and all that it has to offer.  Great opportunities to learn, to discover, to make new friends and see old ones, to have new experiences and to grow in knowledge and wisdom.  Did you know that the word 'disciple' in the Greek means 'learner'?  Jesus spent much of His time teaching for He knew there was much for His followers to learn and, as His followers, we have much to learn too.  Help your children embrace the joy of learning. 

Party Celebration!
Why not have a 'Back to School' Party?  You can do this as a family or you can have your children invite some friends over.  It can be a swim party or a backyard party with games and snacks - make it whatever you like, but celebrate!  Make going back to school a fun event....something everyone can look forward to with anticipation.  Share about the fun things you've done over the summer....and then share about what you are looking forward to during this next school year - being thankful in everything! 

Help for MOM's
Again, as the school year begins it not only brings opportunities for our children....but for us as well.  The more structured schedule that the school year brings is hepful, but there are always so many things to do!  How can you make this year run more smoothly?  How can you decide which things to do...and not to do, and how can you figure out when to do them? 
If you want help answering these questions, please mark your calendars and come to the Priorities and Planning class on August 30th, 9am-noon here in my home.  I will share a method for this that has helped me greatly and I believe it will help you too. 
Bring:  a yearly calander (large enough to write events on the days)
notebook paper, pen/pencil, school dates, appointments, etc. for the month of September.     Registration is necessary:  email paulette@harvestgranger.org, or call 574/220-3508.
 Fee:  $10.00

Christmas is Coming - Make it Meaningful!
Yes, I really did say that!  For those of  you who are new, let me explain.  I LOVE Christmas!  I think it is one of the most wonderful times because we have a wide open opportunity to tell people about Jesus - the real reason we are celebrating.  Please don't buy into the idea that it has become commercial and so we dread it or don't want to celebrate it.  Let me ask you, if we, as Christians who know Jesus don't celebrate His birthday and why we are so very happy that He chose to come to earth for our benefit, who else will?  No one!  Many, many people don't even know who Jesus is - honestly, this is true.  We have a great opportunity here, so let's made the most of it.
With this in mind, each year I pick a particular theme for Christmas and I use it to keep the focus on Christ throughout the month.  I choose the theme, share with you how I use it to center on Christ, and ask you to join me if you like.  So, what is the theme for this Christmas?  The Wreath.
Keep your eyes open for Christmas wreaths and I will starting sharing ideas with you next month.  Let's make this your best Christmas ever!
In addition, if you would like to come to my home and see some of the things I have done to keep Christ at the center of Christmas, set aside the date of  Nov. 30th from 7-9pm and come and see.  I would LOVE to have you:)
If you can't make that or if you would like to bring a group to my home for a Making Christmas Meaningful presentation, just give me a call (574/220-3516) or an email (paulette@harvestgranger.org) and I'd be more than happy to set that up for you. 

Looking forward to sharing with you next month!
Blessings,
Paulette

Meaningful Relationships

My apologies for being away for sooooooo long!  I am hoping to have more posts on a regular basis - please pray along with me that this can happen!
I had a delightful experience yesterday that really made me think and I'd like to share it with you.
Many years ago when we moved to Denver and my husband became the Senior Pastor of a church there, we met a wonderful couple.  They were young, newly married, and we became great friends.  Years past and we both moved - it's been about 26 years now and....yesterday she contacted me!   What an apsolutely wonderful surprise!  It was great to hear what has taken place in their lives, their children,
As she shared with me, she thanked my husband and I for investing in their lives during the time we were together.  Truly, the privilage was ours.  What a joy and a blessing they were in our lives.
All of this caused me to think about the importance of meaningful relationships.  Over the years the Lord has truly blessed us by always bringing some new people into our lives that we have had the privilage of doing life with - sharing, encouraging, laughing, crying and loving the Lord together.  These relationships are critical.  Don't get too busy with other'good' things that you don't have time to build them - especially with your own family and your church family.  These are golden!
 

Connection, Acomplishment, and Jam!

A week or so ago I invited a few friends over to learn how to make jam.  They seemed excited about it and were looking forward to learning something new.  All day long I  kept thinking to myself, why did I do this?  This jam isn't difficult to make, the instructions are right in the box.  Why would they want to come here to do something they could so easily do at home?  But the date was set and I was looking forward to forward to seeing them and helping them do something they hadn't done before.
As they arrived we took some time to chat and get better acquainted.  As each woman came she joined into the conversation and we were all getting to know one another better.
We finally moved into the kitchen and I began explaining what to do and had each of them do the steps so they could be familiar with it.  We chatted while we took turns measuring ingredients, checking instructions, mashing berries, heating the syrup, mixing it with the berries and pouring the jam into the jars.  It didn't take long and our mission was accomplished. 
As we talked I shared with them my thoughts of the day - why would they want to come when they could read the instructions for themselves?  Their response was that it was nice to have someone show them and remove the fear of "what if I'm not doing this right?  What if it doesn't turn out?"  Being hesitant myself about trying something new on my own I could understand that.
One of the greatest clues I received concerning the true validity of the evening was when one dear friend said as she left, 'It was so nice to visit and chat with some ladies I don't often get to see and to leave with a sense of accomplishment - her 2 jars of jam!
Connection and accomplishment.  Enjoying friends and sharing in an activity that was beneficial for their families.  Wonderful!
I'm so glad the Lord didn't let me get caught up in my 'off track' thoughts.  I would have ruined a great evening and missed a wonderful lesson!
He knows we need connections with one another - and I'm so glad He reminded me of this.  I can hardly wait until we learn to can peaches together!
Join us if you like - Friday night, July 13th, 7-9pm or Saturday morning, July 14th from 9:30-11:30am.  Contact me if you want to come!

The Purpose of our Families

 There is much talk today about values and high on the priority list of values is the subject of our families.  How are we to raise our children?  How are we to live?  With so many opportunities and so little time, how do we make wise choices about what our families do, or don't do, how we spend our time, etc.?  These are hard questions.
Let me share with you an article I just read that I believe will help us gain a proper perspective.  


"Real help comes when we see that the family exists for a purpose outside itself. Our families are healthy only to the degree that they understand their primary function in this world is not to be fulfilled within themselves. True family solidarity is a by-product of together exalting Christ, obeying His word, and being spiritually vigorous.
The family that knows its spiritual and redemptive purpose does not need external props. It has a supernatural cohesion. Its members have no option but to stay together and build meaningful relationships, not for their own sakes, but because they are compelled by the highest of goals.
Put another way, people who understand that their family’s chief aim is to testify of Christ and His life-changing power have no option to get divorced, commit adultery, abuse one another, or otherwise self-destruct. Do you want to keep your children from rebelling? Begin by teaching them from the earliest age that the family’s most important calling is to exalt the name of Christ in the community by living in obedience to Him.".      Dr. John MacArthur
I do hope this is helpful, dear friends.  We must not lose sight of Whose we are and what He asks of us.
Blessings,
Paulette

Thank you, dear husband!

As I was putting things in order around my home this morning, I thought of how thankful I am to be able to do all the things I do - made possible by a husband who is willing to work hard to take care of his family.  Then I thought of those days where I don't really feel too much like doing those things I know I should do - plan nice meals, make sure the laundry is done, cleaning the house, tend to my appearance, etc.  Sometimes, I even choose not to do what I know I should do....because I can.  My husband, however, doesn't have that choice to make.  He goes to work, whether he feels like it or not, and does his job.  How do I thank him for that.....or, perhaps the better question is, do I thank him for that?  Does he know how much I appreciate what he does, day in and day out, whether he feels like it or not?  This is something I need to work on.  If, as I believe, he is my first human priority, how am I communicating that to him?  It is such a privilage to be at home and care for him and the family God his given us.  I need to refocus and truly see it as a career - which it is - and treat it with the thankfulness and loving care it deserves. 
So, what is my 'action plan'? 
Tell him how much I appreciate him for who he is - all that work he does every day to care for us is an outworking of his character.
Do special things to let him know he is truly my 1st human priority - notes in his lunch, dinners he likes, needs cared for and met, etc.
Making sure he can come home to a 'haven' after those long, hard days at work.
Yes, this will take time, and there are probably a few things I want to do that I will need to put on hold, but they aren't my highest priorities, he is.  And how perfect that this is the season of Valentine's day!!  Have fun with this - I'm going to!  Would anyone like to join me?
I'll be praying we will all be blessings to our husbands - you are all blessings to me!
Paulette

Christmas - Day 25

 Merry Christmas!

Here is the day we have all been thinking about since the beginning of the month.  This is the celebration of Jesus birthday!

As you gather around and begin to give and receive gifts, may I suggest that you pray, even before you open even one gift, and thank the Lord Jesus for everything  He has already given you as well as for the gifts of love you are about to receive?  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).  “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that no of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

I love you all….have a wonderful celebration!

Blessings.

Christmas - Day 24

Christmas Eve – The reading of the Christmas story

This has always been one of my most favorite times.  Our family gathers around and my husband reads the Christmas story from Luke 2.  We all listen quietly and think about the words he is reading.  We have been doing this for 37 years now, and we never tire of hearing the account of Jesus birth.  What an amazing event.

I hope you all will take the time to do this if you don’t already.  Then after the reading is completed, take some time to talk about what you just heard.  Did you notice something you hadn’t noticed before?  Did something really impress you?  Share your views, questions and insights with one another.  

The Christmas Story brings such wonder - how could it be that God would humble Hiimself, become a man who would give His life on the cross for people who were against Him?  Truly this is beyond our understanding....but though we can't understand, we are forever grateful.  He was born to die - that we might live.  "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Have a wonderful time rejoicing in this truth,  May your hearts overflow with love and gratitude for Jesus our Lord!

Blessings.