I’m sure I’m not alone in what some do during quarantine. I have worked in the garage on a bedroom furniture renovation for weeks and weeks and ……… weeks. This schedule has my house suffering from dust and dirt neglect.
This week I prepared a schedule for myself. Work outside in the morning and clean/organize in the afternoon. If I have a checklist, I’m good to go.
Today was our guest suite located upstairs and off the kitchen, Better knows as Naked girls room.
As I enter this room, every single time, I smile. It’s my favorite room in the house. It has a cuteness I can’t describe. It hold memories and as I designed and decorated it, it has evolved and if I could describe my favorite design style, this is it.
As I stood on the bed to dust and clean the windows, the shutters are one of my favorite things. Dad and I built these shutters together. They were one of the last things we built before he left for heaven. We are not professional builders so there is much trial and error. I can still hear the laughter as I treasure the memories. Next to the shutters is a mirror with light sconces. This room is where my son stays when he visits. He is a veracious reader and student and I knew I wanted reading lights so that it was convenient for him. They have individual switches so that he does not have to get up to turn on or off a switch. Across from the bed is the first piece of furniture I ever painted. It has traveled from house to house as we moved and now is a closet for this room. As I thrift and yard sale, this room hold most of my treasures. On top of the armoire is a very old bingo spinner. It holds little wooden balls stamped with numbers and as you spin the handle, the little ball rolls out. Jack and I play with this and he now knows that as the ball rolls out sometimes we yell “BINGO!” And the floor…….:well it’s my favorite Next to the armoire is a desk area. I thought at first having a desk in the guest room was silly but during this quarantine, Steve has needed a quiet place to work and it has provided him the exact space he needs. This desk was a gift I painted for my sweet friend. She was unable to keep it when she moved due to space requirements so I took it back and it’s perfect. The chair was an end of the road pick up surprise. The wooden ladder is a favorite garage sale find. The guest room (naked girls room) has a wall of shelves that Steve built after the renovation was complete. It holds many treasures. Some have meaning, some were garage sale finds and some are just plain silly. This sign was a gift from a woman I met during the house renovation. She used to live here and one day, she surprised me with this sign she made herself using lathe she retrieved from my garage. Just think, she didn’t know me, but she created something that is very dear to my heart. Her son actually used to live in this very room. Coincidence? No way. In the top section of the wall unit stands chickens. The large chicken was a garage sale find but the small chicken was a gift. My sweet cousin/sister knew I wanted chickens and I have not been able to talk a certain person into letting me have them. She bought me this chicken so I could be a chicken mom at least to a fake chicken. This shelf holds a vintage window that I bought from my friends shop. We were acquaintances then, and now we are friends. The blue truck looks just like my sweet red Lucy truck and held flowers from a dear friend at dads funeral. The firefighter statue was dads . It has an inscription on the front Vernon Locke Lieutenant Bradenton Fire Department This vintage truck sits up high. Jack wants it bad. It reminds me that I have friends that know me and think of me often. Thank you Shannon for paying attention.
This cleaning expedition did not intend to become a tour. But as I cleaned and straightened this room, the memories flooded my brain. This house hold so many things dear to my heart. Some vintage goodness, lots of love and an abundance of memories.
Yesterday was Easter 2020. It was definitely a different kind of Easter but Resurrection Sunday doesn’t stop because of COVID19. We rose early to get ready for church on the TV. Real clothes people! I put on a dress, curled my hair and added paint to my face. Jesus rose from the grave, I can at least look presentable in something other than paint splattered clothes or something resembling pajamas.
Some others in our home had some new clothes. We might all go to different churches but we all serve the same God.
Brad ended his message with I hope……
It made me start thinking about what I hope for as we travel this time.
This time of quarantine.
This time of living our lives different than what we are used to.
I hope……
That I can be a beacon of light to someone every single day. Whether it be with a kind word or an unexpected act of kindness. Everyone deals with trauma (yes, I think COVID 19 is a trauma) differently. Some may suffer in silence, others may spout words that are not kind or necessary, some might work more to numb the pain, some might act out. It’s not a contest who is right or wrong. God created us all different for a reason. So that we can lift up one another and support each other. Think about that the next time you want to respond to a family member or write a remark back from a Facebook post that just doesn’t quite sit with you. Just think about it
I hope……
My family knows how much I love them. I am not the physical touch person. I can hug the babies like nobody’s business but the adults………not so much. I might not share my love for them as often as I should. I tend to show though acts of service because that is my love language. I’m trying harder to show them through THEIR love languages how much they mean to me. We are apart from our son. We FaceTimed through lunch yesterday because he would have been here on Easter Sunday if it wasn’t for COVID19. We made the most of the time but as we started to say goodbye, he teared up. I started to cry. It’s hard to be away from the people you love. Even though we know this is necessary, it still sucks. FaceTime is a gift and we will be using it regularly from now until this mess is over. Don’t assume people know how you feel about them. TELL THEM OUT LOUD. Since we can’t hug right now, your words matter more than ever.
I hope……
I am using this time wisely. As I fasted social media for the 40 days of lent, I wanted to learn something. Did I? I learned that I can dang well read a book faster when there is no social media to interfere. I learned that I get a lot more work done when I can’t scroll for extended periods of time. I learned that I miss seeing what people are up to, but it’s not going to break me if I don’t see it. I learned that I really like to write on this blog. I like to share my heart and sometimes the projects that I’m working on. I learned that I don’t need social media. I like it……..but I don’t need it and I will create better boundaries for myself in regards to it from now on.
I hope……..
That you, my friends who are on the journey called life with me, know my heart. I hope you know that I am a Jesus loving, family girl who likes to find junk on the side of the road and turn ashes into beauty. I hope you know that my family means more to me than I could ever express. I hope you know that I love my friends. I hope you know that sometimes I hide when I’m sad but I will come back. Be patient with me and some of you…….you know who are can come over (after COVID19 is over) and slap me around and put me in my place when I’m out of line because I know that I can go there.
I hope…….
You never get tired of seeing my grand babies because here you go. Jack got his own wheelbarrow for Easter.
Easter 2020 is in the books but Jesus forever LIVES!
1. a specific task or duty assigned to a person or group of people.
2. a person’s vocation
3. a group of persons representing or working for a particular country, business, etc., in a foreign country.
Everyone’s mission field is different, however most of us might not believe that our everyday is the epicenter of God’s advancing kingdom. When we treat Jesus’ message as something cut off from the rhythms and routines of everyday life, we reduce it to abstract ideas that lack the power to actually change things.
We have the power to change things and to apart of something incredible. We, the people of Brick City Church have the opportunity to be apart of this mission field.
The Midtown Project
How can what I am doing today be tilted toward the healing hope and wholeness of a broken world? As you ponder this question, God is far more interested in our availability than our capability. We all have gifts to give.
Some have money
Some have time
Some have talents to share
Some can pray, pray and pray some more
Brick City Church is currently on the mission field.
We are raising money towards the Midtown Project.
We are creating partnerships with people who have the same vision.
According to the City of Ocala plan……..”Midtown is regarded, along with Downtown, as the vibrant center of the City, attracting and welcoming visitors from Ocala and the wider region to enjoy a wide variety of cultural, entertainment, dining, and recreation options for all ages. The area is the premier location in the region for artists and performers, and offers a range of activities, galleries, performance spaces, and events spanning the spectrum of interests from fine art to street art.”
What does this mean?
This means that our mission field has just gotten a whole lot broader and we at BCC, located in the heart of Midtown, GET TO be an intricate and important part of the process from beginning to end.
Until March 15th, there is a matching contribution for all giving up to $30,000. As of March 9th, we have raised $25,630.
Wow!!!
Don’t wait.
Give now! Small or big, your gift is automatically doubled.
Our hope at Brick City Church (BCC) isn’t to “reinvent” church, but instead to recover a fresh sense that Jesus is brilliant, compelling, and that He has come to teach us how to live the best possible kind of life—the eternal kind of life—here and now. Our hope is that we can recover this fresh sense that faith is dynamic and alive: always moving, growing, challenging us and inviting us deeper into the life of God and His kingdom.
Our Vision refers to the world we’re partnering with God to bring about.
Our Intention refers to the way we’re bringing that world about.
Our Means refers to the values guiding how we do all of that.
As we entered the new year, BCC has been on a trajectory raising money and planning for a county wide initiative called the Midtown Project. For additional information at http://www.ocalafl.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=5211
This initiative has been exciting as we have continued to hope and dream. The dollars have continued to come in and as we sat around a church wide potluck dinner February 23rd, we were so excited to see and hear the exciting news of what is to come.
Potlucks are my favorite! The food alone makes me excited but as we prepared for this particular potluck, the promise of an announcement had a buzz flowing through the room. It was mentioned that there is a feeling of excitement in and around BCC.
Maybe it’s all the new families
Maybe it’s all the new things happening
Maybe it’s new staff
I don’t have an answer to what it is, but I might have a feeling who it is.
The potluck meeting began with Brad, our lead Pastor speaking about his most recent Sabbatical and how he is back and ready and excited to get started. Matt is the most recent addition to the staff at BCC and has brought a welcome relief and so much creative energy to the everyday workings of the church.
Brad Nelson Matt, Jessica and Evie Overfelt
The next introduction was Rashad and Patrice Jones the owners of Big Lee’s BBQ.
Big Lee’s has been open since July 2014 and their business has grown so exponentially that the need for a Production Kitchen is greatly needed. While Rashad spoke with Ausley Construction about the possibility of building such a facility, Ken Ausley founding member of BCC, mentioned to Rashad the possibilities of buildings on the BCC current campus. This started conversations and the possibilities are more than possible.
Big Lee’s and BCC see the same vision
They want to see this part of our community come to life
They want to come together in a unique way
They want to see God’s hands all over this new venture
Rashad would like for their company to have more outlets, provide more careers to his employees and to add a new food truck to his fleet every quarter.
As Rashaad spoke of his wife and her dedication to their business, he mentioned that when its obvious God is leading the way, they call it a “God smile.”
We are looking forward to seeing a lot of God Smiles!
Victory Academy is an Ocala based Jr. Kindergarten through 8th grade School. The school was started by Rodney and Cary Jones and currently resides at Southpoint Church.
Victory Academy began in 2012 with 8 children and a vision. It now enrolls 85 children and they have been waiting for an opportunity. An opportunity to build God’s kingdom and community. They are so excited for the ability to grow their school and relationships.
The church that is currently leasing space in the Brick City building has been able to purchase their own facility which will allow Victory Academy to renovate and create a space for their school. This renovation will include an entrance into the BCC building. This will encourage the use of shared space during the weekdays for VIctory Academy and for BCC on the weekends.
We are so excited to be embarking on this journey with Victory Academy.
United is student ministry for middle school, high school and college-aged students. As this ministry has looked at middle and high schools, they have seen some gaps that, if filled, would truly widen the reach of our ministry is helping students grow in their personal relationships with God. They know if they want to reach the students that no one else is reaching, we have to do the things that no one else is doing. So, in response to that, we approach ministry from a very different perspective and aim much higher than is humanly possible.
Matt Overfelt, the Executive Pastor at BCC is the creator of United. As Matt sat in an Atlanta conference, surrounded by students, God spoke to him about how this is what it would look like in Marion County if students could be reached. Thousands upon thousands of youth are untouched and unreached for the gospel. One student at a time as United reaches into the schools relating to students.
Reaching the Lost ***************************** Discipling the Found
Brick City Church and United are going to become partners. Providing meeting space and serving together as we reach the students in Marion County.
God’s true and miraculous ways can be felt. Don’t you think that is what the excitement is all about? It’s not about a building and what it can be.
It’s not about someone’s business plan.
It’s not about how many people we can seat on a Sunday morning.
It’s definitely about life change. It’s about a city block that can be the hub for this change. It’s about the spirit of unity and what that feels like.
Students need this life change
Families need this life change
The vision is huge and it’s way bigger than we are.
We are so excited that we GET TO be apart of it.
Come be a part!
Brick City Church meets Sunday mornings at 10am
The church is located at 343 NE 1st Ave in Ocala Florida.
I won’t and can’t say I’ve always honored the Lent season with sacrifice. As I have grown and matured in my faith, it’s not just a time to pick something and suffer through for 40 days, but it’s a time of sacrifice.
It’s a time of reflection and a time to grow.
Sunday’s sermon was about sacrifice. It’s definitely worth you time.
I can honestly say that I have no idea who or what I am supposed to sacrifice, but I DO KNOW that there is time spent on Facebook and Instagram that could be used for better things.
I will begin by giving up Social Media for the 40 days of Lent (February 26- April 9) and this will allow me to readjust this app on my phone that seems to take up way more time than it should.
Sacrifice is not giving something up but bringing a part of yourself near to God.
While I will not be on Social Media, it’s not about putting down the phone, which is still a real thing I will be seeking what I need to bring near to God
As we have spoken about the Lent Season in our family time, it’s already brought time together reading scripture to our time
I have invited a sweet friend to read the Enneagram book “the Road back to you” during this Lent Season. We both know we are a 2 on the Enneagram and we have seen that this number means something but we are not sure how to walk this road.
How do we become better?
How do we learn about ourselves to be better to those around us ?
I think that these things will hopefully point me in the way of sacrificial living.
I rolled over and thought it was mine. Not because I frequent texting in the middle of the night but because my father in law is in the hospital and with each ding, no matter whose phone it is, it makes me think of him.
We live 2 1/2 hours away from the rest of the Kern family and in times like this, it’s difficult.
It’s hard to know we can’t just be there in 10 minutes
It’s hard to know that the sisters are handling the brunt of all the decisions and caring for Dad and his dog
It’s hard to not be right there.
To be able to walk the dog or sit by his bed .
It’s all just hard
The text?
It was random
But now I lay here wide awake
Do I get up?
Do I search for the NyQuil to go back to sleep?
It’s a big day tomorrow and I have book club tomorrow night.
I could go finish my taxes but who really wants to do that?
I think I’ll just pray
Do you mind I if pray through writing?
Father God,
As I lay here in the darkness I can feel your infinite grace. I can feel your peace, your love and your kindness. My mind wanders to my FIL Bill. He has had such a long and full life. What a hard worker he was. Now he is aged. He just seems so sad. It breaks my heart to see him sad and lacking the agility his body once had.
He falls and every time I wonder how he feels. Not just pain wise but his heart. I pray to you right this second to fill his heart with peace. Give him a feeling that he might not know what it is. A calmness. I don’t know how to pray for him. I feel helpless from so far away. I pray so hard for the sisters and for Steve. I pray for their strength. I pray for the knowledge in regards to the next days. I pray for comfort and for the peace to know how to proceed with dads care.
The last few weeks have been many people asking for prayer. Friends seeking guidance and time. The world we live in is hard. It’s confusing and there aren’t many clear answers but all I can do is point them to you.
His sister and I attended a youth group together on Wednesday nights.
I was single and she had a brother
He sat at the restaurant/bar table as we entered. He was sitting with a very pregnant woman.
Why would I be meeting someone who was soon to be a daddy?
He stood up in his white pants and red striped button down shirt.
Dang he was tall
Most of my previous boyfriends were……. well slackers is the only word I can come up with.
No job
No car
Little ambition
I was looking for something else, that’s for dang sure. I was currently in Dental assisting school at the vocational school. I had zero college aspirations but knew I needed to further my education somehow.
He was in EMT school and getting ready to graduate and move on to the Fire Academy.
Coincidence that my Dad was a Lieutenant for the BFD (Bradenton Fire Department) and my brother was also on the Department?
This just seemed too easy but then there was that pregnant girl……..
His sister. The other sister.
He had brought his sister, the pregnant one to listen to the house band. Her husband was a firefighter too.
What in the world?
It felt right
We went out on our first date that Friday night, March 30, 1984
He took me to dinner and a movie in HIS CAR!
He was a gentleman
He had ambition
He loved his family
He was a keeper and today……February 9, 2020, we celebrate 35 years of marriage
We probably still shouldn’t be together but God had other plans for us
He had plans of love and a family
He had plans of abundance and security
He had plans of friends and a future.
I’m so grateful His plans are greater than mine
This weekend, we spend together. It doesn’t matter what we do or where we go.
Time together
Laughs and food
Some extra sweet times with friends who have been around forever is how we will spend this weekend
I like to stay moving and sometimes it’s move or sleep and not much in between.
Last week, I hurt my back and I didn’t have an option but to sit. It even hurt to sit so I laid down a lot. At the same time, my cute husband had the flu so we laid down together.
Not normal at all for us
How to stop a hurting back was my google search
The search and a recommendation brought an answer.
Epson Salt and a soak in the tub
Our Master bathroom tub is original to the old house. It was here long before the previous owners wrecked it.
Now it sits in all its beauty underneath the window.
It’s been painted a couple of times
Jack loves it!
Showers are faster
There’s no tub ring to clean
Good grief, I might have to actually rest for 30 minutes.
I filled up the tub with super hot water and added the Epson Salt.
I soaked up to my neck for 30 glorious minutes and then I soaked some more.
It was heavenly
The only thing missing was a place for my recent book and a cup of coffee.
The next day, when my back was better, I headed to the garage and searched through my wood scraps until I found enough to make a tub tray.
Now………I have everything I need to soak sometimes even when my back doesn’t hurt.
It comes from experiences and conversations. It comes from time and living life.
2020 is my year to turn down the noise. It requires part of my brain that doesn’t work quite as well as the other half. It requires me to actually check in with myself and make sure things are going the way they should.
A few things I have pondered on…..this month of January 2020.
1. I am an extroverted introvert. I love to be around people and I think I am liked. But enough is enough. I can’t go non-stop. I can’t have plans more than a couple times a week or I start to fall apart. I need time alone to recharge and I need people at the same time. It sounds kind of selfish when I type it out but it is who I am and I will protect myself. I’ve done pretty good this month. A whole 26 days! Go me!!
2. I have a pretty small circle. I don’t trust well and I am cautious about who I bring into my circle. Recently I have felt the circle might still be too big. Turning down the noise will require conversations and restrictions. I don’t like it. I don’t like confrontation and I might have to throw up before it happens.
3. I live in a pool of guilt. I feel guilty for being happy. I feel guilty feeling sad. I feel guilty for the life I have. I feel guilty for _______________. Name it. I probably feel it. No one thinks these things. It’s all me. I’m working on taking those handcuffs off and letting myself out of jail.
4. I want those that I love to know I love them. I am interested in you. I want to know your love language so that I can fill your love tank. I’m working on this one. BIG TIME.
Kolbe BRYANT died today. Along with his teenage daughter. Even celebrities don’t know the day they will take their last breath. No one knows the day they will meet their maker. No one knows when they will stand at the feet of Jesus and account for our lives. So many loved ones have gone before us just this month. So many friends are grieving.
I don’t know who reads my words. It might be many and it might be few but we have a responsibility to speak Jesus in front of everyone. I don’t want to stand before Jesus and have to explain why I kept silent.
Do you?
I read the note below today. I wish I could text my Dad today.
Maybe it’s to your very tall husband if you are like me💜
This morning, I was stretching my very sore back and took a moment to look up.
The only rug in the house that is available for laying on is in the parlor, the piano room, the room where the desk is.
Whatever you want to call it….
The first thing I see is this cute light. If you want to read about how it was made, you can see it here All the feels
I never get tired of seeing this light. It casts the prettiest pattern/shadow on the ceiling.
When I spin around and look behind me, I see the fireplace. Wow, what a transformation it is.
She’s a real beauty now vs, falling apart from the inside out. One day she might even have fire again.
I look over and see the piano bench. It doesn’t get a lot of use, but every week I get to give piano lessons to my sweet friend Ayden. One day, Jack and Luke will get lessons as well and all of those weekly lessons that Mom and Dad paid for, for me will not be in vain.
I look out the front window and what do I see? Little boy fingerprints. It’s a friendly reminder that I have a sweet 2 year old that fills our home with love and that I can clean later.
Above my head is a wall full of pictures. Pictures of those I love. Those that I call husband, children, grandchildren, parents and more. The wall holds special memories and thoughts of those that have gone before us and reminders of so many things
On the other side of the room, there is a desk. It might not be the most exciting place to sit but it was a fun project. You can read about it here Table to desk
When I see this desk I am thankful for the house we pay for, the lights we have and the jobs that pay the bills. So many things to be thankful for
Don’t forgot sometimes to look up
Love,
The girl heading out to yard sale today. Wish me luck!
I look over and see the piano bench. It doesn’t get a lot of use, but every week I get to give piano lessons to my sweet friend Ayden. One day, Jack and Luke will get lessons as well and all of those weekly lessons that Mom and Dad paid for, for me will not be in vain.
The Downtown Farmhouse 