Right Now Is The Right Time!

There's a Right Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3 (The Message)

There's an opportune time to do things,
a right time for everything on the earth.

A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh.
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I've had a good look at what God has given us to do-busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time-but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going. I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That's it- eat, drink, and make the most of your job.
It's God's gift.

I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.

Whatever was, is.
Whatever will be, is.
That's how it always is with God.

Happy New Year!
May God Richly Bless You in 2010!

A Good Report

The other day I was opening the mail, and amongst all the Christmas cards from family & friends, I saw there was an envelope from the Bible College Kyle, my oldest son is attending. This is his first year of college, he graduated from High School last year.

I said "uh oh, this could be your report card!" I opened it and starred in amazement. Now Kyle is very smart, but has always been an average student. Too social to spend time studying. I can't tell you how many phone calls and notes I've gotten from his teachers over the years, telling me Kyle is not living up to his potential academically. He's too talkative in class (I have no idea where he got that from!) And doesn't take school seriously.

I announced standing in the kitchen; "You Got Straight A's!" Zach, my other and much more studious son walked by and said "You sure that's Kyles and not my report card?" You can always count on a brother for support! Zach has pretty much always had straight A's. Kyle, not so much! We all couldn't believe it, and celebrated together! I even hung Kyles report card on the refrigerator! I knew I had to Blog about this milestone in my child's life!

I guess that old saying better late, than never applies here. If the very first time a child get straight A's isn't until they start college, it's worth the wait! I think taking classes of his choosing, things that interest him, and move him toward his goal of someday being a Youth Pastor is what make the difference. He took some Theology classes & Public Speaking.

Way to go Kyle, we're so proud of you!
Keep it up!

Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
2009 has certainly been a year of highs & lows for the Forbis clan.

Our oldest son Kyle Graduated from High School!
And has just finished his first semester of Bible College.
He wants to become a Youth Pastor some day.
He has had the same girlfriend, Olivia, for almost 2 years now.
That's a record for him!
Yes, my baby boy will turn 20 years old this next year!
How can that be possible?!

Zach just turned 18.
He will Graduate from High School this year!
We will have two out of school, it's hard to imagine.
Zach is enjoying his Senior year.
Getting straight A's.
Playing Guitar in Jazz Band, and singing in the top Choirs.
He wants to become a Music Pastor like his father.

My twin baby girls are now 12 years old!
They are in 6th grade,
that means next year is Jr. High! Ouch.
They are truly Pre-teens,
concentrating on their friends & fashion.
Lexi loves playing the Flute in the school band,
and Erica plays the French horn & is our little song bird.

I went back to work this year.
After being a stay at home mom for 18+ years.
I took a part time job in retail,
and just 3 or 4 months later I found myself managing the store.
So now I'm working full time and I really love my job.

John was just recently laid off from his job.
And has been searching for a new position.
We started at this Church the summer before my girls started Kindergarten.
We'd seen it thrive and grow, as John grew in his ability to lead others in Worship.
Please keep us in your prayers as we look for Gods will for our lives,
and figure out the next step on our Journey.
And I must say it's been kind of nice having him home more.
I get off work, and dinner is already cooking!
A girl could get used to that!

From our Family to yours:
Merry Christmas & may you be blessed in the New Year!

Christmas Cookies!

When I was a little girl my mom would set aside one day every year to make Christmas cookies. The entire kitchen & dining room would be covered with dough, ingredients, cookies cooling, frosting, frosted cookies "drying", all us kids loved that day! And the days following that day, because we got to eat the Christmas cookies!

(My sister in law Judy, & I Rolling, rolling, rolling)

When I moved out of state & had children of my own, I wanted to keep that tradition for my kids, but, you know me, I'm no Martha Stewart! So, I cheated! Yes, that's right. When my kids were little and I didn't live near my mom, I bought ready made Pillsbury sugar cookie dough and canned frosting. My small children still got the experience of rolling out & cutting the cookies, frosting & decorating too! But with much less mess. Brilliant I know! I'm great at cutting corners! :)

(My sister in law Debbie giving the girls directions.
my girls & 2 of my nieces)

But, now since moving back home to Arizona, and my kids are a lot older, we've gone back to the true fashion of making Christmas cookies. My mom can't really make all the cookies herself anymore. So, we made a new family tradition of making them together. It's our annual "Cookie Messtravaganza!" My sister in law, Debbie has us all over to her house. Everyone comes with their cookie dough already made. Then we roll them out, cut, bake, frost & decorate them all together. (We usually order Pizza & play games too while were at it!)

(My niece Alarie, being cute!)

Well, every year I manage to talk someone into making my dough for me. (yes, I'm a whiner, not to mentioned spoiled!) But, this year my mom was out of town until the day we were making cookies, and I couldn't manage to talk any of my sister's in law into making it for me. Can you believe it?! I was pretty nervous to make it myself.

(4 generations making cookies together!
My Mom, my brother Danny, his daughter, Sarah
and her son Avery!)

So, the night before our cookie day, my girls spent the night at a friends house, and my oldest son's girlfriend Olivia, who is the queen of baking, had to work. (I wonder who her manager is that planed that schedule?! haha She works in my store!) So, John helped me, and it was fun & a lot easier than I remember it being. And our cookies turned out great! John & my boys said they were the best ever! (kiss ups!)

(My brother Marty & his daughter Rachel
she did much better decorating than he did!)

I thought I'd share my moms recipe with you, my blog readers & friends. If you don't have your own family tradition of making Christmas cookies, I highly recommend you start one of your own. And if you do make cookies, don't forget to save a few, to leave out on Christmas eve for Santa! He loves them too! Happy Baking!

Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups Butter, softened
3 tsp. Vanilla
1-1/2 cups Sugar
6 cups Flour
2 eggs
2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 Tbls. Milk
1 tsp. Salt

Blend together flour, baking powder & salt. Set aside.

Cream together butter & sugar. Stir in eggs. Add milk & vanilla. Mix Well.

Slowly add flour mixture into creamed mixture, mix well.

Chill for 1 or more hours.

Roll out to 1/2" thick. Cut out in designs.

Bake at 400 for 7 min.

Cool. Decorate.



Frosting

Ingredients:
1 Box Powdered Sugar
3/4 stick of Butter
1 tsp. Vanilla
Milk


Mix powdered sugar, butter & vanilla with mixer.

Add small amount of milk until spreadable consistency.
(not too thin)

You can add food coloring to make different colors of frosting.


(Me, decorating cookies with my Mom & my daughters Lexi & Erica,
"Cookie Cuties!")

Forbis Family Fun Night, Christmas Style!

We went to see Star Of Wonder, it's the Christmas production put on by Phoenix First Assembly of God. One of the largest Assembly of God churches in the country. And let me tell you they put on quite the show!

The kids waiting for the show to start,
Left to right: Olivia, Kyle, Zach, Erica, Lexi

They have live animals: Camels, Elephants, Horses, Dogs, a Tiger and a Kangaroo in their production. Angels flying from two balcony's high. Dancers, singers, actors, cirque De sole type acrobats. All with the Christmas message.

Kyle playing Santa with Olivia!

Lexi and Erica in a One horse open sleigh! Hey!

My girls' band teacher at school played in the orchestra for the production. And a Jr. High Pastor we used to work with, is now on staff there and was a dancer. We had a great time.

Pastor Christina (in the middle) who danced in the show,
with Shane & Heather, who are soon to be married interns at Phoenix First.
All of whom worked with us in the past and are good friends.
It was great seeing them again.

Since we don't have a Church we're a part of right now, I knew we wouldn't really have a Christmas service to attend, so we used this opportunity to get dressed up & make this our Christmas service. Then we looked at Christmas lights on the way home. It was a great evening for the whole family, and it was free! :)

Us, in front of the giant Christmas Tree.
Left to right: Kyle, Zach, Lexi, Erica, me & John.

"Two Turtledoves"

A Christmas Carol

Last night I took my girls and two of their BFF's to see A Christmas Carol. And just like I knew it would be, it was so good! It's in 3D, which is really cool, but of course the glasses aren't all that comfortable, and it makes me feel a little bit motion sick. (I'm getting old, I know!)

And before the movie started, I pick up my bucket of popcorn, (I had skipped dinner so I could have movie theater popcorn! My favorite) and dropped the whole bucket. It landed face down. I said well, at least I get a free re-fill! The lady next to me thanked me for trying to share my popcorn with her. I told her I was glad I could be the pre-movie entertainment. And at least I got a funny tweet out it! It was a Twitter worthy moment.

Jim Carry was great in the movie, it was very well done. And the story, of course, is timeless. I've read the book too by Charles Dickens. It could be scary for younger children, (after all is about a haunting) but, it brings with it such a great message.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the past,
the present, and the future.
The spirits of all three shall strive within me.
I shall not shut out the lessons that they teach."

Update

I wanted to keep you updated as to what's happening with our family and our job search. As you know my husband lost his job almost a month ago. I've shared with you how I tend to worry.

John has sent out dozens and dozens of resumes, from Washington State to Washington D.C., and everywhere in between. He's lead Worship at a few local Churches here, and we've met with some local Pastors as well. You can check out his web site here.

We are open to whatever God has for us. Of course we would love to be able to stay here, at least until the school year is over. This is Zach's Senior year of High School. So, even if we were to move, we'd let him stay here to finish his Senior year and not move him. Though that would be extremely hard for me to do. (I've always wondered how the parents of the Olympic athletes could let their kids go live with a coach for 4 to 6 years.) Even though my boys are 18 & 19, it would be hard to move without them. Kyle is in his first year of Bible Collage. And he too would stay to finish the school year if we got a job in another state.

I'm very thankful to have my job. It's been such a blessing. And I have to tell you, I could get used to this having a man home all the time. :) John's gotten so much done off his "Honey Do List!" He's cleaned my carpets & curtains. He even shops for me, which is NOT his favorite thing to do! And It's so nice coming home from work & dinner is cooking. He gets the kids where they need to be, and I don't have to worry about it. We've become that old show Who's The Boss! And he's even better looking than Tony Danza! :)

We got a call from the Girls school letting us know they are giving both our girls scholarships to 6th grade Science Camp. That is so nice. They have been looking forward to and talking about Science Camp for 2 years. The entire 6th grade goes away for like 3 days. They do experiments and have a great time. Zach loved it when he was in 6th grade too. But, it's $100.00 per kid, and when you have twins, of course everything is doubled. So, the girls knew it was a very big possibility that we wouldn't be able to afford for them to go. They are so excited and relieved to know that's taken care of. Now, we just have to be living here in the spring when they go! :0

We know God's got a place for us. So, please keep praying with us that He shows us where that is soon. We know He is in control. It's just hard to not worry, and not let it get me down. (3 cold sores in 3 weeks, shows I'm worrying too much! Ugh!) Thanks to all our family and friends for sticking by us, and lifting us up in prayer. We love you.

Us!
Then and Now!