Friday, July 20, 2012

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the very first post of Connecting.

This is a brand new blog created just for the women of Lake Valley Community Church, Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Are you feeling special yet?  I hope so, because you have been on the hearts and minds of a group of women serving as the Lake Valley Ministry to Women leadership team.  I am talking about Dian Glover, Suzanne Russell, Karen Stuckey, and Karen Wright.  You will be hearing more about this team and the future for the Ministry to Women during the church service on July 29th.  Until then, I hope you will begin to think about your questions, thoughts, hopes, and dreams for yourself and all of the women in our church.

Did you know that the word "blog" is a contraction of 'web log'?  It simply describes an online discussion or information site. This blog is designed to be a great place for us to begin to talk about what is on our minds.  You will see some regular features, some guest bloggers, some "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" ideas, and who knows what else may evolve!  Our hope is that you will read it and respond to it by leaving your comments at the end of each post.  You will be able to see comments left by others allowing you to join the conversation.

In case you have little (or no) experience with participating in a blog conversation, feel free to contact me by e-mail with your questions and I will try to help.  suzannebrussell@gmail.com  Or better yet, leave your question or thoughts in the comment box below and start a conversation!

I am truly looking forward to hearing from YOU!

Thanks for stopping by,
Suzanne

39 comments:

  1. Ok this is the fourth time I have tried to write a comment! I sure hope it goes this time. I am so excited for this opportunity to share our ideas, dreams, questions, and encouragement on this blog spot. It is hard to stay connected when there just arent enought hours in the day sometimes. It is our prayer that this will be a helpful tool to do just that! I need you and we need each other as we journey together as sisters in Christ. I anticipate that GOd has great things in store for the women of LV. Let's walk together and enjoy all that God has for us! Dian

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    1. Thanks, Dian for hanging in there! I'm so glad to hear from you. This is the beginning of a new path for all of us, so I guess we had better expect some bumps in the road. I think Meagan has worked out the glitches so commenting should be hassle free from now on.

      So glad to be in this journey with you! :)

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  2. When Suzanne mentioned a BLOG for the women of Lake Valley, FEAR of "technical difficulties" was my initial thought! I recently moved to the country and I have to coax my Verizon MiFi just to have internet! Even tonight, my first post was eliminated when the MiFi lost connection.

    Then I thought, my heart is similar to my computer (I know it's a stretch, but stay with me). The computer losses it's source & power when connection is lost; just like my heart loses power & sources of life when my heart does not maintain connection with other women. God hard wired our hearts for connection and community! SO, I am willing to give up a couple of minutes of "Swamp People" and "Storage Wars" in the evening to connect with you ladies!!! R U In?
    Karen Wright

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    1. You crack me up, Karen! Yeah, I'm in...Swamp People? Really!?

      BTW-there will be more info available to those needing help with the whole blog thing. Stay tuned!

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  3. Hi, I'm Stephanie Westerman! My husband and I are fairly new to Lake Valley and still getting to know people. I'm very excited about the opportunity to get to know the women of Lake Valley! This is a great idea:)

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    1. Hello and welcome to Lake Valley, Stephanie. So glad to "meet" you here, and I look forward to meeting you in person soon!

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    3. I said in my original post my biggest fear of a "blog" is "technological difficulties"...and my last attempt at a post is a perfect example of the type of SNAFU I was talking about! Nevertheless, one push of the "delete button" and my incomplete comment was wiped away!

      My heart leaped; I began to consider God's own built in "delete" button for His children...and it is called "GRACE". When I bring Him my snafues, mess ups, mistakes & even disastrous sins & rebellion...He says "delete" and ALL evidence & remnants of my sins are wiped away. His GRACE wipes away my wrongdoing and a message is left that says "YOUR SIN HAS BEEN REMOVED BY YOUR AUTHOR AND CREATOR. LOVE, GOD" Thank you God for GRACE, clean slates & do overs!

      Stephanie. Welcome to Lake Valley.

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  4. Exciting to see Lake Valley women are "coming of age"... technologically speaking, of course! Thanks for continuing to move us forward and giving opportunity to be involved whether in person or yoked together via computer. My prayers are with you as you seek God's direction and wisdom. I hate not being more involved, but in everything I read and study right now, it seems the Lord is saying I am right where I belong. So I "relinquish" it all to Him ........Margaret Leggett

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    1. Hi Margaret! It is good to hear from you. Thanks for your prayers as we seek God's wisdom. We are very excited already as we see some fresh and new ideas emerging for the women of Lake Valley. Stay tuned-I'm looking forward to telling you all about it!

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  5. Wow! Suzanne, Karen, Dian, and Karen thank you for doing this....I'm very excited to have a forum to stay in touch with the ladies! The women's Bible studies always seem to fall on one of the ONLY 2 days I work each week :) So this is a great opportunity for me. Looking forward to what comes of this.

    Pray request for Starting Over Ministries: Twin Sheets and Comforters (especially ones for little kids), Towels, hand towels and wash cloths, and bowls!! Thanks everyone......Natalie Manatt

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    1. Natalie, I have some new and not quite new towels to give you. We are working Sun. so will miss church, but Mon, I will run them by the church if you like. Margaret Leggett

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  6. Hey, Natalie! I am so glad to hear that the blog will help you stay in touch-that's exactly what we hoped for. AND that it will be a great way to share the ongoing needs of Starting Over Ministries. Keep us posted and we'll do the same for you!

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  7. Hello ladies, I am also excited about this new venue for conversation and connection. :)

    Also very excited to start up our study next week!

    See you soon, Sonja

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    1. Hi Sonja, so glad you chimed in. I think we are going to have a lot of fun as more and more ladies find out about this. Thanks too, for the reminder about the Daniel study starting up again next Wednesday morning.

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  8. In PA with my family great to be able to keep up with you when I am away. Virgie

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    1. Have a great trip, Virgie! Thanks for staying in touch. Travel safely.

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  9. This is good. Thanks! Sarah Wright

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    1. So glad to hear from you, Sarah! Yes, it is good and I expect that it will get better as we connect more. :)

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  10. Hi, my name is Kelly Somerfield. I am not new to LV but have just within the last year and a half really started getting connected. I think this is a wonderful forum for us women to reach out to one another. With so many homegroups and two services there is still a large group of "LV family members" I haven't met yet and maybe this will help us get to know one another and have results of not only cyber relationships but true fellowship with people we wouldn't have met otherwise. You have my prayers for blog.

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    1. Hi Kelly! We have all felt the tension of wanting to get to know people beyond our usual church service or home group so that we can feel connected to the whole body. It's a great problem to have such a large church, isn't it? Connecting is what this is all about-as you say, not just for cyber-relationships but the true, deeper connection we all long for. Thanks for your prayers and speaking up!

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  11. I want to join! I so miss all the wonderful ladies at Lake Valley! Although David and I love living in Little Rock, the church thing has been the hardest for me. Don't get me wrong, the teaching at Fellowship in Little Rock is awesome, but it is just so big that it's hard to get to know people...it truly is like walking into a mall! But, I know God has called us here and in time will find out what our mission is here. It is so important for me to keep in touch with y'all. You know the saying...Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold. So true!

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    1. Oh, Pat! I'm so glad you want to be part of what's going on at Lake Valley. I certainly count you among my "golden friends"!

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    2. Pat we miss you too! I miss your sweet smile in the office and laughter we shared. I'm glad you are settling in, but Hot Springs will always be your home!!

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  12. I am soooooooo excited about this blog!! I can't wait to hear more! :) This past year I have been very blessed to have some WONDERFUL LOVING women from LVCC walk beside me in a time I felt completely alone and I don't know what I would have done without them! Looking forward to gaining more friendships!! Thank you Suzanne, Dian, Karen W, & Karen S for making this possible!
    Love, Mae Koller

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    1. Thanks, Mae for your encouraging words! We ALL have felt alone like you. How kind of God to give you some loving friends at just the right time. I think we have much to look forward together. Thanks for joining in! :)

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  13. so excited about this. I have been so out of touch with everyone....working on a huge house since last September. Almost fininished and ready to have a life back and some time with my sisters! Thank you, ladies, for doing this. Love you all!!!!!
    Bonnie (what is URL?????)

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  14. Hey Bonnie! Glad to hear you will soon be returning to the land of the living! Saw a FB picture of you on a ladder much too high up. So glad you joined in. Don't worry about the URL, just type in your name and move on. Next time you comment, you won't be anonymous! :)

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  15. This is such an awesome tool for us ladies. I want to say thank you to the fabulous four who are giving their time and heart to reach us for Him.
    Melia Menzies

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    1. You are welcome, Melia. I'm looking forward to seeing how God uses this in all of our lives. fabulous four? I think I like that! :)

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    2. So glad Bonnie wasn't sure how to log in...I've tried to comment a few times too! I've loved reading everyone's comments...Exciting times await us! Blessings! Jo

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  16. Hey, Jo thanks for dropping in! Great to hear from you.

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  17. Praying today for families who are suffering such great losses. I have no words only sorrow.

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  18. I am in prayer with you Kelly. We all need comfort right now.

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  19. Suzanne, just so you can put a face to the name, I am Lindsay Brown's step mom. I was in home group with Wesley. Love your daughter to pieces.

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    1. Thanks for the clarification, Kelly. I love Lindsay too! She has been a very special friend to me. I look forward to learning to recognize you when we see each other. Did you get the e-mail about problems with e-mail subscriptions to this blog? Also wanted to make sure you know to check the archives for posts you may have missed in the meanwhile! So glad you checked in today. :)

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  20. I am so excited about this Blog and how God will direct our lives as we connect with one another. I'm so grateful for the relationships I already have and open my heart to new ones. Many prayers have been offered up for me and my family. May 24th I lost my oldest sister, Aug. 6th I had surgery, then Aug. 16th my oldest brother passed. Life is so much tolerable when you have God in your life and friends who support you in prayer and kind deeds.

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  21. Hi Sandy, thanks for joining in today. So sorry to hear that this has been such a difficult time for you. I hope you are getting the rest you need for your body to heal as well as the grief you are experiencing. I will pray for your continued rest and recovery.

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