CORE Weekend!

Crossover (Mattoon), First Assembly of God (Mattoon), Salisbury (Charleston...our home church), East Harrison St Church of God (Charleston), Kansas United Methodist Church & Tri County Community Church (Ashmore) united this past weekend for CORE (I believe it stands for "Community out-reach event"). I cannot list every event that occured over the weekend but to name a few...area church peeps served to the people of the community by....

Washing windshields

Habitat for Humanity help

Power washed some buildings

Prepared care packets for Meth kids and kids returning to school!

A free garage sale!

Painted and did some construction

Bagged grocery

Handed out water bottles

Adopted a highway

Checked fluids in cars

Recorded books on tape

and the list goes on!

I personally sacked groceries at County Market w/ my sister-in-law Keri Clapp on Sunday. It was actually fun! I was most touched when an elderly lady was having a hard time getting all of her groceries out of the cart. I asked her if I could help and she said, "oh yes, please." Its soo easy for us to be in such a hurry and not see or pay attention to those around us who could really use our help. I will try next time I'm grocery shopping to be better tuned into those around me who could use a helping hand. Brett, Asa and Micayla handed out water bottles on Saturday afternoon. Micayla along with Grandma Laura, Aunt Tabitha, Cousins Noah and Caydance played Bingo with the clients at a local area Nursing Home. Below are some pics I snapped through the weekend...its not all of them, but it will give you a good idea of the fun we had. I am so blessed to be a part of a community who can sit aside differences and serve the Lord together! Thanks to everyone who was a part of CORE. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

PS: The beautiful rainbow was such a great end to a blessed weekend!

(Please feel free to leave comments about your CORE experience, maybe how you served or were served)
I encourage all churches to jump aboard next year for another great weekend of serving together, just imagine what we could do all together!

Pappy and Eli hanging out in the backseat of the car as we drive around capturing photographs!

Pappy entertains Eli with his false teeth and Eli thinks its the coolest thing ever!

Vickie plays Bingo!
Power Washing!

Sackin Groceries!


Leaving to hand out Bottled Water!

Chattin with the Windshield washers...Eli is watching someone wash our windshield!

Andy is checking the air in my tires! And he found one to be very low...Bless you!

Two of my FAVORITE guys!

Two of my favorite girls playing Bingo!

My Mom (Laura Clapp) helping others play Bingo!

Tabitha (my sister) and my cute-as-button nephew Noah playing Bingo!

Hi Noahie!

An eventful Sunday!

We went to church and then out to eat with Asa, Keri and Trystan at Stadium Grill in Mattoon. At 1pm I had my shower with friends and family...I had fun and thought it went real well. Although no one had S'mores! The cake and ice cream did us all in. :) After the shower...Me, Brett, Eli and Micayla headed up to Carters and OshKosh in Tuscola for their super sales. We conquered both of those stores and StrideRite in less than one hour and made out with some really great deals for Eli and our baby girl. We arrived home shortly after 6pm. Eli was laying on his beanbag and was sliding off...so Brett grabbed his hand and helped him back on and he said he felt a pop...Eli started screaming and crying. In the back of my mind I was taken back some years ago when Micayla had "Nurse-Maids Elbow" and we made several drives to the ER over a 4-5 year period! :( I was going to attempt to give Eli a bath to see if he would settle down or "come out of it." But that was not going to happen. So I told everyone to load up...we were going to the ER. When we arrived there was a line of three families...so I called the Peds Office answering service to see who was on call and told them to have whoever it was to call me. Dr. Stultz (never met before) called and I explained to him the situation and he said...it sounds exactly like Nurse Maids Elbow and he told me how to attempt to replace it. (I was a bit nervous). But Walllaaa! It worked soooo easily! I could not believe no one had explained it to me that easy before and saved me a dozen trips to the ER w/ Micayla! Grrrr! But Praise the Lord...our little Eli regained his color and joy within minutes of getting that readjusted! We came home, ate supper, put him to bed and enjoyed a movie. What a day! But I must say...the internet resource I have read really downplays the pain. Eli was not "playing as usual without using his upper arm." My child was pale white, sweating and feel asleep from the pain between here and the hospital. Once I readjusted him, he regained his color right away, quit sweating and then was playing as a normal happy baby...same with Micayla when she was little...although she NEVER fell asleep or passed out from the pain. Just a heads up...we have played with Eli (up to this point) swinging his around by his arms etc and have never had a problem. This problem typically develops around age 1...so don't be surprised if it creaps up on you like it did us! Now we must be cautious how we "pull" on his arms...it can happen so easily...even by just pulling his arm through his shirt or jacket. Hope all this information helps someone else out there! Have a Blessed Day; Micah

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Eli is a natural water bug!

My Birthday!

Oopps...I didn't realize when I took this picture, I cut Tabitha's head off! But look at little Noah crying over being put into the pool. He hated it!

And so did Trystan.

Eli and Caydance thought it was GREAT fun!

They try to drink the water coming out of the Palm tree...too cute!

Brett played tricks on Eli...only turning the water on when Eli would touch the tree...Eli found it interesting.

A day at the ZOO!

Little Pappy and Eli playing on the bridge...Eli found it easier to bounce than to walk on it!

He liked looking at the big animals!

And touching the small ones. But Eli likes to squeeeeeze too!

The whole gang! Wow...first time ever that we have taken a vacation together. Where will we go next time?

Micayla and Caydance enjoy Dippin Dots...Yum!