Tanning Salon

We are selling equipment, beds, decor, etc.  Everything must go!  If you need more information let me know @ 989-239-7865.

Bitter Sweet?!

1 Year @ Sun Kissed Tanning

There are times in our lives when things can be bitter sweet.  And this is one of them.  In October 2007, Dave and I open D&J’s Sun Kissed Tanning in Brighton, Michigan.  I have always loved tanning since I was young and as most girls grow up believing “Tan fat is better than White fat!”, so we tanned!  (Which is SO true BTW)

Have you ever had a dream that you thought was silly?  Or maybe unreasonable?  Well, mine was owning a tanning salon.  Who knew that I would be able to actually own a salon?

The Sweet Side…
Actually living a dream, that  I once had
Being your own boss (Definitely a plus)
Loving what your are doing
Helping people “Look Good and Feel Great”

The Bitter Side…
Long Hours
Being your own boss (Who said it was easy?!)
Making tough decisions
Closing the doors

With any dream you  get to live out, it’s bitter sweet and with  my dream I’ve had my share of laughter, tears, happiness, frustration, etc.  With all of this said…   D&J’s Sun Kissed Tanning is closing the doors…  Bitter Sweet, right?!
So what’s your Dream?  Are you living it?  Is it bitter sweet?

Today I’m choosing to keep dreaming dreams, reaching for the prize, I know that there are great things in store…

Girls Ministries Training

If you are interested in attending this Girls Ministries Training, please leave your contact information in the comment section below before March 15th. Thanks!

Logo Released…

The ROCK is our Sunday morning ministry for kids.  We are so excited to share our logo with you!

Yo Chuck…

 In November we challenged our ROCK kids to “POP OUT” for missions.  If they raised so much money they would be able to go out to lunch with Mr. Dave & myself.  A lot of them took the challenge but 3 of them met the goal! 

Last Sunday we took the “POP OUT” winners and visited our good friend Chuck @ Chuck E Chesses.  I will never forget how Samantha gave Chuck a kiss on the cheek, how Luke would run out of tokens the fastest, every time!  And Brandon…  He was so serious trying to get the tickets.

 I love our Kids.  They are amazing.  I think I had more fun than them.

The Best Christmas Present

The best Christmas present this year was better than anything waiting for me underneath the tree.  This present acutally was a girl named Tina, If you are not familiar with Tina please CLICK HERE. 

Christmas Eve Dave & I delivered present to Tina and her Dad.  Watching Tina smile as we walked in was priceless.  Having all of Tina’s teddy bears & stuffed animals line up & waiting for our arrival was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. 

Thanks to all the kids in The ROCK, and with the help of the adults they made CHRISTmas possible for Tina & her dad. 

No, we didn’t preach to them, We didn’t tell them they had to be in church next Sunday, we just loved them and showed them Jesus in a tangible way.  They had a need and we met it. 

Being an instrument of God’s love was the greatest gift I could of ever recieved for Christmas.

Getting all the presents ready to wrap

My dog Job had to help wrap the gifts!

Almost done wrapping...

Tina and a new teddy bear

A whole lot of presents

Unwrapping a gift or two before Christmas

Tina & Myself

The Gift

 

 

This year, Bethel Assembly of God put on an awesome Christmas play, written by our very own Kevin Simonye! 

The play was about families who had their own idea of what Christmas was.  Some thought Christmas was all about getting together with family, going on a trip, and even having the best decorations in the neighborhood.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have family around and to be able to go here and there but what happens when these plans fall through, is our Christmas truly ruined?  Or was your Christmas ruined by something similar?  With today’s economic status, I know this play hit home for many people.  At times we can get so caught up in what is going on around us that we lose sight of what Christmas really is about.

They play went on to tell us the true meaning of Christmas, how Jesus was born to us, a baby!  That baby eventually grew up and saved us all, by dying on the cross.  A real superhero.

God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son
for you and me.
 John 3:16

Take a look at some of these Great Pictures!

 

 

Thanks to everyone who made this Christmas Play a huge success!

The ROCK

I am so excited to start this new series Sunday mornings in The ROCK.  Starting in January, I will be sharing with the Kids about the ROCK, Jesus!  As you can see we named our kids ministry on Sunday mornings the ROCK.  After many weeks of brainstorming with Pastor Owens, we came up with the name.  We wanted a name with significance, something that the kids would be able to take hold of.

We knew we wanted to make kid’s ministry at Bethel Assembly of God a SAFE place; A safe place to grow, a safe place to ask questions, a safe place to just be YOU, and a safe place to minister.

Everyday kids younger & younger are faced with huge issues in their life.  These issues are not even issues some of us had to face when we were their age!  We want to offer a SAFE place, with a REAL God for kids to overcome the odds set before them.

 As we head into January we are praying that God would reveal himself in an awesome way, that He would make himself SO real to these kids.  As we learn who the ROCK is, I believe that they will NOT BE SKAKEN in the days and years to come!

Stay tuned for more updates on this series in January!

     I will not be shaken.  Psalm 62:2.     

Congratulations Angel!

Congratulations Angel!

I Love You!

 

Angle didn’t thinks I would do a video about her, so here it is!  (Yeah, I know I’m a dork ~ hee hee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8rxtsMo4II

A few days ago Angel mentioned she was thinking about applying to be a federal agent.  How cool would that be?!  Part of the FBI?! And NO where not talking about Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn.

Angel, Eight years later, you’ve earned your Bachelors Degree.  So the big question is, are you going for the MASTERS?

Post your comment below about what Angel should should do next.  Should she continue to go to college & earn her Masters?  What career should she seek out?  Or simply just give her some words of wisdom!

A True CHRISTmas Story

A Christmas Story

“Tina come out here, I want you to meet my friends” says the dad.  Reluctantly Tina comes out with a slight smile on her face and sits down next to her dad with a teddy bear in hand.

 Over the next 60 minutes we really got to know this family.  Sharing personal stories, laughing and just enjoying the time we had with each other.  The father shared that he has been a single father and out of work due to some surgical complications that has left him disabled, making walking very difficult.  This year, like many of the past, has just been a tough road for this family.

 Shortly after the initial introduction Tina has that little teddy bear is dancing on my lap.  “Tina, you know Christmas is coming up…” I tell her.  “If you could have anything you wanted for Christmas, what would it be?” I asked her.  Trying to see what Tina really wanted for Christmas, Tina looks at her dad and looks down again. Then looking up at us softly she replies “I already have everything I want”.

As my eyes get teary I think to myself that most 13 year olds I know have had their Christmas list’s made since November!  I can honestly say hearing this statement “I have what I want” from this beautiful little girl has had an enormous impact on us this Christmas Holiday!

 At the end of our visit the caregiver walks us to the door with tears in her own eyes.  At this time she shares that she had called around to several other organizations asking for help for this particular family.  She hears the same thing phone call after phone call, that: “due to the current economical status that most places were limited to whom they could help and were not able to assist them this year.”  So we ask Tammy, the caregiver, if we can do anything to help her and she replied with tears and hugs: “Thanks so much for coming and anything you can do for Tina this Christmas would be truly wonderful.”

 As Dave and I got back into the car, we looked at each other and smiled, knowing that God has placed this family in our path for a reason.  This is Christmas… GIVING.  God gave us His one and only Son.  And in return we are able to show the Love of Jesus, by giving this humble family a real CHRISTmas.

 

Meet My New Friend Tina…

Tina & Ms. Jessica

Like many teenage girls, Tina enjoys playing video games, going bowling, and playing with her friends. Her favorite colors are pink, purple, and blue. And Tina is autistic.

 Bethel Assembly of God has adopted Tina for Christmas, and we’re going to make sure she knows how loved she is. The ROCK is gathering toys and clothes for Tina for Christmas. Can you help us?

 Tina likes arts and crafts projects (anything she can put together), dolls and doll clothes, and books. She also is in need of some clothing items. She wears girls shirts size 14/16, and girls pants size 14. Due to Tina’s skin sensitivity, she cannot wear jean material or anything with buttons or zippers. Fleece or sweat material seems to work best for Tina.

 If you are able to help Tina have a Merry Christmas, please bring unwrapped items to Bethel A/G by Sunday, December 21. We will be delivering all of the gifts to Tina on Christmas Eve.