WEEK SEVEN: PASTOR AND STAFF APPRECIATION

We love our church pastors and staff, and all of their families. Thanks to Brandi for this wonderful idea of showing our appreciation to them as one of our ministry projects. And also, special thanks to Pinterest for helping us come up with cute tags and ideas to show our appreciation.

We decided to brainstorm and determine everyone's "favorite things" and go from there. Here is what we came up with:

Brother Bruce love Coke Zero's so we got him a 12 pack and added this cute tag that reads:

"Brother Bruce, There are zero other like you. Thanks for being you!"

Our Pastor of Worship, Gavin, had recently started drinking these soft drinks that don't have sugar or artificial sweeteners. They are made with Stevia instead of sugar or artificial sweetener. This one was a little more difficult to come up with since nothing rhymes with Zevia... so we copied the format of the label and added a matching tag that says:

"Gavin, Thanks for being such an awesome pastor of muzic!"

You can't really read this one very well, so I will type it out below. Our children's minister, Meghan (who also happens to be my best friend), is a candy fanatic. So we decided to make her a card and add some yummy candy in there. It reads:
"Meghan, We wanted to show our appreciation by giving you 100 Grand, but the money slipped through our Butterfingers, and it was not PayDay yet. We thought about an Orbit around the Milky Way but that would cost Extra. We hope you Rolover and Snicker as you enjoy this card! Love the Tis So Sweet Life Group"

Chris has an obsession with Mountain Dew Baja Blast so that one was obvious. The tag reads: "Chris, Thank you for everything you DEW!"

We heard through the grapevine that Brother Bob likes Dunkin Donuts coffee, so we got him a gift card and attached it to this card that reads: "Brother Bob, Thanks a latte for all that you do!"

Janet and Melissa serve as our wonderful administrative personnel in the church office and we thought they might enjoy some yummy mints so we made these cute goody bags that read "Thanks for your commitMINT to our church family!"

Brandi delivered everything for us and it was a success!

L to R: Meghan, Bruce, and Gavin showing off their goodies!

But first...lemme take a selfie! 

L to R: Meghan, Brandi, Gavin & Bruce

Pic was a little blurry, but here is Janet (blue shirt) with Brandi and her tribe!

While I had all these lovely ladies and their extra hands here Sunday night, I also had them help me get the door prizes ready for the 5th annual Move Your Feet Move the World 5k. Let me tell you, usually this is a task that takes me at least an hour by myself, but these ladies knocked it out in about 5 minutes, so I am forever grateful for their help.

L to R: Lindsey, Belinda, Brandi, Laura, and Julie with their assembly line wrapping and labeling door prizes.

The finished products!!

Absolutely love this group and am blessed to serve alongside each of them!

L to R: Julie, Lindsey, Laura, Belinda, Me and Buddy :)

Making plates in the semi-dark dining room (see last post for explanation...)

Now here are the recipes of the week!

CROCKPOT CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

Contributed by: Belinda

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tbsp butter

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 - 14.5 oz can chicken broth

1/2 onion, diced OR 2 tbsp dried, diced onion

1 tbsp dried parsley

4 Grands flaky refrigerator biscuits

Place chicken in crockpot and top chicken with butter. Scoop the cream of chicken soup on top of that, then pour chicken broth over all. Add the onion and parsley. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or low for 8 to 9 hours. After chicken is cooked, shred and put back into soup. Cut each biscuit into 9 pieces like this:

Stir biscuit pieces gently into soup. Cover and turn crockpot to high, then cook for another hour. After hour is up, stir and enjoy!

MINI NUTELLA CUPCAKES

Contributed by: Mallory

For 10-12 mini cupcakes (or approx. 5 regular size):

1 cup Nutella

1 egg

5 tbsp flour

Desired toppings (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F. Line or spray muffin pan. Mix together 1/2 cup Nutella and egg. Whisk until smooth. Add flour and whisk until well blended. Spoon batter into muffin cups about 3/4 full and bake on 350F until toothpick comes out pretty clean (approx. 11-12 mins). Warm remaining Nutella in the microwave approx. 15-20 seconds until warm and soft. After cupcakes cool, dip the tops in the microwaved Nutella. Add desired toppings as necessary (ex: sea salt, coconut, chopped nuts, etc.).

BOWTIE ITALIAN PASTA

Contributed by: Julie

1 box bowtie pasta

2 cucumbers, diced

3 tomatoes, diced

1 jar olives

1 cup Italian dressing

1 cup feta cheese

Cook pasta according to package. Mix all ingredients well and serve chilled or room temperature.

TWICE BAKED POTATOES

Contributed by: Laura

5 large potatoes

3/4 cup sour cream

1 heaping spoon of butter

3/4 cup cheddar cheese

1/4 cup milk

5 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

Peel and dice potatoes. Boil until tender. Drain and add sour cream, butter, milk, and bacon. If potatoes are too thick, you can add more milk. Mix by hand or using a mixer. Pour mixture into a casserole dish. Top with cheese and bake on 350F until cheese is melted and potatoes are hot.

PORCUPINE MEATBALLS

Contributed by: Laura

1 lb. ground beef

3/4 cup Minute rice, uncooked

1 can diced tomatoes

Onion and salt & pepper to taste 

Preheat oven to 375F. Mix beef, onion, rice and salt & pepper and shape into golf-size balls. Place in a casserole dish. Mix together tomatoes and 1 cup of water and pour over meatballs. Bake 1 hour covered on 375F.

FAJITA CHICKEN DIP

Contributed by: Lindsey

2 cans Rotel

1 block Velveeta

1 rotisserie chicken

1 packet of fajita seasoning

1/2 cup sour cream (or cream cheese)

Break down chicken into pieces, mix and melt all ingredients together and enjoy!

CROCKPOT MEATBALLS

Contributed by: Brandi

2 - 1 lb bags frozen meatballs (keep frozen - do not need to thaw)

1 - 18 oz bottle Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce

1 - 32 oz jar grape jelly (not jam)

Combine all ingredients in crockpot and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours. Serve warm and enjoy!

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Tonight, I leave you with 2 things:

1. A "throwback" picture of my sweet little Buddy the first day we got him:

2. The Word of God.

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13: 7-8

Thank you Lord for the pastors, staff, deacons, and other ministry leaders of our church. Thank you for leading my husband and me to this particular church. I pray that this small token of appreciation will brighten each of their days. Thank you for this wonderful group of ladies who lift up my spirits each time I am with them or think of them. I'm so grateful that you allowed me to experience this Christian fellowship. More importantly, I'm humbled by what Jesus did for me on the cross and thankful for the promise in your word that says he is the same yesterday and today and forever. Thank you for your unconditional love and mercy. In your name, Amen.