I can't even believe it.  I'm stunned.  Our SP booted out the problem family.  The one who has been kicked out of three churches (ours included, under a previous pastor!), and almost caused a split on more than one occasion. 

He called him up at the end of the week and asked if he had called the YP to make things right with her. The CA then waffled (after previously saying, "Oh, yes.  Of course I want to make things right!"), and this time the story was, "I'm just not ready to do that yet..."  Our SP said to him, "Well, until you are ready, then please don't come back to church."

Our PW said that she's guessing they'll withdraw their membership.  I don't think they'll be back, either.  But wow. I honestly didn't expect him to follow through with it. 

Worship was AMAZING yesterday.  Our pastor was so free, so joyful.  He looked like a 30-ton weight had been lifted off his shoulders.  For the first time in months, I was just happy to be in God's presence, loving Him and letting Him love me - not begging Him and pleading for a breakthrough.

I know the devil's not done trying to come against us.  I'm not that dumb.  I know we need to keep ourselves in prayer and the Word.  I don't even know what my future is at that church, but I know now that if I left, I wouldn't be slinking away in defeat.

They also announced the Pastor's Appreciation Day dinner on Sunday, and said that they are planning to honor our THREE pastors.  One of my dearest friends (who doesn't like small children!) was sitting behind me and muttered, "I appreciate Leanne because she works with the kids so I don't have to."  I looked back at him and laughed, and saw YP's husband standing in the back of the sanctuary with a big old grin on his face.  They both knew it was worrying me that I'd be overlooked because I'm "only" a children's pastor.  A silly worry, I know, but a very real one.  I mean, I minister to kids because I'm called to do so, not so that people will stand up and say nice things about me once a year, but still...it's nice to know that they at least acknowledge me as worthy of appreciation.

And they lady who announced it was CA #1 - the board member who gave DH and me so much trouble all summer - and before.  Get this one: yesterday, DH had to run out and pick up treats for our "after the service" fellowship, and he bought mini jelly doughnuts.  Now this lady (the church treasurer) would have, in the past, berated and lambasted him for spending that kind of $$ on treats when we're low on funds, and blah, blah, blah.  Yesterday, she walked up, grabbed three of them and said, "You bought my favorite kind!!" to my DH.  Wow.  What a difference.  Still hoping and praying that it lasts...

Anyway, I'm in a great mood today!  SP gave us the evening off last night because our show opened this weekend (he was in our last one, so he knows how exhausting an opening weekend is!).  We went to bed at 7:30, read for 1/2 hour, and were asleep by 8:00.  Tonight is "crash in front of the tv" night, and then tomorrow evening is "unearth my house" night.  Cleaning is not an descriptive enough term for what my house is.  Unearthing is definitely more accurate!!

Talk to you all later!!!