A Guided Tour

Whether it's your very first visit, or you've dropped in before, Welcome! Our blog can be viewed as an online newsletter, bulletin board and journal. We love it's versatility! Let me give you a tour of the features to assist you in navigating the site and read about why we established our blog.

Running down through the center of the site, check out the various articles, referred to as postings. At the end of each posting, there is a place to 'Post a Comment' and we'd love to hear from you. As you continue reading to the bottom of this posting, notice the instructions on how it's done.

As we scroll down the right side of the page , you'll notice a few areas to help guide you to some interesting connections.

Other Links and Bible Study Tools.
Scroll and Highlight the item of interest and you'll be connected directly to that link.
Some Examples include:
*Leominster Assembly of God ( Church website)
*Leominster Assembly of God VBS (Vacation Bible School)
*Crosswalk- Christian Living Resources, Bible Study Tools and so much more
*Bible Gateway- a Free service for reading and researching scripture online .

Blog Archives
We created our blog in March of 2009 and this is our 17th posting.
To scroll down through each and every entry, simply Click on 2009 .
The other option is to click on a particular month and/or title.

My Blog List Includes 'new ' and 'old' friends.
Scroll down, Highlight the blog that interests you and click. You will be connected directly to that blog. Our Newest friend is Semper Gumby. We met this inspiring group while we were getting our very own 'Operation Buddy' up and running.

Please post a comment!
We are always curious about who has visited us day or night and the only way that we know that you've checked us out and what you think about an entry or our blog overall is for you to leave a comment. It's easy! Here's how...........
At the end of a posting, you'll see a box titled 'Post a Comment' . Put your cursor inside the box and click. You are now ready to type your remarks. When you're finished writing, scroll down to 'Comment As: Select profile' Click , scroll and highlight Anonymous. Click. Click on Preview and you'll be able to see what your comments will look like. When you are satisfied click 'Post comment'. Now that was easy wasn't it?

If you are wondering why we have set up and maintain this blog, it's simple. We want to spread the word about the fun and fulfillment that comes from a great Home Team. We started as a very small core group of 4 during the run-up to the last election. Our desire was and is, to live our lives measured against the Word of God. We started with a study called 'Vote the Bible'. Something special happened while we started to study, as our group grew to it's full size of 11-12 members, friendships bloomed. We love one another and look forward to our weekly gatherings and we hope that you see that whenever you visit our site. We also hope to inspire you to Start a home team or to join one. While serving God, we strive to serve each other and to spread the Good News!

Sally

'Operation Buddy'

The 'In Line With The Word' home team has decided to take on a 'service project' called "Operation Buddy". Kim and Chip's son Doug, a marine, is currently serving as a part of Fox Company in Afghanistan and he loves receiving 'care packages' from home. When we heard that some of the guys he serves with don't get much, if anything, we all jumped at the chance to do something about it. We are collecting supplies to pack so that we can ship as many boxes as possible each month. Any money collected can be put toward supplies and to cover shipping.

Everyone pitched in with a helping hand.

Laurie and Melinda sorted items by category: Personal Care, Entertainment and Food.

Brian helped with packing!



While Kim assembled the boxes for shipping!

Even Jay and Mike helped! They stayed out of our way!

It was a great START with 4 Boxes ready to add our Home Team picture and note for shipping.

Now that we have a better idea of what to pick up and pack, we plan on adding Bibles, DVD's, CD's and no doubt in time, we'll figure out more exciting things to add.

We remain walking In Line With The Word,
Sally

A Tiny 4 Legged Blessing

Anyone who knows my husband Charlie and me, won't be surprised to learn that we spent most of last weekend caring for a fragile stray cat that we found wandering across the street and into our back yard.

As you can see, we already enjoy a wonderful family of sweet 4 legged friends.

We hoped to nurse this tiny stray back to health and find her a loving home. She purred throughout her pampering session of brushing, a bath and blow dry!

Yesterday, we took the cat to the vet and received the bad news about how very sick she was and we had to make a tough decision. Though sad, we are so grateful that God blessed us with the gift of this little sweet cat even if only for four short days.

Summer Fun

Can you tell that we don't take ourselves too seriously? We do however take our study seriously and this month , we have enjoyed Wes Daughenbaugh's Principles of Perseverance.

Back Row L -R Brian, Laurie, Kim, Mystery woman

Front Row L-R Mike, Mindy,Sally,Melinda, Jay

We had to drag Jay away from his game of 'hide & seek' to join us in our photos.


The truths shared in this book are designed to help renew our strength when we feel physically, spiritually, mentally or emotionally exhausted. May we be among the overcomers who always find a way to renew our strength and to complete our assignment from heaven and to never join the crowd that simply calls it quits. Our daily challenge is to always obey!


My husband Charlie and I love opening our home to our Team. While Charlie is not yet a member, he is a fantastic host and a great support and sport!

That's What Friends Are For

The End Result....

Blessed Friends and a Beautiful Yard!!!

A Well Deserved Break....

Serving With A Cheerful Heart

Thank you Kim and Sally for surveying the project and making a list.

Kim did a great job pulling weeds, laying mulch, picking up yard waste...Wow...what a worker bee! I think we should sign her up for VBS...we need workers like her!!!

Mike doing yard work despite bad allergies is always a sign of true friendship and servanthood.

Melinda getting into the swing of sweeping. Hey doesn't Jay need that to get to work in the morning???

Thanks Chip for the mulch...the truck...removing all the yard waste...and working diligently last night.

Make sure you wash those hands Mindy before you bake that "Heaven Cake" ;)

What teamwork...

Jay posing for a picture instead of raking...hey get back to work.

Brian posing for a picture while raking...gotta love multi tasking.

Peter is the "energizer bunny" of yard work.

Sally did a great job mowing the yard. Of course the mulch in the front hides her great work.

And thanks to our other workers who choose to remain in the W.P.P.

Praying for our son - Doug

On May 13th we began our countdown - 7 months till Doug returns from Afghanistan and we look forward to seeing him walk off the plane with his fellow Marines sometime in January 2010. Until then we look forward to hearing stories from Doug of how he has experienced God's protection and encouragement, just as he did in Iraq in 2008. This is a picture of his last Homecoming on September 2, 2008.

Doug began his Iraq deployment meeting up with his best friend from childhood, Mike Shank who is serving in the Army. Mike was determined to find Doug and we know that it was with God's help that he did. Mike and Doug were able to spend some time together before Doug had to leave for a more remote location. Mike Shank is Vi Shank's Grandson.

This is Doug with his Iraqi Police Officer Buddy. God can use anyone, anywhere to show His love. Please pray that Doug will be a true witness to those around him whether foe or friend. We are all God's children!

Many times Doug experienced God's protection and knew it was the prayers of so many people that God had heard and answered. When he did call home he would say "Please tell people to keep praying." On this second deployment we pray that Doug will see God's hand of protection and look to Him for courage, strength and confidence and give God the glory for all He does. Thank you to all who keep Doug and all the Troops in prayer.

Until Doug returns, we will remain In Line With the Word!

Chip and Kim

Mother's Day

Caitlin's Home!!! We are praising God that she had a safe and adventurous semester in Rome. It will take us months to see all her pictures and listen to her stories. We spent the weekend enjoying family time and even went to see a Red Sox game. I loved having time to spend with Brian, Caitlin and Robert. Thank you to everyone for praying for her while she was away. Also, thank you for praying for Robert and supporting him and he heads to the mission field this summer.

Mother's Day service at church was so special! Pastor Dave made sure every mother, grandmother, mother-to-be, and every young woman who desires to be a mother felt honored and esteemed. Kim was asked to speak to the congregation. She did a phenomenal job as she spoke about her own mother, her role as grandmother and mother. THANKS KIM!!! You blessed everyone through your obedience.

Cait and I are away this week enjoying some Mother/Daughter time while Brian and Rob are enjoying time watching the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox without estrogen-interruptions.

Until I come home...I remain In Line With The Word

Laurie