Good Morning

It's a rainy Saturday morning in Rogers, Arkansas. I need to be walking, but will have to wait for a break in the rain. However, I am "bathing" in God's sunshine this morning, marvelling at His goodness and abundant blessings on our lives!

Jeff & I both, almost every day without exception, tell our Lord, Thank You, Thank You for selling our home in Texas. If we don't remember to do it during our quiet time....watching the Nightly News always reminds us to be so grateful! Our hearts still overflow with gratitude and amazement that God sold that house so quickly. We were able to pay off all our bills, become debt free -- and live here these several months without a job. This time of rest has been such a major blessing to both Jeff & I. And we don't ever plan to go back to a lifestyle of having more than we need or living beyond the basic necessities of life.

We don't have anything specific to report concerning jobs, but Jeff does have his resume submitted to a couple of places and we are just waiting on God to open and/or close doors. Jeff is preaching the next two Sundays, filling in for a couple of different pastors and he's been booked for two revivals in the fall. He continues to stay busy with numerous projects that he didn't have time to work on while in the pastorate. He faithfully rides his bicycle every day for 30-40 minutes and I've been walking 45-60 minutes. So we are feeling better. Now if we could just NOT eat - ha!!

We've enjoyed visits recently from various friends: Jim & Margaret Wolf from Red Oak, Texas (members of First Baptist and Jim & Jeff were on staff together); Mark, Lana, Steven & Isaac George from Cedar Hill, Texas (Mark & I worked together at Cedar Heights); and tonight we are meeting Mike & Denise Cannedy for dinner in Springdale. Denise was one of the secretaries at Antioch Baptist Church when Jeff was on staff there. They now live in Van Buren, Arkansas.

We are looking forward to a fun week. Our good friends, Paul & Glo Jensen from Conway are coming for a visit during the week. We are going to join Kaye & Rob (and little Lincoln) and Keith & Wilda Head at the lakehouse for a couple of days and a night. Then Paul & Glo will stay with us a night and we'll have fun here in Rogers. Then on the weekend, Rachel (Derek has to work), and my nephew, Matt & finace', Kristin are driving up from Conway and riding with Jeff & I to Mom's in Kansas for a big family 4th of July get-together. I'll be posting pictures of it all, so check back after the 4th.

Thanks to so many of you who have emailed checking on us and for all those who are praying for us. We appreciate it more than words can say!!

God bless each of you!

Love, Debbie

Such a Blessing!

I feel like this godly woman is a close friend, although I've never had the privilege of meeting her personally. However, through years of doing her Bible studies, attending her conferences and simulcasts, she has truly been one of the greatest earthly influences in my life. I know that millions of women share this feeling. Beth Moore's Bible studies have been a tremendous joy and tool for growth, encouragement and instruction. I'm so very grateful to God for anointing this lady and her willingness to share her gifts and talents with the women of this generation.

Thank you, Lord, for Beth Moore and thank you, Beth, for allowing God to use you!!

I just completed her last study, "Stepping Up," which has been excellent -- especially since we just returned from the Holy Land when I started it. There are many references to Jerusalem and the sites we saw while there. I highly recommend this study of the Psalms of Ascent! I did this one on my own and downloaded the video sessions over the internet at a reasonable cost. Check out www.Lifeway.com for more information.
I'm anxious for her newest study on Esther to hit the shelves. But am also looking forward to starting "Conversation Peace" with the gals from our church next week. My daughter-in-law, Carman and Amber Paul will be leading us. I'm sure it will also be a great study and minister to each of us.

To those ladies who are reading this blog -- please let me encourage you strongly to get involved in a daily Bible study -- whether it be one of Beth Moore's, Bible Study Fellowship (which is also excellent) or any of the numerous others that are available. Such a blessing these studies are to your personal growth!

I also recommend Beth and daughter's Amanda and Melissa's blog to you - for a personal look at their lives and daily fun and encouragement:

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/

Have a blessed day!!

An Enjoyable Memorial Day

Relatives from Florida are visiting my Mom this week so she invited us to drive up for dinner and to visit. It was great to see my second cousins Lloyd and Arlene Geier again. And it was a special treat to meet their son, Bill, for the first time. Bill is my third cousin. Mom also invited my Aunt Jo and Uncle Wayne and my Aunt Freda and her daughter/my first cousin, Holly for dinner. We enjoyed a fun game of Mexican Dominoes after dinner

Jeff was there too but was taking the picture :-)

It just happened to be Holly's birthday too!

Happy Birthday, Holly Anne!

Another Graduate

Jeff and I were able to spend a couple of days this past weekend in Southeast Kansas visiting with our Moms and attending a couple events celebrating the graduation of Jeff's nephew, Jeremy Bennett who graduated Saturday with a nursing degree from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. We didn't attend the actual graduation, but did attend a "pinning" ceremony at Memorial Auditorium in Pittsburg.

Jeremy is the first one on the far left

This is Jeremy's Mom, Kim (Jeff's sister) hugging Jeremy following the pinning.

In the evening, the family hosted a wonderful dinner in honor of Jeremy. This is Jeff's mom, Evelyn and sister, Kim along with Jeff on the front row, niece, Aimee and nephew Jeremy on the second row.

Congratulations, Jeremy!!

Happy Birthday, Carman!

Another birthday to celebrate!

Carman Deann "Wright" Swart has a birthday on May 17th

so we enjoyed a delicious dinner and fun night together.

Josh, Erika and I couldn't resist...........
Carman requested blackberry cobbler and ice cream for her dessert.

I had baked it just right before our dinner. I put 4 candles in the center of it for her to blow out, but the candles melted (from half of the bottom down!) before she had a chance to even blow out the tops (duh! I forgot it was boiling hot!). So we had blackberry cobbler with a little "wax" added - ha!! We all thought it was pretty tasty anyway!
They just can't be serious for long!
Rachel had made this door decoration for Carman for graduation, for her to put on her new classroom door in the fall. Very cute, Rachel! Carman loved it.
Jeff & I got an extra special blessing before the night was over. We were trying to watch the Holy Land DVD that my "soon-to-be" niece, Kristin Solberg and nephew, Matt DeMott had made, but our DVD wouldn't work. So Josh & Erika left saying they had errands to run and came back 30 minutes later with a new DVD for us. Thank you so much, kids!!

Sure do love and appreciate all of you!

Again, Happy, Happy Birthday, Carman.

Congratulations to our Graduates!

Rachel graduated Saturday from Central Baptist College, Conway, Arkansas with a Bachelors Degree in Ministry & Leadership. She has been going the past 2-1/2 years at night to the PACE program that CBC offers while working full-time. We are so proud of her determination to get her degree and also maintain a 4.0 and graduating with the honor of "Summa Cum Laude." WAY TO GO, RACHEL ANN!!

My nephew (Kaye's son), Matt DeMott also graduated Saturday from Central Baptist College with a Bachelor's of Science in Bible. Congratulations, Matt!
Rachel, Debbie, Kaye, Adrienne, & Kristin
Carman, our daughter-in-law and Andy's wife, also graduated Saturday from University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with her Masters in Elementary Education. This past year was a very difficult one for Carman as she had tons of school work to complete for her Master's as well as student teaching the whole year. Carman, too, maintained a 4.0 grade point. We are so proud of you too, Carman! Carman will be teaching 3rd grade in the Springdale School district in the fall. The pictures below were taken a couple of weeks ago at the school where Carman student taught. They had an "intern celebration" ceremony for the 10 interns that had taught there. Rachel happened to be in the area because of our Mother's Day outing, so she got to attend this event with us.

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO RACHEL, MATT & CARMAN!!
We love each of you and are so proud of you!

For More Holy Land Postings........

Please check out Rachel's blog about our Holy Land Trip.

She's doing a great job in posting all the details!!

www.rachelanncox.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday Sisters

Sisters, Sisters..........

Kaye had a birthday in April and she, Rob and Mom happened to be in Bella Vista that week, so I fixed "roast" and fixin's for her birthday meal. This was a little gift I gave her.
Bev has a birthday later this month, but she got my gift this past weekend at the lakehouse (she collects French Chefs).
Happy Birthday to two of the very best sisters in the world!!

I love you both!

"Boore" Girls Outing

We had a delightful weekend in Bella Vista as the "Boore" women gathered for an early "Mother's Day" outing. Those who were able to come were: My Aunt Freda Hardister, cousin Holly Viets and her daughter, Shawnee--all from Pittsburg, Kansas; my niece Adrienne Goering and son, Lincoln, from Overland Park, Kansas; my Mom, Dorothy Boore from Girard, Kansas; my sister, Beverly Ferrell and her mother-in-law Peggy Ferrell from Tyer, Texas and my daughter, Rachel Cox and my sister, Kaye Harkness from Conway, Arkansas. My daughter-in-law, Erika Swart, from nearby Springdale was also able to join us on Friday night for dinner.

The picture below was on the deck this morning before going to church:

This was on the boat dock/deck Saturday. We were trying to play a hand of Mexican Dominoes, but it was a little chilly!
This was Friday night after dinner -- just visiting on the screened in porch.
This was too funny!! When I arrived at the lakehouse, Kaye pulled me aside and said she had bought a card for Mom for Mother's Day that she wanted all 3 of us girls to sign. She said it was a funny card. I said, "Well, I bought her a funny one too - it's a musical one--with the tune, 'We Are Family!'" Kaye said -- "Oh no, that is the same card I bought!" So we ended up having all 3 of us sign both of those cards plus the "nice" one Bev brought Mom -- and got a big laugh out of Mom opening those cards...........
This is my immediate family with the beautiful lake in the background
Adrienne, Kaye, Me, Mom, Bev, Rachel

and the last picture is Aunt Freda, Holly, and Shawnee

As always -- I'm so thankful for my family and love the times we are able to spend together!! Thanks to each of you for coming and for all the delicious food you helped provide for our bountiful meals!!

Love to all,

Debbie

Happy Birthday, Rachel Ann!

Rachel Ann Swart was born May 1st, 1985.

Today she celebrates her 23rd birthday!

We attended all the Jacksonville Baptist College basketball games when Jeff was Dean of Students there. So Rachel had her own little cheerleading outfit! This picture was taken when she was probably 5 years old
This was one of her Senior High pictures
This was at the Tel Dan Nature Reserve on our recent trip to Israel
And this was just this past week when Rachel received two awards from Central Baptist College. The awards were for:

"Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges" and

"Outstanding Leadership and Ministry Student Award"

Rachel graduates from CBC on May 10th with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Leadership and Ministry. Congratulations, Rachel!

I wanted to take a few minutes to "reminisce." Jeff and I had only intended to have two children. We thought our "quiver" was full with the births of Josh and Andy. But when Josh was about 7 and Andy 5, I was doing a Bible study from the book, "Pursuit of Holiness" that Jeff was leading at our church. Somewhere within that study, God really impressed upon my heart I needed to have another child. I have since looked at that book and tried to figure out where that conviction came from and cannot find it. But it was very real. So Jeff & I prayed about it and within the month, I was pregnant (which was a miracle from God as it took 5 years to conceive Josh and several months to conceive Andy). As I prayed about this child, even before she was conceived, I claimed "Hannah's" prayer in I Samuel 1 where Hannah prayed for a son.....except that I prayed for a daughter. When we knew we were expecting, even the boys would pray for "Rachel." This was back in the days where they didn't do sonograms very often, nor were they very accurate. I did have to have one done as I had some sugar diabetes problems, but the doctor wouldn't tell my anything. I knew the nurse personally, and all she said was that she didn't see "anything" between the baby's legs :-) We just kept praying! When she born, the doctor and nurses (knowing our desire) announced, "It's a Rachel!"

So today, dear daughter, I pray you will have a wonderful day. I am excited to be able to spend this weekend with you in celebration of "Mother's Day" as many of the "Boore" gals gather at the lakehouses in Bella Vista for a fun retreat.

Thank you for being the sweet daughter and friend you are!
I love you!

Mom