Pastor and Wives Oasis

Jeff & I, along with Paul & Mary received the gift of attending the Pastor and Wives Oasis in Branson, Mo., last week. Thank you, First Baptist for honoring us with this retreat. What a wonderful time we had!!

We stayed at the Chateau on the Lake, a beautiful hotel........
Our view each morning.......

The first session opened with the New South Quartet singing for us.

Then worship was led by David Attebery and his team from Antioch Baptist Church, Conway.....

John Greene, pastor of Harmony Hill Baptist Church, Lufkin, TX was our speaker for all 3 sessions (and did an excellent job).

Donny Parrish welcomed us from DiscipleGuide (formerly Dept. of Church Ministries). What a blessing this department/ministry is to Pastors, Staff and spouses. This is always a wonderful time of refreshment -- spiritually, emotionally, and physically. THANK YOU, DiscipleGuide!!

Eating at Olive Garden with Justin & Christie Rhodes (former pastor here at FBC, Galena) and Paul & Mary.

Our second session was opened with Avalon. WOW - what voices. Blessed my socks off!! They are singing "In Christ Alone" in this picture - one of my very favorite songs.

Wednesday afternoon we had off to rest, shop, or whatever. We did hit the outlet malls :-). These pictures were taken in front of our hotel when we returned from shopping. Paul & Mary Mooney.....

Jeff & I......

Wednesday evening, we were the guests to a very nice buffet banquet. Paul & Mary again.....

Jeff & I.....

Justin & Christie.....

John & Kathryn Greene.....

Jason & Toya Aultman, Antioch Baptist, Conway, AR

Our entertainers for the night were Selah -- another very talented group of musicians!

The girls......The guys....

Then our last session was Thursday morning. It started off with a great ventriloquest, David Pendleton. He had several puppets and was so funny. But of course, our favorite was when he called Paul up on stage and did a stint with Aunt Tilley! Wish I would have had a video camera. Hilarious!!

A wonderful, wonderful three days. Again, thank you Church for this great gift for Pastor Appreciation!

Picture of Grandbaby Swart

Isn't he or she just precious -- it is amazing to me how you can already see the baby's profile - at only ten weeks! The birthing process of a child is one of God's most awesome miracles.....Psalm 139:13-16: "For you have created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Praise you, Lord!!

My new Grandbaby

Today was one of those "mark on the calendar" days as Andy & Carman had their first "official" doctor's appointment and got to see pictures of their precious baby. I haven't seen the pictures yet, but from just the excitement in my son's voice, I know it was a very special time for them. I love how Carman and Rachel are posting about the growth of the baby. Please check out their blogs:

http://carmanandandy.blogspot.com/

http://rachelanncox.blogspot.com/

Carman's doctor is also the OBGYN that Michelle Duggar (of TLC 18 Kids and Counting) uses, so we know she is a good doctor! Dr. Sarver said the baby is growing healthy and that Carman is doing great as well. They will be able to find out if this is a baby boy or a baby girl in mid December - so that will be another "mark on the calendar" day :-)!!

Thank you to so many of you who are rejoicing with us on this journey. What fun it is!!

What a Wonderful Welcome Party!

The Women's Ministry of First Baptist Church, Galena, hosted a "Welcome Pastor's Wife" party for me this week. The first such party I've ever had in the 35 years of ministry - so a very surprising but sweet event in my honor. It started off with tons of delicious food!

Then lots and lots of "precious" gifts to open -- I haven't opened that many gifts at one sitting since my bridal shower!

The gracious hostess for the evening: Leigh Ryan:

Three sweethearts: Jenae, Heather & Angela........

A great smelling candle.........

The Boyes' girls......we did lots of laughing during the night!

This is a couple of pictures I took the next day at home as I "really" had the time to look at all the wonderful gifts. Goodness, gracious -- so many, many neat gifts!

These are just a few of the pictures -- to see all of them, please click on this link to the album I have on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=183064&id=1180211052&l=457ac0c234

Thank you, FBC women for such a memorable night -- and for your open arms of love and acceptance! What a joy it is to serve with you in this place!

My new life as a "Stay-at-Home" Wife Begins!

I am excited - yet find it hard to believe - I don't have to go to work Monday -- or Tuesday -- or Wednesday, etc.!! I finished up my training of my replacement, also a Debbie, at FBC, Springdale last Wednesday. I really appreciate Kaye letting me stay with her in Bella Vista one week; Andy & Carman letting me stay the second week with them; and Josh & Erika letting me stay last week with them while I completed all that needed to be done at work. Those were very busy days but I have a feeling of accomplishment that everything was done and the new gal has a great "handle" on her duties and responsibilities.

I was surprised and honored with a little going away party at work on Wednesday. This is Kathy McClure, our party girl dishing up Ice Cream Floats. We also had chips and white cheese dip from Marketplace - some of my "favorite" things!

I was given a pretty grandparent frame that I can't wait to put a picture in!

Andy Wilson said some very nice things about me -- all very undeserved - but thank you, Andy!

I was honored to have Pastor stop by for a few minutes. He too had some very kind words for Jeff & I.

Here are some of the girls I was privileged to work with at our Springdale campus.

This is the gals I worked very closely with in the same office suite: Sandra McCoy, Anita Stewart, Kathy McClure and May Wheeler.

They gave me this beautiful bracelet from Brightons. I love it! Thank you girls for your "long suffering" with me; your friendship, your support and encouragement and your love!! I will miss all of you!

My boss, Clint & and his wife, Ashley were out of town last week, so not at the party. Clint was such a super boss to me and a great friend to both Jeff & I, using Jeff for several months to write the Bible studies for the Connection Groups which kept Jeff very busy and also provided our rent money! Thank you, Clint, for all you have done for both of us. I sure will miss you as well!

My prayer is that God will continue to richly bless the wonderful ministry of First Baptist, Springdale/The Church at Pinnacle Hills, Rogers in the days ahead!

I am now looking very forward to the future as I devote my time as wife, mother, daughter, soon-to-be grandma "DeDe" and Pastor's wife to this wonderful church family here at FBC, Galena.

We are going to be grandparents!!!

Jeff and I have waited a long time to make this announcement! We are going to be grandma and grandpa - hooray!! What better day to post this on my blog - than on Grandparents Day! Our middle son, Andy and his wife, Carman gave us this wonderful news last weekend at the lakehouse in Bella Vista where we were all spending the holiday. There were tears and much celebration! Carman went to the doctor on Tuesday and all looks well and their due date is May 1st, 2010, which is another cause for joy as that is Rachel's birthday! Here is the most recent picture I have of just Andy & Carman and their doggie, Hondo.





This is a picture of Jeff & I with them shortly after they gave us the news. Carman teaches 3rd grade in the Springdale (Arkansas) school district, so the due date of May will be perfect to coordinate with her school schedule. God is so good to answer our prayers in this way.


This is a picture of all the family at that same time. Josh & Erika are still pursuing open doors for adoption - both internationally and/or domestically, however God leads. Rachel & Derek hope to begin their family next year and we have two nieces also expecting babies: Shawna & Nathan are expecting their first in March and Shannan and Mike are expecting their third in April, so 2010 is promising to be a very exciting year for the Swart/Boore families!

Thank you, Jesus!

One additional note: today I received my very first Grandparent gifts - yeah!! Leigh, our super wonderful secretary at church gave us sweet photo albums -- boy and girl to cover both bases
:-) and a "keeper" first Grandparent card. The church gave the notepad and pen to each grandparent today. Yes, I cried again when Jeff made the announcement to our church family -- and I was able to proudly stand with the other grandparents for a time of prayer. A memorial day! I've tried to upload pictures and this blog is not cooperating -- so you'll have to check Facebook for those photos!

A New Ministry

First Baptist Church of Galena, KS, located 5 miles west of Joplin, MO, has called Jeff to be their Sr. Pastor and he began his duties today. He'll stay part of the week with a church family, come home on Thursday and we'll go back together on Sunday.

This is a “full-circle” kind of ministry for us. When Jeff & I were dating and only 18 years of age, we got very involved in a small mission work in Pittsburg, Kansas (near where we grew up). FBC, Galena was the “mother church” for the mission work and consequently, where Jeff was baptized. Then after we married and he surrendered to the ministry, it is where he preached his second sermon. Dr. Gerald Kellar, a wonderful godly man, was the pastor of Galena during those days. Paul Mooney was the missionary pastor in Pittsburg, and he and his wife Mary took us under their wing and Paul is one of the main reasons that Jeff is in the ministry today. Paul mentored and loved Jeff and he considers him his Father in the Ministry. We have so many fun, fun memories of trips together, late night crazy outings to parks to eat watermelon, and other very humorous events (no, Mary, I won't tell that story on my blog!! ha). So, in the full-circle" of life, Paul is now the Associate Pastor at Galena (part-time as he’s semi retired). So this is an exciting thing for Jeff and Paul to serve together again. They both started their ministries together and it would be a blessing to finish them together. Galena was the “big” church in the BMA state association and we attended many meetings there. I, especially, grew "up" knowing the people at Galena as Mom & Dad were very actively involved in the state association and we attended many meetings at FBC and I attended summer camp with many of those who are still active there today. Consequently, we know many of the people and they know us, so that’s a plus.

An added bonus for me personally -- Paula Harwell is Paul & Mary's youngest daughter. When we first started going to the mission work in Pittsburg, Paula was about 3 years old and I adopted her as my Sunday baby girl - taking her home with me most Sundays. Paula and her family (she is now a grandmother, oh my goodness!) are also members of FBC, Galena, so I look forward to enriching our friendship as adult women!

So, as you can see, there are many positive things associated with this new ministry. In addition, it will be just 25 miles from Jeff's mother and 35 miles from my Mom. This is very important to us since they are both 80 years old. They have sacrificed us not living near them for these 35+ years so that we could "ministry" whereever God called us, but in their 'twilight' years, it is such a blessing that we will be close and can spend quality time with them and be able to get to them quickly in an emergency. The scripture "Honor your father and mother" (Eph. 6:2) has come to mind often these days. I feel God is allowing us this time to honor our mothers and hopefully be a blessing to them. Yes, they are both very excited about our move.

We are only a little over an hour from NWA and Josh, Erika, Andy & Carman - and then an extra hour from Rachel & Derek (making it about 3-1/2 hrs to Conway). One of the added blessings of this move is that I don't intend to work, so I will be able to have more time to see them, cook for them when they come visit.......and when those grandbabies start coming, I'll be available to help out as needed :-) !!

So yes, we are very excited about all the future holds. But as with every move.........it's so hard to say goodbye. This 18 months in NWA has been such a blessing for us to enjoy a time of rest and renewed vision. Our time supporting Andy and the Metro family has been invaluable. I never dreamed I would get to be a member of my Son's church. Andy has made Jeff & I very proud. It was especially heartwarming to us to worship with Andy & Carman and Josh & Erika. Additionally, our times of worship at The Church of Pinnacle Hills has brought revival to our hearts and we are thankful for Pastor Floyd and his preaching the truth of God's Word. Our involvement in the Small Group Ministry at CPH has given us some priceless friendships that we are certain will last beyond our time here. And my job at FBC, Springdale has been God's amazing way of providing for our needs. I will forever be grateful for Clint Smith and the wonderful caring boss he has been and for all the great co-workers that I have been priviliged to know and work with.

We will be moving the last weekend of August, as our lease will be up at that time. However, I will come back and work the first week of September finishing up my time as the Administrative Assistant to the Minister of Spiritual Development. (I'll stay with Andy & Carman - who only live 4 miles from my work). All our family are gathering at the lakehouse in Bella Vista Labor Day weekend, then I'll join Jeff in Galena full time after that.
Rachel is coming up this weekend to go with us for our first Sunday at FBC, so that will be a special blessing.

We do appreciate so much the many prayers of our friends and family over these past 18 months. God showed us in amazing ways His love and provision and I know it was in answer to those prayers.

The majority of you are my Facebook friends - and what a blessing that has been. Such a tremendous tool to keep in touch with old, old friends, new friends and all those in between :-). So it's really not "goodbye" -- just perhaps not seeing some of you every week, but staying in touch via the social networking avenues our world of technology offers and reunions along the way when we come visit you or you come visit us!

Much love to each of you!!

Exciting Days Ahead

Josh & Erika gave us some great news recently! Their heart's desire is to adopt! Most probably internationally and preferably twin boys or brothers. We are thrilled at their announcement and would appreciate your prayers that God will open the door and lead the way to bringing one or two homeless little boys into their home and into all of our hearts. This is what Erika posted on her blog:

God has burdened our hearts for the many, many children who do not currently have loving, Christian homes to be raised in. We want the opportunity to make an eternal difference in two little boys lives.

We will need lots of prayer and help from all of you. Please feel free to speak with and forward our email addresses to anyone you know who may be able to offer advice or assistance.

Here is what we are praying for right now:

1. That we will be able to adopt twins

2. That we will find a good lawyer/agency

3. That the home studies will go smoothly and be able to start quickly

4. That the country we will adopt from will be made clear to us

5. That if they are already born that their lives are happy

Andy & Carman and Rachel & Derek are both anxious to begin their families as well - but are still praying and waiting on God's timing and provision.

So I must get busy and start thinking of what my grandbabies are going to call me! Fun, fun days ahead - I can't wait!

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

Today is my wonderful husband's 56th birthday! Just thought I would do a little "tribute" to Jeffery Jerome Swart.

Wasn't he a cute baby??

All shined up for church........His High School Senior Picture.....
And the most recent professional picture.......I am so very thankful for the man God has given me to share my life. Happy Birthday, Honey - I love you!

I know - it's been a long time!!

Life has been so busy and I've really neglected my blog. I am now an "active" Facebooker and an occasional Twitterer and consequently this blog has gone by the wayside -- please be sure and request me if you use either of those social networking tools. It's just easier to upload photos to Facebook and keep in touch than it is by blogging.

Life is still good for Jeff & I. I remain very busy as Administrative Assistant at First Baptist, Springdale. Jeff continues to write for the church and has been preaching in various avenues. He is doing a weekend revival in Pittsburg, Kansas the end of July.

We enjoyed spending the 4th with our Mom's in Kansas. It's truly been a blessing to be so close to them - as well as our kids! We thoroughly enjoy our involvement at the Church at Pinnacle Hills and a couple of Home groups there -- as well as supporting Andy and the Metro Church on Saturday evenings.

A life-changing event happened the first of May when I was diagnosed as diabetic. So I've had to make some real adjustments and would appreciate your prayers that I can get this under control with medicines, diet and exercise.

I guess that's about it for now.....I will be putting another posting on here Wednesday, so check back. Have a great evening!