A Thankful Heart!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had this year!!  Due to varying circumstances, it has been 7 or 8 years since all our children were in our home on Thanksgiving Day.  So what an extra special Thanksgiving it was for us, especially having a granddaughter with us as well!  And not only did we have all the kids for T.Day, we had them for several days!!  What fun!
These pictures aren't in order as they were taken and I'm too tired to try to wrestle with this blog setup to get them in order.

I wanted to get Laine in front of my tree as we will most probably go to NWA for our Christmas time with the kids (later in the week after Christmas, as they will spend Christmas with their spouse's families).  It is not easy to get a 19 month old to stand still long enough for a picture, but I thought this was a cute pose.

Mom (Grandma) joined us for the Thanksgiving Day as well.  We used Andy's camera that has a timer.  In order to do so, we had to use a tall curio cabinet I have to set the camera on as we didn't have a tripod, consequently we had to stand in a "tight" spot and didn't get everyone clearly in the picture.  Sorry, Jonathan!

It was Rachel that partially got cut out of this one :-(.  But at least we have a recent family picture :-)

Yes, I did let Lainey-Bug open one of her Christmas presents:

We got some good pictures of each family outside.  Our oldest, Josh and his wife Erika:

This was a four generation picture

Andy, Carman, Laine and grandbaby #2 (due in May)

The kids with their dog, Hondo

Rachel and her boyfriend, Jonathan

Grandma with 3 of her grandkids and one great grandbaby

DeDe and Lainey-Bug (she says DeDe and Papa all the time now and just melts our hearts!)

Sweet baby playing in the leaves

Lastly, this is a link Andy gave me to show the funny poses of Jeff and I and Laine:

http://i.picasion.com/pic46/1fa98482c0d9f6d17d6ba876c5434f9b.gif

Last year, Thanksgiving was the very hardest of any I have experienced.  We had been at M.D. Anderson in Houston for 4 days with our sweet friend & church member, Karen Meier, when she went home to be with Jesus at 7:22 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.  I still miss her so much and grieve her loss, as do her family, friends and our church family.  I posted about Karen here:  http://jeffanddebbieswart.blogspot.com/2010/11/karens-story.html

Now we begin the "super" busy Christmas season.  I did do all my decorating the first of November since I wanted it done when the kids came.  I pray that each of my readers also had a blessed Thanksgiving and will enjoy the month ahead as we celebrate our Lord's birth and rejoice in the abundant blessings we have!

Same News, Same Location....Two Years Later!

Just as we did two years ago in 2009, some of my extended family and kids met at Rob and Kaye’s lakehouse in Bella Vista over the Labor Day holiday.  Papa couldn't wait to get his hands on that baby girl!

Jeff and I never dreamed when we were driving down on that Sunday afternoon (Sept. 4th), that we would hear the same wonderful news we had heard two years ago, also on Sept. 4th. Andy, Carman and Laine had arrived late in the afternoon and after visiting for about 45 minutes on the deck, Andy said he thought it was a little chilly for Laine and said he would go get her a long sleeved shirt.  When he brought her back out, it took a few seconds for us to realize what her shirt said……

YEAH....Rachel's expression says it all!

Of course, Lainey-Bug had no idea what was so exciting about her shirt.  Andy & Carman didn’t even realize it had been two years to the date since that first announcement.  But Jeff & I had that marked as a recurring date on our Outlook calendars, so it had reminded us that morning that two years ago was we first got the news we were finally going to be grandparents.

The new family of FOUR!

Had to include this picture -- the kids in 2009 after telling us Baby #1 was on the way....

And here they are in 2011 -- Andy is approximately 75-80 lbs. lighter!!  Way to go, Son!

And a pic of the family.....Josh and Erika were out of town on Sunday, so weren’t in this family picture.

It was a rather chilly Labor Day weekend, but so refreshing after a terribly
HOT, HOT summer!

Lincoln and Laine watching a children's movie on Andy's IPad......

It was great to have Rob's daughter, Michelle and his grandkids, Megan and Nick join us for the weekend, along with Kaye's kids, Adrienne, Mike, Lincoln and Matt & Kristin.

Kaye and Mom getting ready to feed the crew........

Aunt Ray Ray reading to the Bug.....

 

Monday morning, Laine is happy to be there :-)

Rachel and Jonathan--It was fun to have Jonathan join us as this was his first visit to the lakehouse.  So proud of Rachel, who has also lost a LOT of weight!

Jonathan, Rachel, Kristin, Matt, Adrienne (with Graham) and Mike.  As I'm writing this post, little Graham is scheduled to make his appearance early in the morning.  We are so excited and can't wait to meet the little guy!

Lincoln loves Megan

A few did brave the water.....brrrr.........

Playing Games

The little ones playing games too......

Papa and DeDe with their precious granddaughter

Many took advantage of the hammock that weekend (usually with blankets)!  Here is Mike and Lincoln

Our last evening together, some of us went to Copelands

Papa and Lainey-Bug coloring.....

Uncle Rob feeding the Bug cheesecake!

Copelands is a "New Orleans" type of restuarant so Laine is

sporting her Mardi Gras beads

 

The weekend was an extra special treat to Jeff and I as we were blessed to keep Laine overnight that night without her momma and daddy (0ur first time)!  Thank you, Carman and Andy!  I know it was hard, but we sure did love it!  Josh had gotten in town that night, so the next morning before we headed home, we meet him and the kids (to return Laine) at IHOP.  Laine loves her Uncle JJ.

Carman had her first ultrasound today and heard the baby’s heartbeat.  Doctor said everything looked good.  Praise the Lord!  Baby #2 is due May 3, 2012.  Laine was due May 1^st, 2010, but came a few days early on April 26^th.  So they will be almost two years to the day in age difference.  Since all of Laine’s clothes would be the perfect size for a little girl, there is some desire for this to also be a girl.  But we would all welcome a baby boy just as excitedly.  Carman (like myself) is one of three girls and doesn’t know if she would have any idea what to do with a baby boy.  I had those same fears, but as all mothers know—it just comes naturally for the most part.  And big daddy Andy will have a lot of input.  It sure doesn’t matter to Jeff or I on the sex, as a grandchild is precious no matter what.  We are thrilled beyond words and honestly I’m in tears right now as I type this with the joy of knowing another precious child is coming into our lives.

Thanks to our friends and family who have been so kind to indulge us in yet another grandbaby.  Maybe someday we will "grow" up -- but you know what --

I'm really doubting it!! 

J

Second Year Anniversary

This week commemorated the end of our second year of ministry and the beginning of the third year here at First Baptist Church, Galena, Kansas. 

As I contemplated the last two years, my heart has been overwhelmed with thanksgiving for all that God has done during this time.  Jeff and I left Kansas (the state where we grew up) approximately 32 years ago, living in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas during those 30+ years.  We really didn’t ever consider that we would live in Kansas again, especially not Galena, Kansas.  After all, they were our arch rivals in football (ha) and it is so ironic that now Jeff pastors some of the very guys that he played football against.  He even forgets most of the time and calls them by the nicknames he knew them as when in high school ("PeeWee, will you close us in prayer" J). 

However, God had a different plan about where we would live and I’m so glad.

For those of you who follow my blog, you will recall the posting I wrote at the time we were called here, so I won’t repeat my “full circle story.”  If you didn’t happen to read it then, you can click here and it should direct you to that posting:  new ministry.

God has been so good here at FBC during these last two years with 77 salvations, 42 baptisms and 26 new folks joining our church family.   We have doubled in attendance and there is a sweet spirit and air of excitement each week.  Our first Sunday in the "new year" which was last Sunday, there were two more baptized and two others added by transfer of letter!  We are so blessed!

However, along with the blessings, have been some difficult days.  There have been many who have struggled with health issues and/or lost loved ones.  Jeff lost his mother a few months after we moved here and is so very thankful that he was living within 30 minutes of her to enable him to spend some quality time with her during those last few months.  We walked the terribly hard path with the Meiers in the death of son, Bruce and then mother/wife and our precious Karen.  And then the devastating tornado that tore through nearby Joplin, Missouri.  The summer has flown by with so many labors of love by so many in helping to rebuild Joplin.  Our church rose up to the challenge and has housed tornado relief workers all summer.  At times, there have been almost 100 folks lodging in our facilities.  So thankful for those who have diligently worked to meet the needs of those lodging here.

Jeff and I have enjoyed many a fruitful ministry and also the love and support of many of the members of those churches.  However, FBC, Galena is at the top of the list of those who have shown us such amazing love and support.  Our hearts are warmed each week to see and hear how many of our members soak up the teaching of God’s Word and are sharing their faith.  Rarely a Sunday goes by that we are not fed a delicious Sunday meal in different church members' homes. We continuously receive words of encouragement in the mail, email and/or Facebook.  We are remembered in such kind ways on birthdays, wedding anniversary, Christmases, and even ministry anniversaries.  This year, we were overwhelmed with many kind words, cards, and gifts!  THANK YOU, church family for your love and encouragement!

And so we begin a new year of ministry and are looking forward to what God is going to continue to do in and through this wonderful church.  GOD BLESS YOU, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY!  We love you and are thrilled to serve with you in serving our Lord!

P.S.  On an ironic, humorous note – Jeff attends many of the football/basketball games and yes, he cheers for the Galena Bulldogs (even when they play the Girard Trojans) J!!

Fun Visit to Conway

One of the many blessings that I have enjoyed since moving to Galena, is the wonderful gift of not having to work outside of my home.  It has allowed me to go with Jeff to visit folks in the hospital or in homes, attend funerals, various meetings, be more involved in the women’s Bible study ministry at our church, and then also given me the freedom to go spend sweet time with our granddaughter and spend more time with my Mom and my sisters.  That was the case last week, when Mom and I traveled to Arkansas to my sister Kaye’s home in Conway.  Bev drove up from Texas and also spent the week with us there.  Kaye and Rob have a beautiful home that was recently remodeled and Kaye was a very gracious hostess.   We had a great time.  Here are a few pictures of our time together.

We were thrilled with a little "cool" front the first of the week and so we enjoyed some delicious meals and fun game playing on this beautiful screened in patio:

 One day we visited several antique shops in downtown Conway and had a tasty lunch at Jenifer's:

That same afternoon we went to the new theatre in Conway and watched "The Help" on a huge screen (Bev took the picture).

Once we got past the first few minutes of bad language, the movie was a great story!

Our last night, we took along Rob and went to eat at Oak Street Bistro:

Thank you, Kaye Lynn, for your wonderful hospitality and thank you, Rob, for putting up with four “Boore” women!  You have a reward awaiting you in glory J!

On Mom's and I's return to Kansas, we made a "pit stop" to see Lainey-Bug (and Andy and Carman).  Laine had just started walking the weekend before, so I wanted to see her in person.  She's as precious as ever!