Rachel's Thanksgiving Pictures

Jeff and his Mom, Evelyn and our cat, Rascal, who took a liking to Grandma's lap!

Rachel gave both Grandma's their Christmas presents and her momma a gift "just because." They were all different Willow Angels. She has given several to me and also to Grandma Boore - so we have a collection and love them! Mine is the Generation Willows (three generation of women) Thank you, Rachel Ann! This was at bedtime, so that is why we are in our pajamas :-)



Game playing Sunday afternoon with Don, Bev, Peggy, Wesley, Evelyn, Jeff and I and Rachel -- but unfortunately she is taking pictures so didn't get in any of them!!

Thanksgiving

We had a very enjoyable holiday and pray that each of you did too. My mom picked up Jeff's mom in Pittsburg, Kansas and drove the two of them 3 hours to the Tulsa airport and then flew into Love Field in Dallas on Wednesday evening (both mothers are 78 years old!). This was Jeff's mom's first visit to our home in Red Oak. Due to her health limitations, she's not been able to come visit us. We so appreciate my Mom making the arrangements to get her here.

Thursday, we drove to Tyler to my sister, Bev and husband Don's beautiful home. We had a DELICIOUS BOUNTIFUL meal with them and with the Ferrell's. Shawna & Nathan joined us as well as Don's parents, Peggy & Wesley and his brother Kevin and family. Don's sister, Marla and son also came for a visit in the afternoon. The Ferrell family are a super Christian family and we always enjoy our time with them. We didn't even think to take pictures which as I'm writing this blog, sure aggravates me!

Friday, Rachel flew in. She had spent Thursday with Derek and his family. Derek is a big deer hunter and the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is his special time to hunt with his Dad. So Rachel is able to always come and visit with us the remainder of the holiday which is great. This was the year for the "in-laws" - so Andy & Carman were with Carman's family and Josh & Erika were with Erika's family (actually they rented one of Kaye & Rob's lakehouses and had their Thanksgiving in Bella Vista). Josh was only home for about 40 hours before he had to fly out again and is now in Australia and New Zealand. He & Erika are both looking very forward to Christmas when he will be home for a longer period of time. All the kids are coming to spend the Christmas weekend with us here in Red Oak for which I'm sure looking forward to.

The weather in Texas was very strange!! It was cold and rainy the whole time. There was even a little snow in Dallas on Thanksgiving day! So we stayed indoors for the most part, enjoyed the fireplace, playing games, eating soup and chili, and lots of other yummy food, etc.

Sunday, Bev and Don and Wesley & Peggy drove up from Tyler for church and then lunch at our home. Our good friends, Sharon & Troy Hanks also joined us. We had a fun day with our family and friends. Again, Jeff nor I even thought to take a single picture - doggone it. Rachel did take a few and is going to try to email them to me, so I will add them whenever I receive them from her. I just hate it cause she's not in any of them :-(

The Moms and Rachel all flew home early Monday morning arriving safely.

I am so thankful for many things - among which at the top of the list is family!!

A Wonderful Time Away

Jeff and I just enjoyed a wonderful week of rest and relaxation in Bella Vista, Arkansas. My sister and brother-in-law (Kaye & Rob Harkness) were very gracious in loaning us their lakehouse for the week. We had gorgeous weather (warm the first of the week; freezing the middle of the week and again warm the end of the week). As you can see from the pictures, the fall foliage was very pretty. It's quite a treat to wake up each morning with this beautiful view out the windows!

Since this area is only about 20 minutes from Andy and Carman and Josh & Erika, we were blessed to spend some time with the kids (all except for Josh who is overseas right now). My Mom lives about 2 hours north, so she was able to drive down on Thursday and spend the day and night as well, which was wonderful!

A big thank you to Rob & Kaye for allowing us this time in their lakehouse!!!

FINALLY - FBC'S CELEBRATION SERVICE

We have waited a long time!! But we are rejoicing that today, October 28th, 2007, we finally were able to worship in our new facilities at 320 E. Ovilla Road, Red Oak. And what a wonderful day God blessed us with! The weather was a gorgeous 65+ with sunshine! Heaven truly came down and filled our souls!! Many, many thanks to many, many people that made this day happen! The night picture above was taken last night by Tim Holt from the driveway. Thanks, Tim for sharing!

This is a picture of the beautiful baptistery/fountain in the foyer.

This is the cafe and our smiling "Holy Grounds" volunteers

This is our Welcome Center with sweet greeters, Lana and Pat!









Here are some in the worship service. It was kinda dark and many of the pictures I took did not turn out. I do appreciate Randy Skelton and Toni Grmela's contributions to these pictures(Band, Praise Team, Alan praying the dedication prayer, "This Is My Bible", prayer time, Jeff, etc.)

FBC - A busy but great day!

There has been much activity and work taking place this week to prepare our new facilities for worship tomorrow.

This afternoon and this evening, some "blessed" spiritual work happened! The entire New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and portions of Genesis was read aloud by numerous volunteers throughout the building. Several months ago when there were just sheetrock walls, we also had a service where individuals, families, etc. wrote with bold black markers Scriptures on the walls, stage, under the pulpit area, etc. We so want this building to always stand firm on the inerrant inspired Word of God, which is the only true Foundation upon which we will stand! A couple of pictures of tonight are attached (double-click to see bigger).
Then at 6:00, we had a prayer service. We bathed our new building in prayer......praying in each room and then prayed over every single chair in the sanctuary. It truly was a sweet, sweet time!

This is a picture Jeff took earlier today of the stage with the colored lights and our Vision Logo on the screens. The picture defintely does not do it justice - it is beautiful!!
Just a few more hours and then we will have our celebration service!! THANK YOU, JESUS!!

FBC - Final Worship Service on Main Street

Our final worship service at the old sanctuary was a very special day. They had done video interviews during the week -- first Bro. Grady Chapman giving the history of the church with pictures of old sanctuary's, etc; then Doug & Glenda Curry telling about their time here, again with old pictures of pastors and staff and of their family as they grew during the years, etc; then one of our newest young families (Andrew, Amy & Zachary Mashburn) holding their baby and told how much they loved the church -- all did great! We sang a song between each video (the first was, I Can Only Imagine) so I was in tears the whole service. Amy Douglas and Marlynne Finch brought a special presentation for us. Then Jeff preached a very timely message from Joshua about when the people left the wilderness and crossed over into the Promise Land -- the things they left behind and the things they took with them and applied it to us; we had numerous folks in the altar at invitation time and had a family of 5 join; an older couple join, and a 20's age girl join. After the offertory, there was a great skit by Bob Minnick and Jeff -- about Bob "taking his pew!"

The neatest thing though was the way they closed it out. They had an older couple (Lloyd & Sondra McJunkin); a middle aged couple (David & Becky Packer); a young married woman (Mandy James), one of our younger girls (Hayley Lord) and then a 3 yr. old (Nathan carried by his father, David Anthony) walk forward with candles in their hands and light their candle from the candelabra that was on stage (that was burning all thru the service--representing the church as the light of the world). Each one went up and lit their candle and then exited the sanctuary and then they showed on the big screen them entering our new sanctuary and lighting the same candelabra there (which Brad Voigt had excellently videotaped last week in the same clothes they had on Sunday). It was very touching. Then the staff went up on stage and blew out each of the candles and then we followed them out. Good stuff.......!! Still gives me goosebumps. You will see the candelabra in the pictures of the new sactuary tomorrow, carrying the theme on from last week.

Sunday night, instead of having our Home Groups, we had a moving party!! It was incredible to see over 120 people, pick-ups, trailers, etc., and all the activity that went on. You all are the best!! Thank you for your hard work!

I wish I had taken pictures of the entire day, but didn't even think to do so :-(

However, it was a very memorable day!

Toni Grmela sent me these pics of Sunday night, moving and setting up after I posted this originally. Thanks, Toni!

Update on Our Kids

I have been reminded over and over lately how blessed I am to have a wonderful family. Since I haven't posted much about my kids, I am going to take a few minutes to do that. I'll include a picture each; however, I don't have any current pictures of them, for some reason, in my computer. So, kids, I'm sorry for the "old" pictures. We need to get current ones next time you are home!

Josh & Erika live in Springdale, Arkansas now. Josh is working for both Lionel Richey and Enrique Iglesias. He has had many opportunities to see the world. Right now he is in South Africa. I think he has "passed up" his Dad in visiting more overseas countries. Erika works for an insurance company in Springdale and will complete the schooling and requirements in May of 08 to receive a Graphic Design certificate. Josh & Erika celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary this past summer.

Andy & Carman live about 10 miles from Josh & Erika - in Lowell, Arkansas. Andy is planting a new church. He has spent the summer in "building" his core group, receiving training, raising financial support, etc. The local Southern Baptist association is supporting him and he is applying for North America Mission Board status the first of the year (SBC's Home Missions). Please keep he & Carman in your prayers as they follow God's leading in their lives. Carman graduated last May from the UofA with a degree is Childhood Education and is now getting her masters and also student teaching at the same time. Andy & Carman celebrated their 2nd anniversary this past summer.

Rachel & Derek live in Conway, Arkansas. Derek was recently promoted with Parks & Rec for the City of Conway. Rachel works for Acxiom in the HR Department handling insurance and benefits for employees. She is nearing the end of the PACE program at Central Baptist College. She plans to graduate in the spring with her Bible Degree. She is a very busy girl. Rachel & Derek celebrated their 3rd anniversary this past summer.

With all the kids in Arkansas, and Jeff & I here in Texas, we're not able to be together near as often as we would like. We look forward to the holidays and seeing them then.

I do love my kiddo's and am so thankful for each of them!

FBC Staff

I'm also very thankful for the staff at First Baptist Church, Red Oak, Texas where we serve together and just wanted to put their beautiful faces on here. I don't have pictures of everyone, but hope to get those in the days ahead and add to this blog. Pictures are of Alan & Suzie Rogers (Alan is our Assoc. Pastor); Eli & Susie DaSilva (Eli is our Worship Leader); Tessie & Jim Corbitt (Tessie is our Children's Minister), Jared & Amy Douglas (Jared is our Outreach and Evangelism Pastor), Sharon & Troy Hanks
(Sharon is Jeff's assistant and I'm so thankful for her ministry in helping my husband!), and our newest Staff Member, Ace Alexander and his wife Cortni and children. Ace is our Youth Minister.


Roland & Linda Southard (Linda is one of our secretaries).
Mike & Amy Duckett (Amy is one of our secretaries).