WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS!!

We are going to be grandparents for the third time - whoo hooo!

Although it wasn't their "plan," -- it was God's! J

Rachel and Jonathan are going to have a baby!

 Baby "Mac" is about 9 weeks old but Rachel is considered 11 weeks pregnant (Josh and Andy have always called Jonathan:  JMac, so until we know the sex of this baby, we will call he or she, Baby Mac).  Evidently birth control can fail when you are very sick, which both Jonathan, then Rachel were around the 3rd week of August.  Ooops!

 Jeff and I are thrilled because we know Rachel has wanted to be a momma for a long time!  Jonathan loves children too, so they will make wonderful parents!

 

Another Spring grandbaby.....Rachel's regular doctor estimates the due date as May 14th.  She won't be seeing her OBGYN until the first of December to get the official word as to the due date.

 Rachel is suffering a lot with nausea, exhaustion, etc.  On top of that, the Fall is a tough time for her in battling allergies and/or sinus infections, which she is doing right now.  So we would appreciate your prayers that she can get to feeling better soon.

 

Here is all the family as we gathered together two weeks ago when the kids made their announcement.  Rachel had texted all of us that she would like the family to go to dinner together that night since Josh was in town.  She said that she and Jonathan wanted to ask the family for some advice.  This is how the conversation went:

 

Jonathan:  “Well, it looks like we are moving” (and our hearts just sank as we thought it meant a long ways away from all of us)

Rachel immediately cut in with a sigh: “Yep, moving all the stuff out of the extra bedroom to make room for a crib!”  J J

 

Sweet time and much celebration!

Thank you Lord, for blessing us with another precious, precious baby!



Monday Morning Ponderings

As I did my morning walk at Galena City Park,

I pondered several things.

First of all, how thankful I am for the health and my two legs to walk.  Secondly, for the change of seasons.  I am blessed that I don't have allergies (like my husband) and can enjoy the out-of-doors during the fall.  This morning the temperatures hovered right around 70 -- just perfect!

Loved the Flag blowing in the breeze!

 The flag also made me thankful that I am an American!  Although my heart is very burdened at the state our Country has become.....and concerns me greatly as to her future!  I took a few minutes right then to pray for America and her leaders and the pivotal election less than a month away.

 

As I continued my walk, I marveled at God's amazing creation.  This pretty little bubbling brook reminded me of the blessing of recent rains after such a drought-stricken summer!

The beauty of the trees changing colors also delighted me. 

 On my way home, I swung by the church and took this picture of the construction progress.  Much excitement as First Baptist is remodeling and adding an additional 3600 square feet to her facilities!! 

I am definitely a blessed woman with a great family, loving Church family and wonderful friends. 

 

Thank you, Lord!

From A-Z

A few fun & sober facts about Debbie “Boore” Swart – from A-Z

(I got this idea from another blog that I follow)

A:        Andy:  Andrew Ryan Swart is our middle child.  He was born on March 25, 1980.  He is married to Carman “Wright” Swart and they live in NWA.  Andy and Carman have blessed us with two wonderful granddaughters, Laine and Ellie.  Andy is the lead pastor at Metro Church in Rogers, AR.  Carman does have a Masters in Elementary Education and has taught in the past, but presently is home with the girls who are her #1 teaching priority.

B:        Bev:    Beverly Jean Boore Ferrell is my middle sister.  Bev and her husband Don live in East Texas.  Don and Bev have two daughters, Shannan and Shawna who are married to Michael McEuen and Nathan Tunnell respectively.  Shannan and Michael have 4 children: Madyson, Zachary, Cooper and Alex.  Shawna and Nathan have two boys: Tristan and Noah.

 

C:        Color:  My favorite color has always been red.  Jeff knows he is to bury me in something red with red fingernails and red toenails.  Although I had told him that years ago when red was the popular fingernail color.  Now that I wear solar tip nails, someone will have to tell him he doesn’t need to have my fingernails painted J.

D:        DeDe:  That is my “grandma” name and I love hearing Laine call me that (and someday Ellie will too)!  Jeff is Papa and that too makes him smile real big! 

E:         Ellie:  Our second precious granddaughter is Ellie Kate Swart.  She was born April 23, 2012 and is already such a delight to us!

F:         Facebook:  Those of you who know me well, know that I do love the social networking tool of Facebook.  Yes, I’m quite aware of all the “bad” stuff that is connected to FB but try to steer clear of that as much as possible and just enjoy interacting with so many people from all the various avenues of my life:  family, GHS classmates, dear friends and so many church members and acquaintances along life’s way.  It has definitely made a very big world a lot smaller and I do love it.

G:        Grandparent:  If you aren’t a grandparent yet, then you won’t understand this.  But if you are one, then you know full well what I am about to say.  Jeff and I anxiously awaited the day when we would become grandparents.  Our children were not in near as much of a hurry for that as we were J.  We had been married 37-1/2 years before it became a reality for us.  And what a WONDERFUL blessing it has been! This Scripture is so true:  Proverbs 17:6:  Children’s children are a crown to the aged……So bear with us, younger folks…..someday hopefully you will experience the icing of life that being a grandparent brings J.  We presently have two precious granddaughters and are anxiously looking forward to additional grandchildren in the future!  I thought about posting pictures for every letter….but that would require way too much time and make this posting ridiculously long!  Also, if you really want to see pictures of family, etc., just scan older postings on this blog.  However, I couldn’t resist posting this one picture of those two precious little girls! 

H:        Husband:  God sure did bless me when He gave me Jeff Swart!  What a wonderful “almost” 40 years of marriage we have had.  I am so thankful for a man who loves the Lord first and foremost and then loves me so much.  I’m very unworthy of that love but so glad he loves me in spite of me!  Jeff and I were in the same grade and attended Girard High School all 4 years.  However, we didn’t really know each other till our Junior year when we were assigned seats close by in Mrs. Hiland’s Jr. English class.  Jeff was very popular, was a major player on all the sports teams (football, basketball, track, etc.) and was Jr. Class President.  We were such an unlikely “couple.”  I was very shy and in the “background” kind of girl.  Being raised in a strong Christian home was also a major difference in the two of us.  We started dating our Senior year.  Bless my Baptist Deacon Dad’s heart for ever letting Jeff on our property…..the first time he came to get me for a date (which was to go to Pittsburg to see the movie, “Love Story”), Jeff had on a Budweiser beer t-shirt!  Yikes.  However, God did have a plan!  And Jeff yielded to God’s calling on his life after his first year of college at Washburn University (where he was studying to be a lawyer).  He returned home that following summer and we got engaged.  We also got actively involved in a little Baptist mission church in Pittsburg, Kansas that would have a major impact on the direction of our lives.  We married on December 22^nd, 1972 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, rural Girard (my home church).  We lived in Girard in an apartment above a grocery store on the square for a few months, before purchasing our first mobile home and living in a nice mobile home park in Pittsburg.  It’s been quite a ride, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world!!

I:          Ipad/Iphone/Computer:  I do love the world of “technology.”  Again, I know with all things, there is bad as well as good, but my computer, Iphone and Ipad are sure an “earthly” blessing to me. 

J:          Josh:  Our first-born son is Joshua Jerome born on September 9, 1977.  We had tried to have children for several years prior to conceiving Josh, so we were so excited when we had our first baby boy – and a red-headed boy at that!  Josh married Erika “Sherman” Swart on August 7, 1999 and they also live in NWA (it’s such a blessing to have all 3 of our children living within 8 miles of each other and only about 75 miles from Jeff and I!).  Josh has an audio engineering degree and works in the music industry mainly for Lionel Richey and the group, Journey.  Erika is the office manager for one of Mercy’s Health Clinics in Rogers.

K:        Kaye:  My baby sister is Kaye Lynn Boore Harkness.  Kaye is married to Rob and they live in central Arkansas.  They are parents of Adrienne, Matt and Michelle.  Adrienne is married to Mike Goering and they have two sons, Lincoln and Graham.  Matt DeMott is married to Kristen, who are parents to a new baby girl, Ellis.  Michelle “Harkness” Stane is the mother of Megan and Nick.

L:         Lainey-Bug:  Laine Virginia Swart is our first precious grandchild!  She was born April 26, 2010 and brought with her a whole new world for us to experience of love and joy!!

M:        Ministry:  Jeff and I will celebrate our 40^th wedding anniversary in December and of that 40 years, almost 38 years have been spent in full-time ministry.  Jeff has pastored churches in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas.  He has worked as a Dean of Students at a Baptist College and has taught on two college campuses.  He also helped supervise a world missions program which allowed him to travel in 67 countries of the world.  It has been quite a journey, but such a blessed one.  We are loving our ministry at the present time which is First Baptist Church, Galena, Kansas. 

N:        Names (which represent lives, faces, sweet memories past and present):  God has so richly blessed us with knowing thousands of wonderful people along the journey of ministry and in our present church family and we so look forward to that day that we will all be together in that heavenly city!  O, what a day that will be!!!

O:        Occupation:  While in High School, I was a part of Ms. Dorothy Johnson’s secretarial classes.  She was an excellent teacher and knew how to train a student to excel as a secretary.  So before I even graduated, I began my secretarial career at McNally’s in Pittsburg, Kansas.  There were a few other secular positions along the way, but for the most part, I have worked in a church setting as receptionist, secretary, financial secretary, etc.  Of course, for all those early years of ministry, I was Jeff’s unpaid church secretary, but then when he became Pastor of larger churches that had their own secretaries, I would then work at other churches (it was just easier for us not to work in the same church and know all the same struggles, etc.).  I thoroughly enjoyed my time working at these churches:  Woodland Heights Baptist in Conway, AR; Cedar Heights Baptist in Cedar Hill, TX; and First Baptist Church, Springdale, AR.  However, I love what I’m doing now most of all---a stay-at-home wife!  It seems my days are filled with activity and there sure isn’t any boredom!  I love the freedom to go with Jeff to meetings, hospital and/or home visits, and to see the kids, granddaughters, Mom, sisters, etc.  So thankful for this station of life!

P:         Parents:  I was so very blessed to be born to Edward and Dorothy Boore on December 29, 1953 in Pittsburg, Kansas.  I was raised in a loving, godly home in the small community of South Radley (halfway between Girard and Pittsburg) and we were in church (Mt. Olive, rural Girard) every time the doors were opened.  I have many sweet memories of my childhood – with family, relatives and church family.  My dad passed away in October of 2000 and is missed greatly.  Mom is still living in Girard and doing well for her 83 years of life!  So thankful for my Christian heritage!

Q:        Quote from Bible:  I have MANY favorites.  But today, this one comes to mind:  Psalm 103:17-18:  “¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children—¹⁸ with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.”

R:        Rachel:  We were richly blessed with our third child, a girl, Rachel Ann, born on May 1, 1985.  She recently married Jonathan McCrary and they live in NWA.  Rachel is a kindergarten teacher at a school in Rogers.  She will graduate in December with her Masters in Elementary Education. Jonathan graduated with his Masters last December and is a computer software engineer for J.B. Hunt in Rogers.

S:         Salvation:  The greatest gift of all is God’s gift of salvation to me.  I accepted Jesus as my Savior in August of 1964 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, rural Girard, KS.  Bro. Carl George was our pastor and led me in asking Jesus to forgive me of all my sins and to come into my heart and save me.  What a blessed assurance to know that I am saved for eternity and that I have a glorious home awaiting me in glory!!  My prayer, dear blog reader, is that you too, know Jesus as Savior.  If you have any questions about that, please go to this link:  www.jeffswart.com and click on the tab, "How To Become A Christian" or "Contact Me."

T:         Travels:  Oh, how I love to travel (as does Jeff).  My Dad also loved to travel so every summer he would take Mom and us girls on a two week vacation.  It was always by car and always within the U.S. but what wonderful sites did we see.  My favorite memories of childhood, no doubt!  After Dad passed away, Mom didn’t want to stop her traveling, so she has been so generous to provide some wonderful trips for my sisters and our husbands.  If you follow me on Facebook, you have seen many pictures of those wonderful travels—a great blessing!  Jeff and I have also been richly blessed by traveling to the Holy Land.  Jeff was able to go the first time with a group in 1984.  I wasn’t able to go then.  However in 2008 and again in 2011, Jeff led groups to the Holy Land and I accompanied him……and believe me, it is sacred ground!  It’s hard to describe, but you can just feel that God has a special hand of blessing on this land.  Jeff hopes to take another group in 2014, so if you would like to go with us, please let me know!

U:        Urgency: Folks, Jesus IS coming soon!  Are you ready?? 

V:        Vegetable I hate:  Peas!  All kinds!

W:       Women’s Bible Study:  I love to study God’s Word!  And an extra special blessing is doing that with a group of women.  My first taste of personal in-depth Bible study was around 1986 when I became a part of Bible Study Fellowship in Tyler, Texas.  It was a major turning point in my life to realize I could actually study God’s Word on my own and apply it practically to my life (and not depend on my husband to explain everything to me).  I have journeyed through many different types of women’s Bible studies and leaders and have gained knowledge from all.  However, my favorite is Beth Moore and her video-driven/workbook studies.  I have had the privilege to facilitate many of her studies over the years and looking forward to starting another one next week with the ladies at FBC.  I hope that God’s Word is a part of your everyday life as in it, you will find all the promises, strength, instructions and encouragement you will need in your day-to-day walk on this earth!

X:        “Xtra” – As a teenager, I always wanted to be an airline stewardess.  However, living in a small midwestern community several hours away from any major airport, it didn’t ever become a reality for me.  I do love to travel by airplane though!!

Y:        Yummy Food:  Mexican and Italian are my favorite restaurants; roast and trimmings is my favorite home cooked meal, and ice cream is my downfall!

Z:         Zzzzzz:  I’m sure you are ready for a nap after reading that!!  Thanks for indulging me!

Rachel & Jonathan's Wedding

Rachel Swart was united in marriage to Jonathan McCrary on Friday, July 6, 2012 at Metro Church, Rogers, Arkansas.  We are thrilled for our baby girl to have found a godly man that will love and cherish her all the days of her life!!

It was quite a task to try and narrow down pictures for this posting.  I would love to have some of the professional pictures here, but it may be a couple of weeks before those are available, so I'm using a variety of other peoples' pictures.

In hindsight, I so wish I would have had a designated photographer among my extended family that would have taken pictures for me.  I got so involved in the moment, that my pictures are few and many of them were very blurry (not sure if it's a camera problem or the photographer....probably the latter). 

So here I go....trying to recapture the rehearsal and wedding in a "nutshell." 

Thursday night, the rehearsal dinner and rehearsal was held at Metro.  This is the church that our son, Andy pastors and where Jonathan and Rachel met and are actively involved.  This was the guestbook table set up for the wedding.  Rachel created a very cute photo book of her and Jonathan and people signed in the areas around the pictures.

 Jonathan's parents, Dennis and Brenda McCrary, from Nashville, AR did a fantastic job with the rehearsal dinner!!  I loved the mason jar centerpieces.  Brenda had asked me to send her pictures of Rachel and our family growing up and she put one of Rachel and our family and one of Jonathan and his family in each jar.  It was a fun trip down memory lane.

 The food was bountiful and so delicious!!  There was a cajun medley of corn on the cob, potatoes, carrots, sausage, onions, etc.

 And then barbecue pork loin, ham, homemade potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, pickles, rolls, etc.

 Brenda, Jennifer, and Grandma made all of Jonathan's favorite desserts:  homegrown sliced peaches and pound cake; lemon ice box dessert and cherry cobbler.  Josh and Erika contributed a sliced watermelon to the table.  Thank you, McCrary family for the excellent meal!!

 We ate first and then it was rehearsal time!  Again, I have very few good pics of the evening......however here a few cute ones. 

Lainey-Bug practicing her flower girl job:

 Loved the runner:

 Daddy and his girl......

 Andy doing the opening remarks

 Practicing the vows

Friday morning prior to wedding,

many family and friends gathered at the reception place in Fayetteville to decorate.

Once the decorating was done, the guys left to play disc golf and eat and the girls went to eat and then to a nice salon in Rogers to get all "pretty."  Thanks, Rachel Ann, for that treat!

The following begin pictures of the wedding day at the church.....

Here is Ellie Kate, who was an "honorary" flower girl

 And then Laine..  Their matching outfits were just too cute!

 DeDe and her girls

 Rachel and Jonathan took all their pictures before the wedding.  They had their "first look" privately with just the photographer, so I don't have any of those pictures.  I cropped one here so I would have just one of the two of them.  Rachel was stunning and Jonathan was very handsome!!

 Aunt Ray Ray with her flower girls

 This was just too sweet not to also include...

 And the couple with the girls

 Rachel with the Groomsmen (the one that I have of Jonathan with the guys was too blurry to use :-().  Most of my pictures are from the side and they aren't looking at me as they are looking at the real photographer!

 The only one I have of Rachel and all her girls....
sorry, Carman, I know your eyes are closed.

 The Bridal Party

 Our Family

 Jonathan's family (wish Brenda wasn't hidden)

 With the parents :-)

 With Rachel's grandma, Dorothy Boore

 Jonathan and his new brother-in-laws

 Momma and her baby girl

 Daddy with his Puddin'

 Another one that was too cute not to include.  Jonathan's sister, Jennifer and Laine smelling the flowers (that were plastic and had no smell--ha)!

 My extended family had arrived and we did get a group picture in the worship center.  However, my camera battery went dead as Jennifer was trying to take our picture...so I have no pictures of that. :(  Looking forward to the photographer's pics.

Here is my niece Shawna and son Noah.....they came all the way from Austin, Texas!

 And here is one of my sisters and me

 Right before wedding was to start--Rachel is eating a quick bite with Erika

 Rachel and Jonathan's sister, Jennifer and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Lindsey

 Wanted to include this pic of Rachel and her friend, Megan McEuen, who was our wedding coordinator.....and whose reception pictures I "stole."  Thanks again, Meg!!

 I did get some cute pictures of Laine doing her "thing."  I'm so glad I did, as the photographer was behind her and didn't get the shots I got.  We were just sure she wasn't going to walk the aisle as she had just a few minutes prior to the start of the ceremony, accidently stuck her fingers into a box fan that was rotating!  Goodness - sure did scare those in the room with her!  Thankfully, her momma got her settled down and she did her flower girl job perfectly!!  She definitely made us all smile!

 Checking out the crowd

 

 She saw her DeDe and gave me a great smile!

 At this point, her Daddy is giving me the hand signals to get her off the runway....I think she would have continued giving us a show had I not taken her and given her to her other grandma, Nonnie!  On her way across the front, she gave a big "Hi" to her newfound friend and cousin, Lincoln! 
WAY TO GO, Lainey-Bug on being a super Flower Girl!! 

 Rachel's brother, Andy, giving a few opening remarks after Rachel and Jeff got to the stage.  My pics of Rachel's entry with her Dad were too blurry to use :-(.....

 I didn't take anymore pictures during the ceremony. 

This one is from someone else's camera.

 The picture below is one Rachel posted on Facebook announcing she was now married!!  They were in the car on their way to the reception which was held in Fayetteville, AR.

 This is an added picture right after the ceremony in one of the church rooms that Lindsey took......

 The following pictures are at "The Event Place" for the reception:

Rachel had gotten almost all of her decorating ideas from that site, Pinterest, and it was all so cute & creative.  Here is one of the tables.....

 They made CD's as wedding favors for each guest...with the music that was played during the wedding as well as some of their favorite songs.

 A full meal wasn't served....but they had some cute snack/drink bars. 

Coffee Bar with syrups to give it some extra flavor:

 There was a Bride's Cupcake Table.....Jonathan's Aunt, Diane Souza made all the delicous cupcakes.  Thank you, Diane!!

 Several of these pics were taken while we were decorating so that is why the one below doesn't have the cupcakes yet.

 Erika and Amy made this cute wall hanging

 The Grooms Table had chocolate cupcakes

 Lemonade Bar with fruit syrups to add for flavor

 This was a very popular table:  Popcorn Bar with sprays, salts and candies to add!

 Candy Bar

 Smores and Cookie Bar

 Smores machine to melt the chocolate and marshmellows

 Below was a very popular area!  Jonathan and his groomsmen set this up.  There was a computer inside the booth with a photo program on it.  All those who got their picture made had such a fun time here!

 There were even props to add to the fun.  That is the little printer on the left, so each guest got to take home their pictures, but they were also stored on Jonathan's computer so the kids will be able to see all the crazy poses!  Great idea!

 Remembrance table.....pictures and names of the Grandparents who have passed away and were not present.  Very sweet and thoughtful!

 The Bride and Groom's first dance

 Laine thought she needed to join them

 And again with Papa and Aunt Ray Ray

 This girl........she had a blast!

 Lincoln (my niece Adrienne's little boy) and Laine had so much fun together all weekend (at the lake and then at the reception).  I'm sure they both slept hard that night after so much activity!

 Jonathan's wonderful parents:  Brenda and Dennis

 Mom and my sisters.  Thanks so much Bev and Kaye for "manning" the Popcorn Bar and to all 3 of you for helping us clean up afterwards.

 A Swart family friend of over 30 years, Carolyn Smith, from Tyler, Texas

 Good friends of Jeff and I's:  Keith and Wilda Head from Conway, AR holding my nephew, Matt's little girl, Ellis.

 My Aunt Freda and cousin, Holly Viets, from Pittsburg, KS

 My cousin, Brian Boore and wife Patti, daughter, Paxton and son, Josh from Girard, KS

 My sister, Kaye, brother-in-law Rob and grandson, Graham

 Silly girls:  Sister Bev and cousin, Shawnee, eating their smores!

 Shawnee Viets and Josh Lorenz from Pittsburg, KS.  Shawnee and Josh are getting married on my birthday, December 29, 2012.  Looking forward to their wedding!

 Sisters and Cousin

 There are so many more pictures I wish I would have gotten of family and friends......but it didn't happen :-(.  In fact, most of the above pictures were taken by others and I just borrowed them for this posting.

Now time for the kids to leave. 

They had light sticks for their guests to use to send them off:

 

 Jonathan and Rachel flew to Mexico and spent their honeymoon at a resort there.  This is a picture they posted on Facebook during their honeymoon! 

So excited for them as they start this new chapter of their lives as husband and wife!

Dad and I love you both and are praying God's richest blessings on your lives!!