Christmas Card Photos 2012

On a whim, we decided to try to get pictures for our yearly Christmas cards before Sunday School this past Sunday. We were all cleaned up at the same time--made good sense to do it. Take 1:

Take 2:

Now watch Schaeffer's hand--Take 3:

Take 4:

Now some pics of just the kids:

A little farther away (I need these for an ornament to take to the farm):

My boys:

My girls:

And Jason and I, which we did NOT use on the card but probably should have:

What was so amazing is that we came home Sunday afternoon, uploaded pictures to Walmart, designed a card, paid for 160 of them, and yesterday (Wednesday) they arrived in the mail! Now to get them all mailed out. . . Merry Christmas! "Keep Christ in Your Life, not just in Christmas"

Blessed and Thankful

This year for Thanksgiving, we went to GA to be with my family. Megan and Aaron, Courtney and her two kids, my parents, all 7 Sipeses, and 2 foreigners were present. The foreigners provided a new twist to a family holiday, but very quickly we had answers to the unasked question of "why are they coming now?" Zhenya was an exchange student 10 years ago who lived with my parents and Megan for a year. She's from Ukraine and is now married. They are in NJ for 4 months at Princeton while her husband does research for his Ph. D. Anyway, within an hour or so after arriving, he began to ask many religious/spiritual questions, which continued off and on for the next several days. Jason loved the challenges and my dad joined in whenever Jason would let him! This very educated, intellectual young man was hungry for knowledge. We're still praying he one day realizes his need for a Savior.

I feel so priviledged to have grown up under a wise, godly father and now be married to another just-as-wise and godly man! I have been blessed beyond measure! My children are blessed because of these two godly men. Proverbs 14:26 says, "He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge." Also Prov. 20:7 "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him." I realize that so many of the blessings that have come into my life these 40 years are due to the fact that my dad, my parents feared the LORD and made godly choices. One of those blessings is that I have married a godly man who also leads our family in the same way. Thank you, God!

(This picture was taken on Father's Day--June 2012.) While the men were talking, we women spent a lot of time catching up over games, like Nertz and Apples to Apples. It was so much fun to be with my mom and two sisters again. We haven't had time all together in such a long time! I love my family!

Middle School Fall Dance

I love my two middle schoolers!! The first dance of the school year was on Oct. 26 and Lindy was so excited about going! Taylor looked more forward to going "rolling" with the boys afterwards. Lol! They did allow mom to get some pre-dance photos, and I just missed Lindy giving Taylor a kiss on the cheek. I love the facial expressions in this picture, though!

Some of Lindy's 7th grade friends met her at the door. They had such a fun night, dancing, laughing, eating, posing for pictures, and dancing some more.

Most dressed in dressy clothes but some, like Daisy, chose to come in costume, but the question still remains as to exactly what Daisy was dressed up as. Love that girl!

Taylor and Jocelyn had fun together and her mom got to meet Taylor for the first time. Her mom stayed for a while and visited with me while the kids danced. Jocelyn is new to FCMS this year; she transferred from Fulton City and seems to be adjusting great.

This is a great group of 8th graders! Some were "going out" but all are good friends.

When Lindy and Jocelyn came out in the hall to say "hi," Jocelyn's mom and I couldn't believe how similarly the girls were dressed! Too funny! They enjoyed dancing together once Taylor and the boys left to go roll houses. All in all, it was an enjoyable evening for middle school.

When God Says GIVE!

Coming back from spending a day at New Hope Girls Academy left me feeling convicted, and somewhat ashamed. It wasn’t anything that was said but the awareness that I had never responded to the gentle urgings of the Holy Spirit over the past year to sponsor one of their little girls. I had encouraged the ladies from our church to give and they did. Walking slowly up the stairs at New Hope that afternoon, I was overwhelmed with the conviction that I was the one who had missed out. My friend, Tamra was visiting with her little sponsored girl, and all I could think was, “How could I not find $33 to send once a month??”

Our family of 7 lives on a pastor’s salary and most months we live paycheck to paycheck. But I knew right then that when I got home, I would find a way to start sponsoring. What I didn’t know that afternoon was that God had something even bigger planned for us. During the flight home I listened to a podcast by Francis Chan called “Lukewarm and Lovin’ It”—right there on my tray table I had a “come to Jesus meeting.” By the time I arrived back home in Hickman, Kentucky, God had laid out a very specific plan for how I was to go about sponsoring a girl without asking my husband for any money and it was so much bigger than I had previously bargained for. Here it is: $33 should come from my piano lesson money, $33 should come from my grocery budget (ouch!!), and the other $33 should come from our kids. God, are You sure? My groceries? It’s hard enough to feed 7 with all the extra expenses during the month, but okay. Piano lessons, that might be how I paid for summer camps last year, but I’m willing to give that, too. Now the kids, that will be another story.

I began telling them stories that had touched my heart about the needs at New Hope and how God was leading me to be a small part of helping to meet some of those needs. I asked them to pray about being involved, too. After days of casually discussing it, I announced that there would be a vote the next night during family prayer. Our 4 oldest ranging in age from 14 down to 8 years old voted in an unanimous secret vote—together the 4 of them would commit monthly to sending $33! Wow! I was so excited and nervous. Then I noticed my 8-year-old son’s face. “What’s wrong, Jay?” as he laid his head right on my chest and hid his face. Tears were in his eyes as he said quietly, “I’m just scared that I won’t be able to do this.” I was relieved that he was getting the full impact of what we were committing to. “Jay, I am scared, too, Buddy, because this is bigger than we can do on our own. But God is big enough and He’s going to have to show us how to do this since it was His idea. Don’t worry about it right now. We’ll pray and watch how God provides.” Within 3 days, the opportunity to pick pecans and sell them was made available to me and the children. Never having done this before, I had no idea if it would be rewarding, but it was a start. We took one morning and picked up pecans for a little over 2 hours, when we took them to the Pecan House to sell them… How much do you think that first check was? Exactly $33!! To God alone be the glory!

As it was, we were able to send our first $99 payment to New Hope the first part of November instead of waiting until the very end of November. It is now November 19 and I am slap out of money until payday (25th) but I have confidence that God is going to provide all that we need. He has also increased my giving in other areas over the course of this month until I am actually eager to see how He’s going to take care of us! I just want to be obedient when He says give and stop trying to count up the cost. After all, He blesses us so that we can in turn bless others. (“our” little sponsored girl) is now prayed for by this family because we feel that we have an investment in her life. And the lessons that my children are learning in the meantime are absolutely priceless!

(Written for New Hope Girls' Blog, posted today, Dec. 1, 2012)

From 4 to 14

Today I aged. It's not MY birthday, but today I feel even older than I did when I turned 40 this year! I guess it's the fact that just 3 days ago, my baby was still 3 years old and my oldest child was still 13. Today, however, my oldest has turned 14 years old and two days ago the baby turned 4! All in the matter of 3 short days, I suddenly feel like I'm the one who has aged.

(Thankful that I ran 4 miles/walked 1 three different times this week--I'm doing my best to keep this body in shape!) In the spirit of nostalgia that seems to sit heavy on me today, I pulled out my oldest dvd of pictures, going back to 2004, right after we returned from Brazil.

I found precious pictures from Taylor's 6th birthday party--8 years ago! Jay was just a baby then and Schaeffer not even thought of. :) Where has the time gone? I love reminiscing of those days when everyone was young, innocent, and full of energy.

But wait. . .not much has changed, except that we've added another player. I really wouldn't go back to those days because I love THESE days! I love where my children are at and I enjoy being with them and watching them learn and grow.

I am very proud of who each of them are becoming, and I know we still have many more memories left to make together, if the Lord allows us the time. Happy Birthday, Taylor, and congratulations on killing 4 squirrels this morning (we won't mention too loudly that your dad shot 6! Lol! Always a competition, right, boys??)

Wrestling with Riches

I am rich. No, my station in life hasn't changed recently, but my view of it has. I am still a stay-at-home mom with 5 children to support on a pastor's salary. :) What I didn't know until recently is that we are richer than over half of the world! On average, Americans make 100 times as much per month as 53% of the world lives on. In summary, over 53% of the whole world lives on about $40 a month and average Americans live on about $4,000 per month--shocking! I learned this from a podcast by Francis Chan (author of "Crazy Love") on my flight back from the Dominican Republic. Coming at the end of a very moving week, conviction came swift and hard. When Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter heaven, He meant me. Sobering. I've never seen myself in that before. Because of our comfort, our excessive possessions, our bounteous daily feasts, and our "need" for more, we don't need God. We are distracted by all the stuff and miss God. God is working all around us and we don't see it. I have been called to simplify my life. I've also been called to give sacrificially to those in need.

Something God spoke clearly to me about on my way home is to sponsor a girl at New Hope Girls Academy. And I don't mean just a partial sponsorship, but a full--$99 a month. God even gave me the specific breakdown--I guess that was His kindness towards this "numbers girl." $33 from piano lessons, $33 out of my grocery budget, and $33 from the kids. Of course, the last part was something I talked to them about, we prayed about, and eventually voted on.

I am proud to say that all 4 of the ones old enough to vote were for it, although Jay was very tearful when it was over. He came to me scared that he wouldn't be able to do his part. Precious! I know how he feels! That's where we get to see just how big God is. When God calls us to do something, I know He will provide. And He sure has! The three youngest got a job picking pecans and after about 2 hours, went to the Pecan House and sold them for. . .guess how much? Yes, $33! There was an error in the calculation but Mrs. Karen insisted on still giving them the check she had already written for $33. So, less than a week after voting to give, the kids had their first month's goal. Praise the Lord! Today we sent in our first payment of $99 to New Hope and eagerly await the arrival of our information packet on who we are sponsoring.

The DR trip has definitely changed my thinking. Tamra, Misty, and I are all reading Jen Hatmaker's book 7: An Experimental Mutiny against Excess. I'm just not sure what I will look like by the time God finishes this transformation process. It is changing the way I view things: over-eating, hunger, grocery shopping, the foods I buy, recycling, where I spend my money, shopping locally, giving away all the excess, giving to the poor and needy, living out Christianity in a practical way, etc... It has sure made me think. I'm grateful for that.

Proud of 'em!

Monday night's soccer game was one of those that a mom hates to miss. I had a presentation at church about our recent mission trip to the Dominican Republic, so dad went without me. Wouldn't you know it, Marlena scored a goal!! Thankfully, her first goal of the season came in the previous game and I was there to see that one. And now another goal--woohoo! They won 2 to 0, and guess who played goalie--the WHOLE game? My very own Jay!

He's never played goalie that I'm aware of, but apparently they were missing a few players and Jay volunteered. Marlena said, "He didn't let one ball get by him! At the end, he even used his body to block the ball--it was great!" And mom missed all that, except that hearing the replays by two proud, excited kids was pretty great, too!

Camping out at Columbus Park

We took the first few days of fall break to go camping this week. We didn't go far, just to Columbus Park about 45 minutes away, but it was a great get away. We took 3 extra kids with us: Brooklyn (one last time), Carly, & Cameron.

We borrowed an extra tent for the girls to sleep in and then boys and myself crashed in our big tent. It was very windy and cold the first night but we slept well. Tuesday it turned out to be fairly nice, the sun even decided to shine, so we spent several hours playing in the state park. Jason always takes care of everything for us, including the cooking, so we ate well and had fun being together.

Making and eating s'mores was probably our favorite activity! This was Brooklyn's last outing with our family, which makes us sad, but she and her mom are moving this weekend to GA. We're excited about that for them!

Kickin' it at the 5K

Today Jason and I ran in our 2nd 5K--for me, it was my 2nd EVER. Jason has run years ago but we are enjoying the challenge of racing together for the first time in our married life. Notice, we are NOT racing each other. :) He leaves me in the dust and I'm glad for him. We ran in the Pecan Festival 5K on Sept. 9 and he placed 3rd and I placed 4th overall! We were pumped! I got the trophy for 1st place in the female division, and Jason got 1st place in his category (30 - 44 year old males). His time was 25:21 and mine was 25:51. We were excited, especially considering we licked that killer hill! So. . .we signed up for the Banana Festival 5K in Fulton. Wow, what a turn out today and what serious runners! I don't even know where I placed among the females but it wasn't anything impressive. At least 4 or 5 were in front of me, I know. I still placed 1st in my age group (40 - 44 year old females) with a time of 25:38, but I feel frustrated with myself because I should have done better!

I got such a sharp cramp right under my right side ribs that I could barely keep running the last 1/4 mile. There was no pushing it to the finish and I got passed by 4 or 5 people on that last stretch--shouldn't have finished that way. :( Jason got 3rd in his age group (40 - 44 year old males) with a time of 24:34. I hope we'll keep running and racing when we can. I'd like to get better at it.

Lindy and friends present "Total Praise"

We have a great group of 7th grade girls coming to church these days!

The last song they worked on in children's choir this summer was "Total Praise"

and when they presented it on Homecoming Sunday (Sept. 9), I was determined to have them do it again somewhere soon.

They need more practice on stage, plus. . .they're good!

So, Josie's mom got busy and had Josie's granddad schedule us to present on Saturday (Sept. 15) at the Pecan Festival!

What a great experience for the girls.

And this time I got pictures. :)

We were missing Kaitlyn, but they tried to adjust accordingly. I am proud of all of them!