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Monday, 21 April 2008

Well today we saw the first leaves popping through on the boys trees. We planted each tree the year they were born. They are both maple trees but each is a different variety. Anthony is boasting that his tree is already getting as tall as Christians. They each have different fall colors too. Anthony's leaves are large and Christian's leaves are smaller but abundant. It really suits them quite well. I think that Anthony with his vivid imagination and drama like actions suit the big leaves on his tree. Christian is just good at a lot of things. He always has done well at everything he does. He isn't usually the best but can keep up with just about everything, just like his tree. We had a wonderful sermon this week as we are learning about Psalm 139. We were meditating on being fearfully and wonderfully made and that God has odered our days. We can surely be much more in awe at His creation of us than any tree no matter how beautiful. Even our hurts and hard times have molded us into unique creations for His glory.
Many of our friends have been quite hard pressed this past year. It has been quite a time to pray earnestly and lend an ear and encouragement when we could. There are so many marriages in crisis, uncertainty financially and many who are burdened for wayward family and friends. We are coming to a time in our lives that taking care of parents and grandparents have become one of the priorities for many of our friends. May God strengthen us in His power to do His will and make our marriages and families strong.
This week was my father's birthday. He has been with the Lord for 4 years now. It seems like it has gone by so fast. Much of my days were filled with care for him and my mom at their worst times and it is so sweet to think he is in no more pain and doing what he always wanted; being with our Lord Jesus. Anthony has been anxious to go to his grave. He is fascinated with cemetaries. He likes for me to read the names and dates on the stones. There are two twin brothers that are buried in the same section as my dad. Though they didn't die together they died just a few years apart, one around my boys age and one in his teens. That hits my boys pretty hard and my heart as a mom too. Anthony has been talking about Heaven and Hell quite a lot lately. Christian was talking to him about Christ and what he needed to do to be saved. Christian said to Tracey "I think I just led Anthony to the LORD!". It was pretty special. We are not sure of his full understanding but his heart is tender to want to be with Jesus forever. I praise the Lord for his Word and wonderful workers at church that faithfully tell the truth of God's love and sacrifice for us.
I had the honor of working with some of the teen girls from our church this past few months in vocal training. They had some really rich music to learn that had beautiful messages of the truth of Scripture. Music speaks to me deeper than anything. I love when Scripture is put to music. It comes alive to me. I had one gal who had never sung in public before. She really did a great job for her first time, and she sang with such sincerity and love for the Lord. I had a few others that have been working for a few years on developing their talent. They have grown each year. Two of them scored very well at our Church's talent rally and at the State Talents for Christ. It was a blessing to hear the results of their hard work and that of many others too.
Well it's time to go out and enjoy the beautiful weather with Anthony on a bike ride. Enjoy Him with me and all He has created; like you!

Thursday, 28 February 2008

Can you believe it is almost March!! Time seems to be going by so fast. I was thinking that our load would of been much lighter lately but it hasn't as of yet. I have been working on Women's Ministry planning and Tracey is getting into his busiest season at Lowe's. We were blessed to have wonderful friends watch our kids two weekends in a row so that we could attend the Couple's Retreat and be sponsors at Winter Camp with the teens. Our children had such a good time. It was like a vacation for them. The Bobbitt and Good families are awesome. My mom did well as we were gone. My Aunt filled in the gap with the kids at school and watched over my mom which went over with no incidents. Praise the Lord.
The Couples Retreat was held in Chelsea Michigan. We had a meaningful time of fun and reflecting on our marriage and family. The Lord was gracious to show us many ways we need to improve and move our family in a different direction. It kind of felt heavy that weekend on my heart but it was a "good heavy". We also got to laugh and joke with other couples, some which we didn't know well. That is one of the best reasons to go on the retreat. You really get to start relationships with people you don't know. Pastor Pierpont was awesome as usual.
The Teen's Winter Camp was something I will never forget. The Lord was at work early on. I don't know if you have every imagined or pictured revival with teens but it happened this weekend. I was so overwhelmed by the honesty and transparency that our teens showed in turning themselves, "Their ALL", over to Him. I was very humbled. We are praying that the enemy would not steal the progress that has been made and that our powerful Savior would free our teens from the sins that are keeping them from giving God their All. There is something so special about being in God's nature, having time to be away from the normal things in life, and concentrating on your relationship with God. As we sang His praises and thought on His mercies He came IN! I love camp!!!!! Pray for our teens that this would only be the beginning.
The Lord has been faithful to help us through some difficulty this week as Tracey severely sprained his knee during winter camp and I got the start of the flu on Saturday. We are still on the mend.
We will be back to teaching Junior Church this month after having a full month off for the first time in 13 years. The Amblers (Peter and Leanne) have partnered with us to take turns teaching the 4-6th graders. What a blessing they are and really neat people too. Thank you Lord for your sweet rest and refreshment that you gave us this past month!! I can't explain how weird it was to sit in the Sunday morning service for three weeks in a row. I can't remember the last time that has happened. We usually get to sit in the service about 6 times a year so this was really a treat for us. We do miss our class so we are refreshed and ready to be back at it during the month of March.
Well gotta go! Stay warm! Michelle

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

What a Sunday!

Well, today is Tuesday and I'm still in awe over this past Sunday. We had a wonderful day celebrating the faithfulness of God to our Church (Evangel Baptist). We got to see our former pastor (Ron Graef) and two men and their wives (John Greening, Ken Floyd) that were very helpful and supportive during the search process of a new Senior Pastor. Our wonderful new Pastor Ken Pierpont was honored and challenged this Sunday night during an Installation Service. We got to hear funny stories from his Dad about his childhood and the "trouble" he caused them. It was nice to hear and see that our pastor is a "real" guy that loves Jesus. He is so gifted with communication and I know so many of us have benefited from his ministry already these past few weeks. We had a wonderful reception time to talk and celebrate afterwards. I got kicked out at the end from the kitchen because at 11p the alarm of the church goes on. We just missed setting it off.
Tracey and I are in transition now. We are no longer a deacon family and he is no longer in leadership in the church. We have been so entrenched in everything that it will be strange to step back and do other things. It has been 6 years in that position and especially the last 3 have been very intense and rewarding. We wouldn't trade the privilege of meeting and getting to know the Pierponts first before most knew them. We count that as a treasure of the work that was put into it. It was what we call a "perk" of the job! We got to meet many wonderful pastors during the search too and learn so much. We most definitely have a greater appreciation for the pressures and demands that are put on a pastor.
Christian is playing basketball now and loving it. He loves all sports and jumps at any chance to play them. His Grandpa and Grandma came from Ohio to visit and were able to watch him play. That was really special to him. It was a bonus that he scored and his team won the game. That's always nice!!! Anthony asks almost every day how long it will be until he can go to school. He cannot wait to go to kindergarten in the fall. I think he thought the moment he turned 5 he would be going to school. He was not very happy to hear he had to wait. His most favorite thing right now is Cubbies at church. He counts the days each week in anticipation. He loves the teachers and friends he has at church.
Well, speaking of our little guy, I need to get back to "parenting" so have a blessed day! Michelle

Tuesday, 18 December 2007

It's Almost Christmas

It is only a week before Christmas and I feel so full of worship for our great God who sent us the best present ever..... JESUS! We have been busy at church with concerts and preparations. All three of the concerts (Teens, Adults, and Children) have been such a blessing. We had a real baby at two of our concerts and that was so special. It really made you think of how Jesus who was fully God came to earth and humbled himself to become like us for us! WOW! That really astounds me. I sang a song in the church service this Sunday that talked about how the Maker of everything (Jesus), who had no need, must now.....sleep. Having a real baby made that so real to me this year.
We are enjoying our new senior pastor (Ken Pierpont). He is a breath of fresh air. He is always smiling and full of joy. One of my friends saw him walking into work early one day last week with a big smile swinging his briefcase like this was the best job ever. His great attitude is rubbing off on many of us! We are relieved for our other pastors too who have had such a heavy load these past 2 1/2 years. They have been so faithful and have really helped to hold our congregation together and keep us going forward by faith. I remember when the process first started that the committee, after doing research, said that the average amount of time it takes to find a senior pastor is 1 month for every year the pastor had stayed with us. Pastor Graef had been with us about 36 years so we were told it may take 3 years. None of us thought at first that it would take that long. The reality is that you never want to go ahead of what God has planned. We got His best for us!!! What a joy it is!!!
Well, gotta go for now! I'm off to one of Christian's basketball games. May you have a wonderful Christmas! Michelle

Saturday, 17 November 2007

My First Post

Hi! I thought I would start this site so I could share what God is doing. We are rejoicing that God has answered our prayers and given us a new Senior Pastor at Evangel Baptist Church. Since Tracey has been involved more closely with the process (Search committee team) it has really been a great commitment the Lord has brought us through these past 2 1/2 plus years. There is so much excitement at our church it just gives me goosebumps. I am welling up with tears as I write thinking about how gracious God is in giving us such a wonderful new pastor and family. Being the Italian I am, I have to hold back my emotions or I would just kiss them every time I see them. (I don't think that would go over very well!)
We had a precious ladies event this week at our church. We did a progressive dinner where we moved from room to room and fellowshipped and shared together with ladies of all ages from our church. I was overwhelmed with how God blessed it and helped us to enjoy one another and laugh together. We had some new ladies attend and they were great!
Tracey and Christian got to go to the Ohio State / Michigan game today. This was Christian's first big football game to attend. I wonder if the Michigan fans were nice to him in all his Buckeye clothes. I'm glad Tracey and Christian had some time together since we have been so busy with things at church. Those are the times for long discussions in the car, memories to be built and meaningful times to share the things of the Lord with a son. GOOD TIMES!!
Today I got to attend Christmas concert rehearsal and sing these wonderful songs about our Lord. I get so caught up in singing and worshipping I have to remember to blend and memorize the words along with the others. (marvelous, glorious, wonderful, powerful, the great I AM) How can't you get caught up in it all. Well, I'm done babbling for now. I'm great at run on sentences and paragraphs. If you read this you are longsuffering. Bye for now! Michelle Ok, the guys just got home from the game - GO BUCKS! VICTORY!

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