Leaving

This evening Shannon, Chase, Bryce, Colton and I left Iowa for a mission trip to Canada.

We began planning this trip months ago. I have been going back and forth deciding whether or not I was going along. The original group was around 20 people interested, but as the date arrived, our number decreased to just 10.

We planned ahead and got passport cards for the kids. We made arrangements for the little kids while we would be gone. Everything seemed to fall into place.

And then I got cold feet. Could I really leave the country for nine days and leave my littles behind?

Yesterday I was ready to stay home. There seemed to be just too much to get done, and not enough hours in the day to complete each of the tasks.

It just didn't seem like it would be worth the hassle.

But we are on the road.

Katie, Naomi, Hudson and Macklin are at Grandma and Grandpa's house this weekend, and will be with Alex and Moriah the rest of the week. Although there were tears last night, our hugs goodbye this afternoon were handled pretty well.




Nine days.

These are the things moms long for. Peace and quiet. No cooking or cleaning or laundry. Beautiful scenery. Time to recharge and refocus.

And yet I miss them.

We won't have phone or internet service at the camp we will be working at. That worries me.

Nine days.

I won't hear Katie chatting incessantly. I won't get to brush Naomi's hair. I won't get to see the evidence of Hudson's imagination, whether it be a new game he has invented, or a picture he has drawn. And Macklin. EVERY morning he climbs in bed with me and snuggles. We sing 'our song' to each other.

Nine days with no Mommy-Macklin day.

Chase's car broke down and he is thinking of transferring colleges. Bryce was at camp. Our car needed to get to the body shop for repairs. Jackson rented a house and is moving out this weekend. So many things are going on.

And I am leaving the country.

I am confident that big changes will happen this week. I pray that I will be a blessing to others. I pray that I will come back a better mom than the cranky, harried one that left. I pray that I will come back a better wife, because Shannon deserves better than what he has been getting.

Nine days.

Please pray that lives will be changed. Pray for my babies, both those that are with me and those at home. Pray for those caring for my babies. They have a lot of fun things planned, and the kids will likely wish we would go away more often.

See you in nine days.

"For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man." Proverbs 3:2-4




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

October 2011 Recap

You guessed it.  October started with football, and ended with football.  We had lovely fall weather, so it was especially nice going to games.

Alex's soccer season continued throughout October, too.  We enjoyed the opportunity to see him so often.  It took the sting of him leaving home and made it so much easier. 

On October 16, our family was enjoying a typical Sunday afternoon.  We had finished watching Colton play his final tackle football game of the season.  Shannon headed to church for a meeting prior to the evening service at 6:30.  Jackson, Chase, Colton and I drove a couple miles from home to celebrate Colton's season with an impromptu football pizza party with some of the other players.  Alex was home visiting from college, and stayed with the younger kids.  

We left the pizza party at 6:00, drove the two miles home, and pulled into the driveway.  The other children were outside playing, and were ready to leave for church.  I got out of my parents van, which I had been driving.  Alex came out of the house and got into the van because he was going to drive it back to college.  He had decided to come home with us following his soccer game the previous day in Dubuque.  We were planning to drive to Ankeny to see his soccer game on Monday, so my parents said he could drive their van back to school, and they would drive it home after his game, saving us the trip there and back after church Sunday evening.  Hudson asked if he could ride to church with Alex.  I said sure and buckled him into the rear passenger seat of the minivan.  They headed off to church. 

Without even going into the house, the other seven children and I loaded up in our van.  Katie ran back into the house and grabbed a sippy cup for Macklin.  We headed out the drive and made the six mile trip north to church.  As we pulled into the church parking lot and unloaded from the van, I heard the sirens from the hospital across the street.  Often times I will say a prayer for those in need as I hear the siren.  On this particular day, I did not.  It just didn't even occur to me. 

We were a few minutes early (very uncommon!), so I stood in the fellowship hall visiting with some of the other teens.  My cell phone rang, and the screen said it was Alex.  That was when I realized that he and Hudson should have beaten us to church because they left before we did.  He immediately told me he had been in an accident and had crashed the van.  I asked him where he was, and he said he was south of town and had lost control on the gravel and gone into the ditch.  I grabbed Jackson and told Alex we would be right there.  It wasn't until then that I remembered Hudson was with him.  When I asked how they were, Alex said he was fine, but Hudson had a cut on his face. 

As Jackson and I left the church, I spoke with a man in the parking lot and asked him to find Shannon and have him meet us at the accident site.   Then I called Alex back and told him we were on our way.  He said the ambulance was there already, so we should just meet them at the hospital.  We went directly to the hospital, and had to wait about 15-20 minutes for them to arrive.  We were able to contact Shannon, and he met us at the ER. 

I was not prepared for what I saw when the ambulance arrived.  Hudson was wheeled in first.  His face was bloody and swollen.  He was in a cervical collar.  He was strapped down onto the gurney.  There were many EMTs, doctors and nurses surrounding him, all talking at once.  They would not let us see him immediately.  I was SO close to breaking through those doors! 

Alex was able to walk in on his own.  They conducted a physical exam on him, and he was cleared fairly quickly, with only a superficial scratch on his arm from the air bag.  Hudson was on the opposite side of the curtain from Alex, so we could hear part of what they were saying.  We were only expecting Hudson to need some stitches.  The more we heard, the more scared we became.  He was in and out of consciousness.  He had one large pupil, one small, and they were not responsive to light.  His left eye was swollen shut and he had multiple lacerations on his face.  It was determined that he needed to be intubated since he was losing consciousness and he had swelling in his neck.  It took them 6 attempts and 40 minutes to intubate him.  He was X-rayed to make sure the tube was in the correct place. 

We were informed that they had called the University of Iowa Hospitals and were going to transfer Hudson via life flight helicopter.  We would need to drive ourselves there.  At this point I called across the street and asked our pastor to spread the word and begin praying for our boys.  Although Alex was physically okay, he was quite emotional about the accident and felt responsible. 

I had called my parents and they drove over to deal with the van and be with us.  The sheriff deputy met my dad at the scene of the accident.  Alex had lost control on the gravel and entered the ditch.  It was quite steep at that particular spot.  The van then collided with a concrete culvert, skipped over it, and landed in a creek.  The driver's airbag deployed, saving Alex from serious injury.  Hudson was thrown forward, colliding with the hard plastic hand hold on the back of the front passenger seat, typical in many minivans.  Alex's door wouldn't open, so he had to climb against gravity through the side van door, and jump down about four feet into the creek.  He thought he saw smoke in the van, so he unbuckled Hudson and removed him from the van.  As he climbed up the ditch, a man in an SUV stopped to help him.  He was on his way to church in the same town we attend church, and he is an EMT.  He helped Alex call 911, since Alex's phone kept dropping the call as he dialed.  Another lady, also a former EMT, came upon the accident from the opposite direction.  They immediately immobilized Hudson and applied traction to his neck.  We were told later that Alex did an incredible job staying calm, and comforting his brother. 

Back at the hospital, we were making arrangements for our other children, who were still at church.  Fortunately, we had gassed up the car earlier that day.  I found comfort in the details of planning.  It was such a surreal experience.  I remember our pastor praying over Hudson with the EMTs, nurses and doctors praying right along with us as they artificially breathed for Hudson.   At one point I looked at Shannon and told him I didn't think I could do this.  Things like this don't happen to our family.  Shannon held me and told me we really didn't have a choice.  We just had to deal with it and do the next thing.  This was similar to what I told Alex as I held his face in my hands as he cried.  I assured him God was in complete control of the situation.  Even though we were scared and unsure of what was going to happen, God knew from the beginning of time that we were going to be standing broken in that emergency room at that particular time.  He was watching over us and would guide us through all that was yet to come.   

Alex wanted to go to Iowa City with us, so he prepared to contact his RA at school to tell him he wouldn't be back that night.  He wasn't able to contact him, so Alex called his soccer coach, who attends church at our previous church in Nevada where we lived and served for 9 years.  They of course prayed for our boys, and word spread throughout our Baptist association.  Alex's college, Faith Baptist Bible College, was notified and they began praying.  Another Faith student who attends church in Nevada immediately upon hearing of the accident called her parents who are close friends of ours in Clear Lake, and their congregation began praying.  Members of that church work at the Iowa Regular Baptist Camp, and spread the word when they got home from church.  In an unbelievably short amount of time, word of the boys' accident had spread across the state and beyond, and God's people were appealing to Him to heal Hudson.  You can imagine how the prayers multiplied once our request was posted on Facebook. 

As the helicopter arrived and we spoke with the medic, I asked him to take good care of my baby.  He hugged me and assured me they would do their best.  We had provided them with telephone numbers to reach us 'just in case'.  One of the hardest things I've had to do was to see my little boy loaded onto that helicopter and not be able to be there with him.  As we stood in the parking lot and watched the helicopter leave, I remembered that when Hudson was a little baby I prayed to God and 'gave' my baby to Him.  I trusted God, but I wasn't ready to lose my boy.  Many of the hospital staff and EMT's were crying as we left the ER.

Alex ended up staying home.  My parents made sure the other children were settled in at our house, then took Alex home with them to keep an eye on him.  Shannon and I began the hour and a half drive to Iowa City.  My sister Kim is a nurse and works in the clinics at the hospital, so she was able to be at the hospital when Hudson arrived.  Shannon and I spent the trip praying fervently for our little guy.  I contacted family and friends asking them for prayer.  We sang praises to God and appealed to Him for mercy and healing on Hudson. 

About half way there we received a call.  I was almost afraid to answer the phone.  It was the social worker from UIHC calling to make sure it was okay to share medical information with my sister.  Hudson had arrived, and they were beginning testing and CT scans.  She told us where to park and met us at the doors, then escorted us to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.  Kim was with her, too.  When we arrived in the PICU we were greeted by a resident and given a preliminary progress report.  The CT scan appeared to be normal, although they were still waiting for the official report.  There were no brain bleeds found.  He had facial and orbital fractures.  The tendon that attaches his left eyeball to the bone had been severed.  Many different doctors and residents were attending to his needs.  He was scheduled to be seen by neurosurgeons, oculoplastics, ophthalmologists, radiologists, and a slew of other providers.  It was quite some time before we were able to see him.  They had him in a drug-induced coma.  He was quite agitated with the tubes and restraints when conscious.   Although the reports were positive, we were warned that there could still be permanent damage, and we should plan to be at the hospital for about a week.  

The pastor and assistant pastor from our previous church in Nevada drove two hours to be with us at the hospital, after spending the day preaching.  They stayed with us for several hours until we knew Hudson was stable, then drove back home in the wee hours of the morning.  Their friendship and support meant the world to us in a very scary time of our lives. 

Throughout that first night, the doctors would bring Hudson out of his coma to test his responsiveness.  Although scared and uncomfortable from being intubated and restrained, each time Hudson was able to respond to our voices and squeeze our hands and move his feet. 

By morning they had ruled out brain damage and were confident that his eye could be repaired.  He was put on the surgery schedule as an "add-on", so we didn't have a specific time for surgery.  About 1:00pm they came to get him to prepare him for surgery.  He was gone for about three hours.  When he returned, they had been able to remove his breathing tube and the repair of his eye and lacerations had gone well.  He had just over 20 stitches, beginning across his left eyelid and continuing along his left cheekbone in "Z" pattern.  Within minutes he was talking to us, trying to remember what had happened.  He was sad that he was missing Alex's soccer game.  We had told Alex he could play as long as he felt okay.  He had been able to play about half of the game before getting dizzy.  When Alex finished his game, he called to see how surgery went.   The first thing Hudson did when talking to Alex was to thank him for saving him.  There wasn't a dry eye in the room. 

Hudson was quite charming the rest of the evening.  He was able to visit with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Kimmy, Uncle Jeff and his cousin Mason, and  pastor Nemmers and his wife.

On Tuesday morning Hudson received a special honor.  Our PICU nurse was able to arrange for him to go up to the roof of the hospital and see the helicopter he had flown in on.  One of the medics gave the special tour. We were able to see the little cot that he was strapped to, and the seats for the medics and the pilot.  We were allowed to take as many pictures as we wanted, and they even gave him a stuffed panda bear as a gift. 

The biggest surprise of all, though, was the news that we were being discharged.  Not from PICU to the floor, but HOME.  The doctors said there was no reason for us to stay.   Our PICU nurse had no idea how to discharge a patient home.  She had never done it before.  Shannon had to go out and buy clothes and a booster seat since Hudson arrived with neither.

In less than 42 hours from the time of the accident, we had been told that Hudson might not make it, if he did live he'd likely have brain damage, and he'd possibly lose his left eye.  But because of our merciful, all-powerful God, we were able to walk out of the hospital with 'only' facial fractures and sutures.  We firmly believe that Hudson was healed because of the faithful prayers of our friends, family, and the community members surrounding our rural home.  There's no medical way to explain it.  It was just God.

We had incredible opportunities to share our faith throughout the ordeal, and give glory to God.  Our children have been shown clearly that God DOES answer prayers.  My sister, who was saved as a child but has not found time in the past twenty-five years to serve God, saw up close and personally that God is active and present in our lives if we allow Him to be.  We were shown so much love and support throughout the relatively short time following the accident by friends and family, and even virtual strangers. 

We are truly blessed.  

Hudson has been given a clean bill of health from all of his doctors.  His vision is perfect.  He has quite a scar, but I find it a daily reminder of Who holds us in His hands. 

Hudson has learned that God ABSOLUTELY answers prayers.  He's got such amazing faith.  A week after the initial surgery, Hudson and Macklin were tussling, and all of Hudson's stitches got ripped out.  We loaded him up and headed back to Iowa City to have them repaired.  On the way there, Hudson looked at Shannon and I and said, "Aren't you going to call everyone and have them pray for me?".  

Lesson learned.

"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."  Proverbs 16:33

Alex Graduates from High School

Alex celebrated his graduation from High School this month.  Our church honors our seniors on graduation Sunday.  Alex and several of his friends participated.

Alex was awarded the Ironmen's Scholarship and was given a bible.

We hosted a graduation open house in our home on May 14th.  Although the weather didn't cooperate and we ended up moving the family room furniture upstairs in order to set up tables and chairs inside, we had a really nice time visiting with friends and family.  It meant a lot to Alex to have so many people who have influenced his life celebrate with him.

I did not get a single picture of his open house.  It didn't even occur to me at the time.  There was so much going on and so many people coming and going that there wasn't time.

We are very proud of Alex.  He has done an excellent job with his schooling.  Being the oldest, he was at times our 'guinea pig'.  We tried many different kinds of curriculum, some of which we liked, some we didn't.  We feel we have given him a well-rounded education, centered on our faith in Jesus Christ.  He has excelled in his math and science courses, and has had the opportunity to learn many skills that are unique to our home school.  We are pleased with the man he has become.

Alex has been accepted to Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny.  He plans to play soccer for them this fall.

Here is a link to view the slideshow presentation that we showed at Alex's open house.
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/jodiclark-1037631-alex-clark/

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge."  Proverbs 1:7

Cream * A * Teen

Tonight was our church's annual AWANA Fun Fair. The church members gather together to host a carnival type celebration to reward the clubbers for their hard work.

Each year Shannon and I come up with a game for the kids to play. I would like to proudly announce that for the fourth year running we have won the 'Most Popular Game' award.

This year our game was "Cream * A * Teen. We built a catapult, and flung pie tins of whipped cream at the teens. Very fun, very messy, and the kids loved it. The teens had a pretty good time, too.






Perhaps next year we'll get some REAL competition...

"Plans are established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war." Proverbs 20:18

Church Today

As Shannon and I walked into church this morning, he grabbed my hand and asked me if I brought my tissues. I told him nope, I'm not gonna cry. I'm done with that.

That lasted about six minutes. Until we took prayer requests in Sunday school. I was able to contain it to just a little leaking around the eyes, maybe a little chin quivering.

Then during church time we were bombarded with tear-jerker songs. There are a lot of people in our congregation going through trials. Some similar to ours, some not so much, but trials all the same. One of the first songs we sang was "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman. Open this link in another window and listen along as you read the lyrics.

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

A few lines in I was a blubbering mess. Poor Naomi. When we sing she always stands in front of me with her feet on the pew ahead of us. Her sweet little pink dress was pretty sloppy with snot and tears by the time the song was over. Then Katie started crying, which made me cry more, which made her cry more...and Shannon was left standing next to us being the big strong man who has to hold everything inside and pretend this is just hard on the woman, when in reality the loss is just as great for him.

Pastor's message was very touching and timely.

We're so grateful for a church family who loves and cares for us. We choose to praise our LORD in trials and sadness. It's not easy. I thought I could bottle up all of the emotions and put them aside.

His blessings in our life way outnumber the trials. There are just too many to list. Too often I take them for granted, so I suppose I do need these reminders.

Blessed Be Your Name.

"The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22

He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

Refrain

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict'ry's won,
E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

by Joseph Gilmore, 1862; music by William Bradbury, 1864

"For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding" Proverbs 2:6

Chinese Buffet

Saturday evening Shannon and I hosted our Sunday School class by staging a Chinese Buffet at our home. It was mostly an attempt to bribe them into letting us stay in the 'Young Married' class. We're not quite ready to graduate into the 'Old Married' class. We were expecting 23 people, but only 18 ended up coming.


The menu consisted of Kung Pao Chicken, Broccoli Beef, Sesame Chicken, Orange Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Garlic Green Beans, Egg Drop Soup, Fried Rice, Crab Rangoon, Egg Rolls, and Cheesecake Balls for dessert. All of the recipes except the Cheesecake Balls came from Blog Chef. He was the inspiration for the party, although I did substitute some of the recipes from his original buffet with others to get a variety of beef and chicken dishes. I multiplied each recipe by 3 or 4 times.


I was able to do a bunch of the prep work early in the week, so the actual cooking day wasn't too bad. Shannon was a great assistant chef. I underestimated the amount of time it would take to fry the chicken, crab rangoon (Naomi likes to call them crab baboons), and egg rolls. The guests had all arrived and I was hanging out in the icky garage finishing up, so we didn't eat exactly on time. Regardless, it all came together, and I don't think anyone went home hungry. We had tons of leftovers, and are very sick of Chinese food at our house by now!

After dinner we played some games and shared some good fellowship time. I wasn't able to get any pictures, but Pastor took some, so if I get him to send me some, I'll post them later.

"Feed me with the food allotted to me." Proverbs 30:8

The Roman's Road

A couple weeks ago I was able to be a part of Hannah's salvation. She asked me after youth group was over to speak with her in private, so we made our way to an empty Sunday school room.

Hannah explained to me that she knew she needed to be saved, but she just didn't know how to go about doing it. This is the part where I ALWAYS get goose bumps. I just LOVE it when a teen finally "get's it".

I'll be the first to admit that I get tired of being a youth leader, which is really selfish, because Shannon is the one who does all of the work, I'm just along for the ride. He plans the lessons. I'm just his support staff. He's much more dedicated than I am. Sometimes I get sick of the noise, the disrespect, the apparent lack of growth, and just want to throw my hands up and quit because it doesn't seem as if we are making a difference. Why do we even try?

Then a Hannah comes along and I'm smacked in the face with the REASON we do this. Not because Shannon or I can take the credit. That's all for the Holy Spirit. I'm just glad that we have the opportunity to be a tool in His workings.

Back to the goose bumps. I always get them when I feel the Holy Spirit at work. Anyone else experience this?

Hannah and I sat down and she told me that she knew she needed to get saved. I grabbed my bible and started to explain HOW and WHY we ALL need to be saved. This is the easy part, because about six years ago in our adult Sunday school class in Nevada, Mr. Buhrow, our teacher, shared a tip on how to remember the Roman's Road. He had us write the scripture references in the margin of our bibles, so when given the opportunity, we would always remember the steps in order. Cool. Simple idea. It takes the pressure off. Here's my first page:

I knew exactly where to start, and which scripture to turn to after that.

We talked about sin. What is sin? Who sins?

What can we do about it? How do we get rid of it?

How did sin come into the world? Is anyone exempt?


What is the consequence of sin? DEATH.

We deserve death, but what is the GIFT God has offered us? What do we have to do to EARN this gift? NOTHING!!!


Jesus Christ, in His death, paid our debt. No amount of work or good deeds will get us to heaven. It is not dependent upon how much we tithe. It doesn't matter if we are beautiful or ugly, rich or poor, thin or fat. He paid the price. For me. For you.

All you have to do is ask. Tell Him you are sorry for your sins. Ask Him to wash them away. He will. He promised.

I explained to Hannah that salvation was more than being able to recite the bible verses and have a head knowledge of what they mean. It has to go from her HEAD into her HEART. Is she sorry for the sins she has committed? Is she willing to work hard to STOP doing those same sins? Will there be a CHANGE in her life? Will her friends notice that there is something different about her?

Hannah prayed that prayer, and asked God to wash away her sins. She asked Him to change her life. She thanked Him for saving her from eternal death. The angels in heaven were doing the happy dance! Hannah will be with them someday.

I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

"When He prepared the heavens, I was there..." Proverbs 8:27

LOL Funny

These have been around the internet for years, but I still laugh out loud every time I read them. I decided to post them here so they could brighten your day, too.

They're Back! Those Wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services (Summer, 2007 Release).

• The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
• The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
• Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
• Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
• The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
• Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
• Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
• Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I Will Not Pass This Way Again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
• For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
• Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
• The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing: 'Break Forth Into Joy.'
• Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24th in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
• At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
• Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
• Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
• Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
• The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
• Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - Prayer and medication to follow.
• The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
• This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
• Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
• The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
• Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
• The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
• Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double doors at the side entrance.
• The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday : 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours'

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11

Arthur R. Jensen

Arthur R. Jensen, 88, of Grundy Center, died Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Grundy County Memorial Hospital, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice, of natural causes.

Services 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, Grundy Center, with burial in Washington Township Cemetary, Tama County. Public visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home, Grundy Center.

My life has been, not outstanding in any way. Put on a chart the highs would equal the lows, the successes the failures.

Achievement level "C".

But the important part:

I have been, from infancy to the present time, totally enveloped in love. It has come from every imaginable source. First of all, the love of God. It was so intense that He came as a man, gave His life for mine that I could spend my life with Him. I Corinthians 13 best describes what love really is. It's not the easily said, easily forgotten platitude that it has become. But rather the most moving force on earth. I have been loved all my life by people who without reason did so. I have known 60 years of love from Pat. All of Polly and Karen's lives, my Granddaughter Lisa and her husband Brian and their children Reese and Robert. I'll not name other names. There are too many and I don't want to offend by omitting someone. My family, those related to me, everyone surrounding me that have given of themselves without reservation, without a precommitment and without condemnation, have been my great great source of strength. It has consumed, it has enveloped, it has totally brought me within its sphere. I don't think I need go any farther than that. I cannot tell you in words how much you all have meant to me. So you fill in the blank spaces.

Lou Gehrig, the "Iron Man" of baseball, in his final, probably only speech in Yankee Stadium, closed with this statement which I will paraphrase, "I believe I am the most blessed man in all the Earth."

Attainment level "A"

Wow. Isn't he cool?

Our youth group had the privilege of visiting Art Wednesday just one short hour before he went to Heaven. We sang to him, and even though he was not able to respond to us, we hope he heard the words that, we feel, were written just for him.


Thank You for Giving
to The Lord
Music & Lyrics by Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to Heaven, you were there with me.
We walked upon the streets of gold beside the Crystal Sea.
We heard the angels singing, then someone called your name.
You turned and saw this young man, and he was smiling as he came.

He said, "Friend you may not know me now," and then he said, "But wait -
You used to teach my Sunday School, when I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you, he said "Remember the time,
A missionary came to your church, His pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money but you gave it anyway.
Jesus took that gift you gave
And that's why I'm in Heaven today"

Chorus


One by one they came, far as your eyes could see.
Each life somehow touched by your generosity.
Little things that you had done, sacrifices that you made,
They were unnoticed on this earth
In Heaven now proclaimed.

Chorus


And I know up in Heaven you're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord
He said "My child look around you,
Great is your reward."

Chorus

Art's daughters asked the teens if they would sing this song at his funeral. They're going to give it their best shot.

One of the last things I ever said to Art was, "I want to be just like you when I grow up".

"For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you." Proverbs 3:2

So proud

On September 21, 2008 Bryce made a public statement for Christ by following Him in believers' Baptism. He shared his testimony of salvation with the congregation, then was baptized by Pastor Nemmers.

There are some things in life that make parents SO proud. Of course we want our children to learn to read and write, be kind friends, excel at sports, etc., but if nothing else of acclaim occurs in Bryce's life, at least we know that he has accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. Nothing else really matters.

Bryce asked Jesus to take away his sins a couple years ago. This year at Jr. Boys' camp, he made the decision to be baptized. He understands that baptism has no bearing on his salvation. Only trusting in Jesus is going to get him to heaven.

Please join us in celebrating with Bryce, and guiding him in his spiritual walk.

We're so proud of him.

"I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths." Proverbs 4:11

64 Days Left

Last year I committed to reading through the bible in a year. I found a website cleverly called bibleinayear.org and signed up. They have several different translations to choose from. I'm doing the NKJV in chronological order. It's been very cool reading in this order. Every day an email appears in my inbox with the allotted reading assignment, usually 2 to 3 chapters. I had gotten WAY behind in reading--over 30 days worth--but as of about 5:30 this morning I'm officially caught up. My inbox is empty again. I REALLY like that.

"When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you." Proverbs 2:10-11

Mama, what happens when we die?

That is the way my conversation with Katie started this afternoon.

She climbed up into my lap and I explained to her that the bible tells us that when we die, we either go to heaven or hell. Heaven is a nice place where Jesus lives. Hell is a scary, bad place where naughty people live. She told me she would rather go to heaven.

We talked about sin. I explained that everyone in the whole wide world sins, even Mommy and Daddy. She knew that telling a lie was a sin, and that taking something that didn't belong to you was a sin. Hitting and fighting are sins, too.

Last Sunday during church we saw a clip from "The Passion of the Christ", which showed Jesus being nailed to the cross. At the time, she reminded me that they had talked about Jesus dying on the cross during Cubbies. It was pretty graphic for a 4 year old, and I could see the wheels turning in her head at the time. I believe it set the framework for our conversation today.

I explained to her that only Jesus can take away her sins, and he died on the cross a long time ago just for her, and just for me, and just for everyone who prays and asks him to take their sins away. She folded her hands, bowed her head, and said, "Dear Jesus, please take away my sins. I'm sorry I sin. Thank you for letting me go to heaven."

These are the moments parents pray for! We are so blessed to have a church family that builds on the foundations we start at home.

The angels are having a party in heaven today in honor of Katie Clark!

"When He prepared the heavens, I was there..." Proverbs 8:27

Raise Your Hand if You're Sure

I'm "borrowing" (with permission) these words from the author of another blog I've been reading recently. Rick Lawrenson is the pastor of Nags Head Church in North Carolina.


Following a recent memorial service the following observation was made (not to me directly, but it was relayed to me):
"One thing about you guys - you really seem confident in what you believe and that you can know for sure about heaven. I belong to the ________________ Church, and you don't get that kind of confidence there."

He's right. I had no problem telling the crowd assembled that day that the one we were saying goodbye to was in heaven.

Here's what I said, "And it would be real easy for someone to think that [she] is in heaven today because she was such an incredibly good wife, mother, friend. But we can’t do that, either, because although she was all that and more, that’s not why she’s in heaven today. She was a saint, but not because she was so good. She was a saint because was given the goodness of Christ."

There's the catch. Most religious people and frankly, many, if not most churches teach that heaven is a place where good people go. If that were true, no one would be there but Jesus. It's not goodness that God's looking for, it's perfection. And Jesus was the only one qualified.

The Good News is that He provided a means for us - and none of us are that good - to receive eternal life. But it's not by being religious or even obeying the Big Ten or keeping some list of "holy" acts. We can be religious, but we can't perfectly keep those ten, can we? And the means God provided was His Son Jesus, who lived a perfect life, then was put to death by people who didn't understand who He was or what He came to do. Then 3 days later He rose from the dead to prove He was qualified.

The simplicity of it is its beauty. All that is required of us to get in on His gift of eternal life is for us to believe that Jesus was who He said He was and that His sacrifice did everything necessary for us to acquire His life.

Amazingly simple. That's why it is so roundly rejected. We want to think that there must be something we can do. But we can't. Think about it, why do you think "Fat Tuesday" precedes "Ash Wednesday"? It's the idea that today I can live like hell, but over the next 40 days I can somehow fix it. It doesn't work that way.

However, if we believe - that means to trust completely - in Jesus and Him alone, we can be confident in our eternal status. It's not self-confidence. It's confidence in a promise God made.

Here's what the Bible says - These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life... (1 Jn. 5:13) That word "know" is huge, isn't it.

God doesn't want us guessing; wondering; worried that maybe we are and maybe we aren't. He wants us to know.

"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life." Proverbs 22:4

Pray for this family

I'm including a link to a blog that was brought to my attention on another list I belong to. It is the story of a little girl born last week at 25 weeks gestation. She weighed only 1 lb. 6 oz. They appear to be a strong Christian family involved in many ministries. The girls and I are keeping up to date on this amazing birth and tiny little one.

http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

What a miracle!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

The Quest 2007

On Saturday, August 18th, Shannon and I created a youth event for our church patterned after "The Amazing Race". We divided the teens into teams, assigned each team a driver, then gave them clues to reach specific destinations. At each destination, there was a challenge for one of the team members to complete. The first team to complete all challenges, wins. We had a total of six destinations, culminating in a fight to the end with water balloon launchers. We had a great time organizing everything, and the youth had a fun time as well. Jeff Hawk was our guest speaker, and shared his testimony with the group.




"Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established." Proverbs 4:26

Nursery Pictures

At our church, they do not provide nursery workers for the Sunday evening service, so Shannon or I invariably take turns in the nursery with the girls. It was my turn this week, so I took the opportunity to snap some pictures of the kids. Chase helped keep me company.
























"For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6

Adventureland Rally 2007

Saturday we had the opportunity to attend the annual Adventureland Rally that the state IARBC puts on. We had 22 from our church attending. We brought our big kids along, too. Naomi and Hudson got to spend the day with Grandma Shirley and Papa Ken. Over 1100 teens were in attendance. The word of God was preached and many decisions for Christ were made.

This was the first year in as many as we have been taking youth groups to Adventureland that it was not cold and rainy. The weather was beautiful, with sunny skies and a light breeze. Getting wet on the water rides actually felt good this year! It also made for longer lines, as more people were at the park.

This was Katie's first visit to Adventureland. She enjoyed all of the rides, and proved herself fearless. She was quite disappointed that she didn't get to ride all of the "big kid rides" because she was too short. Thankfully we have plenty of big boys who are willing to go on the spinning rides with her. Shannon and I have found that we just aren't up to it anymore. Colton went on all of the rides he possibly could, too.

"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." Proverbs 29:25

Say Cheese!

Shannon asked me to get a picture of Hudson and email it to him so he could put it in the newsletter for the office. We were having a hard time getting Hudson to smile, so Alex and Jack each took a side and helped him out. Oh, the trials of being #8 in the pecking order! We did get a better picture to publish in the newsletter.

I took the opportunity Sunday evening while in the nursery at church to teach Katie how to sit like a lady. Last summer she was still a little girl who wore diapers, but this year she is a big girl who wears panties and must be careful not to let anyone see them. She took the lesson very seriously, and practiced diligently sitting down and tucking her skirt under, and crossing her ankles. Once the skill was mastered, we took a picture. Not long after, during our youth group fellowship, I overheard her asking Colton's friend Michael if he wanted to see her panties. I guess we'll work on this a little longer!

"He also taught me, and said to me: 'Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.' " Proverbs 4:4

Birthday Parties, Baby Showers and Stitches...

What do these three things have in common? They're all part of a typical day in the Clark household!

Yesterday was Naomi's 2nd birthday. We celebrated yesterday after church with cake and ice cream. Papa Joe was able to come, and Grandma Shirley came a little later in the afternoon, but Papa Ken wasn't feeling well and stayed home. Naomi had a pink cake with flowers and candles. She did a good job blowing them out. She enjoyed opening her gifts and playing with them. She wasn't sure about all of the hoopla at first, but by the end of the day she was liking the attention!

Our church hosted a baby shower in honor of Hudson after the evening service. We enjoyed snacks and fellowship while opening gifts. Hudson was awake quite a bit of the time, and was passed around and snuggled by a bunch of the church members. It had been several years since we had been given a baby shower, so it was quite a blessing!

Upon returning from church, Colton and Katie were running around the dining room playing, and Colton tripped over Katie, fell, and smacked his face on the door to the basement. His eyebrow split open, requiring stitches. We got the girls in bed, settled everyone else in, and headed to the ER. Colton was a VERY brave boy, and didn't shed a single tear the entire time we were there. He left with five stitches and five stickers...a fair trade in his estimation! He's quite a sight now, as he has stitches on the right eyebrow, and a big scab and shiner on his left eye from earlier in the week. How many times a week do I say, "No running in the house!"?

"The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall." Proverbs 10:8