The Girls ...

at Iceberg Point.

The Love of Sisters ... truly a Gift from the Lord.

We miss you, Carissa!

Iceberg Point

We had BEAUTIFUL crisp, clear weather all week last week, so we took advantage of it for several fun hiking adventures.  Here's our trip to Iceberg Point ...

I'm still working on my island geography.

But, I believe that the island just across the water

is San Juan Island and the island in the far distance

is Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

My kids LOVE to climb rocks.

Josiah has worn this hat EVERYWHERE

for the past 4.5 years.

A couple of quick questions for you ...

do your kids wear jeans with holey knees?

do your kids have "play pants" vs. "going places" pants?

do your kids wear out the knees as fast as mine do?

Sweet Hosanna Joy

"But, MOM, the sun's in my eyes."

Ben has more pics from this adventure on

his blog:  NikonNerd31

Christmas Eve at Lopez CTK

A month or so ago, we started asking church members what traditionally takes place for a Christmas Eve service at our new church.  The responses were ...

"I don't know if we've ever had one."

"We always go to the service at one of the other churches."

"I think we had one once."

We thought ...

"Oh my!"

"What should we do?"

"Will people come if we plan one?"

"Does everyone head off-island for Christmas?"

We decided to ask a few couples if they would be around, and if they would want to attend a Christmas Eve service if we planned one.  We certainly didn't want to rent the building just so that our family could get together to sing Christmas Carols.  We got an enthusiastic response, so we decided to make plans.

We wanted something simple.

We wanted to sing Christmas Carols.

We wanted people to share what was on

their hearts about Christmas.

We wanted to start a new tradition,

for Lopez Island Christ The King.

We had no idea what to expect for attendance.  I knew that we would have 11 people with our family; and I had spoken with a few other couples who were planning to attend.  So, I figured that I would be happy if we had 20 people gathered together to celebrate Our Lord's birth.

No.  That's not how things went.  We were BLESSED beyond belief when we FILLED the sanctuary with 50 people.  Church members brought their extended family.  We had more kids in attendance than ever before.  As I sat up front, at the keyboard ... I was nearly brought to tears.  God has done an AMAZING work in this little church in the past 6 months.  We can't wait to see what He has in store for the next 6 months.

Jim opened in prayer.

I played the keyboard,

and led everyone in

singing Christmas Carols.

Four people shared what the Lord

had laid on their hearts this Christmas.

One woman shared how BLESSED she

was by her church family,

as we had reached out to her

this Christmas Season.

Friends and Families joined together

to celebrate our Lord's Birth.

Everyone brought Holiday Goodies to share;

so, fellowship lasted long past the last song that was sung.

God is at work at Lopez Island CTK and we couldn't be more BLESSED to be a part of His holy work. The congregation has shown us more LOVE than we ever could have imagined.  While we have walked through unimaginable spiritual warfare these past 6 months (see: The Crisis in the archives), our new church family on Lopez has embraced us, prayed for us, hugged us, and walked with us on our difficult journey.  It was with great JOY and THANKSGIVING that we celebrated with them on Christmas Eve.

An Early Christmas

We celebrated Christmas early this year, because Jeremiah and Ruth were flying out early on Christmas morning.  Josh & Hannah headed out to the island on Monday afternoon (the 21st), after work.  Jeremiah & Ruth returned to the island Tuesday morning (after a late night at the Nutcracker Ballet).  And, Gregg joined us early Tuesday morning, as well.  Yea ... more Big Kids are here!

We ate brunch at 10:00, and then

opened a couple of presents.

It was a gorgeous day, so we quickly

decided we needed an adventure.

We went for a drive.

(Will I ever get tired of the views 

on our little island?  I think not.)

We walked on a beach.

We climbed the rocks.

We came home and "opened" our stockings.

We ate a WONDERFUL dinner of ...

Turkey
Leg of Lamb
Stuffing
Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Yams
(all cooked by sweet Papa)


Green Salad
(put together by the kids)


Pumpkin Pies
(baked by Mama)


Almond Rolls
(made by Hannah & Josh)


Yummmm .....

The Big Kids had their Gift Exchange.

We played another Hand & Foot card tournament,

and finished just in time for the Big Kids

to race off to catch the last ferry of the day.

Let's Storm the Gates of Heaven

Please join me in prayer for these families ...

...  families that love the Lord

... families that have opened their homes to orphans

... families in the midst of TOUGH STUFF this holiday season


The Riggs Family had 3 family members involved in a very serious car accident last night.  Their 17 y.o. son Garret has multiple fractures of his pelvis, vertebrae, and thumb, plus multiple lacerations and stitches.  Michelle's (Mama Riggs) brother is in the hospital as well, with internal injuries and facial lacerations.  Michelle's sister was also in the vehicle.  She was banged up pretty badly, but has been released from the hospital.  In the midst of this, not only is Abby really battling her cancer again (and about to return to the hospital), but Michelle's dad is also battling cancer.  I met Michelle and her 3 youngest on our Road Trip.  They are a precious family.  Please lift them up in prayer.

Anita Gillispie also put out an emergency request for prayer last night.  Her mom was taken to the hospital by ambulance, very ill.  I have not heard any updates today, but know that she would also appreciate prayer.

Linda Smith, my 3rd Oklahoma Bloggy Friend (is that weird that they are all from OK) put out a prayer request on her blog last week (which I just read this morning).  Linda doesn't know the Loux Family, but they had a TRAGIC accident last week.  This dear FATHER OF 10 (I think that 5 were just adopted this year) was in a car accident and went home to be with the Lord.  Derek Loux was a worship leader for the Kansas City International House of Prayer, and the founder of an adoption ministry there, as well.  Please pray for his wife Renee, their 10 children, and their extended family and ministry family in Kansas City.


While the internet has been used so often by the enemy, to create havoc in people's lives ... this is one way that the LORD redeems the internet, and uses it for HIS purposes.  Let's get the word out ... and STORM the gates of heaven on behalf of these precious families.

I LOVE It!

Just had to tell you ... I LOVE the Christmas gift that Papa and I bought for each other.  I use it EVERY day!  My Big Kids used it every day last week!  And ... it will actually SAVE us money.

Stay tuned for details ...

The Tough Side of the Pastor's Job

I thought I'd fill you in a little on Papa's job as a pastor.  As most of you know, Papa was a school teacher for 21 years.  Last spring, the Lord began to impress it upon our hearts that it was time for Papa to "hang up his chalk" and pursue full-time ministry.  We looked at church opportunities in Oregon, California, and Colorado ... but the Lord chose to keep us right here in Western Washington.  We couldn't have been more surprised ... or pleased.  Papa began his full-time pastorate on "Our Little Island" on September 1st.

Papa LOVES ...

...  the ministry.

... our quaint little church,
    that meets in a grange,
    in the middle of a pasture.

... our loving congregation.

... giving the weekly message.

... discipling a small group of men.

... building relationships with the congregation.

... worshiping with all of our new friends.


However, there are also the difficult sides of ministry ... helping people walk through the tough stuff.

About 6 weeks into his pastorate, Papa gave a sermon which talked about the big, "what if?"  He asked the congregation, "If you were to die tomorrow, would you be ready to meet the Lord?"  The very next day ... one of the men that had been sitting in service that morning ... had a heart attack.  He was flown off-island to the hospital in the Big City.  Papa visited the family, at the hospital, several times that week, as they faced the prospect that their husband/father/grandfather would most likely be going home to the Lord.

The next Sunday morning, his sweet wife was at church with us, while his son and daughter were at the hospital making the difficult decision to release him to the Lord.  As they were saying their final good-byes to their dear dad ... their mom was at church (with her "island family") celebrating his birthday, his anniversary, and his "going home day".  Yes ... Mr. H. passed away on his birthday and his anniversary.  Pastor Jim was there to celebrate his life ... and to help his family as they grieved his passing.

A week or two later, Pastor Jim was back at the Big City hospital with one of our other elderly church members.  Thankfully ... she came home from the hospital a few days later.  But, again, this was a part of Jim's new position that was very new to him ... and very uncomfortable.  Prior to these hospital visits ... Papa HATED the hospital.  He even HATED to be at the hospital when we were there to have our babies.  One time, he left the hospital while I was in labor ... without even telling me.  As he returned to the hospital, they were paging his name.  Oops!  He didn't know if he'd missed the birth.  (He didn't.)  Another time ... he sent me to the hospital to be induced, and told me he'd join me later, once the induction worked.  I actually went into labor while driving myself the 45 minutes to the hospital in a snowstorm.  My labor had some difficulties and Papa was at work an hour's drive away (or 2 hours, in the snow storm).  I finally had to call a friend to come to the hospital to be with me during labor.  Yes ... Papa HATED hospitals.  But ... the Lord has done an amazing work in Papa.  The Lord has helped him to step boldly through those hospital doors, in order to minister to his congregation.  I'm so proud of Papa!

Explanation ... the reason that Papa hates hospitals is because he spent weeks in a burn unit when he was about 5 years old, after catching his shirt on fire.  So, I was never mad at him about his failure to enjoy going to the hospital to have our babies.  I understood.  But, it makes me all the more proud of him for moving passed those painful memories, to minister to those in need.

Anyway ... today Papa faced an even more difficult part of his pastoral job.  He had to perform the funeral for Mr. P.  Mr. P. was in his 50's.  Mr. P. was a very unhappy man.  Mr. P drank himself to death.  Mr. P., as far as we know, did not know the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ... and neither does his family.  Papa only met Mr. P. once.  About a month ago, Mr. P. visited our church.  He sat in the back, and actually created a little scene during the message (which Papa took in stride, and responded to with love).  After the service, Mr. P. apologized to Papa and Papa told him he was welcome at our church any time.  Sadly ... he never returned.

Today ... Papa did an amazing job of ministering in a very difficult situation.  He shared that Mr. P. had been a great friend to many.  Yet, he acknowledged that Mr. P. had problems.  He explained that Mr. P. had lost hope.  Then he shared the hope that only Christ can bring.  He told the 60+ people in attendance of the hope that Mr. P. was searching for ... but we don't believe he found.  Papa spoke lovingly of Mr. P., yet delicately shared how to find true hope, for those in attendance who might also have been searching for hope in their lives.

I'm so proud of Papa.  He has stepped so smoothly into his new role as Pastor Jim.  He fully embraces the "good stuff", but doesn't turn away from the "tough stuff".  I believe that the Lord has great things in store for Pastor Jim ... and our little congregation ... on our little island.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Jared and Jeremiah surprised their young ladies with a trip to the Nutcracker Ballet in Seattle, on Monday the 21st.  What a treat!

A very formal date for two  

Beautiful Couples!

Jeremiah & Ruth

Jared & Christen

Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

Yummm!!!

To the top of the Space Needle

for an Amazing View!

Christmas on the Island with the Big Kids

Last Weekend we celebrated our first annual Christmas on the Island with the Big Kids Party.  We had a WONDERFUL time of family, friends, food, and fun ... with 6 of our "Big Kids" (see THIS POST for details of the 11 young adults that make up the Big Kid part of our family), and 2 girlfriends that we hadn't spent much time with yet.

We ate LOTS of food.

Mama's Apple-Blueberry Pie is always a favorite.

We played "More about 'Miah" during dinner.  This was a time that everyone got a chance to tell Ruth all of the "Jeremiah Stories" that she may not have heard yet.  Living in the Middle East, she hasn't had the opportunity to know all of the stories that Jeremiah's family and friends might know.  So, we wanted her to get to know Jeremiah better.

Kati likes the story.

Josiah and Ryan are having a good time.

The Big Kids played "Careers",

a board game that I grew up playing.

Ruth, Jeremiah, and Vicky enjoy the game.

We had a White Elephant Gift Exchange.  This was a very fun activity that all of the little ones got to participate in, also.  Gifts ranged from a Nerf Sword, a Nerf Ball Gun, a Pop Gun ... to Tootsie Rolls, Flavored Hot Chocolate, a Big Lollipop ... to a McDonald's Happy Meal Toy, and a Crazy Winter Hat from Value Village.  This was a TOTALLY FUN activity for everyone.

Josiah, Vicky, Hosanna and Ben.

Jared & Christen

Ruth & Jeremiah

Papa D.

The Big Kids had a "Hand & Foot" card game tournament,

before catching the 11:15 p.m. ferry back to the mainland.

Christen contemplates her next move.

Vicky, Kati, and Jeremiah

Jared and Ryan

Ruth

Jeremiah

Our Christmas on the Island with the Big Kids is definitely a tradition that will continue.  Next year, we'll plan it a little earlier, so that hopefully more of our Big Kids can attend.  We sure missed having Gregg, Josh, Hannah and Lindsey here ... as they are all working retail, and couldn't get away the week before Christmas.  Hopefully, someday, Carissa will make it home from Argentina for Christmas, too.  We are missing her this week!