29. That is how many days we have left. Until we start life all over again in Louisville, Kentucky. We will be moving Tuesday, July 22nd into an apartment complex not far from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where my husband will be a student in the fall. He is getting a second Master's in order to get into the PhD program. If he gets in next year, we will be in Louisville for quite a while! We just found out today that he has a full scholarship for his first year - $4500! That is money we do not have to worry about spending! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Everything is coming together; we have a few things to take care of before we go, but please be praying for us and our families as we leave NC for the first time in my husband's life, and for me, in 16 years. Our son also has never known life outside of NC. Pray for our move, it will be a long process of packing the van, traveling 450 miles, and unpacking the van, and then unpacking the boxes!!! Fun, fun.
Pray for our parents as they will be facing separation from us and their little grandson. Pray for us as Brian starts school again, and I try to get him through it. Pray for William as he will be in yet another home and a brand new place. It will be a little scary for a 3 year, 10 month old kid.
We love you all and hope to hear from you soon.
Jen
Monday, June 23, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
It's A Boy!
Noah Jackson Carter was born on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 8:57am. He is 7 lbs, 2 ozs and 19 3/4 inches long! Eden went into labor around 4pm on Friday and did really well. Mom, Dad and Noah came home Monday afternoon and are settling in.
We went Saturday morning and spent the day with them and at their house getting it ready for them to come home. William is a proud big cousin; he held Noah and did not want to give him back.
This makes me Aunt Jenni and my husband Uncle Brian, and we are excited to have a nephew. Noah is truly a gift from God!
Jen
We went Saturday morning and spent the day with them and at their house getting it ready for them to come home. William is a proud big cousin; he held Noah and did not want to give him back.
This makes me Aunt Jenni and my husband Uncle Brian, and we are excited to have a nephew. Noah is truly a gift from God!
Jen
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Just Checking In
It has been three weeks since I have been on here to say anything, but like everyone, we have been extremely busy! I continue to work full time at my workplace and even made up about 10 hours that I lost in going on vacation to Hilton Head. Brian continues to work full time, and also preached the last two Sundays at a church in Spring Hope, NC, which also helped pay some bills! We stayed last weekend in a beautiful cabin near the church, compliments of one of their members, for one night, and it was so nice and relaxing that I could hardly stand coming home on Sunday afternoon.
William's last week of care where I work is this week, and then he will stay across the street with a neighbor for 4 weeks until Grandma is out of school, and then he will hang with her for the summer until we move. We feel this is a much better arrangement financially, mentally and emotionally for all of us. He likes his teachers, but not the rowdy children around him. And he sees me occasionally during the day, and that stirs his emotions. William has also expressed that he wants to do this too.
There have also been some changes in my NY family; my grandmother moved into a assisted living facility for those with severe dementia about two weeks ago and seems to be enjoying it. She gets more visitors there than when she was at home as well. It was a tough decision for her children, but I truly believe it was the right one for everyone. My thanks to her former boss, Fred Lee, for buying her long term care insurance, which now helps pay her expenses for the remainder of her life, which may be quite long, and she is only 79 next week (I say only; the women in her line live to almost 100).
In the next three weeks, I will be an aunt for the first time! My sister in law is ready to go at anytime, and they will have a son and name him Noah Jackson Carter; a great name. William will have his first cousin (who is a first cousin!) sometime between now and Mother's Day.
The last thing to note today is that God works in mysterious ways - one of the ladies from my playgroup in Rockingham, whom I never really got to know, but really hit it off with, has moved to where we live, and enrolled her daughter in my preschool! She had forgotten we had moved here, and didn't email me and say she was moving, and she just walked into my center and enrolled her daughter! So we have reconnected and plan on getting together throughout the center. I hope to invite her to our church and show her around town!
We continue to be busy; this week will actually be a little less busy (if I don't get a nephew), but continue to pray for us as we continue in this time of transition, getting our ducks in a row for Louisville. We love you all and may God bless you.
Jen, Brian and William
William's last week of care where I work is this week, and then he will stay across the street with a neighbor for 4 weeks until Grandma is out of school, and then he will hang with her for the summer until we move. We feel this is a much better arrangement financially, mentally and emotionally for all of us. He likes his teachers, but not the rowdy children around him. And he sees me occasionally during the day, and that stirs his emotions. William has also expressed that he wants to do this too.
There have also been some changes in my NY family; my grandmother moved into a assisted living facility for those with severe dementia about two weeks ago and seems to be enjoying it. She gets more visitors there than when she was at home as well. It was a tough decision for her children, but I truly believe it was the right one for everyone. My thanks to her former boss, Fred Lee, for buying her long term care insurance, which now helps pay her expenses for the remainder of her life, which may be quite long, and she is only 79 next week (I say only; the women in her line live to almost 100).
In the next three weeks, I will be an aunt for the first time! My sister in law is ready to go at anytime, and they will have a son and name him Noah Jackson Carter; a great name. William will have his first cousin (who is a first cousin!) sometime between now and Mother's Day.
The last thing to note today is that God works in mysterious ways - one of the ladies from my playgroup in Rockingham, whom I never really got to know, but really hit it off with, has moved to where we live, and enrolled her daughter in my preschool! She had forgotten we had moved here, and didn't email me and say she was moving, and she just walked into my center and enrolled her daughter! So we have reconnected and plan on getting together throughout the center. I hope to invite her to our church and show her around town!
We continue to be busy; this week will actually be a little less busy (if I don't get a nephew), but continue to pray for us as we continue in this time of transition, getting our ducks in a row for Louisville. We love you all and may God bless you.
Jen, Brian and William
Monday, March 31, 2008
A Year Ago
If you had told me a year ago I would be where I am today, I might have called you crazy. I am sitting at Disney's Hilton Head Resort, thinking about the past year.
A year ago I was recovering from giving birth to our son Matthew, who had died 10 days prior, unknown to us until a checkup, and going through the worst pain of my life. The good news is, over the year, the pain has lessened and we have moved on. It still stings to think that I might have been sitting here with a 7 month old baby and not a computer, but we know Matthew is in a better place.
A year ago life was different; we were in Rockingham, now we are in Willow Spring. I was staying home, now I teach full time. My husband was a pastor, now he works at Food Lion until we move to KY in July.
We are looking forward to the future, and what God has in store, and we hope that includes another child sometime in 2009.
For all of you who have loved and lost lately, remember that you will get through it. I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death and have come out on the other side a stronger person for it.
Remember God loves you and wants the best for you. He is there for you.
Love, Jen
A year ago I was recovering from giving birth to our son Matthew, who had died 10 days prior, unknown to us until a checkup, and going through the worst pain of my life. The good news is, over the year, the pain has lessened and we have moved on. It still stings to think that I might have been sitting here with a 7 month old baby and not a computer, but we know Matthew is in a better place.
A year ago life was different; we were in Rockingham, now we are in Willow Spring. I was staying home, now I teach full time. My husband was a pastor, now he works at Food Lion until we move to KY in July.
We are looking forward to the future, and what God has in store, and we hope that includes another child sometime in 2009.
For all of you who have loved and lost lately, remember that you will get through it. I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death and have come out on the other side a stronger person for it.
Remember God loves you and wants the best for you. He is there for you.
Love, Jen
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Sin & Fruit
This has been a week of really looking at the sinful nature of humankind and the fruit of the Spirit that is manifested in those that love the Lord.
John 15:5 says, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit..." and Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Spirit. It says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self control..."
When you encounter someone who professes Christ, and you see all these fruits in them, you can have a pretty good idea that they are probably telling the truth. But what if someone says they are born again and they don't?
I John 1:6 & 8 say, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth" and "If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."
Galatians 5:19-20 says, "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
I have encountered someone this week, who in three separate incidents, was guilty of the above items listed in red. This person professes to be a Christian, but shows no fruit of the Spirit; rather this person's entire existence consists of "impurity, idolatry, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, and envying". Love is withheld, joy does not exist, peace is absent from the heart, mind and household, and patience is left at the door to be picked back up in the morning and taken to work. Kindness is only extended with the expectation of something in return and goodness the same. Gentleness is never around; there is no soft place to fall. And lastly, there is no self control when it comes to emotion, finances and even eating. Every possession is an idol to not be touched or damaged; the house cannot be truly lived in. Outbursts of anger are frequent, which causes enmity, strife, disputes, and dissentions. There is a jealousy and envy for those who seem to have it all, and so the goal is to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak.
The hardest thing of all is that there seems to be no way, but through prayer, to help to change this. Satan has deceived and blinded this person for over 50 years and there seems to be no solution. Proverbs 28:25-26 reads, "An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered." No one is treated with respect, no one has a right to their own opinion, everyone is wrong if they do not think the same way, or they are not allowed to think for themselves, and everyone else is to blame for all mistakes made. This person is the royalty and everyone else the servants. There is no forgiveness for mistakes; grudges are held and old mistakes brought back up.
I say all this not to gripe, but to remind those who read this to examine yourself - do you show the fruits of the Spirit, or do you reflect the deeds of the flesh? Are you arrogant or are you humble? Are you begrudging or forgiving? Do you truly know the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you truly given your heart and life to Him? If you love Him, you will obey Him - you will show the fruits of the Spirit, you will be humble and forgiving. Ask Him now to come into your heart and life and change you. Believe in your heart, not in your head, that He died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins, and that He is alive today, reigning in Heaven. See if He does not change your life. You will not be without challenges, and you will sin over and over, but His forgiveness is farreaching and forever. Christ will be there for you and whatever you do.
In His Love,
Jen
John 15:5 says, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit..." and Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Spirit. It says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self control..."
When you encounter someone who professes Christ, and you see all these fruits in them, you can have a pretty good idea that they are probably telling the truth. But what if someone says they are born again and they don't?
I John 1:6 & 8 say, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth" and "If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."
Galatians 5:19-20 says, "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
I have encountered someone this week, who in three separate incidents, was guilty of the above items listed in red. This person professes to be a Christian, but shows no fruit of the Spirit; rather this person's entire existence consists of "impurity, idolatry, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, and envying". Love is withheld, joy does not exist, peace is absent from the heart, mind and household, and patience is left at the door to be picked back up in the morning and taken to work. Kindness is only extended with the expectation of something in return and goodness the same. Gentleness is never around; there is no soft place to fall. And lastly, there is no self control when it comes to emotion, finances and even eating. Every possession is an idol to not be touched or damaged; the house cannot be truly lived in. Outbursts of anger are frequent, which causes enmity, strife, disputes, and dissentions. There is a jealousy and envy for those who seem to have it all, and so the goal is to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak.
The hardest thing of all is that there seems to be no way, but through prayer, to help to change this. Satan has deceived and blinded this person for over 50 years and there seems to be no solution. Proverbs 28:25-26 reads, "An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered." No one is treated with respect, no one has a right to their own opinion, everyone is wrong if they do not think the same way, or they are not allowed to think for themselves, and everyone else is to blame for all mistakes made. This person is the royalty and everyone else the servants. There is no forgiveness for mistakes; grudges are held and old mistakes brought back up.
I say all this not to gripe, but to remind those who read this to examine yourself - do you show the fruits of the Spirit, or do you reflect the deeds of the flesh? Are you arrogant or are you humble? Are you begrudging or forgiving? Do you truly know the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you truly given your heart and life to Him? If you love Him, you will obey Him - you will show the fruits of the Spirit, you will be humble and forgiving. Ask Him now to come into your heart and life and change you. Believe in your heart, not in your head, that He died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins, and that He is alive today, reigning in Heaven. See if He does not change your life. You will not be without challenges, and you will sin over and over, but His forgiveness is farreaching and forever. Christ will be there for you and whatever you do.
In His Love,
Jen
Friday, February 29, 2008
What A Week
The week started with us going to Rockingham, NC, where we stayed all day Sunday, visiting family members of our friend, Norma, who died a week ago today. We attended our former church, surprising most with our appearance, and stayed for the calling hours Sunday night. The line was out to the street! If our son hadn't needed the bathroom, we would have been out there forever! But that is a testament to the type of person Norma was. We traveled back down Monday afternoon for her funeral and burial. It was a very emotional time for us. I sang in the choir, and had a hard time getting through the song we sang. But the most incredible thing happened after the funeral when I met up with Brian and William. William, who is 3 1/2, said to me, "I'm sorry Miss Norma died. It's okay. Your tears will go away." Well, needless to say, I was blown away by the wisdom of a 3 year old. I never knew God could speak through a little child, but He did on Monday. It was as if God opened his little mind for a brief time to realize what happened, and God was able to comfort us all through William. What a boy!
Life went back to our new normal Tuesday, and then Wednesday, my father in law was in a wreck, following too closely and rearending someone. The damage to his car has put it in the shop for a month; the utility truck he hit is fine. So we are driving a little more careful these days. Life is short, and anything can happen at anytime. My father in law walked away with out a scratch, so he was spared any physical harm. The rest of the week went as usual, busy with work, with William, and with doing our part to keep the house clean, the laundry done and the food bought. I made playdough - four batches - for the first time in my life with my children at work, and they loved it. I didn't tell the director I had never made it until it was done! I guess I just wanted to plunge into the unknown and see how it came out! Seems like that is the story of our life right now anyway. So tomorrow we go to Marbles, a place in Raleigh where little ones can play and explore, and we will meet my husband's cousin and her daughter there so she and William can play together. I am looking forward to seeing family we haven't seen in a while.
It is amazing all that life holds in just seven days - one week. In the blink of an eye, a friend can be ripped from your life. God can speak through a small child. Joy can be brought to children through playdough, and bring a sense of pride in the accomplishment. Plans to see family can be made - including the 34th annual Ivey Reunion in Benson, NC (my mother in law is an Ivey) on March 15th - visiting family we have never met!
I say all that to say this - treasure the little things, the little joys, so not to waste time, because it is short.
Love,
Jen
Life went back to our new normal Tuesday, and then Wednesday, my father in law was in a wreck, following too closely and rearending someone. The damage to his car has put it in the shop for a month; the utility truck he hit is fine. So we are driving a little more careful these days. Life is short, and anything can happen at anytime. My father in law walked away with out a scratch, so he was spared any physical harm. The rest of the week went as usual, busy with work, with William, and with doing our part to keep the house clean, the laundry done and the food bought. I made playdough - four batches - for the first time in my life with my children at work, and they loved it. I didn't tell the director I had never made it until it was done! I guess I just wanted to plunge into the unknown and see how it came out! Seems like that is the story of our life right now anyway. So tomorrow we go to Marbles, a place in Raleigh where little ones can play and explore, and we will meet my husband's cousin and her daughter there so she and William can play together. I am looking forward to seeing family we haven't seen in a while.
It is amazing all that life holds in just seven days - one week. In the blink of an eye, a friend can be ripped from your life. God can speak through a small child. Joy can be brought to children through playdough, and bring a sense of pride in the accomplishment. Plans to see family can be made - including the 34th annual Ivey Reunion in Benson, NC (my mother in law is an Ivey) on March 15th - visiting family we have never met!
I say all that to say this - treasure the little things, the little joys, so not to waste time, because it is short.
Love,
Jen
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Faith & Tragedy
Today is one of the those days you want to go to bed and start over. It started with William crawling into bed with us and putting his sweet face right up in mine and looking at me with loving eyes; that heartwarming moment that makes the morning great. That part is what will get me through today. At 3pm today we were contacted by the church we just left that the Music Director, Mrs. Norma Jordan Chavis, was T-boned by a truck yesterday in Rockingham, North Carolina, and God took his daughter home. She stood by my husband's side for three years and led the worship. She was one of the most faithful churchgoers I have ever known, missing only one Sunday in the three years we were there. Norma loved our son William, and he loved her. She was the one person he has mentioned in three weeks that he misses. He was certainly special to her and the feeling was mutual. Norma leaves her husband Cole "Sonny" Chavis; they had no children. In a way, William was her little boy every time he was at church. Norma was 62 years old.
While this is a tragedy in and of itself, we have to remember in a time like this that as a child of God, when we die, it is our time to go. Our work on earth is done. No matter how we die, God is there to help us take the journey from our home here on earth to our new home in Heaven. We have to remember that God's timing is perfect, and that nothing happens that He does not know about. I believe that she is singing with the heavenly choir now, and that she and her mother, Nina Jordan, who died in September 2007, are catching up on the few months Nina has been gone. Perhaps God took Nina so she would not have to bury her daughter before herself. We will never know the reasons why, but we can take comfort that Norma is with Jesus Christ, her Savior and Lord. She has a new perfect body, a fantastic singing voice, and no longer suffers the trials of this sinful and fallen earth. We have much to be thankful for in the fact that God allowed her to be here 62 years, and that we had the privilege to know her. She will be sorely missed, and never forgotten. And I personally know that as she sees Jesus face to face, that she has seen my own son, Matthew, face to face, who went to be with Jesus in March 2007.
I hope that as you read this that when you die, you are able to see her one day. You can make the decision that she did so long ago, to trust Christ as her personal Savior and Lord. She knew she was a sinner condemned to hell for eternity, and that only Christ could save her from such a fate. She believed He died on that ugly cross to suffer her punishment for her sins, and that on the third day after His death, He rose to prove He was God, and that someday she and all of us who trust in Him for salvation will rise once again ourselves. You can pray today and turn from your sins and trust Christ as your Savior and Lord. You can believe that He died and took your punishment, and that He rose the third day, that He is the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. Allow Him to take control of your life and turn it around for good. It won't always be easy, but God will be there to help you along. Don't waste another day. You could be T-boned too, and then where would you be?
In Christ's Love,
Jen
While this is a tragedy in and of itself, we have to remember in a time like this that as a child of God, when we die, it is our time to go. Our work on earth is done. No matter how we die, God is there to help us take the journey from our home here on earth to our new home in Heaven. We have to remember that God's timing is perfect, and that nothing happens that He does not know about. I believe that she is singing with the heavenly choir now, and that she and her mother, Nina Jordan, who died in September 2007, are catching up on the few months Nina has been gone. Perhaps God took Nina so she would not have to bury her daughter before herself. We will never know the reasons why, but we can take comfort that Norma is with Jesus Christ, her Savior and Lord. She has a new perfect body, a fantastic singing voice, and no longer suffers the trials of this sinful and fallen earth. We have much to be thankful for in the fact that God allowed her to be here 62 years, and that we had the privilege to know her. She will be sorely missed, and never forgotten. And I personally know that as she sees Jesus face to face, that she has seen my own son, Matthew, face to face, who went to be with Jesus in March 2007.
I hope that as you read this that when you die, you are able to see her one day. You can make the decision that she did so long ago, to trust Christ as her personal Savior and Lord. She knew she was a sinner condemned to hell for eternity, and that only Christ could save her from such a fate. She believed He died on that ugly cross to suffer her punishment for her sins, and that on the third day after His death, He rose to prove He was God, and that someday she and all of us who trust in Him for salvation will rise once again ourselves. You can pray today and turn from your sins and trust Christ as your Savior and Lord. You can believe that He died and took your punishment, and that He rose the third day, that He is the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. Allow Him to take control of your life and turn it around for good. It won't always be easy, but God will be there to help you along. Don't waste another day. You could be T-boned too, and then where would you be?
In Christ's Love,
Jen
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Life & Work
It seems that life never stops, and the only constant thing in life is change. Going from 3 years at home with a child to a full time job from 7am-4pm is quite an adjustment! Exhaustion has set in and I have not been the sharpest tool in the shed the last few days! But we are doing well despite the big adjustment; my internal clock seems to be setting itself to the new schedule. It is sometimes hard to go from a room of 14 very active 4 year olds and come home to a very active 3 year old without a break! But God is blessing and things are coming along. Brian is applying to three different places and we hope he finds employment by the 1st of March. Please pray for us that our needs would be met.
Jen, Brian & William
Jen, Brian & William
Monday, February 18, 2008
New Beginnings
2008 is only 7 weeks old, and it has been quite the year for myself and my family. My husband resigned as pastor on Feb 3, and we moved in with his parents the following day. In the last 15 days, I have gone from being a stay at home mom to a full time teacher, with my son at home with dad, and am adjusting to living with another family for the first time since college. My three year old son is still in the stage of confusion; wanting to stay but wanting to go back to our former home. In the midst of all this, I have seen the hand of God working in my life by providing me with a good job that is providing for our needs for the present time. We took a leap of faith by moving to a place where we knew no one but my in laws, and God is rewarding us for our obedience. On another happy note - my dad's mother turned 90 today, a huge milestone in a family that doesn't live past 75. God has blessed her with a long life, in which she is still sharp minded, mobile, and driving! These last 7 weeks have brought my little family of myself, my husband and our son closer together than what we had been since our second son died last year halfway through my pregnancy.
So here's to new beginnings, a new home and a new life, compliments of a God who loves us so much, and you too.
Grace & Peace,
Jen
So here's to new beginnings, a new home and a new life, compliments of a God who loves us so much, and you too.
Grace & Peace,
Jen
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