"Your Pastor is here to see You"

Last weekend we celebrated Samuel's 6 th birthday and Williams 8th birthday. I want to share a story about William and the circumstances that occurred after he was born. It is such an example of God's goodness and abundance to me.
William was born at home, as planned, three weeks early and weighed a healthy 9 lbs 2 oz. Though that is not usually significant, we realized some hours in, that he was not breathing normally and his color was not right.
William was our ninth home birth and we had never had any concerns before, other than Jaundice. So, we packed up a few things, including the oxygen tank and midwife, and headed to  the emergency room in Tacoma. Our midwife had called ahead so that we would not spend anytime in the waiting room.
A couple doctors and nurses assessed him and soon they wisked  him off to the Nicu.  I was saddened at this separation, but I really felt a peace about it too. We knew he needed these medical professionals.  We had to wait outside as they hooked him up to various things and when they called us in to be with him, I'll never forget, he was in the same cubicle that our nephew, George, was in eight years before, fighting for his life at only 1 lb. 11 oz. Some doctors and nurses even remembered George, who survived after 8 months in the hospital. Again, I felt at peace with this: our family cubicle in the Nicu.
We were weary, and I had been up and on my feet for hours, after having just given birth. As a pastor's wife, I must confess, that at one point the thought went through my mind, "Well, the pastor won't be coming coming to visit." We were between assistant pastors at the time, so David was the only pastor at MCC.
This is where God really showed Himself. We had to leave William for a bit so that I could lie down and as we walked out of the nursing station, a nurse stopped us and said, "Your Pastor is here to see you." What?
We shook our heads and I tearfully said, "No, this can't be." And as I said it, the doors to the Nicu opened and there was Pastor Roth and his wife from a church across town!  They were such a blessing and the timing was so good! Ruth right away went to work giving me a back rub and sharing their own Nicu story. Of course, we let them see the baby.
This isn't all! During the 10 days that William was in the hospital, many people from our church visited and several friends from outside our church, but do you know? In end, FIVE Pastors and/or Pastor's wives came to visit us. Pastor Houston and his wife, Emily, Pastor Jackson and his wife,Jan, Pastor Pollock and his wife, Susan, and a Pastor's wife that we didn't really know but had heard and cared.
 Really, I can only remember that one instance of self pity because, of course,  otherwise I was focused on William and his oxygen levels, but somehow, God in His wisdom, knew that I needed to see that ministry may seem lonely at times, but the reality and truth of it is this- We are one body, and when part of our body hurts, we all hurt. Also, God hears our thoughts and knows our needs and He is abundant far above anything we can ask or think.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Eph. 3:20-21

Blah, Blah Blog Post

The Blah, Blah Blog post

Blogs are just that: Blogs

Blogs are often being passed around FB and other social media these days. There is a lot of interesting reading to be had in many of them. And I certainly am not saying to stop sharing!Some are for building a business, others are trying to I change the world or our culture, while others are just an online journal.

I do worry a little that the generation that grows up having a ton of exposure to blogs is going to really struggle with confusion rather than gaining clarity about how best to live. I think it's important to read them as you would a magazine article. For the most part, an article in a magazine (do I need to explain what a magazine is? Lol) is something you read at the doctor's office because you forgot to bring a book, or rather your iPhone is Low on juice. You flip through looking for something that might interest you, maybe start reading it and then, sure enough, the nurse calls your name. Then you either throw the magazine down because the article was no good, or maybe you bring it with you because it was actually interesting. 

There is a huge difference between magazine articles and blogs,though, as you can also read through peoples comments in a blog where you will then be exposed to lots of falsehood - even foul language! Many of the comments are based on taking a point way beyond what the writer ever meant, misunderstanding it completely, or completely missing the point of the article as a whole. It brings a whole new level to what may fill our minds.

My blog, if certain sentences and statements were put under the microscope while others were skimmed over, would offend anyone who reads it. None of my posts were ever meant to be taken for anything more than "here is my experience". 

If you think about it, we all have very limited experience- even in this internet era. For instance,  a person who has moved around a lot is limited to knowing about a lot of different places and people, whereas, the person who still lives in the town they grew up in, has an understanding of community that can't be understood by the person with a broader experience of people and places. Both experiences are good. Both experiences are different. 

As a pastor's wife I have a different church experience than a non- pastor's wife. Both are important. If there weren't non- pastor's wives in the congregation then there would be something terribly wrong. Yet, I do have a different worship experience, service experience, friendship experience, family life experience and so on than a congregation member does. 

So, as you take time to read my blog and others, please, remember that it was written by a human who is working only with what they alone know to be true and that their experiences will change or deepen over the years. As a Christian, I do have God's truth in the form of His Word but as a mere human, I may not communicate it well or correctly to others. I pray that as my relationship with the Lord grows and deepens, I do change. My hope and prayer is to be like Him.

God's Wondrous Ways

       Today, something very significant happened to me. I feel so blessed and unworthy to be able to share His goodness and faithfulness in my life.

When I was a young unmarried lady, I went about things fairly willy-nilly. I took church for granted and I took God for granted. I married the love of my life at barely nineteen years old, even though I had no real idea of love at all. It is only by God's grace that I learned a deeper meaning of love and David and I grew up together during that time. 

Flash back to exactly 22 years ago today. I was in the hospital holding a dead baby boy. David and I had been married just over a year. It was a hard painful time, but it was a time of major spiritual growth. We prayed that we would conceive again and we did a couple months later.

Enter Andrew. I knew that when Andrew made his appearance at 10 pounds and 6 ounces, that God was in the business of doing things big. Then, tonight, exactly 22 years after our first painful introduction to parenthood, Andrew was voted in as a student intern here at Manchester Community Church for while he is in seminary. This way he will get some experience in the pastorate. He has felt called to be a church planter for over ten years, and it is precious to see another step fall into place tonight, and that God would choose to have it happen on what I consider to be a very special day to me is just His abundance evident in my life once again.

I praise God for His goodness in calling Andrew into the ministry. It is hard. Hard. But it is full of truly amazing blessing as well, and I pray blessing on you, Andrew, and what God has for you. Follow Him.

Scones:
Eddy family recipe

Makes 32 scones.

Dry ingredients:
8 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 tsp. salt
4 TBS. baking powder

Wet ingredients:
2 2/3 cups milk
1 1/3 cups olive oil


Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. After all the dry ingredients are stirred well, add the wet ingredients. Stir well again.

Using your hands to divide the dough in half, in fourths, in eighths. Make small round loaves with each of the sections and put them on a metal pan with about an inch of space between rounds. Cut the dough rounds in fourths.

Put the pan(s) in the oven and set a timer for 20 min.

The scones should be done when the timer ends, but to make sure, cut one of the rounds open, using the already cut lines, and if the knife comes out clean, the scones are done. If the scones are not done, and the knife comes out with dough on it, set the timer for another 3 min. and keep adding 3 min. until the knife comes out clean.

Illness

Recently, I was down with a stomach virus. It is very rare for me to get sick, but after cleaning up after the younger kids stomach virus for three days, it's no wonder. One of the things I noticed upon recovery was how some of the kids use their different nursing skills. I heard Rebekah using a firm voice in her approach to try to get David Clayton to eat something.  And when she brought me coffee, I don't know, some how it sounded as though I had no choice but to drink it.
Tabitha, on the other hand, quietly suggested that if I had some yogurt, my headache would get better because that it what worked for her. Then she just sat quietly with me for awhile and suggested the yogurt again. Then, a little while later, she said, in her softest voice, "So, should I get that for you?"
She was right, too. The yogurt helped my headache lift enough to consider getting up and facing life again.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Rebekah and others with a more sergeant air, are keeping up with laundry, dishes, and so on. I sure am thankful for all my children and family. Hubby does a great job juggling everything too, as this came down on the weekend- which with him being the preacher- means it is not a weekend.

Essential Oils Face Book Page!

To kick off the new year, I made a Face book page for the essential oils I've been learning about! Please, stop by and like my page if you can. www.morethanascent.org

Christmas 2013

The Year of Our Lord 2013

Dear loved ones,

 I write this greeting as we are in the air after a first attempt at landing in Newark, NJ. The winds caused the pilot to abandon his first attempt at landing and we are now trying again. I was just thinking, as I felt the wheels of the plane dragging the air, that we would definitely make our connection easily. We were truly about to land! It reminds me of the uncertainty of life in general. If you are in a place in life where you are about to land in a way that is uncertain, or you are not prepared properly, I urge you to seek The Lord! For you will find Him in doing so.

Many things happened this year that were not our usual flight plan. It turned out to be a year of exotic travels. First, Andrew was able to join David for his usual trip to L.A. for the Shepherds conference. Then in May, David and Rebekah (15)were able to travel to Ethiopia with several others in our church. They spent two weeks there ministering to Ethiopian pastors. David preached and taught once, sometimes twice a day. One small thing that struck me was how, years ago, Rebekah desired to learn to play the flute. She was able to use her talent to bless the Ethiopians along with another gal from our church who also plays the flute. So easy to pack and carry around on bumpy jeep rides. So unlike a harp, for instance. God has such special plans for each of us. 

Right before that trip, Margaret (17)came down with shingles. It was on one side of her face, and many of you know that it is very painful. We were out of town when she was diagnosed and it was a real blessing how auntie Sarah and grandparents all pulled together to help her recover. Margaret showed some "true grit" by playing, as scheduled, in a piano competition and winning first place. Woe to any of her piano students who try an excuse to get out of a performance.

As summer approached, Andrew (19)was preparing for a trip to Indonesia to spend some time learning another culture and assisting my brother and his family in their mission work. As the plans were forming in our hearts and minds months earlier, we thought he would travel there with my sister. So comforting to my mommy heart that didn't want him to travel alone. Even while taking that solace, there was a sense in my spirit that, no, he would travel alone. As the weeks drew near for his departure, there was, sure enough, a change of itinerary. Rather than accompanying my sister there and staying for four months and then returning with my parents who were planning on visiting at Christmas time, he would travel there alone. His first flight anywhere alone and it had to be across the world? Was anyone bothered besides me? No. It was good for me to let go. It was hard, not that I doubted his ability or God's ability to care for him, but more that I knew that this was marking a clear difference in my role in Andrew's life. Something that I always new would come and even wanted to come, but it is hard to start switching my mind, words, and actions to having adult children. It is exciting, too.

He had his first day of seminary while flying home from Indonesia. That is a thrill for us for sure! 

Then it was time for our regular homeschool to start. After years of struggling and trying not to get too concerned, Tabitha (10)and Marta (8) have finally" Taken Off" in their reading. As I had hoped, this crucial step has also unlocked their minds in many ways. They are getting along better and tackling their chores more cheerfully. We have had a very delightful school year so far. God has truly blessed! I tried to not get stressed over their troubles the last few years, but I did get stressed. I tried not to worry about what the "delayed take off"  was about, but I did worry. I tried not to get angry and impatient, but I did. And God did it. He looked down on my feeble attempts at training them when it didn't seem to be getting through, and He blessed anyway. Though they are not at "autopilot" yet, we have reached a nice little cruising speed. David and I are very thankful for the privilege to home educate. God is so good and we view it as a miracle and give Him all he glory as each day passes.

During this time, my sister got married. David and I were able to have a little couples' getaway in order to attend the wedding. It was in the San Juan's and we had never been there before. You know you are from a small town when your dentist officiates your sisters wedding! He also happens to be her boss. 

In November, we had the privilege of traveling out to Tennessee again for the Bible Bee Nationals. Sarah (18)and Margaret both qualified. We had a wonderful time and met quite a few very dear people, including some of the Duggars. Though neither girl competed past the first day, David and I had a very special time with our two older girls site seeing and just hanging out. Sarah hopes to be able to volunteer next year as she is too old to compete. 

Max and David  are quickly changing into young men. We celebrated Maxwell's 13th Birthday in our usual way. It is a transitional occasion where he invited guys of all ages and they share many important insights about being a man and then it ended with a football game in our field. David is eleven and straining to be older! I just can't seem to convince him to just enjoy what is left of his childhood! Both of them are a special part of our family.

William is six and charging ahead in reading and math. He loves math. His gears are always turning, just don't ask him trivial things like remembering names of people or what day of the week it is. When asked why he wanted to be a Christian he replied,

 " Because I'm a sinful man!" 

 And Sam. The baby is four. He is such a fun guy to have around. So easy going. Recently a child, who will remain nameless, cut off some of his lovely, red, curly locks. The child purposely trimmed as closely to Sam's scalp as possible. I asked Sam why he didn't ask that child to stop. Sam answered, " I did ask for him to stop. I said, ' Please, stop.' and he just kept cutting."

 Back to our present plane ride: we did land smoothly on the second try and switched planes for our return to Sea-Tac but after our plane pulled out of the terminal, it went back again because the water indicator is saying that there is not sufficient supply. I can't help but think of the Living Water. If you don't know what I'm talking about, please, get a Bible and read the book of John. Jesus is the Living Water. Once you have it, you never need thirst again. It is a free gift. At Christmas time we celebrate Christ's birth. There is nothing more exciting than that and it is what we care about at Christmas time and anytime. 

I do not know what next year holds. Will it center around this earthly home? Or, oh blessed thought, will we travel to the heavens? I do know this, " I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day!" 

Wherever you find yourself landing this next year, this is the gate number:

Matt.7:13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." 

Merry Christmas! Blessings, Carol Eddy for all: David, Andrew, Sarah, Margaret, Rebekah, Maxwell, David Clayton, Tabitha, Marta, William, and Samuel