My Dad's Wedding

Here are a few pictures from my Dad's wedding on April 25th. It was a beautiful wedding! And I loved my dress!

Me and my students were in the Collier Citizen

With this year’s mission trip cancelled, due to a shortage of funds, First Baptist Academy high school students turned their attention to the needs of their own community last month, during the school’s first-ever Outreach Day.

Approximately 80 students took part in the effort, cleaning cages at the Conservancy’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, assisting with home building though Habitat for Humanity and helping to feed the hungry at area shelters, but perhaps the most personally rewarding project was the Widow’s Outreach Project led by FBA science teacher Jennifer Sessions.

“The Bible, in Timothy II, states we are to help the children and the widows,” Sessions says of the project, which also assisted other people unable to undertake various household chores due to age, illness or other unfortunate circumstances. Sessions stated there is always someone who has a need that they cannot fill themselves.

“My students learned to use elbow grease, use their hands, use tools and get dirty,” she says. “It was hard work, but they enjoyed the experience and were encouraged in helping others.”

Before getting down to business, the seven Widow’s Project students began by presenting the homeowner with a bouquet of flowers and concluded their visit with a time of prayer.

The first assignment was yard-related, but students said there was a definite social benefit to the project. While on their hands and knees, weeding the yard and edging the driveway, students also cultivated new friendships.

“She needed help with her yard work, but we also provided her with company from younger people, as she does not get to interact much with people in our age group,” said 11th-grader Elissa Cordero.

Students Sandy Joseph and Syndey Cooper scrubbed windows with soap and water, but it was the homeowner’s reaction that really shined.

“It was really cool to see how happy she was when we finished,” said Joseph. “Her face lit up. It was a great experience to serve her and make her happy. I actually ran into her a couple of weeks later, and she was so thankful.”

Joseph said the experience also gave her a better understanding of the many challenges faced by caregivers.

“She has such a great spirit, even though her husband is going through a horrible situation – she is joyful. I learned from her, and hopefully I will be just like her,” she said.

Alex Chao agreed, stating she had never realized how hard it is on the spouse, who is a full-time caregiver, never having time to do ordinary chores around the house, much less take time for themselves.

“I feel we really made a difference in someone’s life,” Chao said.

At the conclusion of Outreach Day, each group shared their experiences with the others. Students who worked at Habitat for Humanity were able to try out new things while building homes, and students who worked at the homeless shelters were amazed at increase in the number of families utilizing the facilities due to the bad economy and job losses.

Students in the Widow’s Project suggested that Outreach Day be incorporated into the curriculum at FBA, as well as extended to at least a week, to help more families in the community.

According to Sessions, FBA is planning to continue the outreach projects on an
annual basis.

By: Melanie Benfield

Babies can change in one day...

Andrew looks totally different, than he did yesterday. So I wanted to post some more pics for everyone.

Babies...

Today at 3:44 pm, little Andrew Caden Jack was born. Weighing 7lb 11oz, 21 inches long. He is going to be a handsome little man (once his poor whittle head goes back to normal). I am so happy for Michelle and Gregory, this is the child they had prayed for, for over 3 years. And I pray right now that the Lord would allow this child to grow up to be respectful, of parents and God, that he would serve the Lord with a passion and be a man that this country needs to share Jesus and be the leader we are lacking.
I know that he is just a little thing so far...but it doesn't hurt to pray!

Train up a child in the ways he should go, and when he is older he will not depart from it.

You want to know who God really is?

Then read this. "And David writes the name Yahweh. "Yahweh is my shepard." Though foriegn to us, the name was rich to David. So rich, in fact, that David chose Yahweh over El Shaddai (God Almighty), El Elyon (God Most High), and El Olam (God the Everlasting)...Many other titles were at David's disposal. But when he considered all the options. David chose Yahweh.
Why Yahweh? Because Yahweh is God's name. You can call me teacher, or BLG leader--- these are accurate descriptions, but these aren't my name...If you want to call me by my name, say Jennifer...and if you want to call God by his name, say Yahweh.

(Exerpts from Traveling Light, Max Lucado)

Erick and I almost bought a house

Well we had the contract papers written up but we did not sign them. Especially when we found out that 18 other people had already submitted a contract. It was a house out in Golden Gate City that was only 56,900. But we were going to offer 65,000 for it. Which would have been a good deal, but it was a fixer-upper, and I don't think that we really wanted to put all of the money into it let alone time and work into it.

Anyways...we are looking since the market is so awesome right now! Only thing is, HOA's are really high, and the foreclosures can come with a lot of fixing up.

But it we can have a mortgage of only 400 a month...whoa that would be awesome!

Pray for us.

Walk Worthy

Our spiritual walk can be like learning to take our first steps, especially when we are taking our first steps as a new believer. We stumble and fall. We get up. Then we stumble and fall again. It is all part of growing spiritually.

In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul speaks to us about our spiritual walk, about how to walk spiritually.

Walking is an act that speaks of effort and of having a direction with a destination in mind. It speaks of steady motion, regularity, consistency, activity, movement, and progress. In Ephesians 4, God is telling us that it is time for us to walk in light of what we have already learned.

Prior to these verses, Paul has spent three chapters telling us what God has done for us, what God has given to us, and what God has provided for us. He has reminded us that we were all separated from God, alienated from His promises.

We were aimlessly walking through life with no purpose or direction, heading toward a certain judgment. But God loved us so much that He chose us before the foundation of the world.

Then He redeemed us. He bought us out of slavery to sin, adopted us into His family, and sealed us with the Holy Spirit.

If that were not enough, He then placed all of His resources into our spiritual bank account so that we would have everything that we need to grow spiritually.

In Ephesians 4, we learn more about what we are supposed to do for God. Notice the order. First, Paul tells us what God has done for us (as you read the Bible, you will find that the primary emphasis is just that). Then he tells us what we must do for God.
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV).
We may read that verse and think, "I am in trouble. How could I ever be worthy? There is nothing I could ever do to deserve God's grace." But that is not what the word "worthy" means here.

This word could be translated as, "to balance the scales." In other words, what is on one side of the scale should be equal in weight to what is on the other side of the scale. This word can be applied to anything that is expected to correspond to something else. Another way to translate it is, "I want you to live a balanced life."

But what is the balance he is referring to? Paul was telling us that there needs to be a balance between our belief and our practice, between our doctrine and the way that we live. The two need to go together.

Some people are lopsided. They may be strong in one area and weak in another. I have met people who have an incredible and impressive knowledge of the Bible. They know Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. They dazzle you with what they know. But their personal life is in shambles.

The problem is that they are imbalanced. They have the knowledge. They have the doctrine. But their life is out of balance.

Then there are those who don't know much doctrinally. They don't really know what the Bible teaches on certain subjects, but they love the Lord. They are passionate about their faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, you might hear them say something like, "Let's not quibble over doctrine. I just love Jesus."

That sounds admirable, but it is a dangerous statement. If they are not careful, they might end up loving the wrong Jesus. They might end up believing the wrong gospel, and that is where doctrine comes in.

We need the balance of having both of these areas working together. That is what it means to walk worthy of the Lord.

(Copied from Harvest Weekend- Greg Laurie)

Whats new in the land of infertility

So for those of you that have been following along with the infertility issues of mine, I wanted to update you.
Erick was retested and the results were still abnormal. So the next step is for my sweet husband to get a "Male Exam"? I don't know what this entails but I think it will end up meaning that he is going to have to change his diet and take those vitamins that I have been nagging him about :)
I wonder if there are such foods that can zap your sperm production? I pray that it could be a diet fix and nothing to invasive.

So Erick is the one getting all the work done at the moment, I will let you know when they move on to my issues, because I know that even if he is "healthy", I still need some work done on my part...unless god intervenes! Which I need to Hold on to Hope that He will.

Want to get your car washed?

Come out to FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH NAPLES this Saturday between 10am-3pm there will be a car wash...the junior class will be washing and detailing cars for a measly 15$. We are trying to raise money for our junior class trip!!

Honest Tea

I love Honest Tea...not only because it is an awesome sipping tea, not a gulping tea, but because it is organic and is a part of fair trade. Also it always has a quote or a phrase in the cap that will make you go hmmmmm...
Like in my Peach OO-LA-LONG tea it said " Do not regret growing old, it is a privilege denied to many."
Think on that

ALSO they are on sale right now at Whole Foods 5 for 5!

Think about this

How often do we thank God for his kindness? Not often enough. I mean God is the example to follow..."he is kind to people who are ungrateful and full of sin" Luke 6:35.
In the Greek...kindness carries an added idea the English word doesn't. It refers to an act of grace. It also refers to a deed or person who is "useful, serviceable, and adapted to its purpose." Kindness was even employed to describe food that was tasty as well as healthy. So a salad can be kind.
The usage makes sense, Isn't kindness good and good for you? Pleasant and practical? Kindness not only says good morning, it makes the coffee.

Holding on to Hope

It is finally here, the ministry that I suggested we get started about 5 months ago! Yet, I am having some mixed feeling about how it is going. It is almost like I put a lot of input into it yet I am not in charge of it. I keep on telling myself that maybe I was only meant to be a catalyst and not the boss. Maybe this will be to much of responsibility than I need. I guess it is just the proud side of me that wants recognition. Anyways...any ladies in the Naples area that are/or have been through infertility, and want to be blessed by this group of women who are going through one of the (I believe) most confusing and hurting times in their lives. I can give you some information:)

Check this out

This is my husbands Erick's blog

http://www.historyisdestinedto.blogspot.com/

and I am often blow away by the passion and the intelligence that this man has. It is deep and often about history or politics, but he really makes you think...for your self I have been trying to get him to write when he has something on his mind because he has a gift for writing.

The RULES:


1.) Go to where you store your digital photos and open the 4Th folder.


2.) Go to the 4Th picture and post it.


3.) Explain the picture.




This is me and my friend Jackie and an awesome student Alexi, in our BLG group.


And then I also chose the fourth picture going down.



This was from summer camp this past summer. It was a beautiful place.

Family Reunions

It is sad that for a "family reunion" to take place in my family there has to be a death in the family. When we had my Pappaw's Memorial there were a lot of people I hadn't seen in many many years, and then yesterday at my Grandpa's Memorial I saw again more family that I hadn't seen in years.

I tell you what, I hate divorce and what it does to families. I envy the families that still have at least half of their family members still married. In my family there is...Well it was my Grandpa and Grandma of 60 years, but now Grandma is a widow,my husbands parents of 30 something years, and then there is Erick and I 3 years...the rest have been divorced at least once.

It makes things so awkward, and there will always be drama... I vowed never to get divorced...I am going to try to beat Grandma and Grandpa of 60 years

More Pictures

In these pics we have Leo my kitty cat, we have my long time friend Laura and her daughter is Alana, she wasn't there to take her picture but I need to get that cutie on film :) And the last photo was an idea that I had for the "Holding onto Hope" Ministry We are trying to start at FBCN. Feel free to copy my idea to spell out your children's names. Liberty and Hope are good size, Nathanael may be a little long :)

My dad and his fiance's photo shoot...by me

And Grandpa has passed

At 8'oclock tonight, January 16, 2009, my Grandpa Douglas Charles Starkweather fell asleep and met wonderful Jesus. He lived a long life of 86 years, and I believe that he led a fulfilled life. He was a missionary for the majority of his life, both on the field and off. He left good memories, and a legacy that I want to leave to my Grandchildren.
Love you and will miss you Grandpa

Continuation on my Grandpa

Hospice came in a evaluated him and said that he only has about 1 more week to live...:( I am hoping that he holds out till I can go up and see him on Sunday. Two Grandpa's in 2 months, wow my heart hurts. But I know that Heaven will take great care of him.

Grandpa

SO I am about to lose another Grandparent, my Grandpa Starkweather. He is almost 86 years old and has been suffering with "dementia" for the last 2 years and just in the last couple days he has stopped eating, and drinking, and has lost control of his bowels, and has been sleeping for more than 3/4th's of the day. This has been hard on my grandma who is 86, and has to clean him up and try to help him eat and drink. I love him and will miss him, but I know he is ready to see his Maker. And what a moment that will be, I am excited for him.
Joy in the Journey... and what a journey this has been

Randomesc

I know that I have been a blogging slacker, but many of you have too! But I mean I guess that it is good that we are spending time with our families and friends rather than spending hours in front of a computer, but I feel like I am neglecting my far away friends, so I will quickly let you know what is new.

1. My dad got engaged, and this is a good thing! I have been worried that my dad would never get remarried and that worried me, because he would be home alone eating Taco Bell every night, watch Forensic Files...but he found a very special lady and she has changed his world upside down.

2. I did an experiment with dry ice with my Chemistry kids...it was fun!

3. I got a new camera, and awesome camera, it is a Nikon D40X, I got it for a sweet deal from one of my students who upgraded to a nicer camera!
I took some cool pictures of students as I was trying to do fun things with it and just learn how to use it.