Tag Archives: Anniversary

Family and Friends, Pictures of the Adventure, RV Life, SOWER Projects, The Adventure

A Birthday, a Milestone, and an Anniversary

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We have a lot of things going on this October! On the one hand, this month marks the 20th Anniversary of our very first SOWER project! When we set out in August of 2004 (for our one or two-year adventure) we had already joined SOWERs, planning to do one or maybe two projects as we traveled through the country. We only lasted about six weeks before Gary said to me “Let’s try doing one of those SOWER project things.”  And so we signed up for a SOWER project at a small Christian School in the town of Vienna, Georgia.
It was during that first month of service, parked in the high grass behind this circa 1940 public school building,  doing not our favorite jobs, where God convicted both of us that THIS was what our RV journey should be about. And so began our hard right (and unexpected) turn into full-time ministry.
fbs2
Our first group picture –
viennagroup
Since that (dare I say) fateful October twenty years ago, the Lord has led us on an incredible journey. Folks often ask us “What’s your favorite project?” or “What’s your favorite place?” Let’s be honest – North America is a fabulously diverse and beautiful continent! Our travels have taken us to oceans and mountains, plains and valleys, deserts and glaciers. We’ve seen geysers and waterfalls, bison and antelope, architectural masterpieces and natural wonders. But without a moment’s hesitation, I can say that the most impactful and beautiful part of this entire journey has been seeing God at work! He’s working in international ministries (we’ve helped out a few) and He’s working at small camps with more faith than funds (and we’ve been blessed to serve there too!). But more important than that is to see His work in our hearts and in the hearts and lives of the beautiful people that we have been honored to meet and work alongside of and have come to love. Over these years we’ve worked with over 300 SOWER couples and countless other volunteers and ministry hosts that we now count as dear friends and co-workers of the Kingdom. How very blessed we have been!
Which brings me to our Milestone. During these 20 years of being a part of the SOWER Ministy, we have served at 136 different ministries. I believe we had only heard of (maybe) five of those ministries before we arrived to help. Seeing the depth and breadth of God’s kingdom through these ministries has enlarged our view of God – and just how active He is in the lives and hearts of His people! This month, as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary since our first SOWER project, we are also marking our 200th project month. We are so honored that we have been able to serve the Kingdom for so very many years – and at so very many different locations. We can only give God all the Glory for guiding our steps these many years!

Now that we have our little house in Lindale, many friends have asked if we are retiring from SOWERs. Don’t count us out just yet! We are certainly moving away from doing 10 project months a year, but aren’t quite ready to hang up those tools! We are signed up for project #201 in March – at another ‘new to us’ location! We don’t think that God is done with us, and we pray that we will continue to be used for His purposes wherever He may lead us!

But wait – the birthday!! Our littlest Texan turns FIVE today!
Deacon
Deacon2d
Not at all sure where those FIVE years have gone (but then again we feel that way about the last 20 too!) – but we sure want to wish this little cowboy the very happiest of birthdays!! We love you, Deacon!

Thanks for joining us as we celebrate Deacon – and a couple of SOWER milestones!
Steph
PS – We’ve been really bad about taking “Group Pictures” when it’s just the two of us on a project. But here is one from this summer – both of us a little grayer (and maybe plumper) but still carrying on!
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Family and Friends, RV Life, SOWER Projects, SOWER Projects 2024, The Adventure

Three September Things

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    1.  Today this happy little guy
      Noah-2 turned 14!
      Noah
      What a delight it has been to watch him grow into manhood! He’s smart and kind, helpful and funny, and handsome and tall. (Yes, another grandchild has grown taller than me) Happy 14th Birthday, Noah! You’re our favorite 14 year old on the planet. We love you so!
    2. These youngun’s
      are celebrating their 53rd anniversary today!

      We’ve re-upped for another year – so we’ll see how it all goes!
      Gary & Steph - 53 years (still with that goofy grin!)
    3. We started work today at Camp Nathanael! We are the only SOWERs this month, but there are lots of other volunteers here all getting ready for the Pioneer Days/Outdoor Education program which begins on Thursday here at the camp. Looks like this month my days will be filled with cornbread, quilting and kids! I’ll let you know how it all pans out!!

So it’s been a pretty good start to the month! Family celebrations, interesting SOWER activities ahead, and the part for Lizzie has been ordered!! There is so very much to be thankful for, isn’t there?
Thanks for stopping by!
Steph

On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

How could I forget to mention…

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I’ve been so busy trying to figure out how to capture all of the Fabulous Family Fun from last month, that I totally forgot to mention that this past Thursday, August 1st, was our 20th anniversary of setting out on the crazy-wonderful adventure we call life these days!
lizzie
Twenty years ago two fifty-something (mostly) empty-nesters quit their jobs and ran away from home! In these twenty years we’ve traveled through (and stayed at least one night in) every state except North Dakota and Hawaii (waiting for the bridge). Our one year sabbatical (maybe two if we were careful with our funds) to celebrate staying married through raising children, renovating a pre-Civil War home and owning a small business turned (in God’s kindness) into twenty years of ministry! We’ve met the most wonderful people, seen some of the most beautiful places in this country, and seen God at work in all of the nooks and crannies of this great land! What a marvelous adventure we’ve been blessed to be a part of!

There might just a bit of reflection this month as we begin year Twenty-One!

Thanks for stopping by –
Steph

Family and Friends, RV Life, Sabbath Rest, The Adventure

Sabbath Rest – Dancing in the Minefields

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I know it’s a bit of a departure of my usual Sabbath Rest song, but since today is both the Sabbath and our fifty-second wedding anniversary, it seemed only right to share this song (again) and reprise a blog post (with some adaptations)from a couple of years ago –

GarySteph Wedding
Fifty-two years ago, on a warm Friday evening, these two youngsters committed their lives and their love to each other. My brother-in-law, Fitz, gave us a ‘charge –
Gary & Stephanie, tonight is the beginning of a new way of life for both of you. Long awaited. No longer two separate individuals, but one family in Christ.

At 19 and 21 respectively, we thought we knew what marriage was all about.  Ah, sweet innocent youth! Little did we know what we were in for! I’m not going to kid you – not every moment of the last 52 years was easy. Or fun.  Some of it was downright hard. We raised three children, renovated a 100+ year old house and owned a small service business (part American dream and part  American nightmare.) But through all the years, through the good and the bad, the joy and the hard, the beauty and the ashes, God kept us together.  He never gave up on us, and we never gave up on each other.  Grace. His amazing grace is what has held us together these many years. And our prayer continues to be that His Grace will hold us fast in the years ahead!
Happy 50th52nd to my beloved!

This might be our theme song –

And we went dancing in the minefields [And there were OH-SO-MANY!]
We went sailing in the storms [Some doozies to be sure!]
And it was harder than we dreamed [Amen!]
But I believe that’s what the promise is for {Praise God!]

Dancing in the Minefields (by Andrew Peterson)

Well, I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
And everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway

We got the rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen fifty-two years ago

And we went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storms
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for

Well “I do” are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another, I’ve heard
Is a good place to begin

‘Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price
For the life that we have found

And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re sailing in the storms
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose love’s chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me

‘Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there’s nothing left to fear
So I’ll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear

‘Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos
Baby, I can dance with you

So let’s go dancing in the minefields
Let’s go sailing in the storms
Oh, let’s go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors

Oh, let’s go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh, this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for

Music video by Andrew Peterson performing Dancing In The Minefields (Official Music Video).

On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, RV Life, The Adventure

Some things ARE hard

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Today marks the completion of nineteen years of life in our motor home. Nineteen years of seeing this beautiful country (and a bit of Canada too). Nineteen years of meeting the most amazing people and seeing God at work in ministries big and small. We’ve slept in every state except North Dakota and Hawaii (still waiting for that bridge) and visited most of our national parks. It’s been a grand and glorious adventure – totally unexpected in so many ways, yet never once have we doubted that we are right where God wants us to be. But still, some things ARE hard. Recently I had some first-hand experience with one of those ‘hard’ things.
Earlier this summer I noticed an unusual spot on my upper chest. It started small but over the course of a couple of weeks it continued to grow and it could no longer be ignored. I sent a photo to our primary care doctor who strongly suggested that I find a doctor and have it removed and tested. Ah – those ominous words “find a doctor”.
One of those Hard Things.
Step one – Call a local doctor, explain my situation, and ask for an appointment. “Well, we have to send you some paperwork since you’ll be a new patient. Once we get the paperwork back, we should be able to get an appointment for you in four-six weeks.” Nope. That wasn’t going to work since we’d be out of the area by then. She suggested I contact an urgent care center.
Step two – Locate the closest urgent care center and make an online appointment. They confirmed via text and asked why I was coming in. I explained that I had a cyst that my PCP wanted to have removed and tested. “Oh, we don’t do that,” was the quick reply. They kindly suggested that I go to an emergency room.
Now I have to say, this did not seem in any way shape or form to be an emergency room event to me. But early the next morning Gary and I headed off to the ER at a small hospital about 30 minutes away.
Step three – The ER. We were seen quickly and a young ER doctor examined my cyst. “Hmmmm…Let me talk to my surgeon friend.” She came back a few minutes later. “Can I take a picture of it?” Sure! Click, and off she goes. At her next appearance, she had an appointment card in her hand. “I’ve made you an appointment with a surgeon next week. He should be able to take care of this for you.”
Step four – Go to the surgeon the next week, fill out new patient info (again), and hope that maybe today will be the day the problem will be resolved. After a careful exam of the cyst, he feels he can better take care of the removal in his surgical center. Next week. Two days before we’re scheduled to leave the area.
Step five – Return to the hospital, get checked into the outpatient surgical unit, and wait patiently for the surgeon to arrive. He arrives, we chat, he numbs up the area, does the deed, and sends me home with instructions not to go swimming for 10 days.
Step six – Call the surgeon a week later (and 200 miles away)to see how the testing came out. As expected, it was a small squamous cell carcinoma, but all of the margins were clear and there is nothing further to be done. Except stay out of the sun, and have my regular doctor check it over in six weeks. That should be easier to accomplish since we try to swing by that way at least once a year.
So all is good. It was a Hard Thing – but not an Impossible Thing. The timing was close – but we received good care (even if it took a couple of extra steps!). No pictures this time. (You’re welcome.) I may not be wearing any V-neck tops for a while, but I’m pretty sure they’ll be back in the wardrobe rotation soon!

But hey – NINETEEN years!! How crazy is that!

August 1, 2004