Nine months ago we began a new journey called parenting. It has been a wonderful roller coaster so far and I'm sure the ride only gets better with time.
If you've been following our experience at all, then you'll know that Sara is quite environmentally conscious. Consequently, she jumped on the cloth diaper wagon - of course, I had to follow too. It has actually been a lot better than I expected. However, there is still a lot of waste involved, which is why I'm glad that they've taken environmental diapering to the next level. Watch this commercial and you'll understand.
I was in tears... tears of pure joy when I saw this. I hope it brought a smile to your face!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Jeremy
Our mutual friend and Jeremy's pastor, Andy Teston, articulated my feelings and thoughts so well about our loss. These are his words:I have been in ministry in various capacities since 1991. Through the years, I have seen God use various situations and relationships to shape and form me. One of those relationships that has most profoundly shaped me has been my friendship with Jeremy Dwayne Moore.
Jeremy was gunned down this past Friday while delivering pizza in Oklahoma City. This was his second job, for he also worked for a printing company in Oklahoma City. Jeremy was the proud new father of his baby girl, Lillie. Lillie was born just last week, October 28th. Sure he’d gotten the cart before the horse, but it was his intention to asked Jamie to marry him the night he was killed. They had picked out and purchased the ring the day before, but Jamie wanted to be asked. Jeremy had planned to do it right.
Through the years that I have known Jeremy, I have known him to be one of the most honest persons around. When many others doubted life, society, or even God, and they put on mask to cover up that doubt, Jeremy was always willing to honestly deal with that doubt in public. Many people that claim Christianity would label him as “lost,” but I beg to differ. Jeremy was one of the most “found” persons I have known. Through the years, Jeremy and I have had the privilege to struggle out loud together. We have laughed, cried, mourned and celebrated together. The togetherness of the relationship was what Jeremy was all about, and he stirred that same desire in all of us.
Last night as I gathered with family and friend in Oklahoma City, someone finally asked the question that I knew would eventually be asked. “Is Jeremy in heaven? Was he a Christian?” If loving Jesus and loving others is the definition of what a Christian is, then the answer is “Yes, Jeremy was a mighty fine Christian!” Jeremy didn’t live his life for himself, but always for the other. Along his journey of faith, he had for a time stepped away from what many church folks would say is “Christian.” I know, however, that every step of that journey, Christ knew and was involved in. The wideness of God’s mercy is greater than our human understanding can know or possess. Jeremy was the epitome of graciousness. I can only hope that all of us who claim to be grace filled could be as gracious as Jeremy.
At this time, we don’t know yet details of the funeral, not any other arrangements. We hope to have some of those answers by the end of the day. We don’t know who took Jeremy from us as either. We are all dealing with a whole range of emotions. Jeremy’s capacity to love people was only matched by the likes of Mother Teresa, or other heroes of faith we read and hear about. It is my belief that Jeremy would love the person that perpetrated this crime; I know that God does. Let us all take care to pray for Jeremy’s family during this tragic loss. Let us also pray for the one who has done this. In Christ teaching us to pray, he instructed us saying “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…” (Matthew 6:12).
I will miss my friend. I am grieving hard. But I also know that through it all, we are not alone on this journey we call our faith in God. May God richly bless us all in the relationships that we have, hold, and share. I love and will miss you Jeremy Moore. Shalom.
Jeremy's Obit:
Jeremy Dwayne Moore was born on October 15, 1979 to Dwayne and Joyce (Bussard) Moore in Okarche, Oklahoma. He passed away Friday, November 7, 2008 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 29. Jeremy graduated from Calumet High School as Valedictorian of his class in 1998 and attended Southern Nazarene University in Bethany for three years, and was currently attending University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma. Jeremy served in the United States Army Reserve and was honorably discharged in 2004. He worked for G&S Printing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He enjoyed building "green" furniture, loved music, collecting old albums, loved to go thrift store shopping for vintage items, loved hanging out at the coffee shop, pulling practical jokes, and loved to explore his artistic abilities including painting. Jeremy is survived by the love of his life Jamie and his daughter, Lillie LaRae of Oklahoma City, OK his parents Dwayne and Joyce Moore of Calumet, OK one brother Josh Moore and wife Satirah and their children Jacob and Josalyn of El Reno, OK grandfather, Raymond Bussard of Guthrie, OK and a host of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, other relatives and friends (from the Red Cup), and special friends Gene and Shirlene Tarbox, Nathan and Mandi Greenfield, and Gavin, Madison, and Katie. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jim and Amalee Moore and Annette Bussard. Memorial donation may be made to the Jeremy Moore Memorial Fund at any Midfirst Bank in Oklahoma City, OK. Viewing will be at the Mercer-Adams Funeral Home, 3925 N. Ashbury, Bethany, OK, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Services: First United Methodist Church, 10:00AM, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2008, Calumet, OK. Officiating: Rev. Andy Teston, Rev. Kevin Rogers, Rev. Lance Schmitz, Rev. James Trippett. Burial: Canadian Valley Cemetery, Calumet, OK under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Geary, OK. Condolences may be sent to turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com
Maranatha!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Our Friend!
Our friend and my college roommate was murdered in a senseless act of violence on Friday, November 7th in an apartment complex three blocks east of our church. Jeremy was a man of peace and grace. He was thoughtful and caring. Dr. Howard Culbertson reminded me of the time, when Jeremy was involved with our church during the planting days, that he tried to get a cross dresser involved in our congregation. He would look for him each Sunday to try and bring him to church. That's the kind of guy Jeremy was. He wanted everyone to experience genuine community and a life changing relationship with the homeless Rabbi.Jeremy had a genuine love for all people - especially the marginalized, poor, and forgotten ones of our society - it was evident in his life. I would really like to write a meaningful tribute, but I can barely think... there is a deep pain in this kind of loss. Pray for his brand new baby girl... pray for the family that he leaves behind... pray for our broken community... for our broken world. Lord have mercy on us - Maranatha!
This was the news report from channel 5:
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Police said a man who was shot and killed in the parking lot of an Oklahoma City apartment complex was working as a pizza delivery driver.
Investigators said Jeremy Moore was killed at the Lantanna Apartments in the 7400 block of Northwest 10th Street. Neighbors called officers after hearing gunshots at about 7 p.m. A Papa John's Pizza delivery vehicle was found just about 100 yards from Moore's body.
Police said someone made a fake call to have a pizza delivered and then killed Moore after he arrived. They said the motive appeared to be robbery and won't say how much money Moore had with him. A Papa John's employee told KOCO that workers aren't allowed to carry more than $20.
Moore was the father of a newborn baby girl. A longtime friend said Moore was working part-time at Papa John's to try to make extra money to buy a house and to raise his baby.
"Jeremy was a saint," said Rev. Lance Schmitz, of the Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene. "He's just always been a person that loved people, wanted to take care of people and cared about people and the environment."
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Can't believe...
...that it's been more than 3 months since I've posted to this thing! (so sorry! priorities shift!)
...that we've been in OKC nearly 2 months...and are homeowners! (all grown up now!)
...that the cats haven't totally made me crazy with begging to go outside all the time now that we let them into the lovely fenced backyard!
...that the cats have not figured out how to climb over the fence...yet (PTL!), have not brought us any "presents" from their backyard adventures, and that I've only had to rescue one of them from the tree once (and have the scratches to prove it!)
...that I would much rather give birth again any day than go through the crazy ordeal we went through in moving down here...seriously not fun, but the Lord got us through and we lived to tell the tale!! (and one day I'll laugh about it, I'm sure...)
...that I am so happy to be back in the land of Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores...and that I am now hopelessly addicted to their Peanut Butter Cup ice cream!!!
...that I have a 3 month old baby...seems like just yesterday that I was huge and pregnant!
...that time is already flying by so quickly, or that I would so desperately want it to stand still to capture every moment
...that what started as a tiny bunch of cells nearly a year ago grew to become the not-so-tiny (13 pounds and growing!) person I see today...what a MIRACLE it truly is!!
...that the actual birth process was everything I thought it would be and at the same time nothing like I thought it would be....the hardest thing I've ever done and yet the most natural...it was awesome, beautiful, and so empowering!
...that having a natural birth would make me such an advocate for it...and amazed that more women don't attempt it!
...that the next time around (Lord willing...and hopefully it won't be too soon!) I would really like to have a homebirth with a midwife, possibly even a waterbirth (see this documentary on The Business of Being Born...amazing! EVERY woman who is even considering having a baby should watch it!)
...that I'm no longer just Sara, I'm Ephraim's mommy (and "the pastor's wife")!
...that you can love another person so completely
...that I could find so much joy in watching my baby sleep
...that my heart could almost melt when Ephraim flashes a smile!!
...that it would be such a thrill to do something that makes Ephraim laugh...or that we would get so creative at it!! (let's just say, he likes blowing raspberries, goofy faces/noises, and songs from Fiddler on the Roof, Mary Poppins, and Sound of Music....oh yes, and Old MacDonald had a Farm!!)
...that you can survive for so long on so little sleep *yawn* (it is getting better...he's been sleeping almost the whole night through since 8 weeks! now if I could just stop being such a nightowl...)
...that being a stay at home mom does not automatically mean that the house is perfectly clean and dinner is on the table every night (hehe, guess my delusions of turning into Martha Stewart will safely stay in the realm of fantasy!!)
...that I have virtually NOTHING written in his baby book, when I swore that I would be so good at keeping up wit it!
...that caring for another human being could be so all-consuming and such an awesome responsibility...I figure if we both survive to see another day, I did a good job! :o)
...that there is so much STUFF that comes along with a baby!
...that there are still so many boxes in here...hey, who's in charge of unpacking, anyway?! And more importantly, who decided that Oklahomans don't need basements?!? Where are you supposed to keep your STUFF???
...that I've been outside of the house so little since we've been here (cabin fever, anyone?)
...that it hasn't gotten below 90 degrees since we've been in OKC (I don't think, anyway...that whole not leaving the house thing...maybe that's not such a bad thing!)
...that I was healthy as a horse during the entire pregnancy (seriously, NEVER been healthier!), but that within the first 2 months postpartum I've had 3 infections requiring antibiotics (guess I'm making up for having an "easy" pregnancy!)
...that I could fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes 2 weeks post-partum and am less than 5 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy wait!! (yay! breastfeeding really is the best diet!)
...that taking a shower would become my daily victory (sometimes an infrequent one...)
...that spit-up is not the only baby by-product that can be explosive (I'll spare you the details...)
...that I could stand to wait more than a day (or 2...) to change our sheets when there is baby poop, pee, and/or spit-up on them (I know it's gross...don't judge me!!)
...that using cloth diapers is so much fun...yes, I used "fun" and "diapers" in the same sentence. :o)
...that I would have reason to be so interested in any other person's bodily functions (or proud of them!)
...that I know people with 4 kids who seem to get so much done when I can't seem to figure it out with just 1!!! (you know who you are, and I am truly in awe)
...that breastfeeding could be so rewarding when it's going well, and so frustrating when it's not! (but that is pretty rare...it really is wonderful!) I can see why women give up on it during the hard times, but I am committed to making it work because I know it is one of the best gifts I can give Ephraim!
...that I survived my first overnight trip away from Ephraim (3 nights!!), and that he thrived in spite of it! (thanks, Mom...you were a lifesaver!)
...that while every day may not go exactly like I planned, and that even though I may get frustrated and lonely some days being at home, there is nothing I would rather do than to take care of the precious life I helped to create. I love being a mommy!! :o)
...that I am promising to post more often from here on out...thanks for being patient during all of our transitions, but most of all thank you for PRAYING for us during it all...we felt your prayers!
...that you read all the way through to the end of this post (I know it was long!!)!! :oP
...that we've been in OKC nearly 2 months...and are homeowners! (all grown up now!)
...that the cats haven't totally made me crazy with begging to go outside all the time now that we let them into the lovely fenced backyard!
...that the cats have not figured out how to climb over the fence...yet (PTL!), have not brought us any "presents" from their backyard adventures, and that I've only had to rescue one of them from the tree once (and have the scratches to prove it!)
...that I would much rather give birth again any day than go through the crazy ordeal we went through in moving down here...seriously not fun, but the Lord got us through and we lived to tell the tale!! (and one day I'll laugh about it, I'm sure...)
...that I am so happy to be back in the land of Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores...and that I am now hopelessly addicted to their Peanut Butter Cup ice cream!!!
...that I have a 3 month old baby...seems like just yesterday that I was huge and pregnant!
...that time is already flying by so quickly, or that I would so desperately want it to stand still to capture every moment
...that what started as a tiny bunch of cells nearly a year ago grew to become the not-so-tiny (13 pounds and growing!) person I see today...what a MIRACLE it truly is!!
...that the actual birth process was everything I thought it would be and at the same time nothing like I thought it would be....the hardest thing I've ever done and yet the most natural...it was awesome, beautiful, and so empowering!
...that having a natural birth would make me such an advocate for it...and amazed that more women don't attempt it!
...that the next time around (Lord willing...and hopefully it won't be too soon!) I would really like to have a homebirth with a midwife, possibly even a waterbirth (see this documentary on The Business of Being Born...amazing! EVERY woman who is even considering having a baby should watch it!)
...that I'm no longer just Sara, I'm Ephraim's mommy (and "the pastor's wife")!
...that you can love another person so completely
...that I could find so much joy in watching my baby sleep
...that my heart could almost melt when Ephraim flashes a smile!!
...that it would be such a thrill to do something that makes Ephraim laugh...or that we would get so creative at it!! (let's just say, he likes blowing raspberries, goofy faces/noises, and songs from Fiddler on the Roof, Mary Poppins, and Sound of Music....oh yes, and Old MacDonald had a Farm!!)
...that you can survive for so long on so little sleep *yawn* (it is getting better...he's been sleeping almost the whole night through since 8 weeks! now if I could just stop being such a nightowl...)
...that being a stay at home mom does not automatically mean that the house is perfectly clean and dinner is on the table every night (hehe, guess my delusions of turning into Martha Stewart will safely stay in the realm of fantasy!!)
...that I have virtually NOTHING written in his baby book, when I swore that I would be so good at keeping up wit it!
...that caring for another human being could be so all-consuming and such an awesome responsibility...I figure if we both survive to see another day, I did a good job! :o)
...that there is so much STUFF that comes along with a baby!
...that there are still so many boxes in here...hey, who's in charge of unpacking, anyway?! And more importantly, who decided that Oklahomans don't need basements?!? Where are you supposed to keep your STUFF???
...that I've been outside of the house so little since we've been here (cabin fever, anyone?)
...that it hasn't gotten below 90 degrees since we've been in OKC (I don't think, anyway...that whole not leaving the house thing...maybe that's not such a bad thing!)
...that I was healthy as a horse during the entire pregnancy (seriously, NEVER been healthier!), but that within the first 2 months postpartum I've had 3 infections requiring antibiotics (guess I'm making up for having an "easy" pregnancy!)
...that I could fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes 2 weeks post-partum and am less than 5 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy wait!! (yay! breastfeeding really is the best diet!)
...that taking a shower would become my daily victory (sometimes an infrequent one...)
...that spit-up is not the only baby by-product that can be explosive (I'll spare you the details...)
...that I could stand to wait more than a day (or 2...) to change our sheets when there is baby poop, pee, and/or spit-up on them (I know it's gross...don't judge me!!)
...that using cloth diapers is so much fun...yes, I used "fun" and "diapers" in the same sentence. :o)
...that I would have reason to be so interested in any other person's bodily functions (or proud of them!)
...that I know people with 4 kids who seem to get so much done when I can't seem to figure it out with just 1!!! (you know who you are, and I am truly in awe)
...that breastfeeding could be so rewarding when it's going well, and so frustrating when it's not! (but that is pretty rare...it really is wonderful!) I can see why women give up on it during the hard times, but I am committed to making it work because I know it is one of the best gifts I can give Ephraim!
...that I survived my first overnight trip away from Ephraim (3 nights!!), and that he thrived in spite of it! (thanks, Mom...you were a lifesaver!)
...that while every day may not go exactly like I planned, and that even though I may get frustrated and lonely some days being at home, there is nothing I would rather do than to take care of the precious life I helped to create. I love being a mommy!! :o)
...that I am promising to post more often from here on out...thanks for being patient during all of our transitions, but most of all thank you for PRAYING for us during it all...we felt your prayers!
...that you read all the way through to the end of this post (I know it was long!!)!! :oP
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Demotivation
Family life and ministry life has kept us extremely busy these days. Sometimes you just need a little demotivation. I thought I would share some of my favorite demotivators with you. Enjoy!
Have a productive week!
Have a productive week!Thursday, June 19, 2008
Back in the Big OKC
Sara and I began a journey over five years ago that has come full circle. While we were students at Southern Nazarene University, we began working with an urban church plant called New Life Community. I served as their youth pastor for about three years and then when the planting pastor left, I filled in as interim for a time. We left for Kansas City about five years ago that I might attend Seminary - we had a sense then that God would call us back to this unique ministry.New Life Community partners with an amazing compassionate ministry called Reaching Our City (ROC), which offers numerous services to this community. We feel blessed to be a part of this powerful compassionate movement.
Standing back and observing all that has happened to bring us back to this place, I can only say that it is nothing short of providential. We moved late last Thursday - driving all night with a caravan of vehicles, a six week old baby, and three cats that we might be here to close on our house early Friday morning - then unpacking, preaching Sunday and getting things in order all week... well, I'll just say we've gone through some refining heat over the last few weeks. I don't have time to go into all the details, but I'll post more as we get settled in. You can also check out some info on the church at http://www.okcnewlife.com/
These are just a few of the kids that we are reaching in the community. You can check out more about ROC at their website http://www.reachingourcity.org/ Until next time ~ Blessings in Christ!Friday, May 9, 2008
Before & After
Now, we really do have a before and after to show. We went back to Lea Murphy to get Ephraim's new born pics. He cooperated about as much as one might expect from a four day old. I think we'll have some great shots to remember this blessed time in our lives.Lea is gracious enough to put up a sample of our shoot on her blog. We'll go back next week to see all of the pictures and try to decide what we want to purchase without breaking the bank...that's going to be tough.
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