The Service is Over, Go in Peace

Today was a bittersweet day for Justin and I. It was our last service at PromiseChurch. We got to hear Pastor Marc preach an amazing message and we got to think back on some of our favorite times over the last four years. Four years is a long time to be in ministry with someone. I say four years because the second week we came to "Christian Heritage Church" we were in ministry. I remember Justin showing Marc and Susan his drumming skills and I informed Pastor that I was a professional transparency machine worker. We jumped in with both feet and we were home.
The four of us have been through (and I do mean this literally) hell and high water together. There were times when it was just us four and we just kept pouring out. Today we were asked the question, "What has it meant to you?" all I could say was simply "Everything".
Before we came to PC, the people who gave us a chance to minister were few and far between. When we met Marc and Susan, they handed us the chance on a plate. It takes special people to do that. We have learned so much from them and I know that education will take us far in our own ministry.
This chapter in the book has ended. I cannot wait to turn the page and see what is the first line of the next chapter is for Pastor and Susan. I know it is good, just like our new chapter. This is not an ending, it is only a new begining.The thing I am most glad about is that one day, I will know how to see something special in someone. Something no one else sees. I hope I can be as effective as they have been in my life.
To my Pastors- You know I love you, I even carry your picture as proof!
Your #1 Fan

Roses are Red...

Well, this is my first blog about a bokay I have made. It is kind of special, because it is about the bokay that Justin got me for my birthday. I am always bugging Justin to get me flowers. I never really get tired of them, even on Valentine's day. So, Sneaker that he is called and ordered something right under my nose! He looked online, picked it out, called and talked to one of my co-workers and ordered it for me! He did all this on Friday. On Monday, I pulled the ticket and made it myself (I wouldn't have had it any other way!). I looked at it all morning on Tuesday, wondering when this guy was coming to get his roses. After heating up my lunch in the micro, I saw this sitting on my counter, with a card from Justin! I was so surprised! Design wise, there is nothing special about these roses, it is just a basic half dozen red roses. Of course, I had to put it in one of my special milk glass vases. What I love the most about them is that Justin picked them out. Of all the flowers ha has ever got me, these are the best!
More to come
Jaclyn...

Grow Old With Me, The Best is Yet to Be

On the eve of my 28th birthday and a week and a half since Justin's 30th, the title of this blog is exactly how I feel. I have been in some really dry places in my life. I have lost everything I owned and I have lost some things that I never really had. But looking out now, I see the best is yet to come. this quote is supposed to be for a wedding or engagement, but I feel it is so fitting for mine and Justin's life right now. There is so much more to come in our lives. We have been married a little over nine years and there are things that are just starting to come together for us. I know that this does not mean that the hard times are over. I just know for this moment in time I can see the puzzle. I can see how it all fits together. We only catch glimpses of that every once in awhile, right now I can see clearly. I am relishing in this moment. The moment in time when our family can look any way and so can our church. We are moving forward in life, towards the best that God has for us. More to come,
Jaclyn...

One of Those Weeks

Did you ever have one of those weeks? One where things just kept getting better and better? I have had one of those weeks. God has completely blessed our socks off this week. Of course the best thing was the adoption being approved. I could never describe the feeling except to say that it was the second happiest day of my life. We were also able to make arrangements to look at the adoption book. That was exciting! Then we were blessed three times with unexpected money. The third time was for our FreedomCenter ministry. Could this week get any better? I don't know, there's always tomorrow! I know this, when God gets ready to move on your behave-----Watch Out!
More to come!
Jaclyn...

Life. Love. Flowers.

That's what its about for me. Everyone has a blog. That's not why I'm doing this, if you know me you know that I rarely do something because everyone else is. There are a lot of questions these days about what Justin and I are up to. I hope this will help keep everyone informed. But mainly its for me. I miss writing and I never get the chance. I spend a lot of time doing other stuff, so I decided to start writing again. This is a step towards that. So, what is it about? Well, I want to talk about three things- The Adoption, The Ministry and Flowers. I know everyone wants to know every detail about the adoption, I feel like I have repeated myself 100 times this week alone. Maybe this will help keep everyone posted. Justin and I are in the very beginning stages of planting a church on the south side of OKC. I know everyone will be rooting for us on that subject too. I am a florist, I often refer to myself as an artist. That's it. There are a lot of things growing in my heart right now, hence the name Every Good Thing That Grows.
More to come.
Jaclyn...