As I sat reading Sarah’s latest, almost completed, Moody book out loud after family Bible time to help her with her editing, Steve said, “Sarah, I don’t know how you come up with conversation in your books like you do. I could never do that.”

While Steve and I have a heart for our children to have books to read that are a godly encouragement for them, we don’t have the time nor the abilities to write those kinds of books. However, the Lord has put those same desires on Sarah’s heart and given her the talent plus the time to write children’s books.

Those books have led children to salvation, personal Bible reading, obedience to parents, serving others, being industrious, and much more. We have reports that the books are role models for young Christian families who have not grown up in Christian homes. Plus we hear over and over that the Moody books are favorite books with the children and sometimes dads and moms too.

In addition, when our first book was printed in 1999, Sarah was finishing high school. She became our office manager. I was still a busy homeschool mom, and Steve was working full time. Neither of us had time available to fill book orders, take phone calls, and research tax issues for out-of-state conferences.

All those years homeschooling — teaching English, writing, math, diligence, perseverance, ingenuity — are now manifesting their fruit. Steve and my ministry is helped, enlarged, and broadened way beyond what we could ever imagine because of what the Lord has done in Sarah’s life and how she is choosing to serve Him.

The fruitful years will come if you will continue faithful in what the Lord has called you to do with your children.

Trusting in Jesus,
Teri

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Thursday we sang and played at a retirement home here in Leavenworth! Nathan, Melanie, and Abigail joined us, and of course, Abigail was a big hit among the elderly!  Here are some of the pictures from the afternoon.

Rejoicing in Jesus,
Anna

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalms 95:1)

We are beginning to learn some new songs for the family concerts we frequently give. However, both Steve and I are quite busy. We haven’t had the energy, nor the musical expertise, to choose new music.

Anna, sixteen, has undertaken the project. She collected a list from all the family members of songs they would like to learn. Joseph, twenty, helps her evaluate each song, figure out the key we would sing it in, write down the words, and work out the chords.

As we work with and disciple our children through the years they are growing up, they become young adults who can bear responsibility, have servants hearts, and carry on the ministry the Lord Jesus has given to a family. It is a fruitful season, one to be looked forward to for those with younger children.

Trusting in Jesus,
Teri

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

As many of you know, our church is in a nursing home. That means our family has the complete responsibility of setting up for and having the church service every week. Without the help of our children, it would be a difficult task for just Steve and me.

When we arrive on Sunday morning, the children go to the rooms asking residents if they want to come to church, and then push the wheelchairs into the dining room where we have our service. One of the boys goes to the storage closet to get out our personal sound equipment that we use because so many of our congregation are hard of hearing. Then he sets up the sound equipment. The other boys move tables and rearrange chairs.

We have a tub containing our large-print, spiral bound, lightweight hymn books. One of the girls takes and distributes the hymn books to those who can still read. Christopher and Sarah take turns playing the piano. Every one fellowships with our elderly congregation before and after church.

Nathan and Melanie have undertaken the difficult task of maintaining the church services when we are on the road. My parents help them, and so do two of Melanie’s sisters. Nathan is the song leader and preacher when we are away. Of course, Abigail is always a favorite with our congregation, whether we are there or on the road.

We are completing our seventh year of a nursing home church. Steve has always had the responsibility of pastoring the church including Sunday preaching, conducting funerals when requested, and counseling. For several years, Christopher has preached once a month. Plus he has taken the responsibility for many of the hospitalization visits and ministry – which there is quite a bit of in our church. Christopher also goes weekly to pray with one of the men. Both Christopher and Steve are regularly asked by the staff to make other pastoral visits to a resident who isn’t a regular church attendee.

More recently Joseph (20) and John (18) are beginning to preach one Sunday every other month. They are learning to seek the Lord for where He would have them preach, study for the message, prepare it, and then present it.

It is a fruitful season for Steve and me as we see the reality of our ministry multiplied, expanded, and enriched by our children’s involvement. We want to encourage those of you with young children to be faithful to bringing your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord – truly looking to Scripture rather than following what most others are doing. It may seem wearisome and lonely at times, but the fruitful season will come.

Trusting in Jesus,
Teri

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4

In response to the questions we were asked after we posted The Fruitful Season: Part 1, here are some answers.

We get most of our tops from LLBean. The one I had on in this photo was from Christopher & Banks, but we haven’t seen that style the last couple of years.

The pattern for these jumpers is Simplicity 5917. Anna says it is very simple to make and fairly quick. She has made her jumper, Sarah’s, and is almost done with mine that are to be conference jumpers from matching fabric. Mary (12) has now finished hers too. We added length to the jumper pattern because we wear our jumpers about ankle length.

When I was nursing babies, I didn’t make nursing dresses. I had a couple of skirts and tops, but I mostly wore jumpers. I had a jumper pattern that had a bodice that buttoned so that worked for nursing. I also had a jumper pattern with a drop waist and arm hole openings down to the waist. I could nurse in that jumper as well.

Here is a Mom’s Corner where I share how I have worked with my girls in teaching them to sew.

Trusting in Jesus,
Teri