Blessed in Fort Smith

We arrived at the church late afternoon. Our coordinators provided a delicious chicken spaghetti dinner, which allowed us great fellowship with them before the conference began.

The coordinator had come to a conference of ours several years ago. It had impacted their family, and the Lord had put it on their hearts to bring that message back to Ft. Smith. We are grateful for their efforts and investment in those who came to the conference. They took super good care of us while we were there meeting our every need! Thank you!!

In addition to local families, we had families drive from Kentucky, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Missouri.

Friday evening, we began with Schedule Triage question and answer session for ladies while Steve did the business session. We had a great group!

For this conference, we completely revised our Building a Vision session, and we were happy with the result. Another change was a food and fellowship time at 8:00 after Building a Vision. It was a great success!

Saturday’s sessions went well with a flashback to our original conferences. We even pulled off the question and answer panel at the close of the conference with just five of us.

Jesse sharing with the young people
Friends from New Mexico

With Chelsy’s wedding photographer and sister!

Mary and Anna with our sweet friend!

The church was available until 7:00 p.m. so those who wanted to stayed for a pizza dinner.

As we talked with people during and after the conference, we were blessed as they shared what God was doing in their hearts during the weekend.

Bible time with friends after the conference

On Sunday we joyfully worshipped at the coordinator’s church. Steve preached. Jesse led the singing, and Anna did a Bible story for the children. After church, they treated us to a wonderful Arkansas smoked meat home cooked dinner. When it was time to leave for home, it was hard to say goodbye.

Mary and this sweet baby

Story time
A beautiful way to end this post

“For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
(Philippians 1:5-6)

Maxwell Life in Two Different States

Happy Monday!

My family just finished out an amazing weekend in Fort Smith full of God’s blessings! I can’t wait to share pictures and details from that.

The day before the conference, we decided I would stay back and help with childcare. We know the Lord is in control of babies’ timing, so we trust that! It did feel strange being here and knowing they had a conference going on, but I’m blessed I had the opportunity to help with publicity and other details.

Baby Elizabeth is settling in nicely, and the little ones adore her. Elissa is next up!

Love,
Sarah

This is the picture I should have added to the announcement post.
Sucking her thumb already
Usually Mary makes the baby sign, but since she was gone, Christopher did it with the littles.
Cute sisters
Hmmm. Ellie gets a lot of attention from the girls.
Got a coffee as a nice treat Saturday morning!
Friday night in Arkansas!
This sweet friend came from Texas. Can’t wait to share more on the conference!

“I will be glad and rejoice in thee:
I will sing praise to thy name,
O thou most High.”
Psalm 9:2

Elizabeth Grace Maxwell Has Arrived!

Elizabeth Grace was born this morning (February 23rd), at 4:21 a.m.! This precious bundle of 9 lb. 5 oz. has been met with delighted enthusiasm. Anna Marie and Elizabeth are doing great; we were blessed with a smooth labor and delivery.

Elizabeth: Consecrated to God
Grace: God’s unmerited favor

Our prayer is that Elizabeth will be one whose obedience and consecration to God make her a channel of His grace to others.

Elizabeth Grace Maxwell

“And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
(Luke 1:6)

Yes, thankful the baby came before the family hit the road for Fort Smith! I (Sarah) am staying back to help with childcare.

Meeting Elizabeth

Sweet Anna Marie and her newest little girl

Rejoicing in God’s goodness,
Christopher & Anna Marie, Joshua, Ruthanne, Lydia, Daniel, and Elizabeth Maxwell

Look Who Is Turning 1

This adorable, brown-eyed, cuddly, happy, smart, Mama’s boy turns one today!

Just seeing his smile makes me smile!

Who knows, maybe he’ll have a new cousin born on his birthday? No news yet, but the day has just begun!

“For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness;
his countenance doth behold the upright.”
Psalm 11:7

Make the Most of Your Leftovers, Part 1

Welcome to a new series: Make the Most of Your Leftovers. We plan to continue this, giving you ideas on how you can use leftovers.

Anna has developed quite an art of putting together leftovers into delicious soups or casseroles. When we rave over the casserole, she tells us to enjoy it that time because there won’t ever be another one just like it. I am trying to learn from her.

Here are the leftovers I had available:

  • rice
  • ham gravy with ham chunks
  • 3 biscuits
  • pork spare rib meat

 

Since there are only 6 of us at home now, we have downsized our casseroles to 8×8 pans.

First I greased the pan, and then put a layer of rice on the bottom. I would say about 1/3 the depth of the pan had rice.

Anna suggested I sprinkle a light seasoning of garlic salt on the rice to give it some extra flavor.

Our next layer was the meat we had picked off the spare ribs from a couple of days earlier.

Next, we added a layer of ham gravy that we had thinned a little so that it would seep nicely into the rice. 

We put the casserole together and refrigerated it two days before we used it.

Before baking at 350 degrees for 1 hour, we topped it with the cubed biscuits and sprinkled parmesan cheese over that.

It really was delicious!

Trusting in Jesus,
Teri

“Who giveth food to all flesh:
for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Psalm 136:25

In the Blink of an Eye

One can assume his morning started as normal, yet this morning would end differently. Was he momentarily distracted as he drove down the highway so that he didn’t notice the truck turning? No one will ever know because he slammed into the back of it, and in a flash, his life ended.

Months ago, one pleasant summer evening, it was a perfect night for a bike ride. But as he changed lanes, a car struck him, in a flash, his life ended and the driver’s would never be the same.

Sudden. Tragic. Irreversible. One can’t guarantee they will live a full, long life. One may only have 21 years, perhaps 36 years, or fewer years on this earth.

Friends, the purpose here is not to focus on death, but life. May we not take even a moment for granted. May we rejoice in the life God has given us and invest it as He leads.

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short…”
(1 Corinthians 7:29)

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without,
redeeming the time.”
(Colossians 4:5)

And friends, if you haven’t, please settle the important matter of where you will spend eternity.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
(Romans 3:23)

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness
;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
(Romans 10:9-10)

Love,
Sarah