2014 was a crazy and adventurous year with many leap-of-faith moments that were exciting, exhilarating, hard and uncertain. So, though I know we are well into 2015, I wanted to share a little about our past year.
Planting a church has been a great adventure. I never dreamed I’d enjoy “small church” as much as I have, and seeing Chris’s delight in leading a church and preaching each week has been change this blessing or the next to a different word. God has blessed us this year with an amazing Acts church unity that is pure joy. My three previous blog posts tell the story best. You’ll see Wellspring Church’s first-year journey through pictures. You can also visit Wellspringchurch.com to learn more about the church, see videos, hear Chris’s sermons, and more.
In July, God entrusted us with two more children, John (11) and Mariama (9). Just one week after bringing them home from Sierra Leone, Ebola struck their village. In this adoption journey we are learning so much about ourselves and God’s faithful love and provision for every moment. Even on the hardest days, the pleasure of the Lord in the midst of obedience overshadows the frustrations. And then there are also the gifts of those special moments that give great hope for each child’s future as well as our future as a family.
We covet your prayers as we shepherd a church and a family.
It’s been a big year. Our grocery cart is a good example of how big we are these days. We typically buy 25 lbs. of flour, 8 gallons of milk, 20 lbs. of rice, 50 lbs. of popcorn, 6 dozen eggs–and that’s just a start!
2014 was an incredible year, and here is a snapshot of each of our lives:
Dillon (age 21):
- Led the Baylor University Honors College on its first mission trip. They went to El Salvador over Spring Break.
- Doing thesis research: Interviewing people on the Nyakach Plateau in Kenya after a week working with a group of Baylor pre-med students on a medical mission trip in May.
- Running on the Scotland beach where “Chariots of Fire” was filmed and also visiting 10 other European countries while doing a study abroad at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands.
- Led a group of peers from University of Maastricht to participate in a mission trip in Denmark.
- Studying 8-10 hours a day all of July and August for the MCAT and passing with flying colors. One step closer to medical school!
- This year we enjoyed the longest times of having him in the home since he was in high school. This summer we had him home for 6 weeks as he studied for the MCAT. Then, because his study abroad was condensed, he was home Thanksgiving through early January.
Zoom lens:
Since he doesn’t have a bedroom here, Dillon, and one of his best friends, Jay, visiting for Christmas stayed in our garage apartment. (Garage apt. = out w/cars, and in with large rugs, two beds, space heaters, chairs and tables, lamp and a small Christmas tree.)
Derek (age 19):
- Served as Wellspring Church’s worship leader our first 7 months. He brings such energy and joy to help people connect with God through music.
- Made 1st chair tenor All-State Choir.
- Led worship at Arizona’s National Day of Prayer Service on the Capitol lawn.
- Sang the National Anthem for his high school graduation ceremony.
- Starred as the Beast in his high school’s “Beauty and the Beast” musical…and his girlfriend Taylor, who has the perfect Disney princess voice, was Belle! (Does it get any better than that as a senior, folks?)
- He is now attending Dallas Baptist University majoring in music education, and a couple of weeks ago starred as Charlie Brown in DBU’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” musical.
- He began serving in September on staff as the worship leader for the contemporary service at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas. (The church I grew up in and was baptized at. Full circle!)
Zoom lens: Music to our ears during Senior Recognition day at Wellspring: “I’d like to thank my Mom and Dad for following God’s call on their lives to move to Arizona.” (We didn’t ruin his life after all! Thank you, Jesus!)
Caleb (age 16):
- Working really hard at baseball, catching & playing infield for the Varsity team; still swings the bat well … has a knack to hit that crazy ball.
- Was chosen by his high school class as Homecoming Prince and Winter Formal Prince.
- Doing a great job as the home front leader of the sibling pack.
- Enjoys time with friends.
- Happy to have his own bedroom for the first time in his life. Keeps it spotless. (He misses his best friend, big brother Derek…but not the mess he brings.)
- Takes the time to invest in his younger siblings, helping with homework, playing games and swimming with them.
Zoom lens: One Sunday he was Wellspring Church’s MVP as he helped with set up, greeted at the door and handed out bulletins, ran the PowerPoint, took the attendance count, gathered guys to collect the offering, and helped with tear down.
Micah (age 14):
- Still playing soccer, basketball, track and tennis in season.
- Received MVP award in soccer this year. A-MAZ-ING. (I’m unbiased, of course.)
- Meek and mild off court/tenacious on the court.
- He purchased a nice camera this year to support his photography hobby.
- His latest home science experiments and inventions have included: Using a wooden clothes pin to create a gun that shoots toothpicks through paper; creating a cool game of bouncy mitts made of cardboard and grocery bags that continuously tosses balls high into the air; burning a gum wrapper by putting each end on both ends of a battery,
- Chosen as winner of the Fit Kid award at his middle school.
- Always staying abreast of helpful, handy household hints and efficient ways to do things.
Zoom lens:
He is constantly giving us perspective as a family. One day as Mariama again shared all the particulars about how she will raise her children (they won’t have chores, they will wear whatever they want, they will eat whatever they want, etc.). Micah understated, “Mariama, you plan farther ahead than anyone I know.”
Karis (age 12):
- Her soccer team won the championship this year and unanimously voted her “most inspirational player”.
- Her basketball team awarded her “most inspirational player” of the year.
- In the glow stick game at camp she showed her tenacity by being the last of 2 out of hundreds of youth to “survive” in the game by not having her glow stick stolen off her back. The whole camp was gathered around 6th grade Karis and her high school senior competitor to see who would win. (The girl with the longer arms won.)
- Is excited this year to be serving at her school as a teacher’s assistant in the special needs classroom at her school.
- She is Team Wellspring’s “secret weapon” in community or camp flag football games (she may be small and she may be a girl, but watch your flag, Mr. quarterback!)
- Highlight of the year: Flying to Tennessee over fall break to visit Karly and family, some dear friends we met at Wind River Ranch last summer.
- And back to the “most inspirational player” awards…I’m pretty sure she earned that on Team Stull this year, too. #nufsaid
Zoom lens:
I have enjoyed great conversations with Karis this past 7 months as our dog Speedy and I have accompanied her on her nightly job of walking our neighbor’s labrador, Dolly.
John (age 11):
- A studious 5th grader
- Was a key player in his community soccer team this fall.
- His curiosity is amazing – he asks a million questions a day.
- Is observant of every detail of life and takes note. This at times comes in very handy for a forgetful mom!
- Eager to learn everything…NOW. Swimming, basketball, tennis, piano, drawing, etc. (We are slowly chipping away at things.)
- Necessities: rice, chicken, hot pepper flakes, hand sanitizer, lotion.
Zoom lens:
John gets the most supportive child award for his interest in watching his parents’ triathlons. Though I have twisted arms and even used shame tactics (“How many of your athletic events have I attended?”), our kids have not been real interested in coming out for tri events. John, on the other hand, doesn’t want to miss rising early to come out and cheer us on! To add to his supportiveness, he even included two of his momma’s triathlon photos in his “all about me” album.
Mariama (age 9):
- A super social 2nd grader
- This girl has flair – think all-out Fancy Nancy when it comes to dress and accessories.
- She does keep us entertained. We are hoping she can put her drama skills to work some day on the stage. She loves to sing and dance.
- You have heard “a party waiting to happen”? Forget that, she is “the party” and it is happening nearly all her waking hours.
- Enjoys time in the kitchen cooking (not quite Ninja knife skills, so we hope next year’s photos don’t show a few fingers missing!)
- Her English skills have really improved and she is working diligently on her reading at school, with tutors and an online program.
- Necessities: rice, chicken, lotion & lotion & lotion (did I mention lotion? Application every 5-10 minutes is desired.)
Zoom lens:
Mariama convinced me to buy sardines and proceeded to fry them up with onions in our kitchen. It took about a week, but we finally got rid of the smell. Most recently she went to her 1st daddy/daughter dance and enjoyed a delightful evening of Dad’s full attention.
Chris & Brenna – survived to live another year, and this summer will be celebrating 25 adventurous and fun, faith-filled years of marriage.
Thank you for caring about our family, and we appreciate any prayers you would like to throw our way. Wishing you God’s best in 2015!