October Newsletter article

As I write this, my Grandpa Christian is nearing the end of this life.  Over the last few days I have had time to go over the memories and times that we shared together.  Those times are priceless.  I have not lost any immediate family up to this point and I have been blessed, I know that.  As I was thinking through those memories, I just started thinking about my impact and what I am doing with my life.  Sometimes we think that we are doing the most important things and we get so busy with them that we have not a lot of time for anything else. Being away from family, because of the ministry, is tough and not a lot of people that aren't in some sort of ministry can understand.  We can't just go across town or down the road and see our parents or brothers and sisters.  God has given all of us so many blessings in this life.  Many times over what we deserve because we all deserve death.  However, I cannot think of a better blessing than to have a parent or in this case, a grandparent that has model the life of Christ as my Grandpa Andy has.  I remember sitting on the arm of his chair as a young kid and eating "Grandpa Cakes" and everything in the world was right at that moment in time.  Over the years, he has supported me and encouraged me whenever I was able to be around him.  I know that he prayed for me and thought of me often.  He had a rough life to start out with and struggled like many of us do.  However, in those memories that I have, I don't think about where he worked or how nice his house was or even how much money he made.  I am thankful for little moments that we had together that made me go after the heart of Christ even more.  I am grateful that Christ died to make it possible for us all to be forgiven and to one day, after this life is over, spend eternity with our family and walk the streets of Heaven with no limping, no walker, no pain.  I hope that I become half the man that he was.  I hope that I live up to his name.  Just as I hope that each day, my words, actions and thoughts help me become more like Christ.  That I can live up to Christs' name. Help us all to love God with everything we have and to love those around us as we walk this earth.  Don't let today slip away without showing someone Christs love.

"There's a peace I've come to know
though my heart and flesh may fail.
There's an anchor for my soul, and I can say, "It is well"! 

Through tear filled eyes,
Pastor Andy

Encouraging words for Monday morning!

'For here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I'll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You'll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You'll be my people! I'll be your God!
Ezekiel 36:26 (The Message)

Jellyland update 9.21.09

Hey everyone...it has been a crazy and hectic few weeks. Enjoy...

10.  The delivery came and not much went as planned.  We went in Wednesday night at 730p and they started Sarah on some medicine to help things along.  It started contractions but not much else.  The following day the contractions stopped and they said we would try again Thursday night.  Sarah decided to take some medicine to help her sleep at around 1130p and her water broke at 1245am on Friday the 4th.  They started with the Petocin but not a lot of movement was happening.  Around 430-5am Sarah's contractions were getting crazy strong but the baby's heart rate was dropping each time...so...that meant a C-section.  Baby Kate was born at 6:11am Friday September 4th! 

9.  Sarah is doing really good.  She is not in much pain (unless she over does it...she is a Jellison remember!).  Everything is going as it should.  We went for Kate's 1 week check and they said that they thought she had a heart murmur so we had to take her for a EKG last Wednesday.  That really scared us and put us on edge.  We found out last Thursday that it was so small that they couldn't see it!  It will heal up on its own.  Praise God for that.

8.  Sleep has been the biggest hurdle thus far.  In the hospital over those two days Sarah got 4 hours out of 48...I got 5-6 out of 48!  Kate came home and had her days and nights messed up.  Things are getting better now.  It is just an adjustment.  But well worth it.


7.  On Wednesday nights starting last week we have started a bible study.  No frills, no illustrations, no games.  Just us and the bible.  It went really well last week and I am super excited about it and getting these kids in the word and applying it to their lives and mine!

6.  We have been blessed to have so many of our family and friends to come and visit us and Kate.  We had the mom's for the first two weeks and that was such a huge help.  My brother Kerry has been up twice already to see Kate and you can tell how much he is excited to see her and be a part of her life.  We are blessed to have such great families and friends.

5.  We had our kick off last night for the youth group.  It was NASTY.  I made a "stew" of old ragu sauce, vanilla pudding, pistachio pudding, chocolate pudding, rolled oats, marshmallows, peanuts, crackers, syrup, salad dressing, lard and flour and the kids played steal the bacon in it.  It was disgusting.  We had some gross food comps too. The Happy shakes were sick...but worth it...
  I will post some pics as soon as I get them.  We had a hair challenge...my hair and some others for one of our student leaders hair.  I still have my hair.  :)  It was a great time.  Terry and Trevor did a great job with the worship and 24 kids responded to making God's heart their heart (Ez. 36:26)! 

4.  Going into parenthood, I was just unsure what it would be like.  There are so many unknowns.  But you know what?  It has been so easy and natural.  The diaper changing has been interesting.  I have already been peed on.  It is an amazing time that I am not taking for granted.  There is something so Godly about waking up in the morning, getting out of your bed and seeing your wife and baby laying side by side (with the baby in the bassinet of course)...laying the same direction  and both covered up!  I love my little family!

3.  I have 19 things so far on my bucket list.  I will post it once I get to like 25 or something.  Watch for that soon. 

2.  Football season started and I am loving it.  The Patriots, Steelers, Titans, and Chargers all lose this week...now we just need to Colts to win tonight and it will be a perfect week 2.  I am a little concerned with the Colts after last week.  Just wondering what they will play like on a week by week basis.  That's why they play the games!

1.  Yesterday morning, we were woken up (again..after being up 2-3 times with Kate) by a phone call saying that my Grandpa Andy had suffered a heart attack.  We drove over to Ohio and were there for a while.  When we got there he was pretty drugged up and not responding to much.  By the time we left, he was squeezing our hands and responded to questions.  Mom called this morning and said that the ventilator is out and he is talking and doing much better.  He did have congestive heart failure and they are not sure what kind of damage was done as of yet.  But he is doing better and we are going over Thursday with Kate so he can see her.

  We left here at 7am got there at 10am stayed until 1230p...left to come home got here at 330pm...started setting up for the youth kick-off at 4p and from 5-8p held the kick off...it was an insane day filled with tears and uncertainty and some kids committing to allowing God to give them forgiveness and a new start. Talk about the full range of emotions...