After years of praying God has entrusted Derek with his first ministry position. He was recently appointed a semester missionary by NAMB and assigned to a church plant in our area. We had previously met the pastor, as he was the interim pastor at a church we were attending. We really enjoyed our pastor's preaching and I can say that I was disappointed when the time came for him to go. However, he and Derek had been talking and praying about a church plant for the Ross area and in His usual way God worked everything out. When I take the time to reflect on our lives watching God move is just amazing. Even when you think things couldn't get any worse His plan moves in and suddenly everything makes sense.
The recent baby boom in Louisville and OK is really hard on my heart I must admit. I miss my girlfriends! I just haven't been able to connect with anyone up here yet but all in His time. Thank goodness I've got Nikki or I'd really be losing it. I'm trying to be patient. My prayers and blessings go out to you girls! Keep me posted as the babies keep coming! :-)
Speaking of babies, Reagan has begun potty training and Derek is doing awesome on that front. My baby is growing up! We're only in day 3 and he's gone in the potty 5 times in the last couple days. Wyatt is really enthusiastic about it too, especially since he reaps the benefits of Reagan's learning experience, i.e. M&M's.
Wyatt just turned 4 and we're coming to realize that he's going to have to go to preschool. His attention span is pretty much nil so we're hoping the classroom atmosphere will help us get him to focus. The local YMCA has an awesome preschool that incorporates prayer at snacktime and social behaviors. So now we just need to get his immunizations up to date. That goes for Reagan too. In April they both will have their first dental check up's. That should be exciting...
I'll post some pics of the boys soon. Love y'all.
November 2, 2006
Halloween/Reformation Day 2006 - Alicia
Well, we survived Halloween (that's Reformation day to our seminary family... ) and the boys loved it! Wyatt was a spider and Reagan wore the same Giraffe costume he wore last year. They were so cute. When I get the pictures developed I'll post them for y'all to see. I dressed up as a hillbilly vampire, lol, the girls at work were calling me a hick-pire. You would have had to see it to understand just how funny it was. Lucky for me I evaded the camera that day *insert evil laugh here* I haven't dressed up in years. I really haven't had a reason too. I wasn't working and we weren't passing out candy so, why. But all the same it was fun after all this time. We took the boys to mom's house and they helped us pass out candy to the other kids while they munched on things out of Nana's bowl. Ignorance was definately bliss on this occasion as we didn't have to take them around a dark neighborhood since they didn't realize there was anything unusual about their not roaming around. Score one for mom and dad! Now we're prepping for their Birthday Party on the 11th. I've never thrown them a birthday party that wasn't a baby party but since both of the boys are over 2 yrs now we went all out. The theme is CARS (the movie). We even found a pinata! Good times! I'll post some pics of that too when it's over, that will probably be the rest of the halloween film anyway.
Hope everyone is having a good week! God Bless!
November 1, 2006
Life in Hamiltuckey- by Derek
Life has been going well for the Stargel's. God has really blessed us. I have been teaching a Men's bible study and we have been attending Graceland Community Church (don't worry it's sbc). We are a lot closer to family which has been great. Alicia and i have been on more dates in the last three months then we had been on in the previous 4 years.
Alicia really likes her job and gets a long great with her boss. She is working for a local insurance company. She has enjoyed getting back in the working world. She also enjoys spending time with her mommy.
I am getting used to staying home and have enjoyed the reduction of stress in my my life. I have been reading a lot and I am taking an online class on the book of James.
The boys have adapted to life in Ohio well. They love seeing their grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins regularly.
It is great to spend a lot of time together as a family. The only negative would be missing our friends in KY.
In Christ,
Derek
June 6, 2006
Beginning Again - Alicia
We have a webpage! How exciting! Now you can stay apprised of the madness that is our lives. Right now we are making efforts to move back home to Ohio. Once I get a job we're on our way! The idea of more time with family is so refreshing to my soul. Derek works so hard, I'll be glad to help out so he can finish seminary sometime this century...ok, this decade. Hopefully I will be able to upload some pictures of the kids for those who haven't seen them in a while. We're so proud of our boys and so grateful that God has given them to us. Wyatt is so insightful and is constantly challenging my authority. I couldn't tell you where he gets that from...*choke, hack* He says to me in the car the other day, "Mommy, when I grow I'm going to be God." I calmly said to him, "No honey, you can't be God when you grow up, there's only one God. But you can be whatever he wants you to be." He says to me, "So I can be a police man then?" "Yup" I quipped. "Great! That's about the same" He exclaims. It reminded me that they learn so quickly. If we want our kids to revere the Lord they have to see US revere the Lord. And that means now..not when he's five or six or seven but NOW! Wow..shock to the system. Reagan is 18 months old now and headed straight for potty training. It was relatively easy for Wyatt and looks like it may be for Reagan since he is so interested, but we'll see. He's talking more and more and sometimes shocks me with what he will say. He started playing this game yesterday where he tells me bye, I say bye back and he trots off to his room. After a few times he comes to me and says bye again, I say bye to him and he says to me, "kss" , so I kiss him and he says, luf yoo mahye. For those of you who don't speak toddler, that would be..love you mommy. I almost cried because I'm an old sap and that's the first time he's ever said I love you. I wanted to shout from the mountaintop! I continue to be amazed at how God reminds me of his love. We are His children, and he is my Abba. That feeling I had when Reagan said that to me, pales in comparison with the love God has for us because He loves us in a way we couldn't begin to imagine. Thank you God for your boundless love.
