| 5/12/01 Here it is May already! My last entree was dated in January? This goes to show just how much I spend on this web site now. Not much. Due to response to our site, I thought it might be nice to do a quick update. God continues to be good and faithful in our lives. Much of my time is spent in training our now 2 & 1/2 year old. Most days are spent at home in Titus 2 fashion (my hope) . We are involved in our local church. As the school year comes to an end, so does our teaching assignment with the high school teens on Wednesday nights. It has been a blessing to have such a time with the young men and ladies. We also have gained some insight and perspective on our time with the teens, as we have our own child now. (If you would like to make comment on that- see our email or the message board!) It has also been a real benefit and encouragement to me personally that different Moms in our church have invited Sarah and I to spend time with them. D took on a position coaching baseball at his school. It has taken up more of his time. More than anticipated. Along with that he has had tremendous opportunity to invest in a few of his players who are very receptive and inquisitive of his faith. Our water is clean...(er) right now. It comes and goes as the fiters are changed on regular basis. We though about it and realized that the water problems seemed to start after the water softener went out. We will be getting our shingles replaced on our roof June 14-16. God is so good at meeting every need. We just returned from a trip to Gallipolis. We had opportunity to spend time with some of the college S.E.A.R.C.H. students and to listen and spend time with Jim and Rachel Webster. They are a couple who David Perry (our former college SS teacher) lived with during his time in the military. I want to say that they have been married for 50(+) years. They were of benefit and encouragement to us in the Lord. It was also such a blesssing to visit and worship with old church family at Trinity Baptist, Rio Grande, Ohio. Please pray that we continue to grow in God's grace and knowledge for our lives individually and as a couple AND as parents. |
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| Some of the Connell family children & Sarah |
| Sarah's first "real" haircut |
| MAY JUNE Update |
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| Jim & Rachell Diane & Webster Carlos Carrlas |
| Above: All Men singing to ladies on Mother's Day at Trinity Baptist Church, Rio Grande Below: Sarah, Doug and Don Wothe (Dougs' Master teacher) with daughter,Alexis |
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| June has brought several graduations, visitors, respiratory infection, the completion of the roof, and our 12th wedding anniversary so far. It was such a great encouragement to have a new water system installed and some of the high school fellows and families from our church stop in and help out on the roof during the second week of June. It was a blessing to have Gwen and Crystal (college gals) and Alisha and Allison (high school/jr. high) help inside the house, as we were together focused on hospitality & support team to those working on roof. It was a real blessing to have Greg Aubel (former S.E.A.R.C.H. fellow) give of himself by offering his vaction time and coming from Phildelphia, PA. to work on the roof. By the way..... the BIG question was... "Is that pronounced ruuf or rooooof?" The fellowship was sweet and laughter was very contagious. From Julia Child's "School of Cooking Sloppy Joes" to the Crocodile Hunter in our kitchen...."Frightening!" Fitting 10 people in our 6' x 8' dinning room 3 meals, including family at Father's day and sharing funny memories. Watching some of the high school kids play soccer with the goal keeper suited up in hockey attire! Who needs an abdominizer to firm those ab muscles? Although one of the busiest weeks of this year, I laughed more during that 5 days than I had all year. That weekend closed out by having surprise of missionary Scott Russell visit our church and having marshmello roast with some friends and those who helped with roof). It is such a special blessing to have people in our home, on our home and around our home, as we did that week. It was some hard work, but well worth it , when it comes down to investing God's word into the lives of others and having investments made into us. Last week Doug and I found out a neighborly practice that is different out here in the country. In the city, if your neighbors may ask you to dog sit or cat sit. Well here, we were asked to chicken - sit... shepherd the chickens, fed them, collect eggs and put them to bed. It was actually an okay experience. I still remember collecting eggs at Brookgreen Farm (family farm) when I was about 10. It just helps to use a calm voice and not constantly try to imitate the Crocodile Hunter (Steve Erwin) in Aussie accent. Unless, your hens are also Aussie. For our 12th anniversary weekend, we went to Wal-Mart to shop, dined at Red Lobster on a gift certificate, went hiking at Old Man's Cave, had a picnic, drove around and then crashed at home.. Then we picked up the daughter at Doug's sister's house. Sunday, being our anniversary, we went out to Breakfast together before church. As of now, we are slowing the pace. We are preparing to witness wedding of a neat young couple in our church this weekend. And, what....Fourth of July coming already.... |
| Greg, S and Doug Just before we left to take Greg to Airport |
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| Front half of shingles removed by Greg, Ben, Jared, Shaun and Doug Below: Phillip Johnson, playing hockey -socc!!! |