Hailey Rose *photo taken by Carol Anne Hartman

You know you have a large family when you have a conversation like this:

Me:  Our new pastor and his wife have a large family.

Hailey:  How many kids do they have?

Me:  Six.

Hailey:  Oh, that’s not a big family!

According to the to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, one of the definitions of change is to undergo transformation, transition.  Sometimes when God calls us to change, He is having us transition from one place to another so that we may undergo the transformation that God has for us.  Sometimes this time of change can be difficult and bring about many challenges that cause us to be totally dependent upon God.  Other times this time of change is an answered prayer that takes us to a place of renewal and new growth.

For our family, we have been called to a new place in our lives of transition and trusting in the Lord.  God is calling us away from our current place of worship and has us moving in a new direction.  This call has been taking place for the past year and a half.  Praying.  Seeking out the Lord.  Asking Him where He wants us.  No.  He hasn’t called us out of country, or state, or even out of Hickory.  But He has called us to transistion to a new place of worship. 

Has this been an easy change for our family?  Yes and No.  We are obedient to follow Him and trust Him in whatever He has for us.  It has been exciting in many aspects.  We are beginning to feel a new sense of renewal…the renewal that God had planned for us.  It has been hard leaving because of the relationships that have been built.  Trying to assure people that they did nothing wrong.  Trying to explain that this is where God has us and we are being obedient to Him.  Trying to disentangle whatever rumors have gone around for our reasons for this new phase in our life.

Over the past several months, my husband and I have been listening to sermons from two different pastors online here locally in the Hickory area.  Listening and then coming together to discuss.  Visiting these two churches.  Praying.  Seeking God’s will for our lives and our children’s lives.  Being still before God.  Sharing with one another.  In the end, my husband made the final decision today about where we will continue to worship as a family together and build our new family.

Where we are moving has based it’s foundation on Jesus Christ, and they stand on these four pillars:  Declaring the authority of God’s Word without apology, II Timothy 4:2; Lifting His name high through worship, John 4:24; Believing firmly in the power of prayer, Ehpesians 6:18; Proclaiming His good news with boldness, Ephesians 6:19-20.  WORSHIP CHRIST.  WALK WITH CHRIST.  WORK FOR CHRIST.  WITNESS ABOUT CHRIST.  These are truths that are deeply rooted in our hearts.  Truths that Russell and I live by.  We are very excited about this change that God has for us and our children.  New life is beginning to flow through us and it feels AMAZING!

As we are making this transition, we are coming back together with some old friends and making many new ones.  We pray and hope that our relationships with our old place of worship will continue to grow and that there won’t be too many hard feelings towards our family.  We are moving in the direction that God has called us to and we are excited and feel so alive in Him!

Thought I would share some of our family photos from our recent photo shoot with Carol Anne Hartman.  Thanks again Carol Anne.  The photos turned out wonderful!  Here is one.  I will post some more in the next couple of days.

Schweighardt Family 2009Gotta love it when the photographer catches every move we make!! The BoysHailey Rose...our ballerina

Emma Grace looking ever so cute!

Tonight at the supper table we were discussing that Emma has some of her first loose teeth.  One of the kids asked if Emma had lost any teeth yet and so we discussed how Emma had to have a tooth removed and a spacer put in…..

Emma:  Next year I get my spacer out.

Me:  No, Emma.  It will be in until your molar comes in.

Emma:  Motor.  What is a motor?  I don’t want a motor in my mouth!

Me:  A molar is your adult tooth.

Emma:  What does a motor do in my mouth?  I don’t think I want a motor in my mouth!

*Photo taken by Carol Anne Hartman

We got our photos today from Carol Anne Hartman from Legacy Design & Photography.  I am particularly favorable to this photo!  I thought she captured us well!  Still in love.  Eighteen years strong!  Thanks Carol Anne for giving us of your time!  We absolutely loved it! And so did the kids.

Today we went downtown Hickory and saw the annual Christmas Parade.  This year it was even more fun because Anthony was performing in the parade with Clater Kaye Theatre Works.  Here are some pictures from our fun afternoon!

Here I am ready to head to the parade!

Joel Excited for the big parade.

Waiting in anticipation for the parade to start!

Isn't Anthony great!!!

Somehow I forgot to take pictures of some of our crew.  We had a fun afternoon.  The kids came home with loads of candy.  The sun was out and it was family fun for all.  Anthony’s group danced through the entire parade.  I should have followed their group through so I could have seen all of their dances!

We saw the funniest movie tonight!  I laughed and laughed until my sides hurt!  It was a good family movie with plenty of slap stick comedy.  If you want a good laugh you must go see Old Dogs.  The entire theatre was laughing.  Emma Grace loved having the freedom to laugh this evening.  She has a very boisterous laugh and she was free tonight to just do that!

My hubby and I have been listening to an amazing sermon series entitled The Unstoppable Church, by Pastor Kurt Gebhards.  Its about Christ’s plan for His church.  Its worth listening to!

I had my second shoulder surgery on Monday.  I don’t think I had even posted the first one.  I had my right shoulder operated on about a month ago.  On Monday I had my left shoulder operated on.  The surgeries were because I had bone spurs in both shoulders.  Originally they thought I had rotator cuff damage.  God is so good.  No tissue damage on either shoulder!

My right shoulder feels so good now, I am anxious for my left shoulder to heal.  It will be so nice to be pain free.  I have hurt for a long time.  It was very painful at night.  I still have a little ways to go before I get to that point.

Originally my surgery was scheduled for this Thursday.  The doctor was able to move my surgery up because so many people are sick and had to post pone their surgeries.  This worked out great for me because my sister is in town for the week for Thanksgiving.  She has been a life saver for our family this week.  Thanks so much, Monica!!

I’ll have to post a picture of her at a later time.  I am typing with one hand and I am limited with what I can do at this time.  I would appreciate prayers for continued healing.

These are the ingredients for making homemade laundry soap.  The cost: under $5.00 for 10 gallons!  I have been making it since this past Spring.  I absolutely love it.  It cleans great and smells nice.  I got the recipe from the Duggar family.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4  Cups – hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup – Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer “Super Washing Soda” – in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent – It must be sodium carbonate!!

Highly recommend it!  This is the only thing I use.