Dad and Christopher worked on grinding out the grout at Christopher's house.

Christopher

Meanwhile, the decking was put down and finished on Saturday!

John, and notice who stopped over for a visit and is lending a hand (Anna)?

Jesse

Nathan helped the boys Friday and Saturday

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalms 1:2 ).

We have scrapbooking scheduled for us girls on Thursday afternoons from 3-4:30. Well, with the bus work and our trip, it was put off until we were back to normal life. Today was our first scrapbooking time for quite awhile. It was wonderful to be back at those pictures! We take so many on trips, and we enjoy documenting them in albums. Mom does digital scrapbooking with photo slideshows, which she enjoys displaying on a photo frame she received for a birthday gift. It’s a sweet time of fellowship with all the Maxwell girls!

Please keep praying for Melanie and the baby. Things are still very uncertain, and I know they’re extremely grateful for all your prayers.

My hope is built on nothing less
then Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Sarah

I had opened the back door, and Honey hurried over--she loves the fresh air, and she managed to squeeze in between my scrapbook things.

Today has been a catch up day–it was a chilly, overcast autumn October 12th! The cool weather is a little shock to us after having been in warm weather for awhile. It was delightful this morning to be back to our gathering in our own living room reading God’s Word. It’s Daddy’s favorite time with us, and sometimes it’s hard not to over-chat!

Most things are in order to begin normal life tomorrow. We haven’t forgotten the video. We’ll be posting it sometime tomorrow, Lord willing .

Mom did lots of laundry today.

Anna distributed piles of mail. It had all been neatly sorted when we got home!

Anna, Mom, and Mary--working in the bus.

Mary has been learning to take pictures with my camera.

Joseph, John, and Jesse worked to unload the bays. I just had come around the side of the bus, and Joseph and John were talking.

There was some fall maintenance to be done on the yard, which Jesse did.

Sarah for the rest

“Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psalms 40:5).

When we have a group of conferences in the south, there is a highlight that we like to almost always stop at - and that is our Uncle Rob and Aunt Tami’s house. This trip was no exception! We drove the ten hours from Tampa, FL to her house to spend the night and a few short hours. While we were there, we caught up on some laundry, got the bus washed (which was really needed due to the quantity of Florida lovebugs on the front of the bus), and enjoyed some great fellowship.

Thank you Aunt Tami and Uncle Rob for all your work!

Eating lunch at Aunt Tami's

Mom getting the loads of laundry through the wash.

Anna Ironing

Freshly Pressed Shirts

Jesse and Dad Washed the Bus

Mom and Aunt Tami

In Jesus,
Joseph for the rest

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”
(Philippians 2:13).

The weather has cooled off, and we’re enjoying a beautiful, sunny day, with the wind whistling through several open windows.

We finished the Tampa area conference last night, and we began our drive to Alabama this morning, after a good night’s rest. We are currently driving just past Atlanta. Our conference coordinator and her friend provided dinner beforehand last night. The Lord’s blessing was again evident throughout the evening!

The little girl is looking at the tracts Christopher gave out.

Anna helping at the book tables

Talking...

Two children who enjoy the Moody books. The little girl purchased the newest Moody book with her birthday money.

Watch for another post or two soon!

Blessings,
Sarah for the rest

“The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined” (Psalms 50:1-2).

We had a restful day Monday, catching up on computer work and school for the younger three. Set up went quite smoothly, and we were ready when people began arriving.

Jesse, all on his own, decided to go pass out tracts before our conference started.

Uriah

Boys moving chairs around for the combination youth session...

Often, moms with babies will be in the back listening to the sessions. I thought this was a cute picture.

We like to do several songs after Keeping Hearts and Evangelism. Last night, was unusual, because after the final song, "encore" was heard. So, the family went ahead and played another one. :-)

Talking...

Again, hearts were open and very receptive to what was shared through the evening! We just finished the Tampa area conference. We will be driving all day tomorrow to Alabama!

Sarah

“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).

Anna sharing her testimony

The conference was held at a beautiful, old church.

Another weekend conference is completed, and our hearts are again full of what the Lord Jesus has done. Remember how I said in a recent blog post about sometimes seeing families we haven’t seen for awhile suddenly appear at a conference? Well, Friday, before the conference, Dad was walking down the hallway and a dear family we had met in North Carolina was just stepping out of the fellowship hall! Dad was very surprised and delighted!

We are grateful to the Burke County Homeschool Care Group and Hebron Baptist church for hosting the conference and all they did for it. They provided a meal before the conference Friday evening as well.

Hearts seemed open and receptive to what was shared, and we pray the Lord will bring lasting fruit in the lives of those who attended.

Another first for Uriah--we parked in a funeral home parking lot Friday evening. Someone at the conference owned the home, and let us park there.

Mom, sharing Saturday

Mom talking with several ladies after a session.

This little girl is only 4, and she can read the Moody books herself! Pretty amazing!

Anna with Maddie (btw - happy birthday, Maddie!)

Mr. Layne and Dad (brothers in the Lord!)

A family who had come to our Shelby, North Carolina conference last year.

“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it”
(Proverbs 10:22).

We’re looking forward to the Melbourne area conference Monday night, and then on to Wesley Chapel (Tampa area) Tuesday night!

Sarah

(PS - Remember you can click into each picture to view a larger image. We’re not doing full-size pictures due to how long this blog page would take to load if we did!)

Fall 2009 Conferences (you can click on the map, and it'll take you to the Fall 2009 Schedule)

• September 21st, Cincinnati, OH area (Wilder, KY)
• September 22nd, Cleveland, OH
• September 24th, Sumter, SC
• September 25-26th, Augusta Area, Georgia
• September 28th, Melbourne, Florida
• September 29th, Tampa area, Florida
• October 1st, Birmingham area, Alabama
• October 2-3rd, Knoxville area, Tennessee
• October 5th, Wilmington, North Carolina
• October 6th - Available
• NEW! October 7th - Gospel Bluegrass Concert, Carrollton, Georgia
• October 8th - Carrollton, Georgia
• October 9-10th - Columbus, Georgia

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

We just finished up a wonderful weekend conference in Jacksonville, Arkansas (north of Little Rock). Many families drove a distance to attend, including three families from Texas! We were so blessed by Military Road Baptist Church and their hospitality in allowing us to use their facility.

Hearts were soft and tender throughout the weekend, and we were all blessed beyond measure. It overwhelms us that families will take their precious weekend time to attend these conferences. Thank you to each family who came!

We’re looking forward to a full week ahead:

• Monday evening, Cincinnati area
• Tuesday evening, Cleveland, Ohio
• Thursday evening, Sumter, South Carolina
• Friday evening and Saturday, Augusta Area, Georgia

Blessings,

Sarah

Doing a sound check during set up Friday afternoon

Music Friday evening

Daddy, sharing his heart.

An adorable 4-week-old baby, it was her first outing...

Husband and wife listening to the Hearts session.

Book tables

Cute little girl (notice the sling and her stuffed animal)

A group of little girls surrounding Mom and their mom :-)

This little girl’s father was taking our picture on his phone, so Christopher grabbed a picture.

Christopher talking.

Two couples came up from Dallas, and both couples had just celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary. Here they are with Dad and Mom.

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

We’re on our way again! This time, for over 3 weeks. Yesterday morning, Dad started driving around 5:45 a.m., and we arrived home a little after 3:30 p.m., and hit the home-ground running (literally). Each hour was packed as preparations were finished for the last leg of the trip.

We’re looking forward to the Rogers, Arkansas conference tonight, and the Little Rock Area one this weekend.

Sarah

Jesse washed the bus last night.

Mary cleaned the inside of the bus.

There were boxes to be loaded...

Anna helping prepare

The yard needed to be mowed and edged...

I made sure to carry out my banjo.

“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high” (Psalms 7:17).

We were headed out of town around 1 p.m. this afternoon. All of the family was up until past midnight, and almost half were up until 2:30 a.m. or a little later! Everyone pitched in again this morning, from running errands, to finishing touches on the bus, to trying to get personal things packed, to leaving all the Titus2 shipping things in order for G&G (Grandma and Grandad), and more.

I think this trip is a little unusual in the fact that we will be stopping at home overnight next Wednesday, packing up more books, and then heading to the Rogers, Arkansas conference Thursday. It’s a relief to know if we’ve forgotten something on this month long trip, we can grab it a week into it!

Nathan, Melanie, and Abby had us over for dinner last night, a tradition they’ve been doing to help us out so we don’t have to fix dinner the night before leaving. Melanie must have worked a long time on dinner–it was simply delicious (thanks, Melanie!). We had a nice time in God’s Word after that.

We look forward to seeing some of you in Denver (Aurora) tomorrow night and Saturday.

Blessings,
Sarah

Mom now has a little kitchen . She did a great job in planning and organizing.

Dad, working on wiring last night

Late night

Jesse working on the panel last night.

Last night, around 9:30, we thought that there hadn't been enough bus curtain made. So, I cut a set out, and Mary began sewing. We found later that we HAD done that set!

Jesse, carrying in one of our foam "mattresses" this morning.

Lots of clothes to be brought out.

Saying good-bye to Abby.

Praying before our departure.

It's wonderful to be back on the road again!

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…” (Philippians 3:1).

Okay, I couldn’t resist posting another one quickly. I overheard John walking out of the bus with a guy who had come to do something here, and John asked if he thought we’d be ready in time. I heard a chuckle, and the guy said it depended on how late we were going to stay up.

Anna is the boys' right hand girl. Here she is cleaning out a bunk.

I heard that the water is working on the bus now. Praise Jesus! Thanks for everyone’s encouragement! We’re excited about this trip!

Sarah

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

This will be likely be my last post until we’re officially on the road, and then we can update you with pictures. Another work day has been completed, and our last one is ahead of us. Truly, we ARE grateful for your prayers.

Sarah

Looking toward the back--it's making progress!

Really looking like a home!

Joseph working on cabinet doors

In the bunk area, looking toward the front.

The cabinets above our seating area will provide a lot of storage.

“My times are in thy hand. . . ” (Psalms 31:15).

Our days have been busy as we hurry to get the bus livable before we leave for our next trip. Every week there are new challenges and obstacles to overcome, but God has given grace through the hurdles, and progress is underway. Joseph is currently building our kitchen and other cabinets, which is adding more of a “homey” spark to the bus. Jesse’s project is getting the electrical side of the conversion figured out, while John fills in the gaps with the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and other projects. Dad is now gladly joining the boys as he has finished his ministry project. There is much that has been done and much more that needs to be done in the upcoming weeks, but we are grateful that the Lord has allowed us to make so much progress!

This last week was spent in a variety of ways, including music practice for the song we sang at the funeral of our dear friend that passed away. Saturday morning many of us gathered in the basement for a much needed cleanup. Not to mention in the afternoon we compiled Chore books. With Abigail living around the corner, we enjoy her appearances at our house from seeing her on a walk to devotions to when they pop in for music practice – whenever – we greatly enjoy her! The Lord has blessed this past week filling it up to the brim with expected happenings and unexpected, and we look forward to seeing what He has for these next few weeks as we prepare to leave!

Joseph measuring for cabinets that will go above the driver's area.

Our kitchen cabinets!

John working on the HVAC.

Jesse - compiling chore books.

Shrinkwrapping!

The finished product!

Uncle John and Abigail. There are many happy playmates at Grandpa and Grandma's house!

Abigail loves dogs, and Honey is no exception! Here Uncle Christopher is helping Abigail feed Honey a treat, and Abigail finds this quite fascinating!

In Christ,
Anna

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).

Abigail helping Grandpa open presents

This weekend we celebrated my 58th birthday and, of course, my family was a blessing. I must admit that a birthday when someone is cutting back on food, is not the event that it normally is. It was a first, in that it was the first birthday I have gone to a funeral. It was for a dear sister in the Lord from our nursing home. The children sang and I was able to briefly share. It was a blessing.

I’m reminded of another dear sister which is in stark contrast to my special day. She too is 58 years old. However, she has a serious blood condition, she can’t walk because of another problem and has Parkinson’s. To top it off, one year ago tomorrow, her beloved husband passed away. She has been discouraged lately and it is easy to understand why. She does love the Lord and reads her Bible every day, but this dear, sweet sister could use your prayers. She was doing better after we talked, but would you pray for her tomorrow?

In Christ Jesus,
Steve

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

We’re happy to share that Summer Days was uploaded to the printer’s Monday afternoon! Praise the Lord.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me on this process!

One of our neighbors generously shared some of their fresh, homegrown zucchini with us! We had not cooked with zucchini before, so Mom looked on the Internet for some recipes that used zucchini. She found a few, and we tried this one first. With a bit of modifying, this beef/zucchini pot pie turned out excellently, and every one greatly enjoyed it!

Beef/Zucchini Pot Pie

Beef/Zucchini Pot Pie

Pastry for 2 crust pie, homemade or purchased
1 lb ground beef
1 onion
1 rib celery
5 mini carrots
1 small zucchini
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ cup tomato sauce
½ cup (heaping) Parmesan cheese
1 scant teaspoon dried leaf thyme
2 tsp ground garlic
1 tsp garlic powder/to taste
1 tsp onion powder/ to taste
1 tsp cumin/ to taste
1 tsp chili powder/ to taste
1 ½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Prepare pie crust; divide dough in half for top and bottom crust. Wrap dough portions in plastic wrap; chill for about 30 minutes (a little longer is fine). Prepare filling. In large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef. In a mini food processer chop/grind onion, celery, carrots, and zucchini (I put in a little of the tomato sauce to help it grind better!) Drain excess fat from meat leaving a few teaspoons (there wasn’t much fat when I made ours so I just left it). Add ground onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and zucchini, into the pan with meat. Cook, stirring often! Add spices. Cook until softened – about 10 – 15 minutes. Stir in flour; stir and cook for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese. Set aside while rolling dough.

Roll half of chilled dough out on a floured surface to a circle about 12 inches in diameter; place on an ungreased pie pan. Spoon beef filling into the dough circle. Roll out remaining dough to a circle about 11 inches; place over filling. Fold edges of bottom crust circle over the top circle; pinch to seal all around.

Bake beef pot pie at 400˚ for about 50 minutes. After cooking about 30 minutes, cover with foil for remaining time if the crust is becoming too brown. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

In Christ,

Anna

“He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth” (Psalm 104:14).

Almost every year, Nathan and Melanie host a July 4th neighborhood breakfast picnic. This year due to certain circumstances they changed the picnic to July 11th! Also it was a little different in that many of the neighbors who had been invited weren’t able to come, but we had a delightful time with those who did!

Nathan and Melanie provide sausage and drinks, and everyone else brings a favorite breakfast dish. This year Sarah offered to decorate the table. She did a very nice job, and since she bought some of the decorations the week after the 4th she got them 50% off. We always look forward to this special time each year!

The food tables

Talking

It was a bit warm and humid, but well worth the heat!

Abigail is growing VERY quickly, and we aunts and uncles enjoy every minute with her!

Eating

Here Abigail is petting one of the neighbor's puppies!

Grandad and Grandma are getting better every day!

Melanie talking with some neighbors.

John relaxing after "tear down".

Part of the clean up crew!

In Christ,

Anna

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:35-36).

As we reflect on this day to honor fathers, my heart is grateful for my dad. He has many responsibilities in leading our family and the Titus2 ministry: sometimes, it’s hard for me to imagine how he makes all the decisions he needs to and gives direction to all of us. His desire is to serve the Lord Jesus in everything.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for a man of God who loves us all so much. Oh, and did I mention he also is a great Moody “editor” ?

We like to decorate the door :-).

Dad and Mom

Sarah

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17).

I don’t think Steve has mowed a lawn, except a time or two, for about twenty years since Nathan turned twelve and was given lawn mowing responsibility. All of our son’s have been lawn mowers for our family. Now our youngest son is thirteen, and this is the third year he has been in charge of our lawn plus he mows Grandad and Grandma’s and a few others in the neighborhood.

Not only has Jesse whole heartedly accepted the responsibility for the mowing – which he does with no reminding – but he also has taken on the maintenance of the yard. He observes weeds and pests in the yard, discusses them with his dad, and does research on how to deal with the problem, completing the designated course of action.  Jesse is learning the fertilizing needs of the yard, the fertilizing schedule, plus how to apply it to the lawn. Jesse has learned how to give a lawn mower a tune up, and he is beginning a little mower tune up business in addition to the neighborhood yards he mows. Recently he took a riding mower that was given to him but wasn’t working, did some troubleshooting of it, bought parts for it, fixed it, and sold it for a nice profit.

While Jesse mows and fertilizes, Steve’s time is freed up for his writing. In addition, Jesse is serving the family, being responsible, and developing income-producing skill.

Jesse mowing the lawn.

These are the fruitful years. The Lord has been faithful in teaching us, through His Word, the importance of implanting His Word in our children’s hearts in a practical day-to-day manner. Those years of planting can become discouraging when you give the same encouragement over and over but don’t see the results immediately.

Just as the farmer does what he needs to do and waits for his harvest, so we as parents do what the Lord Jesus calls us to do, looking forward to the fruitful years with expectation not discouragement. “Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5:7).

We, as parents, are the ones who first get to enjoy that fruit that the Lord Jesus produces in our children’s lives. “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits” (2 Timothy 2:6).

Jesse

Trusting in Jesus,
Teri

Last Tuesday as Grandad and Grandma were coming back from a funeral, they were in a serious car accident. They were both taken to the hospital. Grandma has a broken pelvis and Grandad a broken collar bone. We are praising the Lord for His goodness in protecting their lives, as the accident could have been much worse.

Waiting for the ambulance.

Both Grandma and Grandad were wearing seat belts, which probably saved their lives. I remember when we would go to the park with Grandad and Grandma. Grandad would always ask: “Does everyone have their seatbelts on?” before he would start driving. It is a very simple thing to wear a seat belt, and yet so many people fail to take the few seconds that might save their lives!

Getting Grandma from the car.

Preparing to leave for the hospital.

Grandma spent a few nights in the hospital, but she just came home yesterday! We are happy to have her home. Please pray for Grandad and Grandma as they start down the road to recovery!

Grandad recovering!

Grandma just after arriving home from the hospital!

Anna for the family

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” (Psalms 34:7)

Here is a glimpse of a few of the projects that we have been working on this week. Friday the boys filled in some asphalt between the driveway and the street. It was a project that needed to be done, yet other things kept getting in the way. We are happy to have that completed now. Summer is setting in here in Kansas!

Jesse preparing the area for asphalt.

John is laying the asphalt.

Joseph placing the insulation.

We are making good progress on the bus. Here Joseph is cutting some insulation to put back where the bathroom used to be.

Planting flowers (Sarah took this one through the window.)

Mary helped plant flowers in the containers!

Beautiful flowers!

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High” (Psalms 92:1).

Mom

Dad and Mom

Children ARE a precious gift from our Lord. How grateful I am that the Lord blessed our family with eight.

Nathan, Melanie, and Abigail

Christopher

Sarah

Joseph

John

Anna

Jesse

Mary

Sarah for the family

“… but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

Saturdays are filled with various and sundry projects. A sampling of those projects would be taking bus parts to the dump (from the tear out of the bathroom), washing/cleaning out a car, sewing, and restacking a wood pile (the ground is sloped, and it has fallen over twice, so this time, we used stakes!).

Yesterday, Dad painted the first batch of windows.

The result: beautiful, white windows .

The rest of the family did miscellaneous projects yesterday, and Mary cut out a new jumper.

Anna also worked on a jumper.

Christopher shared a very good message today (at church) from Colossians 3 verse 2. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). He challenged us in what we are thinking about during the week. At the end, he used an tangible illustration. I noticed how our dear friends were very interested and loved this example. Christopher showed us what it was like to have someone (Jesse ) trying to walk toward a “goal” (a piece of paper on the floor), but Jesse was looking at a different object. It was hard to stay focused and get to the goal when Jesse was looking away from the goal. Then, he had Jesse look right toward his goal, and he reached it easily. May each of us set our affections on Jesus this week!

Sarah for the family

The first door writing at the new house.

We celebrated Joseph's 20th birthday, and this was a special one, since it was the first one in our new house.

Joseph is a real blessing to our family. He was Dad and Mom's first baby after the Lord changed their hearts on the blessing of children. How grateful we are for him!

Speaking of babies, Abigail is always enjoyed . Here she is with Grandma.

"There are so many interesting things to look at!"

Joseph and Nathan spent many hours yesterday working on a ChorePacks.com server upgrade. It went smoothly, and everything is running efficiently and very fast! Here's Joseph at our server hosting place (thanks, Nathan, for the picture via the cell phone).

May each one of us count the blessings Lord has given us. How the years go by quickly .

Sarah for the family

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalms 1:1-2).