Ferrol journal – Feb. 27th

Hello to One and All,

    I am so sorry that I have not written in so many days.  We really have been trying to get our lives to a place of normalcy.  The hard part is understanding how this can ever be “Normal”.  I know that our Savior has a plan for each of us and is walking hand and hand with each of us in a very special way, I honestly cannot imagine how my life would have been affected if I did not have the promises from God that He would never leave me nor forsake me.  My heart goes out to those that have loved ones that do not know our Savior for they simply  have not the hope that i hold onto so dearly and that hope is in Jesus Christ.  That because I have placed my faith and trust in Him as did My Love Ferrol, I will one day be reunited with her in Heaven.  Thank you God for your promise from 1 Thes 4:13-17.

    Well, please allow me to catch up on what God has been doing in our lives.  I have been answering some of the many and I mean 100’s of cards that folks have sent to our family.  We cannot thank you enough for the encouraging words that have been expressed thought the many cards we have received.  On Thursday  last week, we received some cards from one of our churches that had their clubbers send notes of encouragement to us.  The very first card was a Golden Nugget from God.  The little girls card read this way ” Hello Noah, I am sorry to hear about your mom, I know what you are going through kind of, my dad died and i got over it, but I still miss him.  I am ten years old and will be praying for you”.  WOW!  What a heart!  When I cannot seem to find the words to say to my precious Angel Noah, God sends the very words that brought a comfort to him that I could not.  Noah looked at me and said: Her dad died?  I said yes and he just kind of glanced up at me as if to say, she really knows what I am going through.  It was a moment I shall never forget.  Thank you God for speaking to Noah through this little girl.

    I may not have told you about a Pastor named Bobby Joiner from Winter Jam but please let me tell you he is an amazing man of God.  If you remember my email about going to the Winter Jam with Goldie and speaking to Eddie Carswell from New Song Fame. Eddie was busy at the concert but wanted to pray with me about our families recent sufferings.  I left the concert to come home when Mercy Me had begun to sing their last song ” I Love you Lord”.  Late that night I got an email from Pastor Bobby wondering why I had left the concert early because at the end of the night Eddie had told him that He had to find me so that they could pray for me and in fact called my name out to come up on stage for them to pray  with me.  Wow!  What a guy!  How does someone like me warrant the prayers from a group of men like them I asked myself as I read the email.  Today I was reminded that the Kindred Spirit is what drew us together and this was just the beginning of a new found friendship between Pastor Bobby and myself.

    Well, we emailed back and forth and he found the emails that I had been sending out everyone to be quite helpful to himself and then asked me to consider coming to the Southaven WinterJam as his special guest and to please bring Noah along that he had to meet us.  Of course we were chomping at the bit to join him.  So off we were to Southaven on Sunday and after a bit of a Security Guard Scare ( aka Barney Fife) in the back by the busses where we were to meet Pastor Bobby  and frustrations by Goldie as she looked for his phone number in my emails, pastor Bobby answered his phone and came to Noah and myself and got us to enter through the back gate after all.  When we went inside and found our seats backstage right next to the huge Sound board we were so excited.  We met “Mandissa” and introduced ourselves to her.  She was so sweet and nice and a powerful performer.  God knew what he was doing when he set her vocal cords up for sure.

    Next we walked up on stage to watch the guys from BMX.  I must say I almost offered to get one of them bikes and show them how I used to, you know, in the old day with my Banana Seat Bike and Chopper front tire, but I thought Nah!  Better leave it for the kids of today.  We came off of the stage and met with Eddie Carswell from New Song.  This was neat because he was the conduit to all of this happening.  He simply listened the prayer request of a hurting husband, just a passing 15 second discussion yet the Holy Spirit pricked his heart and told him he had to locate us.  WOW!  PTL! for folks that are sensitive to the Holy Spirits prompting.

    I know this is long and I promise I will not tell every little detail, but if you know me, the flowers along the path are just as important as the forest all around us.  So we gave them all some of our Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies we had baked from the Doughboys Recipe and then at the end of the night after Mercy Me began to walk off the stage, Tony Nolan the Evangelist, who I might add did an outstanding job of sharing the Gospel.  So many folks stood up when they were prompted after the message,  if you have placed  your faith and trust in God in order to go to Heaven, tonight boldly stand up and share this news with others.  PTL!  I saw folks crying in the stands because for the first time in their lives, their hearts were clean.  Their sin had been wiped away with the blood of Jesus Christ.  He died for them and now the scales had been scraped from their eyes and for the first time they were able to focus in clearly as to who Jesus Christ really is.  How awesome a ministry Winter Jam is.

    Now, on to wrapping this up.  Tony and his lovely wife took Noah and to stand outside the dressing room of Mercy Me and there they came from the back of the stage.  All of them stopped in the hallway, obviously tired from the trip and the song set they had just poured their heart and soul into and now, well now they are taking the time to stop and talk to Noah and Me?  How i felt was just indescribable.  I honestly fell like a Giddy Little School Girl that couldn’t speak at first.  ( I know men that does not sound very Manned Up but you would have thought the same admit it!  Besides, I grew up with four sisters and they marked me to be like that!  Thank you  Sonya, Mary, Derenda, and Marsha!)  I finally got my breath as they asked me what had happened to my Ferrol.  Then after a few minutes of explaining what had happened the Lead Singer Bart looks at Noah and asked him if he had ever played Guitar Hero, and Noah said yes, then before we know it, into the dressing room we went and my son is playing Guitar hero with the Band Members form Mercy Me.  Man!  I look around and I could not believe my eyes.  Bart and i mainly spoke about the last night of My Loves life and how God had been so gracious to allow us to have such a wonderful time with each other. 

       

    After his phone rang three times he went and spoke to his wife and I spoke with another member of the band.  I got to tell you folks, do you remember when Ferrol invited the President of the United States to come to our conference in 2001 and then we were hit by 9-11.  We received the phone call and letter from the Whitehouse explaining that he was sorry that he would not be able to attend because of the current crisis?  Well 2 years later we got to shake hands with president Bush at this same civic center that I was in tonight, but for me, it doesn’t even compare to the thrill of watching some real Christian Men meet the needs of the heart of another Christian man and his son the way that Mercy Me did.  What they personally did for me and my family I will never be able to thank them enough for, I can only offer to pray for them as often as I can remember to, that they would be safe as they travel, that they would put God First and their family second and all other things behind those two.  I pray that God will continue to give them wisdom to write songs that bless the hearts of the listener and that through their songs many would place their faith in Christ either for salvation or for Grace to carry them through the difficult time they are facing. 

    I cannot tell you hard it is to even breathe at times because I miss Ferrol so much.  She was my everything and I promise that I tried to love her as much as I could as hard as I could all of the time.  I was not without my faults for certain, but I cannot think of a single time when I wished my wife had been a better mother to my children.  Ferrol and I had a unique relationship, I miss her laugh, I miss her mischievous tricks, I miss her hugs and I miss the beautiful red hair I fell in love with in 1986 as I listened to the the song “My Lady in Red”.  Oh, the pain seems so unbearable as I think of her, but what a blessing that out of all of the women in the world, God looked out to the one from a little town called “Fate” in Northern Texas and said ” This ones for you sir, you shall do great things for me if you trust Me”.  Oh, how we trusted when we stepped out on faith to become missionaries.  We struggled at times yes, but we trusted that God would take care of our needs and he always did and always will.  Phil 4:19 promises us that. 

    I know that this has been far to long a writing, please know that each word in mind was as important as the next in order for me to best explain how God is meeting our needs.  Continue to lift us in prayer, for we were to go to  a counselor on Monday however he became ill so we will be going Thursday at 5:00 p.m.  Goldie has been given permission to hire on as our office assistant in lieu of Ferrol’s home going and as of late last night she took a notepad out and began to prioritize what she wanted to clean up in the office and files that need to be filed and by the end of the night had a list of about a dozen item’s to begin working on.  She is so excited to take this role on, so please pray that she will accomplish God’s will in her life through this job.  And pray for me that I don’t go banana’s when she starts to discard my stuff!  LOL.  We love each of you within my writing.  Bobby Joiner!  You are a true man of God and please keep the www.jesuscafe.org letters coming.  thank you all so much for loving us through the loss of our Precious Ferrol.  May God richly bless and keep you all safe in His arms

PS  Many of you have sent cards and letters and I am trying answer all of them but I also have some being answered by My wife’s best friend Lisa and other ladies from the church.  I cannot tell you how much your words of encouragement and the funds that have been sent mean to our family, many unexpected needs have a risen and your gifts have definitely met each of these needs.  We are overwhelmed each day by God’s people loving us the way they do.  Oh, do not let me forget the Small Freezer that was brought to our garage and the kind ladies of our church that filled it with Casseroles and pizzas and individual desserts and individual servings of food for our family.  I do not want to leave a single person out, you know who you are and more importantly, Our Savior knows who you are. 

^{Mathew 25:37} Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  ³⁸  when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?    ³⁹ when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?    ⁴⁰  and the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

We shall forever be grateful to Friendship Baptist Church for all of their help as our Home Church.  Thank you each and everyone.

                                                                                                                            The Sipes Family

                                                                                                                             TJ, Goldie, Terry John, Jacob and Noah.

Ferrol journal – Feb. 25th

Hello One and All,
I wanted to send this to each of you because even at the same time
this storm was going over 400 of you were on your way to Ferrol’s Calling
hours in New Albany.  I cannot tell you how much it meant to our family that
you would come in the midst of a storm like this.  God’s hedge of protection
was clearly around us.  Please pray for those that lost loved ones due to
this storm and for those that were injured.  I will be sending an updated
email on what God is doing in our lives soon.

TJ Sipes

This is a pretty awesome story.  I thought you might enjoy reading.
(Sorry if you get this more than once … you may be in more than one
of my groups)

Kenny

****************************************************************************

FIRST-PERSON: My experience in the Union tornado
By Heather Martin

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–I was in the Feb. 5 tornado that hit Union
University.  Around 5:30 p.m., I was studying at Books-a-Million,
planning on riding out the storm there. After a few phone calls from
concerned friends, I decided to return to campus. The weather began to
change. It was stormy but felt like just an ordinary, frustrating
tornado drill. I was stressing that I wasn’t going to get much
studying accomplished.

 About two minutes before the tornado hit, my roommate, Suzanne Short,
who is also an RA (resident adviser), ran into our room and said, “Get
in the tub,  now!” My roommates and I headed to the bathroom, along
with three girls from upstairs, and we got into the tub. Our ears
started popping due to the pressure change. The lights went off. Hail
was pounding our building. I was almost in the tub when the tornado
hit.

Everyone asks, “Did it sound like a train?” It sounded like a thousand
trains.  The noise was incredible. It was a roar. I felt my legs being
pulled up by the force. Then, everything collapsed. A tremendous
amount of pressure just kept pressing us. Some of us were screaming.
It pushed the breath out of me, so I couldn’t scream.

As quickly as it came, it left. And then there was an eerie silence and
darkness. I couldn’t see anyone in the tub with me. It was so hard to
breathe. A wall pressed down across my back, and my legs hadn’t made
it into the tub. They were pinned between a wall of debris and the
edge of the tub.

One of the girls had her cell phone and thankfully could move enough
to call 911. My initial thoughts were: Every student on campus is
either dead or trapped like we are. This is where I am going to die.
No one will ever find us. We will be here for days and we won’t last
that long. In the darkness, we accounted for each other and tried to
calm each other down.

I assessed my situation. My legs we re pinned, but I felt no pain.
Breathing was my biggest issue. I began to think about what my death
would be like. I only had a small pocket of air and my whole body was
compressed. I realized I was going to pass out and then I would be
with Jesus. That may sound morbid, but it allowed me to not panic
about the process of my death.

At that point, I realized someone next to me was breathing her last
breaths. I had no idea who it was. I called out Julie’s name; the
breaths were interrupted, and she responded. My heart sank. I told
Julie to breathe, not talk. I was positioned on top of her in such a
way that if I moved, she either couldn’t  breath or it caused her
excruciating pain. I cannot begin to describe the fear in my heart
that this precious person was going to die underneath me. I prayed
aloud. I quoted Scripture. At some point I found another friend’s hand
and she was praying as well. After realizing this would most likely be
the night of my death, I was able to move on and focus on simply
breathing. At one point I had to tell Julie I was out of breath and
couldn’t pray out loud anymore, but that I was still praying in my
heart and mind. This was not me being strong or brave or courageous.
It was the power of Christ in me. He guided me in my thoughts. He
helped me to focus on breathing, praying and helping encourage Julie
to breathe. The whole experience was terrifying but God was in the
midst of us. I recall at times just crying out: “God, You are here.
Give us strength.”

At one point, Kellie Roe calmly said, “Heather, it’s going to be OK.”
Kellie doesn’t recall this, but God spoke through her in that moment.
I had an overwhelming sense of peace — not because I was confident we
would be rescued from the fact we were either going to join Christ in
heaven or He was going to sustain us and leave us here on earth for a
little while longer. When rescue teams arrived, they heard muffled
sounds under the pile of debris that used to be my dorm room. There
was 15 feet of rubble on top of us. They had to remove it by hand.
Julie’s breathing was erratic and she was in and out of consciousness.
As rescuers neared our tub, it was terrifying because the debris
shifted and the pressure increased. Several of the girls were
screaming.

Finally, light broke through.  But Julie wasn’t doing well. I couldn’t
move because it hurt her and she couldn’t breathe. Her neck was
exposed in such a way that if the rescuers slid the debris off, her
neck would snap. She told me I had to tell them where she was. The
rescue workers told us not to scream and panic, because they thought
we were in pain each time we did.

Then, I saw one of the firefighter’s face. I screamed at him: “I am
not panicking. You have to listen to me. There is someone stuck under
me and if I move she can’t breathe. Her neck is exposed, so you can’t
slide the debris. “You have to lift it.” When they lifted off the main
piece, for the first time in 45 minutes we could breathe in fresh air.
They got the other girls out and Julie and I were left. They tried to
get me next, but my legs were still pinned. So, they got Julie out.
Then, a firefighter came and held my torso and head. He kept telling
me, “We’re going to get you out of here.” It took a lot of maneuvering
and strength on the part of the rescuers because I couldn’t feel my
legs enough to pull them out myself. A 2×4 next to my right knee –
between the edge of the tub and mass of debris — kept just enough of
the pressure off of my legs so that I didn’t completely lose blood
flow to my lower extremities. It saved my legs.

We were rescued. We sustained only minor injuries. I ended up being
taken to the emergency room because I passed out, but it was just from
the shock. My body is intact. I am now walking around without a limp
and I am just experiencing pain from the strained muscles in my back.

As I reflect over Tuesday night, I see the Lord. I cannot explain our
survival and the fact that there were no fatalities aside from the
fact that God loves us a whole lot and He is not through with us here
on earth. The destruction and chaos of Tuesday night is incredible.
The amazing power, strength, grace and love of Jesus Christ is the
only explanation I have to offer. In the midst of the chaos and
rubble, He knew how each board, each brick, each piece of metal and
concrete was placed and He protected us.

Another thought that keeps recurring is the testimony of the father of
a friend who was killed in an avalanche a month ago. She died and her
brother made it out. Their father said, “Our God saves. He saved Nick
from the avalanche, and He saved Lygon unto Himself.” Those words ring
so true of my experience.

I have struggled in the past with my faith, wondering if I w ere truly
saved, wondering what my last thoughts would be. Well, now I know. My
last thoughts were: God has me. Either way I am OK. I will either join
Him in heaven or He will save me for yet a little while longer here on
earth.

I lived through a tornado. However, I am not fearless. The next few
months actually are a scary thought to me right now. I have a lot to
work through. There are sounds and feelings stored in my memory that
are terrifying and paralyze me at times. My dear friend almost died
underneath me. I am struggling to come to grips with that. I am
struggling to sleep because there are so many vivid images and
feelings when I shut my eyes. However, I find hope in this: God knew,
as I lay pinned in that tub, that I would make it out. He is the One
responsible for getting me out. Simply put, He is not through with me
yet. He already knows what each and every second of the next few weeks
and months hold for me, my friends and family. Knowing that gives me
hope; it keeps me going. He sustained me through Tuesday night and He
will continue to sustain me in the days that follow.

My friend Beth McDowell, a nurse who was on site at Union Feb. 5 and
was with me as they were putting me onto the stretcher, quoted these
verses to me: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck
down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

As you have read my story, you’ve read a lot about God. It may sound
odd if you don’t know Him personally. But here’s the truth: I cannot
explain ANY of the events of Tuesday without acknowledging that God
was there. He sustained and covered us all with His protection. I
should not be alive today — but I am because He still has plans for
my life here on earth. He is good. If you don’t know Him, you need to.
He loves you. He wants a relationship with you. I pray that through my
story, you have caught a glimpse of who He is. His love. His
sovereignty. His strength. His grace. And ultimately, His salvation.

Heather Martin is a junior at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

Ferrol journal – Feb. 21st

Hello to One and All,

Well I know that it has been a few days since I have written to you all.  Many different facets of our lives are changing and it takes me a bit of time to adjust to each one.  Imagine as you look at the beautiful Diamond on your finger and how many different facets you examined for flaws when you selected it.  We too must examine each facet of our lives for flaws in our faith.  II Corinthians 13:5.   While many of you have written to me and told me of how it seems that my faith is so strong, and indeed it may appear to be that way, please know that any strength that may come to light, only comes from the Lord I serve.  I had no idea that my children were as strong as they are and I just want you to know that they, my children, have given me strength as I have watched them March boldly into their new futures.

The other night Noah was having a tough time and found himself crying into his mothers pillow as I was downstairs preparing my lovely daughter Goldie her favorite Chocolate Fried Pie.  Jacob was the first to notice Noah and came to me with the information.  I immediately left Jacob at the helm of finishing the cooking process of the Fried Pies.  (not exactly my brightest moment, so I thought but I was wrong).  I ran to Noah and spoke with him for a few minutes and he stopped for a small amount of time.  I called my sister Mary to see if she could console his broken Spirit  but to her dismay, she was unable to bring complete comfort to Noah.  She even talked to him about Shamoo and how much he wanted to go to Sea World in Florida but even that only brought a nominal smile. We will be trying to get Mary to come back up for a weekend as soon as she can, she seemed to be able to connect with him well.  BTW!  Please recall where i left off with the fried pies?  Well, the house was a bit smoky, however, Jacob had been watching me make the pies so he made one and friend it for me.  What a blessing, I know all of my kids are going to be great cooks one day.  Ferrol and tried teaching them everyday to do so.  Thanks Jake!

I came back upstairs and found him crawling under the covers, and as I tapped his head I asked, where is the turtle going?  And he told me through his light whimper that he was just tired.  I said “Noah”?  Would you please get up and take a walk with me?  He said, “a walk?”  To wit I replied, Yes, I would like to go outside and walk and see what we find.  Wow!  What a God Moment in my life.  I have begged God for wisdom to minister to each of my children precisely as they each had need and this was just what Noah needed.  Yes it was cold outside and no I did not have shoes on and no I did not have a coat on nor did Noah, I am finding that spontaneity is best with he and I.

We walked out and saw the stars sparkle brighter than i have ever seen.   The moon was nearly full and all Noah could do was begin to talk about Astrology and how Awesome God is.  This opened the door for me to say to Noah;  You know Noah?  We serve a God that looked in to the future some years ago and must have thought what an Awesome young man you would become if he could somehow manage to allow me to greet your mother and eventually become friends.  Not just friends like I am friends with Adam and Donna, or Lisa and DeWayne or others, but I have been so blessed to have know Ferrol for over 21 years.  She was truly my best friend in all of my life.  He looked up at me and thought for a moment, “Yes sir, you are blessed and I am too.  She was a great mommy he says.  Yeah!  She was and will still be living through us.  What an Kid!  God blessed me with some of the most challenging children that a family could ask for, but He also blessed me with 4 Nuggets of Gold that have been set on a path of righteousness from a young age and I believe that their mothers legacy will live on forever in and through each of them.

Noah came inside with me and went straight to bed and off to sleep.  Now, I must say, he got up on Tuesday and simply could not talk.  It seemed as though he had something on his mind and in fact he did, he wanted to know if he could stay home with Goldie and I and travel to Southaven, MS.  I said he sure could and off we went to spend the day.  Noah went to be with is best friends Jonathon, Joshua and their little sister Jordan.  He had a great time away and seemed to be what he needed to help him forget bout his grief for a moment of time. 

Long story to be short, Goldie and I had a great time shopping for her some dress clothes for work and church.  I had not shopped with my daughter in quite a while, but having been raised with 4 sisters, believe you me, I was all about some “Retail Therapy”.  Goldie is so beautiful and I wanted so badly for her to find something special to help her feel good and finally she did find something that worked out just great.  I am so proud of my daughter, she is so strong.  Her mother taught her well and she has picked up enough Ferrol and enough TJ to round her life out and has become a great asset to each of her brothers and myself.  Please continue to keep her specifically in prayer.  God bless,

 

TJ

I will try to update soon.

http://www.legacy.com/StarBeacon/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=102756995

Ferrol journal – Feb. 16th

Hello to One and All,

I want to thank those of you that have sent encouraging words about my writings.  It really does seem to help me to cope with my grief to allow others to share with me what we are going though.  I know that some of you knew Ferrol and I as well as the kids watched the Reba McIntyre show when it was still on TV.  Perhaps it still is.  Well, I bought tickets to take Ferrol to see her on Valentine’s Day and kept them a secret from her.  (a daunting task I might add).  When they came in the mail two days before she passed away, Ferrol asked me what I was putting in the Credenza desk drawer and I told her not to worry it was my Valentines Day gift to her.  She again asked me what it was and I explained to her that she did not need to keep asking but to wear her outfit that she wore when she came and picked me up at the airport in Tupelo when I returned from Chicago. 

Well, needless to say I had forgotten about them until the day before her funeral and when I found them I turned to my beautiful daughter and asked her if she would please go out with her daddy to see Reba and when she said yes I just melted into her arms.  She is such a wonderful young lady.  She has been taught by one of the best and is handling many things in ways that I never could have.  We went out to Bonanza to eat dinner first ( I know, what a cheap date huh?) we left to late to go to Olive Garden or some other fancy restaurant like that, but nonetheless, we had a great meal.

When we arrived, within moments we discovered it had been a long time since we had been to a concert that was not solely Christian artists.  Well, it did not take long and we found seats in the back of the auditorium that were right in the middle and we could see the singers on the large screen and hear the music much better.  I must say, that we had a marvelous time and I cannot tell you how much it means to me that my daughter was willing to sacrifice her Valentine’s Day with her fiancé’s Brian in order to hang out with her Pops.  What a Champ! 

Please continue to pray for us as last night was a bit of a struggle.  For the first time since Ferrol’s Passing  I was completely alone at home.  Goldie was at work, Terry John was at the High School Basketball game, Jacob was with his friend Carly and her sister an mother and Noah did not come home but rather, he stayed at his friends home.  Now keep in mind that I know and had to remember that I am never completely alone because I know that God will never leave me nor forsake me so I found some Bible Verses to read and it began to help.  I know that I am on a different playing field and I simply have to adjust to the new rules.  when I was on the old field, there were constants.  Ferrol constantly called and checked on me when I was on the road, she constantly cleaned the home when I left because this was when she worked best.  I loved her so very much and as I stated before, I long to be united with her again one day. 

Thank you for allowing me to share yet another passage of our lives without Ferrol.  Earlier today, Jacob brought me breakfast in bed, two biscuits, two sausages and scrambled eggs.  WOW!  What a blessing that he loved to help his mother to make breakfast foods.  He then went outside and began to bounce his basketball and shoot baskets.  I could hear him from our bathroom window and decided to get up, go outside, and shoot some hoops with him. We did so for a little while and then I went on to trim the Crepe Myrtle, and we discussed Ferrols Passing away and how it was affecting him.  What a wonderful few moments of time with my son.  He is doing okay but is extremely quiet for certain.  Please pray specifically that God  will give Jacob the grace to open up in his time and not bottle it up inside.  

Thanks again for reading my writings and if it becomes a problem for any of you please let us know  We love you all very much and look forward to meeting you in the future.  The Bible Quiz was rescheduled today and our ministry team stepped up  and did a wonderful job with many volunteers to help.  Thank you Lord that you are meeting the needs of the ministry in my absence.  God bless,

TJ 

Ferrol journal – Feb. 16th

Hello to One and All,

I would like to thank each of you that have sent emails back to encourage my family in the passing of My Love.  I know that many of you rehearse in your mind the precise words you will speak to us and then once they roll off your tongue, the sting of whether it was the “Right thing to say” hits you.  I promise each of you from the bottom of my heart, simply hearing from you is such a blessing to me that I hope that you do not stop but continue to do so.  The Right Words?  what is “the right thing to say”?  I cannot begin to tell you what I would say to someone in my position, I can say this, my strength is coming from the Lord through each prayer that you lift on our behalf and each communiqué we receive.  We simply could not make it as well as we are without the prayers of our saints. We love you all so very much.

Well, I would like to take a moment to share a bit of our family with you.  Even when Ferrol and I were living our lives with each other before we became Christians we had established the Evening Meal as an Institution of our family.  We would see many families prepare their meals in their homes and then each individual would fix their plate and off  they were to the Living room, bedroom or some other area of their home to enjoy their meal alone.  Well we were not like that.  We believed that many problems could be better discussed and issues solved around the Evening Meal, many praises were offered to each of our children around that table and it only became sweeter when we became Christians in 1991.

We have so many wonderful memories around the table of our feasts.  Anyone who knew Ferrol knows how much she loved to have big meals for folks.  We have had so many of our friends over for so many dinners and I cannot begin to tell you how many of our children’s friends have learned for the first time to Pray for their meal because of the influence of Ferrol and our family.  Many times kids wanted to be with our family because of the comfort level they felt around Ferrol.  If she was teasing you, you quickly came to know that she loved you and accepted you.  

Our meals around the table had begun to slide in recent weeks with Goldie living in her own apartment, and Terry John practicing for the Lead role in the Sussical on April 11, 2008 and Jacobs football practice.  About one week before Ferrol passed, she was so excited that all of the kids had gathered once more around that table along with Brian, (Goldie’s Fiancé).  How she beamed with joy, I am missing that terribly right now I must say.  I can see her standing at the counter dipping the cheap ravioli into the egg and bread crumb mixture and making what was so bland become a such delectable delight for my children.  And yes, she had individual metal cups for dipping sauces for her toasted ravioli.  There was definitely a sharp tone spoken if caught ”Double Dipping”.  Thank you Ferrol for being the constant in our lives.

Thank you Ferrol for helping me to enjoy evening meals with our family, for holding that institution in highest regard.  My recommendation to each of you reading this would be, take that time to sit with each other and enjoy each other.  Yes there may be sometimes when you cannot possibly meet around the Evening table, but as much as you can, (and take it from one who would love to have our precious Ferrol at our table again)  make that time with each other more meaningful.  It will change your lives forever.

Now, I know that many times folks live their lives in such a way that it appears as though Beaver Cleaver must be member of their family.  We were not the cleavers by no means.  Most folks that knew our family intimately found that we were the same in the home as we were out of the home, much of that is owed to Ferrol Sipes and the standard that she set for us and were expected to meet.  She kept my kids in line with a look but she met heartfelt needs with yet a soft and tender glance.  I would watch her hold her arms open and it was almost a battle to see who would acquire the first hug of the afternoon.  Folks, I am hurting right now as I write this because there is now a void of hugs that my burly body just simply cannot satisfy that craving for.  I will say that I am receiving many more hugs these days but my prayer is that it will be enough for them.  Please continue to pray.  May God bless each of you.

TJ Sipes Sr.

     

Virtual Guest Book for Ferrol Lee Steele Sipes

Archived copy of the Virtual Guest Book created by the Ohio Star Beacon Obtiuary Section which was available from Feb. 6th – March 6, 2008.

	February 25, 2008
	Dear TJ and family,  How we pray for you as you get into new patterns with Ferrol in Heaven and you still here on earth. It is so amazing how much more real the hope of heaven becomes when we have someone we cherish like you do Ferrol. I can only imagine what fabulous reunions we’ll have! And then all of eternity. What a blessed promise. We will continue to hold you up in prayer and close in our hearts. Much love for you, Dona and Jack Eggar
	Dona Eggar (St Charles, IL)
	February 23, 2008
	TJ you and the kids are in our prayers.we know Ferrol is watching over her family, If we could touch half as many lives as Ferrol touched this world would be a much better place. we love you all. A.W. and Diann Steele
	A.W. Steele (Lavon, TX) Contact me
	February 19, 2008
	Ferrol was such a special person. I have fond memories of how she helped us feed the kids supper each night of our VBS at Calvary. She was so dedicated to her children and loved being a mother. She will be greatly missed and it is still unbelievable that she has left this life so suddenly. I am confident though that God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. I pray that her closest loved ones will be comforted by God’s love and His precious Holy Word.
	April Dailey (Horn Lake, MS)
	February 18, 2008
	Life tends to throw us curve balls that leave us unsure how we could have ever expected that unexpected thing to happen.But as brothers and sisters in Christ we know that nothing ever surprises our God. He knows all things and is prepared to help us in the wake of what we feel are life’s tragedies. Feeling the sting of death can feel like drowning at times but just like Peter, if we choose to reach out to the Lord, His hand is always outstretched to grasp ours. Helping us to rise above the level of destruction we fear.Ferrol has stepped into eternity and I believe she is walking in the place that the Lord promised to prepare for her, as He is also preparing a place for each of us who follow Him.We’ll see you soon Ferrol and until then we promise to pray for your loved ones…whom God will strengthen and guide into all that He has for them. We know you are not worried because you have now seen the face of Him who has saved us.
	Brenda Mowdy (Dekalb, MS) Contact me
	February 18, 2008
	T.J. We are very sorry to hear about your lose. Halls Westside AWANA is praying for you and your family.
	Kim Wilson (Halls, TN)
	February 16, 2008
	Hey Mr. T.J., Mrs. Ferrol was my craft buddy at camp. Every day I would go in to do some crafts and would be greeted by her smiling face. I know that as of right now, there is nothing I can say or do to make this any better. But, I can pray, and I know, because AWANA taught me this…that God is Sovereign, and that He can and will heal and bring peace to you and your family. That is my prayer. Thank you for investing in my life through your ministry to my awana region. You and Mrs. Ferrol have changed my life. ~Stephanie Smith (ECC)
	February 15, 2008
	Mr. Sipes, I was saddened to hear about Mrs. Sipes. Know that i am praying for you and the family. I know God will take care of you. Stay strong.
	Cameron Kinsey (Santa Clarita, CA) Contact me
	February 15, 2008
	TJ and Family Me and Scott want you to know that your family is in our prayers! WE LOVE YOU!
	Scott and April Steele (Lavon, TX)
	February 15, 2008
	Hello My Love,Words alone cannot express how much I loved you, I hope that my actions were sufficient. I will forever be grateful that God placed me in your path and in 1986 and allowed me to walk that path with you for over 21 years. You were the very air I breathed and your beauty was like none other. I long to be with you again in Heaven. Thank you for becoming my soulmate in life and for meeting my needs in ways that only you could have. The last hour of your life with me will be forever etched in my heart and mind, I simply cannot thank my Savoir enough for allowing us to be together laughing and watching tv and discussing our beautiful daughters future plans and the future of the three strong young men that God had given to us. I promise with all of my heart, all of my soul and with all of my might that I will continue to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We worked hard to train them up in the way that they should go and I know that you will hear “Well done though good and faithful servant”. Our Life Verse: Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.I love you.Your Husband ’til Death do us part!TJ
	TJ Sipes (Ecru, MS) Contact me
	February 14, 2008
	I am so sad that Ferrol is gone. She was my closest cousin but we were more like brother and sister. We spent every summer together when we were children laughing and playing. It was some of the best times I can ever remember.Then ourlives took us different ways and have not seen her or talked with her in several years, I am sorry Ferrol that i did not keep in contact with you.You were always the Brightest Ray of sunshine and laughter. You will always be in my heart. God bless you and your family.Chris Bridges
	Chris Bridges (DALLAS, TX) Contact me
	February 14, 2008
	We are so sorry for your loss. We pray that the Lord sends you strength and mercy to face the days and nights ahead. May your minds be over flowing with wonderful memories of your precious wife and mother and your hearts comforted by the love of Christ Jesus.
	Deborah Turner (Selmer, TN)
	February 12, 2008
	You and your family are constantly in our thoughts and prayers here at First Baptist Church in Cleveland, MS. I am amazed at how well you are doing, but then again I am not surprised—your faith explains it all. All things are possible through HIM!!!
	Lisa Pinkerton (Cleveland, MS)
	February 12, 2008
	TJ as I read your entries and those written about you, I am so encouraged with the love and expression you and Ferrol had for each other and everyone that you came in contact with over the years in the AWANA ministry. The grief is great but your strength and love in the Lord is undeniable. You and Ferrol exemplify the lives we all strive for. May God continue to bless you and your family and guide and watch over you.
	Kim Edwards (Brandon, MS)
	February 11, 2008
	TJ – Your family is in our prayers!
	Kathy Hogel (Bartlett, TN)
	February 11, 2008
	TJ AND FAMILY,WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU ALL WE ALL KNOW YOU ARE STRONG AND GOD’S GIFT TO YOU ALL MRS.FERROL WILL ALWAYS WATCH OVER YOU ALL SHE IS HOME WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER THEY WILL ALWAYS WATCH OVER AND GUIDE YOU ALL DON’T FORGET WE ALL LOVE YOU FAMILY IN CHRIST
	(BLUE SPRINGS, MS)
	February 11, 2008
	Terry,We will continue to keep you and your family in our prayers. Please know that we are here for you along with many other friends who grieve with you and your family. May God continue to bless you.Love,
	Denise (Naskali) Grcevich (Chagrin Falls, OH) Contact me
	February 11, 2008
	We are praying for you and the family. We love you all so much.
	Joel and Veronica Culberson (Topeka, KS)
	February 10, 2008
	TJ, We are all praying for you and everyone in your family. Your dedication and service to the Lord encourages us. Please know that you and your family are loved by many people.
	Aimee Bradley (Starkville, MS) Contact me
	February 10, 2008
	T. J. and Family,I received a shock when I visited your web site today. Know that each of you are in out thoughts and prayers. Please know that your family has been a blessing for many years to us and we grieve with you. However, we also rejoice in her salvation. God Bless you my friend.
	Theresa Randles (Meridian, MS) Contact me
	February 9, 2008
	TJ and family,Our prayers are with you. May God give you comfort during this time.
	Jamie and Donna Root (Bolivar, MO)
	February 9, 2008
	Dear TJ and Family, We love you and are praying for you. If there is anything that Rita or myself can do please let me know.
	Danny Ballard (Wiggins, MS) Contact me
	February 9, 2008
	Dear Sipes family, My prayers continue to be with you during this time. We will never understand the why but just know that even during this time, your family shared the love of God in an awesome way. Noah, your strength and witness during this time has been unbelievable. I consider it a blessing to have met you and will continue to pray for you and your family.
	Mike Primeaux (Germantown, TN) Contact me
	February 8, 2008
	T. J. and Family, My deepest sympathy for you and your children. Know you all being held up in prayer and loved very much!
	Lois Matlock (Horn Lake, MS) Contact me
	February 8, 2008
	May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
	Lily Ellis (Hernando, MS) Contact me
	February 7, 2008
	We’re praying for you and your kids here in Maryland! Wishing you His strength during this rough road.
	James King (Finksburg, MD)
	February 7, 2008
	Terry ~~ I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Please take care of your family and yourself.The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God.
	Jennifer Warren-Venczel (Brook Park, OH)
	February 6, 2008
	My heart goes out to you Terry, I’m so sorry to read of your loss. It seems like only a few years ago we were in school, but the years fly by, and we all go our separate ways. Know that all of your old school friends care, and are praying for peace in your family’s hearts and lots of great memories together. Take care, ole friend.
	Kristina Swann (Willoughby Hills, OH)

Ferrol journal – Feb. 13

I must apologize to everyone that I have not written in my journal in a while. I went to sleep about 11:30 pm tonight and awoke about 2:00 am. Sleep seems to be quite sporadic these days. I have been quite busy with seeking Birth Certificates and Marriage License and other such important documents. I finally found Noah’s BC yesterday after ordering one the day before. Why Ferrol would have stored it in an envelope that had Terry John’s Drivers License information I will never know, but I emptied every envelope in our file box until I found it. Thank you Lord. (What a beautiful gift my love left for me in one of the folders. It was an anniversary card from 1995. I want each of you to know that several days in my life I have thought I could be a better father to our children, but I must tell you, I cannot think of a single moment in time when I felt or believed that Ferrol could have been a better mother to our children. She embodied motherhood to the fullest extent, though some will say that she smothered our children with text messages and phone calls, she knew the grace to extend to each of them so that she could keep this open line of communication available. I personally am a better husband and hope to be a better father for her steadfastness in the Lord).

When I last wrote, I had basically left off at the point of graveside. After we finished there we went to our home church where both our families and many friends found a banquet that the ladies and gentleman of our church had prepared for them to enjoy. It has been amazing to see how many saints have been active in ministering to our family. I will never be able to repay everyone, I simply long for the day when I can be an under rower (Servant) for some one else that finds they are in need.

I would like to thank my wife’s family for traveling and being with us and helping with all that they did. Ferrol would have loved seeing our newest nephew Trent Reese Gibson. You see, three years ago, Amy (Ferrol’s Niece) was going to have a little girl and she scheduled the birth to be on my Birthday April 4th. Well the plane ticket was purchased for me to see the birth of this beautiful little girl named Aubrey, however, I had to change the name on the ticket because Ferrol simply could not handle me going and she not being there for Amy. I willingly gave her my ticket and shall never regret my decision. This, one of the times I was given a feather for my cap!

Many of Ferrol’s family had to leave the day of her funeral and the others left the next day. Ferrol’s brother Larry had to travel home and have surgery which came back with no blockage. PTL! I truly am grateful for my other family and will soon spend time with them again in Texas. My oldest sister Sonya was able to make it over the night of Ferrols Calling hours and looked wonderful considering the health issues she has encountered over the past 2 years. Many of you have prayed for her for which I am very grateful. Sonya had to travel back to Nashville late Wednesday evening too. Please continue to lift her in prayer.

My other 3 sisters, along with two of my nephews were able to stay until Saturday morning. What an awesome blessing they have been to me and my children. You know, a mother seems to be able to meet every need of a child, and as I watched my sisters Mary, Derenda and Marsha I saw that it took all three to try to scratch the surface of meeting the kids needs. Each in their own way they uniquely helped my children to cope. The three of them went into Noah’s Room and completely organized his room for him for which he was extremely grateful, Terry John on the other hand, was not as pleased with the order in which they tried to get him to put his room in. Two completely different personalities. LOL

I must leave for now, but I will update soon. God bless you and have a great day. Please pray for my family that God would bless them for their efforts in ministering to each of us. We love and pray that God will comfort all of us with the grace that only he can extend.

TJ Sipes

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you.” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Various posts…

Read a blog entry from TJ’s pastor about TJ and Ferrol

Read an obituary in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Read an obituary from the Ohio Star Beacon

Read an obituary in the New Albany News-Exchange

Virtual Guest Book

Sign the virtual guest book, created by the Ohio Star Beacon …

Ferrol journal – Feb. 11th

On Wednesday Morning we had two beautiful Servants from our church yet again, bring quick breakfast foods. both of our families have been absolutely amazed at what they are witnessing and how each of you are ministering to them. I will never be able to thank each of you that have had a part in this, but I will try, I promise.

As we began to prepare to dress it was so wonderful to watch the little girl that I once twirled in the park on a merry-go-round; the one I witnessed winning the Little Miss River City Classic Beauty Review of 1991 in Memphis, TN . You know Goldie, the brave young teen that took a seat in in the praise band of our church as a saxophonist in the 7th grade; I recall how proud her mother was when the Police Explorers that Goldie was a member of, had the privilege of helping with Security for President George Bush’s trip to Desoto County, MS. Yes, it was wonderful to watch as she attempted to meet the needs of her younger siblings by helping them to dress properly for their mothers “Home Going Service”. (please lift her in prayer, as she is trying to take on a new role that I am hoping she will not over burden herself with).

Her Brothers, well they have each been such Majestic Pillars for her. They began to pour their lives into each other 2nd Cor. 1:3-4, compliment each other and cry on each others shoulders as well. I know that God will work good from this trial in our lives. He has promised that he would in his word and He cannot lie.

Our trip to the Church was a long one, almost 25 miles. What an outpouring of love by so many folks from the time we walked through the front doors of Belden Baptist Church. My daughters friends, my sons football team and even two little girls from Noah’s class were there to help him to cope with this day. So many folks. Words escape me to describe the wonderful scene that unfolded before both of our families. I know that my Mother-in-Law knew that I loved Ferrol with all of my being, but I do not think anyone knew how loved she was by so many folks from all over the world. What a blessing to have touched so many lives in the way that she did. Yes we had our challenges, who in life does not, but our love for each other stood the test of time and the commitment that we both made to the Lord. Death alone would part us from one another as it surely has.

My two closest friends; the two men that knew Ferrol better than anyone else but me helped to eulogize and share with those in attendance of my beautiful Ferrol’s Life story within just a few moments. Mark Livingston, my best friend in all of my life, shared with everyone exactly who Ferrol was. I charged him to bring to light the essence of who Ferrol was and is in each of our lives and without question he met that charge head on and did a wonderful job of making our faces smile as we recalled the stories he shared.

My mentor, and adjunct father/brother Frank Hobart, came through with such wonderful testimonies as to how much Ferrol meant to he and his wife Linda. Each and every story that he shared, brought out more and more about my wife, the mother of our children. He spoke of her devotion to each of us and also her devotion to the Lord as a servant from behind the scenes. She loved working behind the scenes and was so humble to allow others to receive credit for all accomplishments. Thank you Frank for your love and care for each of my children and me, you are the best example of what a Godly man should be and how he should conduct himself. I pray that I will never disappoint you concerning my walk with the Lord, absent my own father, you have taught me well as Timothy was taught by his Spiritual Father Paul in the ministry. Ferrol had so much love and respect for you and Linda and we do too.

Well, at the end of the service Noah began to Hyperventilate. Many tried assisting him with his breathing and once he recovered we began to exit to travel to the Graveside Service where it was family and closest of friends only due to the size and safety along the highway where she was buried. It was so frigid outside that we could simply stay for very little time and then it was off to our home church. Upon our arrival we found yet another banqueting table for our families to partake of before many of them left to go back to their homes in both Tennessee and Texas.

Our home church has been absolutely wonderful. I am so proud of what God has accomplished through each hand that helped our family with food and other things alike. This truly has been one of the many great and awesome blessings in our lives. We could not possibly begin to list the names of all of those that offered their services to my family. I am so glad that Ferrol said yes some 30 months ago when I asked her if this church is where she felt comfortable worshipping at and whether or not we should join. Pastor Buster Wilson should be proud that our church family is carrying out the will of God by ministering to so many.

I cannot possibly stop short of sharing how awesome and even at times how necessary it was for me to have a “Right Hand Man”. I have often heard this term mentioned by others that were in many different and difficult situations. I felt like a Quarterback at times when I would hand the ball off to this individual and then I would throw the long ball because I could not handle certain situations. Without fail, my “Right Hand Man” immediately handled both sides of the ball, Offense and Defense. Only he and few close friends with us will ever know how much he did for my family. I would like to give Kudos to Ken del Villar our boss. Ken, I shall not try to repay you because I I know all efforts on my part would simply be futile. Just know that what you did was for the best and having done so, for all of the correct reasons, God will bless you and keep you. We love you very much. Ferrol would have been proud to see you accomplishing all that you did for her loved ones.

As I stated earlier, I cannot list everyone that kicked in and ministered, I just know that God has blessed us beyond all we could have imagined. More to come in the next writing. Again, thank you all for the encouraging words about our blog, and how it is helping to get to know us better. We love each and every one of you and will continue to pray fro you.

Love the Sipes’