I hope this writing finds each of you doing well today. I want to thank those who received the message from me late on Sunday Evening to pray for Noah because he had such a hard time coping with the loss of his mother. He went to his friends house after church yesterday morning and had a great night going on. He watched the fourth episode of Star Wars and then came to bed at 10:00 p.m. After a few moments he began to sniffle. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that he was missing his mom real bad. It did not take long and he was Hyperventilating uncontrollably. Terry came into my room and held him while I went to get Jacob from his bedroom. I asked Noah if he was okay and he simply could not catch his breath.
Once we were together we prayed for him. After I sent the text message, many many folks responded to our texts that they too had prayed for Noah and he settled down about 11:30 pm and finally fell asleep. I am so glad that the Lord is meeting our needs in such individualized patterns. It seems as though when one of us is really feeling sad or missing Ferrol a lot, one of the others will come to our rescue to help us in our time of Grief.
Yesterday, Noah came home from school and was having a bit of a sad time. He kind of moped around for a couple of hours and it seemed as though nothing would get him out of the pit he was in. After the older boys left the house he came into the kitchen and I could tell he was still upset, so we sent to watch some TV and found that he was wanting to cry but tried hard not to. It was then that I became overwhelmed and with grief myself and when he saw my tears his began to roll down his cheeks.
He then sat in my lap and we prayed and held each other until our tears dried and we began to watch “Just for Laughs”. We started to snicker a little and then a lot. Around 7:45 p.m. he asked me if he could make some waffles? I said sure and we got up and began to make the best Homemade Waffles we had ever had. Thank you Lord for Distractions in Life like waffles.
Goldie is doing well, she is working about 30 hours a week at McAllister’s and trying to help me with some of my office duties too. Please keep she and Brian in your prayers and their engagement. The wedding is on hold at least for now. Please pray that God will give me wisdom as I try to advise the two of them the way that Ferrol and I both would have. Things are different now, and we are trying to adjust to our New Normal.
Terry is excited about Thursday, Friday and Saturday. His School play will be performed 4 times and I cannot wait to see it. Jacob is hanging in there and his grades are remarkably improving. I believe he wants to do better for his mothers sake and legacy it seems. She tried very hard to help them with their grades and studied with them often.
I, well I will be headed to First Evangelical Church in Memphis, TN today. I cannot yet say that it is easy, because I do not believe that “Easy” is the best word from the thesaurus, but I will say it is getting different. I really appreciate your prayers for me and my family. I love each of you and look forward to hearing from you soon. Please know that if I can be of any assistance at all I am always here for your family and church.
Monday I will be flying to Chicago for 4 nights and 5 days. Please keep my kids in prayer during this time, our former babysitter Michelle will be taking off from work for the week to stay with them. There were very few that my wife felt comfortable enough to leave all of my children with and Michelle was at the top of that list for certain. She sure knows how to make these guys “POP TALL” so to speak. LOL. She and Noah will be helping to get Ferrols Scrap booking room organized for me while I am gone and I cannot wait to see it when I get back.
Well, this is the latest on the Sipes family. The Psalmist David said it best in
Psalm 61:1-5. Hear my cry, O God; attend my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in thy tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of they wings. Selah. 5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows; thou hast given me the heritage of those who fear thy name.
God bless you each and everyone. We love you in Christ.
TJ and the Gang
