A Dear One Goes Home

I received this article from a friend. Neither of us know who wrote it, nor could we ask permission to post it. After I dried my tears...or at least most of them, I thought it was to important to simply keep in my inbox. And for those at CBC who are praying for this family and remember their dear family singing in our church this past Feb. I knew you would find it dear to your heart as well.

Dear Friends,
Last night my Pastors firstborn son Tyler died in a car accident. Tyler was a godly 17 year old boy who played on the basketball team at the school affiliated with the church. Tyler just came back from church camp and said that God had encouraged his heart to make a commitment to reserve his body for the Lord. After Tyler was born my pastor and his wife had 7 miscarriages before any of their other 7 children were born. Tyler was a fine young man who honored his father and mother and loved the Lord. Tyler was very excited that God had used his evangelism to lead people to Christ. He wanted to go to Bible college and become a school teacher.
Today my pastor John Wilkerson, came to victory club, where we meet to go out soul winning, and with a smile on his face asked for them to play the song day by day. He then proceeded to thank God for his son, that he loved God, honored his parents and that he had been blessed with him for 17 years. He thanked God that he repented of his sins when he was 10 years old, and that he was born again and had assurance of eternal life through the word and promises of God. He thanked God that Tyler had such a good summer working at camp and growing in Christ. He assured us all that Tyler died at the right time, that it was not to soon but it was God’s perfect time. He said that he and his family would only visit one person today, a fellow who was terminally ill to comfort him. He said he and his wife needed to spend more time with the other children. But he said that he did not want any of us to slow down our service to Christ, he wanted us to increase it. He asked only that people might be willing to help house relative who would come for the funeral. He was not aware that the men in the church already decided to pay for hotel rooms for his family. At this point he wept, and thanked God again
I have learned alot from my pastor probably the thing that I have learned the most is to be thankful for what God gives us. Pastor is always thinking of things that he is thankful for and always desiring to give thanksgiving offerings to God. The church secretary told me that the family decided wear sweaters and sleep with bigger blankets so they could save money on the heating bill to give more money to missions as a way of saying thank you to God. I found out that he had worn a pair of shoes out to the point of having holes in the bottoms of them because he wanted to give more to God. His never talks as if he is making a sacrifice he is a cheerful person and a cheerful giver. Today he cheerfully gave his son back to God. I have met people who make sacrifices but fail to do it cheerfully or joyfully. I have met people who go through trials with strength knowing it is a part of life and God has the right to do as he sees fit, but I have met very few people who manage to do all this cheerfully with genuine thankfulness. Pastor John is not like that he gives to the Lord out of gratitude and cheerfully.
Those of you who know Jesus, please remember Pastor John Wilkerson of First Baptist Church of Long Beach and his family in prayer, but the truth is I think most of us need more prayer than they do. I know I should be more thankful for what God has given me. I should be a cheerful giver, who is always seeing the many reasons to be thankful and looking for more ways to give. He would regularly give offering to missions just to say thank you to God. He pointed out to me that in the OT when people worshipped they brought a sacrifice, including a thanksgiving offering. His view was that if he put his treasures in heaven they would be safe there, and more importantly his heart would be there. I pray that I could cheerfully accept the trials in my life that Pastor John and his family does, that I could be thankful always. In my trials sometimes I have complained I have felt sorry for myself, and I have focused on what I don’t have rather than what I God has given me. Many times I have not trusted God, I thak God for my pastor being a good example.
God Bless you,
Love Walter

To the Blueberry Patch

A family in our church have an amazing home..."The Teel Farm". We have so much fun when we go there. Yesterday we took the kids to teen camp (which is at the Teel Farm) and decided to hop in the gator and go blueberry picking.

My Chariot awaits

Mom and Jake working hard picking blueberries...

and Daddy....well, ahh...he ate them!

Actually, we all ate more than we picked. You've never had blueberries until you have had them off of Mrs. Sharon's bushes! There are plenty so just let me know when anyone is coming to CT...you can even stay at BB&B's (Bonnie's Bed & Breakfast.

This is the way we do our work

This is the way we do our work, do our work, do our work. This is the way we do our work, all the live long day!

Does he look happy to share the church blueprints with Taz? I think NO, but Taz sure looks content.

My dear honey puts up with our animals only because he loves me. Although I think Bentley is on his last nerve! Pray for my Beagle.

Then there is of course my Pet Care business!

It has been a busy month for vacationers, which means mula for me!

Please meet Bentley the beagle (he's mine) Jack, Honey and Kuda...yes Kuda could eat you in one bite, but he is the sweetest one ever!

I told you John was a patient man!!

The Power of Love, The Power of the Unknown, and the Power of Deja Vu

As I said goodbye to our oldest kids and John today for their Men’s Camping Trip I could only be reminded of how life changes at a moments notice. God is the author of our steps, He guides our ways and he shows us the impossible. He takes our life and He gives us the incomprehensible, he takes the things that have never entered our minds and he brings them to us. Then He takes His grace and before we know it we are accomplishing the very thing we thought we could never do.

Today is an emotional day for me. Not bad emotion, not good emotion…just emotion. You see it is exactly one year ago to the very moment when Pasha came to be with us. The circumstances that are in motion today are the exact circumstances one year ago. I was home with the 3 little ones when we got the call that Pasha ran away. John was away at the camping trip, the skies were dark with rain clouds and I was dog sitting for a lab named Jack. As I write this, (in the dim room because of the rain coming) Jack is here laying at my feet. the similarities are scary...I better go get some Chinese or Dunkin Donuts to change it up a bit! I think I am experiencing deja vu…or maybe just maybe God is revealing to me what good can happen in a year, a crazy year, an adjusting year, a tearful year…but a God orchestrated year. Thank you all for your prayers over the last year…keep sending the “up”!

So, until next year….

I Think I May Be in Mourning

About 7 years ago my husband brought something into our lives that has been revolutionary. It's life changing effect in our home has been overwhelming.
You see, once you share the good and bad with something, once you experience unending faithfulness, it's ability to bring joy, it's ability to serve without complaint, it's humility to handle praise, it's strength to handle criticism, it's welcoming hospitality at a moments notice, it's steadfast unchanging ways, it's morning song, it's desire to please...you realize the thought of losing something magnificent will only take part of your heart with it.
I am about to verbalize something I have known for at least 3 days now, but did not have the gumption to admit...our beloved coffee pot, our BUNN is dying. Yes, that is right. For those of you who have enjoyed it's brew over and over at our home you will understand...for you too, have found a spot in your heart for our BUNN. This machine has served the greatest to the meekest. It has pulled us through our happiest times to our saddest. Now it sits surrounded by dish towels, catching the water it can hardly contain. It struggles to keep the pot warm...but i will tell you this, if we couldn't witness it's suffering, if we didn't see it struggling, you would never know because the coffee tastes as good as it did 7 years ago! Please send your regards to our blog and pray that our pain will ease quickly.

Our Family Reunion

What a family! My Mom organized a family reunion to her hometown, Oglesby, Ill. This will be in our hearts forever. Mom flew in from CA. Nancy (my OLDER sis) and her honey flew in from GA. They were the lucky ducks, because we had to drive! What an adventure! John took an evening nap on June 5 so he could be well rested to drive through the night. We pulled out of our driveway around 10pm. As you can imagine, 6 boys can bring some pretty heavy excitement to a small space. We drove about 12 hours and arrived in Kentucky at the Creation Museum. What a day! It was so nice to be in a place that felt Christian from the moment you walked in. The boys were in awe, surrounded by Noah's Ark, dinosaurs and so much more. We arrived in Ill. the next day around 4pm. As we checked in to the hotel we heard squeeks, screams of "Cool, No Way!, Is this all for us!" There was an actual Waterpark and Amusement Park IN the hotel! For kids that pretty much play baseball all day, everyday in the backyard as their big life of entertainment, they couldn't believe their eyes! We tortured the children by telling them "there is no time to enjoy the parks today AND tomorrow was the family reunion" What mean parents! The next day we headed to my cousins house. They live on a beautiful lake in Henry IL near their 4,000 acre farm! The boys were amazed at the size of the tractors and combines. In fact Joel could stand up in the rim of one of the wheels!Jane planed a "Hawaiin Luau" for our reuniting. It was great to have our family together and meeting cousins that have grown into successful people. I think the thrill for me was to just watch and listen to my Uncle Howard. So sharp and whitty. FINALLY, the long awaited day came...WATERPARK! It was quite amazing to see this structure of fun under one roof. I think John and my brother in law, Ramiro had as much fun as the kids! As you can imagine the waterpark became the daily event. The men took the kids to Starved Rock one day while the ladies went shopping in Princeton. We ended our time with family at a wonderful Chinese buffet. It was a great reunion that will always be treasure. I can't thank my Mom enough for planning, helping and organizing such a dream vacation. It was great having my sis next door to laugh with, cook with and play games with. The kids are still talking about what a great time they had!!

A Special Day

The Ludka's have much to be proud of. Joel started our day off with his kindergarten graduation. He was so excited to participate in all the days activities. His class had been practicing the play The Little Red Hen. Joel was the pig....and a very good pig was he! I personally loved his costume that was so creatively made by his Mother out of her old pink sweatsuit. He also was awarded the Good Attitude Award. It is hard to believe Joel will be a big first grader next year!

That evening the boys school puts on the Awards Ceremony for all the other classes. Here are a few awards...(blogs are a safe place to brag, right?)

Jonathan: Sports - Best base-runner, Best hitter, Best out-fielder,

High Honors in Academics, Biology, Speech, Citizenship (I have no idea what that award is...maybe he helped little old ladies across the street)

Justin: High Honors in academics, Cross-country running award

Jacob: Honors in Academics, Great Student and the EAGLE Award

Jeffrey: High Honors in Academics, Joyful Disposition and Good Attitude, Hard Worker Award

Joel: Good Attitude

Pasha: Diligence Award and Most Improved in every area.

The High Honors Award means you had staight A's for at least 3 quarters in a row. Are these our children???

Now, the Eagle award is the greatest most honorable award that is granted to a student. There are only 2 kids that can get this award. One is for the entire elementary and the other for Jr and Sr. High. There are a lot reasons for this award, but in short...you are basically the best in every area!! We are very proud of our Eagle!!