OCC

Last year was our first year doing Operation Christmas Child and it was amazing. Christmas time has become such a flurry of tasks, that for me, it was beginning to lose some of it's joy. I was at church last year when I heard of the opportunity to do these boxes. I had hear about OCC in the past, but never in detail about how it was actually done. I decided that I was going to do it and that it would be a great way to spend time with my little sibblings, while teaching them to rejoice at the opportunity to give. So off we went to the stores so they could help pick stuff out and put the boxed together. It was some of the best time we've ever had together and it blessed my heart to see their excitement as they picked out stuff for what they call "my girl" or "my boy". This year I took all the little one with me, except for my littlest brother, as we went shopping. Upon getting home, He sat and watched us put the boxes together. He then started crying because he wanted to do one too. He kept crying that he needed one for "his little boy". Needless to say we now have an extra box for a little boy through the efforts of my little brother's tears! This is such a huge blessing to be apart of. Just to watch the videos on the website of OCC and hear the stories of how it touches children's lives, children who may have never received a gift in their lives, brings tears to my eyes. We have so much here in America, what a blessing during Christmas, to be able to show God's love in such a meaningful way. I'm so thankful for this ministry! It is becoming our new family tradition, one that I will, Lord willing, carry on with my own children someday. The only regret I have it that I didn't get involved in this sooner!

Show a child God's love in a very real and meaningful way!!!

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35

The 4th

We celebrated the 4th with a cookout (in the rain I might add, lol), good friends, and ended it with a trip to Carroll County Ag. Center for fireworks. Arriving home at 1am, all that was left to do was get some sleep!

Our Heavenly Father

As Father’s day approaches and we prepare to honor the earthly fathers that the Lord had so graciously blessed us with; let us not forget to honor our Heavenly Father, who redeemed us and adopted us as His children...

"Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.And by him we cry,"Abba,Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:14-16

My Mom

The older I get, the more I realize what an awesome task it is to be a mother. Once you bring a life into this world, you NEVER stop caring for it. Not even when they are grown and married. Though I've never had a child of my own, being the oldest of eleven has given me countless opportunities to witness first hand a lot of the self denial it takes to be a mom. I've been so blessed as I've watched my mom give of her time, energy, wisdom, love and sleep to meet the needs of her growing family. I can't imagine all that that requires. And yet, my mom has always done it with a joyful heart and with a determined spirit. Even when that required enduring nausea for all nine months with her first four children and most of the months that followed with the others. Thinking about it one time, I realized that out of 24 years of marriage, my mom has spent 99 months pregnant. To add to that, homeschooling them, helping to run a business, and still making time to always be there when my dad needed someone to talk to. She is a good listener, a wonderful source of wisdom and an amazing child of God. With all that, tell me that anyone who is a mother is underachieving!!! The gift of a devoted mother, and father, is the most blessed gift that anyone could give a child (aside from teaching them about the Lord). I feel so very blessed to be able to walk behind my Mother and women like her, to witness their example, and learn from their lives. To those Mothers out there who are like mine, don't give up, keep pressing on, you have the most important job in the world. You are helping to shape the next generation, we need you to keep being the examples we can follow. Thank you for your diligence. And to any daughters who might be reading this, take the time to tell your mom how much she means to you. In the past I didn't, and it took me a while to realize how much that discouraged her. Learn from your moms, and as you grow into the women that God wants you to be, never let our world discourage you from the wonderful opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the godly women God has set before you. “Happy Mother's Day” to any moms who may read this, God bless you all.

"My Mom"

When I took my first breath
You were right there
And with each new day
I felt all your care

When I could walk
You’d hold onto my hand
To protect me from things
I couldn’t yet understand

You were my “teacher”
In K through 12th grade
Your home was my class room
As I learned and I played

You taught me to always
Put God first in my life
To be a good daughter
And one day a wife

You always stood firm
In the direction God led
Even when I was stubborn
And had a hard head

But now that I’m older
I want you to know
The respect that I have
For the godliness you show

For all of your love
Your work and your care
For the Mother you are
And the life that we share

So I’m taking this day
To tell you anew
That someday I want
To be just like you

To display kindness and mercy
To show self denial
To hold onto God’s word
In the midst of a trail

To stand for what’s right
To be led by my man
And always be seeking
To walk in God’s plan

Thanks so much, mom,
For all that you do
I’m so very grateful
That God gave me to you

I love you so much
And always intend
To be a good daughter
And also your friend

~Amy Skoczelak 2007

Lessons From The Cross

The night before Easter I sat down with my family to watch the movie “The Passion of the Christ”. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen it, but for me, it’s one of the hardest movies to watch. The ghastly and graphically gruesome beatings of Christ that are depicted on the screen make you want to jump out of your seat and scream “How could you? Don’t you have any sense of compassion?” at the television. Through tears of horror you watch as they nail the beaten and bloody body of Christ to the cross and something inside you burns with anger at the people who could do this to Him. And then, God reminded me that it was for my sin that He endured that pain and punishment. It was just as much my fault as it was the people who physically drove the nails in His hands and shouted “crucify Him”. What’s even more amazing is that Christ bore it with joy as He submitted to the Father’s will and redeemed us from the grasp of sin. Even in the midst of the pain and suffering, we hear Christ say “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Christ endured the cross so I could enjoy Him and have a home in Heaven. What amazing love! And yet, I realized how lightly I take my sin. How many times do I hold onto the very things that Christ had to endure such chastisement for? How easy it is to forget how great a price was paid for the very things I don’t want to give up. As I watched the movie, the verse from Isaiah 53:5 kept echoing in my mind, “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” The bloody and mired Jesus that Gibson depicted in his movie, wasn’t even able to capture all that Christ endured, and yet, by the end of it, you felt like your senses were on overload and you couldn't visually take anymore. Isaiah 53 took on a whole new meaning for me that night. What gratitude I owe my Savior, and what an amazing gift He bestowed upon someone so undeserving. This Easter, I pray you were all reminded, as I was, that our sin is nothing to take lightly and in light of the gracious gift that Christ has given us, we can do no less then to give him our hearts, minds, and lives in obedience. God bless you all. He is Risen!!

How wide is Your love
That You would stretch Your arms
And go around the world
And why for me would a Savior's cry be heard
I don't know
Why You went where I was meant to go
I don't know
Why You love me so

Those were my nails
That was my crown
That pierced Your hands and Your brow
Those were my thorns
Those were my scorns
Those were my tears that fell down
And just as You said it would be
You did it all for me
After You counted the cost
You took my shame, my blame
On my cross

How deep is Your grace
That you could see my need
And chose to take my place
And then for me, these words I'd hear You say
Father no
Forgive them for they know not what they do
I will go
Because I love them so

Those were my nails
That was my crown
That pierced Your hands and Your brow
Those were my thorns
Those were my scorns
Those were my tears that fell down
And just as You said it would be
You did it all for me
After You counted the cost
You took my shame, my blame
On my cross

~FFH - My Cross

Resurrection Play

On Thursday night we went to a play called "The Living Cross" at the Church of the Open Door in Westminister. Here are two video clips from that play.

The Crucifixion and Burial of Christ...
.

The Resurrected Savior...

Happy V-day

On a day when many of us singles are tempted to feel sorry for ourselves because of not having found our earthly “love”. Let us remember our heavenly “love” and the fact that we are the bride of Christ. His love for us is NEVER changing, NEVER ceasing and is from everlasting to everlasting.
“As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him and his righteousness with their children's children.” Psalm 103:15-17
“Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:2. Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

New Year's Party 2007

Hey everyone, sorry it took so long but here are the pictures of our annual party. For those of you who don't know, we decided to break away from our normal location (my parent's basement) and use my brother's new house!!! There was lots of room, but lots of people to fill it. To those of you who came...Thanks so being there! It was so nice to all be together again. And a special thanks to my brother John, for letting us use your house, you're the best! And to our dear friends, Becki...for all your help with the food, decorating, and cleaning. I couldn't have done it without you; and JB... for setting up and helping shuttle stuff to and from houses...all you boys made a great set-up team (even if you did need to take off the two table legs to fit it through the door)!!

The Dessert Table
Friends...Eden and Heidi Howard, Bethany (my sis.) and Ashley (Amy and Ben Laughman's daughter)

Amy and Becki LaughmanMe (holding Ashley) and Jennifer Wold
Little Nate (Amy and Ben Laughman's son)Ben and Amy and Nate Laughman Bret Merson, Matthew Wold and John (my bro.)Michael McKeil, JB Laughman and Jason AuxtBen Laughman, Joe Parker and Tim TaylorJoe (my bro.) and Edgard GasgaBeth, Melinda Wilson, and Me The Guyzzzzzz Playing Xbox....
Aaron Wold, Carson Fogarty, Bret and Heath, and Kyle Merson, JB and Joe.


Sorry about the all the backs of heads, but I thought it captured what we stared at half the night!!!

Playing Dutch Blitz...


Can you tell we played a lot of cards?????


Last, but not least, my brother John, in his foyer with all the shoes...told you we had a lot of people!! They all had to play one final game before leaving...match the shoe!!!!!!!

Happy New Year 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update Part II

Here are some more pictures and updates from our busy December.

This is the house that my brother, John, just settled on at the beginning of the month. I can’t believe that both of my brother’s own land now. And though he’s not going to move in until he gets married, (and no he’s not courting yet or anything), it’s been a lot of fun helping him get it fixed up. We’re also looking forward to being able to have v-ball parties there in the summer!! Yeah!!

Here we all are having a pizza party at his house. No chairs, no tables, but LOTZ of fun!

Celebrating Beth’s birthday.

The day before Christmas Eve, John and Bethany went with some friends from FBF to Handel’s Messiah which was held at the Kennedy center in DC.

On Christmas Even the four of us went to Covenant Life church for their Christmas service. It was fun spending the evening together as brother and sisters.

Hanging out on Christmas day…

In addition to all of this, my little brother James, turned one on Christmas eve, my parents celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary and much to my dismay I had my 23rd birthday. All-in-all this was a fast pace December. Now you know why I'm just getting around to updating this site. Anyways now it's finally done!!!!!!!!!!! Blessings for the new year!

Happy Thanksgiving 2006

"Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day,

We bow our hearts to You and pray.

We give You thanks for all You've done

Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.

For beauty in nature, Your glory we see

For joy and health, friends and family,

For daily provision, Your mercy and care

These are the blessings You graciously share.

So today we offer this response of praise

With a promise to follow You all of our days." ~ Mary Fairchild

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with

praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:1-5