Christmas greetings to our amazing
family and friends!
family and friends!
We pray this finds you all well and enjoying
this blessed season.
this blessed season.
We are so thankful to have our whole family
on the same continent for Christmas this year!
on the same continent for Christmas this year!
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| ~Christmas 2013~ Bradley (23), Brooke (19), Blake (17), Brent (14), Lily (10) |
Our Year at a Glance:
Bradley has had a year of working a few odd jobs,
and is now back at Gamestop, where he is working full time.
His main interest continues to be film. He has written numerous screenplays, and has been involved in the production of various projects in the Nashville film scene, including music vidoes, shorts, commercials, and features. He has also become a tattoo enthusiast, much to his parent's chagrin... ;-)
and is now back at Gamestop, where he is working full time.
His main interest continues to be film. He has written numerous screenplays, and has been involved in the production of various projects in the Nashville film scene, including music vidoes, shorts, commercials, and features. He has also become a tattoo enthusiast, much to his parent's chagrin... ;-)
This has been a year of changes for Bradley in many ways, but one thing remains. He is dearly loved by His Heavenly Father,
Who has big, big plans for this young man.
Who has big, big plans for this young man.
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| Brad with his new fancy shmancy video camera |
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| Brad welcomes home his sis from Africa |
Brooke's update is a bit longer than
the boys', but she's had quite a year!
She spent last Christmas in Africa.
the boys', but she's had quite a year!
She spent last Christmas in Africa.
After Iris Harvest School of Missions,
she moved to Tete, Mozambique to serve
as Pioneer 61's first intern.
she moved to Tete, Mozambique to serve
as Pioneer 61's first intern.
In February, a few days after her 19th birthday, the devil tried to stop the ministry when their house was broken into
and they were attacked and robbed.
Brooke and the other missionaries told their attackers about Jesus and continue to pray
Brooke and the other missionaries told their attackers about Jesus and continue to pray
for their salvation. Such a beautiful picture of what it means to be struck down,
but not destroyed! Brooke came home
in March, where God opened many doors for her to share her testimony and minister to many people.
She returned to Tete in May, where she served until September. While at Harvest School, Brooke met a young man named Emanuel, but she was there for one reason only - to focus on Jesus, not boys. After Harvest School, God called Emanuel to go on a short-term mission trip to China, then to Tete to help build a home
but not destroyed! Brooke came home
in March, where God opened many doors for her to share her testimony and minister to many people.
She returned to Tete in May, where she served until September. While at Harvest School, Brooke met a young man named Emanuel, but she was there for one reason only - to focus on Jesus, not boys. After Harvest School, God called Emanuel to go on a short-term mission trip to China, then to Tete to help build a home
for the Shekinah boys. While in Tete, God began knitting their hearts together, and right before Emanuel left Tete, he called Eddy & me, asking our permission to pursue a relationship with Brooke. God had revealed to them glimpses of their future together on the mission field, serving as husband and wife. Holy Spirit gave us both such a peace, we gladly gave our blessing. Emanuel is from Romania and lives in Canada. Brooke was born in Mississippi and lives in Tennessee. They met in Africa and God has called them to the nations. They are already quite the world travelers! Emanuel came to TN the week after Brooke returned in September, then again in October. On the second visit, he asked Eddy for Brooke's hand in marriage and proposed on October 29th!! We joyfully welcome this new son into our family and are having oh so much fun planning a spring wedding! Emanuel flew to Texas while we were there for Thanksgiving and met the extended family, who all gave their stamp of approval, despite his "funny accent"!
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| Emanuel proposed to Brooke on the town square in Historic Downtown Franklin, Tennessee - October 29, 2013 |
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| Brooke and me all dressed up for a friend's wedding 2 days before she received her own marriage proposal
Below: Blake takes his job as fantasy football
commissioner very seriously.
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As I shared last year, Blake spent much of 2012 sick or injured.
He had whooping cough, injured his ACL while jumping on the trampoline, and got a high ankle sprain while playing baseball.
In October of this year, while Emanuel was asking Eddy's permission to marry Brooke, I was at the walk-in clinic with Blake trying to determine
the cause of his severe abdominal pain. As it turns out, it was appendicitis, so on October 28, he had emergency surgery. The surgeon said his appendix had already begun to rupture, so we got him there just in time. We celebrated Brooke & Emanuel's engagement in Blake's hospital room with friends who had come to visit him. Blake always calls himself "the middle child", since he's the middle son. My favorite quote from the whole experience was when he said, "The middle child finally gets some attention and leave it to Brooke to go and get engaged!" We told him he could blame Emanuel for that one! He recovered nicely and was soon back into the swing of things. He continues his job as an umpire, has his driver's license, and works at Five Guys Burgers & Fries. Blake continues to mature spiritually and God has used him mightily to accomplish His Kingdom work in many ways.
He had whooping cough, injured his ACL while jumping on the trampoline, and got a high ankle sprain while playing baseball.
In October of this year, while Emanuel was asking Eddy's permission to marry Brooke, I was at the walk-in clinic with Blake trying to determine
the cause of his severe abdominal pain. As it turns out, it was appendicitis, so on October 28, he had emergency surgery. The surgeon said his appendix had already begun to rupture, so we got him there just in time. We celebrated Brooke & Emanuel's engagement in Blake's hospital room with friends who had come to visit him. Blake always calls himself "the middle child", since he's the middle son. My favorite quote from the whole experience was when he said, "The middle child finally gets some attention and leave it to Brooke to go and get engaged!" We told him he could blame Emanuel for that one! He recovered nicely and was soon back into the swing of things. He continues his job as an umpire, has his driver's license, and works at Five Guys Burgers & Fries. Blake continues to mature spiritually and God has used him mightily to accomplish His Kingdom work in many ways.
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| Umping Brothers |
Ever the competitor, Brent wasn't about to be out-done by his brother, and he too saw
more than his fair share of injuries in 2012-2013, all of them sports-related, of course.
Our orthopedic and physical therapist got to know our family really well! Thankfully, he has recovered from all of them and is back to his favorite place on earth - the baseball field, where he plays and umps. He is now in High School and thanks to a
growth-spurt, all of my children are now officially taller than their mother, which he enjoys pointing out regularly! Brent spent his 14th birthday in the mountains of North Carolina as we vacationed with the extended Perry family this summer. Brent is one of the funniest people I know, though most would never know it, because he is also quite shy. This has been a year of great spiritual maturity for Brent and we have seen him step out in boldness as he brings The Kingdom to the territory God has given him.
Coach Eddy with his favorite player
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| Pretty enough for an album cover some day... |
Allow me to introduce our sweet "Kingdom Daughter",
Megan Burns. Brooke and Megan met at Harvest School and Megan went to Tete on extended outreach.
Megan Burns. Brooke and Megan met at Harvest School and Megan went to Tete on extended outreach.
In January, Megan, along with others who had gone to Tete, came to Nashville for a visit and Megan
led worship at our church. Little did we know then that in a few months, she would be moving into our home. Eddy told her we wouldn't charge her rent, but she does have to play the piano for us every day! She happily obliges. Her and Brooke's voices blend so well, I can't imagine the angels singing much sweeter. God has crazy-good plans for this beautiful young lady and we are so honored to get to be a part of her incredible journey with Jesus.
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| Brooke finally has a sister! |
Lily has a few more gray hairs than she had last year,
but she's still a puppy at heart!
but she's still a puppy at heart!
And she's still queen bee around here!
I mean seriously? Have you ever seen so much cuteness??
Eddy is such a rock in our family because he stands on
THE Rock, Jesus. He is quick to remind us that all we have
comes from God. Nothing is our own. We were bought with a price. I'm so thankful for his gift of wisdom, which he is faithful to
share with others God brings across his path. God has taught Eddy much about trust this year. The attack Brooke endured in Tete has been a spiritual marker for our family in so many ways.
For Eddy, I saw a stronger side of him than I've ever seen before. He didn't hop on a plane to go rescue her, nor did he feel rage toward her attackers. He trusted that God could take better care of her than he could, and waited patiently for her to come home when originally planned. I'm so thankful that regardless of age, if we are willing to seek Him first, then be still long enough to hear His answer, He will always teach us something new or reveal
another aspect of His character to us.
A little rain won't stop "The Grillmaster" on July 4th!
Left: Eddy & Me on top of
Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock
in North Carolina this summer
Speaking of new things...God has certainly done new things
in my life this year! The night of the attack in Tete was the most helpless I've ever felt. I needed something sure and solid. The only thing that fits that bill is The Word of God. That night I literally
went to bed hugging my Bible. He reminded me that Satan's ultimate goal is destruction, but his evil plans did not succeed.
God was still on His throne and His plans would still prosper.
To read more details, visit my other blog
He sure had some plans for me I never could've imagined! In February I became an Independent Product Consultant for doTERRA Essential Oils. I teach people the benefits of using what God created for health and well-being and actually get paid
to talk about something I am passionate about! Talk about a sweet deal! To learn more, please visit my website:
www.mydoterra.com/jillperry and let me know if you'd like me
to send you a free sample. I'd be happy to do so!
Thankfully, the boys are pretty self-sufficient with their schoolwork, which frees me up to focus on building my business.
Of course, these days, my other "full time job" is planning a wedding! How in the world did we ever plan such things before Pinterest??
Me with my siblings at Thanksgiving
So there you have it, a VERY tiny glimpse into our 2013.
There is never adequate time or space to record all God has done in our lives, but we pray as you read even this little bit, that it causes your faith to rise. You see, we are just ordinary folks,
but because of our relationship with Jesus, God Most High calls us His own children. That means we ordinary folks are actually royalty! We have been given territory here on this planet to bring the Light of Jesus into. Whether that territory is in Mozambique, Canada, Tennessee, the ball field, the mall, or in an essential oils class, we are ambassadors of The Kingdom of our Dad. He has entrusted us with such a huge honor, to wear His name wherever we go. Wow! Our family has been blessed to host many missionaries in our home...They all are quick to remind us that WE are ALL missionaries if we know Jesus. Ministry isn't something we make happen. It is something that flows out of intimate time in His Presence. On that first Christmas, the shepherds - the most ordinary of folks - understood this. Just a few moments in the Presence of The tiny King and they couldn't keep His Glory to themselves. They HAD to run and tell others! When that baby grew up, the ones He chose to hang out with were ordinary folks like fishermen. The first missionary was a tentmaker.
Jesus' first dwelling place was a stinky stable. He probably grew up in a house built by his carpenter dad. During His ministry years, He dwelled with whomever would give Him a bed, even if it was onboard a fisherman's boat. Now, He chooses to make us ordinary folks His dwelling place. Why? So we bring His Kingdom into our territory. How? By resting in His Presence and allowing His Love to overflow out of us to a world that has lost its way.
This Christmas I encourage you to pause in the midst of the
hustle and bustle, and simply behold Him.
Do you see His eyes of Love gazing into your heart?
Christ The Lord.
With Much Love,
The Perry Family
