ABOVE RUBIES MINI-NEWSLETTER #3, Aug 2013
Dear Above Rubies reader,
May the presence of God fill your heart and home.
In Todays Newsletter:
- Above Rubies # 88
- Free Shipping
- Retreats For August
- Who Is The Poor One
- Pull Out The Weeds
- A Mother's Dream
- A Wedding Story
- A Mother Shares Her Journey With Special Needs Children
- Birthing Mighty Warriors
- The Story Of Our Twins
- You Are A Generation Builder
ABOVE RUBIES # 88
Although I will have to wait for finance to come in, I have gone ahead and edited the new edition of Above Rubies, # 88. I like to be ready and waiting for when the money comes in. Plus, even though I have the magazine edited, it takes time for my design artist to work on the magazine.
And I already have lots of material ready for # 89 which I am hoping to print this year too. Of course, it all depends on how the money comes in.
FREE SHIPPING
Make the most of this special for USA readers during the month of August. Pay no shipping for orders over $50.00!
ABOVE RUBIES RETREATS FOR AUGUST
If you are in these states, hope you can get to one of these retreats. You will be encouraged and refreshed.
23 - 25 AUGUST, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
FAMILY and LADIES RETREAT at Pine Valley Bible Conference Center (45 min. east of San Diego)
Contact: Gary and Trish Evans
Ph: 951 681 4858 or Cell: 951-315-9078
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
31 AUGUST, DAYTON, TENNESSEE
DAY OF REFRESHMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT with NANCY CAMPBELL
Ft. Bluff Camp, 370 Fort Bluff Camp Road, Dayton, Tennessee 37321
Contact: Pat Wesolowski
Ph: 423 775 4540 or 850-212-1232
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WHO IS THE POOR ONE?
Anita Morgan shared this post on Facebook. You may have missed it so I'd love to share it with you.
"June is my grandmother; mother of seven, grandmother of 32, great-grandmother of 34 (and counting)! She is 90 years and recently celebrated her birthday with a hall full of family. In her birthday speech she told of how a neighbour, when she found out that my grandmother was pregnant with number seven, said "Oh, POOR June!"
At that point, she looked around the room at all her sons, daughters, sons and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who were all rejoicing over and with her and said "Well, You can see tonight how poor I am!"
PULL OUT THE WEEDS
Do you remember in our last Newsletter I shared how many families in The Netherlands call their Family Devotions FINISHING UP THE MEAL? The reason for this is that they don't leave the table until they feed their spirit with God's Word. That is even more important that the physical food.
Here is another idea from Catherine Freeman. She writes:
"I recall a number of years ago during one particular season of our Family Devotions, we were on holidays at my parents’ home with my sister and her family. My young niece who was approximately four at the time, was joining us downstairs for our early morning devotions (her family was usually still asleep). At this point in our devotions, I had described our worship and prayer time to the children as being similar to gardening. I used the analogy of our hearts being like a garden and the need to come before the Lord regularly to “pull out the weeds” (i.e. sin), so that they didn’t overtake our hearts.
A couple of days into the holiday my niece announced one morning after breakfast that she was heading downstairs to Aunty Cathie’s family to “pull out some weeds.” Perhaps, our time together before the Lord could be referred to as 'Gardening'"!
I think this sounds like another great name for our Family Devotions, don't you, Nancy
A MOTHER'S DREAM
A poem from Shannon Elizabeth Mobley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I once dreamed a dream under the sovereign care of God on high,
At first I didn’t recognize the woman before my closed eyes,
There were more hairs of gray and so neatly put in place,
Her clothes were starched and matching without spot,
A rested look adorned her face.
She walked slowly with her coffee, room in her hands to spare,
Conversation bidding as she mingled with friends there,
Time was no master, there were hours to sit and think
As she slowly stopped to have another drink.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Then a loud noise stirred my resting slumber…
I awoke to a three year old running loudly like thunder.
Next it happened quickly, a blur of sorts as I recall--
Not just one, but five more sets of little feet came running down the hall.
Three diapers, outfit changes, and two hours later,
I attempted a trial of coffee while nursing a sweet baby.
My middle was feeling sore with the need to eat, but wait...
As I run to catch the spilling milk, I see I’m woefully too late.
The baby still needs to feed, the toddler is , fussing in his chair.
The five year old is crying while the three year old pulls her hair.
I stopped for a brief moment to survey this circus-like scene...
And that’s when I remembered the dream.
As I reviewed the vision of the night before,
I knew a day would come when I’d long for these years once more.
I closed my eyes, shed a joyful tear, and thanked God that I could see…….
The woman in my dream (and all too soon) is me!
A WEDDING STORY
I thought I would share this story because you will be familiar with the Waller family who serve the Lord by planting, pruning, and harvesting the vineyards on the hills of Samaria, the West Bank of Israel. They were featured in Above Rubies #87.
Recently Colin and I looked forward to attending the wedding of their daughter, Victoria to Aaron Hood. Guests were invited to come for the whole weekend to Kenlake State Park in Kentucky, bringing a lantern with them. Families came in tents and RVs to wait for the moment of the wedding.
We did not know the exact time the wedding would take place. It was to be a surprise--a picture of waiting for the Heavenly Bridegroom who comes for His bride, but we know "neither the day nor the hour" (Matthew 25:13).
Colin and I drove up Saturday morning (lantern and all!), thinking they surely wouldn't have the wedding Friday night! However, we arrived to find we missed the wedding! They blew the shofars in the night and the wedding was held at midnight, down by the lake in the moonlight--a glorious two and a half hour ceremony! We were slumbering and sleeping in our bed at home when the cry came, "Behold the bridegroom comes, go ye out to meet him" (Matthew 25:6)! Can you believe it? We missed! It was not enough to have oil in our lamp. We had to be READY!
Praise the Lord, although they had the ceremony in the night, they planned the reception on Sunday afternoon, so we were able to go home, and then drive back up for the celebration which was such a beautiful event. I'll let Sherri Waller, the mother of the bride tell more of the amazing wedding story. Every Waller wedding gets more exciting!
From Sherri at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
No one was disappointed! Mark Hood did it! He sent the word out to the watchmen--a flaming arrow from the Kenlake bridge at 11:00 pm--the Bridegroom was coming!
Anita (the bridegroom's mother) came in to kiss Victoria good night at 10:30 and told her it was to be a midnight wedding! We had all just climbed into bed, guessing it would be early morning before he came. We screamed and jumped up, dancing around with excitement. Watchmen around the camp blasted their shofars to announce that, yes, our first wedding would be tonight! (there was another wedding during the weekend!)
Earlier in the week, the brothers had been brainstorming about how they could deliver Victoria to Aaron and landed upon the idea of building a palanquin! They cut saplings and skillfully crafted them together. At the campground, they sneaked their creation into Caleb's tent and decorated it. After donning their wedding attire, they brought the carriage of sorts out of its hiding place and prepared to take the bride to her groom. It was absolutely beautiful.
At the appointed hour, we escorted Victoria to her seat, then all seven brothers hoisted her up on their shoulders and proceeded up the hill. The sisters, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren of both our families formed a parade as they followed the palanquin in front of Anita, Tommy and myself. The picture before me sent my mind to the many scriptures describing flocks on the mountains of Israel.
All the guests who could aroused themselves from slumber, some of whose children slept peacefully, gathered around to await the bridegroom. There was electric excitement as we watched and sang, waiting with great anticipation. It had been seven weeks since Aaron and Victoria had last seen each other at their betrothal.
A shout went up and two horses appeared, Mark leading the way surrounded by the Hood brothers on foot. Then Aaron appeared on his steed dressed all in white. He dismounted quickly. Victoria was standing before they could get her to the ground and took off for her long awaited bridegroom. They both began running full speed for each other, meeting in the center of the field. It was the kind of moment angels whisper above... faith meeting sight... obedience rewarded... love's glorious embrace!
After a few private moments with 500 observers, Aaron and Victoria entered the palanquin to be escorted to the chuppah awaiting them on the deck above the lake. Breathtakingly beautiful in the moonlight, the chuppah had love notes engraved on the sides amidst grapes, vines, and pomegranates. Aaron had prepared a beautiful place for his bride.
Love flowed over and over all the guests as the couple read their ketubah, drank the cup, and reveled in their earliest embraces. Aaron sang the songs he had written during the betrothal. We all entered in with wine and bread and celebrated the union. Their honeymoon car arrived wrapped Israeli style, huge white bows on the doors and a big rose bouquet on the hood, for their departure. And they were off. Aaron and Victoria Hood!
After all the hugs and well wishes, Anita and I road to the top of the hill in the palanquin atop our sons shoulders! We noticed all the couples were a little more cuddly, affected by all we had seen and heard. Marriage is good!
We celebrated together at the wedding feast for our children Sunday afternoon. It was a grand feast with much dancing, toasts, stories, and celebrating! Praise The Lord! His ways are just, true, and right! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or webpage: www.yahovel.com
A MOTHER SHARES HER JOURNEY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
High functioning autism and Tourette's, apraxia, ADHD, and Aspergers.
Jodi Brock at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and www.facebook.com/tragedy2triumph wrote in Above Rubies #76 an article called "WHY NOT ME?" sharing about coping with children who have disabilities. The Brocks had seven children at that time, but are now blessed with nine children. You can go to this link to read Jodi's article. Because this testimony was published in April 2009, Jodi will now give you an update.
From Jodi...
You may remember reading my 2008 article in Above Rubies magazine titled "Why Not Me?," http://aboverubies.org/WhyNotMe which detailed our family's experience with raising special needs children while trusting God for our family size. So many dear Above Rubies readers wrote to me to share how we were an encouragement to you and your families, and it was so uplifting to me! We had seven children then, and life was very full. Now, five years later we have nine children, and I have been meaning to give you an update on our family.
As three of our children have moved into teenage hood, we have dealt with some of the associated adolescent issues. However, I am glad to say that our oldest children (ages 14 and 17) have honored their commitments to the Lord by remaining pure and keeping their eyes set on Him. It has been wonderful to see how our early parenting and prayers have paid off, and we continue to pray for God to bring them good Christian spouses in the future. It has been an exciting adventure to have an older teen as well as a one year old. It truly feels like broad spectrum parenting!
Many Above Rubies readers continue to email me from time to time to inquire about our family, so I am pleased to write this brief update for everyone who remembers our original article. Our life has continued to change as the diagnoses in our family have evolved over the years. We now have four children on the autism spectrum (one with high functioning autism and Tourette's, another with severe autism and apraxia rendering him mostly nonverbal, a third with moderate autism and severe ADHD, and the fourth with Aspergers and multiple learning disabilities). In addition, one of the older children was diagnosed with bipolar, so we have had our struggles with this too. My husband has Aspergers so we know there is a genetic predisposition, but we believe that the gene is only expressed when certain environmental factors are also present. Our last four children have been healthy and typical after eschewing vaccines, learning to eat organic foods, and avoid as many toxins as possible. I am delighted with the changes that our new way of life has brought about.
One thing that has been a big problem for us is my ongoing health issues. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and endometriosis since I was a young teen. To me, it is a miracle I was even able to birth nine children and not deal with the infertility issues that plague so many. In the past couple of years, my autoimmune issues have gotten worse, and I was recently diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome as well as an autoimmune rash condition on top of the other things. I have struggled constantly with daily pain, and at times I have felt so distant from God. Depression has reared its ugly head too, and I suffered terribly with a yearlong postpartum depression after the birth of our ninth baby. One thing that I have learned is that God is still present in the midst of our sufferings, and He continues to show me new ways to improve my health through dietary changes and certain supplements. I am grateful for that, and I certainly covet your prayers as I walk forward in faith believing for a full healing.
We have continued to homeschool most of our children (now ages 17, 14, 13, 11, 8, 6, 5, 3 and 1) with the exception of two of our boys who have attended a private placement school for autism for almost two years now. Recently, we have made the decision to bring them back home after careful consideration and prayer. Although it is nice having a respite while two of the harder to handle children are at school, we are concerned about the behavioral effects on our higher functioning eight year old of being in a self-contained classroom all day. We want him to have good appropriate role models so that he too will learn to stay close to God as he grows, just as his older siblings have done.
As for our 13 year old who is the most severely affected, he has started fearing many things, including school. He has no way to tell me if something bad occurs, and with all of the cases of school abuse in special needs classrooms I really listen when he is hesitant to go to school. Instead, he has become my apprentice so to speak. He does what I do all day, and I spend time teaching him better communication and life skills. We are also working on age appropriate academics because he is much smarter than the teachers ever gave him credit for! It is a big decision and a heavy load for me to carry, but I feel it is the best choice for our family right now. Please continue to pray for our homeschooling endeavors.
Finally, as the mother to nine great children, I have learned that the most important thing is love. Struggles will come spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially. However, in the end it is the love that we show to others that matters. I am happy to be raising these blessings for the Lord, and when the task seems overwhelming, I remind myself that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength! We hope you will visit us on Facebook and become a fan of our family page. The link is: www.facebook.com/tragedy2triumph . We started this page to spread autism awareness, and to share ideas pertaining to autism and gentle parenting. It has been a blessing to reach out to both the autism community, and to others who may be interested in learning more about families like ours. My 17 year old daughter was so inspired by my blogging success that she too started a FB page to encourage others. You can find her unique sibling perspective at: www.facebook.com/theautismsister .
Thank you again for the overwhelmingly positive support you all showered us with after reading our family story. We hear all the time how "crazy" we are for having so many kids, especially since we are dealing with multiple special needs. No matter what we face, we wouldn't trade our bunch for the world, and it's so nice when people understand the value of children! Blessings and God's love to you all my friends.
If you missed reading Jodi's earlier testimony in Above Rubies #76, of which we still have some back copies available, you can go to this link:
www.facebook.com/tragedy2triumph
www.facebook.com/theautismsister
BIRTHING GOD'S MIGHTY WARRIORS
I would recommend this powerful Ebook to everyone. Go to: www.godsmightywarriors.wordpress.com
A FAITHFUL FATHER
Rachel Scott, author of BIRTHING GOD'S MIGHTY WARRIORS wrote a testimony about her husband on her blog. Proverbs 31 is about a husband praising his wife; but it's certainly nice to hear a wife praising her husband, rather than complaining about him, isn't it?
From Rachel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE WITH A GODLY MAN?
As I reflected on the example my husband has set for our family I realized the overwhelming blessing I’ve receive from his faithfulness to the Lord. Because my husband walks with Jesus, we receive many benefits and the best part is we avoid the hardships other families suffer.
My husband does not drink alcoholic beverages, nor use drugs, therefore issues relating to drug or alcohol addiction stay far from my family. More than likely he will never get a DUI. I do not need to worry about him doing jail time or needing a lawyer to get out of trouble. I do not fear an accident that might total my car nor a charge of vehicular homicide. More than likely these things will never happen to us. We also do not have to worry about drug addiction and the sorrows of coping with that kind of problem.
I am also thankful that my husband does not suffer with a porn addiction or any other kind of sex issue. I do not have to fear what he is looking at on the computer or worry about where he is, or who he is with, or if he might be having an affair, or that he might come home to leave me and the children for a younger, prettier woman. My man is faithful to me and because of that faithfulness, my children can rest in the fact that even though we might have an occasional difference of opinion, their parents are planning on staying married for life. Therefore our children will more than likely never be ripped from their home, forced to chose between mother and father or sister or brother. Their relationships will stay intact and nothing will fracture relationships in this family, except themselves. I am hoping that they will carry their friendships with each other into adult life. So far, so good.
Christopher is not addicted to video games or obsessed with sports. This means I do not have to worry about him being up on the Internet at 3 am addicted to some game he cannot stop playing. He might challenge one of the children to an occasional game on the WEI (which we hardly ever use) but our family need not worry about an addiction. Plus, he is a Washington Redskins Fan and does like to catch the game, but he is not obsessed with the sport like other men might be. We are not left high and dry during a sports season. He likes the game and knows who all the players are and if we are not doing anything wants to see the game, but we do not suffer “loss of time with dad” because he follows a sports team.
A few years back my husband suffered a health issue and it nearly devastated our family, but he took every part of his recovery seriously. He changed his diet, started going to the gym and he lost weight. Today he is maintaining good health and because we almost lost our father/husband, our family realizes the benefits of a father who takes good care of himself. We do not take that for granted.
Christopher Scott is a faithful man. For over thirty years he has supported our family every day. We do not have to worry about where dad is. We always know. Dad is at work and when he is not at work, he is home with us. Some families don’t know where their father is, other families never have meals together, nor stop and talk about their day. In other families their father has little to no input into their lives and time passes them by. Before the dad knows it his children are grown.
Christopher, from your love and support, we find life. From your walk with God, we find godly counsel. What more wonderful than the blessings that come from a faithful man, and from generations of faithful men. His father, my father, and my husband are all men of God and now our married son is one too. If ever there was a reason to follow the Lord, this is one benefit. To live with a faithful man. Thank you Jesus! Psalm 103:2 says, “Forget not all His benefits.” If you are married to a godly man, thank him for avoiding the pitfalls that sin brings and for the blessings of a godly husband!
THE STORY OF OUR TWINS
Our twins turned 48 on the 1 August. I shared this story on Facebook. I am printing it here in case you are not on Facebook.
Throughout the pregnancy, no one ever detected I was having twins. That was back in the days when we didn't have ultrasounds. I conceived the twins in the Philippines where we doing missionary work. We came back to New Zealand when I was eight months pregnant and at last I went to a doctor. He checked me, but didn't detect twins! He said he was off to England and so when I began labor to go to the hospital and the doctor on duty would attend to me (I knew nothing of homebirths back then). I went to the hospital on a false alarm a week before the twins were born, and still no one detected twins!
It wasn't until the day I came into labor again (on my due date) and went to the hospital again that a nurse, listening to the heartbeat said, "I hear another heart beat. But, it could be an echo. We'll wait and see!"
And so we waited to see! Evangeline was born--breech birth, which is quite normal for twins! I didn't notice any difference than a normal birth. They felt my tummy! Yes, there was another baby still there! That was the first inkling we had that we were going to have twins! Although I have to admit that I wondered what was growing inside me and secretly thought that if it wasn't twins I would have trouble birthing this "baby!" I hardly felt any movements as they were packed in so tightly!
Anyway, five minutes later, Stephen arrived. He was a gentlemen and allowed his sister to go first. Evangeline was 6 lbs. 13 oz. and Stephen was 7 lbs. 5 oz! I was carrying around nearly 14 lbs. of baby, plus everything else, and no one ever guessed I was having twins! The blessing of being tall!
Colin and I were ecstatic. We enjoyed these glorious moments of elation before we faced the hard work--going home to care for twins and a 17 month old, with no help. We had just arrived back from the Philippines and were living out of suitcases. I had three in "nappies" (what we call diapers in New Zealand). I used to lay them down in a row to change their nappies. However, I look back on those when I was so tired that it was painful. And yet they were such wonderful years, full of joy and fun as we watched them grow, along with their other siblings as they came along. When the twins were little I used to say, "There's only one thing better than having a baby, and that's have two babies!"
I read the following words at that time and can truly related. "These are the never years. Never enough money, never enough time, never enough sleep--but always enough love. The sweetest kiss of a baby the tooth-paste-flavored kiss of a child and the sleepy kiss of a husband who is just as tired as you. These are the busy years, the wonderful, hectic, impossible years. Soon the children will be grown and I'll have plenty of time to organize my house, to sew and to cultivate outside interests. I wonder if it will be as wonderful as I sometimes dream it will? Or am I in the middle of the wonderful years... right now?"
Now they are 48 years old and have been influencing the world for God all these years. Truly, there is no greater thing we can do as a woman than to bring a little life into the world, destined to reveal the image of God, push back the enemy, light up the darkness, and expose the deceptions of Satan with God's eternal truths! There is absolutely nothing more powerful. And they have only started. I trust they have at least another 48 years to serve God!
Not only have they blessed the world, but have begun many other dynasties--Evangeline and Howard have begun 10 dynasties (at 48 she is still desperately praying for another baby, or hopefully twins). These dynasties will continue as their children have children and their children have children, continuing a godly generation in this world. Stephen and Simone have begun three dynasties with their wonderful children. And so their influence continues--all from one birth 48 years ago!
Dear young mothers, never under-estimate the power of the birth of a child! I love the quote by Frank Boreham, "We fancy that God can only manage His world by big battalions abroad, when all the while He is doing it by beautiful babies at home. When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants opening, GOD SENDS A BABY INTO THE WORLD TO DO IT. That is why long, long ago, a Babe was born in Bethlehem."
P.S. Someone asked if Stephen is as much fun as Evangeline. Those of you who know Evangeline know that there is not another person in the world quite like her. Stephen is also a magnetic personality, the life of the party, and loved by all. But they don't look alike. Evangeline is golden-haired and brown-eyed, usually in jeans with knives hidden in amazing places, ready for an emergency (although when she dresses up for a special occasion, she comes out looking like a New York model). Stephen, blonde and blue-eyed is always dressed perfectly--Mr. Cool!
P.S. Another interesting thing. In the beginning of my pregnancy I was violently ill. My husband was concerned and found a Chinese doctor to diagnose me. He diagnosed that I was pregnant! But, he then injected with me with Vitamin B and I didn't have another day of feeling sick from that day onwards. With my future pregnancies I always took big doses of natural Vitamin B or Brewers' Yeast tablets which helped a lot with sickness.
YOU ARE A GENERATION BUILDER
Lift up your head today, dear mother. This day, with its challenges, and frustrations, goes beyond today. Your influence is powerful. Live this day with the hope of influencing future generations in the ways of God. Don't be part of pulling down or eliminating future generations.
Amazingly, God's Word says that two women built the house of Israel! Speaking to Naomi, the elders and people in the gate of the city said, "The Lord make the woman (Ruth) that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel." That's a powerful statement, isn't it?
And not only Rachel and Leah, but Ruth, although a Moabitess, became a mighty builder in Israel too. Her great-grandchild was King David, a man after God's heart. And the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, came from the lineage of Ruth and Boaz.
Do you have dreams for your future generations? Do you pray for your generations to come? Do you live each day in the light of building godly generations?
As mothers, we certainly have such far reaching influence, don't we? Let's make our influence a powerful influence for generations to come.
May God pout out His love and blessings upon you and your family.
Love from Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org