Our First Retirement Trip: To visit Chip in Huntsville

I am going to keep a Retirement Journal so needed to write down the details of our for post-retirement trip which was to go to Huntsville for a long Mother's Day weekend to visit Chip. When I typed our journal this evening, I decided to post it here for posterity. Here goes....

We left our house at 6:00 a.m. on last Thursday morning and had a nice drive to Huntsville, AL. When we were about 30 minutes from Chip's church, he called to let us know that there were bad storms in the area and that they were under a tornado watch. We arrived at the church and in a little bit left from there with Chip to go to lunch with him and the new senior pastor, Pastor Zach, to go to lunch. We had a delightful lunch at an upscale restaurant called "Grille 29."

We enjoyed getting acquainted with Pastor Zach. He is such a nice young man (32 years old!). He said he is enjoying Chip being on staff so much that if he could, he would fire him and then re-hire him just so Chip knows how valuable and appreciated he is. What a vote of confidence!!! After we had finished our meal, the waiter came back to our table to tell us that a tornado warning was in progress, that the storm was headed our way and that we should leave the restaurant and go home. We all returned to the church and waited out the storm there. It never got bad ~~ just a lot of heavy rain and some wind for a brief period of time. Chip had been given a bigger office located next door to the Pastor's office but had not had time to make the physical move so his Dad and I moved all of his books to the new location, hung his pictures and plaques, etc. and helped Chip get his new office squared away. Chip received a call that a lady in their church who had been suffering with breast cancer for 7 years, was in real bad shape so he and Pastor Zach left to go to the house. Richard and I returned to Chip's house at that time. In a couple of hours, Chip called to say that "Sandi" had passed while the pastors and the family stood around singing "Amazing Grace." Sandi was only 45 years old and left behind a wonderful Christian husband, an elementary age little boy and 2 teenagers. Chip and Pastor Zach stayed at their house for several hours. In the meantime, Richard and I went to a pizza place in Chip's neighborhood and had pizza waiting when Chip got home for the bereaved family's home at about 8:00. We ate, visited, talked, and enjoyed catching up with Chip until we all got tired and called it a night.

That evening, Chip presented a retirement gift to his dad. (I made a video of that moment but cannot seem to make that video move to this spot so it is located at the bottom of this post. Weird but that's the way it is.)

On Friday morning, we met a realtor in Chip's church, Tommy, who is helping Chip look for a house to purchase. We met Tommy at the house Chip is currently looking at, and we really liked it. We shall see what Chip's final decision is. We went to church with Chip for a little while before we went to a ritzy hamburger joint called "Cheeburger Cheeburger." They have humongous burgers and fries. Richard and I shared a lb. burger and fries. It was a delicious and delightful meal with Chip. From there he went back to the office. We returned to his house. Chip was conducting a Sunday School teacher's meeting for his student ministry group. It was held in the lovely home of one of his teachers. She served a delicious lasagna casserole. The other teachers (and us) brought drinks and desserts. Chip conducted the teachers' meeting and they got a lot of ideas and plans hammered out. It is a bustling student ministry with lots going on!! Richard and I enjoyed attending and getting to know some of the adults who work in the student ministry. We returned home after the meeting (going on 10:00 p.m.!), talked a bit, and went to bed.

Saturday morning at 11:00 was Sandi's funeral. Chip went to it while Richard and I hung out in the church office while we waited on him to return. We went to lunch at "Nothing But Noodles." Afterwards, Chip returned to the church office to do some work (straightening up the new office) and we returned to his house. That evening we attended a College get-together as Chip is the College Pastor as well as Student Pastor. It has held at the home of a couple who works in the college department. They had a delicious cook-out and then a bonfire. Chip brought a wonderful Bible Study lesson around the bonfire and it was a very meaningful time. As we were leaving, the man of the house told us that a storm was headed our way. Chip returned to the church office to do some work while Richard and I returned to Chip's house. A tornado warning sounded with the high school TORNADO SIREN blaring at the school right across the street from Chip's house. It was a tad unnerving!!! We "weathered" out the storm (Chip came home during it) and then all went to bed at 12:30 a.m. EXHAUSTED!!!

Sunday Morning Mother's Day dawned bright and beautiful BUT WINDY AND QUITE CHILLY!!! It was a VERY STIFF wind all day long. I had not had the privilege of being in the company of my son ON a Mother's Day for 10 years so it was a wonderful day spending it with Chip in ministry. (Not to say that I didn't miss Amy. She called on Sunday morning to wish me a Happy Mother's Day.) We went to church and sat in on Chip's COLLEGE Sunday School class. He taught a wonderful lesson on the covenants God had made with man in the OT. It was very, very good. After Sunday School, we had a wonderful Mother's Day service at Chip's church with a precious children's choir singing the cutest song, other special music, and then a wonderful message by Pastor Zach. Chip took us to Mother's Day dinner at TGIFriday. We enjoyed a delicious meal!!! On Sunday afternoon, we all "chilled" with the guys (Richard and Chip) watching NBA basketball and me reading/snoozing.

At 6:00, we were back at the church for Chip to conduct a meeting with his small group of guys in his Student Ministry who are feeling the call to preach. This semester Chip started this ministry which he explains this way: "Our cbsm KTL Team is made up of guys who sense God’s calling to serve in full-time ministry in the future. KTL stands for “Preach the Word” in Greek (Keruxon Ton Logon). KTL also accepts students who want to use their God-given teaching gifts in the church one day in the future. We meet weekly to discuss ministry and how to communicate all of the Scriptures." So Richard and I attended that meeting at Chip's invitation, heard the young man who will be speaking to the teens on Sunday night as he practiced his message before Chip and the other guys in KTL. It was a very interesting process with Jeremy giving his message and then Chip giving him lots of praise as well as constructive helps in how to improve for Wednesday night's message. Afterwards, Chip and the other guys there laid hands on Jeremy and prayed for him. Momma Dean had to tear up a bit as it was all so very touching how that Chip is touching the lives of young men who are sensing God's call on their lives.

Afterwards, we went out with Chip and 3 of those those guys to Indigo Joe's for chicken wings. It was a wonderful time of fellowship as those high school guys picked Chip's brain and heart as they threw out lots and lots of questions about living the Christian life, ministry, etc. Afterwards, we returned to Chip's house. We sat up for a few minutes but by 9:30, we were all 3 ready to turn in. We had crammed a lot into 4 days!!!!!!!!!

We got up this Monday morning and had a bite of breakfast with Chip before we said our good-byes. He departed for the church office and we departed for home. It was a very meaningful and wonderful visit with Chip. He is so very gracious and kind and seems to enjoy having us involved in every facet of his ministry. Richard and I plan to go up the week of June 16 to spend the week with Chip and help in the VBS at his invitation. We look forward to that fun time.

Here is the video of Chip presenting his retirement gift to his Dad:

Blessings,

Susan

Our Week-End Get-Away To Visit Chip

Richard and I made a drive up to Huntsville on Friday evening to visit Chip and attend his church on Sunday morning. It was such a good visit with our son. We enjoyed his hospitality, his fellowship, and worshiping with him at his church. During our 2nd visit there, we got to see the renovations done in the student center under Chip's leadership. It is amazing at the changes that were made. We thank God for the work he has given Chip there ~~ to disciple Christian teens and to point unsaved teens to the Lord.

We also were able to meet some more folks at church on Sunday and are making some new acquaintances with each visit. Everyone is so nice! The congregation is excited that their new senior pastor, Zach Terry, is arriving this week. He will begin his ministry at the church on Sunday. We are excited for Chip to have this wonderful young pastor to serve with. They will make a dynamic team as the church reaches out to their community and spread the name of JESUS CHRIST in their Jerusalem. God is faithful and so very generous to allow us to have a part in His work here on this earth.

Here are some pics made when we visited Chip's student center on Saturday:

Our Wonderful Weekend With Chip

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is Monday morning, and my heart rejoices over the wonderful weekend we had visiting Chip at his new place of ministry in North Alabama. (Sweet Home Alabama!) Richard and I rode up with Brian, Amy, and the kids in their 8-seater Suburban which made it a fun time of travel. It was planned that Richard and me along with Jarrett and Josh would stay with Chip while Brian, Amy, Isabella and Jaden would stay in a motel room, but Chip figured out sleeping arrangements for us all and all 8 of us stayed with him in his house for those 2 nights. (Note: a few of my pics are posted in this article but all can be viewed at

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=nhewoo3.9e27a1v3&x=0&y=-g77dt7

Needless to say, it was close but fun family fellowship wit Chip. We got there at about 10:30 on Friday night. Chip had arrived home in the late afternoon from a 4-day trip to West Virginia with about 70 teens and workers from his student group. He was exhausted but threw open the door to his home and his heart and welcomed us all with a hug. We got bedded down by midnight.

On Saturday morning, we awakened to Chip's 30th birthday! Brian and Richard went and got some breakfast for us all, and our day began. Chip needed to go to the church to get some studying done so while he was gone we got some things squared away and were ready to meet him at the church at 1:00. He showed us their marvelous facility. We especially enjoyed seeing Chip's office and then the building where the student ministry meets. It is the old auditorium and is very nice. They are currently making some renovations and will be putting in a coffee cafe and a video room. Of course, Chip's main thrust is that of teaching and preaching God's Word to the teens. You can check out Chip's blog and actually read what is being taught: http://storyline24.blogspot.com/.

Chip in his church office and a view of his youth "room."

When Chip was showing us the gym in the family life center, there was a home-schoolers basketball practice going on. In talking to one of the ladies there, it was discovered that Amy has taught or is currently the 5th grade video teacher for that lady's children. With Amy having a married last name, the mom in Chip's church had had no way of knowing the connection between the new youth pastor and her kids' teacher. The mom was so happy to meet Amy and when the practice was over, that ladies kids were excited to meet their teacher, so that was fun!

From there, we all had CHIP'S BIRTHDAY LUNCH at Rosie's~~ a very nice Mexican restaurant that Chip enjoys in the area.

After lunch, we ALL went bowling. Over the Christmas holidays, Richard and I watched the family bowl but on Saturday, we joined in. We hadn't bowled probably in 30 years but it was lots of fun to get back on the lane. It was a fun time for the nine of us. I was too busy bowling to make pics. Ha!

After bowling, Chip needed to go back to the church to do some studying and so we all went back to his house. The four kids got their Saturday night baths and we got things squared away. Brian and Isabella went to Starbucks and then picked up Chip's favorite local pizza and 2 big birthday cookies for Chip's birthday supper. You can't do too much to celebrate your "baby" turning 30 you know. :) We had a fun dinner hour and hanging out together in Chip's den together. We all turned in at about 10:00 and were looking forward to Sunday morning.

Sunday dawned earlier than most of us were ready for, but we got up and at 'em. Chip showed, dressed, ate, and was out of the house by 8:00. The rest of us were showed, fed, dressed, packed up, loaded up, and at the church for Sunday School at 9:15. Chip wanted all 8 of us to come to his youth Sunday School service which we did~~ and totally enjoyed. Chip is a wonderful Bible teacher and kicked out a brand new format and Bible study for his teens. He is calling it "Framework" and the study will be on the principles behind the doctrines of our Faith. Each study will be in 8-week increments and over a period of 6 years, the students will study Genesis through Revelation. It was a blessing and fascinating to watch Chip teach his group of some 70-80 teens (I don't know the exact number of how many were there yesterday, but it was huge!) and to watch them interact with him. The morning worship service was wonderful. The auditorium holds 1,000. The bottom floor was quite full, and I'm not sure how many were in the balcony. With schools there starting back today, it looked like most everyone was back in their place on Sunday. The singing was uplifting and worshipful, they had a time of prayer at the altar before the preaching which was moving, and then a very good message by their interim pastor while the church waits upon the Lord regarding their next senior pastor. Chip does the announcements at the end of the service and used that time to have his family stand. Afterwards, many people came to us to let us know how much their are enjoying Chip. Of course, my mother's heart was blessed as it is evident those folks have already grown to love Chip in his first 2 months there. (Note: another church member has home-schooled her 4 sons and they all had Amy as their 5th grade teacher. She was thrilled to meet them!)

After church, we all went to Zaxby's for lunch and enjoyed the food and fellowship. From there, we said our good-bye's to Chip and made our long trek back home. There was a snarl on the interstate that had us virtually stopped, but we thank the Lord that the problem was resolved in 30 minutes and we were back on our way~~ returning home at just after 8:00.

We arrived home to find that Amy's and Brian's yard had been "spooned" which gave us all a big laugh. Amy and the kids got the spoons pulled up in about 10 minutes and we said good-night after unloading the Suburban.

It was a fabulously fun weekend to spend time as a family with Chip on the occasion of his 30th birthday. I pray the Lord's richest blessings upon him and his ministry. I love you, Son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!