Let the historians note that it was around 3:30 central time that she got her first glimpse of mom, dad and the outside world. Lylah Tove (which means Good, Blessed, or Beautiful Night) Hendley was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, greeted by her father Andrew, thrust into her new environment by her mother, Meredith, attended by her aunt Sarah, and cheered by her aunt Hannah. And the angels sang, and western Pennsylvania rejoiced.
The statistics…. 8 lbs even, 20 inches, labor lasted a dozen hours, went smoothly. Sarah Beth, who is now a labor and delivery nurse, was on hand to guide the process. Hannah, who now lives just over an hour away, was the main cheerleader. Meredith’s parents get the first grandparental rights. Then Sept.2 Dan, Beth and Sharon fly in to join the party. So, that is our big news, but there is more…
We are approaching the end of our fourth month in Pittsburgh and things are going well. There have been many adjustments to life in our new community and at North Park Church, but the attendance at worship is strong, and we see many encouraging things in our congregation. Tonight we have our first visitors dinner and the first North Park Encounter is just three weeks away.
Our summer has been fun, busy, and much cooler than usual. Beth and Sharon have been to a family reunion in Michigan and to a Joni and Friends Family Retreat in eastern PA where they cared for some children with disabilities and their families. Dan’s mission was further south, as he returned to Florida for a quick trip to drive Hannah and her worldly possessions to her new home in Mississippi. The kids report continues below…
Sharon has enjoyed her summer here, quickly jumped into ministry, has developed some good friendships, and delights in the different natural offerings of her new home. The Lord has provided a position for her, working at an organic bakery called Loafers (they grind all their grains to make wholseome breads and sandwiches) which is owned by dear North Park members. She continues to look at schooling options for January, when she will have gained in-state residency and can return to college at reasonable expense.
Hannah now lives in Canton, MS, which is NE of Jackson. She is the house-mom for a crisis pregnancy home and is also presently employed at an upscale Italian restaurant . She thinks she has already found a church home in the Jackson area and is looking forward to being the world’s greatest auntie. Her parents are especially pleased that Hannah has seen fit to move her world to MS, where she can not only continue to build and love the life God has given her, but also help care for our new grandbaby and keep us all supplied with wonderful pictures of baby Lylah and her family.
Sarah Beth remains in Orlando, working as a nurse and pursuing her master’s toward being a nurse practitioner (Lord willing, she will graduate May 2010) in the field of pediatric oncology. She is also happy about the Lord’s provision of a church closer to home and is pursuing meaningful service and relationships at City Church downtown Orlando. But she still misses her departed family and friends, as they have moved away in a mass exodus these past several months. We praise God that He is good, even when His calling sometimes means painful loss, and we are humbled to see the way He is providing through His loving Spirit and presence in Sarah’s life.
Andrew and Meredith have a great little home in Brookhaven. He is heavy into youth ministry now and excited about the challenges and privileges of fatherhood. He and Meredith have made a sweet bungalow in which to welcome their little treasure, and many others, as they love to open their home for the purpose of practicing hospitality, and boy, are they going to get those opportunities galore in the next weeks, as their excited extended families come to share in the joy of Lylah’s birth on planet Earth. We think they are going to be the best parents ever!
Dan and Beth have enjoyed having visitors to our new home. Dick and Barb Burkhart came from Arizona, Stephanie Rasbach and Janet Olsen from Palm Bay, Beth’s brother from DC. Randy and Judy Miller are coming up to bring us some more of our stuff, (thanks Millers even tho we will be gone when you arrive)
We are looking forward to hosting a PA Thanksgiving with Beth’s extended family and a Hendley Christmas with all of our children and baby Lylah too.
Thanks for reading our latest report and praying us thru all the exciting changes in our lives. We have watched and wondered at the ways of our gracious God. His wisdom is beautiful to us and we rejoice in the choices our Father has made for us! More than terrific children, a fine church, and one sweet grandbaby, we find our life centered on the love of God which we have found in Jesus and His gospel.
The statistics…. 8 lbs even, 20 inches, labor lasted a dozen hours, went smoothly. Sarah Beth, who is now a labor and delivery nurse, was on hand to guide the process. Hannah, who now lives just over an hour away, was the main cheerleader. Meredith’s parents get the first grandparental rights. Then Sept.2 Dan, Beth and Sharon fly in to join the party. So, that is our big news, but there is more…
We are approaching the end of our fourth month in Pittsburgh and things are going well. There have been many adjustments to life in our new community and at North Park Church, but the attendance at worship is strong, and we see many encouraging things in our congregation. Tonight we have our first visitors dinner and the first North Park Encounter is just three weeks away.
Our summer has been fun, busy, and much cooler than usual. Beth and Sharon have been to a family reunion in Michigan and to a Joni and Friends Family Retreat in eastern PA where they cared for some children with disabilities and their families. Dan’s mission was further south, as he returned to Florida for a quick trip to drive Hannah and her worldly possessions to her new home in Mississippi. The kids report continues below…
Sharon has enjoyed her summer here, quickly jumped into ministry, has developed some good friendships, and delights in the different natural offerings of her new home. The Lord has provided a position for her, working at an organic bakery called Loafers (they grind all their grains to make wholseome breads and sandwiches) which is owned by dear North Park members. She continues to look at schooling options for January, when she will have gained in-state residency and can return to college at reasonable expense.
Hannah now lives in Canton, MS, which is NE of Jackson. She is the house-mom for a crisis pregnancy home and is also presently employed at an upscale Italian restaurant . She thinks she has already found a church home in the Jackson area and is looking forward to being the world’s greatest auntie. Her parents are especially pleased that Hannah has seen fit to move her world to MS, where she can not only continue to build and love the life God has given her, but also help care for our new grandbaby and keep us all supplied with wonderful pictures of baby Lylah and her family.
Sarah Beth remains in Orlando, working as a nurse and pursuing her master’s toward being a nurse practitioner (Lord willing, she will graduate May 2010) in the field of pediatric oncology. She is also happy about the Lord’s provision of a church closer to home and is pursuing meaningful service and relationships at City Church downtown Orlando. But she still misses her departed family and friends, as they have moved away in a mass exodus these past several months. We praise God that He is good, even when His calling sometimes means painful loss, and we are humbled to see the way He is providing through His loving Spirit and presence in Sarah’s life.
Andrew and Meredith have a great little home in Brookhaven. He is heavy into youth ministry now and excited about the challenges and privileges of fatherhood. He and Meredith have made a sweet bungalow in which to welcome their little treasure, and many others, as they love to open their home for the purpose of practicing hospitality, and boy, are they going to get those opportunities galore in the next weeks, as their excited extended families come to share in the joy of Lylah’s birth on planet Earth. We think they are going to be the best parents ever!
Dan and Beth have enjoyed having visitors to our new home. Dick and Barb Burkhart came from Arizona, Stephanie Rasbach and Janet Olsen from Palm Bay, Beth’s brother from DC. Randy and Judy Miller are coming up to bring us some more of our stuff, (thanks Millers even tho we will be gone when you arrive)
We are looking forward to hosting a PA Thanksgiving with Beth’s extended family and a Hendley Christmas with all of our children and baby Lylah too.
Thanks for reading our latest report and praying us thru all the exciting changes in our lives. We have watched and wondered at the ways of our gracious God. His wisdom is beautiful to us and we rejoice in the choices our Father has made for us! More than terrific children, a fine church, and one sweet grandbaby, we find our life centered on the love of God which we have found in Jesus and His gospel.
