On July 28, Jeff had his second major back surgery. Our youngest grandson, Kipling had his tonsils and adenoids out that same morning (at another hospital right behind where Jeff was). Jeff's first was 3 years ago in Conway. This time the surgery was in Little Rock. Had to replace hardware that had come loose 😞 when he took a hard fall on our church's parking lot and then added more hardware (it's no wonder he had been in so much pain prior to surgery).
Thankfully, both Jeff and Kipling did well! Kipling went home that same day and no longer snores loudly or appears to have his allergic reaction to animals!! Jeff remained at Baptist Medical for 2 nights. He recovered so much better than he did the first time. Yes it took several months but not like the first surgery. As of the first of October, he no longer needs the walker and/or a cane!! An answered prayer!
Some of his visitors!
Lots of sad deaths recently (but so thankful to know of each one's testimony and that they had Jesus in their hearts and are now whole, healthy and rejoicing in their heavenly home!)
The details/pictures are not in date order. It's too hard to move things around!🫤
Bobby Bowman on January 12 and Ruth Bowman on October 1
Jeff worked with Bro. Bowman in the 1990's at the Missions Office. And then during his time the last 3 years, as Antioch's Senior Adult Pastor, he visited both of them often. Daughter Lisa and husband David cared for them in their home for several years❤️. The Bowman's children, Lisa and David, Gary, and Tommy all go to Antioch with us. I know, without a doubt, their precious daughter-in-law, Robin met them at the Gate💗! Robin passed away too soon in 2018. Both Robin and Lisa are dear friends of mine.
Our Pastor Wife, Toya's father, Dick Turner died on Oct 2nd. We've known the Turners and, of course, Toya (and Jason) over 33 years! A fine godly man! Jeff and I, along with others from Antioch, were able to attend his service in Tyler, TX. Jason did such a great job with the funeral sermon and singing. We loved seeing several old friends that we went to church with while living in Jacksonville. Sadly, I didn't think to take a single picture (I will blame that on the fact we got up at 3 AM to make the 6 hour drive to the funeral😏)
John MacArthur died July 14, 2025
Jeff credits this man to teaching him more than any other. In those early days of Jeff's ministry when we were too poor to buy books, John MacArthur had a "lending library" of sermons on cassette tapes that Jeff would get (no cost, other than postage). Jeff gleaned so much knowledge from John and as the years went by was able to buy the majority of the books he had written. When he got the news that one of his heroes of the faith had gone on to glory, he cried. We have no doubt, John MacArthur heard the words, "Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant." Andy's son (Mack) is named after MacArthur. Andy also held Bro. John in high regards and had the blessing of meeting him about 7 years ago.
Voddie Baucham died September 25. Andy was also blessed to meet Voddie many years ago. Another great servant and preacher for the Lord!
Shannah Idleman died on September 12 from a pulmonary embolism. She was 48 years old😢. When Jeff was a church planter in Missouri, we greatly enjoyed the friendship of two other Pastors and wives in our local association, both pastoring in Kansas: Thom and Judy South who was at my childhood church, Mt. Olive, Girard and Charlie and Marsha Idleman who were at Mt. Zion in Garland. We all had children the same age -- actually they were born within a few days of each other, and thus we had a joint birthday party for them a couple of times. Us adults all loved getting together every couple of weeks and playing cards, encouraging each other in ministry, while the little ones played (Shannah was the only girl during that time). Years later, Josh would go to CBC along with Shannah and Ben (South) and then Andy was a groomsman in Shannah's wedding. We were so saddened to hear the news that she had unexpectedly died. We cherish the memories!
Charlie Kirk was murdered on September 10. Charlie was a tremendous Christian!! He spoke all over, especially at universities and helped so many young men and women see truth about Jesus as well as moral issues and thus President Trump won the Presidency in 2024 due to so many young voters. Such a beautiful family. So heartbreaking!!
AMAZING SERVICE AND AN AMAZING WIFE. The salvation message was clearly presented by many of the speakers and the worship was so powerful! Lord, please bless Erika, her precious children and the Turning Point USA ministry!! When Erika said she forgave the man who killed him, I doubt there was a dry eye among those there and all of us who were listening on TV. I pray many found Jesus during that service and the continuing ministry of TPUSA!
Andy posted this shortly after Charlie's death....Charlie would say this often (and I agree):
Get married.
Have children.
Pass down your values.
Pursue the eternal.
Seek true joy.
Ansy posted a new picture of his family along with it 💓
AUGUST
Jeff and I have been blessed to be a part of Antioch Baptist Church in Conway, AR for 15 years (two periods of time). It was during our first period that we moved into the new facilities on Amity Road (picture below)! Antioch's 100th Anniversary was August 10th. We met at the Expo Center in Conway. It was a packed house (approx, 2000). It was such a wonderful, wonderful service (with a catered meal afterwards). We were thrilled to see many old friends and to worship all together with our church family! We sure love our Church and our Pastor, Staff and all our Church Family!💞
This was a picture of us in the church directory shortly after we joined the first time in 1996.
And this is a picture of us when we joined the second time: September 2019 (with our Pastor and Wife who we have been friends with over many years)
At the Expo Center
Jeff did a short video for the service congratulating the church for this major milestone!
Jason recognized and asked all the current staff and those who had previously been a part of the staff to come to the front. You can see Jeff below the screen (along with Shawn, Lynn, Jerene, Kathy, Lori, Kelly, Thom, Wade and many others that aren't seen in this picture). It was great to see all those who have served over the years.
And this picture was when Jason announced we are debt free.🎉🙌!!! And then burning the note. What a surprise, as we owed approx. $800,000 just a few weeks before. Thank you, Lord!!!
Our picture on that day
Happy Birthday to our son-in-law, Jonathan on August 20!💚🎂🥳
August means it's time for school to resume! Rachel has a change in her career. She is now the Art teacher at Fulbright for all grades (where she taught kindergarten last year). She is enjoying her new job so much more as she gets to utilize all her creativity. Not near as stressful or exhausting. She has all 3 of her kids at some point during the week and they "love" their Art Teacher 💗
SAYLOR was the first to resume school in August. She is in 2nd grade at Donelson Christian Academy, Lebanon, TN.
COPELAND - 7th Grade -- Pinnacle View Middle School, Little Rock
EISLEY - 5th Grade - Fulbright Elementary, LR
GIDEON - 3rd Grade - Fulbright
KIPLING - 1st Grade - Fulbright
EISLEY - 5th Grade - Fulbright Elementary, LR
GIDEON - 3rd Grade - Fulbright
KIPLING - 1st Grade - Fulbright
They are all doing well as are the Texas Swart grandchildren
(All 4 are homeschooled by Mom (M-T) and attend Classical Communications (Coop each Friday in Southlake)
LAINE - 10th Grade
ELLIE - 8th Grade
SHEP -- 4th grade
MACK -- 2nd grade
SEPTEMBER
Our oldest child turned 48 years old on September 9th🫨! We love you, Josh!!
Lainey Bug is growing up!! Got her driver's permit on Sept. 18
Went to her school dance on Oct. 13
Mom is letting her drive (Oct. 26)
Austin Neal is our new Worship Minister so they were invited as our special guests. Wonderful people and he is doing so good in leading us in worship! Here is a picture of his beautiful family:
Linda Henderson, who along with Ruth Harwick, leads the Senior Adult ministry at this time. We are still praying God will provide a man soon to be the Pastor for our wonderful Seniors. Linda and Ruth have done great in planning and leading all our activities and we so appreciate them. Austin on the right led us in some good ole' hymns and then shared about he and his family!
They came to stay with us a couple of nights the weekend before her birthday. Always enjoy having them. When Jeff and I were healthier and the kids were homeschooled, etc., we would do one on one sleepovers with them, but due to the things I mentioned....their times of being with us are more and more rare😢
Thankful they still enjoy going to church with us:
After church, they got to ride in Uncle Rob's (new to him) self-driving Telsa. They thought that was pretty neat!
Andy's family got to attend a Cowboy's pre-season game in August thanks to friends in his church
My pretty granddaughters!💝
And then on Sept. 26, Andy and Shep were once again blessed with tickets to another Cowboy's game.
Andy posted that the best moment was on the drive home (p.m. on a school night!) when Shep said, “Dad, I love talking to you. Here it is 12:08 and we’re just talking about stuff like two dudes. This is the best.” 💙💙
Daughters Day - so thankful for our daughter Rachel who completed our immediate family circle💖. But so thankful, as well, for our wonderful daughter-in-laws, Carman and Michelle and our 5 granddaughters: Avi, Laine, Ellie, Eisley and Saylor💞
Sons Day: Again God has blessed us with two great sons, Josh and Andy which we are proud of and thankful for them, as well as son-in-law Jonathan and our 5 grandsons: Copeland, Shep, Gideon, Mack, and Kipling💙
October
By October, Jeff had recovered well from his back surgery, other than occasional pain in his calves from the nerves healing (no more walker or cane!👏). However, other issues have reared their ugly head. He has had numerous tests (yes, even cancer tests at Carti in LR) that thankfully were negative. He will see the "best" hematologist in Conway, for a second opinion, the middle of November to try to discern why his blood cell counts, platelets are still not in the proper range. Sadly, he had to cancel a speaking engagement in Texas the first of September and we also had to cancel our New York trip in October because at that time, he just didn't have the energy, health or ability to do either. And then to top it all off, I tested positive for Covid and then a few days later, Jeff tested positive the day we would have been in TX
.
. As for me, I still struggle with shoulder pain. The doctor gave me another steroid shot the first of October which has helped but not eliminated the pain. I'm just trying to deal with it without pain meds. My "tools" of my PT journey 😏 (at home)
Some beautiful sunrises and sunsets in October! Leaves haven't started changing colors yet, but love it when they do🧡🎃🤎🍂💛
(No, I didn't take these pictures😏)
