Class Reminder...

If you are taking the Spiritual Disciplines class for credit please have one lesson from each unit done by the end of the semester. The first five lessons are due Thursday, April 3. Bring your book to show Carol your progress.

Crib for Candace...

If you have a crib and are willing to donate, please contact Candace Fish at hisblessedfish@yahoo.com. She would greatly appreciate the help.

Finding New Life...

Spring has sprung and everything is slowly showing signs of new life, including our blog!

Over spring break, our blog was redesigned to provide new resources and a logo, as well as an alternate venue to share prayer requests.

A few of the key updates include:
- Our new SWF logo!
- "Edify...through community" link featuring our current schedule
- "Educate...through knowledge" link for interesting articles, websites, and downloads for wives
- "Encourage...through prayer" link connecting you to a prayer blog completely dedicated to, you guessed it, prayer!

We hope you’ll enjoy the changes and that they’ll provide benefits to you. Feel free to email MoodySWF@gmail.com if you have thoughts, comments or questions.

Introducing Miriam Serene Smith...

Psalm 34:3, "Glorify The Lord with me; let us exalt His name together." Praise the Lord!!!! Miriam Serene Smith was born March 11 at 9:33 p.m weighing in at 6 lbs, 14oz. This story is HIS story once again orchestrated by our Loving Father. Once again the prayers of many people praying for us have been answered with a "yes, I will take care of it."

The baby was born on day 2 of Kareem's spring break! The Lord provided us with a babysitter for that day and the delivery went amazingly well. I was at a relaxed hospital and had the time I needed to really focus on what the Lord was doing in the midst of it all.

Kareem and I had a time of worship before Miriam's arrival. We worshiped as we listened to Israel Houghton's song, "Break Through" over and over.

The Dr. and staff were really helpful. No tears, no rips, cuts or trauma post-partum, etc... I am so overjoyed to be home 2 days later. Isaac absolutely loves his new baby sister. Dominick is just not sure what to think of her. We couldn't have planned it better.

We will send pictures soon so look out. Until then...

Love,
Renelle Smith

Have you ever wondered...

Have you ever wondered what type of meal to prepare for a friend in need? What's appropriate? Maybe you received a kind gift, but not sure how to say "thank you." Or, maybe you've been invited to a party, but don't know if a hostess gift is appropriate.

The fact is, at one time or another, most of us struggle with our "social graces." We're not sure what to say when, which fork you use first, or the format for writing a "thank you" note.

Because of those insecurities, etiquette is usually a topic we avoid, but in fact, it is just another way to show that we respect and honor others. On Thursday April 10, SWF has the opportunity to host Emily Ferguson, our etiquette expert, and Chris Jensen, a registered dietitian.

Emily will concentrate on her expertise, while Chris will share about healthy eating habits for women. Each guest will field questions from the group. However, if you have a specific diet question that plagues you everytime you walk down the grocery store aisle, or if you're dying to know how to write the perfect "thank you" note, email Danica with your questions ahead of time at danica.allen@moody.edu.

Don't delay! All questions must be received by March 21.

We miss you too Abigail!

Thank you girls for praying for my five weeks in Ohio! Things are going well at work and with my family. It's been really nice to get to spend time with both family and friends in OH. I've really missed Josh over the last three weeks, but he joins me this coming Saturday in OH for the last week that I'm in training. We'll then head to Virginia to stay with my best friend from high school/college, followed by some backpacking/sight-seeing in Gatlinburg, TN. Then we'll come back to Chicago! I can't wait to be back in my own home! We'll be back in Chicago on Easter Sunday. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all at SWF at the end of March!

--Abigail Jellel

Our prayers are with you Teresa...

Thanks to everyone for your prayers for my family. There is sad news. Over the weekend, my Aunt and Uncle were told that Matt had only 1% chance of not being a vegetable for life and so they proceeded to work through the details of donating organs and removing life support. Matt died peacefully at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

This of course is devastating for his parents, but they seem to have the best possible perspective on it. My uncle said that ‘God has a plan for it all and who knows, Matt’s eyes may be the eyes of the next president.’ It was interesting for me to hear those words from a man who, as far as I have been able to observe, does not have a relationship with Christ. Please pray that this whole event will move them from the point of mental assent of who Christ is (or a stagnant Christianity which ever may be the case) into a fruitful relationship with the Lord. Please pray also for life change for my alcoholic father who habitually drinks while operating a vehicle. (Matt’s mom is his sister.

I think the funeral will be sometime this week, so please pray for that too and all who attend and for me to restrain my desire to try to explain why this happened since I really don’t know and my speculations would probably do more harm than good!

Thanks again to you all for your prayers during this tragic event.

Teresa

Car seat anyone...

My brother and sister in law and their baby are visiting over spring break. They will be flying in to Chicago, so we were hoping to find a car seat we could borrow for the time they are here. If anyone has a car seat for a baby under a year old available for us to use from the 19th-25th, we would greatly appreciate it! Call us as 312.502.7361. Thank you!

--Ronda Lind

An update from Teresa...

I just spoke with one of my aunts. Matt is still in critical condition. He has a broken hip, his diaphragm was torn, one lung collapsed, and has MASSIVE brain trauma and swelling. I guess that they have finished operating on the brain. He’s currently not waking up from the anesthesia. They are taking another x-ray of the brain. She said that while it’s not a good sign that he’s not waking up from the anesthesia, she sounded a little optimistic about them taking another x-ray. Maybe there’s a chance he will live.

He had been at a friend’s house at a party. He called home and told my aunt he was going to just stay the night there since he had been drinking but then for some reason he decided to drive home around 3 a.m. He hit a pole about one mile from home, the police didn’t come for half an hour and then it took them half an hour to get him out of the car.

Please continue to pray for a miracle and that his life would be preserved and that as a result he would surrender to the Lord!

Teresa

Introducing Lydia Grace...

11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God.

The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. Acts 16:11 -15.

Lydia Grace Anderson was born Feb. 22, 2008 at 3:33 pm and she was 7 lb. 1 oz. and 19 1/2 inches. She is doing really great and we are all excited she is finally here!

--Ryan, Erin and Sammy Anderson

A prayer request from Teresa Stegall...

Hey all, I just got a call 5 min ago from my dad – very bad news. All I know is that one of my young cousins Matt ( ~22 years old ) was in an accident and was flown to Peoria Hospital and my dad said that right now the situation is very critical.

I don’t know that he (on his parents and sister) are believers. Please pray for a miracle to happen so that glory can be given to God! I know that He is able is it is His will. Thanks!

Teresa

Prayer request from Candace Fish...

I would really appreciate it if you could pray for Jonathan.He has been in the hospital since Monday with fevers of 105 - 106 which are causing seizures.

The doctors told us last night that they finally found the infection and it is actually in his blood. He has had everything from x-rays, EEG's, to a spinal tap.

He isn't resting because he's in isolation and for all of us to be in there with him you have to be fully gowned/masked/gloved, and this freaks him out. He didn't sleep AT ALL yesterday and is putting up quite the fight with the poor nurses and docs!

We have no idea when he will be released, so please pray for us as Luke has had to take time off school and work to help me with kids since one person always has to be at the hospital. Please also pray that since I was with him at the beginning that my body & the baby inside would be protected from this contagious illness! Thank you all for being there to pray with us!

In Him, Candace

Summer job opportunity...

The Facilities Office would like to hire an office assistant to begin working August 4, 2008. Full-Time hours will be offered until school starts and then there will be up to 20 available. The schedule is pretty flexible.

Duties: You will be responsible for greeting visitors & answering questions, as well as Student ID card production and various computer work tasks.

Qualifications: Previous office experience preferred. Professional & friendly personality. Proficiency with Microsoft office. Good people skills, flexibility, multi-tasking and attention to detail.

Please contact Dannon Zurek, 312-329-4314, of Facilities Management with any questions.

Another happy, healthy baby....

On behalf of Skip and Cassidy Smith:

Announcing the arrival of Tristan Martin Smith! Born March 4, 2008 at 10:51 am. He was 5 lbs. 14 oz and 18 inches long. Mother and Baby are healthy and happy!