Shannon Chapman

Poor little guy.

Judah broke his ankle this past Thursday. Please pray for the little guy. We are going to a specialist on Monday for further information. I'll keep everyone updated.

My Saturday Morning...

Well my morning started at 445 am.  For some reason Mande and I both woke up wide awake and could not go back to sleep.  I got up and went to the den and watched infomercials until like 6 and then I watched the news.  Then the next thing I remember Jacob came down from up stairs and it was time to get up.  

Mande and I had decided that we were going to cook a breakfast for the family last night.  So, we got up and started cooking and making a big mess.  We made cinnamon chocolate french toast with power sugar.  Let me just tell you it was AMAZING and the best thing was all the boys loved it.  

Then we planned on doing a thankful tree and then we changed our mind and decided to do a thankful window.  What we did was we cut paper in the shape of a leaf and asked the boys what they were thankful for and then glued them to our french door windows.  It was a blast!  We got everything from family, friends, our beds, milk, pullups, to our compassion kid Paulo, to God.  Here is how it turned out...

After we finished I did a little family devotion.  I read this passage, Psalms 138:1-3  

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.

2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.  

3 As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

It was a great Saturday morning with the family.  I wish we had more days like this.  Hope you had a great morning!  Can't wait to be at Ethos tomorrow!

Fun with all my boys!

Homeschool

I know everyone has their opinion about homeschooling your kids, but this year we felt it was right for our family.  Mande is an AMAZING teacher and the boys are doing great.  I found this picture that I took on the first day of school at Chapman Academy.  Judah was still in bed but the boys were excited so we got up early and started learning.  

Jacob actually started reading this past week.  It was a special moment for the entire family.  After he read his first book he looked at Mande and said, "thank you mommy for teaching me."  Mande spent the next few minutes with tears in her eyes.  Jonah is doing great at learning how to match things that go together. I thank God for a wife that loves to teach and that she has enough diligence to make it through the hard day.  

Where to begin

It feels like I have been running like crazy the past couple of days.  I left last Thursday for our executive staff retreat.  I got back Saturday just in time to take the boys to a birthday party.  Then went back home and watched the boys while Mande went to a special dinner.  Then when she got home at 9:15 pm I headed to the church to make sure things were setup and ready for Sunday.  

Then last night we had some people over to our house and just hung out.  It was a blast just to sit and talk.  I got up today with a major headache and went to work.  Walked straight into a 45 minute meeting.  Then at 1 pm I led our monthly Impact Meeting.  I got a call from Mande that she was sick at home and if you know her at all you know she is never sick.  She has been throwing-up all day.  So I ran home and started watching the boys.  They are going crazy inside this house, so i decided to take them to burger king.  As so as we were leaving we had a huge storm come out of no where.  So, we came back inside and i cooked dinner for the boys and me.  Mande was still passed out in the bed!  At least she was not in the bathroom.

About 30 minutes ago my wonderful mom got here to help.  My dad is out of town tonight so she said she would stay with us tonight.  With all this going on I am trying to find my thought for Sunday night.

This sunday night I think at 7 pm I am speaking at Lee University's "U-Church."  For some crazy reason I really struggling to find what to talk about there.  I know God will show me but man I wish he would hurry up.  lol

Sunday review--

Mande started a 2 part series called becoming.  She did AMAZING!  I will have it up on the podcast tomorrow I hope.  The worship was exactly what our community needed.  Cheryl our creative and design director set the environment perfect.  I cant wait to be back this week.  Ok thats enough of my rambling for tonight.  Its time for me to put the boys to bed.  

9 years and still madly in love

Well this time 9 years ago I was getting married to my wonderful wife Mande. It's on days like today that I am reminded just how truly blessed I am to have her in my life. I really believe that out side my relationship with God she is truly the best thing that has ever happened to me. She has a love for our three boys and me that blows me away. She works so hard and keeping our family in line and truly is the glue that keeps on us task.

Even as I write this my heart is over joyed because she is my best friend! She just has this way about her that lets me know that she believe in me. She is a woman who is full of passion, courage, and love. Today I'm reminded that truly it is relationships that mean the most.

Mande if you read this thanks for being you and never trying to fit into a cookie cutter mold as a pastor's wife. I love you so much and can’t wait to spend the next 30+ years with you. Green, Green, Blue!

Life

I found out Monday morning that my one of my good friend's mom past away. My heart goes out to their family. Brenda was such a great woman. The reality is life is so short. We never know when it's our time to go. The reality is I will never understand God's timing but I trust it. I was talking to Kristen (Brenda's son and my best man in my wedding) and he said Sunday night he decided to just trust God's plans. He told me that her death was very hard on him but at the same time he knows in his heart that it was time for his mom to see the God of the Universe.

Please listen to me....we need to live life full every day. The reality is we never know what is going to happen. Don't live life with regrets! Go after life with passion, drive, and risk! Sometimes I feel like we underestimate the power of a moment. We have the ability to change the world one moment at a time.

Pray for my family as we travel and that God will use us in every moment that we are there.

Night with the family

Well I called Mande and asked her what she wanted for dinner. She said that she was getting things ready for dinner when I said, "can I change the plans?" I said why don't I come home and load up the gang and head downtown for Lupis pizza. Thank God she said YES!!!

Let me just tell you tonight was a blast. My week has been very busy and because of the amazing weather I just wanted to be downtown with my family. So we ate pizza at Lupis then went to ben and jerry's and just enjoyed the cool air. We even stopped into one of my favorite book stores "Rock point book."

I must say I think I have the best family in the world!!