from Lisa Hammond Merry Christmas!

Hi!
Merry Christmas! http://chaturbatetokensgeneratorfree.com/carry/seen.php it's one of the Oprah's secret!

Lisa Hammond

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from Lisa Hammond

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Lisa Hammond

Transition Updates

We're getting closer to our move to the Buffalo area!  About a month ago we accepted an offer on our house.  It was another confirmation to me that God is really working everything out for us to do what He has called us to do.  Our house went on the market in mid-February.  For a full month we had 1-2 families come to view it each week.  It was tough to keep the house looking perfectly for showings with a 3 year old and a 5 year old running around.  I was kinda tired of it!  I actually prayed that no one else would come to look at our house unless they were actually going to make an offer.  Then, for a full month no one came to look at our house.  No one made any calls inquiring about it.  Nothing for a full month.  We were getting a little worried.  Ray said he would call our realtor and see if there was something we should do.  Before he got around to it, our realtor called Ray.  He said we needed to think about dropping our price.  The thing is, we listed our house exactly where we needed it to sell for so that we wouldn't lose money.  Ray told our realtor that he would talk to me about it and we would get back to him.  Five minutes later, our realtor was calling Ray back to tell him to forget about lowering the price for now because someone had just called to schedule a viewing.  Long story short, we accepted an offer on the house 4 days later.  We've had the home inspection and the bank appraisal, so now we just need to schedule the closing date, which will likely be July 2nd.  We won't be buying another house for awhile, but we will be living in a very nice duplex apartment in Clarence.  It's got 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a garage, and a big yard to play in.  Clarence is known to have the best public elementary schools in the Buffalo area, and I have a soon-to-be kindergartner!  Everyone tells us that Clarence is a great town to live in, and we are hoping that it will feel like home once we get settled in there. 

The last major part of the transition that needs to fall into place is securing part-time jobs in the area.  I've secretly had my heart set on working for an agency that I found on-line called Jericho Road Ministries.  They work with refugees beyond the 6 month resettlement period, where resettlement agencies leave off.  They offer so many great services to help refugees on their road to self-sufficiency.  There may be a part-time position opening there in the Fall.  If there is an opening, I'm definitely going to apply!  We'll see how God leads.  In the meantime, I'm planning on working for my current job, but switching to the Albion office, which is a 45 minute commute.  I've been spoiled because my current commute is 5 minutes or less, but I know 45 minutes is not a horrible commute.  And to help make it manageable, my supervisor has agreed to let me consolidate my half days into longer days so that I will be working the same hours, but fewer days.  So I'm pretty set for now with my job.  Ray may have more difficulty securing a part time because most of his education and work experience has been in ministry.  Please pray for him to find a good paying part time job with a schedule that works for our family! 

Finally, I'd like to ask for prayer for our kids and their transition.  I'm not really worried about Ava, but Jonas has a very hard time with change.  He's already had some moments of anger and anxiety about the upcoming move.  When that happens we just try to validate his feelings while encouraging him at the same time.  I know he'll be fine once we meet a few friends in our new town, but getting there will be tough for him. 

We're really excited about helping to launch Epic Church!  Our first monthly preview service will be on Father's Day.  We'll have one service in June, one in July, one in August, and then weekly services (and our official launch) starting on September 15th.  It's almost here!  My next blog post will probably be an update on our new life in Clarence and Epic Church.  Stay tuned!

"Music Videos"

I was watching some recent videos that I've taken of the kids and I realized that we spend a lot of time moving to music.  I thought I'd share...

*DISCLAIMER*  No children were injured in the filming of this video

*WARNING* The person recording this video cannot sing. :)

Silly kids. :)  How do you spend your time inside in the winter?

Big News/New Beginnings

Some of you know that Ray and I will be moving to the Buffalo area sometime this summer.  For those of you who haven’t heard the news yet, allow me to back up and start the story from the beginning.

In August of 2011 Ray received a call from a Free Methodist district leader asking him to consider pastoring a small but growing church in his district.  It was sort of out of the blue for us because we weren’t looking to leave Brockport.  We prayed about it, and confidently answered that we did not feel led to pursue the position.  But during that time of decision making, Ray felt like God asked him if he would be willing to leave Brockport someday.  Our plan had been to stay in Brockport, and our Lead Pastor had been preparing Ray to lead the church when he retires.  But of course, we told God that we’d be willing to go if He called us elsewhere.  And that was that… for a few months anyway…  In November of 2011, Ray was reading the story of Abraham one morning while in his regular daily reading plan.  Ray has always been intrigued by Abraham, particularly when God tells Abraham “Leave everything you know and go to a place I will show you” and then “And Abram left”.  Ray has often wondered out loud to me what it must have been like for Abraham to set out and go, not knowing where he would end up.  This particular morning when Ray was reading the story of Abraham, he sensed that he wasn’t just reading about Abraham.  He felt like the Holy Spirit was telling him, “Leave everything you know and go to a place I will show you.”  He wrote about it in his journal, and it’s pretty amazing what he wrote. This is from his journal- "Tuesday, November 30, 2011: You called Abraham to leave everything and go.  I feel like you're going to do the same thing with me.  You're going to ask Lisa and me to do something and it's going to require us to decide that it really is you and step out in faith into a seemingly huge unknown.  I don't know why I think this.  I don't have any inclination to what or the timing.  But if I'm right and you call us to leave what we know and what's comfortable, please help us to respond like Abraham did."  So Ray began seeking God, but didn’t feel like God was revealing anything in particular about our future.  He was learning that God doesn’t usually lead by showing the whole picture, but only the next step in front of us.  During Lent last year, Ray decided that he would fast during his lunch hour twice a week and use that time to pray.  He really thought that by Easter we would know what we were supposed to do.  Around that time we were again approached to consider pastoring another church.  We both prayed about it and felt like it was not at all what we were called to do.  On paper, it looked like a great career move but it wasn’t us.  We could have taken the opportunity as a “sign from God”, but we know who God made us to be and the kind of ministry he has called us to do.  We’ve always said that if we were to leave Brockport, it would make more sense to go to a more metropolitan area with more diversity, than to a more rural area. So at Easter last year, Ray didn’t know anything other than that he was pretty sure God was going to move us from Brockport and that we needed to keep seeking Him.  About that time I realized that God was up to something and I started really seeking too.  Which brings us to this summer… one really hot day we were out swimming in our pool with the kids, and we were talking about this stuff.  I said to him something like, “I’ve been thinking that maybe God wants us to consider church planting.”  Apparently this was the green light that set everything in motion.  About four years ago Ray was starting to get interested in church planting and mentioned it to me.  I vaguely remember this.  But Ray remembers it well, because he says I gave him a look like “Are you crazy?  I don’t think so!”  So he thought church planting was off the table for us.  But his sense of calling to church planting four years ago was not wrong, it was just the wrong timing.  Ray was excited when he realized that I was open to church planting because he felt right away like this was the answer he’d been waiting on for almost a year.  Within a couple of months of that conversation, we knew what God was calling us to do.  Let me just say, it’s hard to leave Brockport.  Ray has had many roles through his 10 years in ministry at Brockport Free Methodist Church.  He was youth pastor, worship pastor, family ministries pastor, and associate pastor.  He has done weddings and funerals for many families in our congregation.  They are our family.  And Brockport has been home for me my entire life.  We love our house.  We love living next to the play-ground and across the street from my parents.  It’s going to be so hard to give that up.  I cried when our realtor put the ‘For Sale’ sign up in our yard.  But I remind myself that God could have called us to another state or even another country, but He called us an hour away from here.  We can do this!  So, what are we going to do be doing, you ask?

We’ll be working with a great couple, Mark and Rebecca Rouse, to help start a new church in the Clarence/Williamsville area.  Ray will be the worship pastor there.  Mark and Rebecca have already successfully planted a church (the Queens, NY campus of The Journey Church) and they bring a wealth of church planting experience and knowledge.  The new church will be called Epic Church and we’ll be meeting in the movie theater at the Eastern Hills Mall.  Weekly services will start on September 15th 2013.  The vision of the church is LOVE GOD. LOVE OTHERS. EMBRACE MY STORY. SERVE THE WORLD.  We’re so on board with this! 

We’d love it if you would pray for Epic Church and for our family as we make this transition.  We need to sell our house (and since we’ve only owned our house for 3 years we need some good offers on it!) and we need to find a place to live in the Buffalo area.  I’d love to own a house again, but it wouldn’t be wise to pursue that right now.  We have a lead on a 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath duplex (with a garage!) in Clarence, and we’re praying that it will work out for us to live there.  We will also need to find new jobs.  Because this is a brand new church, Ray will not be getting a full-time salary from the church.  So he will need a part time job, and I am hoping to only work part time as well.  I could commute to my current part time job if I have to, but the cost of gas will quickly make that annoying to do.  So there is a lot that God still has to work out for us, but we trust Him and we are confident that He will do it!  We will keep you posted!

Advent for Preschoolers

The other night when I was tucking Jonas in bed, I asked him if he wanted me to pray for anything.  He told me that he would pray and then sweetly prayed, "Dear God, thank you for this day, and thank you that we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Amen."  I was touched.  And then he said, "Mom, did you write down my Christmas list?"  I realized that Jonas is mostly just happy that we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus because he knows he'll get presents.  We've been reading the Christmas story from our various Children's Bibles since the day after Thanksgiving, but I decided I needed a plan for how to emphasize the meaning of Christmas each day leading up to the big day.  I googled "Advent Readings for Preschoolers" and found a great resource in a blog from 2010.  I stole a lot of the readings and questions from there.  I had Jonas cut out strips of construction paper, and I wrote the daily reading plan on each strip.  Then we made a chain out of the strips (I wish I had red, white, and green paper to make a more festive chain, but our blue, orange, purple, and green will have to work.)

I'm looking forward to starting our readings with the first link in our chain tomorrow night!

December 5th: Read John 3:16.  Why did Jesus come to earth?
December 6th: Sing "Joy to the World"
December 7th: Read Luke 1:26-33.  Who told Mary that she would have a baby?
December 8th: Read Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23.  How did Isaiah know what would happen?
December 9th: Read Matthew 1:18-21.  Why did Mary and Joseph name the baby Jesus?
December 10th: Read Luke 2:1, 3-6.  Why did Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem?
December 11th: Read Micah 5:2.  What does the Bible foretell about Bethlehem?
December 12th: Read Luke 2:7.  Why did Mary lay Jesus in a manger?
December 13th: Sing "Away in a Manger"
December 14th: Read Luke 2: 13-14.  Who joined the angels in praising God?  How can we praise God?
December 15th: Read Luke 2:15-20.  What did the shepherds do after they saw Jesus?
December 16th: Sing "Silent Night."
December 17th: Read Matthew 2:1-2.  How did the wise men know that Jesus had been born?
December 18th: Read John 1:1-4.  Why do you think we decorate with lights for Christmas?
December 19th: Read John 8:12.  Who is the Light of the world?
December 20th: Read Matthew 2:11 and 25:40.  Why do we give gifts at Christmas?
December 21st: Read Isaiah 9:6.  What are some names of the Christ?
December 22nd: Read Luke 2 and act it out with our Little People Nativity Set.
December 23rd: Tell the Christmas story.  Use the Nativity set to help you remember it.
December 24th: Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Oh Christmas Tree!

We had fun finding our Christmas tree this weekend.

Ava wanted to get the "baby" tree because it was "cute."  She settled for a picture of herself with her favorite tree.

We saw a tree without branches that we found comical, but this is the tree that Jonas actually wanted to get.  We convinced him that it would be hard to hang our ornaments on a tree without branches.

This is the tree we decided to get.

 

Ray and I did most of the decorating this year.  The kids seemed to have more fun sorting through the ornaments and looking at them all.  Here's the tree all decorated!

 

Auction Update

Everyone who bid on items in our adoption fundraiser auction has paid, and we raised a total of $1345.00!  I had hoped to raise $1000 (and realistically thought we would raise $500), but God exceeded my expectations and hopes once again.  THANK YOU to everyone who donated items and to all those who participated in the auction!

Happy late Fall and see you in a few weeks for Christmas updates! :)

Bidding is Closed!

The auction is now over.  Thank you to all who donated items for the auction and to everyone who has bid on items!  Winners will be contacted by email soon!

Cupcakes #2!

A second chance to bid on a popular item!

For Rochester Area Locals

Home made delicious and pretty cupcakes.  The highest bidder will arrange with the donor the flavors of the cupcakes and when they will be baked (Example: Thanksgiving cupcakes, birthday cupcakes, etc).

Cupcakes will be picked up in Brockport, or I can deliver them within the Rochester area.

Donated by: Aimee Bonacci

Starting Bid: $15

Lower Starting Bids

Your support has been GREAT, but there's a few items that still haven't gotten any bids.  I've lowered the starting bids on those items, so check them out again!  There's 1 day left to bid!

Auction Rules

The auction is now open!  Bidding will start now and run through 10pm on Tuesday the 30th.  Please see the rules below and then start your bids!

1-To bid on an item you will leave a comment on the item’s post with your name, e-mail, and your bid.  

2 -There will be a starting bid on each item, and you may not bid below that.

3-Bids must be made in whole dollar amounts.  So if someone has bid $10 on an item, you must bid $11 to out-bid them.

4-Bids must include your email address so we can contact the highest bidder once the auction is over.

5-Winners will be contacted through email.

6-Once contacted, you will make your tax-deductible payment will be to adopttogether.org/hammondfamily, and items will be shipped or delivered after payment is confirmed.

If you would like to skip the auction, but want to support our adoption expenses directly, you can make a tax-deductible donation to adopttogether.org/hammondfamily.  

Thanks, and happy bidding!

Hand-made Christmas Cards and tags

12 assorted Christmas cards and 12 tags.

Donated by: Jean Shutt

Starting bid: $8

Hawaiian Hazelnut Coffee

One pound of Hawaiian Hazelnut flavored coffee.  Roasted by our favorite local coffee shop, Java Junction.

Donated by: Java Junction

Starting bid: $10

Costa Rican Coffee

One pound of Costa Rican coffee.  Roasted by our favorite local coffee shop, Java Junction.

Donated by: Java Junction

Starting bid: $10

Java Estate Coffee

One pound of Java Estate Coffee (this is one of Ray's favorites!).  Roasted by our favorite local coffee shop, Java Junction.

Donated by: Java Junction

Starting bid: $10

Baby Blankets and Burp Cloths

These 2 blankets are double layered flannel. One side features adorable zoo animals. The other side is a cute coordinating green with polka dots. The blankets measure approximately 49x38 inches each.

Also included are 2 matching burp cloths measuring approximately 19x12 inches each. These are also double layered flannel, both sides of the burp cloths are the zoo animal print.

All fabric was pre-washed before sewing. Each of these large blankets can also be used as a privacy throw for breastfeeding, or as a mat for tummy time. If purchasing as a gift, you can separate and give one blanket and one burp cloth to each and have 2 gifts for the price of one!

Donated by: Suzie Davis

Starting Bid: $30

Italian Pizzelles #1

One dozen homemade Italian Pizzelles for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  For pick-up in Brockport or Spencerport, or delivery in the Rochester area.


Donated by: Jean Blasioli

Starting Bid: $5

Italian Pizzelles #2

One dozen homemade Italian Pizzelles for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  For pick-up in Brockport or Spencerport, or delivery in the Rochester area.


Donated by: Jean Blasioli

Starting Bid: $5

Italian Pizzelles #3

One dozen homemade Italian Pizzelles for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  For pick-up in Brockport or Spencerport, or delivery in the Rochester area.

Donated by: Jean Blasioli

Starting Bid: $5