Jules is an Amazima Mamma

July 13, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

During my family transformation from youth pastors to church planters, Katie Davis and her book Kisses from Katie played a large part.

As God was moving in Matt's life, this was one of the MANY books he read. As he read it at night and told me about specific stories in the book that were extra meaningful to him I just Knew God was moving us over seas! You see, I "surrendered to foreign missions" almost a year before I met Matt. I told him this when we stared dating but explained I wasn't sure what that would look like in my life. I just knew that I wanted to surrender to any possible thing God would ask me to do. I thought this story of a single girl making such an impact was going to be the catalyst to shoot my family overseas.{ Little did I knew we would be going on a similar adventure right here in the States in this current season of life.}

God did use Katie's story to soften my husband heart in the realm of overseas ministry and in giving! Matt gave up Diet Coke over a year ago! For those of you who don't know my husband, That Is HUGE! He's an addict! {I'll have to ask him to do a guest post about his addiction and God being his enabler} With some of the money we saved, he chose to sponsor an Amazima child! Longoli Moses has become a fairly regular friend to pray for, especially at meal times when we talk about why we sponsor Longoli. My oldest likes to remember to pray for Longoli's younger brother and that he will become a pilot when he grows up.

Another way we've tried to teach our children about why we are loving on Longoli this way is by teaching what we are able to bless Longoli with: a meal! The meal we're provide is very basic and reminds us how beyond blessed we are here. Every once in a while we choose to "eat like Longoli" with a meal of rice and beans.

Here's an update video from Katie's blog:

Won't you consider becoming an Amazima Mamma {or daddy}!?!

Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Cool Ministries, Homeschool, Parenting, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Prayer for The Valley

July 2, 2012 by Jules 2 Comments

Yesterday was our 1st Sunday attending One Church in Conway, AR. This is the church we will be a part of until our official launch of The Valley in Vilonia, AR. One Church is a fairly new church, having been planted only ~2 years ago. The pastor, Paul will be kind of disciplining us in church planting and One Church will be a sponsor church when we launch. We really enjoyed being apart of this part of the body of Christ. They do several things that we plan to do in our church plant. It was refreshing to be there and not "hopping" with the intent to learn what other churches in this area are offering. It was refreshing to be free to wear jeans, flip-flops, a hat, suit, or even shorts if you wanted to. The gospel was preached to those who came as they are.

The prayer request comes from the negatives aspect of the day. Their worship service starts at 9am and "D-groups" {small group bible study} after the service where they discuss together what was just taught. I love that you get to talk application with an accountability group immediately after it being taught. This is an ideal time for our family. It works great for naps. We get out early enough to hit a restaurant before they're crowded and during the time we normally feed out children. We're home in time for naps!

Sleepy wind blew'm all out! twitter.com/JulesRothacher…

— Julie Rothacher (@JulesRothacher) July 1, 2012

IF....We lived in Vilonia!

Since we still have a home in White Hall we are commuting from White Hall to Conway on Sundays {and for any other ministry opportunity}. It takes about an hour-hour and 1/2 {depending on how many 'potty' breaks we have to take}. That means we have to leave our house by 7:30am on Sundays. Our kids don't normally get up until 7:30. We wake them up early, throw some clothes on them, chunk breakfast in their laps on the car ride through construction.

Today, this combination of extremely fun birthday party weekend and out of routine morning brought melt down in the toddler section of One Church. A nursery worker had to come get us as soon as D-groups started because my kids wouldn't calm down. This has NEVER happened with our kids. I walked into their children's section to find my Izzie sobbing trying to catch her breath right next to Jamin , who was taking his cues from big sis and crying uncontrollably. Since I'd never been in this situation and it was our 1st Sunday here, I didn't know what to do. I gathered their things, passing content Maggie in the hall eating her snack, only to return to D-group with them and cups of animal crackers. It worked...okay. Matt ended up having to get up with J and walk around so the rest of the D- could hear and discuss. After church, we made it to Burger King with only one other family int he building but when I opened the van door unload my babes, they stared at me with sleepy eyes, unenthusiastic that we were going in to eat lunch. A few short tantrums later, and couple fights about finishing meals, we reloaded to venture out to Vilonia to check our PO Box and then hit the trek home. Everyone passed out less than 5 minutes down the road. They were so tired that they took turns waking up on the way home, screaming and helping the others wake as well.

We are all worn down so much that we had to eliminate our second trip to Conway tonight for a D-group dinner where we were hoping to get to know some friends better. Maybe every weekend won't be like this but today I'm not hopeful. We need God to sell our house. Satan may suck but he's no dummy. He knows that the biggest part of our planting strategy comes in the form of loving our community around us, so why not keep us from actually living in the community where we're called to minister.

Once our house in WH is sold, we can move forward with making an offer/buying a home in Vilonia.

Excepting ANY reasonable offer! {sorry, can't rent}

This is a house we've found a great deal on in Vilonia.

If God is nudging any of you to buy it for us I'll take that blessing, hehe ;O)

I am very aware that God is in control, knows what's happening and that His timing is Perfect. I am also very aware that He's called us to that community. Our hearts are so content and joyful when we simply drive through the town. We Need to Be There! Sunday church attendance will be easier on our family. We can begin getting to know the community. We can meet neighbors, get to know them and their needs, and love on them. We can experience life in that area of the state. We can have the basic meetings we need to have with local people in that area to make progress on our church launch. We can have people in our home at THEIR convince. We can be involved in Vilonia stuff.

Please pray with us!

My urgent prayer is that our home will sell.

Not only is the stress of this travel hard but hinders our ability to minister an hour and 1/2 away. We figured up today that it takes us about $30.oo in just gas for every round trip to Vilonia. That's a big speed bump on a church planters hit or miss income. If you have extra change lying around, that would be a huge help in the mean time. You can give to They Valley below OR find things on my sidebar like: AdSense ads- I get commission based on clicks OR other items you can buy and I get {at the most 10- 20% commission. This is just my way to try and supplement our income during this time. Having a bit more gas money would be a big stress relief during this time of transition!

Thanks for your prayer and support!

Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home, The Ones about The Valley Church

Summer Splash Park Birthday Party

July 1, 2012 by Jules 2 Comments

Yesterday we celebrated our Summer Birthdays at the War Memorial Splash Park!!!

These are just a few of my favorite pictures from the day...I took ~300 ;o)
Maybe I should start a side business? hehe

Filed Under: Baking and Cooking, Being a Help-Meet, Holidays, Homemaker, Parenting, Parties, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Settle, Engage, Believe

June 19, 2012 by Jules 5 Comments

I've heard it said many times to try to finding Christ in the secular. That made some sense to me, in the cheesy way that Christians try to copy every trendy thing that comes along and put Christ's name on it. I didn't really understand what this ment until I heart it put, "Affirm truth where ever you find it." Jesus is the truth. So that would mean finding Him in everything would include the secular. Hmmm, finding Truth in the secular? Affirm Jesus where every you find Him? Many times as Christians we avoid anything that doesn't have a hocky Christian cliché or Bible verse on it, deeming it "secular" and there for unholy. We have entire denominations splitting off over silly things like can we enjoy music, dance, wear shorts, listen to women pastors, wear make-up, cut hair, have sex, drink alcohol. LeCrae stated at Catalyst Atlanta 2011, "Everything is ultimately good." In Genesis, when God creation each thing, He said "it is good." We're not just talking about, "Yeah, that dinner was...good." as in okay, sub-par, alright. "The Old Testament equivalent means pleasant, agreeable, excellent, valuable, benevolent, and kind." The, now, sinful nature of people can pervert something to make it sinful but in it was originally good: pleasant, agreeable, excellent, valuable, benevolent, and kind to GOD.

That means music is good. Just because some choose to create music to celebrate sin doesn't mean music is sinful.
Dancing is good. Just because some choose to dance to arouse someone whose not their spouse doesn't mean dance is sinful.
Sex is good! Just because some choose to use sex out of context doesn't mean sex is sinful.
Drink alcohol is good. Just because some choose to overindulged in drinking does not mean alcohol is sinful.

In the same way

Stores are not bad. The sin of pornography sold in the store is bad.
Clubs are not bad. The sin taking place in a club is bad.
Television is not bad. The sin running ramped and being celebrated on it s bad.

So, that sure was a long intro. What does it all mean?

I've talked a little before about why "[we] don't have TV". If you haven't read that post, I'll catch ya up: We don't have cable or satellite or anything but we do watch select movies.

Yesterday, my girls and I were watching "Cheaper by the Dozen II". I love those silly movies. Having a large family is very similar to having a family with kids close in age {even if there are just 3}. I am always encouraged by their laid back attitudes about a slightly mess house, creative kids, and how much they love their kids. At the end of the movie the mom says, "Settle with the Past, Engage the Presents, and Believe in the Future"God used that quote to remind me that I've settled with Him through Jesus for my past. Wallering in the sin of your past is not going to "settle" anything. Accepting Christ payment on the cross for your sin is the only way to pay for that penalty. So many people live in the past, wondering whose fault is it, what if, when can I change, why did I, where and how do I move on from here? Christ!

I need to engage each day in the present. Wishing my babies were still tiny, counting down the hours for my hubby to be home, or wishing this season to be over will only end in regret. I need to learn to embrace each new day as a gift from God. Enjoy my kids, even when they continually wake up at 2:30 and 6:30 A.M. while their daddy's gone. Find His truth in what is seemingly a 'rough season'. I don't want to constantly say, "this too shall pass."

Believe in the big broad future. I want to live as though I can carry out anything, because I can, with Christ! I want to go full force into each day, asking what God has for me and not questioning the future. He will take care of our every need as we need it.

Affirming Truth in the "Secular"

Where have you chosen to affirm truth where ever you find it?

hope that made since...hehehe I felt kinda rambley

Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

The Quest for a New Camera {continued}

June 12, 2012 by Jules 4 Comments

Early today, I began telling you the story
"The Quest for a New Camera".
I'd like to continue telling you via my hubs:

"I had arranged to take Jamin to my parents house so he could hang out with my mom while my dad and I finished a project for super summer. I asked Jules if she got her camera when she ran her errands to Wal-Mart that morning. She said she had forgotten and would have to go back again. I volunteered to go get it on the way to my parents. So then J got up we took off to Wal-Mart.

Unfortunately, after I made a quick stop I got back on the interstate going the wrong direction. I didn't realize it because a friend of mine called to discuss camp stuff. It wasn't until 10 miles later that I realized I was heading in the wrong direction of Wal-Mart so by the time we finally got to Wal-Mart, I had created for myself a 20 minute detour. A little frustrated, we quickly went in, thinking we'll grab the camera and get out fast trying to make up part of our time; boy was I wrong.

Locating the clearance table I searched frantically for the camera in the picture I'd seen earlier. It wasn't there, it wasn't anywhere. I got my phone out to let Jules know the bad news. It was at this point when a man about to check out literally turned around and placed the camera back on the clearance table. We quickly snatched it up and got a place in line only two people behind the guy who just checked out. Obviously we were at the wrong checkout because it was nearly 20 minutes later when we finally got our chance to check out.

Of course because the camera was discounted so greatly they had to call a customer service manager to turn a key and make sure everything went okay; add five minutes. We swiped our debit card and anxiously text Jules the total to show her how much we were saving on the camera {even lower than marked}. This is when the fun started.

Card declined. I swiped it again and waited. Another CSM, another turn of the key; card declined. I changed cards, tried the Visa, swiped the card, turned the key; declined. Again, card declined. Needless to say I was confused as to why neither one of my cards were working. Then it hit me, Jules had lost her Visa card last week and we hadn't canceled it yet. Visions of thugs buying stainless steel rims with my Visa flashed through my mind and I immediately concluded along with the customer service manager that our card had been maxed out by some vicious criminal.

"Can we try the debit card once more please?" I politely asked the CSM.
"The debit again?" was her annoyed response.
"Yes please."

Did I mention this entire time that my son is taking my hat off and on and then off and then on again? All while I frantically attempted to text Jules and double-check that we did indeed have the money in our checking account.

Card declined. This happened almost simultaneously with the text message from Julie informing me that the $400 charge from Wal-Mart for the camera had actually already gone through.

I immediately pass this information on to the customer service rep who is handing me back my debit card with a disapproving look. She did however believe me, and told me that if I was to go to my bank and get a copy of the statement showing the charges already gone through they would give me the camera and I'd be on my way. Not seeing much of an alternative, as my card had already been charged $400 and I was yet to have the camera, J and I exited the store, back to the car and on our way to Simmons bank.

Our quick trip to Wal-Mart had already been an hour and looked as though we would be delayed to my parents even longer as we had to make another stop by Simmons and then back to Wal-Mart to hopefully resolve the situation. When I got to Simmons bank I informed the lady what had happened, she printed me off a statement and we both discovered something awesome {insert sarcastic look here}.

We certainly were charged $400 by Wal-Mart, six times! After further review it was actually only three $400 charges each one showing up double on our Simmons statement. Back to the car, back to Wal-Mart.

As I was entering the store for the second time it occurred to me that if the two ladies who are gave me their word that I could get the camera with proof from the bank were not present this could get a whole lot messier. Knowing that I was going to have to go to customer service at some point, but not actually having the camera I proceeded back to the electronics section first.

Another line. This time a woman with an entire cart of groceries; add 30 minutes. Fortunately it was one of the two women who vouched for the proving approach. However, she took one look at the six charges on the bank statement, handed me the camera, and sent me to the front.

Another line add 20 minutes. Keep in mind I'm holding the 16-month-old toddler throughout this entire ordeal. And we're sweating. Having endured until my turn I got to the customer service desk only to have them realize there's nothing they can do. I did however learn that all the debit card machines had gone down throughout the entire store that afternoon and they were surrounded by carts full of groceries from the patrons who were unable to pay for them having only their debit cards.

The customer service agent flagged down an accounting specialist {repeat the entire story again here}. She disappeared into another room leaving J and I to hang out at the counter; add 15 minutes. When she emerged from the office she handed me a cell phone telling me Simmons is on the line needed my permission to speak to her. After getting Simmons approval she went back into the office: add 10 more minutes. When she finally emerged she handed me the phone again and the lady at Simmons informed me that although it did appear as though there were six separate charges only three of them appeared to reduce the balance, and my account was out of balance. Meaning that the computer had yet to reconcile with itself and would not do so until midnight that night.

So until that point there was no way to determine whether or not Wal-Mart had actually charged me at all. With the Wal-Mart computer saying they charged us nothing, they were unable to give me the camera. Unless I would like to go ahead and pay for it at that time. I politely declined not wanting to have charged yet another $400 to my already depleting account.

And so we left. Three hours later we left Wal-Mart. We went to my parents with nothing. No camera, and out $1200.
Until midnight tonight when we see whose computer is telling the truth. Regardless I get to return tomorrow, to the last place I want to go, and do this all over."

dun dun dun!!!!!

To Be Continued...

UPDATE {10:45pm}

I just checked the bank account {1 hour 15 minutes early}.
There is no sign of any transaction....

Matt wanted to head to Wal-Mart now and buy the camera. He's a little afraid it won't still be put back in that accountants office tomorrow.
I convinced him that a 'safer' plan would be to go to Simmons 1st thing in the morning. Double check that their records show nothing. Get CASH out for the exact amount and head to Wally world where, hopefully, the camera is still there.

And I quote Matt,