Scott Attebery

Below, Tyra made this comment:
"Scott has to be the most special, dear man to have won the heart of Jill Jarvis!"
Truer words were never spoken. Scott is an invaluable gift to me, my family, and our church. He is probably the most gifted person that I know personally, and I know some really awesome people. I can't tell you how much he has ministered to me these past 3 years since we have been at Wyatt.
We have spent probably 130 Sunday afternoons at their home after church. When we began to go to Wyatt, Scott and Jill invited us to stay at their house since the drive back to Magnolia was so long (and gas was so high!).
Scott and Jill are such a great example of a wonderful marriage. They were crazy about each other, and that was evident. We spent a lot of time around them, and if they were just putting on, I think we would have been able to detect it. We didn't detect anything except that they had a wonderfully uncommon union.
Scott is an indefatigable defender of truth. His love for God has been an inspiration to me to love God more. I've never known someone who was so much the same in the pulpit and out. If you know him, you know what I'm talking about. He doesn't put on a "preacher persona" and transform into a pulpiteer when he steps into that space, he's just Scott. That kind of consistency has been a breath of fresh air to me.
Another reason that I love Scott so much is because he won't like that I even took the time to write this. He probably thinks my time is better spent trying to minister to others. Well, that is what I'm doing. The more people know you, Jill and our God, the better served they will be. I love it that there is no difference between telling people about you and Jill, and ministering to them. Telling them about you ministers, because that's what you are about. Kind of like (this is a very imperfect analogy) there is no inconsistency between glorifying God and enjoying Him.
I give thanks to God for Scott, and am very hopeful for what God has in store for him and all of us who have been so affected by his and Jill's life.

529 Instructions for Those Who Contribute

For those who have or will contribute to Bryce's 529 account, please send a note to Wyatt Baptist Church telling who you are and how much you contributed. The Gift Plan does not automatically notify anyone about who gives what as far as I know. Thanks, Jonathan

Post From Christina On Bryce

I was so privileged to get to keep Bryce this past week and he was doing wonderful! And to all the concerned moms---Scott is doing WONDERFUL with him!!! They are hanging tight together and it's wonderful to see them smile at each other! As a mother of three with a little parenting experience---I think Scott is going to make one awesome dad!!! (although I must admit I had some doubts the day Bryce was born---Scott had sworn off all poop) Needless to say, he's changing some serious "stuff" with these formula diapers!!! :) Bryce "talked" and laughed with us as he played on the pallet. He's carrying on with his little life and adapting much better than most adults as children often do!!! May we continue to pray for him and his daddy!

Baby Bryce

Some have asked about Bryce so I wanted to give an update on him.

He has made the transition to formula very well, and has gained a double chin. Scott and his parents are keeping him in Greenbrier right now.

Going forward, Scott's parents will be moving down here to El Dorado and his mom will be keeping Bryce.

I think this is the best possible solution to the situation that they are in. I am amazed at the sacrificial love of Mr. and Mrs. Attebery for Scott and Bryce.

Lesson Learned...

I just wanted to take a detour for a second and tell you about a lesson I learned yesterday.

I recently purchased a laptop computer (refurbished) from Buy.com. I had to send my computer back because the audio was messed up. If you don't know me, I am thrifty a.k.a. cheap. I took the laptop to a nameless shipping store and asked them to package it up for me. I was thinking it would be about $10, $15 at the most. I got the bill just for packaging it up and it was $25! Keep in mind, this did not include the shipping cost.

The Box- $8.50
The packaging materials (peanuts, bubble wrap etc.)- $8.50
The service for packing- $5.50
Taxes- $2.50
Total- $25

Bottom line: Package your stuff yourself before you send it off, to quote my illustrious grandfather, "it's a poor way to serve the Lord" to pay someone else to do it. I paid your tuition so you don't have to.

Expelled Last Night

A few of us got together over at Scott's house and watched Expelled.

It was a good time of fellowship and Scott is still doing well. One of the most helpful things was hearing from Scott how he has been sustaining his soul during the past week.

Scott ministered to Clif, Adam and me. I love having brothers with whom to walk through afflictions.

Scott is going back to Greenbrier today with his parents.

Jill's Memorial Slide Show

Here is the slide show. I finally got it uploaded to Youtube.

Grief is a Funny Thing...

Well, maybe not funny, but it certainly makes you do weird things. The rollercoaster of emotion is really draining and the fickleness and feebleness of my demeanor has been exposed. I thought I was pretty stable, but I'm really not. I can see a little better how people feel who have chronic depression. It reminds me of the greatness of our God and the words of the the hymn "On Christ the Solid Rock" I dare not trust the sweetest frame [of mind] but wholly lean on Jesus name... and when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. These words mean much more to me now.

It's funny how biblical concepts that you had a theoretical knowledge of become real when you experience them.

"Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" II Cor 6:10
"Bear one another's burdens" Gal 6:2

I had an idea of what they might look like, but I had never (really) experienced these concepts as I have in the last two weeks. It's good to have these categories in your mind so that when you experience them, you can say "Ah, now I understand what that means!" But don't expect to truly understand them until you experience them, and even then, in experiencing these things we "see as in a mirror dimly" and I look forward to when we will see "face to face" I Corinthian 13:12.

Hannah Medical Center Banquet

The banquet went really well last night. I put together a slide show for the banquet with comments from you blog commentors, and pictures set to the tune of "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" performed by Jeremy Riddle. It is an old hymn that was written by a miserable guy who had a big God. I hope to post the slideshow to youtube, and then I will link to it here. It is not "Scott Attebery" quality, so I may get him to remake it sometime and put his Midas touch on it.

I talked to Scott just a minute ago and he is on his way to El Dorado.

Hannah Medical Center

Tonight, the Hannah Medical Center will be having a banquet in Magnolia. They will be having a tribute to Jill and her service to Hannah.

For more information about Hannah Medical Center please visit the link above or visit their Facebook page here. There are also ways for you to contribute. It is a 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible. For more information on contributions please click here.

If you're wondering, the Hannah Medical Center is a crisis pregnancy center that Communicates Christ’s love by providing life-affirming services to women facing pregnancy decisions and by upholding biblical standards for sexual integrity.