MERRY CHRISTMAS 2021!

Well, here we STILL are in the middle of a global pandemic.  It’s silly to write but I think many of us thought that this would be over in 2020, as if COVID kept time with our calendar. But here we are, with Covid still being the top news story.  This year has brought the loss of many great church friends. It’s been heartbreaking to see such loss and devastation. So many of us are crying out for “Normal.” This sense of uneasiness has tried to land in many hearts.  As Christ Followers, we are choosing to fix the eyes of our hearts and spirit on God and God’s promises   In Psalm 121 the Word of God says,

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.”

So as a family we have chosen to turn off the news, of gloom and doom, and focus our eyes on God! In one of our family Bible studies of Isaiah 61, the scripture in verse 3 said to “Take off the spirit of heaviness and to put on the garment of praise.”  Our family has committed to listen to Praise and Worship music on Spotify as much as possible. Kaleb logged over 142,455 minutes listening this year. We are all going to sleep with music playing, waking up with music playing and keeping music playing as much as we can, throughout the day. Light always chases away darkness.  We are choosing to take off the spirit of heaviness to put on the garment of Praise.  God has a way in the middle of a mess for showing up and doing great things.  We are intently fixing our gaze on Him going into 2022. It will be a great year in Jesus’ Mighty Name.

If you are not a newletter person just read the summery of our crazy year in this paragraph. .

(To make it even funnier read it as if you are singing it to the beat of Billy Joel’s, We Didn’t Start the Fire)

I told a friend that big family life is like constantly running hurdles. You jump over a hurdle…step step…and jump over another. Here were our hurdles this year and trust me, to us….it really did happen this fast.

Taught online class, dog fixed, Quail hunting, Kaleb Shodan,  Martial Arts, church event, Iron Sharpens Iron, Decatur,  Baby Judah born, Iron Sharpens Iron, Machine Guns,  Guest speaker at Women’s Group,  21 family members at our house for four days, family pictures, Baby Shower, Birthday Party, Birthday Party, Fine arts, scrapbooking, Speak at mother/ daughter banquet, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day,  Kaleb got his license , Graduation, Graduation, Birthday Party, Ohio trip, Birth of another Grandbaby, Garage Sale, 100th Shreffler Reunion, 31st Wedding Anniversary,  Airsoft Competition, Kankakee,  4th of July Trip, Teen Camp, Chose a venue, wedding preparations, Boys in Ohio, Kings Island, Emergency Vacation to Florida, National Fine Arts, Kaleb won Superior, Paint Balling, Craft Night, Bridal Shower, Church event, Karson Drivers Ed, Sheboygan Wisconsin Airsoft, Taught Spring Cleaning For The Heart online, Sister Trip, Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding planning, Nathan and Konnaleigh’s wedding was Beautiful, 15th anniversary at Gt, Kicked off five groups,  multiple premarriage counseling,  wedding cleanup,  Another Iron sharpens Iron, Multiple Man Camps, Garage Sale, Tax appointment, Soccer tryouts, Back to school shopping, back to school, Multiple Soccer games,  Starved Rock, Garage Sale, Clean the Garage,  Hope for the Holidays, Thanksgiving, Momentum Youth Conference, Preach, Group, Group Group, plan Christmas…write a Christmas book (I mean letter) again.

We didn’t start the fire,

It was always burning since the world’s been turning

• Again if you hate newsletters feel free to crumble or eat this paper now

• You can go back to your life now or continue for the rest of the story

The BIG NEWS OF THE YEAR is our family gained four more members…First, on February 13th, we welcomed our first Grandson Judah Dean Worden. He is Samuel and Keirstyn’s third child.  He was 20.5 inches long.  He weighed 7 pounds.

In May, we welcomed our second Grandson Jaxon Parker Lainhart. He is Brandon and Kaytlynd’s first child.   He was 19 inches long and weighed 5 pounds 10 ounces.  I got to be there for his delivery, Even though Covid restrictions were still intact, Rick pulled the “Pastor card” and came in after to dedicate him to the Lord.  We added another family member on September 24th when Konnaleigh married Nathan.  He weighed 150 lbs and 3 ounces.  

Fourth member is a surprise ending…stay tuned.

In January, I started another online class, called The Exciting Return of Jesus.  It was very successful, many joined in from the safety of home to learn about Biblical End Time events. The first message was viewed my most viewed message. I was so sad that we couldn’t meet in person and God multiplied our reach.  It really got us thinking that even though covid is out there that God still has a plan to broadcast the truth of His Word. Even though we are back to in person class, we have maintained an online presence with each study. We also did an online Passionate Marriage Class that went amazing. Technology is advancing the GOOD NEWS in some amazing ways,

In January, we also finally had Shadow fixed. Who knew he was broken?  We thought because he was a pure bread Husky that we may want to breed him but we really wanted him to not pee on things more .  He also had to have his tail shaved which he was not happy about.

Kaleb also got his Japan Certified Black Belt. (Shodan). He has been training since he was two and is an amazing Martial artist, 

In February, Rick spoke at Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Conference again.  His topic was Taming the Hulk Inside.  He told his testimony of growing up very angry and how God taught him how to break the cycle.  I know it has and will set the captives free.

In February, Judah was born.  Because of the Covid restrictions, we couldn’t be there, but Samuel pulled us up on Facetime to help us be a part.

I taught another online Bible Study called Spring Cleaning for the Heart.  It was great to have family and friends from all the former churches that we have served in (Murdale Baptist, Carbondale and Living Word in Roberts) join me.  I had friends from grade school, Junior High, High School and College who joined in.  It was so exciting getting p.m.’s back from them saying how God was using the messages to clean up so many past hurts.  Just made my heart so happy.

In March, Rick spoke at Iron Sharpens Iron again in Terre Haute, Indiana.  The boys went with him, and they had a great time after the conference, renting and shooting a fully automatic, belt fed M249 machine gun at Top Gun Range.  I also got to speak at a church in Manteno.  It was so nice to have my sister Veronica, Mom and Aunt Nanny attend. I also had a great time having a sister’s weekend with my sister’s Jenny, Veronica and Katrina in O Fallon, Illinois.  We went antiquing and we just hung out. We had fun! Solved World Hunger…Told No one!

In April our Son Javier, Graziella and Mayra came home from Paris France to spend time with the family.  It was so great to see them, and we actually were able to do a full family picture thanks to my amazing extra daughter Samantha Schendel.  Mayra loved her Poppy and Nanna. We are so thankful for Facetime so she has really gotten to know us.  We were able to celebrate Mayra’s Birthday while she was here.  We also had a Baby Shower for Brandon and Kaytlynd.  It was a great day to celebrate the upcoming birth of their first son.  Konnaleigh turned 21 and Kaleb preached at Fine Arts in Decatur and won a Superior with Merit which allowed him to attend Nationals in Florida. 

In May, I spoke at GT’s Mother Daughter lunch and did my Hats Off to Mom skit. During this skit I changed my hat over 80 times to represent a day in the life of a Mommy.   I realized that the skit was a little intense for Nanna Bugs I may be handing it over to one of my much younger daughters to do in the future.  Kaleb turned 16 and got his license.  What a blessing it is for the first time in years to not have to drive from Decatur to Forsyth two to three times a day.

As always, May was a crazy month.  Konnaleigh and Nathan both Graduated from Rhema’s Third year Pastoral program.  We are so proud of them.  Many of Kaleb’s Birthday’s have been spent out in Tulsa for his sister’s graduations throughout the years.  This year, he really wanted to have a big party in Decatur to celebrate his 16th.  It was a tough choice to stay back and have to miss Konnaleigh and Nathan’s graduation but they totally understood. (We were out there last year for Konnaleigh’s Year 2 Graduation).  Choosing between events, has happened many times with having so many kids but if I’m honest, this one was tough.  Kaytlynd was due at any second too, so we didn’t want to be all the way in Tulsa if she went into labor.  I kept telling all the kids and all their events to take a number and stay in line. We ended up having an epic party for Kaleb’s 16th Birthday with all of his friends. Mid way through, Rick and I went in our room to watch Konnaleigh and Nathan graduate on FaceBook live.  God is so Good.  It was like the Camera person knew us and caught so many great shots of Konnaleigh during the Graduation. We were able to get better photographs and saw more online than if we had been there in person. God covered us again. This week was intense because Kaytlynd was having some pretty intense birth pains but she waited her turn and we barely made it to Ohio to see Jaxon born.  We made it out alive through another Crazy May!!!

June, we had another HUGE garage sale to help us get through all the camps and costs of summer.  I also was blessed to partner with my two Aunts Kathryn and Danielle and my amazing Cousin Judy from Tennessee to plan our family’s 100th Shreffler Reunion.  They asked me to be the Family Historian. I had so much fun tracking 10 generations of Shrefflers all the way back to Germany.  I found out so many fun historical stories from older family members, Ancestry.com, the library, Manteno Historical Society and old reunion paperwork.  It was great to learn about our family’s journey From Germany to Pennsylvania to Sandusky Ohio to Deselm and Manteno, So many amazing business men and women, inventors, community activists, politicians, pastors, farmers and tailors. Our family had two 100 year businesses with O.C. Shreffler and Sons Automotive Dealership, Shreffler Grocery Store and Shreffler Harley Davidson.  The reunion was held at the Sportman’s Club which was fitting because my Great Grandfather Sam donated that property to Manteno Township. Many Aunts, Uncles and Cousins met for the day to reminisce over old photo albums, stories and the most amazing food. The Kankakee Journal did a front-page article about our 100th reunion. We truly have an amazing family and heritage. Rick and the boys had a great time attending an Airsoft Competition in Kankakee that weekend too.  There were two teams in a nine-story abandoned building.  The boys and Rick are very competitive and achieved many objectives.  They are loving their new Air Soft Hobby.  Not sure who named this sport air SOFT but my boys come home looking like they have been at war with wounds and welts to prove it.   Another cool thing that happened in May was we were blessed with a pop-up camper. We have big plans to capture many moments when the boys this summer by camping.  Please share with us your favorite destination to camp.

July was a whirlwind (as has been most of our lives). We held another Garage Sale (too much stuff) and was able to Celebrate the Fourth of July with our Shreffler family in Ashkum. Then the boys went to Teen Camp and had an epic encounter with God. They came home refreshed and ready to serve God in a bigger way.   We celebrated our son, Korban’s 18th Birthday in heaven.  It’s hard to believe that he would be graduating from High School this year.   Konnaleigh and Nathan came home, and we began checking out venues for their upcoming wedding.  We found the perfect place that was right in the middle so all of our family from Manteno and all of his family from St. Louis and all of us from Decatur had about the same drive.  They chose the Cannery in Peoria area. Then we kicked off wedding planning, full force.  We are tired, by this point of the year, but we kept plucking on.  God’s hand was on every detail and every event went better than expected. I have been babysitting my three Grandchildren every Tuesday for the last five years. Samuel and Keirstyn were able to find a Nanny that comes to their house and neither of us have to drive two hours a day to make it happen. It just made more sense with Kaedynce starting Kindergarten too. It really allowed me to focus on the wedding, my writing, and teaching five groups but Boy do I miss them.  We visited Brandon and Kaytlynd in Ohio and got to help with our new Grandson.  The boys all went to Kings Island and Kaytlynd, Jaxon and I had a great day shopping, having lunch and going to a movie. 

August, we planned an “Emergency Vacation.”  Kaleb had his National Fine Arts Competition and we decided to take him, so we pulled together a quick garage sale, made a bunch of money and had an emergency vacay to Florida. We spent the first week at The National Assembly of God Convention, attending conference breakouts, worships nights and the Fine Arts National competition.  Kaleb did so good, he preached a Message on not conforming to the world.  It was amazing and he received a “Superior.” (The highest score) We were so proud of him.  God has big plans for his future.  He plans on attending Rhema Bible College after he graduates next year. Then we stayed with our friends Daniel and Marsha Petts and had a fun Ocean Day and church visit with them. Then, we had another fun ocean day with our Friends Tommy and Cheryl Lord and Brandon, Kaytlynd and Jaxon. (Who were in Florida visiting his Mom and her husband) Then we went to Disney Hollywood studies and spent the day as a family.  It was a hundred and hell out but we made the best out of it and made some great memories on rides and checking out the new Star Wars attractions.  Then we met the Lainharts at Epcot and had a fun day there. We also got to have dinner with Brandon’s Mom, Tina and her amazing husband Robbie.  The boys loved Body surfing at the ocean and were begging that we relocate to Florida We got back home from Florida and Rick and the Boys and many of their friends had an epic Man Camp, They went paintballing, had a truckcuzzi and huge slip and slide, tons of pop and junk food and went to the Airshow afterwards,  I got busy planning Konnaleigh’s Bridal Shower, It was a beautiful day and she was blessed by all of our Family and Friends.  The boys started school at Decatur Christian High School.  Karson is a Freshman and Kaleb is a Junior. They made their HS Soccer team which was a Co-op of three different High Schools.  They had an amazing year.  Karson started Driver’s Ed and changed from a boy to a man overnight.  He went up to a very good friend of mine at GT and said, “ Hey do you know where my Mom is?”  She looked at him and said, “Who is your Mom?”  He changed so much in a year, my good friend didn’t even recognize him Our oldest Granddaughter Kaedynce also started Kindergarten. They grow up so fast. Konnaleigh and I were wedding planning, like it was our job.

In September, we celebrated our 15th year here at GT.  Pastor Rick has carried many titles, Associate Pastor, College and Career Pastor, Business Pastor, Family Life Pastor and Discipleship Pastor.  It’s been a fun ride.  We love GT Church. So blessed to have so many friends and now family members here.  Our oldest daughter Kaytlynd celebrated her 30th Birthday!!!! We kicked off “in person” Groups again.  Rick taught a Crash The Chatterbox Men’s Group.  I taught Moms Together, Craft Night and a Wednesday Night Ladies Group, Called Chosen. (Named that BEFORE the series)  We studied the life of Elijah.  Just an amazing group of ladies.  Rick and I also taught Prayer Group and Passionate Marriage on Sunday Afternoon.  Our passion is teaching, training, and setting the captives free. Rick also got to attend an Airsoft Competition in Cheboygan Wisconsin.   Hundreds are hard core players, dressed for war, from all over the Midwest came to an abandoned Insane Asylum. Rick’s team led by our good friend Jonathan Kendrick won the battle.  Rick explained it like the Super Bowl of Airsoft.  

September was wedding month.  Konnaleigh really had a great vision for how she wanted her wedding.  She really wanted it to have a lot of Persian rugs, wicker, candles and lights. We had a great time shopping gathering borrowing and renting things to make their wedding day breathtaking.  She really wanted a lot of Pompous. Well we spent over $200 at Hobby Lobby but it just wasn’t enough so we started harvesting anywhere we could find it, at friend’s houses, on the highway, in random parks and by asking people we hardly knew to pick it out of their yard.  Rick, Kaleb, Karson, my best friend Lori Wilson and I made finding and harvesting Pompous our part time job.  The results were spectacular.  I don’t know what I did to deserve Lori as a best friend, but she was by my side through it all.  She made all the food and the wedding cake masterpiece and cupcakes. So many friends pitched in to help. The Skowronski’s made a beautiful backdrop, friends loaned us gold chargers and gold candlestick holders. Rick, Kaleb Karson and I spent many late nights at the church making Pompous arrangements and decorations.  So many people helped out.  We had the Rehearsal dinner on September 23rd.  Mike and Brandia Thietje provided an amazing rehearsal dinner for all of us. The Thietje Family and friends helped so much with set up.  It all pulled together quickly and beautifully. We were so blessed and blown away by everyone that helped.

The next day, Konnaleigh was the most beautiful Bride. Her Daddy walked her down the isle to the man she prayed her whole life for, Nathan.    Nathan’s Dad Mike opened the service and prayed. Pastor Rick married them in a beautiful ceremony that truly represented their love of God and heart of prayer. They had a prophetic word spoken over them and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

We celebrated with an amazing meal and fun dance.

The day after the wedding, Rick spoke at another Iron Sharpens Iron on Champaign and the boys had so many soccer games at Argenta Oreana.  Kaleb was a steam roller. No one could get that ball past him.  He would race down the field with it so fast and with such power.  For being a Freshman, Karson got a lot of play time on the Varsity Team. He had seven goals.  Both really enjoyed the soccer season and made many new friends.

In October we took a family trip up to Starved Rock to go hiking.  We had a blast.  We finally did our taxes.  This year was crazy with two new babies, 2 graduations and countless birthday parties showers and groups. We had to get an extension.  We have stopped the lie that “next year” it will slow down…It never will with a family our size.

November, Karson tried out for Midstate travel team and made it, He was so excited. We finished teaching Groups.  Our ladies Bible study had our annual FriendsGiving.  Many ladies from the past 10 years of class came that night.  It was a Group Homecoming! So much fun!!! I spent a few days at the Lainhart’s being pampered and watching Jaxon, The Boys went to Momentum Youth Conference and had a wonderful time. Pastor Brenda, Pastor Rick and I taught at GT’s Hope for The Holidays. We offered support, prayer and great ideas to get through the holidays after loosing someone you love.  It was a beautiful night with many tears shed over the loss of so many of our friends this year.  We lit a candle for our friends Lori Hays, Don Hood, Michael Haney and Charles Wallace as well as my Dad, Ricks parents and Darlene Hoover in memory of all those that have moved to heaven.   Rick and I also got to preach a Message on Sunday called Holiday Mission Field.  We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family at my Sister Jenny’s house.

December has been busy with Christmas Preparations.  We turned our house into Whoville and we are getting ready to have Christmas here with most of our kids. We will have twenty people staying here for Christmas.  We are so excited!!!

We got a surprise early Christmas gift of our FIRST DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.  Javier and Graziella tied the knot on December 18th in Paris France with her family present.  We are hoping to do a beach ceremony when we all meet in Florida in 2022.  We love Graziella so much and we are so pleased to have her join our family.  Javy did good and is such a great Daddy and Husband.  What amazing news!!!

These last few years have been crazy.  We have had six weddings in seven years. (Including our 25th Renewal) We have welcomed four amazing sons in laws, one amazing daughter in law and 8 Grandbabies in 5 years.  We continue these letters as a means to document, for us because life is moving so fast.

We have become very intentional to cling to Jesus through it all.  God truly is our Source.  We are praying that God will position our family wherever they are at to be used mightily by God to train God’s people, reach the unchurched, and proclaim the Good News of Jesus by using every available source.

 Jesus was born over 2021 years ago because GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that he gave His ONLY son that whoever would believe in Him would not die but have everlasting life! John 3:16 That’s what Christmas is about.  God is crying out to His creation to accept Jesus into their hearts.  Jesus paid the price for all our mistakes.  All we must do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God and turn from our sin. It’s really that simple. Just ask Jesus into your heart, start praying (simply talk to God), and watch God forgive you, help you direct you and love you!  That is the Best Gift of All!  We love you all and we thank God for you!

Merry Christmas and Have a Blessed 2022!!!!

Pastor Rick , Juanita, Javier Graziella, Mayra Zavala, Brandon Kaytlynd and Jaxon Lainhart, Pastors Samuel Keirstyn Kaedynce Everleigh and Judah Worden, Taylor Karrissa Albany Cambria and Emaris Jenkins, Kyriah, Nathan and Konnaleigh Thietje, &, Kaleb and Karson Spangler

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2018

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Praying that the PEACE of God would fill your home during 2019!

Well this year has been a HUGE year of change. Kaytlynd moved to Ohio, Samuel, Keirstyn and Kaedynce moved to Champaign and Kyriah and Konnaleigh moved Oklahoma. All six family members moved away within a month of each other.  Our heads were spinning!  When the dust settled, Rick and I found ourselves, in a house, with ONLY two kids for the first time since 1992.  The house is clean and quiet…and WEIRD.  I am no longer searching for who took my shoes, blow dryer or makeup. LOL

The last ten years have been a blur. We have finished an adoption, we have seen all 5 of our girls graduate from High School, and move to college during this time, we have seen three of our daughter’s graduate from college and move to three different states, we have experienced four wedding proposals, we have experienced two of our daughter’s weddings and we have welcomed our first two grandchildren. (Our third granddaughter on the way) Most of these years are just a haze of activities, games and events. So, in August when our Life on Fast Forward slowed down to normal speed, we paused and reflected on how faithful God has been in helping us to raise our family to be World Changers. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “ The Lord himself goes BEFORE You and will be with you: He will never leave of forsake you!”  God has been faithful to us and His Word over our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren! We stand in awe of, what a Good God He is, and how He transformed our lives!! We celebrate the birth of Jesus not only at Chritmas but EVERY DAY!!! Anything that is good in us and our family is ALL BECAUSE OF HIM!!!! He truly is Emmanuel, God WITH US!!!

This year we celebrated our 12th year at GT Church in Decatur.  Rick is serving as Family Life Pastor and oversees Care Ministry. I am teaching two Bible studies Moms Together and a Wednesday Night Women’s Group.  Rick and I also teach Passionate Marriage Group on Sunday nights. We celebrated our 28th Wedding Anniversary is July.  We still have date night every Thursday night! It helps us to remember that we truly love each other and gives us a break from our insane schedules. We know all too well, how quickly kids grow up and are taking time for each other and slowing down to enjoy the boys, while they are little. Our catch phrase is, “They are only little once!”

Rick is still teaching Martial Arts on Tuesday night. His adult and kid’s classes are growing larger each month.  He also had an opportunity to teach Ninjutsu Martial Arts in the public-school system, as an after school program, through a government grant. Rick also teaches a Men’s Bible study on Wednesday nights, preaches when needed and does many weddings, funerals and hospital visits throughout the year! He loves to go shooting with the boys and is enjoying a house that is “Cycle free” for the first time in years…testosterone rules our house now!

I am still speaking at Women’s events, churches and Groups.  My Refresh Break out this year was Head Over Heels in Love with Jesus. I talked about in the Armor of God scripture (Ephesians 6:15) that our shoes for battle, represent God’s PEACE! (Nothing Missing, Nothing Broken)  I spoke at Manteno MOPS (MOTHER’s of Preschooler’s) and Charleston Church of God on the Wizard of Oz theme Finding Friends Down the Yellow Brick Road of Life. I also spoke on Infant Loss at two different groups. I am so excited about the start of a Facebook Show called Tea Time With The King.  After a time in prayer, the idea came to me.  The funny thing is, I don’t drink tea.  So I started “tea”search. LOL The program lasts about 20 minutes.  I sit at a table with my daughters or friends and discuss a key scripture and how to apply it to our lives. We also discuss what tea we are drinking.  We wear our crowns -because we know that we are daughters of the King.  The show will hopefully encourage other’s to grab a cup of tea and spend time studying God’s word and spend time with the King. (Search Tea Time With the King on Facebook or Juanita Spangler speaker page on Facebook) Rick and I are starting a new program on Facebook in 2019, called Good Life Now.  We are so exited!!

*Also visit Spanglerministries.com to see messages from all our family members.

Javy is beginning his 4th year with SCOR where he met Graziella.  They fell in love and Javy planned an amazing day of activities before asking her to marry him.  She said YES!!! They were engaged on the Pont Alexandre lll France, in July.  We are so happy for them!!! He enjoys practicing Ninjutsu and spending time with family.  This year he has traveled to Denver and Paris.  He is hoping to be transferred to France to be closer to Graziella.  He is excited for 2019.

Kaytlynd started the year working at Decatur YMCA where she was the Sports Director. She did such an amazing job.  The boys loved the three years she was here because she was at all of their games and fun movie nights.  In June she took a job in Ohio.  Kaytlynd is now the Senior Program Director with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati overseeing membership, marketing, and fitness for the PCY branch.  Kaytlynd moved to Cinicinnati to be close to her “FIANCE’ ”,  Brandon Lainhart. (BREAKING NEWS)  Brandon proposed to Kaytlynd on December 21st while iceskating downtown Cincinnati!!!!  We are so excited!!!! In her free time, she’s the Varsity Girl’s Basketball Asisitant Coach at Colerain High School, where Brandon graduated.  Brandon’s dog Tyson & her cat Nala get along well and they love them dearly.

After traveling and speaking at conferences and camps, all across the US, in 2017, Samuel and Keirstyn have found a beautiful home church in Champain, IL.  They are both Youth Pastors at the Vinyard Church of Central Illinois.  Along with loving every second with their 2 year old Kaedynce Grace, they are excited to welcome Everleigh Moriah in May of 2019.

I get to “hang out” with Kaedynce every Tuesday. We go on many adventures. She has such a creative and loving heart.  She likes to dance (Shake a la booly) She loves to praise the Lord and watch Bundle Bear movies (Home videos of her Mom when she was little) She loves watching Shirley Temple movies and figured out that if she shakes her curls like Shirley, SugarPoppy (Rick) will give her anything she wants.  She recently came up with the best excuse.   If you ask her to help you with something, she puts her hands up high and wiggles her fingers and says, “Can’t…BABY HANDS!!!!!” Now… that is everyone’s excuse when I ask for help! Her best day ever was when, (in her own words) SHE said, “Allby (Albany) tum my hooouuse lesternight!” (translation: Albany came to my house last night)  She loves her TWO cousins Albany and Nala (Kaytlynd’s cat). She is so excited to get a little sister Everleigh Moriah in May.

Taylor and Karrissa Jenkins are Young Adult Pastors at Living Rivers Millennial Church in Tulsa Oklahoma. They have enjoyed watching Young Adults grow and take shape over the last two years and look forward to all next year has in store.  They have been married for two years and in February, they found out that they were having a little girl. When Karrissa started the labor process, Keirstyn and I rushed out to be there for the birth.  Like most first time deliveries, it started and stopped a few times. We stayed there for four days trying all old wives’ tales, as possible, to no avail.  I don’t think any of us will ever be able to look at an eggplant again. LOL We finally decided to come back home and pray from a distance.  The day before, labor started again, Rick said, “I know you really don’t want to miss this!”  So we packed our bags and waited for a call.  We traveled until 2am, slept awhile and made it to Tulsa two hours before precious Albany Ann made her entrance into the world.  God is so faithful and provided everything we needed for the trip and even got us there just in time! She weighed 6lbs 11oz and was 19 inches long.  She was given Ann as a middle name after Rick’s Mom which meant the world to all of us! Karrissa is loving being at home with Albany Ann. 

Albany is 6 months old and is full of love and smiles.  She has learned to roll over and is discovering how to wave and scoot all over the place.  She has recently found her feet and loves to chew on the edge of her blankets just like her Mommy! Her precious smile lights up the room. Karrissa makes sure to Facetime us often and she sends daily pictures that help us experience all of Albany’s cuteness! Seriously..this baby is WAY TOO CUTE!!!

Kyriah started her second year of Rhema Bible Training College.  She is studying Ministry Fundementals.  Her and Konnaleigh are rooming together.  We had a blast shopping for their apartment.  They decorated it so cute and it looks like an apartment on Pinterest. She worked very hard his summer at Krekels and in Tulsa at Jamba Juice.  She has paid all her tuition, apartment rent, gas and food all by herself so far.  We are so proud of her for adulting so well!  She attends Millenial Church and is on the Young Adult’s Leadership team and helps teach a 3 and 4 year old class on Sundays.  She will be graduating May of 2019. She is praying about going back to Rhema in the fall for third year.

Konnaleigh had an amazing Senior year.  She played volleyball for LSA and basketball and cheerleading for DCS. She was voted Homecoming Queen. #SpanglerReign.  We were all so happy for her. Another highlight of her Senoir Year was when she competed in National Fine Arts in Texas in Urban Dance Solo.  She received a Superior and was so excited! She graduated from Decatur Christian in May. She is also attending Rhema as a first year Bible School student.  She made the Rhema Eagles basketball team.  She loved being on the team but decided that she wanted to focus on school and getting the most our of Rhema’s Ministry opportunities and decided to step down from the team.  She also has been adultng well and has picked up extra work hours to cover tuition and rent.  We are so proud of her.  With both the girls financially self standing we are actually making our tuition payments for the boys on time 😊  THANK YOU GIRLS!

Kaleb Joel is an eighth grader at Decatur Christian School.  He has answered to KJ for most of his life.  He had someone prophesy over him, that he needed to begin to go by, his given name, of Kaleb, for the call that is on his life.   The name Kaleb is of Hebrew origin and means bold, devoted to God, faithful and whole hearted. He was named after Caleb in the Bible who knew his God and the power God had to conquer anything. He went after what he wanted in a relentless pursuit! Kaleb has truly lived out every definition of his name.  When he does a job, he does it whole heartily! He loves to sing worship songs and went to Fine Arts this year and sang a duet with Konnaleigh.  He also preached an amazing sermon. He recently dropped a few octaves and speaks in a much deeper voice than before. He also shot up in heighth and is taller than most of us!  He also is a great student.  He is on honor roll and recently passed both US and Illinois Constitution tests with 100%.  He loves sports and got his first Hat trick (3 goals in a row in one game) in Soccer this summer. He had 14 goals and 12 assists.  He is currently a starting player in his school basketball team and has an amazing outside shot! Karson and Kaleb started a weed pulling business this summer and earned enough to buy two hover boards! They have learned to work hard and play harder.

Karson went back to Decatur Christian this year and is in sixth grade. The highlight of his year was church camp and Juventus Soccer Camp.  The Soccer pros come over from Italy to teach and train.  It’s a very expensive camp but Karson earned most of the tuition to attend by doing yardwork for others. The coaches were blown away at his skill level and maneuvers at such an early age.  He was living his best life that week learning new skills from professionals from his favorite team. He had a great soccer season and had 18 goals and 15 assists! It’s been great that the boys were both on the same soccer team and basketball team. Their soccer team had an undefeated season and were division champions.  We usually have had kids in Elementary, Junior High and High School sports all at the same time.  We were never home.  Having the boys on the same teams has given us so many extra evenings at home. Early December, I think I was BORED one evening for the first time since 1982. LOL  Karson loves politics.  He is more, up to speed, than most, on governmental issues and decisions. Don’t get him started about socialism. LOL  He is funny and quick whitted. He will do huge things for God for sure!  

Rick and I just finished wrapping our smaller family gifts.  Big boxes full of Little Tyke toys are now replaced with tiny $60 video games. There are no more Lego Sets and Barbie Houses to put together.  Now there is Nike and Adidas apparel in small shirt boxes.  No more Fireman and Disney costumes, just coats and sweaters.  Times change, Presents change but one thing remains the same… For GOD so LOVED the World that HE GAVE his ONLY begotten Son that WHOSOEVER should believe on HIM should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE! John 3:16  If you don’t remember a time and place where you have asked Jesus to come into your heart, take a moment to do that!

When you call out to Jesus and ask him to forgive your sins, he washes you white as snow. That is the best White Christmas anyone can have!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!!!!!!!

We love you and we play that the Prince Of Peace will lead and Guide you into a Victorious 2019!

Passionately Serving Him

Pastor Rick, Juanita, Javier, Graziella, Brandon Lainhart, Kaytlynd, Samuel, Keirstyn, Kaedynce * and Everleigh Worden, Taylor Karrissa and Albany Ann Jenkins, Kyriah, Konnaleigh & Kaleb Joel, and Karson Spangler

2017 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas from our family to yours,

 Welcome to the new website, SpanglerMinistries.com. (Spangler.com was already taken…Thanks Spangler Candy Company 😊) We are so excited that you are here!!!  

Since we live in three different cities and two states, it has been hard to stay connected as a family. One Wednesday night, 7 different family members were preaching in three different churches to 5 different groups.  We desperately wanted to hear all the messages and asked everyone to post to Facebook. Those that could, did but life didn’t slow down and those messages fell into the abyss of the Facebook feed.  God spoke to us to start a website where our family could post messages for the whole family to watch or listen to.  Then we decided to take others on the ride with us.

We wrote our first Christmas letter years ago to document our crazy life.  Life was moving quickly then and even quicker now so we wrote it so WE could remember all the details. Our Christmas letter summed up the past year so we could “Capture the Moments” while they were still fresh in our heads.

Let’s face it, our summary has grown over the years into a FULL_LENGTH NOVEL. With so many family members, WHAT or WHO do we leave out?  Our first letter was written on a typewriter and fit on one page, large enough for all to read. Our last Newsletter was four pages with tiny print that no one over 40 could read it.  We are really one step away from having it bound at Staples at a price of $3 per Christmas card to send. CAN’T DO IT.

There are some of you that love Christmas letters. The few the proud the minority.  You can read it here, print it off, frame it and put it by the Fireplace if you like. (completely joking of course) 

And there are other’s that hate Christmas letters. (No offense taken) Now it will not arrive at your door, you don’t have to read it.  You won’t have to suffer through the many grammatical errors and typos. (Most letters are written in the middle of the night and in the last minute😊 ) You won’t have to hear about all the little victories and silly stories of life!  You don’t have to wonder if we think our kids are perfect (THEY ARE NOT) because we do not throw them under the bus in our Christmas letter or on social media. (We have very normal kids, just like you! 1Timothy 1:15-17) YOU ARE FREE! (Stop reading now and go back to your life 😊)

To those that do love it, in spite of, the multiple family members, ridiculous joy in the everyday and our Passionate Love for God and Family…  

So here we go…Our first Cyber Christmas letter.

                            MERRY CHRISTMAS 2017

Merry Christmas!!!! Our theme of the year has been Capturing the Moments and Making Memories (Also the theme of our GT Thrive Family Conference) We have been in a whirlwind of parenting for the last 26 years.  We were married in 1990 and had three kids by 1994. Our First Family, as we refer to them (Kaytlynd Keirstyn and Karrissa) came quickly.  We were young and broke and in full “survival mode.”  We didn’t know then how quickly they grow up.  Now years later we are truly parenting with perspective.  We truly know how quickly kids grow up and leave home. We have learned that life seldom slows down and that we have to “PURPOSE” to take time to capture the moment and embrace life. So if we seem happy in the crazy, we truly are, because we know how quickly the hours on the clock fly by. God’s mercies are new every morning and we are thankful for that. We are trying to grasp each moment with joy! 

Rick is still working at GT Church as the Family Life Pastor. We both spoke at GT’s Family Conference in May. Rick and I do marriage and family counseling and have a call to see families grow closer to God and each other. (Another HUGE reason for this website)  We also taught a Sunday Night Group called The God I Never Knew.  Many people know God the Father and God the Son but are very cloudy on who God the Holy Spirit is. It was an amazing Group of friends and many learned about how Holy Spirit helps us in our daily life! He is our helper!

Rick loves performing weddings, & unfortunately officiating some very sad funerals. He loves to celebrate the victories that people share and tries to help people when walking through those difficult valley experiences. This past summer & fall he has also kicked off a Men’s Bible on Wednesday nights. This has been a great time of meeting new people, hanging out, and teaching men to live victoriously.

It has been an exciting Ninjutsu martial arts year, meeting new students while continuing to train those that have been with him for years. He has had several chances this year to teach special self-defense clinics & demonstrations as the “fruit ninja” slicing up produce for entertainment and teaching about a person’s potential in public schools & in church setting about how the Word of God is powerful & sharper than a two-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12)

Rick took the boys out for an overnight survival camp out.  They also celebrated their annual Man Camp by doing High Ropes and an epic Nerf War! They went to Royal Ranger Camp too, where KJ received first place in archery and Karson won second place in airsoft shooting.  I am learning to look the other way as these three men do crazy, fun and daring  “Man things Together” 

We also got to attend Rhema Winter Bible Seminar and were able to visit Karrissa and Taylor. We came home very refreshed!

I am still speaking at Women’s Groups. The highlight of my year was getting to the keynote speaker at the 2017 Refresh Women’s Conference at GT. I spoke about Enjoying The Ride. I also spoke at 3 other Women’s Conferences and taught Keeping Christ In Christmas to a class at New Life Pregnancy center to at GT Mom’s Together. I am so blessed to sow into the lives of young Mommies at GT Mom’s Together every Wednesday morning.  I teach on parenting, marriage and family topics that the mothers choose. They are so special to me and to God. I am also teaching an amazing group of ladies on Wednesday nights at GT.   Topics this year have been Fruit of The Spirit, Full Armor of God and Gifts of the Spirit. I actually wrote two the curriculums.  It was challenging and fun. I am over Sunday morning prayer and was able to share a message at GT called Come to The Table. I got to attend two great Women’s Conferences. I went to Joyce Meyer’s final conference in St. Louis with my daughter Keirstyn and Sister Katrina and GT Church.  Then I went to Propel’s Women’s Conference in Tulsa with my friend Diva and we got to surprise our girls Kyriah, Karrissa and BriElle!

The surprise of the summer was the two boys getting chicken pox. Karson had to miss camp but the director let Rick, Karson and I come during teen camp to make it up to him! God is Faithful!

For the first time in 11 years, we did not have a garage sale. We didn’t have one weekend available to do one. Somehow, the kids got to camp and back to school without the extra cash. We rented a storage unit for all the stuff and will have a huge sale in the Spring 😊 

Javy is a business analyst, working for a top 5 global reinsurance company. He provides data analysis, assists with coordinating marketing, and helps with internal operations. He met his girlfriend Graziella Giacommara through work. She lives in Paris. He has gone to visit twice as well as a day trip with her to London and a weekend trip to Lyon France to meet her family.family. He is still practicing Ninjutsu with a couple friends and attempting to learn French. His future plans are to either move to Paris to work with the global marketing team, evolve his role to more strategic and marketing for all Americas, or transition into an underwriting role.

Kaytlynd has had a busy year with the Decatur Family YMCA this year where she is on her third year as Sports Director. She has recently implemented the Jr. NBA program here and she is very excited! This summer she was even named in the Top 20 Under 40 Making a Difference by the Central Illinois Business Journal. We are very proud of her. Kaytlynd has spent a lot of time traveling between Michigan, Oklahoma, and Ohio this year, but when she is in town she loves making time to spend with her favorite little bros, KJ and Karson.

Samuel and Keirstyn have had one exciting year. Two years ago they moved to Decatur, IL and started a youth ministry called The Uprising at a local church Renaissance. The Uprising quickly grew within the two years and now have three services a week for the youth. Samuel and Keirstyn attended countless game, hosted crazy events, and had absolutely amazing times in the presence of God with the best students in the world. This summer they began to feel the pull to travel and share the Word of God, that they once felt at the age of 18. For years they have both felt a real call for itinerate ministry. In August, they started their ministry Rebuild Redefine Collective based on Isaiah 61:4  "They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage." The goal of Rebuild Redefine Collective is to build the kingdom of God one message, one song, one thread, one heart at at time. Samuel and Keirstyn believe that God is calling every generation to rise up and use all avenues in which He has given us. The God of creativity still creates and The God of building still builds. God is reaching the corners of the Earth and calling his children home. They are absolutely loving being parents to little miss Kaedynce Grace. She makes them laugh so hard with the funny ways she puts an "L" in every word she says. Example: browLy-brownie, waLo-water .

Kaedynce Grace (Our Grand Squishy) is a shimmering ray of sunshine in our world.  She loves Jesus with all her heart.  She loves to sing and praise the Lord.  At church, if you are not fully worshipping the Lord, with your hands raised, she will look at you and motion her hands upward as if to say, “Is the All Mighty God of The Universe Boring You!”  LOL She is showing early anointing of being a worship leader. She also enjoys shaking hands and greeting people at church.   Her favorite songs are Reckless love, How to Fight My Battles and King of My Heart (Bethel) She loves HER dog Shashow and her Bruncles (uncles that ate like brothers) KJ and Karson.   She loves wearing clip on E-Eings (earings) and is working very hard on potty training so she can get her ears pierced. When she falls asleep she wants her BOO (pacifier) and to pull on her Mommies’ hair! She loves Moana and chocolate milk and Baby Jesus with all her heart.  She had her first Birthday Party in May.  It was Flamingo Themed because her favorite stuffed animal Mingo.  She had all her favorite friends, family and food to celebrate with her, Her Daddy and Mommy are doing an incredible job with her! Her joy is contagious!

HUGE NEWS: Taylor and Karrissa Jenkins are expecting their first Child due July 2nd. We are so excited!!!

Taylor and Karrissa are currently the Young Adult Pastors at their home church, Millennial Tulsa. The Young Adult department hosts a weekly service geared toward the pairing and preaching of Word & Spirit.

In 2017, they celebrated their first wedding anniversary, and then a few months later they found out they are expecting their first baby! (CHEERS, STREAMERS BALLOONS) They are incredibly excited to see what 2018 holds for their family and their Young Adult family. 

In March, they are hosting their first conference: “Word + Spirit”, which will be a weekend dedicated to gathering the 18-30 year olds of Tulsa, Oklahoma and surrounding cities to fan the flame of heaven on earth. In a generation that craves more than the norm, they are seeking to teach and raise up a group of people that expect heavenly realities in the day-to-day. Their heart is to create a culture where miracles, signs and wonders are commonplace- because they are! Our inheritance guarantees that, Jesus paid for it! 

They truly believe this generation is not a drop in the bucket of history, they are supernatural-seeking, word-believing children of God who were born for such a time as this.

Kyriah went off to Rhema Bible School this year.  She is studying Ministry.  We cried when we dropped her off to school but giving each other Kissing Hands (from a kid’s book by that name) helped.  She works hard at Dells Popcorn (while in Decatur) and Jamba Juice in Oklahoma.  She has paid “ALL” her tuition and rent on her own. Wow!!! We are so proud of her.  

Konnaleigh is a Senior at Decatur Christian School. (Our last girl is going to Graduate!) Her highlight of the year was getting to go to Anaheim, California to compete at Nationals in Urban Dance. She also got to do her dance at Momentum Youth Convention in Springfield. Another highlight of her year was getting to see her first Chicago Bears Football game for her 18th birthday. She’s in dating Isaac Rennert, who attended Decatur Christian with her. She plays volleyball, basketball, soccer and she cheers. She will be attending Rhema Bible Training college, and she is looking forward to playing basketball. 

In July on Korban’s Birthday we took my parents Jim and Jane Hebert and the Family to Medieval Times for a fun night out. We made many fun memories.  We had Kaedynce while her parents were with their Youth Group at camp and she got the flu.  It’s been a long time since we had a sick baby but we made it through. 

KJ is a 7th Grader at Decatur Christian school.  He plays soccer and basketball. He is an amazing athlete and has an incredible outside shot in basketball.  One game our team was getting donkey stomped.  After half time, our boys pulled it together and began to close the gap. With 33 seconds left, KJ landed an outside shot that tied the game.  After that, the boys stole the ball and an 8th grader made the winning shot. We could not believe the amazing comeback! Kaytlynd is teaching KJ how to play the piano.  He loves to worship the Lord. He wants to be a Pastor when he is older. Kaedynce loves KJ so much!!!

Karson is a 5th Grader at Baum Elementary.  He loves soccer and Jesus with all her heart.  This year he got his first “hat trick” (three goals in a row) He was so excited.  No matter where he is or what he is supposed to be doing, you will find him happily juggling his soccer ball and working on his latest trick. He loves video games and jumps as he plays.  He is still VERY strong in faith and comes home and tells us all about how he stands up for Jesus and the Bible in his science class. We are training our kids to be Biblically correct instead of politically correct.  He has a blunt and funny way of putting things so it is “mostly” received by his teachers 😊 He has a heart to help the Homeless!

Shadow is our Siberian Husky. He loves his family. He loves playing with his “baby” (a stuffed For Real Pet that talks) He carries it everywhere, sleeps with it and was seen doing unmentionable things with it, that we had to explain to the boys! LOL (Maybe it’s time to get him fixed!”)  He loves hotdogs cheese and canned dog food and old water bottles.  He loves being outdoors and is currently digging a hole to China. For Christmas, he walked in and looked at our Christmas tree and thought, “How nice, I don’t have to go outside to do my business!”  He lifted his leg and …..stupid dog. Rick says he cleaned it, I haven’t had the heart to sniff it to see 😊 “Get a dog, they said…It will be fun they said 😊” 

In all the insanity of life, we have learned to capture the happy moments and remember that the bad moments will all “PREACH” someday.  Sometimes some of the saddest moments in history become a catalyst for change.  See, things were less than perfect for Mary and Joseph during their trip to Bethlehem. God highlighted the good, laughed at the bad and weaved their story into the Greatest story ever told. God is a master at turning lives around.  No matter what you have been through in 2017, God will take the good and highlight it, take the bad and laugh at it and weave your story into something amazing! We are thankful for HIS perspective on life.  This is not the last chapter…many more are being written as we speak.  Capture the Moments of Life. Remember the good, laugh at the bad and Enjoy the Ride. God has got this!!! 

Remember the visit SPANGLERMINISTRIES.COM often. We will continue to post new messages, blogs, teaching series and random shenanigans throughout the year. We are praying that you can visit this site to find hope, help and encouragement to live a victorios life.

We love you all and pray that 2018 will be your most Spiritually fruitful year EVER!