Happy Birthday C!

 

So I've been slacking, but mainly from blogging.

This is how I keep occupied otherwise. This little bear keeps me running when I get home at night 'till she goes to bed. We recently put her in day care for a couple of mornings a week. I'm torn about it, I know C. needs a break, but I hate to see her in there with all the germ infested kids from the Bay. (no offense to any parents out there, but my kid hasn't been sick but twice in 15 months.)

bit o' politics

I've been way behind on posting. Things are going well for the most part in my life. I heard something on the radio, and read about it again tonight on some news sites. It seems AL QUAEDA (our friends from the middle-east) seem to be mocking GWB and also encouraging the Democrats that won control of Congress. Why is that troubling? Well one might ask, "if I were to run for president, and Ted Bundy were my biggest supporter how would I feel?" There's your proof America. I'm not so sure the republicans have all the answers, and they are often corrupt as well, but lets just think about it. If you country is at war with someone, and they are FOR a political party, (oh, and they have killed 3000 American civilians in one day...) does this make you a bit uneasy? People who are vowing to blow up the white house are publicly endorsing the democrats... Lets make sure and save these tapes for the elections 2 years from now, and lets hope that we don't have any other tapes, like the ones of 9/11 to make us wish we had done something different. I can't say that I am fully behind either political party any more. But lets hope we don't

AL QAEDA IN IRAQ MOCKS 'LAME DUCK' BUSH...

Daddy, why haven't you blogged?

I know it's been a month since I've blogged, and it's been that long becuase I've been really busy. I know everyone has the same number of hours in the day, and that one can only be so busy, and that I have made the choices that made me this busy... but anyhow. There you have it, I have so much work to do that I seldom have time to sit down and do my own stuff. I need a good employee here in the Bay, who can really work hard, and learn quickly. Then I might have time to blog again. Until that point, enjoy this puzzled look from daddys little cheese cake.  

Statements Of Fact & Deeper Truth

I was surprised today to receive an email that looked like a simple email, but the cryptic message was troubling. It was sent to several individuals, and it said "I haven't heard from many of you in a while..." Whilst that might indeed be true, (that the sender hasn't heard from the recipients), the more interesting thing could be that the sender hasn't made the effort to call them. How often do we like to say "she never calls" or "he never writes" and while that might be true, the underlying truth is that the person saying that, must not call or write as well.

This week was a particularly tough assignment, we had many plans that were made that didn't happen. Trips to NOLA, dinner parties, and more that were planned, and somehow things didn't work out, over and over again. C and I debated over these things, what the cause was, and "whos fault" it was that the plans fell through. Ultimately most things came down to some measure of selfishness and wanting to do our own things more than wanting to do what someone else wanted. So while the facts may have been that "it just didn't work our" or that "person X never calls" the deeper truth is just that -- deeper and truth. I'm not trying to be a philosopher but I do want to have some truth that I can leave with the world after I am gone. So like Confucius, I'll say "Chapman says 'people who complain about phone calls shouldn't write emails'".

Birthday Girl

 

Life on the boat

 

Summer is almost over and I just caught one crab

It seems hard to believe that the summer is over, school is starting back and it seems like it was just yesterday that I was on spring break, realizing I wanted to come to the coast and work. I guess the thing that has changed the most is that Kate is a little person now. No longer a crying, eating, sleeping, diaper-messing baby, she's almost one, and she's loads of fun. Today we played for several hours, "tusseling" and generally wrecking the house. Cammie took a quick break and headed to the beach alone. Trying to get some solitude in isn't easy now. Kate seems to take up all the extra time and energy in the day. Last year I was going fishing a lot, and heading out to the Neshoba County Fair etc.... but this year, when I get home I play with Kate. She's more fun than fishing, although I still want to go fishing soon. I have a friend that has a boat that will take us, we just have to pay for the fuel.

Cammie has been for the past two nights catching up with some of the women down here. She went to one of the local places that has bands last night and had a good time with her friend Kim. She sang a rendition of "brick house" apparently, I wasn't there, was babysitting Kate, T-Jean, Cody and Jordy.
Things are good right now in the Bay. I know that the heat of the summer will be over soon, and it will be the "fun" part of year to live on the coast. I can't wait to go out on some boats, and meet more local people. I've been working so much with LPC that I haven't had the time to develop more relationships in the community like I would have liked. So I'm working on that -- the going to Rotary, and meeting folks etc. New businesses are popping up here every day. There is a new coffee shop called the Mocking Bird Cafe that is very simlilar to the Mud Jug back in Louisville. 

Another one down

Always the fun time, another houge wedding is in the books. Benjamin Hogue got married this past saturday in Columbus MS.
It was great to see the family and by that I mean the 9 brothers, 1 of the two sisters and all the over 25 (that I could think of) grandkids.
I stayed with Tim and Christa, and it was great to see them and their boys. I'm leaving to head back via Louisville to make a couple of quick visits.

Sent from my wireless device.

Ben Hogue is Hitched

Rainy day in the bay

This morning after a delightful bowl of raisin bran we started hearing the pitter patter of a nice BSL rain storm. Instantly the teams on-site transformed in to ponchoed workers. Many fret about the rain messing up our schedule, I simply see God giving us a chance to spend some time inside with families. This work is not simply about nails and roofing and sheetrock, but about sitting and listening to people over a cup of coffee...

Sent from my wireless device.

Its a monday

6:45 am comes early down here. The constant stream of fires that must me put out and endless...both from church and big river. Copiers that won't copy...bills to pay, clients that need something done, checks to deposit, people that need to pay me that need a phone call...etc. It never stops. I feel like I'm in the midst of something really special happening, but sometimes I miss it from all the stuff going on. If you are reading this and want to pray for something, start with us on the coast. I love what i'm doing down here, but sometime miss the big picture for the details. Jeans sermon was particularly good yesterday.
The gospel never gets old. I never cease to be reminded that its ok that it isn't ok and that Jesus moves toward things that are broken. Its nice to be able to be real enough to say, "i'm not ok" and not worry about being kicked out of the church. Down here the church in a sense is no different...with the exception of that the people are so broken we can't put a smile and an extra coat of paint on and try to hide it. I can live like this. I can thrive like this.

Sent from my wireless device.

Tgif

wow. This week has screamed by. Meeting, doing, meetings, phone calls, kate, camm, and so much more. We are having the terns over tonight to watch the wizard of oz...and listen to floyd. What a great way to do a friday night. I still haven't been on a shrimp boat... I need to go, but missed the boat last weekend, (literaly). Oh well, there will be other trips.

Sent from my wireless device.

Fourth of july

when I woke up this morning several things were on my mind...weighing like a cross between an albatross and an anvil on me. I needed to get one problem fixed before 8 am so the client would arrive at work and see completed portions of the project. Much of my life right now is not planned, but more a reaction to things that are happening. I've never had such a big workload, but I've never had such rewarding work. I love my Lagniappe job. I love my big river systems job as well. It is hard to keep everyone happy. But I'm trying, after moving our house, and then the office, things were shaky for a week. I'm hoping this weel will be a good one. Its already shorter because of the fourth. Which brings me to my story. Last night we had 32 people at the new house. Even the cops came. We cooked for the LPC staff and 'terns and short termers... Even conrad came. We had a great time, the weather was perfect.

Sent from my wireless device.
Cc: all replies to EMAILADDRESSDELETED

Get off my back

I'm sorry for not posting any more than I have, but I really have been busy. Cammie and I have been in our new home for a couple of weeks, and I spent the first full week after our move in Atlanta. We had a great trip with the church and we gave out hundreds and hundreds of Lagniappe carpenter pencils, and DVD's about the work going on down here. We are going to the Bay St. Louis crab fest this evening, and will be heading to a place called Daniels to hear a band later. Come visit, come work, or come hang out. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is really a neat place. We've met some really great people, and look forward to great things down here. The Church had a shrimp boil last night, and had around 150 people there eating and having some of the best boiled shrimp that I've ever had.

I'm going to start posting more regularly, things are starting to stabilize. My office is framed out, and we'll be ready to paint by Wednesday. I can't wait.

WE ARE MOVED IN!

and the cable is on.... praise god.
more news later. i'm working on catching up, unpacking etc.

Ok...so i'm way behind

I know I haven't blogged in a while. That is due to the fact that i've been working 15 hour days and running several companies at once. We have moved to the bay, but not in to our new house yet. Maybe this weekend... We hope so. Church is going well... 150 volunteers staying a night right now. There are many challenges. But we are trying to keep the big things the big things and the little things little.
Thanks for your prayers and thanks to both of my friends for helping cam while I was out of town.

Sent from my wireless device.

Several updates

Ok. Well the house we thought we were getting below... was a LEMON. Terrible home inspection, and upon closer review, there were too many things poorly done to get a house like that. Unless we could get it for a bargin. Good news is, that within an hour, we found and made an offer on another house, and it is under contract with us now. It's a much better house and we feel great about it. Cammie has kept things rolling here at the home front. She's already got the house mostly packed up, except for the stuff you need for everyday living. Kate has been growning up, learning how to pull up, laughing, crying a little, and generally having a big time.
We aren't sure when we move yet, we have to get the house here closed (we have a contract on it) and we have to get the one on the coast ready to move. Should be in mid-june at the latest, but hopefully more like EARLY june.

Ok, I have to go do some chores (yep, I'm in Louisville).

Miss this little monkey (and her mom of course.)

 

Waveland it is.

We got a contract for our new home in Waveland. I'm thrilled to have it done. Not thrilled thinking about packing up a house... I always hate the moving process. It's just soo much work. I'd rather be drug out and shot than have to pack up everything we own. I just don't like that part of it.

We are really excited, and should close in 30 days. Please pray for your humble abode here in Louisville to sell. Or to rent, either one is really ok with me. I hope everything is going well for your folks out there, I haven't gotten many comments in a while but I hope all of you guys out there are doing well.

Offer Made on House # 2

Pray for us to get this house. It's really one of a few that are move in ready in the bay-waveland area. We've got an offer in to them, and have a 4pm (CST) response time set up.

 

Daddy got a new toy

Rotary International helped raise money for this skid steer. WhenI talked to the folks about it 3 months ago I had no idea that I'd get to drive the thing. We are working on the "demo" stage of getting our new property ready. Conrad taught me how to drive tonight... Wow... I'm in the wrong line of work. This was incredible. I'm going back tomorrow afternoon when I get done with my meetings and going to give Jordan a break... I'm sure he'll need it by then. 

that guy is my new pastor

 

oh to be this content...

(note the drool coming down the chin)
The house in the background is for sale.
www.518eastmain.com it went on the market today. 

overwhelmed

With everything going on I'm just a tad bit overwhelmed. It's a good thing to not be lazy, and I'm glad that I have so much to do. Yesterday I wrote out a to-do-list that was a full page typed.
The good thing about that was that much of it was business that I need to invoice... ;) but I need a couple more hours in the day. Or something...
Yesterday was a painful day in more ways than one. It was pay taxes, then pay taxes, then pay taxes. Yep,it was too much. Painful at best.
Kate has been fussy this week, I'm not sure whats been making her fuss, but I have a feeling its her teeth. She's got a couple of new ones coming in and I'm pretty sure they have something to do with it. It's like she's almost content, but not quite... She's on the edge...must not be hurting her too bad, but it's just enough to make her mad.

Oh well, the other things we are working on are:

• Paint this house
• Sell this house
• Find another house in BSL (the bay)
• Send invoices
• Pay invoices that I owe
• Get ready for the Senior Crawfish boil
• Get ready for Isaac's
• Plus all the details....
  

note the wedding planner front and center

Trent wedding... Note my wife in the middle telling them what to do.. 

Life in Natchez

I'm here on the back patio on the wireless conection. Roseavelt is taking care of my beverage needs. I'm happy to not have much on my mind other than taxes on monday. I've got to go buy a shirt for the wedding. my other one got stained in an unfortunate accident with some gravy.

We are staying here and if you want to come see it... you should www.monmouthplantation.com

TAXES and the IMPORTANT stuff

TAXES and the IMPORTANT stuff…

Yeah, I worked on them till 12 last night, then most of the day today. I know that important as taxes are, I think I just had my most important 15 minutes of the day…at least in the big scheme of things. Kate was cranky, and fussing on the blanket with toys all around it. Cammie gave me one of those “it’s your turn buddy” looks. I did as asked, and got down on my back and played with that little tater. She has these little plastic balls and blocks that go with this toy. They are the size of limes; we played with that one ball for the entire time. I finished the game, by fitting the ball in my mouth, and pretending to launch it out my mouth by hitting my stomach…I know, crazy, but she loved it…Don’t miss the real important stuff. So far the most rewarding part of my day…That and the walk with my wife…

my girls, my work, my fun...

C. and KT are on board with the move. I'm on board with trying to get my taxes finshed. And get some web sites sold that are oh, so close to finalized. I just need another week and we should have more business than we can do in 3 months.

I also have a meeting with the Hancock County EOC folks next week. I'm hoping to do some work for them. I have 2 proposals to get out, and a couple of more price quotes to get started with...
These girls help keep me happy and motivated. Kate is in the room with me playing on a blanket on the floor with some toys her mom left with her. I'm "watching" her while i work on some stuff....I've really got to get up to the office where I won't be so distracted by things. I need more sleep but I am DYING to go put a big turkey on the ground. C's dad killed one with an 11 1/2 inch beard that he'd been hunting for 3 years.

Honey I'm home....

We made an offer on this pile of junk... ok not really this pile, but the house behind the pile.
As you can see it's almost like new construction, but it's in a neighborhood in Waveland that didn't get too much damage. Only water. Do you think we can get ziplock to come out with a "house sized" ziplock??? I'll email the CEO and get started on that.

When we take possession you are all invited down to help. There are plenty of places to stay, and plenty of great places to eat and drink... (well more than there are here anyway).

Stuart, I don't know if you remember offering to help with the move... I might need your help with the carpentry... I can get some high schoolers to unload a u-haul, but measure twice cut once, and have a good sense of humor... that's hard to find.

As you can see i'm going to need all new kitchen cabinents. If you know anywhere we can find some let me know. we like the white ones with the little piece of trim on the doors. With the polished silver looking hardware.... If I just had some home depot connections.

It's funny to be excited about buying a gutted house. It is something that I've always wanted to do. So I'm ready for it.

call daddy

 

"Beware that you are not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge." John Wesley (1703-1791) as seen on this blog.

I see the truth of this so clearly in the work of Lagniappe Pres. When you show people love and kindness, they want to know the knowledge.

Letter to be published in the Winston County Journal

Dear Friends,
It is with much excitement and with sadness as well that I write this letter about recent events. Cammie and I have put much work and effort in to Louisville for the past 3+ years and we have now been called to move to Bay Saint Louis to help with work there. On Thursday of last week, we met with Jean Larroux who is a pastor at a Presbyterian Church plant in the Bay Saint Louis area. He has asked for my help in assisting him with that work in the role of Business Manager and Administrator. As you probably know the Bay area was heavily damaged by Katrina and Winston County has sent much aid and help to the area, I would ask of you know to continue that work by sending me with Cammie and Kate Taylor, to help in the work that needs to be done there.

We have no reason to leave Louisville, other than that God has placed this need and desire to help on our hearts. We will be heavily involved in helping get supplies, financial funding, people and more attention to the Bay area. We would ask for your assistance and your prayers as we take on this daunting task. There are many lives here that are being rebuilt, and many more that are in temporary housing and many who lost everything. I am going to the area to help, but your help in Louisville will be just as important. Winston Relief and other organizations have been sending help to the area, and we will need much more support in the future.

We will be partly funded by the church here, but I will continue on 100% running and managing Big River Systems our web development company. We need your business more now than ever, and will be able to move our business down and provide the same level of service albeit less face to face interaction. Over half of our clients are not from the Louisville area, so we are used to supporting customers that we can’t see every day. Our servers will continue to be out of harms way, in mid-America so your sites and service will go on uninterrupted through our transition.

We will move as soon as we can sell our house and find a suitable dwelling, and we ask for your prayers and your help as we make this move and transition.

If I had room to thank everyone who has helped us over the last few years here in Louisville we would have to add extra pages to the paper, but specifically I’d like to thank Joseph McCain and the staff at the Journal for allowing me space to let you know of these developments. Please know that I would much rather have been able to tell each one of you face-to-face of our news.

If you would like to help with financial support, or material support of the work down here, please visit www.lagniappechurch.com. There are lists of supplies that are in great need here.

We will miss you all very much, but will be back often. We would also like to extend an invitation to any and all who would like to help in the work that is happening here. They need everything from cooks, to people that are electricians, roofers and other skilled labor.

Thank you for all you have done, and keep up the good work in Louisville. We will miss you all dearly.


Andy Chapman
For Cammie and Kate

P.S. When you come bring a hammer.

EDITORS NOTE: The Big River Systems web site is www.bigriversystems.com

The Big News

Cammie and I have been praying for God to use us mightily for a while now. We thought that prayer would mean here, in Louisville, but that apparently is not the case.

Last week, I was taking the youth from church to the gulf, to do some work. I met with Jean Larroux, to talk to him about Work Order Software that we build to help with the data management from the people in Bay Saint Louis that need help with work on their property. After meeting with him, I began to feel like God was possibly calling me to do something more with him. I wasn't sure what, so I began to pray. A day later, I told Cammie of the things on my heart, and she began to pray about it as well. That weekend, we decided that we definitely were being called to do something, but we didn't know what that thing was. I called Jean, and he told me that his biggest need was someone to help him with the business administration of the relief work down there. Since that is what I've been doing for the last 4 years, I felt like God was indeed matching up my gifts, to needs in the church down there. We traveled down the very next night, and spent two days there in Bay Saint Louis. It's a terrible mess. There is much work to be done. But the Lord is working down there in the hearts and minds of people.

Since this has taken place, I've been asked a million questions, I'll summarize the main ones and answer them for you.

What about Louisville?
What a gem this town has been. Cammie and I have enjoyed so much of Louisville, the people here, the friendships we've made over the last few years, the ways that we've been able to get involved from everything to the Chamber of Commerce to the Relay for Life, we have been right in the middle of Louisville. We will miss it dearly, and will be taking a piece of Louisvilles, hospitality and planting it in the sands of the Gulf Coast.

When will we move?
As they say, this is the million dollar question. We don't know for sure, but it will be when we have a house to move in to down there. Housing market down there is more expensive than the market up here. We'll probably rent, then find a house that needs to be fixed-up and take it on.
In the mean time, we have a great house for sale on main street, so make me an offer on it.

Is it dangerous?
Being the father of a 6 month-old and husband to a sweet woman, I have had to ask my self "can I take them to a place like this?" A pastor friend told me this when I asked him that question: "there is nothing more dangerous than not doing the thing that God has called you to do!" I'm not taking that lightly, but the crime reports etc, are not things that we noticed when we were down there. There are also hundreds and thousands of Christians flocking to the area, to help put it back together. As David Skinner once told me "God didn't promise safety, but promised to be sovereign."

Big River Systems?
My other baby. BRS will move with me, with no interruption of service. One of the great things about BRS is that with an internet connection and a phone I can do my work from anywhere. I'll be taking it down there, and not slowing down any on that aspect, we need business more than ever now. I'll keep some staff, some of whom have expressed interest in relocating to the coast as well. I can't do this financially with what the church can afford to pay. BRS provides me the income and support that I'll need to make ends meet. We will be able to provide the same service as we do here, the phone will simply ring in another county. Also please note that our data centers are located in the central part of the country, so we won't run the risk of having active servers on the coast.

THE PHOTOS ABOVE WERE TAKEN IN BAY SAINT LOUIS, TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK.

Big things are in store for the Chapman's. Lots of things have happened in the last two weeks. God moves and directs in crazy mysterious ways.

Cammie and I are very excited about the work that God is leading us to. We'll post when something is official.

Be in prayer for us as we seek His will and guidance.

Andy for c and KT
Sent from my wireless handheld.

Good times, lots to think about

Spring Break was quite a week. I took 7 jr high and high school students to Biloxi to help with Katrina cleanup. What a mess... Sheetrock mud, hammers and nails and oh so much more was done. Even tonight at church, parents spoke to me about their children growning up over the past 3 days. I know I grew up a little as well. We did so much, yet it was so little. They need literally hundreds of people to come down, especially skilled people, who can do electrical work, and those that can do roofing. While the PCA as a whole may not have been the most organized, the churches of Biloxi and (the plant) in Bay Saint Louis are getting people and materials together to get things done. Our church has a blogspot for the trip, you might want to take a look...

 

Ahh the joy's of home ownership...

The lovely line of straight line winds that came through town yesterday was loads of fun to watch for about 15 minutes. When a tree stuck through the roof of the house next door, it was more exciting, but then we saw that it ripped our power line off the side of the house. Mucho funo. So I spent several hours with a stihl. And ill be helping the local economy by the end of the day.

theres my girl on her 6 month b day.

 

What in the world? Sleep?

We are in Atlanta, on our way to Highlands, NC headed to a place called "Panther Point." Since my Grandmother and brother live here, we stopped for a night here. I don't recall being as tired as I was yesterday since the first 2 nights in the hospital. At least when I was there I had some adrenaline or something. I was soo tired last night that I went to bed at like 8:30 or something.
Well wouldn't you know it, we both wake up this morning at 4 am (local time). Feels like 3 am. I'm pretty sure my body was saying -- "hey bud, look that's 8 hours -- go get up!"
So, here I am. I started thinking about things that I needed to do. Invoicing was one major one. So I got on my grandmothers computer and quickbooks-onlined several folks.
Don't you love a good computer with high speed internet. You can do anything. So, now I'm done my work, I'm getting tired again which only could mean one thing. Kate is about to wake up. It's only fair.

I can't wait to be in NC in this awesome cabin.

Since they only rent to professing Christians they charge a small amount compared to what the going rate is in the area. Beware their website is in flux right now and is supposed to be corrected by the end of next week with everything updated pricewise.

Since it sleeps 12, and I'm a "giver", I've invited my brother and his wife and baby, and some of her family. They are always fun to be around and since Kate and their baby are 2 days apart, its fun to see how they act. I hope we can get them to move to MS someday so they can be close to their cousins.

Two more things you won't want to miss...
Kate is a super star -- click here to watch the "Chub" Olympics.
I guess this just about clears my head. Anything else will have to wait.