Playing for Pauley

At the end of last year's soccer season, never would I have thought, I'd be back in the stands rooting for my players on the field.

Yet.. here I am.

Jake decided to switch from playing football to soccer. Luke has also decided to play.

They have no previous soccer experience, really. Just the longing to honor their brother's memory and learn the sport he so loved.

Their first scrimmage at home is tomorrow.

After four years of cheering on my E out there, it will be difficult, no doubt... as the memories of those times will flood my mind, heart and soul.

But now it is their time....and I will be there to cheer them on.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

Philippians 4:13

#ep7 #ecp7 #playforpauley

Pictures courtesy of Impressive Studios

Posted on Facebook: 8/14/16

https://www.facebook.com/stephaniespauley/posts/10206642387167361

1st Annual EP7 Memorial Cruise-In

48 cars were entered in the 2016 EP7 Memorial Cruise-In. 

Well over 100 people stopped in throughout the evening. 

This is just one set of pictures taken. I will be posting more pictures and all the sponsors soon.

The Cruise-In was a large effort taken on by many in order to help our high school graduates seeking a career in the skilled trades.

Thanks to Bill Mullins of Ohio River Street Rodders and friends for assisting with parking, and getting the word out. They made quite the grand entrance too.

Another thanks to all those who entered their cars and were so generous with their donations supporting the scholarship fund and all who came out to show your support!

A huge thanks to all those who helped us..

Vickie McCormick Hunt and Paul Hunt Jr. for helping to set up, take down, announcing, running needed errands, and taking these great pictures.
Aimee Ramsey Hall for handling shirt orders. Her husband Matt for cooking hot dogs and allowing us to borrow their grill.
Matt Dahm for setting up a table to hand out books donated by Kenny Estep of Shawnee Hills Baptist Church.
Chris Prater and the Porter Township Fire Department for filling up the dunk tank.
Laurie Livernois Willis and James Willis for helping as needed.
Members of the Wheelersburg Pirate Soccer Team (Joshua Russell mostly ;) and Coach Michael Kitts for agreeing to be dunked in the tank.

Alan Payton, Tammy Blankenship Humphrey and family for helping in the initial stages and getting the word out.
Baleigh Crawford, Brittany Swim, Morgan Willoughby, Alyssa Holcomb, Angie Fannin and Jeremy Fannin for face painting and/or selling 50/50 tickets.
Bailee Fannin, Tanner Bivens, Ethan McCain, and Mitchell McFarland for judging the Best of Show trophy.
Kevin Hoops of Impressive Studios for setting up a photo booth though I didn't get a chance to utilize it since I was gabbing to everyone. Kevin also was so kind to give us some wonderful pictures of E awhile back that he took last fall for soccer.
Bailee and Morgan also came up with the shirt design and Shawn Meade Jordan for putting the design together to submit to Johnson's Shirt Stop.

Hopefully I've included everyone that has been hands-on throughout this event.

It took a multitude of support to make this Cruise-In a success...and as always you....our community came through <3

Praise God for the beautiful weather and great turnout.

Ethan Pauley #ep7 #ecp7

Posted on Facebook: 8/7/16: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniespauley/posts/10206595068224417

& https://www.facebook.com/stephaniespauley/posts/10206607429813449

The Weaver

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the underside.

Not til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

-Benjamin Malachi Franklin



Posted on Facebook: 7/12/16
https://www.facebook.com/stephaniespauley/posts/10206418238403782

6 months without our son

Six months have passed since our lives were torn apart. Our boy we loved so dearly, was taken from us in an instant. We didn't even have a chance to say goodbye.

I remember that night so vividly.

It seems just like yesterday, yet in so many ways it feels as though he’s been gone forever. A lifetime, really. 

The desolation we have felt is beyond any I could ever describe or have imagined.

While I have experienced much in my forty something years, from serving in a foreign war at 19, losing my mother when she was just 55, to leaving our home and moving several states away with five young boys to a place I knew not a single soul. Those trials did not prepare me for the unexpected loss of a child I spent eighteen years loving and raising.

His wake, the funeral, even months after are a blur to me. Yet there are a few things that stand out.

One is the story from a mother who had a young teenage boy with her at the wake. She told us that awhile back her son was contemplating suicide. Around the same time, E had an encounter with this boy, and spoke kind words to encourage him. Hearing this from an upperclassman he looked up to, made an impact on this woman’s son. She told us how it is Ethan she credits for saving his life. Giving others encouragement and kindness was something we hear time and time again about our son.

Living without E has been an insurmountable burden we have no choice to bear.

There will never be a day that goes by…no, not a moment we aren’t thinking of him, feeling his absence and missing him.

We’ve had to make many adjustments in our lives. He was a part of every single detail in this family. We reluctantly move forward, yet always looking back. Never truly moving on.

And six months later, here we are forging an unknown and uncharted path full of a grief we never expected to know.

I'm really not sure how we will fill the void left in our hearts without him here physically. We probably never will. We're still hurting.. more than ever, but are grateful for the family, friends and community that continue to support us.

What I am sure of is that we could not cope without leaning on the Lord’s strength and guidance through every step.

I must remind myself daily that we are not created for this world.

And the best way I can honor our E is to advance the kingdom of which he is now a part of.

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."

Psalm 119:50

Posted on Facebook: 7/22/16

https://www.facebook.com/stephaniespauley/posts/10206492648943999