Together...on a Journey
For over twenty years, our family has been on a journey. Like all journeys, you can never guess where it will take you.
It began as a simple love story. Boy (Jay) meets girl (Amber). Boy is NOT in the same league as the girl. Cupid misfired and hit the girl's heart. That boy is LUCKY. Amber and I have known each other for our WHOLE lives, growing up in the same church. In the Fall of 1995, after working together at a summer day camp, we began dating. We had found our soulmates.
On May 15, 1999, Amber Varty said "Yes" to Jay, and Jay McCulloch prayer one thousand prayers of gratitude that Amber said YES!! Both committed to a lifelong journey together.
Amber and I both came from larger families. Amber, with three brothers and a sister, and I was the oldest of four boys. It was pretty much a "given" that we wanted more than the average "2.5 children per household.
On July 18, 2001, our firstborn, Logan Michael Don McCulloch (named after BOTH of his grandpas) arrived. Logan leads with his heart, and he could be easily labled "little Jay" (that may or may NOT be a good thing). Following Logan, our one and only princess, Scout MaKenna McCulloch (named after the beloved character in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) began her reign of her mommy and daddy's heart on March 10, 2003. Just like the title character, Scout is concerned most with bringing kindness to our world.
The perfect family? Not at all. Two more blessings were to arrive. The first was our big-hearted Quaid Jacob on June 19, 2006. Every home needs a Quaid, and every home needs a Sawyer. Sawyer Finn, born on March 5, 2008 brings an uncontrolled energy and zaniness we so desperately needed.
Our family has attended Colonial Woods Missionary Church in Port Huron for over seventeen years. It is where God has made our spiritual home. Besides being involved with children's and youth ministries, and despite being Port Huron residents, we find a great deal of pride in being Marine City Mariners. All four children are involved in the drama program (and other area drama programs) that I direct at Marine City High School. Logan and Scout are also heavily involved in the Marine City Middle School's excellent band and choir programs. But what our family loves most is just spending time together, creating memories TOGETHER. Vacations, family movie nights, canoeing cooking together, swimming, going to see plays and musicals are just a few of the many activities we enjoy together. The event or trip doesn't have to cost alot of money (and it usually can't). What matters to us is spending time together laughing (and sometimes fighting).
And so, as crazy as it may sound, we'd love to create memories with a child who has no home. We have four beautiful children, but our hearts long to add another heart to the mix. Are we crazy? Sure, but God never called us to always do what is easy. But the journey, as stressful and tense as it may get is transforming each of our hearts. With fear and excitement and trust, we look forward to the journey ahead.
We are the McCulloch family...still imperfect, still incomplete.
It began as a simple love story. Boy (Jay) meets girl (Amber). Boy is NOT in the same league as the girl. Cupid misfired and hit the girl's heart. That boy is LUCKY. Amber and I have known each other for our WHOLE lives, growing up in the same church. In the Fall of 1995, after working together at a summer day camp, we began dating. We had found our soulmates.
On May 15, 1999, Amber Varty said "Yes" to Jay, and Jay McCulloch prayer one thousand prayers of gratitude that Amber said YES!! Both committed to a lifelong journey together.
Amber and I both came from larger families. Amber, with three brothers and a sister, and I was the oldest of four boys. It was pretty much a "given" that we wanted more than the average "2.5 children per household.
On July 18, 2001, our firstborn, Logan Michael Don McCulloch (named after BOTH of his grandpas) arrived. Logan leads with his heart, and he could be easily labled "little Jay" (that may or may NOT be a good thing). Following Logan, our one and only princess, Scout MaKenna McCulloch (named after the beloved character in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) began her reign of her mommy and daddy's heart on March 10, 2003. Just like the title character, Scout is concerned most with bringing kindness to our world.
The perfect family? Not at all. Two more blessings were to arrive. The first was our big-hearted Quaid Jacob on June 19, 2006. Every home needs a Quaid, and every home needs a Sawyer. Sawyer Finn, born on March 5, 2008 brings an uncontrolled energy and zaniness we so desperately needed.
Our family has attended Colonial Woods Missionary Church in Port Huron for over seventeen years. It is where God has made our spiritual home. Besides being involved with children's and youth ministries, and despite being Port Huron residents, we find a great deal of pride in being Marine City Mariners. All four children are involved in the drama program (and other area drama programs) that I direct at Marine City High School. Logan and Scout are also heavily involved in the Marine City Middle School's excellent band and choir programs. But what our family loves most is just spending time together, creating memories TOGETHER. Vacations, family movie nights, canoeing cooking together, swimming, going to see plays and musicals are just a few of the many activities we enjoy together. The event or trip doesn't have to cost alot of money (and it usually can't). What matters to us is spending time together laughing (and sometimes fighting).
And so, as crazy as it may sound, we'd love to create memories with a child who has no home. We have four beautiful children, but our hearts long to add another heart to the mix. Are we crazy? Sure, but God never called us to always do what is easy. But the journey, as stressful and tense as it may get is transforming each of our hearts. With fear and excitement and trust, we look forward to the journey ahead.
We are the McCulloch family...still imperfect, still incomplete.