Special Feature
It started with a birdhouse. Lowell Shipp, known as Bud to all his friends, and Pawpaw to his family, did not like to sit still. What he did love to do was create things. He built antique cars. He built barns, garages, and sheds. He built farm solutions for his tractors and lawnmowers. After retirement, Pawpaw had made just about all the major things he wanted to create. But he couldn’t sit still.
So, he started making birdhouses, intricately designed and beautifully crafted. People began asking to buy his birdhouses, but Pawpaw mostly loved gifting them to family and friends far and wide. Making birdhouses grew into creating farm tables, benches, ladders; anything that was requested. It wasn’t unusual to see Pawpaw working in his little woodshop starting in the early hours of the morning, a light from the window glowing out into the darkness. Like the light in his woodshop, Pawpaw was a light to those around him. In his own quiet way, he taught us that hard work is important, and so is putting others before yourself. He lived John 13:34, “Love one another.”
In February 2021, Pawpaw had a stroke, and the lights of the little woodshop went dark. His family was able to return a portion of his love and care by assisting him through each day, making his last months as comfortable as possible for him. After his heavenly homegoing in January 2022, it was hard to even look towards his woodshop, now dark and quiet. But God had a purpose and a plan that had been set into motion long before anyone knew.
Hannah had left her former job to assist her granddad each day after the stroke. After he went home to heaven, she felt certain that God was calling her to take a step of faith and open a bakery instead of going back to her former work. But so many details needed to be worked out, and one of the biggest details? Location. Hannah looked all around for the perfect location for her bakery, and one day, God led the family back to Pawpaw’s woodshop. It would be the perfect place to continue the ministry of loving one another and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through creating things- only this time, the creations would be sweet treats and more!
With the help of family and friends, Hannah turned Pawpaw’s woodshop into Psalm 34 Bakery, Psalm 34 being a constant reminder through the hard times and great times to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” When the bakery opened, Meranda, one of Pawpaw’s daughters and Hannah’s aunt, came alongside to help her make desserts, chicken salads, and hot meals. The two have never looked back. They continue to be in awe of the Lord’s goodness as He sends new opportunities their way to minister to others with a delicious meal, dessert, catering event, smile, or word of encouragement. The lights of the woodshop shine once again, and busy hands are at work each day, making new things to bless someone else, quietly putting into action the command to love one another. Just like Pawpaw did.
You’re invited! Join Psalm 34 Bakery & Catering on December 9 for the grand opening of their larger retail location in Hayden, Ala. Click here for details.
-Paige Givens
Pawpaw’s granddaughter and Hannah’s sister
