Happy Birthday Eric......

     Happy14th  Birthday Eric!!!!
     Today my heart is turned toward Eric, the first child we sponsored with Compassion. Today, October 1st, 2012 is his 14th birthday. He had just turned 8 years old when our relationship began. God brought him into our lives to be a blessing to him and to change us also.

      I remember the first time I saw his picture.  It was November 2006. We were at a Bebo Norman concert and he was sharing about Compassion. Jon asked me what I thought (we wanted to sponsor a child for a while but just was not financially able). I told him that I thought we were supposed to do this. We agreed that if God wanted us to step out in faith and sponsor we would get to sponsor a child close to one of our four children's age. Jon raised his hand and the packet passed to us was .......Eric! Immediately, I checked his birthday and saw that it was EXACTLY 15 days (to the year) older than our oldest child. We knew right then that he was the one God had for us. We were excited. We decided that we were not going to tell our children, but instead, we would wrap the packet (along with the packet of Lizet who we also decided to sponsor that night) in wrapping paper and give it to them the morning of Thanksgiving. The next couple of weeks, I would go in and pull out the packets and just look at the pictures. Finally, Thanksgiving morning came and we sat our children down with their "Thanksgiving" gifts.  They were surprised and excited. They had never been given "Thanksgiving gifts" before.  They opened the gifts and looked at us waiting for an explanation. We began to share with them about Eric and about Compassion. I will never forget Josiah asking, "Can we get him a pair of shoes?  His toes are hanging over these." Oh, the lesson right there, Josiah was able to see someone his own age in need and that we could supply that need. We spent the day thankful for what we had and what we could give.

     Next, we began to exchange letters. I have saved every letter and treasure them. 
 I will never forget his second letter to us. He shared that his brother recently died and that God was keeping them strong in this difficult time. It is unbelievable how much you and get to know about someone in letters....6 years of letters,.I feel like I know Eric. In Eric's 7th letter he began to ask to meet "face to face".

Five months ago I traveled to Rwanda and we met "face to face". I had the blessing of spending the day with him, giving him gifts, talking, and placing my hand on his shoulder and praying over him.

Eric, because of you, my life will NEVER be the same! I pray that you have a very blessed birthday, that you realize who you are in Christ, that you continue to follow the purpose and plan that God has for your life.
I will never forget the day we met "FACE to FACE".

    

Volunteering .......nothing like it!

     Last night, Jon and I had the great privilege to volunteer at the Compassion booth of a Matthew West concert.  It brings me great joy to meet other sponsors and share compassion stories. Living in a small rural area we do not get enough opportunities to do this.  Last night was wonderful; 33 children were sponsored! That does not mean 33 lives are now forever changed. It means many more than 33 lives were changed last night. Of course the child and the sponsor, but that child's entire family will be affected by that sponsorship along with the entire family or youth group that sponsored them. Also, the friends and neighbors of both parties will be changed. The child's family will be able to have an unbelievable testimony to all in their communities. The sponsor will now find themselves eager to share about this child, who has, by divine appointment, stepped into their world and who prays for them regularly!
     Distance and time is nothing for God! I have found that a fourth of the way around the world or even half way around the world really is not that far!
     If you have never sponsored a child I encourage you to do so. Go to www.compassioninternational.com and become HOPE to a child! You will be changed FOREVER! Who doesn't like to help children......they are the future!

Happy First Anniversary Tim and Cari!

     Well it has been a year ago since my family was blessed to be a part of your Godly love story.  As I look back, I smile.

     Let me introduce you to Cari, a beautiful Godly women waiting for the man God had for her.  During her waiting time she choose to serve God. She gave her singleness to God to use for Him and did He ever use her. Cari used the beautiful voice and musical ability that God placed in her and openly shared it with others.  She was so blessed to have a Mom and Dad that loved her so much that they encouraged her in the Lord and taught her not just in knowledge but by example of what a Godly women is inside and out. Cari, being obedient to the instruction and authority God placed over her began the process of trusting that God had her future in His hands.  She would read the word of God and use it as an instruction manual for her life.  She would talk to God about this man that He had planed for her.
     Meet Tim, he is from "down under".  I will never forget the first time we met Tim.  He was so full of the love of Jesus that it just spilled out onto those around him.  Tim took time with the children, he talked with them, he gave them eye contact, Tim treated them each as someone VERY important.  Our children were so drawn to him.  See Tim had not always served the Lord but when he made the decision to make Jesus the Lord of his life he meant it and God gave him a way of reaching young people.  Tim also has been given a wonderful voice that he has agreed to use for the Lord. Tim teaches at Cari's uncles school. (Thank you Steve for going to Australia 26 years ago.....or else Tim would not be in our lives)  Tim was also waiting and praying for the one women that God had for him.  He too, choose to serve God while he was waiting.
     Then, when they least expected it, God made their paths to cross. The long distance relationship began!  Phone calls, emails, and the precious Skype time caused them to realize that each was "the one" God had for them. After visits few and far between, the time came when Tim knew that Cari was the Princess for him.  He asked for her Fathers blessing (guys this is the way it is to be done) and so he asked and she accepted.
     Now, looking back a year ago to their wedding day I want to thank them both for being great examples of what a "Godly Relationship" looks like.  Their wedding day was precious and surrounded with the presence of God.  It was a ceremony of three Tim, Cari, and Christ joining together in one union.
     Thank you Tim and Cari, not only do my children have an example of what a "pure" love relationship looks like but you also have been an example of how to trust and serve God while you are single.  You have showed how to not rush into relationships but instead let God lead you into the right relationship. Thank you for putting God first in your lives.

                         Happy First Anniversary, We love you both                                                and are so excited to see you serve the Lord.