How did this Happen??

Blog Post About Summer 2020

And the day arrives that you never thought possible...

Your firstborn is leaving home for college, and all she are taking is what you gave them for the first 18 years of her life. 

What?!?

August 28, 2020

Compared to what I took to college, she really didn't have that much stuff. 

One day after we left the house, my friend Leah sent this picture of our picture from 2007 that she found. 

It twas perfect timing as I was saying goodbye, and I was so appreciative because all of my children's baby pictures are in boxes, waiting for the day we set up house in America.

2007

We took the long, slow way to Nashville so we could see people along the way.

First stop: Waco

We took the grandparents to eat Middle Eastern food.

August 28, 2020

Then we headed to Dallas where we stayed with some friends who were like grandparents to my children while we lived in Africa. Jan and Lynn are like family. We took vacations together, went on safaris together, and spent many nights eating popcorn and playing Uno.

August 29, 2020

Then next morning, early, we went to get Kylie's car inspected, and then headed towards Arkansas.

We met a family for lunch near Hot Springs, and pretty quickly a storm rolled in.

We were also meeting a family from Jonesboro for dinner, but knew we couldn't make it there and get to Memphis (where we were spending the night) in a decent amount of time, so thankfully, this sweet family agreed to meet us in Memphis for dinner.

I can't tell you how glad I am that they made time for us and that it worked out for us to see the Rainwaters on this trip! We met them in Africa, too, and they are always such great encouragers.

On October 17th, a month and a half after this picture was taken, Greg went to sleep, and he didn't wake up. He was loved by so many and changed a lot of people's lives for the better.  What a privilege it was to know him!

Memphis: August 29, 2020

His and Tammy's beautiful daughter started college just last month (August 2021), and she and her mother have been amazing testimonies of what a life hidden in Christ can be.

Needless to say, we got to our friends' house in Memphis a little late, so we didn't meet their kids until the next morning.

Jessica is a friend from our days in Mississippi, and she and her husband let us stay a couple of days while we saw some other people in Memphis, Caleb and Karis did some online school, and before we made the drive to Nashville.

This is one of her daughters greeting Doug the next morning

August 30, 2020

And getting all the scoop from Caleb while he ate his breakfast.

Her older daughter teamed up with Keira for a reading session in a fun tent.

 

 We are so blessed to know so many people from so many places! They make life a lot more fun!

The Hard Soil of Their Hearts

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March 1, 2012

There was singing again today at the prison with no joy, no drums, and no dancing.

We covered three stories today in the books I am using:  Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41, The Four Soils (Mark 4:2-20), and Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night (John 3: 1-21).

When I asked if any of them had ever been in a storm in life, they all said, “No,” because they were thinking of being in a boat in the water.  When Florence explained it wasn't just boat storms, we talked about how their storms could be prison, sick kids, not having enough food to feed their family, etc.  They all nodded.

They really listened when I said that Jesus could give them peace in the storm, just like He did for the disciples.  I told them that everyone has storms.  If they got out of prison thinking their storms were over, they still wouldn’t have peace, because Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble, but do not fear, I have overcome the world.”

When we spoke about the four soils, they said their hearts were either the hard road, where Satan came and snatched away the Word or they were the soil with thorns and the worries of the world were choking the Word out.

Over and over, as they raised their hands to talk about what kind of soil they were, I repeatedly heard, “I’m always doing bad.  I can’t ever do good.”

Well, let me tell you about the thief on the cross... 

These ladies think they have to be “good” before they can come to Christ, and I reminded them that the thief just confessed his belief that Jesus was the Christ while hanging on the cross, and Jesus said, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”  There was no baptism, no confirmation, only complete trust in Jesus.

I am so thankful that Jesus takes us just as we are...no clean-up necessary!

Today was the first day I believe the ladies, when hearing how to become a believer in Christ, really chewed on it and sat with serious thought.  

Be praying for them.