24-Hour Excurion Part 2 (and Finale)

Oh dear...did I let almost a week go by? Am I behind in almost all of your blogs, as well?
I guess it's all due to the end of summertime...
Trying to both enjoy these last days and at the same time, get ready for the coming school year.
Well, and also the fact that I've been glued to the Olympics every night that we've been home!
But I can't just leave you hanging!
So....On to the rest of the story!
(And I'll try to visit most of you as I can through the week...promise!)

(*Edited to include one picture I forgot!)

While my family slept peacefully, the wind whipped the tops of the trees, making them look like part of a wheat field, bending in the breeze. But what was eerie was the sound. The loud, rushing wind seeming so much like an ocean's crashing waves.
I found myself feeling tense...just hovering on the line of fear.

But then I remembered what I was just telling my girls earlier, when the thunderstorm was near.
I reminded them of how Jesus was in the boat with the disciples when a storm came up. Even though they were grown men, the disciples were still very much afraid. But Jesus was able to calm the storm... and I told them that when Jesus is with us we don't have to be afraid.
They had listened again to this familiar Bible truth and believed it. But here I was watching the tree tops sway with trepidation.

So I prayed and did feel much better putting the storm into God's hands.
I lay down and prepared to sleep, and as I drifted off, I couldn't help but notice that the winds actually did indeed die down within minutes. Of course, it might not have been a direct answer to my prayer...but then, why couldn't it have been?

The next day there was no wind...but the thunderclouds had rolled back in and I awoke to the loud clap of thunder and bright flashes.
My early riser husband had already taken a shower and had been chopping wood and I could hear him hastily throw it together to get a fire going.
Yes, he is too manly, I guess, to let a thunderstorm send him running for cover. (He assumed he was safe because of all the tall trees...)
And soon the downpour started. The girls were awake now and they looked out the flap of the tent to see him sitting faithfully under the large umbrella, stoking the fire. And how the fire kept going with all that rain, I'm still not sure!

After a few hours, though, the rain stopped and we went off to find what I had read about-
The Bat Barn.

But before I get to that, as we parked our car in the equestian section to go hiking over to this barn, we saw some folks with their horses at their trailer.
Knowing how much our girls love horses but rarely have access to them, we walked over and my husband asked if it was OK if they pet them.
It was a lady with her grown daughter and grandson, and they smiled and told us yes.


The older lady turned out to be so friendly and generous...telling the girls they could feed the gentlest horse, Buck, some apples after showing them how...

and then even offering to have each of the girls sit on him.

It was a totally unexpected treat for us all and we felt so grateful to happen upon this nice lady and her family! And then she mentioned that it was her birthday...and here she was spreading joy to youngsters in honor of her special day.

Now, look closely and you may see that my oldest is holding her beloved stuffed horse! My youngest, too, had brought her toy horse, as well...not even expecting to come near any real horses! Was that not just perfect!?

From there, we were off down the trail to see the bat barn. This is a barn that use to be used for horses, but when it was discovered that it was a rare nesting sight for mother bats and their babies, they allowed the bats to have it.

That is the barn in the very first photo above, as we began our walk.
Finally we came to it...


As you can see, it is all boarded up and surrounded by sticker bushes...with little round holes that you can't see here, where the bats fly in and out.
They had some signs with information on them right in front...

and we learned that sometimes mama bats fly out at night for food with their one baby clinging to them. They only have one baby at a time and the bond is strong.

So, needless to say, we couldn't actually see any bats.
But it was kind of interesting knowing they were all in there!

Soon, it was back on the trail to go back to the campsite to pack up everything.



Yep...hubby and I agreed that one night was long enough this time.
The girls, however, were not at first happy with this decision since they apparently like camping in storms. But with a promise of a Happy Meal on the way home as consolation prize, all was well.

That, and a little rest...with dreams of galloping over the trails...

Acting Lessons

My eight year old has recently joined a children's choir through another church, and today were the auditions for speaking parts and solos for the spring program that will take place in May.

She had told me that she really wanted to try out for a speaking part...so we picked one that didn't have too many lines and she memorized them immediately.
Since being in Awana during 1st and 2nd grade, she has displayed a real ability for memorization (much better than I ever possessed!) so actually, I wasn't surprised here.

Not only that, but she did a couple terms of a fun acting class at the local recreation center in the past year or so... and- I hope it's just not a bias mother speaking- but she was actually....good! Very good! She had the right feeling in her voice and said her lines with confidence. We were simply amazed!

So, this time she, again, practiced saying her lines to me...and I read with her for the part of the other character.
Yep, I thought. This girl can act!

But I do know her well. And although she's pretty animated around family and good friends, she can also be very shy around strangers.

With this in mind, we talked a lot about how this audition might go...and we prayed that she would only get a part if God wanted her to make this commitment right now...we prayed that even if she didn't get a part, she would be OK about it all- and just have fun being in the choir.

As we waited for her name to be called, we hung out in a big room with game tables set up for all the kids and their parents. We actually had a super time playing "Sorry"...
and before we knew it, her turn for auditions had arrived.
I couldn't go in with her...so I grabbed some free chips and kind of paced around.
I was suddenly so nervous for her!

She came back out about ten minutes later, looking disappointed.
Uh-oh.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
To which one of the nice volunteers, asked her how her audition went.
"They didn't even say anything at the end," she replied.
So I asked the volunteer if they tell you right away about parts and she thought it might not be until Wednesday.

But after further conversation with my girl, she told me that she forgot to smile...and she didn't think she said her lines with real feeling.

Oh.
I admit, I felt my heart sink just a tiny, little bit. Hopefully, it wasn't just some dormant stage mother in me that felt disappointed...because I think I really felt bad for her, knowing that she was completely able to do a great job, and yet she froze up in front of the "panel of judges".

We did have a great conversation on the way home, though.
I told her that so many people get stage fright when suddenly they are about to be judged.
I reminded her that we had just prayed about it...so now we needed to trust God for the right outcome.

And the Lord was, in fact, answering our prayers because she quickly began to act as though she'd be just fine- either way.

She was even able to laugh at my silly jokes...
and smile when I described an old rerun of the Brady Bunch when Cindy got to be on a local TV quiz show for kids because she pretty smart, but instead of hitting the button and answering questions, she simply stared at the red light on the camera the whole time.

Yep, she most definitely did better than that little Cindy, alright!

But it wasn't just my daughter that was having a learning moment.
Because, I admit, I had been feeling just a little concerned for her in all this.
As we talked, however, I felt that God was reminding me also to trust Him with my children in all things- big and small. This probably constitutes small by most definitions, but since we took the time to pray and put it in His hands, there I must leave it, the same as she must.

And truly, I was so proud of her for actually memorizing her lines and going for it.
For a somewhat shy girl (with a somewhat shy mom, I admit it!) it took initiative and courage on her part!

And whether she gets any extra role....or simply sings her heart out with the rest of the choir... I think she'll be content enough.

And her daddy and I will be two extremely proud parents in the audience, cheering her on.


For those of you waiting for the continuing story of the bed, I promise to give you the ending on my next post!

Also, Midlife Mom over at Home on the Range is having a giveaway for her 250th post! Two gifts to choose from, but you only have until Wednesday, so hurry on over!

"A Little Child Shall Lead them..."

Both of my little girls love going to church...and love Jesus.

But my youngest who is five, from a very early age, has displayed an unusally tender heart towards the things of God.

She insisted on asking Jesus into her heart when she was three. Some may doubt the reality of her conversion at such a young age, but I have seen the evidence that Christ is dwelling in her little heart.
Yes, she will grow in her understanding over the years...come to other moments in her young adult life when she will hopefully commit her life completely to Him.
But nevertheless, when she asked Him, He honored her request.

No, she is not a perfect child, believe me. But sometimes her tender and pure heart actually inspire me in my own daily walk. Funny, how sometimes we think we are training our children, and God will use them to teach us along the way.

Here are a few examples of how I've seen God manifesting Himself in her very young life...

A few months ago, she was in the bathroom, singing. As I strained to hear which song it might be, I realized she was making up a little song and singing it to God!
All about how she loved Him and thanking Him for being with her when she went to sleep at night. My heart melted...and I was in awe.

Whenever someone in our family isn't feeling well, she will always come over at some point and just start praying for us.

In the last few weeks, she has asked me more questions about God...and the other night was mentioning something about God, and then added,
"Sometimes I just think about Jesus a lot, because I love Him so much!"

This weekend, the girls had earned a tiny amount of change doing some extra little chores, and my oldest said something about how much would be the right amount of it to give to the Lord at Sunday School. My youngest was listening, and immediately started counting out some change for the Lord, too.

And a few minutes later, she presented me with a card she had made....for Jesus. She had written in by herself, drawn a picture of herself with Jesus, and had taped a couple coins into the inside page.

Today she took the card to Sunday School, but I told her that after we showed the card to her teacher and she gave the money, we could keep the card here, since Jesus can see and enjoy it here, just as well! Because, here at home it can be not only a keepsake, but a precious reminder.

(Look closely...she is running to Jesus and exclaiming His name as He embraces her.)




As adults, our spiritual lives can become hampered by responsibilities and by our own tendencies to just make everything more complicated than it needs to be.


At least that is the way it is with me.




But the Lord is showing me-through my child- that, more than anything, He just wants our hearts. He just wants us to love and trust Him...and to listen for His voice in our every day lives...and He loves it when we start singing to Him in the middle of the day- just because we're glad He is with us, always.


But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Their Steps

Before I go any further, I wanted to thank my dear friend, Pea, who last week honored me with a new award! Thank you so much, Pea!
True, it seems kind of a humorous award name if you know me very well...I'm a bit shy in person, so schmoozing is the last thing I would probably use to describe myself!
But then I read the meaning behind this award...

It’s an award for those who have the natural ability “to effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

Reading this definition make me feel humbled and honored! (Especially, coming from Pea, who personifies this to me!)

Blogging to me has surpassed the original purpose to practice my writing while keeping friends and family updated...it has become a source of encouragement and friendship for me, and I thank all of you who have enriched my life in this past year!

I'm going to think on this one, and come back to bestow the "schmoozes" to a few others! :)

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I'm hoping you all enjoyed this last weekend of July. The last weekend! I absolutely cannot believe how swiftly this summer is flying by. I know people say that every year, but this summer is careening like a rocket through time, and I wish it would slow it's pace just a bit to a nice, lazy stroll.
But despite it's high speed, God's been able to not just teach me recently through the more painful parenting moments, but also in the slightly less-painful, yet foreign ones.

Saturday was a day of bravery for my oldest. And in a roundabout way, for me, too.

By evening, she had tackled a series of "firsts", ending with a visit the amusement park with her daddy and sister, where she graduated from riding those "big kid" rides...you know, those rides where everyone is screaming and even this mommy will not set foot on.
And I get just as nervous from the ground looking up, so all I can say is, I was glad I wasn't there to watch her on all of them or my fingernails would pretty much be history.


(This one might look tame, but I hear it went quite fast!)

But first, let me back track...
In the morning, my husband was working so I took the girls to a community center carnival. There was a rock climbing setup there, and I was surprised at not only my eight year old's bravery to try it, but my own to allow her with no hesitation. I am the ultimate nervous mommy (and it doesn't help that she broke her arm jumping off a mere 3-ft slide at age four!)
but something clicked in me this weekend, to relax those apron strings just a bit and let her try her wings.
And she conquered that mountain and reached the top!!!



And let me back track just one more time...
Just before this, we had dropped off some books at the library...
where I actually did my first act of bravery as a mommy.

I had awakened this morning with a pulled muscle in my hip, so when we reached the library, we parked almost right in front of the door. I told her she could take the books in all by herself...a first! When she picked her jaw up off the car floor, she excitedly took the books as her younger sister and I watched her like eagles, and she went inside. A moment later, she emerged...a beaming smile of pride upon her face.

This was a huge milestone for us... up until this weekend, she was officially still my very little girl, under my wing of protection, who isn't even allowed to cross the street alone. This weekend, she is still very much under my wing...but I loosened a few feathers just a tad and gave her a bit of wiggle room.

I grew up with very protective parents...so it comes by me naturally.
And yes, protective is good.
But as someone who has this natural bent, I have to continually remind myself that they actually belong to the Lord- He is their true Protector.

Yes, as a parent, I have to pray for wisdom and use it...ask for His guidance and listen...but I have to also relax my hold just a bit...year by year...day by day.
This may be one of the biggest challenges of parenting there can be.

But when I remember how much God loves my children, it becomes just a bit easier.
Then I can start to learn to rest in the fact that they belong to Him.

And that He is ultimately the One who loves, protects and guides them- through the valleys, over the mountains...each and every step of the way.

Lessons...

Thank you all so much for your sweet replies and words of wisdom. They have meant so much to me, and I realize just how much this thing called blogging can be used of God as a source of encouragement to one another. I had tears in my eyes reading each and every one.

Yesterday, my daughter and I were able to talk about this off and on throughout the day. I asked many questions. And I was hopefully able to impart some of my own wisdom here and there. But though she just wasn't completely sure where her thoughts had originated, God began opening my own eyes about some fault of our own, and it was both startling and humbling.

I suddenly began to have flashes of memory of where husband and I had wrongly conveyed negative thoughts, perhaps planting seeds of doubt into her young mind about the value of our family.
Things we might have said, tongue in cheek, not realizing that she was overhearing and absorbing...
Like, "Oh, I guess we're just too boring for them now..." referring to another family.
Even the use of the word "cool" coming from my husband's lips, along this very line.

As God began to gently bring these things to my memory, it all began to make a little more sense to me. During the course of the day, I apologized to my daughter for unknowingly portraying our family- ourselves- in a less than positive light. I told her we were, indeed, just as wonderful as other families...and from now on, we would make our words measure up to that fact.

When my husband came home from work, we talked about this whole thing. He knew how upset I had been the night before, and when I started bringing up the examples I had been shown, he immediately and humbly agreed...we had been partly to blame.

So our homework as a couple and has parents is to start speaking more positively about ourselves...start speaking the truth about us...God's truth.

We learned a tremendously valuable lesson throughout this.

It is so easy for parents to be speaking to one another, assuming that children aren't listening but in their own little world at the time...when in actuality, they are more than likely absorbing more than we can possible realize. They pick up subtle nuances and attitudes without us even knowing.
I remember being able to do the same as a child...but how quickly we forget!

The reason I have chosen to be so completely transparent in all of this is because, perhaps there is a lesson someone else out there can learn from our own mistakes...without enduring some of the hurt that we encountered this week.

Yes, overall, we are a nice, happy family...but to pretend we never face trials, make mistakes or learn things the hard way, would be deceiving. All of us- even Christians-make mistakes, and if by being "real" will help others to know they aren't alone in daily struggles, than it is worth it.

I know some of your encouraging prayers were heard, since by the end of yesterday, she and I were having fun, laughing together over something or other...and I was able to get so past the hurt that I was actually able to joke (when she was wanting her "mommy")
"What? You want me sit over next to you? Do you think I'm cool enough? Tell me how cool I am, and maybe...." whereupon, she'd dissolve into giggles.

And one last, totally lighter note...hopefully, you all don't have an image of me as some nerdy old lady that doesn't know a current fashion if it bit her on...um, her big toe. I'm young (well, not really, but I can look 35 on a very good day)...I'm hip (Ok...just sort of...barely...) and if it wasn't for the fact that my husband might object, there'd be a poster of High School Musical in our bedroom. If that isn't cool, I'm not sure what is!

Unless, it's my collection of The Partridge Family records from when I was eight- like my daughter. And my parents were so not cool.

A Glimpse of Courage

Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments on the wedding story. I'm glad you enjoyed sharing our event of last weekend with us... both the good, the bad, and the beautiful!




Sometimes, God whispers to us in the most unusual ways. Sometimes, He uses strangers that may never even know in this life just all the ways that they are His instruments.

My girls each have ballet this term...each on different days, with my youngest one's class actually being ballet\tap.

We parents are banned from the class, except for the first and last sessions, but we can peek through the little slitted windows on the doors to try and catch a glimpse, or hear them tap-tapping away. Whenever I try and peek in, my little one is almost never in view at that moment in time...just at the other end of the line, it seems.
I can't usually see her, but I can just imagine my little straight-haired Shirley Temple is probably dancing like a trooper, with her forward-back-forward-tap sounds blending with the the rest of the clickity-clacks.

Since I home school, my second grader tags along and we usually do some school work there. The past couple of times, we went outside to sit in the grass and enjoy the sunshine. And each time, I couldn't help but notice one particular mommy, with two young children in tow.
What struck me right away was the obvious: She held a sight-impaired cane, which she tapped ahead of her, as her two children rode their little bikes with training wheels, keeping stride with their mommy down the sidewalk in front of the recreation center.

I admit to being somewhat curious when seeing a blind or sight-impaired person, braving the outside world. More than curious....I always feel a sense of awe at their bravery.

But this was something new to me. This was more than a person braving it on their own- this was a mother. She was being more than a little courageous...
she was also being courageous for her children, as well.

I couldn't help but think how easy it would be to live in fear if I lived with her lack of sight. Especially, when I was responsible for two young children.

But here she was, venturing from her house and down the road every week, so that her children could experience real life.
And maybe, so that she could, also.

Yesterday, I watched this courageous young mother again, as my oldest daughter and I sat on the grass and she read to me quietly from a Little House book. She was reading, remarkably, a passage that mentioned how Laura felt sad for Mary, because she had been rendered blind after Scarlet Fever and could not go to school with her. As she read this part, my daughter looked over at the mother and then to me, knowingly. I wondered if the mommy had overheard.

As I stole glances at this young woman, I began to speculate that perhaps she could see shadowy images, but that her sight was so bad that she was legally blind. But beyond this practical observation, I saw quite a bit more as I watched her.

I watched her glowing smile, which seemed to never leave her face.
I listened to her warm, loving voice as she spoke to her children.
I felt the tenderness she obviously felt for them in her gestures.

And I was filled with admiration for this stranger.

I also thought about myself.
I can so easily live in fear, instead of embracing life and trusting God.
I can so easily look at the negative instead of finding something to smile about...not just smile outwardly, but to smile inside- with my heart and soul.

There were so many lessons to be learned. I am still trying to absorb them all.
But God seems to use unassuming instruments sometimes try to get through to me in His gentle way.

She is still only a stranger to me, who yesterday, simply smiled in my direction and said hello.
I have only observed her for several moments at a time.
Amazing, then, that she could have any impact or influence on me...nevertheless, she has.
I felt myself wanting to be more like her...except to be able to enjoy the physical beauty around me.
How easy for me to take this for granted!

She may never know that she is having such a positive influence on those around her. I'm not sure that I could tell her all this...my shy nature might get in the way and I'm not sure I could express it the right way in person, nor how she would take it.
But she has the kind of smile that makes me think she might be bound in the same direction as I am...and that maybe I can tell her one day in heaven how just by her simple presence, she was God's instrument in this humble stranger's life.

More food for thought: If this person whom I don't know can influence me (a Christian) so much just by her mere presense...I wonder...who am I influencing- for good or for bad- without even knowing?

Perfect Acceptance

Here is a tough question: Have you ever had to deal with a fellow Christian that for one reason or another, just seemed to rub you the wrong way?


I have gotten to know a great many wonderful Christian women through church, home school groups, ect. And though with many of them I am friends with on a more "surface" basis, still...I love the camaraderie and fellowship that we share. It's good to share similar goals and be there for each other. I'm somewhat shy by nature, but I still appreciate getting together with other women. I think that is how God made most of us!

There is one woman, however, who for some reason or another, I have never felt completely comfortable with. She is a good person, by the way. Not evil hearted in any sense of the word...but yet, there has been that peculiar bristling whenever I am around her.
It's one of those things that is sometimes hard to put my finger on. Almost that subtle feeling of being judged.

It turns out I was pretty much right.

This weekend, she called me to tell me exactly about how and why I recently frustrated her. I was not completely surprised...I could tell by her vibes that she was mad at me concerning a particular situation.
She said she had prayed for the right words... and as she launched in, I inwardly prayed, too.
And I tried desperately not to dissolve in a humiliating puddle of tears, but just barely got by being able to do so.

In all fairness, there was an ounce of legitimacy in her complaint...and I told her I understood some of her frustration...still, she was seeing it from her own side. There was more to the situation on my end than she knew. She saw the end result...I saw the hours of my own frustration I put in trying to make it all happen and hitting one dead end after another.

And though she is not on my "people I would most want to hang out with on a dessert island"...there's just something in me that wants everyone to like me. Everyone.
Even the ones that I'm not especially fond of. Does that make any sense?
It seems silly that I would feel a bit hurt by someone whom I have always felt uncomfortable around anyway...but that is just my tendency.

I just want to be liked by every single person on the planet.

You may smile at the craziness of this statement...but even though I desire no personal friendship with this particular person, I feel bruised from her obvious bad opinion of me.

But here's a newsflash for yours truly:
Having everyone in my entire life whom I encounter liking me? Just not going to happen.
There are over 6 billion people and counting on the face of this earth. And not everyone is going to be nice to me...not everyone is going to think I'm worth their time nor energy or want to be my friend. (And I am sure there a few out there that I wouldn't want to go near, myself!)

Even though I try as best as I can to be everything to everyone, I am going to fall helplessly short...over and over again. I'm going to fail...and even though it is of no intent of my own, I'm going to let people down once in awhile. And once in awhile, someone will criticize me.

(I'm 44 years old, but some lessons are just harder to swallow sometimes.)

Maybe I'm more thinned skinned than the average person, but I suspect that most of us share somewhat similar feelings. Most of us want to be liked and accepted. It's only human nature.

But something I think God is trying to get through to me is that HE is the only One who is ever going to love me completely unconditionally. And HIS is ultimately the only opinion of me and my merits that counts.

My husband and children...my mom...they all give me a measure of unconditional love. But not completely. Theirs is only a portion...a taste of what it feels like to be loved completely. That kind of love can only come from our Heavenly Father through Christ.

And as for His opinion of each of us...
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness..." Jeremiah 31:3

I have a feeling that we may never comprehend the vastness of God's love for each and everyone of us. Probably if we did we'd be so overwhelmed that it would even be hard to function on a daily basis.

And the great thing is, He loves us even though we occasionally"drop the ball" in our daily life.
And unfathomably, He even loves us when we sin. It hurts His heart...but He loves us.


I'm not going to try and harbor ill feelings toward this particular woman. Our conversation ended somewhat amiably. But she will never be someone I feel comfortable with, and I'm guessing, the feeling's mutual.
When we were told to love one another, I'm pretty sure that the Lord didn't mean that we had be chummy with each and every person. I think He referred to caring for their heart and being kind...and knowing that they are also His children.

At the same time, we can choose to fellowship with those that are edifying to us...and there are so many people I meet on a weekly basis that I am happy to say edify me. Those that I already know, and that I am just getting to know.

But most of all, God is teaching me some very important lessons:

Not. every. person. will. like. me. (gulp...trying to swallow this concept...)
But it's HIS acceptance that should matter the very most...His unconditional love and friendship.

I am so glad that I can rely on this perfect love...whenever I fail, or whenever I fail others.

His love for each of us will never fail.

Our Easter Service Speaker...Finding Hope and Purpose

"I once felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes... until I met a man that had no feet."

Maybe you've heard this quote before. I know I had. But this past Easter service, the meaning became more real.


This past weekend, our church had a special speaker for Easter, named Nick Vujicic. He was from Australia...and had the charming "down under" accent, a gorgeous face and a fantastic sense of humor. Oh... and he just happened to have been born with no arms or legs.

We knew he was going to be there. The previous weeks, they had shown a short film about him...how he got up in the morning, shaved, used the computer...and how he preaches to thousands in Indonesia, Africa, and many countries all over the world where most Christian messages wouldn't even be allowed.

He has one little half-foot on the end of his body (which he jokingly called a little chicken foot) and is able to sort of "walk" around. And it's by this, he can move a computer mouse around and even type 45 words per minute.

So, Easter morning we were prepared. but what what we weren't prepared for was the was that God had poured such complete love and joy into his life, and it radiated out of him with incredible brightness.

He put everyone at ease, by his incredible humor...He stood on a bench the entire time, and at the beginning, he had a little boy volunteer come up so he could show how he was able to kick a ball to him. He kept teasing us all...."I need to go just a little further back..." as he edged back towards the end of the bench. "Just a little further back... a little further..." He would throw us a twinkly smile and the congregation was laughing so nervously as he got to the very edge.
A short time later, he said he could do a back flip off of the bench..."Ready?" he asks with his Australian accent. We all laugh and shake our heads no...but he acts like he's about to take flight.
Then, "Not really! Are you kidding? I could break an arm or something!"

Giving out "Hugs"


All of this was to put us all at ease before he gave his real message. He spoke of a time in his growing up years when he wasn't always so joyful. He did feel sorry for himself, as would be so completely natural. He longed to have a "normal" life...not to just to do the normal things like we all take for granted, but he also longed to someday get married and have a family. But he could never hold his wife's hand...nor hug his children.

As a child, he prayed that God would miraculously grow him legs and arms. And yes...God could do that! But this time, He gave him something else instead. Incredible, miraculous joy, despite his circumstances.
And because of his circumstances, God is able to use him in ways that a "normal" man could never be used.
Countries that ban the Gospel are letting him preach because he brings such hope. And he's helping to instill God's hope into individuals that perhaps felt despair in their own circumstances.

He still believes that God has someone special for him to marry. He's only 24 (but with the maturity of someone so much older)...and as he said,
"I many never be able to hold my wife's hand. But I can hold her heart."
He said a great many other things about God Himself...and how much He loves each of us and wants to give us peace and joy, no matter what our circumstances.

At the end of his message, so many people came forward to accept Jesus as their Savior.

I don't think any of us who were there will ever forget him. The phenomenal spirit of determination as well as joy which spills over were gifts that could only come from the Lord...proof that miracles can take place in our hearts and souls, as well as physically.

And proof that He can use any of one of us- there are no limitations.


Go visit his website here...you won't be sorry!