…and Moved into the Neighborhood.

Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k8, Frank, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Picking up from the 3/20 post The Word Became Flesh… (click if you want to read it before continuing)

I have been really struggling on what to say and how to continue telling this story about how we met Frank and his family.  The last thing I want to do is to hurt anyone by my words or release any confidential information.  So, I will not give many details, but will tell what I feel comfortable with until I can talk with Frank and his family.

That night, Louis and I went up to the hospital, just a couple of miles from where I live.   Thankfully, it was close since Frank had been shot 9 times!

After praying for wisdom, Louis and I walked into the Gateway Building (like a lobby) of MCV, now VCU Health Systems.  I’m not sure about Louis and how he was feeling, but I was feeling a bit out of place and nervous.  The lobby was FULL for 11:30pm on a Sunday night.  I didn’t quite understand.  Louis and I were the only white people in a lobby full of black people where it was eerily quiet and heavy when we walked in.  Still in a bit of shock, I’m not sure why I didn’t place them with Frank.

But, Louis, having spent many hours and visits in the hospitals with church members, knew what to do.  He introduced himself to the receptionist/guard and we asked for a status update on Frank.  When a short woman beside me, firmly and loudly stated…that’s my son!  What do YOU people want with my SON?!?!?  I quietly and quickly introduced us to her and let her know why we were there.  She quickly responded, Not YOU people!  YOU didn’t help my son!  I assured her that we did and quickly explained again why we decided to come up there.  I gently guided her over to where the others were located, as they looked at us with a bit of distrust.

After praying for some help and wisdom, I calmly introduced myself and Louis.  It was probably helpful that I introduced him as a Reverend!  After learning that they had no knowledge of what happened or if Frank was even alive, we shared with them what we knew….where I lived, the events of the evening, we didn’t see it happen, how we responded, what Frank had said to me, and how he was alive when he was taken to the hospital.  The distrust from the crowd waned a bit.

We just shared that we wanted to be there for anything that they needed.  When one of Frank’s friends said, but you already have done so much.  I explained that we hadn’t done all that much, but that Jesus had done it all.  We also stated that we were there to be with them and pray with them.  Whatever they needed.  When another friend said, so what are we waiting on…let’s pray…as he stuck both hands out to grab the hands of those around him.  Louis led us in prayer for the family, the doctors and medical staff, for Frank, etc.

Although it often felt awkward for them…and for us, Louis and I continued to hang out with Friends and Family for another hour or so before going back to my house.  Some might call it the gift of being present.

Louis and I were up rather late that night…processing, chillin’, decompressing.  I am sooo very thankful for the many many prayers that were offered up for us and for Frank and his family during this time.  I don’t know for sure WHAT Frank was doing that night or WHY someone wanted to shoot him.  I can assume that it was a robbery…but it wasn’t.  He still had everything on him that a robber would want.  And…based on my extensive (HA!) experience, I don’t think a robber would shoot him 9 times!  I can’t help but think it was personal.  We could all probably guess and probably won’t be far off from the truth.  Whatever it was.  I still don’t need to know.

What I DO know is that my God is in control and He loves us more than we can EVER imagine!  I do know that…

…my mom and her friends were regularly praying for me (since January 2007)

….the Lord had introduced Louis and me a month before  (not in July 2007) for a reason.

…my heart had changed that Saturday night for a reason.

…Louis and I were home and cooked out on the grill that night (instead of going out)

…Louis wasn’t outside when the shoot occurred

…the kids were dropped off early from youth group and they weren’t outside

….Louis remembered to cut the grill off

…we were NOT going up the inside steps

for a reason.  There were soooo many things that the Lord did to protect us and to prepare us for “such a time as this”.  All this was done, so that we could be there when Frank got shot.  Remember…no one else responded.  He would have been left to die that night on the street beside my house.  That’s what I used to tell Frank ALL THE TIME…God loves him SOOO much that He did all of this AND MORE.  We had been there…as the feet of Jesus.  Nothing more…nothing less.

I had prayed a year before for the other ½ of my pair…in ministry to Southern Barton Heights.  And God had heard and had answered…in HIS time…His perfect time.

Louis and I have been in the ministry business together ever since!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

Breaking.Bread.

Posted: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My friend and author of The Meeting of the Waters, Fritz Kling recently posted on his FB page…

“Over the past 25 years, there has been a 45% drop in how often people invite friends to their homes. Wow! I know Val and I have done our part to keep that figure from being worse! But I’m troubled by what this means for a culture…and what we Christians are doing to stem the tide. In the Bible, good things happen over meals and in homes, and I feel a need now to try harder than ever to practice hospitality.”

I could NOT agree more!  Good things DO happen over meals and in our homes…not to mention on our porches and back yards!!!  Fritz’s comment really got me thinking…

Louis and I truly enjoy entertaining!  Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband who *LOVES* to cook, especially on the grill.  Some of you know…you’ve tasted his delectable goodies.  As many of you know, his homemade teriyaki sauce is good on just about EVERYTHING!  He receives regular requests for his teriyaki steak or chicken, crab stuffed salmon, and pancakes!  We have often thought of bottling it.  But, can’t think of a good name.  Any ideas?  RevUp Teriyaki is a good possibility.

But, it is NOT just about the food goodness.  It’s more about the communing….the chillin’ and relaxin’ with old friends or making new ones.  It’s about building community, laughing, playing, relaxing and enjoying one another.  The Bible is FULL of stories that take place around the table.  I particularly like the ones that where Jesus ate with the “sinners” and the “outsiders”.  Then, this got me reading…a blog…John Mark Hicks Ministries, specifically his Missional Table post, although there were more posts on the topic.

“Luke is a narrator. He tells stories rather than writing didactic prose. Through the stories he inculcates the values which he wants his community to embrace. Each meal story reveals something about Jesus and his mission. In Luke 5:27-32 Jesus sits at table with sinners as a physican among the sick. In Luke 7:36-50 Jesus receives a sinful woman at the table of a Pharisee and declares her sins forgiven. In Luke 9:10-17 Jesus shows hospitality to 5000 people as he first calls his disciples to mission (“give them something to eat”) and then models before them his messianic mission. The disciples are called to service. The table has a missional dimension; it reflects the mission of God to commune with his people at table. In Luke 10:38-42 Jesus accepts women as his disciples. In Luke 11:37-54 Jesus condemns the Pharisees because they sit at table only in form, not in spirit. In Luke 14:1-24 Jesus notes that their table does not look like the kingdom of God, but it looks like themselves. In Luke 19:1-10 Jesus invites himself to table with the tax collector Zacchaeus and declares that salvation had come to his house. Luke 24 welcomes a stranger to the table in Emmaus (Luke 24:30-35) and commissions the disciples to bear witness to gospel among all nations (Luke 24:45-49). Just as the disciples offered hospitality to a stranger on the way, so the table is a place where the church welcomes strangers (aliens or “others”). The table has a missionary quality, especially in light of the fact that the disciples receive their call to missions at a table.”

If this is what Jesus is modeling for us on a frequent basis, then who are we communing with and how often are we doing it?  Based on the statistic that Fritz brought us, we must not be doing it often.  I wonder why we don’t do it more.  What keeps us from “breaking bread” with others on a more regular basis? Taking quality time with our families and friends?

and possibly even strangers?

Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Here are a few pics of times we have welcomed friends and strangers, sinners and saints, young and old, black and white, rich and poor to our table, our porch, our back yard and our kitchen for a cooking lesson or 2!  I hope to have many more full tables in the weeks, months and years to come!  You are welcome at our table anytime…come on over!

Scholarship Announcement!!!

Posted: Monday, March 22, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10, Community Announcements | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Scholarship Announcement!!!

This is SOOO EXCITING to announce!  Please help spread the word!!!!


NeighborWorks® Resource Group

in partnership with

River City Express Network of the

American Business Women’s Association

offers a

$1000 scholarship

to a

Woman resident

of the

23222 Zip Code

who attends or plans to attend a

technical school or community college.

Here are the qualifications!

In order to be eligible for scholarship consideration, candidates must be women who:

(1) are citizens of the United States and residents of City of Richmond (zip code 23222 only)

(2) will be college First or Second Year level in Aug. 2010;

(3) are attending or have been accepted at a Virginia licensed, accredited vocational/technical school or community college authorized to confer an associate degree;

(4) have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale.

DEADLINE:  May 1, 2010

The application will be completed online and requires a biographical sketch, three (3) professional letters of reference and an official transcript. To apply, interested, eligible women should send name, zip code and email address to:

Cindy A. Mims  at camims12@gmail.com

Help us get this news out into our community!  Please share this info with your community associations, churches and schools!

About NeighborWorks® Resource Group

Established in 1981, NeighborWorks® Resource Group is a private, non-profit organization created specifically to present opportunities for low and moderate income families preparing to purchase affordable homes and to strengthen communities in Richmond and central Virginia. NeighborWorks® Resource Group serves as a central resource for services and training to help homebuyers purchase, rehabilitate, insure, and maintain their home. For more information, we invite you to visit www.nwresourcegroup.org.

RIVER CITY EXPRESS NETWORK of ABWA is part of a national network of businesswomen. Founded in 1949, ABWA is a 17,000 member strong association with chapters and Express Networks nationwide, providing business skills training and networking opportunities for women of diverse occupations to enhance career advancement and personal development.  Visit our website:  www.rivercityexpressnetwork.org

ABWA has dedicated more than half a century to women’s education and provided workplace skills and career development training for more than 565,000 members.

SBMEF is a charitable trust and public foundation. It has the same tax status as public schools, churches and community funds. The Fund is listed in the IRS “Cumulative List of Organizations” described in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 – revised Oct. 31, 1974.

Constant.Change.

Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10 | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

“The only thing constant in life is change.”

François de la Rochefoucauld

Now…isn’t THAT the truth?!?!?  Today was a BIG BIG day for Louis’ church.  Due to a number of different factors – change in demographics, decline in the economy, too little too late mentality, loss of membership, aging population, etc…..some big decisions have been under consideration for the last few months.  Today was the day that the congregation unanimously voted to pursue selling the church building and it’s property.  In addition, they also voted (unanimously) to move Louis to half time…20 hours a week….in the hopes of prolonging the ability to keep a pastor with them as long as possible, even if it is part-time.  We are thankful that there was unity in these decisions, as tough as they may be.  Louis and the session (elder board…for those non-Presbyterians) have done a WONDERFUL job of prepping the congregation for this day.

This decision has been difficult for everyone involved.  The church body has been around for nearly 100 years.  Some current members are 4th generation members of 3rd Pres of Petersburg.  Change is rarely easy.  We are praying for peace….peace that can only come from Above.

On a personal note, Louis and I are excited about what the future may hold for us.  The Lord has been soooo generous and continues to provide for us.  Although I have been displaced, I continue to work in a temporary assignment until sometime later in the year.  I will receive a generous severance package that will hold us a little bit.

Louis and I will be taking a monthly one-day retreat to pray and discern what God has next for us.  Our first one is scheduled for Good Friday, 4/2.  We are pretty sure we know our calling, but the details aren’t at all clear.  It’s like an old-school Polaroid photograph developing (SLOWLY) before our eyes.  We will keep you posted!

Thanks for praying with and for us during this time of uncertainty.

My handsome Hubby bringin' the Word on Christmas Eve 2009.

Check out my new fav blog!

Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10 | Tags: , | Comments Off on Check out my new fav blog!

Year of Giving

The Year of Giving is a year-long journey of altruistic giving, which started 12.15.2009. Every day Reed finds a person to give $10 to and then shares their story.  Reed has given us all a wonderful gift of documenting these stories!

Check it out!

The Word Became Flesh…

Posted: Saturday, March 20, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k8, Frank, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

If you missed the last 2 posts…Change of Heart….Just in Time (3.18) and MGV – Barton and Roberts (3.19), you may want to read those first!

After reeling off my medical information, Louis was released from his job as first aid provider before I was.  He went to check on the kids.  I reminded him of the meat on the grill…which he had already thought of while on his way out of the house earlier.  (See how the Holy Spirit guided us through it all?!?!?)  It was funny when the paramedics asked if I was a nurse and I told them No…I got my medical training watching Marcus Welby and Medical Center as a child and ER as an adult.  My extensive medical expertise must have given it away.  🙂  I was finally released from my position and the paramedics took him away (it took 3 men to lift him on the gurney…as Frank was not a little guy!).

inside bullet hole at bottom of the stairs

Although the detectives wanted to speak to me right away, I was allowed to go inside and change my clothes.  When I entered into the house to head up the steps, I had a surprise waiting on me….a bullet hole under the window at the bottom of the steps.  Yes, a stray bullet came inside the house.  I am soo thankful that no one was climbing the steps at that time!!!  So now…we have experienced a little Law and Order, some ER and now we have CSI goin’ on.

While sitting at the dining room table talking to the detectives, I heard some wailing, screaming and crying outside.  I wanted to desperately go and console whoever it was, but needed to give my account of what had happened.  Later, I learned that it was Frank’s mom.

Nichelle, my neighbor and true sister, came over and sat with us on the front porch.  I am grateful for Nichelle, as she brought a peace along with her.  I called a few prayer warriors to cover us during this time. Although I left out a few of the details, I, surprisingly, called my mom as well and told her what was going on so that she could pray.  I was worried that it would make the news and didn’t want her to see it there.  But, I also didn’t want her to worry.

bullet hole from outside

After everyone was gone and it’s about 11:30pm, Louis and I finally get to eat our dinner…while standing up at the kitchen counter…eating our pork tenderloin with onions with our fingers.  You could tell the adrenaline was pumpin’!  This is when we both agreed that we HAD to go to the hospital.  So, Louis and I venture up to MCV.  If that was my brother, son, friend, husband, boyfriend…I would want to know what we knew.bullet hole from outside

It is in the Gateway Building of MCV that our relationship truly started to develop.  This is a story of racial reconciliation, a story of grace and mercy, a story of faith….

This true account is what gives me my life…and mission….scripture….

The Word became flesh…and moved into the neighborhood.

John 1:14 MSG  Holy Bible

a beautiful day with beautiful friends…

Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10 | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

A few friends came by for a visit….I just love them!  Allow me to introduce you….

Wesley, Chucky, Ethan and Olivia

Ethan, Olivia, and Dad~Chucky

Chucky

Ethan

Olivia

Shequeria and Daniel Jr (7mo)

Zyera

MGV – Barton and Roberts

Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k8, Frank, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on MGV – Barton and Roberts

So…If you didn’t read yesterday’s post (Change of Heart…Just in Time) be sure to.  Otherwise, this one MIGHT not make a whole lot of sense.

I wonder…what would have happened if we decided to go out to dinner that night…or if we hadn’t gone out on Saturday night…or if I had in fact kicked Louis to the curb before this night….if I hadn’t given him another chance like my friends were encouraging….or if we had met back in the summer of 2007 instead of the end of December. ANY number of decisions could have changed the rest of this story…in SOOO many ways.  Personally…I’m thankful they turned out the way that they did.  So, I had a change in heart…just in time…for such a time as this.  To be there…the night Frank got shot…..4 weeks after Louis and I had our first date.

Let’s pick up there.

view from the breakfast nook window (Frank was between that pothole and the gutter)

It was about 8:30p on that Sunday night, January 27, 2008.  After seeing the crime from the breakfast nook window, Louis went running out the door…stepping off the retaining wall (this was b4 the fence was built) onto the sidewalk and into the curb where the victim laid.  He stopped and just looked at him for a moment…and I wondered…what is he doing?  And mentally screamed…Give him first aid!!!  I found out later that Louis was stopping to say a quick prayer before he did another thing. (Shame on me!!!)

I ran back into the house to grab some towels sitting on the dryer and some plastic grocery bags to use as gloves.  I had been first aid trained many years ago, but have never had the use for the training (gratefully).  Neither of us are medically trained, but we did have the Holy Spirit to guide us…and that was all the wisdom we needed!  Louis took his lower body and I took the upper body.  Frank was laying on his right side with his head in my lap.  Not knowing whether a bullet had hit his spinal column or not, I braced his head in my lap.  At that time, we found 3 wounds – left shoulder, gut and left leg.  Later we learned that he was shot 9 times – left shoulder, left leg, right upper chest, right hand, and 5 times in the gut.

view from the back door/deck

As he laid there while we attended to his injuries, I encouraged him and asked him a few pertinent questions ~ name, next of kin and her number, who shot him (he didn’t know), age, etc.  Only one other person came to his assistance, held his hand for a moment, prayed and ran back in the house.  I was so thankful for my neighbor!  No one else came.

Then, Frank stopped talking to me.  As his head laid in my lap, I encouraged him, prayed and stated, Frank…I know you are scared. I know that you are hurting.  But, we are here to help; and you are going to fine.  If you can’t say another word, just call on the name of Jesus.  There is power in just His name.  At this very second, Frank reached up with his left hand and grabbed my thigh.  I knew then…that he was calling on the precious, healing name of Jesus.  Frank would indeed live.

Although we had told the kids to stay inside, I remember looking up to see Lil Mike standing on the retaining wall looking down.  What a frightening scene for a 14-year-old to see up close.  Not to mention, I found out later that he knew Frank.  I yelled for them to get inside…only for them to move to the front porch where they could still see from a distance.

The first responders (police, fire department, and ambulance) started to arrive.  It was so surreal.  Watching over Louis’ shoulder as the yellow tape was strung and people started gathering behind it.  Fire Trucks. Police Cars. Sirens. ambulance. One officer gathered information from me while I was still with Frank.  The paramedics arrived; and I was able to given them vitals:

multiple.gunshot.victim.name.age.no.pulse.breathing.2.times.a.minute.

Satan meant for him to die, but our Lord.  He has other plans for Frank!

Change of Heart…Just in Time

Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k8, Frank, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

So, the love story continues….although at this point, I wouldn’t yet call it a LOVE story.  I was still not exactly loving Louis, but it had only been a little over 3 weeks, right?  Not sure I believe in the whole “love at first sight” thing.  But, anyway.  Louis and I had date night every Sunday night.  It was awkward sometimes for me.  Still is sometimes.  What in the world was I doing dating (now married to) a pastor.  I am NO where near pastor’s wife material.  Aren’t they the ones who lead women’s ministry, wear pink and act prim-and-proper?  Aren’t they the ones who model a Proverbs 31 Woman?  Not exactly my style, right?  So, that in itself was a bit much.

THEN, Louis had to go and invite me to his official installation service at his church (where he had been an interim pastor for a few years) on January 20, 2007.  Do I go?  Do I not go?  This is weird!  Who am I to him at this point?  It’s going a little fast!  But, I went!  Thanks to Florence for going with me!!!!  It’s funny now to think I met his 2 good friends, Bob Fitch and Chic Silver…sitting right behind me…for the first time.  I remember Bob insisting we hug….because “we’re huggers”.  (btw – glad I was there for it!)

The kids were getting to know Louis and checkin’ him out.  I was Miss Marti, you know, a surrogate Mom in many cases.  So they weren’t too sure about it.  Not to mention…it was different….different than what most of them experienced.  Louis was a total gentleman.  Treating me with respect, he opened the car and house doors for me (still does actually!!!).   Needless to say…he didn’t spend the night with me.  And we hadn’t even kissed.  The kids actually got to watch Louis court me…and they had many questions about that as they watched us.  I’m glad that we got to show them how it can be….how it should be.

Me and Louis in 2.2008

So, I had prayed for a change of heart, and got it on our first Saturday night date!  For some reason, I got to see the real side of Louis Williams, and I liked it.  After eating dinner and listening to John and Kim play (yes..they were the first to meet us as a couple!!!).  Although it was a “school night” for Louis, we stayed up waaaay to late considering he had to preach the next morning.  But, it was fun.

Trust me…this is leading somewhere!  Stick with me.

Sunday night date night comes along, and we decided to stay close to home and throw something on the grill.  For a number of reasons, we didn’t get around to eating until late.  The kids were already back from youth group and 2 of them, Tony and Mike, were hanging out watching football and doing laundry (theirs!  Not mine!)  Louis was getting ready to check the meat one more time…and was walking through the breakfast nook (the windows on the right side of the 1st floor).  This is when it all began.  Gunshots…and a lot of them…went off.  It sounded like it was inside the house.

I had heard shots before….but from a distance.  Not so close.  We all hit the floor.  I was on top of the boys, calling 911.  Louis, who saw the muzzle flash reflect off the window, crawls over to the windows to look out.  This is when he saw one man on the ground and another one on top of him, beating him.  With the police still on the phone, I crawled to the ½ bath where I could see better…and the victim was now alone on the ground.  After calling out to let Louis know, Louis and I proceeded to go out the back door, to do what?  We had no idea.  We just knew that a guy had been shot just feet from the back door…and we needed to do something

in honor of Judy O’Hara

Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k7, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , , | 3 Comments

As some of you know, today I am in DC for the O’Hara St Patrick’s Day Clan Dinner and Party. This marks about 25 years that I have been coming up here….only missing 2 in 25 years.  I forgot to download pics for the blog…so stop by later and there may be some here.

Also…thanks for reading!!!!  And hope you have an awesome St Patrick’s Day.  This post is in honor of my dear wonderful and loving friend Judy O’Hara.  After fighting a long good fight with cancer, she went to heaven a month before I met Louis.  I like to think of Judy whispering in God’s ear….Now, let’s talk about Marti.  It’s about time that she met the other 1/2 of her pair.  RIP Judy O’Hara!  We love and miss you!!!!

More about me and Louis!!!  YAY!!!  I knew I couldn’t keep the romantics in my life happy if I didn’t keep telling the story….

OK…so now…we have my buddy Marc who was praying with me.  Don who was giving me life changing scripture.  Becky and Lowell who were praying with Louis and Jennifer who was just being the messenger, right?  Oh yeah…and about 20 women in my Bible Study and my 2 girlfriends who wrote lists with me.  Could there BE any more people involved?!?!?!?

So….Jennifer calls Becky that night, the 22nd…leaves a message.  Becky calls back on Sunday the 23rd with the number.  Jennifer calls Louis.  Louis says after Christmas he will call…as he was busy prepping for the Christmas Eve Service.  And I hear…after the holidays…which I think after New Years.

So, the 26th rolls around and I get a couple of calls from a number I don’t recognize and I am afraid it’s work…so yes…I screen the call, because I am on vacation!  No message is left.  Then it dawns on me DUH! maybe it is Louis.  So, I call JP and plug Louis’ number into my phone, so I will know that it is him.  Because it WAS him calling.  We still disagree about him not leaving a message to this day!  :o)  But the story is so much better this way!

So, the 27th of December (piece of trivia….yes, we got married a year from the date we first talked on the phone!!) rolls around…this is where it gets interesting…..and I am meeting with a neighbor and his friend looking at their business plan.  They had some business idea that they wanted to pass by me.  My friend had to cut out and left me with the other guy.  I started to get a little nervous.  Something just didn’t feel right.  I felt like I was in a dangerous predicament.  I tried gently to get him to leave…and he wouldn’t take my hints.  We had begun to have some theological discussions….not quite debates….but we definitely had some differences in opinion.  For one…this guy thought he WAS Jesus.  So, I started to pray…Lord, get me out of this.  This doesn’t feel right at all, while still remaining calm.  So after a minute or 2 (which felt like and hour or 2) my phone rang.  Yes…you know what is coming….I look at the phone and it was Louis calling.

I look at my visitor and said..I am so sorry, but I have to get this call.  I had been waiting for this call….like all my life!  So, I did.  and the rest is history.    The guy finally left my home.  Only for me to find out later, that he was in fact a bit dangerous.  He had allegedly stabbed someone previously for have a religious disagreement.  The Lord had answered my prayer for help and brought me the other 1/2 all at the same time!  I thank Him for his protective hand!

Louis and I talked for a while on the phone, and we decided to actually meet face to face.  Louis DID NOT know about Mr December at all.  He was just calling because Becky and Jennifer made the connection.  I let Louis pick our first date (not EVEN thinking about God’s assurance that I would meet him IN December).  And Louis suggested Sunday, which I thought was a great idea..especially after I checked out the date…..December 30th!

God had in fact brought me a DATE (not necessarily the other 1/2) in the month of December.  So, we went to dinner at Edo’s Squid on our first date.  In fact, Louis came back on New Years Eve to attend my party.  I held a NYE party for some of the neighborhood kids to give them a safe place to hang out.  Ordered pizza, played video games, and a few other friends came over as well.  We call this our 1/2 a date….where he first started serving in the community with me.

Sunday night continued to be date night for us.  Louis would come over about 3 or 4pm.  We’d hang out with the kids…watching football, etc.  Then, we would drop them off at youth group before going on our date.  So…he’s serving SBH with me from the get-go.

The kids were asking all kinds of questions.  Were we dating?  Were we having sex? (although they were WAY more crass than that…but this is a G-rated blog!) Have we kissed? etc.  This will have to be a whole another post one day.

You see…there was one problem….I really didn’t like him all that much when we first met.  Nothing really in particular…just didn’t like him.  My co-workers were cheering me on….Just give him another chance!!!  Don’t be so hard on him!  etc.  I wasn’t quite sure that I really knew him.

By the end of January..I had to have a LOOOONG talk with God about this. Rarely do I know what God is up to when He is doing His thing. And…this was one of those times.  I had a LOOOONG talk with God. Saying….basically….God….I don’t want to waste any time with anyone who is not THE one.  But, I really don’t like this guy so much….he’s a nice guy….just not for me.  So, I KNOW you introduced us in the crazy way for a reason.  I KNOW You know what I need…and I want what YOU want.  So…IF this is the guy…you need to change my heart and change it fast, because I’m about to kick ’em to the curb…..and kick him soon.  So…change my heart, Lord…if this is the one.

As you know…I had prayed for the other 1/2 of my pair…to serve SBH.  If that happened to be my husband…that’s just icing on the cake.

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