2010

It's almost 2010.

We are more than excited about what God has in store! This year has brought us so many unexpected challenges. In January, one of our sweet kiddos was killed in a senseless drive by shooting right here in Tulsa. 15 years old. Kordero had such talent, love and a bright future in front of him. Now he is living the ultimate adventure in heaven. His family is still trying to pick up the pieces, heal and move forward. Please pray for his mother when you think of it. Since his death, she has been having such an understandable hard time. His best friend and brother, was at his side when this tragedy happened and has been deeply affected. The two youngest children of this family have been living with us for the past several weeks and it has been such a joy to have them. They add so much life and laughter to our home.

Having them here 24/7 reminds us of so many reasons that we feel the Lord is calling our family to open our arms to these kids. For the first week, they were in awe. Their first time to have their own bed. Dinner around a table with everyone present. Homework completed before fun and help being offered. Clean clothes to wear to school. And more than anything....a family that was constantly acknowledging that we are nothing without the love, strength and grace of Jesus Christ.

Another one of our kids was in a horrible car accident in March. He was clowning around with a friend and on the hood of a car in a parking lot. In an instant, things went terribly wrong and he was thrown under the car and his skull was run over. He slipped into a coma and the doctors were unsure of this bright 6'4 athletic, brilliant boy's future. After 15 days in a coma, our amazing LORD healed him! Not a little bit, but ALL THE WAY! Within a month, he was working again and had full use of each and every part of his body.

Each week for 2 years now we have been gathering all the kids together in our home for food, fellowship, total goofing off, and then sharing all Jesus is doing. Lately, we've been a bit overwhelmed as the size of our group has grown to over 20 but God has sent us some amazing people with hearts to love on these kids with us. Being a consistent presence in these kids lives has really brought us together as family. We laugh, cry, play, study, and celebrate together.

As I said, we are excited to see what the Lord has in store for 2010! So far, we know that He is leading us to really plunge deeper into smaller groups, focusing on attending THEIR activities.

Often, people say to us, "I just wish I could figure out what God is calling me to do!" You know, we are constantly wishing the same!

But what we are settling into is this....

LOVE. Love those around you. Love them with the same love He makes constantly available to you. We have so many questions. We are constantly wishing we could do more. But we are confident that loving these kids like our own introduces them more and more to the love HE HAS FOR THEM and the amazing future He has planned for them!

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please pray for us as you are lead. We are constantly dependent on Jesus to make the difference in our time together. Without His Holy Spirit moving in ways that ONLY He knows, we are simply another meeting. But with Jesus present and acknowledged we are believing for changed lives! Theirs, ours, and many future generations!

WE LOVE YOU JESUS!!!!