A year ago on Good Friday, I sat alone in my house and wrote out my testimony to share at our 2024 SHINE Gathering for the women in our church. I wasn't going to be able to attend because it was the same weekend as my son's graduation in Texas. But I felt so deeply compelled to share that weekend, so I set up my phone on a stand, sat in my new little book nook area, dressed up in pink (of course) and shared the testimony I just wrote.
I then sat down at the puzzle I was working on at my desk to watch my video, and I just wept. May those tears of joy never cease when I'm reminded of God's tender love for me in such fragile time of my life. Click here if you'd like to listen and watch the 20 minute video. People still tell me today how the Spirit worked throughout the room as I "spoke", and many women have shared how their prayer lives have changed since then.
My SHINE 2024 Gathering Testimony
All of those comments are such an encouragement to my soul, but may I never take for granted the gift of today. Now a year (and a few weeks) later on Good Friday, I am celebrating Laura's 23rd birthday. For nine years after losing her, I would send out a bouquet of prayers to her on her birthday and say happy birthday to a special princess on Facebook, not knowing if I'd ever have contact with her again.
In keeping with tradition, I sent her a Happy Birthday message last night as soon as I knew it was April 18th in Spain. I woke up to her response first thing this morning thanking me, saying she loved me and missed me. Then I put out a message on Facebook to celebrate her, though I didn't tag her in it. She saw it, though, and responded again, saying she loved me, missed me, and wanted to see me. Such an amazing gift that God has given me to have a continued relationship with her even though I wasn't the one He chose to be her second mom. To remind me that my love for her had a purpose for a specific time in her life.
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