Wayne Parker for Congress

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD , the righteous JUDGE, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved HIS appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Dear Friends,

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

-Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne,
Paris, April 23,1910

The stirring quote above is posted at the Wayne Parker Headquarters(www.wayneparkerforcongress.com) for Congress in Huntsville, Al, outside the cubicles where the staff has toiled each day for the past 5-6 months to help wage the campaign for the seat of U.S. House of Representatives. The Parker Headquarter's, located in a shopping center with the Republican Headquarters in the front of it, has been the beehive of activity for a vigorous battle for the seat for U.S. House of Representatives for the 5th Congressional District. This district includes much of North Alabama, where you have a vast contrast in energy production, with TVA and 2 nuclear plants, to missile defense in Huntsville, the Redstone Arsenal employing hundreds of people in our area, the Marshall Space Flight Center where Dr. Werner von Braun, who was a CHRISTian, was considered the father of the United States Rocket program and was the director for many years. Huntsville is also the home to the Alabama Space and Rocket Center. This district is also highly valued for it's farmland where Limestone Co. has been the number one cotton producing county in the state for many years, (though that is shrinking due to urban sprawl) to Wilson and Wheeler dams in the Shoals area, to forest, lakes, and the Tennessee River running all the way from the Mississippi State line to the Georgia state line. It is a conservative area politically, but for the last 139 years, we have had a Democrat Representative in Congress. Wayne is running on the Republican ticket so this would be the first republican representative from our district in a long long time, if the LORD gives Wayne Parker the victory next Tuesday evening, Nov. 4th.

It has been our privilege as a family, along with many other families and friends across North Alabama to be drawn by GOD into this political campaign of this valiant warrior, Wayne Parker and his dear family as he runs for U.S. Congress. Several months ago, Wayne and Lisa were going about their lives, with 3 extremely active teenagers, and a daughter in college. All of the sudden, GOD interrupted their lives with an abrupt change of direction...the call to run for U.S. Congress. Wayne had run for this seat back with a grassroots campaign in 1994 and lost to the incumbent by less than 1%. Talk about a heartbreaker... it was indeed for all of us, but especially to the Parkers who had given their heart and soul and come so very close to defeating the incumbent. GOD led them to run again in 1996, against the same incumbent, and the race was not as close, and they lost again. This was a tough loss, and for the next 12 years, GOD led them and their children in other ways, and Wayne eventually became established in his own business and Lisa, as a busy homemaker, both of them actively involved serving the LORD through their church, where Wayne is an elder, their community where Wayne helped coach basketball, and helped build houses for underprivileged families, i think, to helping with clean-up for Hurricane Katrina, and enjoying their home life. This past April, it was suddenly learned that our present Congressman representing our district was announcing his plans to retire, and a friend of Wayne's who worked in Washington and helped him in his first two campaigns, got wind of the news, and called Wayne and Lisa to tell them. I believe they were actually on their way to Washington at the time to visit Lisa's family. As others heard of the news, people started contacting Wayne about running again, and all of the sudden Wayne and Lisa were faced with a life changing decision. Having been through two difficult battles for Congress before, they knew the sacrifices and hardship that would be required to enter the political arena again, and although they knew GOD had called them to run in the 1990's, it was tough to loose. They decided to pray about it, and they asked GOD to raise i think $250,000 in support money by the time they had to qualify if HE wanted them to run. Well, GOD didn't have any problem doing that, and the money came in quickly. Wayne and Lisa, following GOD's provision, followed in obedience to run. It's an amazing thing, we never realize when GOD calls us to do something, how that will affect the lives of others. When GOD called Wayne and Lisa...HE also called a bunch more folks to come alongside of them and help them financially, and in a thousand other ways, some of which i've included below.

Back about last April or May, after Wayne decided the LORD was calling him to run, he was at maybe the first official gathering of his early campaign, with maybe 40 or so supporters in the room and with tears in his eyes, he shared how GOD how lead them to run this time, sharing what i shared above, and said it was hard because they had such a sweet family life with their four kids, They knew their world would be turned upside down in the months ahead with an intense political race and it has been everyday except Sunday in which they worship and rest, being long days for hitting the campaign trail for the Parkers.

As i shared before in an earlier email about the Parker's, I had not seen Lisa, Wayne's wife, or talked with her, since their last campaign, back in 1996. Our paths had just not crossed through the years, while we were both busy raising our families, though i have certainly thought of her through the years. One day, back in late spring as she was coming over to Athens from Huntsville where they live, Lisa called me, and i was very honored. We talked a little while and decided to try to meet after the meeting she was going to speak at for the local Republican party i believe. We did eventually end up getting together at Burger King where i think i ordered water, and she a grilled chicken sandwich, and we spent the time trying to catch up over the last 12 years. I have always had a great respect for Lisa, and knew that she walked unashamedly with CHRIST. Though her Daddy, U.S. Representative Bill Archer from Texas, served in Congress for 30 years, and was the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from Texas, she is so very humble, and treats everyone she meets the same way...with love and kindness. She has the gift of making you feel like you're really special by asking you about your life so of course i liked her from the first time i met her. After our fellowship that evening, we got together not too long after that to go campaigning together around the square here in Athens and i wrote about how we kept getting delayed, cause Lisa kept talking to the "common folks", and even spent time praying with a man who had lost his wife in the recent months and was still very upset about it. I kept wanting to introduce her to the "important" folks, the mayor, attorneys, etc, (who weren't available by the way) but she kept stopping to talk to whoever GOD brought into her path...it didn't matter who they were, and she seemed oblivious to the time...she just loves people right where they are no matter what their social status is.

I had no idea at that time, the privilege that would be mine to spend these next several months being sort of a prayer partner with Lisa. We prayed that day after we campaigned on the square, and it would be something the LORD has blessed us to do many times together over the next several months, mostly by phone, but a few times together. My heart has been so moved by the love and compassion she and Wayne have for the people of our district. I have had the privilege to hear her pray for their opponent they're running against and to hear her cry for the hurts of people they have met in our district as they've traveled from county to county campaigning. I had no idea how very difficult a political campaign could be because i've never seen one up this close and in person. I was involved a little bit in a campaign when my Daddy in law was running for Sheriff back in the early 80's, and will never forget how traumatic it was for my future Mother-in-law when they lost for the first time when i was a senior in high school. I've heard my husband talk about how difficult growing up in the public eye can be and everyone knowing your Daddy is the Sheriff...he couldn't get away with anything...which is a great thing, because his Daddy would find out before his son got home, and take care of the matter. His Daddy was Sheriff for 16 years here in Limestone County, the whole time i was growing up, and i heard about "Buddy Evans" long before i ever met my husband to be...when i was 13 or 14.

Back to the Parker campaign, it has been very, very difficult at times. In the earlier campaigns back in the 90's, the LORD blessed Lisa with abundant strength and energy. Now, HE had some greater lessons for her to learn this time trust and depending on HIM, as there have been some days that she just didn't feel up to hitting the campaign trail. This is very difficult for a gal who is used to being in the thick of things. She has had to learn to "be still and know that HE is GOD," when honestly, she'd rather be up and running. I know GOD has heard her prayers as she has stayed behind at times and prayed for her husband when she would have preferred to have been out campaigning herself and been by her husband's side. GOD has blessed her with being able to campaign much at times and she has been such a trooper. Last weekend, sensing a weary and worn soldier, i invited Lisa on the spur of the moment to go with me and some other sister's in CHRIST to an overnight getaway on Lake Guntersville. Although she considered it, and the break would have been refreshing, she chose to stay in the battle, and fulfill the campaign plans that had been made for her last weekend...choosing to fight, rather than rest at this point. This campaign has been has been a fight for her, one that has made her depend on the LORD more deeply and to trust that HIS "grace is sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in weakness."

There have also been some things revealed about their opponent during this campaign that has been difficult for the Parker family. They love the LORD, and in the midst of soccer, basketball, football, dance, and church activities that they normally are involved in, they aren't used to finding themselves in the midst of the circumstances they've found themselves in the past few months...it has truly been a spiritual battle on all fronts. "Be strong and courageous" has become a daily necessity and fabric of their lives, through the power of CHRIST. Disappointments and encouragements come minute by minute in a campaign like this, and the battle is not for the faint of heart. One's faith is tested over and over, hour by hour it seems, and slowly but surely, GOD forges "good soldiers" through all the battles that have been fought by this valiant man, Wayne Parker, his wife Lisa, and their family.

Earlier this week, i was thinking about how this intense campaign is like a microcosm of life...everything just happens faster, and more intensely it seems, and you don't have a lot of time to stop and catch your breath before the next thing hits you. I thought of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress an allegory of the CHRISTian life, that John Bunyan wrote while spending 12 years in prison for preaching the gospel of JESUS CHRIST. The Hill of Difficulty, and CHRISTian's(the main character in Pilgrim's Progress) battle against Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation particulary remind me of some of the battles the Parkers have been through these past few months. Just as the LORD sent CHRISTian companions to help him along his pilgrimage, in Pilgrim's Progress, GOD in his faithfulness, has sent many companions to help the Parker's in this battle, including Laura Chambers, the Parker's press secretary, Mary Martha, their events coordinator, Bebe Williams, Coordinator of everything, and Steve Webb to pray for them, encourage them, and help them in whatever capacity they've needed help, from making coffee, to setting up press conferences, to scheduling events, sending out emails to supporter's, waving signs, going door to door, you name it they've done it. They along with Ryan, and TJ, they have been there from early morning to late nights...helping to keep the volunteers in the army moving in the right direction...and what a blessing these dear volunteers have been to me as i've had the privilege to meet and serve with several of them. What a blessing to get to know some of these in the volunteer army from an 84 year old woman who is so radiant and vibrant in her faith, and energetic, to a doctor's wife, who humbly shared her testimony with me and how the LORD led her and her husband together in a singles Sunday School class many years ago. Her son goes to college where my friend Tim Greene's daughter goes up in Boone North Carolina at Appalachian State...small world to sit next to her stamping envelopes one day. What a blessing to serve along side my pastor's Dad and Mom, waving signs on a street corner in Athens, and serving with some of my dear friends from church, the CHRISTians, going door to door together. What a privilege to see GOD give some of our ladies from our homeschool group a heart to encourage and pray for the Parkers, and then come and knock on doors and make phone calls for the campaign, and feed an army of volunteers Friday night from the Student Project...what a blessing ya'll all are. What a great job our county coordinator Chris Crumpton has done sending out emails, making phone calls, putting up signs, handing out brochures at ballgames, and many other unseen tasks to help out with this campaign. So many volunteers, and so many blessing have been mine as a result of being a part of the LORD calling the Parker's to run for Congress, and HIM raising up a volunteer army to support them in this campaign...."where GOD guides HE provides." What a blessing to be involved in a campaign where the staff takes time to stop what they're doing and lead the volunteers in prayer before they go out door to door, or before Wayne is in a debate, or while folks are stuffing envelopes for mail-outs. The staff, along with Wayne and Lisa, are so very grateful and appreciative for everything you do for them and tell you that over and over. This campaign led by Wayne and Lisa's example has looked to the LORD to be their help and fight this battle for them...and to be a witness for the LORD JESUS CHRIST in the midst of the battle. Their prayer and heart's desire for their family and the campaign has been from the very beginning: Phil. 1:6, "... let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of CHRIST," and GOD has truly answered that prayer...and i will tell you this, i sure am going to miss this bunch when the campaign is over. GOD has woven and knit our hearts together in midst of the battle and what a privilege it has been to serve with you all.

This week has truly been a special blessing as the LORD, as we have watched HIM literally bring an army of young people from Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama to help go door to door, make maps, phone calls, wave signs, and whatever else needs to be done. GOD has sent HIS help, and refreshed and encouraged and renewed our strength,and how very grateful we are to HIM, and to all these families who have sacrificed their week to either come with their teens and help, or allowed their teens to come and help out. These kids have worked so hard, including Hannah Beth, who has been gone since Sunday to help serve with the Student Project. They are staying about an hour away and are up and on the campaign trail at the headquarter's around 8:00 each morning. Their groups have taken turns volunteering at the headquarter's each night for the phone bank so that makes for long days...like leaving at 7:00 in the morning and getting home around 9:30 in the evening for some of them. I spoke with Hannah Beth for just a few minutes last night on the phone and she said they were eating breakfast at 6:15 a.m. this morning, so they could leave early and go campaign in the Shoals area today, almost two hours from where they're staying. Many of the kids run from door to door, to save time, knocking on doors, and leaving brochures. Hannah Beth, though i haven't seen her this week, she has been serving in different areas than our group, ran/walked 12 miles the first two days going door to door! I have had the privilege of going out 3 days with this army, another branch from Hannah Beth, and have been the "driver" in our car for our hardworking group, which has changed each day since we have the local kids and Mom's in our car. Joe Radcliffe has been our very efficient navigator, and told us where to go, figuring out where to drop folks off, and he has managed to lead us back to the kids and adults once we've dropped them off to cover an area. If it were up to me, they would still be out there somewhere, because i would never find my way back to them. Today, as we ate lunch at Taco Bell after campaigning all morning, as GOD would have it, another group from the campaign had stopped to eat there also, unknown to us when we decided to eat there. I sat beside a game warden from Mississippi that was here with his whole family helping out with the campaign...and though we were strangers, GOD has given us the same heart and mind in CHRIST, and it was so neat that HE had led our paths together "for such a time as this." I have been so very impressed with these Mom's and Dad's who have come with their kids, and those who have allowed their teenagers to come and help out with this battle. A very, very special thank you to the Radcliff family, all of you, who are helping out with everything concerning this "Teen Pact," (www.teenpact.com) Student Project...how very grateful we are to all of you and for laying down your lives this week, hosting this group at the Cliffhouse Retreat and coordinating the door to door efforts all across this district. I received an email tonight that went out from the Parker Headquarters' saying the volunteer's having been distributing far more brochures than the headquarters' planned on this week... they needed $12,000 more dollars to print more brochures so the kids can hand them out all over this district. If you feel led to contribute to this godly man's campaign, you can do it by clicking on the www.wayneparkerforcongress.com website , and contacting them.

As i look back over these past several years, from 1994, actually, it goes back way before then when Wayne was prayed for and influenced by his parents and godly grandparents. HIS grandmother was instrumental in getting the Young Life organization started in the Huntsville public schools many years ago, I was told by a former public school superintendent and neighbor of mine, who has known Wayne since he was 3 years old, and he plans to vote for him. Young Life(www.younglife.org) is an organization that helps lead our young people to CHRIST and encourage them in their walk with CHRIST. Lisa, wrote this about her husband on their blog referring to the kind of young man Wayne was in high school: " I didn't know Wayne then, but I am told he was captain of the team and won the David Hightower award, given to the player who exhibited the most character and spiritual leadership on the team. Knowing Wayne as I do now, this doesn’t surprise me. He has always been a man of great character and led our family spiritually. He is truly the most honest person I know; just one of the many things I love about him. He has never wavered in his principles and values. I know he will be a leader in Washington who will do what’s right and will stand for the things we hold dear.
I see all the markings of a man of godly character and his family who have paid the price for the crown, they have "fought the good fight, finished the race, almost, and have kept the faith." Wayne Parker will serve our district honorably, truthfully, and with spiritual discernment. The verse from Isaiah 30:18 comes to my heart for the Parkers, "And therefore will the LORD wait, that HE may be gracious unto you." GOD has humbled them with two losses, and in the process of allowing them to wait for several years, as they've raised their young family, before calling them to run again, HE has shaped and molded them into a man and woman of noble character who would serve our district with the love, passion, humility and servant's heart of CHRIST. They have sacrificed family time, leisure time, business time, laid down their lives, opened their lives up to being scrutinized by the media, endured many personal trials in their own lives, while running for this position to serve our district in the U.S. Congress. I am amazed why anyone would go through this to serve... reminding me of what CHRIST went through for us to as HE laid down HIS life for us on the cross...to give us freedom from our sins. For Wayne and Lisa, i know this is a calling on their lives by GOD to run this race, and Wayne desires to protect the freedoms that have been paid for us through the blood of those who have fought and died for our freedoms. Wayne and Lisa, and their children have run the race honorably and they have been obedient to the call of CHRIST on their lives...and how very, very, grateful i am for their sacrifice of their lives to run for this office. A well known song writer penned these words a few years ago about U.S. SenatorJeremiah Denton's life after he suffered in a Hanoi prison camp as a POW for many years. These words written about Jeremiah Denton , certainly characterize Wayne and Lisa's life as they have run faithfully the race CHRIST has called them to run:


"It's an honor to serve
To join in the fight
To lift up my voice
To lay down my life
Giving glory to God
Seeking none in return
It's an honor
An honor to serve"


I could write more, much more, about this campaign, the Parkers and the amazing love that GOD has shown our family through being a part of what GOD is doing through the campaign, but to be honest i am weary, i am not used to these long campaign hours:). I can't imagine the grueling schedule Wayne and Lisa have kept for the past several months...days beginning early, and going late at night. What a special privilege for our family it has been to serve in this army the LORD has raised up to help with this campaign...and to serve alongside Wayne and Lisa, and the staff and volunteers GOD has surrounded them with. HE has been so very faithful to strengthen the Parkers, the staff, and all the others who are putting in long hours to complete this campaign as a good soldier of CHRIST JESUS. Thank you so very much for your dear prayers for those who have prayed for me this week, GOD answered them and i was so blessed with HIS strength. Please remember Wayne, Lisa, their family, the staff, and volunteers in your prayers for the next few days, it's going to be a very tiring weekend as they head down the stretch til Tuesday. Thank you so much for praying for this dear family, and how i thank GOD for raising them up for "such a time as this" to represent our area in Congress. As we pray for our presidential elections and all the rest of the elections, thank you so much for asking the LORD to give Wayne Parker favor in the hearts of the voters of the 5th Congressional District and to give him the victory next Tuesday, Nov. 4th...to GOD be the glory!

With all HIS love,
mitzi



A dear friend, Alison Walton, shared this with me last week and i wanted to pass it along to ya'll, my dear friends and family. Thanks, Alison, for encouraging me and reminding me where my PEACE lies...not in who is elected but in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, our KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS. It is HE who "removes kings and sets up kings," Daniel 2:21, all according to HIS plans and HIS purposes... and for that i am very grateful.

> TOP 10 PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION
> 1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
>
> 2. Prayer will still work.
>
> 3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
> 4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
> 5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and healing.
> 6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
> 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
> 8. There will still be room at the Cross.
> 9. Jesus will still love you.
> 10. Jesus will still save the lost.
> ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL!!!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to my dear, dear 82 year old Daddy, Harold Fowler.
What a wonderful gift from the LORD he is to our family..."Great is Thy Faithfulness."

Passing on HIS Abounding Love

"...I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3

Dear Friends,

Last week, in my writing, i began a new chapter in my emails, fiction...changing a few names and facts. Not intentionally, and i didn't change the names to protect the innocent. I changed them because i am a "special needs" child...i keep telling ya'll i have trouble thinking and it really showed up last week. "Robin" Mobley in real life is Karen Mobley, i've only known her for close to 10 years, and she has 11 kids instead of 12. Her new daughter-in-law is named Kristina instead of Christine, and the wedding was on Monte Sano mountain instead of Monsanto (the chemical company my Dad used to work for). So apart from the grammatical errors i also made, not out of the ordinary, i wanted to set the record straight....thank you, Karen for having a great sense of humor with all my goof ups.

Now the truth is last week, I didn't feel well for various and sundry reasons... i was just struggling more than ordinary. In addition to some other things going on, my doctor told me i still have parasites. I wasn't really surprised since i began recently to have trouble concentrating like i did before i went through the treatment this summer to kill the parasites. That was during the time i was writing about "My Common Life" ... i could barely get off the couch for a while due to the medicine making me so sick and was feeling really sorry for myself. For whatever reason, last week was a real valley for me. I felt discouraged, depressed, and defeated at times...

During the middle of the week, when i was really feeling weak and discouraged, the LORD began to ease some unexpected plans in our minds that unknowingly to our family was going to change the course of our weekend and bless our socks off. One of Hannah Beth's friends invited her to a bonfire their family was having for their high school homeschool families...in Mobile. Hannah Beth jokingly asked me, and i said i didn't really care if her Daddy didn't, knowing he would never consider it. Low and behold when she asked him, he considered it. Honestly, i was not feeling well enough to protest...GOD has HIS way of helping me to go along with HIS plans. After I talked with HB's friend's Mom the next day and found out the details... our family, all 4 of us, made the decision to leave Saturday morning and drive down to Mobile for a bonfire that evening. Sounds crazy right? You bet it does, and it did to us too. But, I've gone down the road long enough to know the LORD doesn't always work in the "norm." In fact, usually HE chooses the opposite. HE reminded me over and over through Scripture, "the mind of man plans HIS ways and the LORD directs HIS steps." Pr. 16:9, and Jeremiah 10:23: "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." When the LORD is leading your paths...you do some crazy things, that you don't understand at times, much less those around us.

We were all aware that this "spur of the moment" trip was a "GOD thing" and very much out of the realm of our usual method of operating...i know HB and i take spur of the moment trips, and even with John Mac, and occasionally with Dad. But this trip was even more than normal out of the ordinary for several reasons...it was the weekend, and we were all available..."spur of the moment." We had plans, i always have plans, even if it's to rest...but i had planned to go door to door campaigning for Wayne Parker in the morning, Heather Evan's wedding in the afternoon, and maybe kayaking that evening...which i haven't done in a long time it seems. But GOD rerouted our plans and redirected our steps...which HE is mighty good at doing. Leaving the restaurant on the weekend is not standard operating procedure for my husband and son when they are often short-handed. Neither is it standard operating procedure to take our daughter to see a friend who is a boy... and we didn't know their family all that well, though we were blessed to spend some time with them in North Carolina in August(see picture above, another amazing trip i wrote about, "Camp Meeting Time, Aug. 8,2008) and Gulf Shores in May. It's just not like us to drive 6 hours to a bonfire.

Well, the LORD knew it wasn't just a "bonfire" we were going to, and what special blessings HE had in store for us to use the Hembree family to be such a blessing to our family. We had a few tense moments on the way...my family didn't seem to worried when i threatened to write about our "flair-ups" , cause they figured i'd get the names wrong and no one would know who i was talking about anyway. We had a safe trip down, and after getting a little lost, and having a little heated discussion over the GPS, the LORD brought us to the beautiful Hembree home. We pulled through the brick gate, and drove up the driveway to their beautiful home and the huge oak trees in the back yard that some must have been over 100 years old. The Hembree's came out to greet us, and seemed thrilled that we were there. Linda, the Mom, was busy making last minute preparations, and she introduced me to her Mom who had the same quiet and gentle spirit that Linda does. We walked outside to the backyard, to help get the games ready and there was those beautiful old oak trees, one that just invited you to climb it. I wasn't very much help with the games, but she made me feel useful anyway, and it wasn't long before the other guests started arriving bringing all kinds of wonderful smelling dishes for supper that night. After a while, Linda, and a few of the parents got the " Golden Corn Olympics" going for the kids and they enjoyed competing in sack races, wagon races, obstacle course and other event, while the other adults stood and sat around visiting and watching the kids compete. The group was very friendly and we were amazed to find that one of the couples there was a business partner to our next door neighbor, here in Athens. While the games were going on...i decided to take a walk around the beautiful pond, there was two of them actually, and they were so pretty. The sun was beginning to set up over the hill, and i walked beside the pond, up the hill and along the fence row, just feeling the urge to spend some time to get alone and pray for a few minutes. I watched the pink sky and sun gradually lowering, and as i walked along, I saw a huge garden spider and it's intricately spun web which was huge, attached to a tree and the fence. I took a bunch of pictures but couldn't quiet capture the beauty of the web or spider on our camera with it getting dark...

By the time i got back, it was time to eat, and i was good and ready...there was all kinds of chili, cheese dip, hot dogs to cook over the fire, cobbler's, apple, strawberry, peach and blackberry, chips, and drinks. We had plenty to eat and it was delicious! After we ate, we adults sat around the bonfire, and it was getting pretty cool by then, Mr. Hembree took the younger kids on a hayride through his fields, and the older kids played capture the flag. Later on he took the older kids on a hayride, and wouldn't you know they didn't have room for us adults to ride:). As the evening got later, we helped clean up, and went inside and visited with the Hembree's for a while, Emily, the Hembree's sweet daughter, Hannah Beth, and some of the older kids were out taking a walk through the woods. Linda gave me a tour of their beautiful home and played her baby grand piano for me. She's plays beautifully and plays for their church, and would you believe she loves southern gospel music too...amazing isn't it? Jacob, their youngest son and I took turns playing his electric drum set...man did it sound good. We finally made our way to the family room upstairs and the Dad's and John Mac were enjoying the big screen TV. It wasn't too long before Johnny said it was time to go and Josh their son, lead us to the Hampton Inn we were staying at that the Hembrees had help make arrangements for us to stay. They had invited us to stay with them...but we didn't want to impose on them more than we already had.

The Hampton Inn was really nice, but i chose my car suite over it to sleep. After sitting around the bonfire, i needed a place i could air out for a while. I hope you don't feel sorry for me sleeping in my car... though i don't like leaving my family, i have come to love that quiet place of refuge after a busy day that my body can rest and i can be alone with my LORD. As GOD's abounding love would have it, a security guard walked by right as i went out to get in the car after taking a shower, and i asked him to keep a watch on me cause i'd be sleeping in my car. Guess he thought that was kind of strange when you're paying for a room, but oh well, i'm thankful the LORD provided him to watch over me and i didn't feel scared at all and slept really good.

The next morning, when i got up, i was fighting discouragement again. I know the smoke had something to do with that, and i was thinking about those parasites in my body, and some other things that were tempting to overwhelm me. The LORD encouraged my heart and reminded me that HE was going to use those parasites for good somehow, and not to try to figure out what i was worrying about...it wouldn't seem like a "mountain" after the smoke cleared out of my system. But right now, while it did seem like a "mountain," my thorn was causing me to run to my FATHER in my weakness, and HIS love was so comforting to me...my weaknesses are the very thing that GOD uses to draw me closer to HIM, causing my heart to run to HIM so often. I praise HIM for that, and for "working all things together for good to them that love GOD (Rom. 8:28). After i had my time with JESUS, i was encouraged through the warmth of HIS love, even though i still didn't feel too hot. After getting the troops up, we enjoyed the delicious breakfast buffet down in the lobby, in shifts. I ate first, then Hannah Beth, and before i left Hannah Beth, John Mac came, and stayed with Hannah Beth, and i took Johnny his food back to the room. We all managed to get ready for church, eat and get our bags packed and loaded back in the car before Josh, their son, came to get us and lead us to church to go with the Hembree's. That morning they were starting a revival at their church and what a great message the preacher preached about the kind of heart that GOD can use...a tender heart, a humble heart, a broken heart, and obedient heart, based on II Kings 22:19 and the example of King Josiah. The message really spoke to all of us and later on i heard some apologies going on in our family. I am so thankful the LORD had used HIS word to soften our hearts and make us more tender, humble, broken and obedient. Believe me, we are a work in progress...and haven't arrived, but HE loves us and is still working on us. The choir also did a great job, and i enjoyed watching my friend,Linda play the piano and what a gift she has. We sang a praise song during the service called "On Mountains High," that really spoke to my heart about Praising the LORD "On Mountains High and in the Valleys low..." You can hear that beautiful song here by clicking on:


http://www.thefathershouseworshipcenter.org/OnMountainsHigh.html
I thought that's what i want my heart to do, not just praise HIM "On Mountains High" but also" in valleys low i'll do the same." I sure haven't arrived at that yet, but i know my FATHER is helping me to learn to do that... HE is helping my heart to learn to run to find HIM...in the good times and the bad, to praise HIM when my heart was wants to give way to discouragement, and to remember how very much HE loves me all the time...as Charles Spurgeon shares in his evening devotion for Oct. 21:

"Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?"
--Luke 24:38

"Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?" The Lord cares for all things, and the meanest creatures share in His universal providence, but His particular providence is over His saints. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him." "Precious shall their blood be in His sight." "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose." Let the fact that, while He is the Saviour of all men, He is specially the Saviour of them that believe, cheer and comfort you. You are His peculiar care; His regal treasure which He guards as the apple of His eye; His vineyard over which He watches day and night. "The very hairs of your head are all numbered."

Let the thought of His special love to you be a spiritual pain-killer, a dear quietus to your woe: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." God says that as much to you as to any saint of old. "Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

We lose much consolation by the habit of reading His promises for the whole church, instead of taking them directly home to ourselves. Believer, grasp the divine word with a personal, appropriating faith. Think that you hear Jesus say, "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." Think you see Him walking on the waters of thy trouble, for He is there, and He is saying, "Fear not, it is I; be not afraid." Oh, those sweet words of Christ! May the Holy Ghost make you feel them as spoken to you; forget others for awhile--accept the voice of Jesus as addressed to you, and say, "Jesus whispers consolation; I cannot refuse it; I will sit under His shadow with great delight."


After church, the Hembree's took us down by the bay, near the U.S.S. Alabama battleship, to eat at a really scrumptious seafood restaurant. We had some crab claws and some other type of cheesy appetizer, and then we enjoyed our meals, my being a delicious, mostly broiled seafood platter. I had to have my oysters fried though, i don't care for them slimy. We had a great time visiting and talking, and Linda and i found out we both love to hike, and ride bicycles. We even talked about the possibility of meeting them in the mountains in December and going hiking together. She's really ambitious and would like to hike along the Appalachian Trail, just overnight...but i don't know about that. I love the woods, yes i do, but i can assure you they don't love me.. I do better taking them in small dosages:). I don't know if we'll get to do that with them or not, but we'd love to if the LORD has that blessing for us. After going back to their home and sitting outside on their beautiful back porch and listening to the kids play their guitars, Linda and i took a walk around their beautiful lake, prayed for each other, and enjoyed our last few minutes talking. Then it was time to return home...our home in Athens. Our trip home was much more peaceful and relaxing than the trip down. John Mac and Hannah Beth drove all the way, Johnny slept some, and i enjoyed playing my mandolin softly in the back seat...GOD had just dumped a "dumpload truck" of HIS love upon us, and we were still amazed at how HE led us down there and loved on us so much.
The LORD has blessed the Hembree family with a beautiful home and place to live, but more importantly HE has blessed them with HIMSELF and their lives, their home and property are filled with HIS presence, HIS love, and HIS peace. The Hembree's are so gracious to share their lives and home and use them to be a channel of GOD's abounding love to others including our family.
What a special blessing and time of refreshing this trip was to all of us and i still marvel at the love GOD lavished upon our family this weekend through the Hembree's, their church family, their homeschool group, and the beautiful surroundings that we were blessed to be a part of. The LORD reminded me on the way home how last week and weekend is a picture of our lives over and over...we're going to have valleys, and mountain top experiences, and through it all HE lavishes HIS love upon us.


As I was walking through their pasture that evening of the bonfire , i looked down upon that huge roaring fire that Don Hembree had worked really hard to build, getting stumps out of the woods earlier in the week to make it burn better. The song we used to sing in our Methodist youth group UMYF, came to my mind..."Pass it On." As I watched the sparks flying upwards from the bonfire, i thought about the line from the song, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going...and soon all those around can warm up in it's glowing. That's how it is with GOD's love once we've experience it, You spread HIS love to everyone you want to pass it on." As the night grew cooler down on the "Hembree Plantation," we did indeed scoot up to the warm fire and it sure felt good. And it sure does feel good to "scoot up" to the warmth of GOD's love, and just feel and experience HIS love all around us. And we experience HIS love so much through our brother's and sister's love in CHRIST for us..."by this will all men know that you are MY disciples if you love one another," John 13:34.

And you know, when GOD puts HIS love in our hearts, we do want to share it with those around us. HIS love compels us to love others..."I wish for you my friend this happiness that I've found," it says in the third verse of "Pass It On." HE puts a desire in us to love on those who don't know CHRIST, or those who may know CHRIST but may not be "scooted up to warmth of HIS FIRE." GOD uses us to be "sparks" of HIS abounding love to those around us whose hearts are cold, and don't know the warmth of GOD's love. As the song says, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going" and even the smallest acts of GOD's love to someone else, may ignite a fire in their hearts that draws them to CHRIST HIMSELF. Then there are other times, when it takes perhaps many years of persevering prayer, tears, faith, and love, to bring a person to the warmth of GOD's love for them. Whichever way GOD chooses to use us to bring others to HIM, HE uses us most in our weaknesses..."MY grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses that CHRIST's power may rest on me." (II Cor.12:9-10) How very thankful i am for that promise...what abounding love HE has for us!


The Hembree family are truly an example of passing on GOD's love- they invited us down to share GOD's abounding with us, and invited us to stay with them. When we declined, they found us a motel room, called and gave us the info, and when it was full, they called the motel, and made a way for us to get a room. They shared their food, their wonderful fellowship, their beautiful home, their time, their homeschool group, their church family, and just passed on GOD's abounding love to us all weekend.

Thank you, my dear friends and family, so much for being GOD's abounding love to me and my family, and passing on HIS wonderful love to us. You strengthen us, encourage you and help us to have faith that GOD loves us, as you share your lives with us and we see how GOD is loving on you and through your family. GOD is loving on each of us everyday, and HE loves HIS children "special"...through our Mountain Highs and Valley Lows, through our friends, our families, the circumstances HE directs our steps and lives to be a part of, even parasites... we just have to look around and see how GOD is loving on us through what we're going through. Each of you mean something special to me, your life ministers to me and encourages me and helps me in a way that no one else's life can...GOD has shed abroad HIS love in your heart, to "Pass It On" in a unique way that no one else can...i thank GOD for using the Hembree's this weekend to pass on HIS love to us, ...and i thank HIM today for using you in my life to pass HIS love on every time i get an email from you, or hear from you, or you're praying for us, or whatever GOD leads you to do to show HIS love to us through you. Thank you so much for passing on His abounding love to me and my family... we love you and thank GOD for you!

With all HIS love,
mitzi
Pass It On- by Kurt Kaiser

"It only takes a spark to get a fire going
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing
That's how it is with GOD's love
Once you've experience it
You spread His love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring
When all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing the flowers start their blooming
That's how it is with GOD's love
Once you've experienced it
You want to sing It's fresh like spring
You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend this happiness that I've found
You can depend on HIM, It matters not where you're bound
I'll shout it from the mountain top I want my world to know
The LORD of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.

A Church Full of Heroes

"Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in CHRIST, just as HE chose us in HIM, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by JESUS CHRIST to HIMself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will." Ephesians 1:3-5

Dear Friends,

Last Friday evening, my kids and I attended a beautiful outdoor wedding on Monsanto Mountain. The young couple getting married are members of our church and it was a real joyous occasion to be a part of GOD bringing these two young people together as one in CHRIST. The gazebo was decorated with white ribbons and ferns, I think:), and looking through the gazebo, just before the wedding began, you could see the gorgeous pinkish orange sun setting out over the city of Huntsville. What a beautiful sky the LORD painted for that special occasion.

When we got there the kids went over to talk to there friends and I sat down next to my friend Marsha Christian who is goofy as i am. Our kids later came and sat down behind us and they were calling us down before the wedding threatening to separate us because we were laughing so loudly. Marsh and her husband have five kids and they have homeschooled all five of them. Their oldest graduated from the University of Alabama, and is serving our country in the army doing all kinds of special training. Her next son is still in school at the University of Alabama and is in the Marines... these guys are heroes, along with their family, and we are so thankful for their sacrifice and service for our country. As we waited for the wedding to start, another dear friend came walking up and we talked a few minutes. Marco had a contraption around his neck hanging down from his shoulder. I asked him what it was and he said a wound vac...i should know these things being a nurse, but i didn't. Marco had his pacemaker removed a few weeks before, and I was surprised that he was still having to wear this machine that was helping to suction the secretions away from his incision site. We talked a few minutes, as Marco encouraged me and it was time for the wedding to start. What a sweet wedding it was with our pastor leading part of it, and he did a great job sharing the biblical role of marriage. I sure needed to pay close attention to his words, cause I seem to forget rather frequently what my role is and want to "wear the pants" in my family. Then another pastor shared the wedding vows with Nathaniel and Christine. We have know Nathaniel's family for many years, and admired them from the first time we met their older boys who were so friendly and outgoing. The Mobley's are another one of those special families that make up our church. They have 12 children and all of them who are old enough have been homeschooled, and the youngest Mobley is a special needs child. Robin, the Mom, made one of the dresses that was in the wedding, along with the grooms cake, and her little girls looked adorable and are as sweet as can be. She and her husband Rick are truly heroes, as they lay down their lives for CHRIST each day to raise a godly family and are a very active part of our body of CHRIST.

After the wedding ceremony was over, we were all invited to the reception and man was the food delicious! There was fresh fruit- pineapple, strawberries, honeydew and cantaloupe, i think, spinach dip, shrimp, chicken fingers, and lots of other yummy food. Then, of course was a beautiful wedding cake that our friend Tabitha made, who also goes to our church. Tabitha and her family manages a CHRISTian (http://cliffhouseretreat.org/) retreat near Scottsboro, Al. They have 12 siblings too, and they all are homeschooled.

After I enjoyed eating some good food with my friend Marsha, her husband, and my kids, I ran into Marco again and he started sharing with me his day. I want to back up and tell you a little bit of background about this hero named Marco. Marco is a single Dad. His dear wife died a few years ago, leaving Marco with five children. The oldest is a special needs child. Marco and his wife homeschooled their children and even after she died, he continued the first year with their friends in Scottsboro helping them. Now they attend Scottsboro public schools, and one of the Christian schools in Scottsboro. Marco has had a really difficult year this year with some health issues of his own, including staff infection and had to have his pacemaker removed, but he has courageously continued on providing for his family and shuffling the kids back and forth the their activities, along with running his household. He has come to church with an IV attached to his arm on more than one occasion. Marco was at the wedding which was probably 45 minutes or so from home, with his five children, and him wearing a wound vac. Earlier in the day, he had taken his oldest son to get his license after swapping out cars with his daughter, and then found out his son was unable to take the driver's test because the horn wasn't working...so they had to reschedule that. Then he went to the doctor with a swollen and painful place on his arm that he suspected was a blood clot. They told him he needed to go and have it checked out right then, but he told them no, he was going to a wedding and he would do it later, and he did. Thankfully, he went to have the blood clot checked the next day, and it wasn't a serious blood clot, if it's possible to have a blood clot that's not serious. As Marco talked to me, almost everyone else had meandered down to where some of the older kids were dancing, but Marco was lingering behind to wait for his special needs child to finish eating. I knew he wanted to come join the fun, but he waited patiently for her to finish eating.

Sitting outside at the reception in the cool night air was another dear family in our church who are heroes too, the Wrights. Kirk leads the music at our church, and Kim plays the piano. Kirk works at a regular job during the week and Kim stays home and homeschools their four kids, of which they all are adopted. The oldest two are twins, and then there is Hannah, and then a few years ago, they adopted their youngest son from the Ukraine. What a blessing this family is to our church, always serving whether its leading the choir, Reformation Day Celebration, or our "Keepers at Home" group...Kirk and Kim are heroes in the way they love these children whom GOD has brought into their family through adoption and serve the LORD through serving in so many ways through our church.

Another family in our church whose Mom and Dad are heroes are Duane and Diane Dorhman. The Dorhman's have grown children and adopted two special needs boys, and adopted a daughter from China. I am constantly amazed at this family and the love that these parents share with their kids. They homeschool their daughter, and have homeschooled their boys at times, in addition to taking care of her Daddy who had been sick for a long time and passed away this weekend. In spite of the constant care their boys require, they are very actively involved in our church. Diane always has a smile on her face and is such an encourager to me, and all who meet her. Diane and Duane, too are truly heroes that help make up our church body.

As some of the older kids danced at the reception and some of the parents, others of us stood on the sidelines, cheering them on, laughing and having a good time, and wishing we were brave enough to get out there. Marsha encouraged me to dance with my son, which we did after a little awkwardness getting started and that was very special. Then she wanted me to line dance with her and our kids out there, but i didn't budge on that...i didn't want to make a fool of myself. Besides i wasn't too sure how i'd hold up to that turning and twisting...remember that softball game:). I know it's amazing to think of us Baptists dancing but some of us did and it was a lot of fun. But i respect those who didn't feel comfortable with that part of the wedding, and chose not to take part. I know myself, i am on a journey, and a few years ago, i wouldn't have felt "free" to do that and i'm sure would have looked down upon that...but GOD has brought me to another place in my journey, a place where others might not be. That's what i love about our church family...we can differ on things and still love and respect each other. And I very much respect our pastor for his honesty about his own journey and the grace he shows all of us, though he may not fully hold the same views on some issues.

After a while, Marco came moseying down the hill with his daughter and with his "wound vac." He was smiling as usual, and enjoying watching the dancing with his daughter. I lost track of them in the fun, and later after Nathaniel and Kristina ran through the reception line, i looked up and saw Marco again. He was coming down the hill with some paper towels in his arms, and the "wound vac," around his neck, cleaning up where his daughter had had an accident. I sure do admire this man who could have told his children "no" to coming to this wedding. He could have said, "I've got a blood clot i need to see about," or "I've got this thing i'm having to wear and I don't want anyone to see me," or "It's too much trouble", or "It's too far to go," etc. But he didn't, he brought his five kids to the wedding, served his daughter with her special needs, laying down his life for his family and took time to encourage me about my email last week as we talked.

As I thought of Marco being a hero to his family, he reminded me of the greatest hero of all, my LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE is my GREAT PHYSICIAN, WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, PRINCE OF PEACE. HE IS MY ROCK, MY FORTRESS, MY STRONG TOWER, MY SHIELD, and MY DEFENDER, HE is MY BROTHER, and
"A FRIEND that sticks closer than a brother." HE is my SAVIOR, my REDEEMER, who gave HIMSELF for me and you. Marco willingly laid down his life, that day and everyday, to make a way for his children to be at that wedding, and to provide for his children...even risking complications from a blood clot. He willingly and lovingly waited on his "special needs" child, while the others ran ahead, and had fun. In my weakness, I have often thought of how my SHEPHERD leads me "beside the still waters and green pastures" and stays behind to be with me and have tender, intimate fellowship with me when I can't keep up with others. He uses me where HE leads me. Marco cleaned up after his child, and my FATHER continually goes behind me to clean up my messes, which are many, and makes something special out of them that is useful to HIS kingdom. My SAVIOR, MY REDEEMER, the KING of KINGS, left HIS glorious home in heaven, to give HIS life for your sins and mine on a wooden cross to clean up the mess HE knew we'd make being born into sin, and to rescue us from burning in HELL forever and ever. HE'S up there in heaven right now, preparing a home for all those who have repented of their sins and surrendered their lives to CHRIST and HE's interceding for us before our heavenly FATHER. MY HERO, my SAVIOR, laid down his life, pouring HIMself out to death, not because HE had done anything wrong, but to pay the punishment for our sins because HE loves us so much. The Roman soldiers didn't take his life, HE gave it up for you and for me, to be the propitiation (appeasement) for our sins, that we might be adopted into the family of GOD. When I look at my brothers and sisters in CHRIST and see the love they have for their children, and for those whom they adopted, I am reminded of the wonderful love that my FATHER has for me, and the wonderful privilege that is mine to be adopted into the family of GOD.

I remember what it was like when I was a teenager and didn't know CHRIST as my LORD and SAVIOR and I was struggling with the guilt of my sins. "My spirit was willing, but my flesh was so weak." Matthew 26:41. My FATHER patiently waited for me to surrender my life to HIM. There was a young man in my life that was coming between me and HIM. One night at a revival at Central Baptist Church in Decatur, the LORD called my name, and drew me to the altar and helped me surrender my life, my will, and my boyfriend to HIM. Somehow, I was transformed into a new creature in CHRIST. One thing I knew I had to do was break up with my boyfriend who didn't know CHRIST because we were "unequally yoked" as the Bible calls it in 2 Corinthians 6:14. I never dreamed a month later, GOD would save my former boyfriend and make him a new creature in CHRIST. We have been married over 25 years now...to GOD be the glory! HE truly does "exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think." "What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since JESUS came into my heart, " is a song I grew up singing in our Methodist church and it is so true...CHRIST paid the price for my adoption and how I praise HIM for choosing me and changing me. JEHOVAH JIREH, THE LORD who PROVIDES, has supplied all my needs, my special needs in CHRIST JESUS. HE even takes those special needs, those weaknesses, and promises to be strong through them. "My grace is sufficient for you and MY power is made perfect through weakness," 2 Corinthians 12:9...that's what MY HERO does for me and you!

I remember after CHRIST saved me and I felt so clean, free, and happy, we sang "I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of GOD," at Central Baptist, almost every service it seemed. The song, by Bill Gaither (didn't know that until just now) says, "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of GOD-I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by HIS blood! Joint heirs with JESUS as we travel this sod; For I'm part of the family the family of GOD," and what a great job that our heavenly FATHER does of taking care of HIS children...HE shows us special favor.

I am so glad I am a part of the family of GOD, adopted at the price of my LORD JESUS CHRIST's blood. HE is my hero, and HIS family is made up of heroes because they are filled with CHRIST HIMSELF. HE puts HIS love, HIS desires, HIS courage in our hearts to accomplish HIS plans and purposes, and how thankful I am to be surrounded by a family of heroes, the family of GOD.

My favorite bluegrass gospel group, the Isaacs, (http://theisaacs.musiccitynetworks.com/?inc=5&news_id=10817) wrote a song called "Heroes" about special needs parents, single parents, and parents that have adopted children. They sang it at Dollywood last week, and though i think i've used it before, i felt led to share it again this week as I shared with you some of the special heroes that we are privileged to be a part of in our church family. I think of many of you as i write this, you are heroes right where you are serving the LORD, and how I thank GOD for each of you, and the heroes you are to me, encouraging me and helping me so very much. I love hearing from you and getting your emails, thank you so much for your dear friendship. I too am a "special needs" child, just ask my family, and how very grateful i am to my dear husband, who cares for me for "better or for worse," ...and sometimes, i really am "for worse," trust me.

Nathaniel and Kristina have a lot to look forward to in their journey together through this life. GOD has surrounded them with parents and with a church family full of heroes to encourage them and help them along their journey. I sure am thankful for you, the heroes GOD has surrounded me and our family with to inspire us, help us, encourage us, and care for us in this journey HOME. You are our heroes and how we thank GOD for you! And then one day, I shall see my greatest hero face to face, in all HIS glory, the LORD JESUS CHRIST...and "what a day that will be when my JESUS i shall see, when HE takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land." I can't wait to share that journey with you, my heroes.

With all HIS love,
mitzi



Heroes by the Isaacs

Momma combs his hair and Daddy helps him brush his teeth
Day after day for thirty years the same routine
The special needs he lives with make life seem so unfair
But he thanks God every day cause he knows Mom and Dad are there

(chorus) He's a hero and she's a hero
It doesn't matter that nobody knows their name
They keep on giving to make life worth living
Might go unnoticed but they're heroes just the same

They tried for many years to have a baby of their own
But God knew a little girl who didn't have a home
Someone else's burden was their blessing in disguise
And now she's got a Mom and Daddy there to hold her when she cries

(chorus)

Every single parent who must carry twice the load
And those who sacrifice to raise a child that's not their own
They dedicate their time to make a difference in someone else's life
And in my eyes

(chorus)

They might go unnoticed but they're heroes just the same.

You can see and hear the Isaacs sing "Heroes" by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOJR1RR9Tyk

"Yours and Mine"

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Dear Friends,

A few weeks ago, I shared with you about sitting in my car down by the river early one Saturday morning and having my time with JESUS as the rain fell from the sky. As the droplets splashed on the surface of the water and on my windshield, I was inside the Jimmy reading my Bible and praying about a particular burden the LORD has laid on my heart for the past several months. It has been a particularly heavy burden, and often very difficult to carry. I have often carried it to my LORD but I don't know if I don't know how to lay it down, or the LORD just keeps it there so I will pray about it often. That morning as I was praying, GOD impressed on my heart to go and pray with my dear friend, Wanda, about this burden, as well as for a special burden she has had with her daughter being estranged from their family for a few years now. That Saturday morning as Wanda and I prayed, I shared with you, that her daughter who lives out of state was actually in our town, unknown to Wanda, visiting her granddaddy. The LORD knew that Wanda would need some extra support that day, and led us to pray together, as her daughter didn't call or come to see Wanda, or let her see her two little grandsons. Little did we know, that since that time, GOD has made a way for us to pray together almost every day, and though we pray about many things, depending on how much time we have or how tired we are, we specifically pray for our two burdens the LORD has laid on our hearts. I have shared with Wanda over and over, that since she and I started praying together almost daily, that my burden has become so much more easier to bear. Most of the times, Wanda and I pray together over the phone, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the middle of the day, at night, in the car, sauna, Wal-Mart, or wherever we get a chance, we call each other and pray. I have to watch praying in the car. This week as the kids and I were traveling up to Dollywood, Wanda and I were praying over the phone and Hannah Beth said from the back seat,"Mama, quit shutting your eyes while you pray!" The embarrassing thing is I was shutting them, temporarily, and I didn't even realize it:).
I can tell you this, GOD sure is knitting together mine and Wanda's heart since we've been praying and sharing our burdens. We've done a lot of sharing our burdens together in the past...that's what good friends do, but praying together about them, has really made a difference in both of our lives. I told her I can't believe how much lighter my burden has gotten since we've be praying together. Oh, it's still there, very much in my heart, but its just easier to bear, and Wanda will tell you the same thing. Since the time we started praying together, Wanda's care for her aging parents has greatly increased as their health has rapidly declined and her husband was recently diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, he's had some really good reports from the doctor but it is still scary any time the "C" word comes into your life. The load has become heavier, but Wanda has shared over and over that the LORD is carrying her with "wings like eagles" because of all the prayers that are going up for her, not just mine, but so many others who are praying for them. I am so amazed and encouraged by the strength and courage GOD is giving her to carry her through this difficult time in her life...why am I so amazed when GOD answers our prayers? Oh me of little faith...

As I think about Wanda and I sharing each other's burdens through prayer, both of us trying to pray in faith, yet, asking CHRIST to help our unbelief, I am reminded of a most encouraging devotion that Charles Spurgeon shared in the evening reading in Morning and Evening for Sept. 28 about trusting GOD to answer our prayers:

"Go again seven times."-1 Kings 18:43

Success is certain when the LORD has promised it. You may have pleaded in prayer month after month, without any evidence of an answer. However, it is not possible that the LORD will be deaf to HIS people when they are in earnest about a matter that concerns HIS glory. Elijah the prophet continued to wrestle with GOD on Mount Carmel, even when he did not receive an immediate answer to prayer. Never for a moment did he give in to fear that he would not be served in Jehovah's courts. Six times, Elijah's servant returned to him, unable to report any sign of progress. However, on each occasion, Elijah merely told him, "Go again." We must not even consider giving in to unbelief, but hold to our faith even to "seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:22. Faith sends expectant hope to look from the top of Mount Carmel. If nothing can be seen, she sends again and again. Far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, Faith is animated to intercede more fervently with her GOD. She is humbled, but not discouraged. Her groans are deeper, and her sighs more vehement, but she never relaxes her hold. It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the LORD. Delayed answers often cause the heart to search itself, and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation. Deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption, and our hearts are cleansed of idolatry. The great danger is that people might give up and miss the blessing. Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in praying and watching. At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain. It will be the same with you. The "token for good" (Psalm 86:17) will surely be given, and you will rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought. Elijah was a man of "like passions as we are" (James 5:17). His power with GOD did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with increasing persistence, and you will receive what you ask for."

As I mentioned earlier, the kids and I did have the opportunity to go up to Dollywood (www.Dollywood.com this past weekend for their National Gospel and Harvest Celebration month. If you've never taken the family this is a great time of the year to go. The leaves are turning colors, and they have all kinds of craft demonstrations throughout the park like woodworking, making sorghum, making fiddles, basketweaving, dulcimer playing, etc. My pull up there was to hear the Crist family(www.cristfamilymusic.com) and the Isaacs (http://theisaacs.musiccitynetworks.com/index.htm) sing, two of my favorite gospel groups. The kids, enjoyed riding the roller coasters, bumper cars, scrambler and other rides in the park, and I was so blessed with having them accompany me to three of the concerts. We left Sunday morning, about 3 hours later than we planned, since the kids had late nights and our dear friends the Radcliffe's were staying with us...but we still managed to leave about 8:30 a.m. I got impatient trying to get off, but GOD's timing was perfect. Our friends, the Crist family, didn't sing until later on that afternoon, so we got there in plenty of time to hear them, and they did a great job. I sure am proud of Jackie and Bre (see their picture above with Hannah Beth) and what GOD is doing in and through them as they sing for HIM with their family. What a blessing they are to us and how good GOD has been to them to open so many doors for their family to sing for HIM. After we saw them, and visited a few minutes, I headed off to hear the Isaacs and the kids went and rode some roller coasters. The LORD blessed me with sitting up close in both concerts. What a special blessing from the LORD it was to see this group that has encouraged my heart and the hearts of so many through their music. GOD used Sonya Isaacs to inspire me to learn to play the mandolin 3 years ago and man, can she play and sing for the LORD! Maybe when I get to heaven I'll be able to sing and play like her...naahhh. That night, after we left the park, the kids and I headed up to Gatlinburg and ate at "Bubba Gumps" restaurant. My grilled salmon and steamed veggies were absolutely delicious and the kids both enjoyed shrimp. We were all tired, but we walked around the strip for a while and the kids enjoyed some new "mirror maze" they have up there in Gatlinburg. They have grown wise about the "tourist traps" up there, they've experienced most of them, and so they didn't rush into throwing their money away. While they were in the mirror maze, I took that opportunity to give Wanda a call and pray together for a minute. After the mirror maze , we headed back towards the car, stopping along the way in Baskin Robbins for ice cream. The next day, we went back to the park and while the kids hooked up with the Crist girls and rode rides, I enjoyed hearing the Isaacs again. That really was a special blessing as afterwards I had the opportunity to talk with Sonya Isaacs for a few minutes. She was really friendly and really liked my Palin button! I was more than honored to give it to her, - that's what she's pointing to in the picture above. I asked her what type mandolin strings she used on her mandolin and she wrote it down for me...the exact same kind my friend Zac Ferguson told me about a couple of years ago...thanks, Zac, you gave me great information! If anyone is interested she uses D'Addario EXP 74 extended play strings, and she plays a Gibson Fern Mandolin, which she has her own signature series...she didn't tell me that, but a guy who was with her shared that with me. Anyway, it was a thrill for this ole girl who has been kind of stand offish to talk with her in the past when she usually has so many people crowding around her.
I thank the LORD for the special time HE gave me this past weekend with my kids...HE reminded me on the way up there when Hannah Beth was a baby, and a friend of ours had a "Mother Daughter" weekend with her daughter, that I wondered if I would ever get to do anything like that with my daughter when I was in so much pain and could not hardly hold Hannah Beth, much less do fun things together. Well, I think you know the answer to that if you've been reading these emails for any length of time. GOD has blessed Hannah Beth and me with many special times together, and this weekend we were blessed to have John Mac with us too. He didn't cramp our style too badly:)...in fact, we had a great time together and so glad he could come along with us, just wish my hubby had been able to also. I praise the LORD for allowing me to do so many special things with my children and my husband through the years. Truly "HE has restored the years the locust have eaten," and even made us "richer" through it. Not money wise, though HE has so abundantly supplied all our needs in CHRIST JESUS, but through our trials HE's making us to be more like JESUS, and "HE is to me, more precious than gold." HIS faithfulness to give me the desires of my heart to restore my health and be able to do things with my family gives me the faith that HE will answer my prayers again and give me the "desires of my heart" for this burden HE has laid on my heart.
While we were in Dollywood, the Isaacs sang a song that GOD has really been using to minister to me called "Yours and Mine," from their "Heroes," CD. When I listen to Lilly, the mom, sing this with her daughters, I think about how GOD has led Wanda and I to "bear one another's burdens" to make them "Yours and Mine." What a blessing and encouragement and strength to my heart has come as a result of her loving me with CHRIST's love and sharing my burden with me. She has taken time out of her packed schedule to pray with me, almost every day, and some nights she has been so exhausted that it's all she can do to stay awake while we pray. My faith and hers has increased as we see GOD answering our prayers in little glimpses like the "little cloud," and we call those our "miracles for the day." One of those miracles was her daughter returning for a visit to see her son play football here recently and Wanda did get to see her this time...two visits in two months, hum, and she hasn't been here in probably two years until a couple of months ago...wow. We are trusting HIM to answer our prayers in "torrents of rain," as we share our burdens and make them "Yours and Mine." Hum...maybe that morning I was praying at the river when it was raining was a sign of HIS "showers of blessings" to come:)...yes, I'm believing that it is!

With all HIS love,
mitzi

"Yours and Mine" by Rebecca Isaacs Bowman, Sonya Isaacs

I hope I didn't wake you (It's never too late)
My heart is so broken (Honey, it'll be OK)
I wish you were here now (I wish I were too)
Don't know what I'd do without you.

If I could take the hurt all away/I'd gladly walk in your shoes
I'd rather it be happening to me than you
I'd love to turn your tears into laughter
And all of your rain to sunshine
But since I can't take it
Let's make it yours and mine

I heard from the doctor (I heard the bad news)
Oh I am so frightened (I've been praying for you)
I don't understand it (Sometimes life isn't fair)
Seems like more than I can bear

If I could take the fear all away/I'd gladly walk in your shoes
I'd rather it be happening to me than you
I'd love to turn your ears into laughter
And all of your rain to sunshine
But since I can't take it
Let's make it yours and mine.

I'll laugh with you, cry with you
You know I would die for you
Together we can make it through.

If I could take the hurt all away/I'd gladly walk in your shoes
I'd rather it be happening to me than you
I'd love to turn your tears into laughter
And all of your rain to sunshine
But since I can't take it
Let's make it yours and mine

You can watch the Isaacs sing "Yours and Mine" at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6poo__S2h8

The Sweetness of HIS Love

"You have turned my wailing into dancing; YOU removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to YOU and not be silent. O LORD my GOD, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:11-12

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

I have been convicted about something I wrote a few of weeks ago when i mentioned my friend visiting with a doctor while she was campaigning. Well, he was a doctor, though not a medical doctor. I knew that, but didn't clarify it thinking that it sounded more impressive if I didn't. The LORD has been convicting me about misleading you and I want to confess that to you and ask your forgiveness for leading you to think something that wasn't the truth. I thought about it and wrote it anyway, not clarifying what type of doctor the man is. Please forgive me for my deception. Thank you so much for your forgiveness.


Last Friday morning, Hannah Beth and I packed the bicycles and tent in our car and headed down to Joe Wheeler State Park to join our friends from the Athens Dulcimer Club for a weekend of camping. HB and I had been wanting to go camping for a while and the LORD opened up the opportunity to go with our friends Jerry and Louise Todd, who head up the Dulcimer group. After we arrived at the campground that morning, Jerry and Louise were there waiting on us. They were getting their camper set up, and Louise was putting tablecloths on the tables and putting yellow flowers on the tables. That "feminine" touch really meant a lot to me, cause I don't think that way. My sister is the one who remembers to put out flowers and such as that...and it's funny she is the newlywed living in a camper now in the country! I was so glad for Hannah Beth to see Louise's example. Hannah Beth certainly has that touch, but somehow that "gene" skipped over me. As Jerry and Louise got their camper set up, HB and I set up our little tent. I didn't realize it, but HB was a little nervous about us setting up the tent by ourselves, and she was really glad to learn that we could do that without too much trouble with a hammer, some stakes, and the little pole thing that threaded down the middle. She figured out how to tie the pole up in the middle-I would probably still be there trying to figure that out if it weren't for her. Jerry and Louise were so kind and offered to help us in any way that they could....in fact, Louise was like a Mother Hen to us all weekend, fretting over us, like she did everyone else, and taking care of us. Thankfully, the LORD was gracious, and HB and I got the tent set up without having to back track too much.

After we set up the tent, HB and I headed back to our house to finish packing. We had some things to do in Huntsville that afternoon before we could resume our camping trip. One of those things was the privilege of praying with the staff at the Parker campaign headquarters that afternoon. What a dear blessing that was to my heart as we gathered in the copy room of the headquarters, closed the door, held hands, and took turns praying for the campaign, the Parkers, the staff, and all that involved. That prayer time was certainly a highlight of my weekend, and it is open to all who will join us at 4:00 p.m. on Friday afternoons. Please come and join us!

After we left the Parker headquarters, we headed back to Athens, where we swung by the house and picked up some towels, eggs, and a few things we'd forgotten. I kissed Johnny goodbye, and went by to pick up Hannah Beth's friend Natalie, who was going with us. That was such a blessing cause we used to do things we Natalie's family all the time, and through the past few years, our family's have gone in separate directions. What a blessing that we were able to be with old friends again. After picking up Natalie, we stopped at a gas station on the way, and the girls bought some worms for fishing and HB and I got our fishing license. I talked with Louise on my cell phone from the store. She was getting worried about us, and some more folks who weren't there yet. There had been an accident on Hwy 72, and she wanted to make sure we or the other folks weren't involved in it. She and Jerry had a fire waiting for us when we got there so the girls roasted hotdogs over the campfire, while I finished unloading the car. Louise roasted a hotdog (they were sort of the healthy ones:) for me and it sure tasted good after our busy afternoon.

By the time we finished eating it was getting dark. The girls decided they wanted to go fishing while the Dulcimer group was going to get together for a "jam," in the meeting room just across from where we were camping. I took my mandolin and joined Jerry, Roger, Grady and Janice, Homer, Louise, and a man named Jake who is 90 years old. He used to be some kind of engineer for NASA and worked on rockets. Since he retired and his wife died, he lives out of his camper and travels from dulcimer festival to dulcimer festival, singing and playing his guitar. Man, do I wish I could memorize the words to songs like he can...what a gift! I didn't see Jake a whole lot that weekend, but when I did, he was walking and looked as fit as can be. When I walked inside the meeting house, I knew that I was in trouble...it wreaked of the smell of mothballs. Though the windows were open, I eventually had to get up and leave...I didn't go too far though. I walked outside, and played along with the group standing outside by the window. I had my little headlight flashlight on that my husband had bought for me on some occasion and I was good to go. After we played awhile, it was bedtime for me and I was ready to hit the hay or actually my sleeping bag in the back of our Yukon. The girls were back at the camp, having made it back from fishing. They said there wasn't much biting in 3 inches of water but they had a great time talking on the bank while they fished. They had made an attempt at making some s'mores over the campfire before I got back, but the fire kept going out. I tried to revive it by stoking the coals, and getting some fresh wood, but it never did crank up for me. Unfortunately, the s'mores I promised Jerry at the jam never came to pass that night.

I'll be honest, I didn't sleep too that well that night in the car, I think the mothballs did me in...I just didn't feel right. The next morning, after we'd slept in a bit, Louise and I started cooking breakfast. Louise mixed up pancakes and cooked them inside the camper, and I cooked sausage and eggs outside on the electric grill. The girls took the pancakes Louise had made and put cherry pie filling and butter on them, rolled them up, and cooked them over the fire...yum, yum! We had a delicious breakfast that morning. After we finished cleaning up from breakfast it was nearly 11:30! The girls went on a bicycle ride, while Louise and I decided to take a walk. As I walked along the uneven ground beside the road, I could still feel the effects of the softball game a couple of weeks before in my hip joints...I told you that was a painful decision. We hiked over to the picnic area, along the river, and enjoyed the cool shade of the trees. She showed me a place on a large rock where she and Jerry had come and had a picnic before. In one of the large pavilions where we walked, is where our extended family had a family reunion a long time ago. As we were walking down the hiking trail, picking up walnuts, Hannah Beth called and said that she and Natalie were catching some bream and asked us to come over to where they were fishing. After walking down the hiking trail a little ways, we headed over to the little wooden bridge where Natalie and Hannah Beth were reeling in the fish...well, actually I think HB was catching the fish. She was baiting her own hook and taking her fish off the hook...without any assistance. I told you she does have the "feminine" gene so this was a real milestone for her. She even redid her own fishing line with a hook and bobber, after she broke her line...I'm really proud of you, HB! Natalie, you're a good influence on her:). After we watched them fish a little while longer, Louise and I walked back to our campsite and I rested a few minutes. When the girls got back from fishing, we all fixed sandwiches.
By this time, I wasn't feeling too hot...not sure if it was the mothballs the night before still bugging me or the smoke from the campfires, but I decided to take a break from the smoke, and head home a few hours. There was a gospel music singing that night on the grounds in front of Founder's Hall at the college, and I had been planning to go for weeks, before the camping trip came up. I wasn't sure if I would go or not since we were camping, but the smoke getting to me, made it an easier decision. I hated to leave the girls, but Jerry and Louise assured me they didn't mind keeping an eye on them, and the girls were happy to be going swimming, even though the water was cold. I made the journey home, visited with my guys who were watching Auburn play Tennessee on TV, saunaed, put some clothes in to wash, and ate some leftover chicken I had cooked the day before. I couldn't wait to get in the sauna. Thankfully, after sweating a while, eating supper, and vegging out in front of the computer a little while, the LORD renewed my strength and I headed to the singing on my way back to the campground. I still had a headache, but once I got there and sat on the bleachers beside our dear friend's the Wahl's, I got to feeling a lot better...that good singing, and that good night fresh air sure did perk me up. I was ready to go back and do battle with the campfires again. After New Ground (www.newgroundministries.com) sang, and they did such a good job, I went over and spoke with them a few minutes. They are from near Scottsboro and it was great to hear them again and see them in concert. I didn't linger long, and headed back down to the campground. I called Hannah Beth on the way, and she was playing her guitar "jamming" with the Dulcimer group. I sure was glad, even though most of them are old enough to be her grandparents, she enjoys playing with them and they are so sweet and kind to encourage her in her playing. Natalie was a great friend to sit around and listen to them. Jerry and Louise were so kind to be their "grandparents" for them while I was away and watch after them...well they actually were the whole weekend. By the time I got back to the campsite, it was almost bedtime. The girls were playing cards in chairs beside the campfire. I think they played a million games of "speed" and Natalie definitely came out on the winning side of that game.

That night after we'd all been asleep awhile, I woke up and had to go to the bathroom...ugh. Since I was sleeping in the back of our Yukon, I had to crawl over the back seat to let myself out. As I walked to the bathhouse, I spotted a skunk walking along the edge of the meetinghouse right where I had been standing and playing my mandolin the night before! I sure didn't want it to see me and run over and spray me (like it would run up to me unless it had rabies it might), so I eased back toward the car, and watched it walk around the building heading towards someone else's campsite. Don't know if ya'll remember, but the last time we camped at Joe Wheeler with my brother and niece, our campsite was sprayed in the middle of the night by a skunk. My brother had to take the dog, who got sprayed royally, home in the middle of the night and we had to change campsites the next morning it was so bad. So yes, I have a healthy respect for skunks...course leaving out hotdogs and shrimp against the camper, which I had done, didn't help our cause.
Once the skunk mosied on, I walked on to the bathhouse without any further ado. It took me a while to return to sleep and when I finally did, I slept until 8:00 a.m. We were planning to go to the worship service there in the meetinghouse at 8:30. I roused the girls and they got up and we got ready to go. Jerry and Louise had been up for a while. Funny thing is, no one showed up to lead the service, though the sign was out front, so we decided to have our own worship time around the campfire. We got our Bible's and another couple joined us, and whoever wanted to shared a Scripture and whatever the LORD laid on our hearts. It was really a sweet time as we went around the circle listening to each other share different verses...one lady shared out of Psalm 37 one of my favorite Psalms, about trusting in the LORD, committing our ways to HIM, delighting in HIM and HE would give us the desires of our hearts... Louise also shared out of Psalms. After we prayed, Jerry and Louise got out their dulcimer's, Hannah Beth her guitar, I got my mandolin and my notebook with the words cause I cannot remember words to songs...I'm pitiful when it comes to remembering the words unless I learned them as a child. Another dear lady from Jasper joined in playing with her dulcimer, and Roger Patterson came up and joined the circle with his dulcimer. We had such a sweet time of playing and singing hymns there around the campfire...what a special blessing from the LORD. We played songs like Amazing Grace, Wonderful Words of Life, Lord I'm Coming Home, As the Deer, and a bunch of other hymns that I can't remember right now...but I do remember what a sweet, sweet time of fellowship we had together around the campfire at Joe Wheeler.

After we finished singing and playing, I took off on a bike ride around the camp ground, and then out to the road that takes you to the lodge. As a road through the campground, I met a young father who was camping with his five kids ages 10 down to 3, and the Mom and 10 month old baby were at home. Talking to him was another Dad, Juan Carter who we went to school with, who was camping with his children, while their Mom was at home. I thought what a neat thing these Dad's were doing spending time with their kids, just as my Dad and Mom had done with us growing up...we camped as a family and what sweet times we had together. In fact, I felt a little guilty for not inviting my Mom and Dad to go with us on this camping trip. After I talked with those Dad's, I rode up and down some steep hills for these legs, but wow what a joy that I made it! I rode a pretty good little distance up by the golf course and saw the new cabins that had been built along side the river-man are they nice! Maybe we can have a family gathering there sometimes when they aren't so new anymore:)...I was really thankful the trip back wasn't as bad as I had dreaded. I knew I had coasted pretty much downhill to the new cabins, so the road back was uphill. Thankfully the LORD renewed my strength, and I made it back to the camp, a little out of breath, but in good shape...much better than when I tried to run to second base a couple of weeks before playing softball.

Back at the camp, everyone was still there sitting around talking, including the girls, who were playing cards. I think they must have really been tired from the day before...they hardly moved out of their chairs that day. After we enjoyed some of Louise's delicious taco salad she had served the night before, along with potato salad, and the girls grilled the last of the hotdogs, we had the best time sitting around talking and laughing at Jerry and Louise tell funny stories. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about GOD being our "Coach" and switching our positions on us sometimes...like when I had to go from the outfield to first base because I couldn't run in the outfield. Well, Jerry and Louise are an example of this and I thought about them when I wrote a couple of weeks ago. Jerry was the boys basketball coach at Athens High School for many years, and was a great coach, he is such an encourager. The boys went to the final four in the state playoffs twice while Jerry was coaching, and they had many successful seasons. While coaching there at the high school, Jerry developed diabetes, and was unable to continue coaching...so he and his wife Louise, who was also a teacher, decided to retire. GOD knew the blessing HE had in store for many other people through Jerry and Louise's lives when HE switched their position. Through a series of events, Jerry and Louise got introduced to the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer and the rest is history. They have been heading up, organizing and coordinating the events of the Athens Dulcimer group for the past 6 or 7 years and what a blessing they've been to so many of us. With the same passion Jerry had for coaching basketball, he and Louise have helped multitudes including myself learn to play the dulcimer. It doesn't take long to be around the both of them to experience the love that flows from their hearts to yours. When the LORD switched Jerry and Louise's position, it truly was a blessing for so many in our community and now all over the United States-Jerry and Louise have played for countless hospice patients, schools, nursing home patients, churches, and they organize functions so the rest of us can go along and play too. Just last night, we played for the Airstream Camping Club who is in town for the Fiddler's Convention this weekend. Just a couple of weeks ago, Jerry and Louise organized the making of a DVD by our dulcimer group so that beginning dulcimer players all over the country could hear some basic "fiddle" tunes and learn to strum along as we play...they plan to share those with folks all over the country. You can get yours here if you let me know! I sure am glad GOD switched their position, and they have the best attitudes anyone could ever have...they don't look back wishing things were the way they were...they're too busy living today, and thinking about how to bring joy to others lives.

After we had a great time of laughing and listening to stories, the girls did a great job of packing up their tent. HB got everything organized and loaded in the car. Miraculously, we managed to get everything in the car and return home. What a great time we had of camping and fellowshipping with our friends from the Athens Dulcimer Group, and especially Jerry and Louise who looked out after us and loved us like we were their own kids. Thank ya'll so much, Jerry and Louise for spoiling us all weekend.

That night, after we got home and got unloaded, the kids went to church, and I went to see the Crabb Revival, a southern gospel group, sort of, up at the college. What a weekend for southern gospel music it was in our town! I was tired, but I was so glad that I went. What a tremendous blessing that was and a story I could write about it all by itself. What blessed me the most was the testimony of Adam Crabb, the leader of the group, after GOD "switched his position" a year or so ago when their family group divided up. He shared of GOD's faithfulness in his weakness, his weakness to talk in front of others, his brother used to do most of the talking when they were all together, and be in that leadership position that he is in now. He shared how he suffered from depression during that time after his family separated into different groups to sing and how GOD had brought him through that difficult time. He shared GOD's faithfulness to provide a bus for them a couple of months ago after they had been traveling around in a truck pulling a trailer since their family group split. The "Crabb Revival" (www.crabbrevival.net) sang their hearts out, lifting up the LORD in their testimonies and singing, with such a humble spirit. Now I have to confess, I didn't really care for some of their hairdo's and their music can get a little "bumpy" at times for this old girl, but GOD has shown me that HE doesn't always work like I think that HE should...HE uses folks and music in different packages than what I think, for HIS honor and glory. I liked most of the music, couldn't help but like it when they kept lifting up how great JESUS is with their humble spirits...I really liked watching the drummer, he could play two drums and a few cymbals amazingly! At the end...they sang a "happy song," and a bunch of the folks were jumping up and down like I've seen them do at some of the contemporary CHRISTian concerts I've been to with the kids. I looked down my nose at that too when I first saw it a couple of years ago. Well, let me tell you, this old girl thought about jumping up and down to cause I was happy, happy that the LORD JESUS, loved me enough to let me enjoy all that I had enjoyed this past weekend. But, I decided it might be better not to jump since I was still recovering from my escapade on the softball field two weeks ago and didn't want to jar something looser than it already is. Besides, I am from the "frozen chosen" and it just wouldn't be right to be showing too much emotion praising the LORD...why what would the church folks say if they saw me jumping up and down like a jackrabbit? I have a confession to make, I did raise my hands some, though not too high, and when they encouraged us to dance, i sort of swayed from side to side, but I was jumping up and down on the inside Praising my LORD:).
It was a great weekend the LORD gave us and because of my affliction, my thorn in the flesh, times like this past weekend are just that much sweeter. GOD reminds me over and over what HE has done for me. I thank HIM for the affliction which has enriched my life so very much, and how I thank HIM and praise HIM for the energy and fun of easier times that I can enjoy so much more because of what HE has brought me through. I love you JESUS, thank YOU so much for your sweet sweet love for YOUR dear children, including me,and thank YOU for using my difficult times
to make the easier times that much more sweeter!

This week, I wanted to use part of a song that David wrote in Psalm 40:1-5 that shares my life,my heart, and most importantly, the sweetness of the love of JESUS for us. His testimony of praise is mine too...and I praise the LORD for HIS sweet love in my life. He brought me out of the slimy pit of sin and affliction, set my feet on a rock, the ROCK of JESUS CHRIST, and put a new song in my mouth...a hymn of Praise to my GOD!

"I waited patiently for the LORD;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our GOD.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD."

"Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust;
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O Lord my GOD,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare."


To GOD be the glory for HIS goodness and sweetness in all of our lives...I love you and thanks so much for taking time to read my testimony of our GOD's sweet, sweet love to me and my family this past weekend. You are definitely a huge part of GOD's love to us...thank you for being such a dear blessing in our lives!

With all HIS love,
mitzi