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| Where are you? My dream is that someday we can share our lives together. That I would find a man that loves God more than me. That somehow, God will bring us together. That someday we can travel down the road of life, hand in hand. We can do devotions, dig into His Word, and pray for and with each other. We can share icecream, watch movies, and lie under the stars, gazing at His handiwork. I dream that someday you will forgive me, for all my past mistakes and that I have the foreknowledge and understanding to forgive all of yours. I dream that oneday, you will get down on one knee with a big fake ring and ask me to marry you. That someday, we can buy a house, walk down the aisle, and say "I do" as you place my mom's ring on my finger. I dream of our honeymoon, just the two of us, somewhere special. I dream of two person sleeping bags on camping trips, the day you come home from work and I have a romantic dinner all set out just to tell you that we are expecting a baby... I dream of you, all of the time. I pray for you, asking God to protect you every step of the way to me. I love you, even though I have no idea who you are. | | |
| Hey all-- This is the letter I wrote for my mom for mother's day. she has always wanted to be entered in a contest like this... so finally... i didn't forget this year! Let me know what you think, and DON'T TELL MY MOM! March 31, 2007 Regis & Kelly Mom's Dream Come True Ansonia Station P.O. Box 234071 New York, NY 10023-9402 Dear Regis & Kelly, Imagine a young girl, growing up in a broken home, raising her siblings, while her mom worked several part-time jobs just to make ends meet. While many girls were out playing doll house and going on bike rides, she chose to baby-sit and do laundry, just to help her family out. She never asked for new clothes, but instead made old one’s fit by sewing and re-sewing. She never asked for an allowance, but instead gave her earned portions to her family. She went without so that the kids could have more. She dreamt of art school, a husband, children, and a red house with a picket fence, but was trapped in the reality of growing up too soon. Imagine this girl all grown up. Her first love brought her two beautiful children, but the love did not stand. Abuse, and eventually divorce, pushed this young woman away, but drew her closer and closer to her daughters. Stronger than ever and prepared to make a bright future for her girls, she finally remarried. But God chose to take her husband away from her after years struggling with a heart defect—and left her with only her two children—alone and scared. She worked hard, but fought back, as she entered the world, yet again as a single mother. A short period later, she married the man of her dreams, and only had three dreams left: to have more children, a barn red house, and a white picket fence. Imagine this now woman, at 26, wishing she could have more children. But seven miscarriages later and almost losing her life, the doctor told her that her dream was nearly impossible. As she held her hands to heaven, she knew her aspiration for a barn red house filled with children was afar off, as she was told “no more!” There was no more trying for this woman, yet hope was just around the corner. Imagine 16 years and seven adoptions later, as this middle age woman lives out her dream of being a mother of many. The children she always wanted, she now has, thanks to another mother who couldn’t care for her children. Endless sporting events she attends, cheering on one of her five athletes; late nights with the baby, the newest edition to the family; tears of joy and sorrow, as she wipes a wounded knee and heals a wounded heart. Patience, as she selflessly completes 10 loads of laundry and 10 loads of dishes each day; love, as she pours on hugs and kisses each morning to the two boys that attend public school and wakes up her three that she home-schools. She daily is a nurse, as her youngest son comes in with a bruised knee and bruised pride, as he tried to ramp his bike again. She is a gourmet chef, cooking for more than the army cook prepares for. She is a star teacher, as she teaches her three little ones Bible verses and math lessons. She is a community outreach, teaching a Sunday school class at the local church. She is the biggest cheerleader, attending every sporting known to mankind to cheer on her rising stars. She is a best friend, listening to her now grown siblings asking for guidance as she mothers them and her own children. She has her house filled with children, although it isn’t barn red and surrounded by a picket fence as she always dreamed—but she never asks for anything. She is selfless and full of integrity. Some would say a person like this must be Superwoman. But me, well, I just call her mom. And, my mom deserves her dream of a barn red house and a white picket fence to come true—as she has never asked for anything—but instead, gives and gives and gives, since she was that young girl helping her family to the fine woman she is today taking in other people’s children just to make a difference. My mom, Kari Burd, is the ultimate mom—no wait—she is SUPERMOM. Yours truly, Lacey Martin- Kari Burd’s 2nd Daughter | | |
| John 20: 1-18Resurrection!Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put him."
Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home. But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus' body had been laid. They said to her, "Woman, why do you weep?" "They took my Master," she said, "and I don't know where they put him." After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn't recognize him. Jesus spoke to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?" She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, "Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him." Jesus said, "Mary." Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" meaning "Teacher!" Jesus said, "Don't cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: "I saw the Master!" And she told them everything he said to her. | | |
| Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret....Psalm 37:3-7a | | |
| This weekend was phenomenal. On Friday, I went with Sarah Raterink and Jerica Martin to Meet the Robinsons. We shared over dinner what God has been doing in our lives. On Saturday, I went to Em's house for a party-- we played a sweet game of Apples to Apples and watched the final four-- fellowshipping the whole time... :) On Sunday, I took a road trip to Grand Rapids to visit Sarah Lamb and Cait at Cornerstone... THANK YOU SARAH LAMB! God really blessed me in the short time I was there. Sarah and I slept on the top bunk together-- and by top bunk I mean it was literally two feet from the ceiling, maybe less-- giggled til late at night with Cait and Jerica-- and had an awesome day today, just talking and lovin' one another. I had the chance to sit down with Debi, Donny, and Shawn while I was up there (not all at once... but all three of them at separate times). Debi and I caught up on life, which was fun-- something I think God had a hand in, as we haven't talked in a while-- but we were super close two summers ago... Donny and I talked about Bible Hour and watched his music video. Pretty sweet. I enjoyed reading the Bible with him and I can't wait til we actually do it. Oh, and we looked for Safari costumes. :) Shawn and I talked for a really long time-- about everything that is going on in both of our lives. It was truly comforting to know that there are other people that are going through things and have been through things and how God brought (and brings) them safely through each moment. I am truly blessed to have a friendship so solid and centered in God that we were able to pray together. Praise God for men like Shawn-- I can't wait to visit again-- thanks so much-- all of you! | | |
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