Wonderful, Wonderful News! :)

Good Morning, friends and family! I have some great news! A friend of mine from high school, Amanda Royer, has been dating a young man that we knew in high school. As their relationship approached a deeper level, he shared his concern about their differing levels of faith. He is a committed Christian man, and Amanda has been (to this point) fairly indifferent about the subject of faith. (Amanda, correct me if that is wrong!) She told him that she was open to exploring her faith, and he invited her to his church. Today, I am praising God and thanking Him for his faithful community at Cross Lane Community church in Terre Haute. Amanda said that she felt welcomed the minute she walked in.

After spending some time talking with the Pastor at Cross Lane, Amanda said that her thoughts were, "Really? Why haven't I done this before?" She made a statement of faith last night. (In her words, "That I know God loves me and that Jesus died for my sins and that I know I'm never going to be perfect, and that's ok.") She is getting baptized this Sunday!! :) Praise God!

Many of you know that I have always wanted a child with red hair. What you may not know is that, it's really because of Amanda. :) She is one of the most beautiful redheads I know. :) (This picture is from our senior year in high school. I used to be thin, guys!! Sorry about the glare from the flash. It's a picture of a picture.)

Anyway, I am just so thankful, excited, and happy to see what God has been doing in her life. :) As Christians, we won't always get to see the sprout from the seeds that we have planted along the way. However, today, I am just SO incredibly blessed by watching Amanda begin to bloom. I wish you all could talk with her and hear the excitement in her speech.

Keep planting the seeds, friends, God is definitely continuing to work it out! Amanda, welcome to the family!! XOXOXOXO