Another VBS Story....

Playing the waiting game while Ashlyn waits for her PET scan....& while I do, I have another VBS story to tell....this one is Jacob's. I can't share his sister's w/out sharing his. ;)

Before this latest crisis rocked our world like never before, we had already gone thru & were/are still going thru some TOUGH STUFF in other areas of life......and there was a boy last week that seemed to seek Jacob out, to want to hang out with h...im. During rec one day, they sat & the boy shared some things that he was dealing with in his family. Jacob then shared some of what we have been through, giving the boy someone he felt could understand and relate. Before the convo was over, this boy prayed to receive Christ. ♥

I have claimed many verses for me personally, but Romans 8:28 has been one that I have given my kids most often as I've tried to point out each and every example of God's goodness & provision, tried to tell them to hold on tight to Jesus because He will use them in ways He couldn't have before if they will let Him & give it all to Him ~~ the good, the bad & the ugly. None of these stories that I post are intended so that I can hear things like "you're a good mom" (I fail at that repeatedly & continually!!!!) or how sweet and great my kids are (although I wld agree with that one!!!). It's really not about us at all....it's about how GOOD He is, abt how much it blessed my heart to hear that they are starting to see these things for themselves....to see Romans 8:28 come alive for them & to see them feel that they CAN make a difference & ARE being used by Him. It's about nothing but the GOODNESS of God, abt seeing His hand at work.....making beauty from ashes & giving purpose in the midst of the pain. ♥

‪#‎GodIsGoodAllTheTime‬

Perfect Timing....

Hey. I have a story to tell! I bet you're shocked. ;)

Ashlyn made a friend while volunteering last week at VBS......the mechanical bull operator. She, along with another BFF...sweet Laura,  has affectionately named & called him "Best Friend", brought him snacks & goofed off with him on the days she was there. She has invited him to church several times throughout the week. On the days she had to miss due to her dr's appts, he found... out about Ashlyn's diagnosis and her upcoming surgery. Turns out, his sister just had the same surgery last week for a port and g-tube that Ashlyn is having. Before she left last night, his "maybe" of coming to church turned into he "will" come to church....and that he wanted to keep up with how she is doing.

A coincidence that their paths would coincide?? That she just so happens to strike up this silly/fun friendship at this particular time in her life, on this particular week, that would bring her so much laughter....and meet someone who's sister is going through the same thing at the same time, showing her that she's not the only one?? And that she could, in return, have an impact on him & get him to agree to come to church?? I think not.

God WILL use for good, what Satan means for destruction.....and has perfect timing in the orchestration of who and what He brings into our lives when. He's cool like that.

Romans 8:28

We have a hearing test at Nemours and PET scan at Shands today, and Ashlyn's surgery is tomorrow. They will put in her port and g-tube and might begin her first round of chemo while we're in the hospital, depending on all the test and scan results. She will spend at least one night there......and she asked me on the way home last night, "I'll get to go to church Wednesday night, right?" and got so mad when the answer was "no". "But I'll be out of the hospital in time...."

Love that girl. So much. ♥

‪#‎PrayForAshlyn