Tru Love...

Yes, yesterday was my birthday. I am 40 years old, but don’t feel like a 40 year old should feel. Then again, I’m not exactly sure what a 40 year old should feel like. I still have energy, nothing has broken on me, nothing has fallen apart, and I can still climb a mountain with the best of them, though it may take me a little longer. I still have fun with the youth and having a great time building friendships with them. They are so energetic and breathe so much life into me; it is hard not to catch the excitement of life that exudes from them. I am grateful to be able to minister to them as they are here in Cortez this summer. They are truly ministers of the word by their actions, their words and the deep conversations that we have been having about what it means to be a Christian in today’s world and in their own communities when they get back home. My prayer is that they would be able to carry some of what they experienced back home and apply it to their daily lives. Amanda has done a wonderful job with the evening clubs and the talks that accompany the clubs. I was thinking tonight that she has a spark in her that is hard to ignore. She gets right down to the level of the youth and explains the verses that truly makes sense to these youth. It is hard to do that, but Amanda is reaching these youth and encouraging them to follow Jesus Christ. It has been awesome to see her grow in the talent that God has given her. I pray that she continues to speak for the Lord because she has some wonderful things to say and the Lord will use her in a mighty, mighty way to reach people who may not know Him.

The birthday weekend was incredible. Lee Ann came all the way from Kentucky to see me this weekend. It was very special to get to see her and spend time with her. She brought two of her closest friends from London, Amy and Rosemary. They are both as sweet as could be, until we got to all the questions J. We had a blast just being together, laughing and cutting up. It was just like we had been old friends. We traveled around to different sites viewing HovenWeep, Monument Valley and the Four Corners. All were good, but didn’t have enough time alone with Lee Ann. Since I had not seen her for oh about 7 weeks, the time with her went by a little to quickly. I have so enjoyed talking with her on the phone and getting to know here with out seeing her, if that make sense. I have gotten to know her heart, I have gotten to know her passion for the church and for the youth that she serves, I have gotten to know her fears and failures and I have gotten to know her joys and accomplishments. She is a wonderful person who loves God and wants to spread that love to as many people as she comes in contact with. She truly is the love of my life. Been praying about a love like this for many years and I truly believe God is faithful and has put her and I together at this particular time in our lives. She is my best friend, she is the one I want to talk to everyday, she is the one I pray for every day, she is the one I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. I can just be me and that is great with her. She is the one who encourages me, who prays for me, who challenges me, who understands me, who takes care of me when I’m sick or when my feet are nasty and cracking. She loves me and I love her.