St. John's United Methodist Church | Baton Rouge

Category: Faith Stories

The Witness committee collects stories about working with St. John’s ministries or other activities where writers have experienced God’s presence.

  • Advent Faith Stories: Stay Awake

    Advent Faith Stories: Stay Awake

    Advent Faith Stories: Stay Awake

    Therefore you must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming a an unexpected hour.(Matthew 24: 44)

    If the Son of Man came today . . . now that is a sobering thought. In the last few months we have experienced racial unrest and violence, the natural disaster of flooding, and a toxic and hateful environment fostered by the recent presidential campaign. What is happening to our world? What would Jesus do if His coming occurred in these chaotic times?

    Ever the eternal optimist, I find myself bewildered by such negative times.What is meant by the words ‘you must also be ready’ and ‘stay awake’? Feeding and housing flood victims seems the easiest solution of the three major problems mentioned earlier. But how do we react to the racism in our society or the homophobia, nativism and essentially ‘fear of everything’? These burdens can be overwhelming. This is truly the time to turn to God and renew our faith in Him.

    We don’t have to struggle alone. Jesus invites us to come to Him and He will share our burdens. I have found St. John’s to be a place of solace in so many ways.In our Sunday school classes, our covenant groups, our Sunday worship times, our Shepherd’s Market, as well as our personal relationships, we experience hope. Our family of faith here at St. John’s gives me the strength to be strong as we prepare for the future. 

    In closing I am reassured by the words in Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

    Bobbi Marino

  • Advent Faith Stories: Holy Ground

    Advent Faith Stories: Holy Ground

    Advent Faith Stories: Holy Ground

    I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
    Psalm 130:5-6

    For as long as I can remember, the family Christmas tree has provided a sacred ground for me. As a child I would lie on the floor in the glow of the lights, dream of baby Jesus and contemplate the activities of the season that seemed to produce a joy that enveloped everyone in my young world — baking Christmas cookies, practicing the nativity pageant at church, the ring of the doorbell almost every night announcing the drop-in visits of friends and neighbors. I would also dream of the magic of Santa Claus and the endless possibilities of the surprises he might bring.

    As a teenager, my Christmas tree reveries centered around hope — hope for a wondrous future, for new adventures, for new people in my life. I think in some ways during those young
    years, the time spent with the silence of the Christmas tree was a quest to fill that place in my heart that was reaching out for completion, for fulfillment. In that holy ground, I was able to release all my fears and worries and was free to be totally myself.

    As a young mother, it was the gratitude of fulfillment that filled my thoughts in my Christmas tree space — a loving husband and a delightful baby boy who both showered my world with all the excitement, turmoil and misadventures that make life so very wonderful and difficult at the same time.

    And now, as I live alone, I always have difficulty contemplating the un-decorating and removal of my Christmas tree. For the few weeks that it graces the living room, adorned only with small lights of many colors and a few handcrafted butterflies, it always gives me the gifts of peace and wonder. The glow of the beautiful lights in the darkness becomes part of my meditation and prayer time every morning. It helps me enter the silence of listening and waiting. I don’t want to begin my days without it.

    That is what the Christmas tree is for me — a refuge, a place of total peace, a crucible of hope and a holy place of waiting

    Prayer: God of the ages, be with us as we enter this season of waiting. In the silence, open our ears to hear your whisper and our hearts to welcome Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

    Betty Schroeder

  • Advent Faith Stories: Ready for the Miracle

    Advent Faith Stories: Ready for the Miracle

    Advent Faith Stories: Ready for the Miracle

    Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us.
    None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, 
    they would be too many to declare.
    Psalm 40:5

    I started a journey that began in a Disciple II Bible class in September 1996. There was another couple in the class that was on the same journey as I was on. Rick was six years old, and I wanted another child. The other couple did not have a child, and their longing was also very real. During the class, God and I had lots of talks about the child that would be Rebecca. I did not know what he was asking of me until she arrived. The doctors told us that she would not walk. But, God’s plan was different and Rebecca started to walk at 18 months. In fact, she wanted to run. She did not want to take the time to learn to walk. She had a little bitty walker that she avoided because she was in a hurry. So, the doctors had her wear these awful Forest Gump braces that would slow her down. She eventually learned to take one step at a time. And like Rebecca, God’s plan for me usually involves me slowing down to a pace that allows me to walk with him. Time spent in prayer and study and preparation.

    I am thankful to be on this journey with Rebecca to see God’s plan for her. God has plans for all his children. We may need to stop hurrying and start walking with him.

    It was March when the other couple in the Disciple II class found out they would be adopting a child, and I found out I was pregnant. Both children arrived at St. John’s around December in time for Christmas. Both of our prayers were answered in God’s time.

    You may be asking what this story has to do with this year’s advent theme “staying awake.” This Advent message was actually written last year when the theme was “Walking to Bethlehem.” I am not sure why it was left out last year, but I do believe in God’s timing.
    Being patient, being ready and staying awake are hard. Seeing God’s plan unfold for us at the perfect unexpected hour is the miracle. Be ready for the miracle in your life. 

    Dear God, thank you for walking with us on this journey every day, especially on the days we want to run ahead of you. Help us to stay awake and be ready for the unexpected. During this Advent season, we thank you for the ultimate miracle of your son, Jesus Christ. 

    Barbara Lively

  • Faith Stories: Reflections on a Life

    Faith Stories: Reflections on a Life

    Faith Stories: Reflections on a Life

    I wrote this reflection in the months following my husband’s death in 2015. I was recently re-reading it and decided that the takeaway lessons might be a blessing to others and I ought to share it despite its personal nature – Kathy.

    It is ironic. Bryan and I used to laugh and I’d give him a hard time because he couldn’t smile for posed pictures. Almost all of his photographs show him with a sort of half smile that we both never liked. Or at least I think he didn’t; I know I didn’t. So following Bryan’s death, the most common comment from people was how they enjoyed his smile. Too bad I didn’t realize it while he was alive (and I don’t think he did either), but Bryan’s smile apparently made people happy. The irony makes me smile. People who knew Bryan and people who barely knew him told me how they appreciated his warm, genuine big smile when he greeted you. One person told me that his smile lit up his face.

    Bryan had difficulties in his early life that shaped who he was. He had an undiagnosed learning disability that caused many of his school years to be traumatic (his word). The trauma contributed to his regret of not having a college degree, sometimes a feeling a hopelessness concerning job possibilities, alcoholism, and social anxiety. But these things, plus his general personality, led him to be a person empathetic toward people that others might not notice. He was always kind and started a conversation with the cashier in the checkout line. He noticed the person seating customers at the diner and the waiter or waitress serving him food. He was a big tipper. The last couple of years of his life he started a Saturday morning ritual of eating breakfast out at a diner – either Louie’s near LSU or Christina’s downtown diner. I only went with him occasionally as I like to take advantage of my only day of the week to sleep in. I didn’t know this but Bryan was getting to know the staff at these diners and I am told he would tip big occasionally when he heard there was a special need. He quietly picked up the tab for someone when he noticed they didn’t have enough money to pay.

    Bryan had a strong faith. But he didn’t talk about it much and wasn’t obvious about his ministry. In fact, in recent years, his ministry was more about supporting me in the background. He went about using his gifts of generosity and kindness in small ways, never telling anyone. He wasn’t one to talk about himself or bring attention to himself. I have been much more overt in my ministry, choosing to practice and share my faith in community most often. I had thoughts many times that I wished Bryan would practice his faith the way I did. After his death, upon learning how he impacted lives in his quiet, unassuming way, it was more apparent than ever that we all practice our faith differently. There is no “right” way.

    Takeaways:

    • It is cliche’ but apparently very true that just a smile goes a long way. It brings joy even when we don’t realize it.
    • Tell someone when there is something about them that you like, no matter how small or unimportant it might seem. Don’t lose the opportunity to let that person know.
    • We all have unique gifts. We don’t all practice our faith the same way. That is okay. Appreciate others for who they are and how they do things. Assume that God knows and is leading those who believe in Him.
    • We all have our “crosses” to bear. Never assume you know what burden another person is carrying. Find ways to connect with others where they are.

    Kathy King

  • Faith Stories: Testimony of God’s Abundance

    Faith Stories: Testimony of God’s Abundance

    Faith Stories: Testimony of God’s Abundance

    October 23, 2016 – A Testimony of Abundance from St. John’s UMC Baton Rouge on Vimeo.

    A Season of Plenty

    K It’s hard to see abundance when you’re right in the middle of things.

    Z Well, it’s hard to see certain types of abundance, anyway.

    K An abundance of stress, of student loans, of health problems, of papers to grade, of self doubt and depression and fears about the future—those are all very easy to see. My mind is drawn to them; I never forget they’re there.

    Z The good things, however, seem to hide in the background like familiar scenery we just don’t notice anymore. Why do I forget these things? Why do my prayers center on my fears and not my thankfulness?

    K We associate, for better or for worse, abundance with surplus and security and money. An abundant life, we’ve been told, is one where we lack nothing because we are good Christians who do good Christian acts. Trust God with his tithes and your offerings and He will take care of the rest. Have more faith and your checkbook will work itself out.

    Z But then, things don’t work out. The extra $100 rebate from the electric company turns into a $500 fee bill from LSU. We finally manage to save up enough for a car repair we’ve been putting off and Kristine picks up a piece of shrapnel in the side of her tire. And scraping by month-by-month starts to feel like some sort of eternal test of character or punishment or anything but abundance.

    K This sort of “Insert Prayer and Bible Study token, receive financial blessings” mantra is a self-righteous poison that equates wealth with godliness and poverty with evil. It diminishes the multitude of non-money ways that the Lord does provide for us as less important background blessings that we can only be grateful for once we’ve achieved financial abundance. I know this, and yet, I still hear it in my head. “If I just had more faith…”

    Z But that’s not how it works. God’s provision is not defined by the number in our bank account or the shrinking grocery budget at the end of each month. And we are foolish to limit God to a single way to demonstrate His care for us.

    K Sometimes, God’s provision looks like a steady job. Sometimes, it looks like losing that job so He can bring us to a better one.

    Z Sometimes, God brings abundance in the form of extra time to spend volunteering. Sometimes, He brings it in the form of a happy, loving marriage.

    K My task and great challenge is to be more faithful in actively seeking out and being grateful for the provision of the Lord in the many ways He has blessed me, instead of focusing on the ways I feel that He hasn’t.

    -Kristine and Zach Isenhower

  • Faith Stories: Testimony of God’s Abundance

    Faith Stories: Testimony of God’s Abundance

    Faith Stories: Testimony of God’s Abundance

    October 16, 2016 -Testimony of God’s Abundance from St. John’s UMC Baton Rouge on Vimeo.

    A Season of Plenty

    When Pastor Jay called me earlier in the week and asked me to speak about God’s bounty, I immediately said yes. I’m a people-pleaser, and besides, I thought, this should be easy enough. After all, I’ve experienced God’s bounty in so many ways: in the laughter of my children (the ones I was told I’d never have); in the love of my husband and family; in the satisfaction I get from working again; and in the relative security I feel in my community.

    But while I could speak casually about any of those things, none in particular was really inspiring me to say anything….well….. church-talk worthy. None of these things seemed compelling or powerful, or at least, certainly not enough to be meaningful to others.

    And so the week went on, and I busied myself with my usual full schedule of meeting with students and teaching classes, shuttling children to school and play dates, burning-I mean, cooking-dinners, and washing dishes and laundry. And all the while, I racked my brain for something to speak about.

    Finally, Saturday night came. And as I stood over a stove preparing a most unimpressive meal for the family, silently panicking that I still hadn’t found Divine inspiration in anything that had happened to me lately, Divine inspiration came to me.

    Maybe this IS God’s bounty. God’s bounty is ENOUGH.

    The Bible refers to God’s bounty quite a bit. The Psalms are full of references to God’s greatness, God’s overflowing riches, as His bounty. Likewise, the ancient books of Genesis and Deuteronomy refer to God’s bounty in tangible terms of great abundance; indeed, the Deuteronomist speaks of God’s bounty as the storehouse of the Heavens, of overflowing stores of grain, and carts of abundance.  

    But in Jeremiah, we see a different picture of God’s bounty. This bounty is God’s goodness. In chapter 13, verse 13, God promises to turn our sorrow into joy, to replace our mourning with dancing. And in the next verse — the verse that really moves me — God promises to satisfy us with his bounty. Yes, satisfy us with His bounty, His goodness.

    So for me, this satisfaction, this busy contentedness, this is the experience of God’s bounty in my life. It’s the busyness of a full life, of a soul made content by the small things (and small people). God’s bounty is present in my life in the everyday experience of dressing and bathing my children, in my grocery shopping and cooking, in working with a student to navigate the demands of public education…..

    So perhaps I have no compelling testimony of God’s bounty; in my life, God’s bounty is simple. It is contentment. And it is enough. 

    Heather Durham

  • Faith Stories: A Direct and Immediate Answer to Prayer

    Faith Stories: A Direct and Immediate Answer to Prayer

    Faith Stories: A Direct and Immediate Answer to Prayer

    And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. – 1 John 5:14-15

    I’ve found that God doesn’t always answer my prayers immediately. Often the answer is “wait,” and that’s one of the hardest things for me. Recently at St. John’s I had an experience of a direct and immediate answer to prayer.

    For The Walk Phase 2 groundbreaking service I worked with Danielle Blackwood, Pastor Jay and Tom Burch to record and produce a 9-minute video announcing the Burch Bell Tower and the donation of the actual bell from the Randy Thayer family. I’ve had no formal training in video, so it was all trial and error (a LOT of trial and even more error).

    The Saturday before the service I came to church to be sure the video would play on the AV system set up in the sanctuary. After a bit of futzing – and my husband making a run to Walmart for a missing VGA to HDMI adapter – Pastor Jay and I got the video and its audio to work on one of the four computers we had at our disposal. I breathed a sigh of relief.

    Our family got to church on Sunday morning and I went back to the sanctuary, hoping a quick set up and check would be all that was needed and I could head to Sunday school. That was not the case – there was no sound, and I was breaking out in anxiety sweat. We were trying different things, and my panic and anger were rising.

    At least once Pastor Jay lifted his arms and asked God for his help. I pushed that as background noise while I worked, but I, too, was praying internally, pretty selfishly because I’d worked so hard on the video and wanted it to be shown! I had brought my other computers so walked to the car to get them to try them out.

    As I was walking back, carrying the heavy bag with a scowl or other grumpy expression on my face, Troy Prevot saw me and asked what I was doing. I briefly explained the problem, mainly in a buzz off kind of way. He came with me to the sanctuary and within a few minutes had resolved the problem. (The issue was the computer thought the sound should go through the HDMI cable, but that was going to the projector that didn’t have speakers and the sound needed to go through the AV jack.)

    Troy was an answer to our prayers. I didn’t know it or recognize it as such in the moment, and it was only later, after the anxiety was gone, replaced with relief, that I could see the experience as a faith story. We ask people “to record your experiences working with St. John’s ministries or other activities where you’ve experienced God’s presence.”

    That’s exactly what I experienced – God’s presence and a direct and immediate answer to prayer. Thanks be to God for sending Troy!

    Mari Walker

  • Faith Stories: Mission u

    Faith Stories: Mission u

    Faith Stories: Mission u

    GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! Sure, you have heard that before and I think everyone means it when they say it. Let me tell you a little about my short journey to-date with United Methodist Women (UMW). They are a super shot in the arm for Methodism  The wonders this group of loving, caring Christian women has done for our world is without comparison when you consider it is all done for the love of Christ and His Father. Nothing is done for personal gain such as wealth; nothing is done for notoriety. All is done for the praise and honor of our Savior.

    The UMW has given me such rebirth in my faith, and no, I have not gotten rich, and no, I have not stopped having day-to-day issues in work or life. But I do have an unbelievable thirst for knowledge, trust, joy and love in my heart that makes me have to listen to what God tells me to do. Going to church is rewarding; working with UMW is fulfilling. As my Cajun family would say, I have “joie de vivre.”

    Pat Lively informed me about “Mission u,” a UMW conference providing the opportunity to study current issues impacting society.  It was held recently in Woodworth, LA at the Wesley Center. The grounds of the conference center were beautiful and brought me back to memories of the Atchafalaya Basin area. The first morning that I awoke I looked out of the glass sliding door and there was an alligator just enjoying a float around the pond; I guess he was fishing. I would like to applaud Pat Cobb for rearranging her schedule so she could be with me on the trip, as it was my first time. I was referred to as a “first timer” and praised for coming to the meeting. The Baton Rouge District won the award for the most attendees  I aim to help us get the award for the most first timers next year also.

    Before I get into the meat of this faith story, let me tell you that God has been pushing me to take charge with a certain aspect of this Mission u study. I have explained to Him that, first of all, I do not have a masters degree in anything. Secondly I do not have the time to do this. And shouldn’t this be handled by the church leaders?  But God has been relentless. He will not let me fall back on this one and I have an unmatchable desire to tell people what I have learned from this class.

    God has a very special way of getting us to do what He wants us to do, and boy, He does not stop once He starts leading you to where He wants you. I can’t even sleep at night as He makes me dream about it. This is aggravating at times simply because I try to push the thoughts out of my mind, and He says, “Oh no you don’t! Come back here. I want you to do this.” How He speaks without saying a word is a miracle in and of itself.  I am His vessel and I must comply. After all, I do not want to end up in the belly of a great fish for sure.

    The first class I took was called The Bible & Human Sexuality, led by Rev. Carson from Baton Rouge. It was a very well-organized, educational and entertaining class, to say the least. The second class was called Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action, led by Rev. Bray from around the Lake Charles area.

    The second class is what God will not let me say no to, so I am working on having a class about this with the UMW and also maybe with the church. This class is dreadfully needed. We are abusing and plundering our earth, God’s gift to man, and when He gave it to us it was perfect. Boy, just look at what we have done to it since the industrial revolution. There was a great deal of information handed out to read and study and discuss, but the UMW organization will assist me with videos and lesson guidelines. I am so very proud of the UMW and their great works! More to come from this later.

    Kathleen Adams

  • Faith Stories: I Saw God in Louisiana

    Faith Stories: I Saw God in Louisiana

    Faith Stories: I Saw God in Louisiana

    Late summer 2016 for Baton Rouge and surrounding areas in South Louisiana has been a devastating and exhausting one. So many neighbors, family and friends have endured tremendous heartache from the flooding brought on by the great, unnamed storm. Watching folks reel and ache and work and encourage prompted me to write the story below, to share with St. John’s at our Children’s Moment on September 4. I have seen the hands and feet of God working in our communities, conveniently disguised as regular folks only longing to bring the peace of Our Father to all in need in a very tangible way. Embodying an active image of Christ is what being a disciple is all about. It is also how I long to serve my Creator and King. I pray that broken will be uplifted, disciples will be renewed, and the faith of South Louisiana will show our country and the world what it means to love and serve. It is so needed right now. To me, Louisiana will forever be my sOnshine in the storm.   

    I saw God making groceries at my neighborhood store,
    He’s fed 5,000 and now he’s cooking for more. 
    Beans and rice, sausage for good jambalaya,
    God stirred an iron pot and served a meal on the bayou.   

    I saw God tow a boat where the road used to be –
    Bringing families from rising water to banks of safety. 
    He gave them safe haven and cover from harm,
    He gave them a plate and dry clothes to get warm.   

    I saw God rescue animals from a vast and swelling flood! 
    I saw God raise folks from brown water and mud! 
    I saw God weep with the hearts of those that are broken, 
    Offering comfort with gentleness and sweet words spoken.  

    I saw God work construction in a waterlogged home
    so families may soon return to lives they had known. 
    Tearing down walls and sweeping out muck,
    He is fixin’ what’s been broken and is building it back up.   

    I saw God embrace the tired and comfort the lost.  
    Our Father holding his children: The Promise of The Cross!  
    He lights the hearts of his children ablaze with his love  
    To share in Sweetest Grace, freely given from above.   

    For our home Louisiana, and from His mighty seat:
    God calls us to work together, to be His hands and feet.   
    Pray we are One in the Spirit, hearts surrendered to Our Father’s perfect plan.

    Mercifully,
        The God I see
            Abides in you and me  – every woman, child and man. 

    Where a Louisianan is seen, pray it is shown
    God dwells in him…
                        and her…
                            and your mom and them…
                                and y’all –
    For the Glory of God may His love always be known.

    Natalie Cooper

  • Faith Stories: Reflections from “Noah’s Ark”

    Faith Stories: Reflections from “Noah’s Ark”

    Faith Stories: Reflections from “Noah’s Ark”

    Why do I have a green construction paper heart with a Batman sticker on it displayed on my refrigerator? I have it there to help me remember the important things I was reminded of at Operation Noah’s Ark the week before last. 

    Having never volunteered at an emergency shelter before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I arrived on Monday morning. I wandered around for a while, looking for a task to do and eventually ended up at the children’s art table, coloring with four year old K. We had a great time discussing his favorite colors and the picture we were decorating. After a while he wandered off and returned with a Play-Doh kit. The kit had four cans of Play-Doh along with small rolling pins and cookie cutters. I tried to engage K in talking about the flood, what had happened at his home, and how he ended up in the shelter. He was completely uninterested in that discussion but was absolutely delighted with his ability to roll out Play-Doh and precisely cut out stars, whales and hearts with the cookie cutters. I was amazed at his ability to be delighted, here in the midst of a noisy gym, with a hundred strangers around him, including me. At lunchtime I had to leave and told him I hoped to see him the next day if my office was still closed for business.

    On Tuesday morning I arrived and saw K. running through the Family Life Center, holding a three-foot foam sword aloft and screaming at the top of his lungs, followed closely by four-year-old A. and two-year-old J. As I walked past a group of children playing with Lego’s on the floor, they informed me that “some boy” had come over and knocked over all of the buildings they had put together. As I sympathized with them I had a feeling that I knew just who that boy might be. I unearthed the crayons we had been using the day before and found a Batman coloring book that I thought might serve as a lure to get the marauding three over to the table for a quiet activity. As it turned out, I didn’t need a lure. As soon as K. saw me across the room his eyes lit up and he came running over to give me a big hug, followed by hugs from A. and J. They were happy to relinquish the sword and sit down and color for a while. I noticed a page of Batman stickers in the front of the book and asked each of them to choose a sticker if they wanted one. All three waited patiently as they each took their turn to choose a sticker and sat quietly as I stuck them on their shirts. As I started to turn the pages of the book to find something to color, K. slammed his hand down on the book and shouted, “Wait!” As I looked at him questioningly he said, “You don’t have a sticker yet.” They again waited while I chose my sticker and K ceremoniously stuck it on my shirt. I never expected to feel my heart melt over a Batman sticker.

    Chatty, six-year-old H. joined our little group while two-year-old J. wandered off to find her mother. The six-year-old continued to color and chat, but four year olds aren’t known for their attention span and they soon tired of coloring. I suggested that we get out the Play-Doh kit but, apparently, the kit from the day before had been banned due to some sort of Play-Doh eating incident from the previous evening. Just as I was trying to come up with something else for us to do, some kind volunteer showed up with four cans of brand new Play-Doh. The two four-year-olds then spent the next half hour making snakes, bracelets and pretend brownies and meatballs while six-year-old H. continued coloring in her Care Bear coloring book. Just as the excitement over Play-Doh was waning and I was trying to think of something else to keep my little group occupied, Deacon Sarah walked up with a bag of child-sized scissors. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from helping Jill and Margaret in the pre-school Sunday School classroom, it’s that four year olds l-o-v-e scissors and cutting. I passed out green construction paper, and the two four-year-olds were soon absorbed with trying to get their fingers in the right holes in the scissors and cutting their paper into bits. Meanwhile, H. quietly told me that she loved me and she proceeded to draw, color and cut out a green construction paper heart for me. How many times in one day can a volunteer’s heart melt?

    On Wednesday morning I showed up just in time to tell my little friends good-bye. Happily, they were leaving the shelter to return home or to other, more comfortable, lodgings.

    As these challenging days of recovery continue for our community, I want to try to remember everything my tiny teachers taught me during those extraordinary mornings at Noah’s Ark. I want to be able to take delight in small things even if my circumstances try to dictate otherwise. I want to remember that small gestures of kindness can mean a lot and I want to remember that I should pay attention, because often just what I need shows up just when I need it. I want to remember that sometimes you start out with the intention of sharing space and crayons and Play-Doh and end up sharing your heart. I have the proof right there on my refrigerator.

    Jami Prince