Last week my Memorial Box Monday story was of Quinton, the young man Autumn was dating who was killed in a car accident. When Quinton was killed instantly two questions filled my heart: Did Quinton know Jesus as his personal Savior? and How was Autumn going to handle life knowing they had just had a disagreement and were not happy with each other? And as I told last week – It was wonderful to learn that Autumn had called and they had gotten everything straightened out just hours before he was killed.
But what about Quinton’s eternal life? Did he know Jesus as his Savior? We were distraught as we asked the Lord this. Within a few days that question was answered. One of the ladies whose husband worked in the sound booth at the church we pastored sought us out. She wanted us to know that on Father’s Day (just TWO weeks prior to Quinton’s death) Dw had been preaching. He shared a salvation message. He had given an invitation offering people the opportunity to ask Jesus to come into their heart. He had then asked people if they had just prayed to ask Jesus into their heart, if they would raise their hand? Several hands went up, but he hadn’t seen Quinton’s. But the woman up in the sound booth had. She had taken note.
When the woman came and told us, we cried and cried, I even cry as I tell the story. THEN about one week later we found that Quinton had gone one step further. After asking Jesus into his heart that Father’s Day, he had taken the time (so unusual for a teenage boy) to write a letter to the girl, Stephanie, who had originally invited him to church. In the letter he had told her that he had asked Jesus into his heart and that he wanted to thank her for inviting him to church because his personal relationship with Jesus Christ had already made such a difference in his life. We were beside ourselves with joy that Quinton had confirmed his decision in such a powerful way – his written words.
Although the heartache of losing Quinton has been enormous, we have been so comforted knowing that Quinton is in Heaven with Jesus. We will see him again one day!!
Our Memorial Box is slowly being refilled (since the fire) with all the symbols of things that Almighty God has done for us in our 31 years of marriage. Some things represent His protection. Some things represent His provision. Some things represent special surprises from the Lord. Some things represent His divine healing. Each symbol just triggers the memory and then we tell the story. One the sidebar you can find the category “Memorial Box” and if your faith is weak, each story you find under that category will boost your faith, encourage your heart and bless your day. It is remembering these stories that continually enable us to refer to the God of this Universe as our Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God.
Some have written to me and asked if it’s okay not to use a box. Dear friends, you can use whatever you have. A journal even works. The whole idea is not what you put it in, it’s that you do it – tell the stories of God’s work in your lives!!
Some have written and said they don’t know what kind of symbols to use. Really, anything that you can find that triggers the memory. One of the stories I tell is about God’s miraculous provision through a baggie (you know, the ziploc kind)….so in our Memorial Box we have a baggie. When we see that baggie, we remember what God did. We have a lego shark in it. That shark represents how God protected me after being knocked off my feet along the shoreline by a shark. So whenever we see that little shark we say, “Ahhh, yes, Lord, your protection!” And then we tell that story to our kids. Again, what little items you put in your “box” will be indicative to you of what God has done.
The reason we even have a Memorial Box is because once-upon-a-time the Lord told the Isrealites this:
Dw’s and my prayer is that our children will not only remember the stories, but will have Memorial Boxes with their families. Abi & Ryan have one. Ty & Sarah are starting one. Emma already has one too. I cannot impress on you sweet bloggy friends enough the need to have tangible reminders of God’s complete faithfulness. When I became paralyzed with fear and uncertainty, as Dw lay in the hospital in Iowa in July, immediately the Lord said, “Linny, what is in your Memorial Box?” And truly, there was a flash of the little tangible objects: the rooster, the shark, the Tiger, a rock, a broken watch, a little Radio Flyer wagon, etc….and instantly peace came over me. Ahhh yes, Lord. You have been sooooooooo faithful. No matter what the circumstances look like, you have been faithful, you are faithful and I can completely trust you at this moment.
So on that note….I am having another Memorial Box giveaway. I found several sweet ones on our trip East. This contest will be for one of them. I can’t give them all away in one swoop – that would be so ummm – predictable!!
If you are interested in starting a Memorial Box for yourself or your family, please enter with a comment below. EXCEPT this time, to add a little variety, I am asking you to tell me something that you would put in your Memorial Box and why. Tell me a story of God’s faithfulness in your life. As the comments are published bloggy friends will be encouraged by your story. If you can’t think of what item to put in but know the story, then just tell the story, bloggy friends can help you think of what would be a good symbol to represent the story. This is going to be stinkin’ fun!!! So go girls (and gents)….go!!! If you can’t think of a story (yet) then you can enter by just leaving a comment BUT those who tell me a story will receive TWO entries!! =)
Okay, maybe that all sounds way too confusing so to simplify things:
1. Enter the contest by leaving a comment.
2. Get two entry credits by telling a story along with your comment. A story of God’s faithfulness, provision, protection, surprises in your life.
Lastly, maybe when I mention Quinton being in Heaven because he asked Jesus into his heart you are wondering what that all means. Can one really know – for sure – that they will be in Heaven one day? (Yes, they can!) Anyway, I would be happy to discuss it further, if you want. Just email me at: APlaceCalledSimplicity@yahoo.com
Sorry, but what did you put in the box for Quinton's story? Did I miss that?
And I thing the first thing I am going to put into my box is my husband's old glasses. He became a police officer after he had his eyes lasered and we certainly felt God's leading in that in our life.
I would love to be entered in the drawing and…
I would put a car (or 3) we have had 3 cars given to us. They have not been the best cars in the world, but they have always been exactly what we needed and were even praying for and we did not pay a dime for any of them. When I think about each car we have been given I am reminded how much God cares and how blessed we are to not just receive a car but cars that served all our needs and desires.
I would also put a small table, you can read about why here jomamalee.blogspot.com and go to the Wow God Wednesday post for last week.
Hey,
I just posted my Memorial Box Monday. If you read it very closely I bet you can figure out why the specific box you gave me means even more to me.
I went antique shopping the other day and do you know the whole time I was looking for a box to giveaway but I didn't find one. I can't wait though until I find one to give away.
I am SO glad your home safe now!
I have been waiting for this contest. Since finding your blog I have been working through the stories of my life and thinking of items.
I recently wrote a story about "thankfulness" but it is most DEFINITELY one for the memorial box!
My story is here:
http://redeemedbeautifulmess.blogspot.com/2009/10/thankful-for-my-first-born.html
and my item would be a SCHOOL BUS!
In my haste to post to win I was regretful that I did not comment about the beauty of the story of Quinton's life!
How amazingly faithful is Our God!
Thank you for sharing and it moved me to tears!
Linn! My husband & I thought of you yesterday. He made a comment about it being "breast awareness month" instead of "breast cancer awareness month" & we both had a great laugh remembering your church story from last year!
Anyway…I know one item we would put in our memorial box would be a golf ball. When we left this past June to travel to China for our Gracie, we were delayed in our city's airport for quite awhile. I was naturally anxious about making our connection in Chicago! A young man told Brian he overheard us talking about our flights & said he would be on the same flight from Chicago to Hong Kong. It ends up that he is Christian golf pro who takes this trip to Asia many times a year. He shared his testimony of God calling him from the corporate world to ministry, and of his love for China as well. Josh ended up treating our whole family to lunch after landing in Chicago, taking us to our connection gate, checking on our kids during the long flight, and navigating this "non-world-traveling" family through the Hong Kong airport. I'm getting choked up just remembering it. Brian & I had asked to see God "Father " us through our trip, and divinely bringing Josh across our path was only the first of many incidents where He graciously answered that prayer! Thank You Father!
I would be a picture of our first son, adopted from Korea. He has been with us for 5 years. When we first came home with him, we did not have alot of money. My husband owned his own business and it was just starting out. He made sure that his employees got paid which meant we did not sometimes. I had $50 a week for groceries. That also had to include diapers and formula for our new son. When I thought it was impossible to do, but God always provided. We never went hungry or unclothed. He always gave us what we needed. Oh, I forgot to say, our son was our 3rd child. So I was trying to feed a family of 5 on $50 a week.
Thank you for your Memroial Box monday post. I, too, will start this, as I want my children to remember how faithful God is even when we aren't faithful to Him.
Jennifer
hi linn 🙂 two memorial box stories immediately jumped to mind. i would put in a piece of driftwood and something to represent a mist…
one if from two years ago. we were in florida and each year i make Christmas ornaments using shells from the beach. that year's ornament would need driftwood. i make over 100 each year so i need a lot 🙂 the very first day we were there i found a tiny piece which is what sparked the idea. after that day, nothing. i walked up and down the beach and no driftwood. i went to two preserves along the beach and found some and as i was leaving noticed the sign saying 'take nothing from here'. so back with the pieces 🙁 i went to stores to try and buy it and they had none –they said go find it on the beach 🙂 the very last day of our long vacation we woke up to a cloudy rainy day carried over from a big storm the night before. greg wanted to walk on the beach one last time and i hear him yelling my name to come quick! i walked outside and the beach was literally covered in pieces of driftwood as far as you could see both directions. i was overwhelmingly humbled. and the ornaments turned out overwhelmingly beautiful 🙂
the second one is recent and relates to our current adoption of an almost 11-year old girl in china. hoping you can understand the 'story' as i wrote down for her and me 🙂
"the mist"
so we went to our china reunion for sarah's travel group. perfect timing. being around all the other crazy for adoption families and throwing out that we were thinking about taking the plunge again. we left there pumped up and knowing it was going to happen. that was august 14-15.
the next week we wanted to get you and the other girl held for us while we had your medicals reviewed. you see you had a special need that we knew little about. and still don't, but that is okay for now.
MAA said they would hold both files and 'on hold' was put by your name 🙂
it was weds. afternoon and greg was home early from work with a stomach flu that was still holding on. he was on the couch and we were talking about both of you (the other girl was given the name natalie) and what we liked about each of you and we were going to have to pick and, and, and. we both were leaning toward you but didn't know exactly why (definitely could have been the smile 🙂 and i needed to get ready for church so we didn't have time to finish the conversation. i went to take a shower and i prayed the whole time. prayed that God would show us which girl was ours. i needed to know. i didn't want to go through the process without a clear direction and peace that you were our daughter, not natalie. is it misty, Lord? make it very clear through the review of their medicals, through conversations, through circumstances, through something. and then i said or show me like with a mist. you know a mist for misty 🙂
i get dressed and was about ready to head out the door when sam comes running in the house telling me i have to come quick. i won't believe it. hurry. now. so i go outside and look to the basketball court where he is pointing. and there is the most amazing mist i've ever seen. sooo cool that sam had to get me to come see it. he had no idea i had just prayed that prayer. you see we had a thunderstorm go through. and then the sun had come out. and a huge beam of sunlight was spotlighting on the basketball court and a mist was coming up off the ground like you couldn't believe. i will never forget that image. i just started smiling. and i absolutely couldn't believe it. He does know the absolute desires of my heart. He knew i needed to know and so He showed me. that quickly. that completely.
My husband used to be a carpenter and worked on the cement walls/pillars that hold up the overpasses. They were working on building the wooden forms so they could pour the concrete inside the form. For some reason he had to go inside the form. He had to remove his hardhat because it was to small of an area to squeeze into and the hardhat wouldn't fit. While he was inside the form another worker was moving across the top of the form above him(noone was supposed to be up there if someone was in the form). The guy up top knocked a piece of very large rebar loose and it fell into the form. He screamed "lookout" but by the time my husband heard him it had already hit him. The amazing part is that at just the right time my husband turned his head. The rebar hit him behind the ear, went down through his shirt and scratched his stomach and landed between his feet. If he wouldn't have turned his head it would have hit him right in the middle of the top of his head. He had to scoot out of the form with the rebar in his shirt before he could remove it. This is only one of the amazing ways God has protected him over the years. Thank you Jesus!!!!!
I actually don't want to enter the contest because a scrapbook will work much better for me and that is what I'm going to do. I did want to share a story. When I got saved 12 years ago, I tried so many times to talk to my Mom about salvation. One time she told me to stop preaching and so I backed off and just prayed a lot. I spent the last few weeks of her life in a hospital room with her and a few days before she died she began to talk to me about how scared she was. This gave me the opportunity to walk her through the steps of salvation and the peace to know I'll see her again. I spent the last night of her life singing with her even though her song was just moans at different pitches. One of the songs we sang several times was Amazing Grace. I fell so blessed to have that time with my Mom and even more to know I'll see her again.
Robin
I have been intrigued with your stories about your memorial box but couldn't really think about what I would put into one. Your post today made it much more clear. This IS truly important ….I can see that now.
I had a thyroid scare (all unbeknownst to me) last year and ended up in the hospital with atrial fibrillation. A really scary time. Obviously a small heart will go into my box.
Thank you for opening my eyes (and my heart)!
I love the idea of a memorial box, sometimes in our busy lives, especially being moms, we forget to remember the many little blessings God has provided in our lives. In 2004, at the age of 28, I was 5 months pregnant with my first child. During the diagnostic ultrasound they found an ovarian mass the size of a softball. I thank the Lord that I was pregnant and they were able to clearly see the mass. It was removed just a few weeks later, I was told that I could possibly loose the baby during surgery. Despite a few contractions post surgery, I had a normal and healthy delivery just 5 months later. We were thankful that all of the mass was removed in tact and I was not required to do chemotherapy, surgery at that point was curative. We named our miracle baby "Christian."
I don't know what item I will put in my box because my story isn't finished yet. You can be the judge as to whether or not this counts. Here it is:
I have a 16 month old son, and ever since he was born I've wanted to add to my family. I miscarried two babies this year. After the second, I began researching Korean adoption, then I found out I was pregnant a month ago so I stopped the research and prayed for the best. I miscarried my 3rd baby last week and have now decided no more pregnancies for me (for now). My husband and I are going to adopt a little one from Korea, but because of age restrictions there we cannot do it until September 2010. (We're both 24, Korea requires adoptive parents to be 25)
So, my story of God's faithfulness is not over yet, but I know that one way or another, He will fulfill my dreams of a big family! (Maybe not as big as yours… ;))
Launi
I would LOVE to be entered in the memorial box giveaway!!
In my memorial box, I would put a $20 bill (monopoly money of course – smile). Because when I was single and struggling financially and needed $ for gas…….I opened my bible at church one day and found a $20 bill! To this day I don't know who put it there…..but I knew that my faithful God had provided for my need!!
Keri Mason
Here's one thing I would put in my Memorial Box:
My old cell phone that I don't use anymore
Here's why:
In December of 2005, my husband and I had just been married a year and began paperwork to adopt from China. After a mission trip to 5 orphanages in Ukraine, we really felt the calling to build our family the way God builds His…through adoption. The whole process was incredible and I learned so much about my God. In December 2006, we pre-matched with a little angel who was 11 months old, and born with cleft lip. We instantly fell in love. The waiting became excrutiating once we had that photo…a face for our daughter. She wasn't just an idea…she was real to us. By May of 2007, I was weeping daily before the Lord, begging for that Letter of Approval to arrive in the mail. On the morning of June 7, 2007 I got a call from our social worker. "I have news," she said. I spoke with someone in China and they said the letters have not been mailed, and they don't know when they will be mailed. They have been processed, they just won't mail them." I was crushed. I hung up my cell phone and had a pity party for a few minutes. Then, I fell to my knees and began to worship the Lord. I acknowledged His sovereignty and provision for our little one. "I trust You, and Your timing, Lord," I said…and I meant it in that moment. I got up, wiped the tears away, and went for a long walk. When I returned, there was a voice mail on my cell phone. It was my social worker asking me to call her. "That's funny, I thought. I just talked to her." I called her back and she said, "Keri, you're not going to believe this…I have your letter from China. It came right after we hung up." I burst into tears. Did God really just pick that letter up off someone's desk in China and plant it in a DHL truck in Alabama? It's possible! And a little over a month later, I held Eden Hope for the first time. I will never forget that time I spent on my knees, or the phone call that followed. God is good, ALL the time…and He is the Father of the fatherless! That's why I would put a phone in my memorial box.
Hey Linn, I love your Memorial Box stories and I would love to win one. If I won one the first item I would put in it would be a representation of a little boy. When my middle son was 3 years old he had never spoken a word. We had been to many doctors and was involved in speech therapy. Still not having a lot of luck. By the time he was 5 he was progressing slowly but had a lot of work to go. To make a long story short, we were told that he would never be able to be in a regular class at school. Come September of 2002 we enrolled him in a christian school Kindergarten class. God worked miracles that year and I am here to tell you that he is a thriving middle school student.
Thanks Linn for always sharing and encouraging us.
Lisa
Newark, Ohio
Linny,
I have loved reading about your family on your blog. I am especially praying for our future with regards to an adoption. I have always seen myself as the mother of a girl, and have been blessed with two boys thus far. My husband is open to the idea of adoption, but financially it would be difficult. We continue to pray.
I have SO many things I could put into my box-so many! I think one main thing would be a photo of my husband. You see, my first husband was an alcoholic who got into trouble with the law and was arrested and sent to rehab. I was willing to try and work things out (we had a 7 year old with special needs who loved his Daddy-and I loved him too). But his Dad chose to get involved with another woman in rehab and that ended the marriage. I remember being so distraut and getting on my knees before the Lord and begging him. I loved being married and wanted so much for the Biblical marriage…not one marred with substance abuse and hurts. I prayed that most of all His will be done, but if he did not see to bring my husband back to me, that He would bring me a husband who would love my son and I in the Biblical sense-and someone stable, no drugs/alcohol, hard worker, kind, etc….and I vividly remember praying he be tall, dark and handsome too! Hey, it was my prayer:) Two months later, I met my current husband, and he is, kid you not, ALL of those things. He is a committed Christian, saved over 20 years. He has never been married, never been serious with anyone (if you know what I mean), hard working, so kind and gentle natured. And he is so patient and loving with my son-who is quite a handful. He truly has healed my broken heart. The icing on the cake? I never thought I would have any more children because of the divorce…well, we welcomed Nathan into our lives 3 years ago. God is so good, so faithful, and so loving, even in the little things. There are so many other stories I could tell you-maybe another time!
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share our memorial box memories! Can't wait to read more!
I will put as my first item a copy of the contract we signed with our adoption facilitator. We had done infertility for 4 years and finally given up. I actually surrendered having children to
God because he asked me to. I told Him that I desired Him and His will for my life much more than children; although it was one the most difficult crossroads I have come to in life. About 6 months later God brought a woman to the Biblestudy group I was involved in. She was very much the reason we decided to investigate adoption. I walked slowly and carefully wanting to make sure it was God's leading. We finally made the decision to go to an orientation with an adoption facilitator. We had NO MONEY to pay for an adoption so I was just choosing to follow God's leading. When the meeting was over I turned to my husband and said I felt like God was asking us to sign up that evening. He looked at me and said, "how will we pay for this?" I replied that I didn't know for sure but I thought we should obey God. The next week when we had to write a check for $4000.00 to the facilitator my husband did a job for a designer that was exactly $4000.00. THat is the only job we did for that designer. I wish now that I had a copy of the check. But we have an amazing 8 year old son and a lifetime of memories because God proved to me that He will be faithful to my obedience. So in my box will go a copy of the contract.
I love the idea of Memorial Boxes and that is how I came to your site a little over 5 months ago…anyway, I would put a broken chain/handcuffs in there for sure as the Lord freed me and redeemed me from bondage of sin! 🙂 I am so thankful for that. There are lots of other things I think I would go back and try to find 'symbolic things' for in our life. Thank you for all you do for the orphans, for the believers, for the Kingdom
Linny,
I have followed your blog since I got the meesage to pray for you all as you were recovering from the fire…I've just never posted. I've kept journals for years with stories of what the Father has done, but not done anything tangible with them. Your memorial box stories have inspired me to do just that. I'm going to share my most recent story.
We just sent our 18 year old daughter to the mission field (Mexico & Uganda) for 8 months and are all feeling lost without her. My husband and oldest son had left to go hunting for the weekend and me and my two youngest "China treasures" were needing out of the house. I decided to go take dinner to my grandmother and just spend some time with her. My only reservation was that so often Isaiah who is 7 and Emma who is 6 start competing for my attention while I'm there and it can make "visiting" almost impossible…but I really wanted to see my Mimi and she was missing the kids. So, off we went and within a few minutes of our arrival the bickering began. I would get one settled and then the other would do something to set things off again…I'm sure any mom can relate. We did this for about 30 minutes until I finally put out one of those inner cries for help that you wonder why you hadn't sent sooner. I simply asked, "Father/Husband, could you PLEASE do something to settle these babies!?" I just left it at that and went back to my conversation with my grandmother. Before I knew it 45 minutes had past and they had been coloring the entire time without one dispute!
When we got to the car I said, "Guys, our time started out a little rough, but you ended up doing such a great job letting me visist with Mimi!". Isaiah said, "Yah (Texan for "yes"), I'm so glad Jesus told me to color…Isn't our God WONDERFUL!"
I just smiled and said "Yes He is, Isaiah".
I think this one means so much to me right now because I need to know He's in the smallest of things that matter to me and He's as near as a silent plea or a whisper for help. I'm pulling out a crayon right now and putting in Isaiah's little keep sake box to remeber how wonderful our God really is!
Thank you, Linny, for always being so real and such an inspiration to me. Many, many blessings and peace on your journey!
Leigh
Oh… touching story about Quinton.
The summer before my Dh died, he told me God had told him he needed to repent of some things and God would heal him. We thought at the time that meant God would heal him on earth. I believe now that was my confirmation that my DH is in Heaven, healed and playing golf with Jesus.(something he often talked of wanting to do)
I already started gathering things for my memorial box.
I have a tshirt for a newborn. Long story but there was a baby, I wanted badly. God spoke clearly to me and said "its not your baby". I couldn't accept that answer so I asked for another sign. I had friends join me in praying and fasting… God gave me another VERY clear sign. The answer was still no. I had to let go.
I would also put in a check… see God has provided for me over and over again. I can not count the number of times when I would not have enough money to pay the bills and God would have someone send me the money. Just happened last week. I wrote out all the checks to pay my bills, noted the dates they were due on the outside. I stuck them away with a prayer. "God the money is not here… you know the due dates, please provide". I then forgot about it and went about my week. A couple days later I went to visit a dear friend of mine, her husband came out with a check just enough to cover the cost of those bills!!!
Right now I am waiting for the answer to another prayer. It seems that God is moving some major mountains for me. I just need to be patient. Dreams are coming true.
Thank you sharing this. I hope to win a box!!
Linny,
Early in our marriage, my husband and I did not make much money. We lived with my Grandmother, which helped her to get around and helped us to make ends meet. I was newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the time, and we did not have health insurance. I remember every month for many months, someone anonymously gave our church $100 to give to us. It was a blessing, and I am grateful for it even today when we have so much more than we did back then. God was always faithful to take care of us, and that one person was obedient to be used by God. If I had a memorial box, I think I would put a check in there for $100.
C.C.
http://his-heart.blogspot.com/
i loved reading through all of these comments… especially the adoption ones. and at first, i thought that would be my story. but i've opted for something different, WEDDING BANDS(b/c without those wedding bads, the adoption story wouldn't have unfolded).
about four years ago, my marriage almost ended. my husband told me he didn't want to be married anymore, he wanted freedom and to not be held accountable for anyone but himself. and i prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed. and i told God one day "tell me why this is happening. give me the reason so i know more specifically what to do. i know this is the husband you planned for me." and few minutes later, i was knocked to my butt with news explaining what had happened to bring this change about. and i knew then what to pray for, i knew then that my husband needed to be shown God's love and mercy and the only way that he would be able to see is if I were the person to show it; his outlook was too cloudy to see God; i had to do it. and i fought long and i fought hard. and today, our marriage is thriving, we have many friends come to us in the midst of their troubles asking what to do, what did we do that made it work. my husband tells them that i did it. i tell tehm that God did it, I simply obeyed.
so that is why i would put wedding bands in my memory box.
Ok, here's mine…and I'll blog about it sometime (but don't want to trump Tony's post for now.)
My item would be a small shoe.
Before we got the call about our daughters, we reviewed the file of a gorgeous little boy whose name had Shu in it. (pronounced shoe) We saw him on our agency's list and asked to see his file. He had a very minor medical condition, but he didn't feel like a fit to our family. We spent several days praying and crying over this little guy. We wanted him to have a home so badly, but didn't feel like ours was supposed to be it. How do you turn away a child? Where was God in this?
The climax of our time after reviewing his file ended in my sweet hubby and I having the most intense, heart-felt discussion about our family, adoption, special needs, etc. (Picture me sitting on the floor in our hallway bawling!) I knew we were both on the same page before reviewing his file, but after the gut-wrenching decision to send his file back, I knew our hearts were knit together. I knew God prepared us, using Shu, for our daughters call just a short time later!
AND, WOOT WOOT GOD, Shu found his family DAYS after we returned his file!
So a little shoe (Shu) would represent God being faithful, and a reminder for us to trust him wholly.
Please enter me! and here's my story: My husband and I have been friends since we were teenagers but life took us different directions. We both married and had kids. My life and choice in a first husband was not a relfection of God. my husband's was . . As life has it I divorced and I later learned my husband divorced even though they both were Christians (I was sincerely heartbroken for him). Obviously God worked things out and we married and had a combined family of 7. We were both financially devastated and with his child support and alimony to pay finding housing for all of us would have been difficult, however, my husband had to sell his large house and a single christian man bought it and offered to let my husband stay there and pay rent therefore, he and the kids never moved! When we married we all lived there with his roommate. although we wanted a place of our own our finances wouldn't allow it. I would get anxious for my own place to hang my own pictures, etc and we would look at other housing but with the fear that even though we personally aren't too good to settle for something less the concern was there that if housing didn't meet certain expectations our relationship with the children would be affected. I had to remind my self often that God would provide the perfect place at the right price! We learned a couple in our neighborhood had lost their job and wanted to move closer to their grandchildren and we asked if they would be willing to do a lease-to-own contract. At first they didn't but later they agreed. I wouldn't normally recommend such a risky deal for either party but we were so grateful and their testimony is the day they agreed to the deal the husband found a job in the city they wanted to move! We learned at about the same time that my husband's x-wife was getting remarried the same month our first payment was due! The amount that would have been paid out in alimony was the exact amount we needed to meet our house payment. that was 7 years ago and we still thank God for the provision of a beautiful home even bigger than we needed and even better it was only 5 doors down from the home my step-children had lived in so that they stayed in the same neighborhood and schools! God is good all the time! I have thought often of creating an alter somewhere in our yard remembering this gift from God, but I would like to have a memorial box to do more of this. thank you for your inspiration!
I would put something to represent my daughter. God changed hearts, provided signs, made financial provisions and opened every door needed for her adoption. It was my first real leap of Faith and what an adventure.
Wow, God is sooo good! I find myself thinking about what we will put in our memorial box all the time now! We tell our stories to our kids and really anyone who will listen 😉 A tiny baby will go in for sure. We had struggled for many years to have a child and I had an agenda… I wanted to have at least my 1st one BEFORE I was thirty. I had given this over to the Lord and taken it back countless times and finally I really meant it! I let go of the idea of having kids and decided to focus on going back to school furthering my career and adopt when we could "afford it". I really felt God's peace in the plan! The young girl I worked with at the time informed me a few days later that if I was going to have a baby by the time I was 30 I would have to be pregnant already. She didn't know that her words would have killed me a week before but now I was ok with it. The next weekend I hadn't heard from mother nature so I took a pregnancy test! Our son, Isaac, arrived 2 weeks before my 30th birthday! Talk about God's sense of humor! He is Isaac because.. who can't laugh like Abraham and Sarah over that! (although we weren't 100 years old we didn't think it was possible!)
We have since added Olivia and Audrey! Ok, I have a ton of stories but I will stop!! Sheri
I love this idea and have been hoping to find and start a box for my family!! Maybe I will win one. 🙂 As I read all the inspiring stories here, and yours, Linny, God brings to mind more and more stories from MY life that I could use! Originally I had only thought of a couple, but God is bringing them to mind.
One I would include would be something to remind me of a little girl from Vietnam named Gigi. We had 2 boys at the time, both miracles from Korea, and we wanted to adopt again. We really wanted a girl this time!! We were led to this little one on a waiting page with a different agency than we had already used. We started the process and were so excited!! All was going full speed ahead!! Then something happened that made it impossible for US to adopt her. (Another long story.) We actually had to call the agency and tell them no. It was HEARTBREAKING for us, especially me as the mom who really wanted a daughter. God gave us peace about our decision, but still I was so sad.
Nearly a year later she ended up being adopted by some friends of ours, who are also a Christian family!! (And they named her Gigi.) What a blessing that God allowed us to see her find a family and to KNOW them and be able to hear about her from time to time!! (And, BTW, HE brought us 2 more kiddos eventually, both a daughter and a son! :-))
So something to remind me of Gigi and how God took care of her even though she was not ours. AND that HE was gracious enough to let us hear the whole story!!
Carrie – mom to 4 from Korea
I think the first thing I would put in would be a pice of paper that was given to me at a friend's baby's funeral. The death happened while I was in Virginia (I live in California) for school for a mere 6 months. Because I was there when it happened I got to celebrate his life with the many people who cared so deeply about him. That ability has helped me so much through the grieving process.
I already have the lovely memorial box you sent me, so I an not entering to win…but wanted to share an idea. I scrapbook. How cool would it be to make a Memorial Scrapbook, that was artsy with mainly the journaling of the story. 🙂 And since I already have a memorial box…I thought, I will make a scrapbook to go with it…
For each item I put in the box, I am going to take a picture of it and do a scrapbook page that writes out the story….then ..when momma is long gone, the kids will have the stories written to pass down…(and since I scrapbook digitally, I can easily have copies made for all of them.).. 🙂
Another note. did you know there is a site that will make a book of your blog? Isn't that a cool idea. YOu could make a "book" for each year or ?? however you want to do it. IT is all automated. Ok. Just wanted to share a couple ideas…sorry so long.
Linny,
Please enter me in your giveaway contest. I have thought about what I would put in a Memorial Box since I first read your blog about it. There are many items that I would add.
The first item that would go in there is a penny. Have you heard of "pennies from heaven?" When you find a penny, someone in heaven is sending you a reminder of their love.
Well, my first husband was killed in a car accident almost 6 years ago. I was devastated. As time passed, I knew that I did not want to be alone. I prayed that God would prepare me for a husband again, making me ready. I also had a list of criteria that I hoped for in a husband – someone who was financially responsible, kind, made family a priority, a man who would truly be the head of our home without dominating. I started dating a wonderful man named Mark and began to ask God if he was "the one."
One night, I had a dream that Mark and I were walking down the street in the middle of a beautiful snowfall. As we were walking, I kept finding shiny new pennies! I knew that God was answering my prayer with this precious man. He has now been my husband for almost 4 years and I am blessed every day to share my life with him.
I continue to collect pennies as I find them – they are truly a sign of God's care and provision for me!
Linny,
Please enter me in your giveaway contest. I have thought about what I would put in a Memorial Box since I first read your blog about it. There are many items that I would add.
The first item that would go in there is a penny. Have you heard of "pennies from heaven?" When you find a penny, someone in heaven is sending you a reminder of their love.
Well, my first husband was killed in a car accident almost 6 years ago. I was devastated. As time passed, I knew that I did not want to be alone. I prayed that God would prepare me for a husband again, making me ready. I also had a list of criteria that I hoped for in a husband – someone who was financially responsible, kind, made family a priority, a man who would truly be the head of our home without dominating. I started dating a wonderful man named Mark and began to ask God if he was "the one."
One night, I had a dream that Mark and I were walking down the street in the middle of a beautiful snowfall. As we were walking, I kept finding shiny new pennies! I knew that God was answering my prayer with this precious man. He has now been my husband for almost 4 years and I am blessed every day to share my life with him.
I continue to collect pennies as I find them – they are truly a sign of God's care and provision for me!
I keep putting off starting my memorial box but I finally know the first two things I want to put in my box.
Our two boys were each born prematurely (one 7 weeks early and the other 5 weeks early). When our first was born, we had no idea what serious health issues he could have being born so early. We were more prepared for complications with our second and continue to marvel at God's grace. Our first son (7 weeks early) was only in the hospital for 17 days, and aside from minor respiratory distress (but no intubation), his most serious challenge was jaundice. Our second son was only in the hospital for 8 days and again with the exception of very minor respiratory distress, his most serious challenge was jaundice. I will be including one of the masks the boys while they were under the bili lights.
Our first son has a congenital heart defect. And while any CHD is serious, he never required monitors or medication and never exhibited any symptoms prior to his complete repair at 6 months. I will include a portion of the bandages covering his stitches to remind us of God's goodness during that time.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful stories!
Memorial Box Monday.. I will make a post on my blog, I have wanted to join in for awhile. Reading through your post and these comments have the tears flowing. Thank you for sharing your memorial box!
Wow, I joined this blog a while back, but I don't think I've been back since. Too bad, this is a blessed place to linger. I am so glad to see your beautiful children, and to know that you have adopted so many of them. Would you mind stopping by Heavenly Humor, and grabbing the button to bring Emma home by Christmas? This precious family has been waiting over 3 years for Emma to come from China. They could really use the encouragement! If you click Emma's button, it will take you to their blog.
Thanks and God bless,
Debby
I would love to have a Memorial Box….
I would put in my anchor necklace. Because my husband gave it to me for Mother's Day when we were waiting 3 years for our foster children to finally be adopted. That symbol I held as I cried out to God in my many times of despair over our case. Through the times when we were talked down to, in contempt by a judge and worker who had racial issues against us. In the end Our God & Our Anchor- held us in place and lead us on the 3 year journey to adopt 3 of our precious children. When God is your anchor- you can not be MOVED!
I absolutely LOVE reading all of these wonderful God stories!! I began journaling different things as a way to remember, but I think the idea of a Memorial Box is even better!
It is hard to choose, but for today, I believe I will begin looking for a miniature size porcelain throne (yes, a toilet) to put in my Memorial Box. You see, today, we just found out after over 2 VERY LONG years, our beautiful daughter that we have had through foster care has a date with us in court on November 4th to become forever part of our family!!! It all started after receiving a phone call on August 8, 2007, asking us if we would be willing to take in a preemie, infant girl as a foster placement b/c a county an hour away couldn't find a stay-at-home mommy able to care for her. First of all, we said we would NEVER do foster care (we were hoping to adopt a waiting child, so that's why we had our license), and second of all, we were told our agency NEVER gets calls for babies. At that moment, I needed a potty break SO bad, but I also really wanted to be in prayer about that phone call. So, I did as many busy mommies do, & I did the multi-tasking thing. I truly remember that moment b/c above all else, I wanted to surrender. So, through tears & tinkle, I said, "Here am I, Lord, send me". Soon after, I received the call that I was "it" & needed to be at the hospital in 2 hours to pick up the baby.
These past two years have been the biggest emotional rollercoaster of my life, but guess who was buckled in beside me on the ride? Yep, our amazing God. He has shown me that complete dependence on Him is exactly where He wants us to be. He provided (by the time I got home from the hospital, we had EVERYTHING we needed & we had started the day with absolutely NOTHING for a baby), He encouraged, He comforted, He strengthened, He was our ALL IN ALL, & we are rejoicing today that God saw fit to bring this sweet pumpkin into our lives & give us the privilege of being her mommy & daddy. And to know that He hears our prayers at any given moment…even the not so glamorous moments on a potty or wherever…is a marvelous thing!
I have been reading your blog regularly since your fire and have prayed for you….this specific post tugged at my heart. I have commented a couple of times, but today's prompted my obedience.
My husband and I taught Growing Kids Gods Way for many years. One of the lessons is on Memorials and leaving a legacy for our children. This has always touched my heart as I came from a horrible home life and had no 'good' legacy of my own. I began then to think and put things away…in a xerox paper box…..Well, life happened so quickly and that box is still in the top of the closet with those things in it, but life turned in a direction I didn't want and I have forgotten about it, until reading your blog. My husband left our family and I have been a single mom to 9 for the past 2 years…That first year, I was beside myself with concern for Christmas….depressed, lost, and we were all in so much pain. We had no tree, no way to get/give gifts and I was crying out to God for His help. One day, a lady I knew came by with some bags and boxes…in each bag and box were gift cards…to walmart, target, old navy, etc. I was able to buy my kids some gifts, get groceries, get a tree and take care of some needs. I saved each gift card for the children to see how their Father took care of them. I knew then I wanted a way to show my children and grandchildren how God takes care of us….we have so many other ways, but this was a current and big one in our life….. I have journaled some of this, but have not been as disciplined as I would like…This has been a huge reminder for me!!!
Bless you!!!
I would put a picture of our passport in it!
Last Tuesday night, my husband was having an unusually hard time dealing with the wait of our adoption. I said lets's pray about it. He began to say that he wasn't sure on how to pray and felt like us praying for our travel dates were not right, like we were rushing God.
I said nope, that's not the case and said a bit more and then he prayed. I could still see he was stuggling. We said goodnight. We listen to the radio at night for about 30 minutes. I was praying with my head under the pillow so I could focus! All of the sudden, the songs I was ignoring became really clear and loud. The song, "Word of God Speak" by Casting Crowns was on. When I heard that I began to sing in my head, as to not wake Scott.
After the song was over, I kicked my prayers into high gear. As I prayed, God gave me Ps 34:15, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open unto their cries."
I immediately got my Bible and asked Scott if he was awake. He said, "Did you just hear that song?" Yes I did!! And I gave him the verse. We had been asking God to speak to us and He did! We went to bed very encouraged and peaceful.
That was last Tuesday…and on Friday we got our travel call!! Wow, does God answer and truly hear us when we call!
That's one of many memorial box stories…so many blessings and favor for God, I can't fit it all here:)
I've heard of the memorial box concept but it is so profound. We have 'standing stones' in our life but putting them all in one place is a good idea too.
My youngest son, my tenth was airlifted to a major children's hospital over a year ago. One of his heart monitors I now keep as my bookmark in my Bible. It's stuck to the front cover and the lead is laid in the page I am keeping. In fact, it winds through a few pages.
It's a bit of grubby wire and a sticker but it screams … "I'm with you ALWAYS".
I would put a baby figurine of some sort in my box to remind me of the time I lost our 2nd & third babies. It helped me to realize that I wasn't in "control" and I had to give my control to God. Through Him, I made it through the sadness of 2 miscarriages and now have 2 wonderful children. I see my blessings with every hug, smile, etc.
I work with foster children and God has many times used them and their families to demonstrate is amazing love and dedication. I have a small ceramic bluebird that has sat on my dresser for the last 4 years – a gift from a very special little girl and her mother – that would be the first thing in my memorial box. 🙂
Oh, Linny, what a special story about Quinton! How good of the Lord to let you know!
Memorial Box…oh, yeah! What would I put in? Hmm…well, probably a copy of the picture I got of Shao at 4 mos. old, for SURE! And a picture of our old house, which we loved, but HAD to sell, or lose to foreclosure…and how we sold it JUST before the bottom fell out of the market in late 2003! Yep, a car, cuz God always provides those to us, just when we need it! Something that represents our home NOW, which is a wonderful, sunny, roomy apartment, in the house I grew up in! Oh, there are so many things…in our present situation, we count on HIM every day for every provision! And He is ALWAYS faithful.
Love you…glad you are finally home safe! Is the RV sitting in your yard? Hm…makes a fun playhouse, I guess! YIKES!
Nancy & ShaoXi
I cannot tell you how this Memorial Box Monday you do has changed my life…I just started mine last week for the first time…and I am so truly blessed and thankful that I have started this even though my dh and I just celebrated 25 years of marriage and never did this…God is bringing to mind so, so many answered prayers..protection, provision that it blows me away.
My box is not a box but a beautiful shelf that my dad built for me….you see it's even more special because we live 1000's of miles apart and my siblings who live close get all the beautiful things my dad makes…but I got nothing because of the distance. So when they drove here to visit, they brought this shelf with them along with a few other things that I will share on my blog…so not only have we started to add to our memorial box but they are placed with care in my special shelf which I also have pictured on my blog…and I think I will use the photo for every Monday post.
So thank you again…and I am so blessed that God brought me to your blog..so do you think I need to find something that represents YOU???? What could that be…I will scout around and see what God shows me…will be wonderful, exciting and down right crazy….and please take that as a compliment because that is exactly how I intended it to be…you have blessed me more than you will ever know.
Connie
What a incredible story about Quinton. I'm so happy he was saved before he died. AWESOME!!
As you know I found my memorial box. I'm still working on my first post…hopefully next Monday. I had planned on putting a telephone in first, however what keeps coming to mind is a stethoscope.
What a blessing to have found your blog Linny and to have found a memorial box. Hugs and love
What a bleaasing to know Quinton was saved.
I can think of many times God has been there for me. But I would put a picture of Faith our daughter who is 5 now. You see I had ovarian cancer before I had her and had one ovary removed but still had my other ovary. I also had chemo so I was told I would not get pregnant. But I did become pregnant with Faith and she is such a blessing. That is why her name is Faith because we had Faith in God and trusted him. God is Good!!!
I would put a dollar bill in as my first item.
I knew God wanted me to go to Taylor University, but even with the generous financial pkg . . . It wasn't possible. I committed to another school (generally accepted confirmation day is May 1st) and it made me cry.
I received $10,000 in scholarships the evening of graduation (mid June). We called Taylor the next business day and asked if they still had room for me and if the finance pkg was still available. The answer was a resounding YES!
I ended up paying less than $20,000 for an education (tuition, room/board/books/everything) that should have cost more than $80,000! BTW, that was 17 years ago! I think Taylor is up over a hundred grand now!
There are more stories that I am waiting to add to a Memorial Box!
Jen Woof
http://threecountryfamily.blogspot.com
I love the memorial box idea! My item would be an apple figurine. This apple will remind me that unceasing prayer, and taking uncomfortable leaps of faith can lead to miracles. While taking part in Beth Moore's Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study with a wonderful group of women, I shared that my husband and I wished to adopt. Two of the women in our group are adoptive moms. They had wonderful advice, and one of their best was to encourage everyone to prayer without ceasing for God to show our family what His will was regarding adding to our family. So, our group of prayer warriors started praying, and we started taking steps of faith. I resigned from my job after feeling led to do so. Although this would not lead us to financial ruin, it would make things "tighter" financially. And, people thought I was crazy leaving such a good job and career path. I'd be lying if I didn't have those moments myself but I decided to push those aside and have faith in God's leading. Well, God knows what He's talking about. My employer asked if I could stay on until a specific date approximately 3 mos. from when I resigned. I agreed. One week from the end of my employment we received a call regarding a baby available for adoption. I finished working the following Monday and one week after that our son joined our family.
God's work is amazing!
I added our first Memorial Box Monday post to my blog.. Thank you, Linny! I am looking forward to filling our box with those little reminders.
I would love to be added to your memorial box giveaway and I know just what would be my first piece in it. When Andrew had his wreck March 25th 2008 shorlty after his 16th birthday and 2 weeks latter when I was able to leave the hospital and see his truck I went with my brother and around the rear view mirrow which was barely hanging was a little keychain i had gave Andrew with a angel on it which said "never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly" Its the only thing salvaged from the truck. It still brings me to that day when I see it!
Kathy
For starters, I'd have to go with when my uncle passed away unexpectedly. Through his death I ultimately met my husband. I think I would put his picture in the box. Then, I would definitely put my 1st son's hospital ID bracelet with a number 9. We were married 9 years before having our first child and prayed for years to have a child. Loads of problems in getting pregnant, but God's timing is sweet, even if it feels like an eternity for us (9 yrs is a long time on earth!)
Enter me please.
I would put a pair of swim goggles. My girls were terrified of the pool water beyond the baby pool- at the ages of 4 and 5. So I new that this sumer, a year older, they really needed swim lessons. I had heard wonderful things about a pricey private lesson swim school and their methodology seemed exactly what my reluctant girls would need. Yet there was no way we could afford it. I prayed that God would help me teach my girls water safety and to not be afraid. A friend mentioned that the swim school was run by a Christian family who believed that swim instruction was part of their ministry and they offered financial assistance. I contacted them and we were provided a partial scholarship that made the lessons possible. The girls were anxious and cried most of the eight lessons, but made tremendous progress. That was in early July. By August I had two little fish who were not only safe and comfortable around the pool, but now love to swim. The Lord provided, through an amazing swim school, an opportunity for my childern to be taught to swim. He cares about even the little concerns I have! So goggles would go in my box.
~Kelly
I would put in a reminder of how I truly found God for the first time in my life. My daughter Delaney has been sick since birth. She is actually getting ready for yet another surgery on Wednesday. She is such a blessing to us and I was terrified of losing her since the moment she took her first breath 23months ago. You see, twenty-three months ago we weren't even sure that Delaney would be coming home to live with us. Her body was weak and her health was a downward spiral. The hospital was the only home she had ever known and we feared that it would be the only earthly home she would ever know. I remember wandering those hospital halls, lost and uncertain. I remember the fear and the anxiety that each new day brought. I remember hitting my knees in the halls more times that I can count, begging and praying to a God I wasn't sure I had the faith to trust in. I made promises and tried bargaining. Nothing seemed to do any good. I searched up and down those hospital hallways, looking for answers and reassurance that our little girl was going to make it. But it wasn't until I fully gave my worries to Him, put my FAITH in him, that things started to turn around. No, Delaney didn't just suddenly become healthy overnight. She was still fighting for her life. She had many more bad days to come. It just seemed like a weight was lifted. I found God in those halls and I clung to Him. As I cling to him now, 23 months later, in different halls, in a different hospital, with all the faith that I searched so hard for all those months ago. She is sick, and weak, and tired. But she is a fighter and there IS a light at the end of this tunnel for us. She WILL be healed and her life WILL be as rich and rewarding as it was created to be. She has a strength that most only hope to someday have. I have seen her at what I hope is her worst and am now looking forward to seeing her at her best. So for now, we are here, waiting for surgery, and looking towards the hope of better days to come. But in between the playing and snuggles and praying and sleeping I sneak out to walk the halls with God.
I would also put in a copy of my husband's MRI. He has a disease called Chiari malformation and Syringomyelia. He had a brain surgery and heart surgery in the span of one week. My husband's 1st MRI was not scheduled to even check for a disease. They just "happened" to notice it while they were checking something else. I call that divine intervention.
The first thing I would put in the box would be my little sister's medical ID bracelet.
Emily died a little over a year ago at the age of 20 from complications of diabetes. Her sudden death has been the worst experience of my life, but yet as in most tragedies, it's launched me on a journey that's brought me closer to Him than ever before. I never realized how much I needed Him until suddenly He was all I had.
When the sorrow threatens to overwhelm me, Emmy's bracelet reminds me of just how faithful He's been through this past year. And also that He will continue to be so, no matter what the next circumstance is.
The first thing I would put in the box would be my little sister's medical ID bracelet.
Emily died a little over a year ago at the age of 20 from complications of diabetes. Her sudden death has been the worst experience of my life, but yet as in most tragedies, it's launched me on a journey that's brought me closer to Him than ever before. I never realized how much I needed Him until suddenly He was all I had.
When the sorrow threatens to overwhelm me, Emmy's bracelet reminds me of just how faithful He's been through this past year. And also that He will continue to be so, no matter what the next circumstance is.
I would love to start a memorial box for my family. The first story that comes to mind I do not know what kind of object to put for it.
When I was 10 1/2 months my twin sister died. My family hit rock bottom. We were losing each other and ourselves, but then God brought us a family counselor that saved us. She helped everyone deal with our pain. She helped my parents set boundaries so that they would have time to themselves and get enough sleep to stay healthy. I can’t remember, but I believe she was a christen. If not she still was able to help us understand God’s will.
Another story came to me. When I was about 13 or 14, our church had a grief small group. My mom had thought that it would be a good idea for her and I. I wasn’t so sure. After the first meeting my mom was excited. We did have the counselor when I was young, but our family really didn’t talk about it yet. She thought that the support group would be a great way for us to be open about it and learn the grief process. However, I already knew the process. I told her that she should return, but it wasn’t for me. The leader of the group wanted to find something for me though. Through him, I was introduced to Twinless Twins Support Group. I have grown stronger because of the help I have been getting through them.
With both stories God has given us hints or pushed us to get help, that we didn’t know we needed.
OK, I'm so in on this one. What a beautiful story about Quinton. What a gift that his hand was seen.
Funny that you should be asking for a story. I'm telling it on my blog as we speak. Of course my story would be the miracle of Emilia, how this special baby with special needs came into our lives, and brought us all closer to God. How she turned my "I can't,I can't" into "I will, I will"!!!!! I didn't think I could be a mother to a special needs child, I was scared, terrified actually. Now I couldn't imagine not being the mother of a special needs child. She is what keeps me breathing… all of us . Our whole family has been changed for the better by this little sweet.I am so honored that God chose us to love and care for Em. What I would put into a Memorial Box would be her ultrasound picture from May 21st 2008. That's the day we found out she most likely had Down Syndrome. I thought my life was over, but boy oh boy was it ever just beginning!
Hi Linny, long time reader, 2nd time commenter – and how true it is that God is faithful – and surprising.
I recently moved from beautiful Durango to Midland, TX. I was transferred by my job. Durango was the first place I came after I finished college in December 2007. In July I found out I would be transferred to Midland in August.
I was absolutely terrified. I have never made a move that big in my entire life – up until now, I've spent my entire life in Colorado.
I drove to Albuquerque and flew to Midland for a househunting trip. After landing at the airport, I got the keys to a rental car and thought I understood the directions the gal at the Hertz desk had given me. I was walking toward the car lot (or so I thought) and a couple was walking inside. They asked me if I needed any directions – and, sure enough, I was headed the wrong way. But I know God pointed me in that direction that evening.
We got to talking, and the gentleman mentioned his savior, and I nodded in agreement. "You're a believer too?" he asked me. And so the conversation continued. God used this couple to speak to me that evening, he and his wife. I knew then that things were going to be okay – that I had been sent to Midland for a reason. They prayed with me, walked me to the rental car lot, and I knew right then that God was watching over me.
I have attended their church a couple times since I've moved here and while I'm not entirely sure that's where I'll make my church home, I am so grateful for that encounter – that God sent me them. I guess if I were to put a physical item in a memorial box from this I would likely choose a matchbox car, red, like my rental car was.
I would love to be entered in your Memorial Box giveaway.
The first thing I would put in my Memorial Box would be a little baby. We have been blessed with eight healthy children–six boys and two girls. Along the way, God has chosen to take three little ones directly to be with him in heaven.
Miscarriage is always difficult and heart-wrenching. Through it all, we have learned that God's timing and perfect will for our lives is unquestionable. He knows best.
One of the stories that I would like to put in our memorial box is about our miracle baby Eli. We had felt God calling us to adopt a child and I felt so strong that God was calling me to Africa that we were about to apply to adopt. I ended up getting pregnant (we were also leaving that in God's hands) I then felt God told me to wait. It was really hard but I know God told me that he had a child for us and I needed to be watching for what door he would open for us to adopt. I felt very strongly that he had a child for us somewhere and I held on to that. My mom came home from her church and told me there was a note in the church bullitin about a mom who wanted to give her baby up for adoption and was due in April. (this was March) We send an email of interest that very day, a Sunday. We figured I was only 2 months along so the babies would be 6 months apart if we were chosen. Two days later on Tuesday, I found out I had a miscarriage, there was no heartbeat. I came home and we were very sad but I trusted that God was in control and he gave me absolute peace. That very day we got an email asking if we could meet with this babies birth mom and grandparents on Wednesday, the very next day. We met with them on Wednesday, only telling them about us and our family, never mentioning the miscarriage or pregnancy. They called us the following Sunday to let us know they would like for us to be Eli's parents. What a miracle! God's timing was so perfect. He knew that our baby was going to go to heaven much sooner and he worked together so many events to match up that it is truly a miracle story. The money for the adoption was another miracle as well!!!! I would like to start a memorial box because I want to be looking for ways to thank and remember God's timing and faithfulness.
Now I am pregnant again, only 7 weeks, still feeling the call to adoption but waiting on God's timing. If this baby comes as planned, Eli and baby will be 13 months apart, I know they will be so close. I am trusting that God's timing is perfect.
Thanks,
Sherry
Hi Linny,
Thanks for sharing that with us! We love your
site!! Amen & amen! 🙂
Hey. If you get the opportunity, would you
mind praying for the prayer requests that are
on our main page?
May the Lord bless you and your family!!
Mark, Lynn, Brooke & Carley Seay
http://www.LighthousePrayerLine.org
"Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14-15 – NIV).
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I would love one!
Debbie
I would put a pair of movie tickets in ours. We've got several other stories we could put items in for, too. Several months ago we were really tight on money and my husband (a minister) had been so busy–family time was something we needed. There was a moving coming out that our boys were really excited about and at bedtime I prayed for God to make a way for us to go do something fun over the weekend. Our boys are only 5 and 7 but they have always loved going to the movies–it's a real treat and they take it all in. Well, a friend of ours who has helped us many times, called us to request some help. Finally! We thought we were going to have a chance to repay some of the kindnesses he's shown us. My husband went over with our boys, helped out and came home. A few minutes later, the man rang our doorbell and handed me an envelope along with a "Thank you." Wouldn't you know, there was just enough money for us to take our boys to see that movie and have some time with them. God is many things, but He wants us to relax and have fun sometimes, too. Thanks for reminding us! Also became a reminder of prayer–if God can answer such a small request after one petition, imagine what He would be willing to do for a petition that is repeated many times and has the capability to bless even more people!
Hi, I have been following your blog since before the fire but have never commented.
As I was trying to think of what I would put in a Memorial Box, if I had one, I considered many things. 20 years ago my ex-husband decided that a wife and five children were too much responsibility and not what he wanted; and that he wanted us away as soon as possible (we were living overseas at the time). The children and I returned to the states and a few months later my 16 year old son became very, very ill. He had five brain and sinus surgeries, spent four weeks in the hospital and then another three months in a rehabilitation facility. Two days after he came home, he left for church camp. I was quite concerned about him being away from home so newly released from 24 hour care – but I trusted that the same God who watched over him while he was so sick would certainly be there to watch over him at camp. I would put a snapshot of the small cross that his friends at camp trimmed into his newly grown hair into my Memorial Box. His illness was such a growing time for me, and my other children, spiritually (nothing like hitting bottom and realizing that you aren't in control of anything – giving it all away at 3:00 am in the waiting room lobby at UCLA and being so blessed to be able to be able to bring him home).
My prayer request would be that their father, who hasn't seen any of the five children in 20 years, would realize how much they have missed him and how hurt they are.
I love your blog and thank you for sharing it with all of us.
Vicki
Linny – I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed and been encouraged by reading through everyone's posts!!! This week I decided to put a cotton ball in my MB because it is a subtle reminder that God was pursuing my heart and a relationship with me from a young age. For those interested in finding out how exactly a cotton ball relates to that … http://bit.ly/SKB5S… So far my MB has centered around me reflecting over my journey to a relationship with Christ and I can't thank you enough for encouraging me to reflect in this way. It has been SO very good for me, and for so many others as well! You are such a blessing and a dear bloggy friend.
-E
Count me in, Linny!
I've already been making a list of things for our box. One will be a little firecracker. We already had our paperwork in for our adoption in Mongolia and we began sponsoring a child at a Christian orphanage there. With sponsorship, we got to look at the special photo section of all the sponsored children with their names, likes, and prayer requests. We always prayed for our sponsored child, but we liked looking at all the other kids too. One little girl in particular just had a look about her. And, her prayer request was always 'Help me mind my caretakers and be a better girl'. We said, "Wow, she's a little firecracker!" Little did we know that 15 months later, we'd be receiving her picture as our daughter. Now she's our little firecracker (and quite an obedient child I might add!)
Please enter me, Linny.
I would have a sand dollar in my Memorial Box. Several years ago, following the death of my mother, my father disowned all 3 of his children. I was walking on the beach, crying, and praying. I felt like such an orphan, having no mother and a father who could walk away from his children. I asked God to show me that He was there.
I looked down on the sand, and there was a perfect, whole, unblemished sand dollar. I have never in my life found a perfect sand dollar on the beach. That was my gift from God.
I'm adding a cancelled credit card showing where God is paying off all our adoption debt and we won't ever have debt anymore. And I'm adding someone to signify that God will pay all that is needed for my boys to go see a surgeon in Pittsburg and we won't owe a dime on those surgeries by His grace and provision. One child has been waiting 4 years to see this doctor but God hasn't sent the provision for the surgery yet. One boys eye sight seems to be worse in one eye and both boys are already legally blind.
This is something that I can't fit in a box, but can be hung on the wall. After some difficulties in my marriage and a short time apart from my husband, God spoke His peace to me through a painting.
One day after arriving at my parent's home I was feeling emotionally exhausted and uncertain of the state of my marriage. I went to see my dad at work. Being so tired I sent my daughter to play in the other room and I stretched out on the couch in the living room area. (Ican't sleep just anywhere, at all!!) I slept very well on the couch and felt better and more at peace. When I sat up I saw this huge painting of a cabin hanging over me. The frame was made out of reclaimed barnwood and was so beautiful. The cabin was sitting on the edge of a stream and the setting was so peaceful. Below the cabin was a verse, Isaiah 32:18-"My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest." I had never seen this verse before! The thing that is so amazing is that we have land in the mountains completely ready to start building a cabin. We will move 8 hours away from our home on blind faith to fulfill our dream of living in the mountains. God used that picture and verse to let me know that there was still hope for our marriage and for our dream. Now, when the devil tries to steal my peace I just read this verse and think of that painting. My hope is to steal this from my dad's office and have it hanging in my new cabin. My peaceful dwelling place.
CM
Jacksonville, Fl
I have loved reading all of the ways God has provided for your bloggy friends. What a great idea to have everyone share!
In my Memorial Box, I would put a stethoscope. I had gone to the same doctor for quite some time and while I liked him, his nurse was always sour and unfriendly. It had always put me off when I was there. One day, when I was there to see the doctor, she barely spoke – more or less she growled. When she left the room the first time, I thought to myself "OK you always thought you were a Christian, what should you do as a Christian?" Of course, PRAY! I bowed my head on that examining room table and prayed for that nurse – I prayed that whatever made her unhappy would be resolved and mostly I prayed that she know the love of Christ in her life! (I get goose bumps telling this next part!) She came back in the room with the first pleasant look that I had ever seen on her face. She apologized for having been sour and said she was not having a good day! I told her that I had just been praying for her and a big GRIN came across her face. I truly felt the presence of the Lord that day!
HI Linny
I have been a lurker for a few months now. Found your blog thru the adoption world. We brought home an 8year old two years ago. I love the Memorial Box idea. We have so much to be thankful for and it is so easy to forget in the difficult times how faithful God has been.
I have two items that come to mind for a memorial box. The first would be a coil/spring. When I was 20 weeks pregnant with our second they did a routine ultrasound. There was a problem, he had a portal vein aneurysm. We went through bi-weekly ultrasounds thru the rest of the pregnancy. After he was born his ductus venousus did not close and the ammonia level in blood started to rise. At 3 months he was pretty sick. They did an ultrasound on a Monday and said they needed to place a coil in the vessel to try and close it off. Obviously there were a lot of risks – the coil might shift and the wrong vessel could be shut down etc. The surgery was scheduled for two days later. They sedated him and came out later and said "We have a problem. We can not find it. It has spontaneously closed." Forget problem that is a God answered prayer!!
As for the second item I will save that story for another day!
Thanks for sharing your life with us.
Julie
I would put a picture of my oldest daughter in a memorial box. When she was 10 days old, she came down with a severe case of RSV. We knew she was very sick, and God sustained her until I handed her to the nurse. She turned blue in the nurse's arms and they were able to save her life on the spot in the dr's office. She spent 2 wks in the hospital, and because she had such a severe case, they did an xray to check her lungs. Her lungs were fine, but they discovered she had congenital scoliosis. We call that our blessing in disguise because we still would not know she had this condition had she not gotten rsv. Amazingly, through the whole ordeal, I was strangely at peace. I knew I wasn't in control, HE was. Even the hospital chaplain noticed the overwhelming peacefulness in our room.
I have also clung to that verse…I love that it is so anchoring…I am so thankful to have found your blog…I love the idea of a memorial box and would love to win one…
One thing I hold onto was from an accident I was in…God provided so amazingly…
I was on my way to a meeting…I was supposed to have a friend with me, but she did not show up. At different times through the day, I thought about taking one of my little boys to make life easier for the babysitter. I "decided" not to…so I am getting on the freeway and shifting from Drive to Overdrive…which went in the direction of Neutral…several times this suburban would slide into N when I had shifted before…anyway…I was also on the phone to my hubby who was on his way to a meeting…
So, when I shifted, the car pulled around backwards and flipped over onto an embankment…
I was less than a mile from home…
If my friend was with me, she would have been killed…
If one of my children were with me, they would have been killed…My husband heard everything and was able to meet me where I was…if I had been further away, I would not have been flipped into a grassy area… As I have thought back to that day, I have thought about how irritated I was that things were not going MY way…after the accident, I was so thankful that they had not…
I would put in a box either a suburban matchbox car or a picture from the accident if we still have one.
Thanks!
C~
The most amazing thing God ever did for us I can't share publicly because it's much too personal. But just know that it is amazing! But this one I will share. When our first baby, Jacob was born, he was very colicky. Very. It was such a difficult time in our lives. He got much better, but then he was a difficult toddler too! (Little stinker. If you knew him today, you would see he is just a huge JOY in our lives.) Anyway, during that time that to us was so difficult, I kept asking God for help at certain times, and He never seemed to answer. It was the first time in my life I felt like God wasn't there and answering my pryers, and I just couldn't understand it. But then as things got better, I began to realize that He sometimes HAS to allow us to go through hard times. I came out on the other side of that experience so much stronger, and with more faith than before, knowing that He really had been there with me. Sometimes God doesn't come to the rescue for a reason. We have to be seasoned and stretched so that we can grow. I am so thankful that God allowed that hard time (that in comparison to others' troubles really wasn't so bad) in my life. I would put a picture of Jacob as a baby in my memorial box. : )
Several years ago, when I was only in my mid 20's I had been collecting for orphans in Eastern Europe but had a feeling that the Lord wanted me to do more. I prayed and prayed, I was single, a new Christian and young but the tug was there and it grew. One day I fell on my knees in prayer and asked the Lord to show me what to do. I opened my Bible and there was James 1:27 in front of me. That day I rang up my local fostering and adoption agency to look into fostering. The social worker told me there were no orphans in foster care. I passed the process and waited and waited and waited. One night, late at night I had a phone call, two children who were orphans were in need of a home would I take them? I can't say much about their situation but it was horrific. Not only were they orphaned, but the little boy had the name of my father (who died when I was a child) and the little girl was the exact same age I was when my Dad died. Only God could do that. Their needs were greater than I could of ever anticipated but the Lord provided, He helped me calm their fears, know just what to say. I felt their needs meant I had to reduce my work hours, all my savings for adoption were then used to be home with them, do some homeschooling, take them to much needed activities and appointments and just be with them. Everyone questioned whether I should invest so much of my "own money" into two children who might not become mine. I knew with the Lord there is no distinction between my child and your child, they are simply children of God. As they couldn't go home it looked almost certain it would lead to adoption, it was such an exciting time. The children wanted me to adopt them. The little girl actually told me that her whole life it was like she was looking in on happy families but never having one, she said, with you I have a family a real family that doesn't do anything but love each other and be kind (two things she hadn't experienced). Part 2 below (apparently I've written too much!)
Part Two
Then the dreaded phone call, very extended family wanted them. Everyone assured me it wouldn't happen – it would involve the children living in another country, learning a new language, building a relationship with people they don't know, but in the end they had a legal hold and so I had to begin to prepare for the inevitable. The children constantly asked me if I was sending them away, why they couldn't stay, I did my utmost best to support the decision because I knew they needed to know/feel that I thought it was a good one. They needed my confidence to have confidence but it was hard. It took all my faith because I couldn't understand it, I really couldn't. When it was pickup time the family arrived, they spent a couple of hours with me and said "we can't take them, you are their mother, we were wrong" only there was nothing to be done at this point, there was no choice, all was finalized legally. And so one very cold winter morning, I closed their suitcases filled to the brim and sent two of the most wonderfully resilient, amazingly strong fabulous children to a new life with people they didn't really know and I literally broke in half with grief and worry. All I had was my faith, all I had was some sort of belief that the Lord could make it work for them, for the people now in charge of caring for them. I had no choice but to put my total trust in the Lord.
People who know the sitution ask me how it didn't make me question God, my savings gone, 1 income as a single woman trying to save to adopt and finding it impossible to do so, but I only see the opposite. I only see how the Lord brought children to me who needed me at the time and then He gave me the strength to continue to be their advocate, to say goodbye. At first I wanted to be there constantly sending parcels and phone calls, but I had to accept through prayer that the best thing for them was to attach to their family, to begin to view them as their family so I backed off and trusted the Lord had a hand on the situation.
So, if I could afford a memorial box what would I put in it? I would simply put a little heart because on their last night with me we talked about hearts, how hearts let us hold love and memories even when we are separated from people we love, even when we can't see or speak to the person we have a heart that will forever carry them with us. Yes, a simple heart would do…
I would also like to be enter into the memorial box drawing! 🙂
I would have a car in my box that represents the little white Ford Focus that was given to me for graduation from so many people! It not only reminds me of how awesome our God is but also how much I am loved, worthy, and treasured by friends and family! Which is something that I can say I have struggled with in my life!
Well, we have 4 little ones just under 6 and I have had adoption on my heart before kids. My husband wanted to kids and we have been praying about adoptin for some time now. I was totally for it and my husband wasn't there yet. To many things in this world he was concerned with being a police chief and in law enforcement for over 20 years. And a newer believer(7 years). So I have been asking God to put it on his heart and show us signs and let him see what we can do as a family. So, within a few weeks they keep coming. We met over 5 people just going at our everday life in the state of WI that have a ton of adopted children. Then we camped right next to a little boy that was from Ethiopia. everything is coming at us in waves not just a sprinkle. It is awesome and so is GOD! Truly amazing! I thank you for having such a wonderful spirit and heart. I love your blog. I talk about you to friends like I know you. We would love to start doing a memorial box. Awesome idea!
I would love to win a memorial box. We have 10 living children and have so many things that could go in there.
I have a unique item that not many people have. It is a mask like thing that was created for my son who was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 4. This mask was created to hold his head down and marked especially where he would receive radiation on his brain.
Praise God this same son is soon turning 21 and is getting married in January. God is so Good!
Blessings,
Karen
I have been a lurker for about a year now and have never commented before. I would like to be entered in the memorial box drawing.
The first thing I would put in the box is a set of my son's EKG leads. My husband and I struggled with infertility for several years. I struggled more than he did. Anyway, we finally went to see a specialist. It took 7 long months of testing to find the problem; not to mention all of the emotions involved. The doctor, my husband and I decided that with everything they found, in vitro fertilization was the way to go. I went through everything. They harvested several eggs and when the time was right, placed 2 embryos in my womb. It was successful. I was elated! I was so excited to be pregnant. I couldn't wait to share my big belly with everyone. When I was 18 weeks, I almost lost my baby. They were able to place a cerclage, but I was sent home on strict bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy. At 30 weeks, I became infected and delivered my son. He spent 6 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. He is now 19 months old with no lasting health problems. God is so good.
Thank you for being such an encouragement to me through your blog. I have prayed for you and your family.
On August 11, 2009, just 7-1/2 weeks ago our hearts were grabbed and shot across the world to Ethiopia. We saw our son's picture and God said "Go!". We have worked endlessly towards his adoption and we just sent off our dossier yesterday and today we had our Immigration fingerprints done. We have seen God move in every step of this adoption and have completed many months of work in 7 short weeks. God has BIG plans for our son who was 2 months preemie. God has ordered every detail. We literally finish one step, come home and check the mail and the next step is in the mail. It's like our own version of The Amazing Race. Yesterday we just FedExed out dossier, came home and had our appointment letter to go fingerprint at INS in the mail (which was done this morning). It is truly amamzing to see God moving daily, hourly and moment by moment. You can follow our adoption journey at http://www.godsaidgetmoving.blogspot.com to see the fingerprints of God.
We simply have a picture of our son-to-be on a little antique table that is central in our home as a reminder of God faithfulness. This will one day go in a memorial box.
God Bless!
Hi Linny,
The first thing i would put in my daughter Sophia's first pair of shoes and our original INS receipt. We had been in the process of adopting from Ch*na for almost 2 years when we were finally united with her. i had been praying for a baby, a little baby, as young as they would give me. During this time, we were hoping to travel in August 2002 to get her. Imagine my shock and sadness when we discovered in May that the INS had misplaced our paperwork! It almost felt that i had a miscarriage, i was sick with grief, thinking that we had to start that process all over again. Thankfully, we had the receipt that proved that we had, in fact, submitted the papers when we said that we had. They "quickly" reissued our approval. Unfortunately, that meant that we were two months behind our original travel group.
That turned out to be a blessing in disguise. When our original travel group got their referrals, they all were two years old! Apparently there had been an outbreak of measles and all the babies were not able to be adopted at that time.
When we finally met our sweet Sophia in November, 2002, she was the youngest in our group! She was 10 months old, but, the size of a four or five month old, weighing in at 13 pounds. She didn't know how to sit on her own, and hadn't a tooth in her head. Just perfect!
The first thing we bought her was a pair of red squeaky shoes, size zero. Yep, she wore a newborn size shoe! The Lord knew that i wanted a baby, and He gave me exactly what i needed.
Oh, one more thing… our forever family day is also our wedding anniversary!
There it is, my first memorial box entry! My Sophia and i have been on the lookout for the perfect box… i hope we win!
Blessings!
Alycia
Please enter us!
The first thing I'd put in is a picture of our twins in their double jogging stroller.
When we were in process to adopt from Korea I was CONVINCED that we were going to receive a referral for twins. I even brazenly pushed around a double jogging strolling at a sporting good's store and announced to my hubby that we WOULD NEED THIS someday.
A few weeks into our official wait I had a dream, and in the dream I saw 2 dark headed children… and a man's voice said, "See? You have your little Patrick and your little Cecilia at the same time."
The next day we received the call that changed our lives… boy/girl twins! We were elated and scared to death at the same time. The timing was NOT what we anticipated. My husband was still in school and we had committed to me being home full time once we had children.
Our children arrived home in January… and the very next day a large box arrived… a gift from an aunt that lived a few thousand miles away. She didn't know what to get us and thought this may be useful, said the card, and inside the box was of course, a double jogging stroller… something that I wanted but knew we could NEVER afford!
God took it one step further and the very next day He blessed us with a WARM day in January which is unheard of here in the midwest so that we could take our 6 month old's for a walk in the sunshine.
I'd put a tiny replica of a check. See we got our tax return the DAY before our son was placed with us for adoption and the amount still needed for placement and the amount of our tax return were EXACTLY the same. In fact it was $2 more and that is what we had to pay the hospital to park in the parking deck. God is so very good.
Consider me entered! I'd put in a little plastic cactus or something that reminds me of the desert. It's kind of a long story, so I just put it up on our blog.
XO – Shelly
Hi Linny,
Please enter me in the contest!
One of the things I would add is my daughter's hospital bracelet. In June of this year our 10 year old dd was disagnosed with a tumor on her left kidney. The tumor and the entire kindey was removed and we prayed like crazy while we waited for the pathology results. We were brokenhearted when after almost 6 weeks we got a call saying that the tumor was cancer. It took so long to diagnois because it is a rare tumor in children. So to top it all off in the same conversation the doc tells us that she wants to run a genetic test on our dd because sometimes this type of tumor is found in two certain types of syndromes. These two syndromes do not have good outcomes. I was so exhausted from praying…can you imagine that, but I felt like a broken record and wondered if God thought I sounded like one. (plus I was discourged since all our prayers seemed not be working) As if to prolong our agony the doc told us the genetic test would take 6-8 weeks. So we prayed like crazy some more (alot more) and asked everyone we knew to pray also (I even posted a prayer request on Lighthouse of prayer). Finally about 6 weeks later we got a call that the genetic tests were NEGATIVE for both syndromes! Praise God!!!! Also she has has 2 CT scans and 1 bone scan since the surgery- ALL NORMAL-CLEAR- BEAUTIFUL!
She is having another CT scan this Thursday, Oct 8, would you pray for her please? Pray that the scan is NORMAL!
Lesa
We are a military family who has moved a lot over the last 10 years. I have pictures of every house that we have lived in and would include those in a memory box. It brings back memories of what our lives where like at each place and how God provided for a underpaid military family.
In my memorial box I would put my "passe muir valve." Weird word… yeah tell me about it. But that valve is 10 years old now and a symbol to me of the restoration the Lord did in my life.
I was involved in a near fatal auto accident orchestrated by the devil to wipe me out before I could have the salvation issue cleared up with certainty. But the Lord said "NO that one's mine!" So after months of being in a coma with my insides literally laying on the outside of me, tubes protruding, and life support the Lord woke me up. He woke me up so the world could see another example of His restoration completely- spiritually & physically. So that funny word above is the cap for my life support trach tube. Once that cap was on on trach I spoke after many months of silence and they haven't shut me up yet! I live to proclaim the glory of the Lord and His restorative love of his dust children. I'm honored to be one of His.
So when I see that valve I see a second life lived with Jesus at the forefront, I see a voice to share of his goodness, and I laugh because medicine says I should be dead but God said, "No, this one is mine and she lives again for me!"
God is good… oh so good!
I hope this works! It's the "link" to a post I put on my own blog almost a year ago … sorry, it's kind of long! =o)
Blessings to you and your family! Your "memorial box monday" all came together for me today when I read your post …
http://myhandfulofblessings.blogspot.com/2008/12/surprised-by-awesome-god.html
When I was 19 years old, I got married. While now, I know I didn't really think it through, I meant what I vowed. I intended to stay married and committed to this man for the rest of my life. Twelve years later, in fact just 2 and 1/2 weeks before our 12th anniversary on January 1, 1997, my husband announced he did not want to be married anymore. No discussion, no counseling, no nothing. I was devastated! I was living in Seattle at the time and even though I had no clue what I was going to do, I knew I needed to move back home and be close to my family again. I needed the support. I drove home from Washington to Kansas all by myself. It was winter time so I bypassed the Rocky Mountains by heading south through California and across Arizona and New Mexico. The drive took me a week. I was so lost. I felt turned inside out. I felt very unloveable.
When I went through Arizona, I decided to check out the Grand Canyon. I had never been and didn't know if I would ever have a chance again. I will never forget driving those last miles off the interstate. It is desolate country, but then….Oh, God! Such a beautiful place created by my God! I stood there for several hours, glorying in God. He was capable of all of this beauty…he was more than capable of leading my life. He made the Grand Canyon to glorify himself and rightly so, but I also believe he made it to let us see something so exquisitely beautiful. He made it so that day, I would know how very much he saw me as loveable!
If I get a memory box (which I have been looking for one, so one way or another, I am gettin' one), I will put a picture of myself from that day at the Grand Canyon that some German tourists so graciously took for me. I will always remember how God reminded me of his awesomeness that day.
Missy Wenzl
Linny, I would love to be entered in your contest for a memorial box. I have been looking for one, but have found the right one just yet.
It has been precious to sit and read through all the testaments of God's faithfulness in so many lives! Isn't He a good God?!
I would put a little glass cup in my box. Many years ago, when I was 13, I knew the Lord was calling me to Africa. I didn't know when, how, or in what capacity. I just knew it was Africa. After years of trying to get there and dozens of closed doors, my pastor encouraged me to go on a trip to Japan. I was outraged! He obviously didn't get it–I was called to Africa! The Lord worked it out in my heart, though, and I realized I was supposed to go to Japan that summer. One of the sweetest experiences for me was partaking of communion at the first service of a church plant we helped establish in Osaka. That communion cup will go in my box. He did so many amazing things in my life during those 7 weeks in Japan. I was stretched to uncomfortable lengths and yet blessed beyond measure–and so many of the experiences prepared me for Africa. Yes, I finally got there…20 years after I felt the call!
In 2005 I was part of a small team who went to "spy out the land" in Rwanda and Uganda to see what the Lord might have for our church there. We ended up starting a child sponsorship program, and in just a few years, we have grown to support over 220 children! I would put a handmade basket from my sweet African friends in my box, too.
And soon, I pray, I will have "my Elizabeth" and will be able to put something special in there to remind her of how God brought her to be my daughter.
Thanks!
Melissa
I would love to join the contest. That would be the motivation I need to start a memorial box.
I was reading other comments and know that one thing I would put in the Memorial Box would be a blue car. We have gone through some trying times financially recently. A couple of weeks ago, the motor blew in my husbands VERY old car. In one week, someone gave us a car!!!!
I plan to go back and read all of these comments and be reminded that we serve an ALL SUFFICIENT GOD!
Blessings,
Robbie
Here's my story of God's faithfulness to me. By the way this is just ONE of how good He has been to me. 🙂
I was engaged to be married after 4 years of dating. I thought this man was the one and I was excited to begin our life together. My family believed the opposite and it was very hard to be in love and not have your parent's full support. I guess deep down in my heart I knew they were right, but I continued to plan on getting married. This man was a Christian man, but we both weren't living fully for Christ. My parents prayed to God for this marriage NOT to work out. I was very hurt they felt this way. About two months before my wedding day, he decided to call of the wedding. I was devastated, angry, sad, and hurt.
It was very hard to understand what God was doing, but as time went on HE showed me HE knew what I needed, HE knew what was best for me, and HE loved me. HE was to be my ALL. I started living again! A new life…for Christ alone. Six months later God gave me the precious man that I have been married to for 13 years. So, if I had a memorial box I would put in a engagement ring (fake one though :)) to remind me that HE wants to have total control of my life. For HE knows what is best for me.
I love your blog and would love to be in the drawing. I have a dear friend who just started filling her memorial box and would love to have one of my own.
If i had one, the first thing i'd add would be a seashell. Three years ago, after a hard time in our church of over 10 years, we resigned not knowing where we were going next(which is NOT like us . . . we are planners). We love the ministry and waited on the LORD to provide guidence and wisdom. We headed to china to pick up our daughter and while we were there, we got an email from a church. Within months, we had a job and moved to our town on the beach, far from home, family and friends. Now, three years later, we love it and couldn't imagine raising our 5 kids anywhere else. GOD is so Faithful!!
I would like to be in your Memorial Box drawing.
I would put a picture of the children's ministry logo in my memorial box. When we got married he was a fairly new christian. He worked for a generator company but was planning to pursue his love, which is photography, when I had graduated from Nursing school and had a job that could support us while he started his photography business. Everything was going according to plan I got a full time job as a nurse and he quit his job and started working on a photography business. He had a lot of extra free time so he started spending a large amount of time volunteering for the college ministry which ended up becoming a church plant from the church we were attending. He started interning for them and then became ordained. He was a pastor for visual arts and communication. I watched God work in his life and his relationship with God grow. A few years ago we lost the pastor who was doing the children's ministry. My husband was asked to fill in short term until they found someone to take over full time. Well he took over and found that this was his passion. I was worried about him at first because he wasn't a "kid" person. He was a fun uncle and a great dad but he had never worked with kids before. God had led him on a journey, he would have never been able to do the job he is doing now 8 years ago when he was first ordained. If you had told us on our wedding day that he was going to be a children's pastor, we both would have laughed at you because that was something so inconceivable at that point in our lives. It has been so amazing to be a part of the journey that God has taken my husband on and how he has been preparing him for this role for so long.
Dawn