Memorial Box Monday: Our Friend Stuart

In the Old Testament God told the Israelites to place stones in a pile as a reminder of something He had done.  They were told to tell the story over and over and over.   
I know I have said this before, but truly, if I didn’t remember what God had done in the past, it would be really hard to face some of the things that have come our way without being filled with fear, worry and panic!  
Cause I just know me.  
I can be really forgetful, and no doubt, so can you.
However, when we choose to actively remember His faithfulness, we can face the present challenges with an assurance that He is there, His plans are good {no matter how desperate the circumstance looks}, He will move any mountain, His love knows no limits and He is always, always, always faithful!  
So the Memorial Box Monday story for today is really fresh.
Let me explain.
When Emma and I were going to get Ruby from Uganda this past fall, we made our plans to fly out of Phoenix so we could land and see the neurosurgeon our pediatrician had found.
At the same time, one of our closest friends is a neurologist here in Phoenix.  He has been one of our closest friends for a billion years! 
 In fact I’ve mentioned Stuart before.  He is the friend who was staying at our home when Karl was in the accident.  He was the one sitting on the porch with Autumn waiting for Karl to arrive to pick her up for church.  And he is the one who the Lord used to look at the CT scan in the ER and convince the trauma surgeon that Karl had to be med-flighted to a closer trauma center in order for Karl to have a chance of survival.   And that decision is what ultimately spared Karl’s life!
Well Stuart {our bachelor friend – with two adult daughters} told us about a year ago that he had rented a FIVE bedroom home so we could come visit.  We laughed!  He loves our kids and has welcomed them many times in the past.
Anyway, so when Emmy and I were flying out to Africa, we spent the night at Stuart’s home and he drove us to the airport that morning.  When it was time to fly home and land in Phoenix, it was Stuart whom Dw and the kids stayed at waiting for us to land.
   Little did we realize that Ruby would be hospitalized for over three weeks after we landed.  
And little did we realize that Dw and the kids would need somewhere to stay.
But faithful God was already working out the details.   Our gracious, generous and tender-hearted friend Stuart said, “Stay with me.  It makes the most sense!  I have this big home, stay as long as you want.”  
We were so appreciative – but come on?  
Who wants a family with a boatload of little ones staying with them for weeks?
After a few days of Ruby’s hospitalization, Dw asked him, “Do you want us to get a hotel?”  Stuart assured him he did not.
As it turns out, the sweet neurologist friend opened his big, beautiful home to us for over six weeks – from Dw and the kids waiting for us to land, till many weeks later when the six youngest were staying there waiting for Dw and the big kids to pack our home up and move our stuff to Phoenix. 
Stuart would come home from work and the kids would love on him.  He would get the biggest kick out of their antics…and he even wrote a letter to his family about how much he enjoyed everyone staying all that time and how he would miss us all so much! 
If I had known ahead of time how long we would have to be in Phoenix from landing to into our own rental, I would have had opportunity to fear and panic!  How in the world would we afford a hotel for all of us…and how safe would it be for extended times with the kids on their own?  And how comfortable would a hotel be for all those weeks?  Yet, God was working the details out for almost a year!  Unbelievable!
You’re not gonna’ believe this, but Stuart even put up a Christmas tree just because we were there!
And one Friday, when Ruby was in the PICU having just had brain surgery, the kids called up to the hospital so excited they could hardly stand it.
Stuart had been gone in the morning and had come home.  He asked Graham if he could help him with something.  Graham said, “Sure”…and followed Stuart outside.   
In Stuart’s car he found that Stuart had bought a gigantic TV, a Kinect, XBox and a bunch of games and he wanted Graham to set it all up.  He said he figured the kids were bored 
and would enjoy it all.  
{Which they did!}
Can you believe his generosity?
Who does that?
Single kind-hearted guy. 
Two daughters already grown and living out of state. 
And a really, completely faithful always providing God…through the kindness of our precious friend.
Preparing the place when we would need to stay….

 Stuart spending time loving on Ruby.  

  And Stuart’s girlfriend, Jennifer, has become one of my dearest friends….such a blessing…

Actually, many of Stuart’s neighbors noticed us taking walks in the neighborhood and always were so very kind to us….Gracious be!  Even one of Stuart’s neighbors heard about our situation and came to ask if he could help in anyway!  Seriously.  Only God.

What about you?
How has God done above and beyond all you could think or ask?
Link your story below.  I can’t wait to read them!

19 thoughts on “Memorial Box Monday: Our Friend Stuart

  1. love this!!!!!! especially love the picture of him on the floor with ruby. so sweet.

    i'm linking my VERY FIRST MEMORIAL BOX STORY!! and it's about one of your sons, linny 🙂

    i hope its alright, it was written last week. but i'm linking this week because you didn't have memorial box monday then!!!

    love your sweet family!!!!!

  2. I love that story… not just the amazing picture of God's provision for you, but also for the reminder to BE that person who loves extravagantly, generously, and intentionally.

  3. What a blessing indeed. It will be interesting to read your future post about Stuart and how this experience has touched him … in the year(s) to come. God doesn't let a huge family move into your home (and heart) and not DO something with that. Hmmm….more kids for Stuart? Adoption? Sponsorship? Missions? A ministry? Something….

    😉

  4. What a beautiful story. I love this. I also want to hug Stuart for being so supportive and loving, what a blessing. Thank you for sharing these stories of Gods faithfulness, it truly is so encouraging. So God to take care of your other treasures as you were called to be with sweet Ruby. Love you guys. Love L Florida

  5. PS today, (Tuesday-its after midnight lol), I posted about Annie's surgeries/hospitalization. I linked back to the posts from last year where I go into a lot of detail. I know you are super busy, but I thought you would like to know so you could read them when you find time cause I know you can relate. 🙂

  6. I was kind of sad when I got down to the girlfriend part because I'm a single available parent who would love to find a fella like that LOL! What a nice guy to say the least. We find so few people like that these days, so giving and selfless. It does the heart good to know there are still some around.

  7. Wow- what blessings of friendship God provided for your family through Stuart…Oh my word… Only God!

    I love reading each one of these stories… and I LOVE praising God for His faithfulness in taking care of us. Especially on rough days like today. I DO need to remember too because I forget as well.

    Today- I bust at the seams with praises overflowing to Him. He alone changes my sorrow and tears into songs of joy and laughter. Thank you Linny for your MBM stories and to each person who shares a story on here of God's faithfulness. I enjoy reading each one!

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