Monumental anniversaries are powerful forces for so many reasons. They not only cause us to remember and, to what extent we are able, relive the big moment that originally stole the show. They also snap a quick shot of an era of our lives. Like most any other, a tangy cocktail of an era both sweet and bitter, both beautiful and terrible. Such is life. But several times in the course of a long stay, a wonder comes along that blankets the whole tumultuous season in a smiling sun’s rays.
Right about this time of day 30 years ago, I sat in the waiting room of my OBGYN’s office with one thing on my mind: I meant to have a baby that day or else. My man worked in the oil field with BJ Hughes and they were sending him off for a month in two weeks, just when she was due. If she was on time, I was on my own. BUT, if she had a little nudging, the four of us – Keith, Amanda (our nearly-3-year-old daughter and the biggest dream-come-true of my 25 year-old life), this new little creature that had swung on my bottom ribs like monkey bars for months, and I would have 14 days together. Those were the stakes.
High indeed.
So early that morning, my big sister, Gay, came to Victoria, Texas where we’d been transferred with BJ Hughes, and together we went on a brisk little – well, as much as I hate to admit to it – jog to very deliberately see if we could get some action going. There is absolutely nothing about this approach that I’d recommend to an expectant mother no matter how great with child she is. Those were the 80’s when the pendulum had swung WAY to the left and we were advised to do any physical activity in our pregnancies that we’d been accustomed to doing at the time we conceived. That was for normal people. Not me. Most women didn’t teach high impact advanced aerobics classes. What I’m recommending is this: sit down the moment you realize you’re expecting and get up when you head to the hospital.
Because here’s what happened: I trained up a child in utero in the way she would go and when she was born, she did not depart from it. She stretched, rolled, tumbled, jumped, lunged, and high kicked so wildly from five months’ gestation to full term that I lived nonstop at my maximum target heart rate particularly when I climbed into bed at night. I sang in the choir at First Baptist Church in Victoria and, in those latter days, my blue choir robe came alive like a 3-D illustration of the raging sea in Mark 4, only not once did Jesus stand up from the boat and say, “Please be still!” Or was that “peace be still”??
It was prophetic. That child would demand the training wheels off her bicycle two days before her 3rd birthday then ride off on it like she was born to be wild.
Because she was.
Dr. Mabry took one look at me, peered over the sheet draped across my swollen tummy and said, “Is your husband in town?”
“Yes, sir! As a matter of fact he is!”
“Good, because I’m about to break this water and put you in the hospital. This child is on her way.”
I’d asked God for a boy. In fact, I did it just right. I used all the biblical terminology. I prayed in faith without doubting and summed it up confidently with, “In Jesus’ Name.” I made sure I asked before conception so we could start out with the appropriate gender and God wouldn’t have to go to any extra trouble. I persevered in asking until the circle formed perfectly on the bottom of the EPT test tube then I sat back, smiled, claimed it…and, yes, named it: Brandon Keith Moore.
At seven months along, my OB nurse, good friend, and sonogram technician, said, “Beth, I’m telling you, I think this is a girl.” I went home undeterred, sat back on the couch and said to the Lord with utter confidence, “This is not hard for you. In fact, nothing is too difficult for Thee!” (Using proper King James English is always most effective for times such as this.) “Change it,” I chirped then got very still to see if I felt anything.
Nothing.
“It’s a girl,” I told Keith when he came in from work that night.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know. That’s what they told me at the doctor’s office. And I asked God to change her into a boy and He didn’t. I could tell. I could tell He didn’t, that is.”
Young, strong, tan, black-headed, right winged, and at the peak of machismo as a 26 year old man tends to be, Keith grumbled something then looked up at me and said, “Well, then, we’ll have a girl.”
Good. Good plan.
The loud speaker went off over the grounds of BJ Hughes calling Keith Moore to the telephone. The kind with the black curly cord that was actually attached to the wall. “It’s your wife,” his supervisor said. “She said she needs to talk to you right away.”
“Hello?” Sounding a little frantic.
“Hey! Wanna have a baby today?”
“Today??”
“Yes, today. My parents are on their way to stay with Amanda. I’m packing. You better come get me.”
And he did.
Mamas push their babies into the world and then just keep on pushing.
We think we know just what we want them to be and just what will make them happy and we push and push and push and push, red-faced, grimacing, and threatening our husbands who got us into this shape. We just keep doing the thing we were doing the hours and minutes before they were born.
And, thank GOD, sometimes it doesn’t work.
I suppose Melissa would be at the peak of her professional basketball career if she kept going where I was pushing. And I’d be chaplain of the team. And assistant coach. Or head coach.
But she’s always had a mind of her own.
A fine one. Like her big sister’s.
I gave my heart away 30 years ago today for the second time in my life. Totally. Withholding nothing. Complete abandon. Both times to squirming little creatures that didn’t even weigh as much as their Daddy’s career trout.
I sat across a white-linened table from both of them 2 days ago, sharing three desserts, coffee and teas and I got lost in them all over again. Lost in their laughter. In the color of their eyes. In the way they use words. And sip out of a cup. Such a flawed woman. Such an embarrassing past. So many insecurities. Secrets that make me nauseous. And yet there before me, grace welled up in two distinct heaps, like twins born three years apart. Twins who only look a smidge alike. Twins as similar as salt and pepper…as homemade peach-vanilla ice cream and pico de gallo. Twins only because they each broke into my fortress, shimmied down the side, and ran off with my heart.
We asked the waiter at the restaurant if we could sit by a window because we needed to keep an eye on my car. We were seriously certain someone would want to steal the clothes we’d just bought from Anthropologie. Yes, all three of us. Of course, the birthday girl got the most but the three Moore women have always liked to do things together. So, we all got presents.
Just like Keith, Amanda, and I did 30 years ago today.
That very day a pair of ocean green eyes opened to this beautiful and terrible earth and none of us who know her well have ever seen life the same again.
And, as for Keith Moore?? Well, he wouldn’t trade that baby girl for a world full of fine sons.
And, whatever happened to that professional women’s basketball star? Well, a good friend of ours gave her a fragile centuries-old piece of Torah scroll a few days ago for her birthday.
And the child commenced to read it to me.
I was 11 years old. I was enjoying the days when summer didn’t go by in a flash because in a young mind, summer goes on forever! I remember family camping trips, spending most days with my best friend swimming at a neighborhood pond, and reading books with the fan blowing on my face 🙂
Beth, I so love your story-telling and your sense of humor! What a beautiful picture!
Melissa- Happy, Happy Birthday!
What a sweet story! Happy Birthday, indeed!…Beth – I love that it looks like your make is on, hair done and earrings on! I’ll have to remember that next time I’m on my way to deliver a little one ;0
30 years ago I was 13 days old, all squishy and new! This post is beautiful & it caused me to sit a lil longer & take in the new fresh one in my arms tonight… my lil baby boy. He is living proof of god’s amazing grace & peace. His name means “he who quiets the soul with laughter” and, does he ever 🙂 happy birthday melissa! I’ve only been in the 30 club for 13 days, but so far, it’s GREAT!
Wow! This is your best post ever!
Took me on a journey. Felt like I was there with you 30 yrs ago!
God is so good.
Happy Birthday to Melissa! Thank you Beth for sharing your memories. They give me hope as I struggle with feeling like a complete failure at mothering my soon-to-be first-grader. I couldn’t wait for summer break, but now see that school is much more constructive. I so want our mother-daughter relationship to be loving and positive! Thank you for being a great role model for working moms.
Beth, what a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing. I am so impressed at how beautiful you look in your picture lying there with your precious newborn. Meeting your new baby is such a wonderful, amazing time! As much a cliche as it sounds, they grow up so fast!
Thirty years ago I was pregnant with the first of our four boys. I was terrified and thrilled at the same time. I have to say, although also a Southerner, I didn’t look the least bit “put together” after my delivery later that year. I couldn’t even get my feet into shoes for the trip to the hospital – I had to wear flip flops – and the thought of earrings never crossed my mind!
Happy Birthday Melissa. I do share your birth date but not as a birthday. As an Anneversary Date. July 20, 1985 I married to the best man of my life. We have now been married 27 yrs.
Happy Birthday Sweet Melissa! We know from your mama that you are a blessing to her, but you are a blessing to all of us too!
Miss Beth, thank you so much for your happy post! I’ve been wondering about you… if you are still cast down, if you’ve asked the right question that has allowed you the grab ahold of Light and Truth and get back up. A teacher once told me “the best way to teach, is teach what the Lord is showing you in your quiet time.” So, I have been wondering and praying for you since the Austin LPL. What a word the Lord gave you to share with us – it was amazing!
30 years ago… I was 8 and 15 days, I probably spent the entire day in the pool! Today, I spent half the day preparing for the upcoming AWANA year, and the other half in the pool with my 4 kiddos!
Love and blessings to all!
Wow Beth ~ you have such a way with words 😀 I feel the same about my daughter. I prayed for her before conceiving, during and at the moment of birth shouted “Thank You Jesus!” I desired a daughter so much and he gave me the desire of my heart. I’m so happy for you that you have such a wonderful relationship with both of your girls. May God continue to bless your family.
I like how you have those earrings on during the birth mama! 🙂
Happy Birthday to Melissa ( & Beth since you gave birth on that day!)
30 years ago I was falling in love with Jesus, as a brand new believer. I was also falling in love with my husband. (married almost 29 years , now) Sadly I was also battling eating disorders which I did not know there was a name to until almost a year later when the Lord stepped in and directed my healing. I love His Word – it saved me in more than one way! ~ in Christ’s love, Wendy
Thank you Beth, for penning such poignant memories that just melted my soul. 30 years ago I was 28, the Disco Queen in my Charles Jourdan heels and Capezio/Danskin attire who worked out everyday and danced away the night. I also made a conscious decision to stop that life because I was finally ready to marry and for the first time, asked God to send me the one that only He could have ordained in marriage for me. Praise God! I met him only a week later! God works fast sometime! 🙂 Two years later we married and 16 months after that I had Stephanie Grace, who is now 2 months away from having our first grandbaby! What a blessing it has been to watch a sweet tender baby girl grow up and love the Lord as much or more as her Deacon-daughter-Mom and man-of-integrity-in-Christ daddy who was not always that way. Generational sins broken and CAST DOWN! Hallelujah! To God be the Glory for using great minds for His purposes like you and Melissa and Amanda. I just love the way Melissa writes. I “get” and love the way you write and always have but Melissa’s verse is something I really look forward to because she is so deep! And I love that she’s carrying on the legacy in writing! Now that was a birth God def made for His calling on her life! Thank you Jesus! Happy Birthday Melissa! Sry I’m so late, but it’s still July 20th somewhere in the world. LOL Don’t ever stop writing things like this Beth. It touches all so deeply and profoundly and we need to get that down inside us. Love <3
I loved your story. I too am a blessed mom of two daughters who are exactly opposite of each. One is a reserved and quiet beauty. The other is free spirited and full of life. Right now they don’t understand what a blessing it is to have each other. I look forward to the day we have tea and spend the day shopping. At 12 and 8, they don’t see how as opposites they complete each other. Just like my husband and I do. We have adopted a little boy who is 3. God has truly shown us favor completing our family.
Today, thirty years ago, I knew I had exactly nine days till I would see my son. He would be born on July 29 at 9:00 am. It was so much fun to see people’s faces when they asked when I was due and I told them July 29, 9:00 am. I gave my son to the Lord as a baby and God has never disappointed. This weekend we celebrate the first birthday of his first son. I say first because he has always claimed that he will have a dozen children (I’m pretty sure how his wife feels about that!). All my boys have captured my heart and my one girl (daughter) laid claim before them. Isn’t it amazing how the love expands rather than dividing?
Loved this post Beth. Has to be one of my favorites. I so identify with you. Guess that is why you have helped me so much over the years. Happy Birthday to your sweet daughter.
Happy birthday to Melissa!
30 years ago I was about 6 months baked in my mother’s womb. So I’m guessing I was pretty comfortable, but it’s good to know I can blame certain personality traits on my mother’s gestational habits 😉
A piece of Torah scroll… what a spectacular gift!
That birth story was sooo precious. As well as Melissa’s birth story with Jesus. My birth story started when I was born!The startling moment was when I was 6,and my father a Presbyterian Preacher asked who wanted to come to Jesus. Without even looking at my mother, and I was tied to her hip, as were my 3 siblings, I got up and walked down that aisle and gave Jesus my heart. I was never the same again. Now,we are praying fervantly as Beth prepares to come to Charleston, SC, Aug.24,25,No.Charleston Coliseum. Buy your ticket now, 1-800-254-2022 or go on line. Come and be blessed by Beth’s clear Biblical teaching and visit our beloved city.
I am in good company for July 20th is my birthday as well, although I am 22 years her seniior. We are very thankful that God decided to make you a girl Melissa, who has so beautifully blessed all of us as well. What a beautiful birthday celebration story, thank you Beth for sharing with us. I love my daughter so very much too, she lives very far away from me, but we chat for hours on the phone, literally, at least once a week and text almost every day. I miss her so much but know that she and her husband are exactly where God would have them. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Melissa.
Dear Beth,
What a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing with us. As I was reading, I was thinking about what I was doing 30 years ago. I had three little ones running around(ages 7,4, and 2), so there was very little quiet time!! Little did I know that ten years later God would decide to bless me with another daughter! I had gone for a routine physical and I will never forget the nurse coming back in to the room and asking me if I had been trying to get pregnant. “Mmm….NO!”, I immediately burst into tears. What in the world was I going to do with a baby at 41 years old………this was not how I pictured my life. That precious child is now 20 years old and is approaching her third year in college. Oh my goodness, I am so thankful that God has a perfect purpose and knows just what we need and when we need it. Look what I would have missed out on if I had been in control! Isn’t He wonderful?
Happy 30th Birthday, Melissa!
Not a dry eye in the place. I completely lost it at “ocean green eyes.” God bless you every one.
This made me cry. When i got to the end…i could not believe that part about the girls being twins. I care for my 3 little granddaughters (6 yrs.,4yrs and 1yrs). Two days ago, the 6 yr. old and the just turned 4 yr. old were telling me how they were twins. I kept trying the best way i knew how to explain that they could not be twins. Just not possible. They just look at me. The 4 yr. old finally said..but we have the same hair color….Nanie!! Guess it is okay to think that they are twins!
A beautiful story so full of Love it took my breath away. I feel the same way about my own Children and Grandchildren but I just do not have the words to tell them the way you do Beth. Thank you for this. I am sure your children Love to read your words of love about them! God bless you and your Ministry. Everyone of us feel your love also as we are able to know the King of Love more through your ability to share with us from a heart of Love that you have for Jesus. Thank you seems so small, but like I said, I lack on Words.
I Corinthians 13 says it all!
What a beautiful story, Beth! My ex-husband was bound and determined to have a boy as well, but God blessed us instead with a beautiful baby girl. And her daddy took her fishing and played baby dolls with her! 22 years later, she is a fine young woman with a 3 1/2 year old son. Her dad remarried and has two young sons now; not in his time frame, but in God’s. He wanted to please his own earthly father by having the first grandson (there were already 4 little girls), but that honor went to his little brother. My father-in-law was killed in a car accident after that and never got to see my daughter’s little brothers. But oh, the life lessons her daddy learned by having a girl first! Like you, we weren’t perfect either. Tarnished in ways we regretted, but saved and reborn in Christ. And blessed with a precious child that made life even better every day, just by being her! Happy Birthday to Melissa! And thank you for being you. On a side note, I had distanced myself from God when my father passed away (I was a wreck for 2 years!). Two of my cousins invited me to attend a Bible study with them. It was one of yours (Breaking Free), and that is what brought me back to God (through LOTS of tears). And sanity. Since then, I have purchased all of your books and completed several studies. Thank you, thank you, thank you for following God’s plan for you and helping so many get to the place they need to be. Love you and God Bless You, Beth.
One of the most beautiful tributes to a child I’ve ever read….made me cry! How we love our young ones!! I have 3 grown sons and I could so identify with looking at them and still being in awe of who they are and how they conduct themselves…your lovely girls were truly blessed to have you and your husband as parents!! Well done, Beth Moore!!!!
P.S. Our church is doing your study on Daniel…4th one we have offered…it is so powerful! Could just eat it up!! Matter of fact, I gotta get off this computer and get back to my homework…God bless you, yours and your ministry that touches so many of us!! xoxo
Amen and Happy Birthday Melissa and Happy Mommie Day Beth!
30 years ago we had been married for 10 years and were coming to the realization that babies were not going to be part of God’s plan for our future. After too many years of tears, and letting the enemy try to convince me I was somehow a loser because of this, I have come to this conclusion…God put 22 neices and nephews, 39 great-nieces and nephews, and several thousand students from K-college into my life as a retired music teacher/principal…God’s plan was different than mine and I am not a loser!
I am so blessed!
Marie
Beautiful! How they capture our hearts — and don’t really ever ‘get’ it until they have one of their own. Taking care of my baby girl’s baby today! God is amazing.
Wonderful story! I gave birth to my first son 18 years ago today! He has grown to be an outstanding Christian man with the encouragement of his mom and grandparents. He has faced a lot of difficult times that a young child should not have to face but my GOD carried him through each and I continue to pray for Hunter’s daily walk with the Lord. Thank you Beth for bringing up your daughters in the Lord so they can be a blessing to so many others.
Beautiful! Happy Birthday Melissa.
Thank you, Beth, for sharing your heart once again with us. So very precious!
Beth,
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story! God is so good……I so wanted a boy but, God saw I needed to have girls also……So that is what I had…in the meantime I have been blessed with two wonderful grandsons
LOVED this, Mrs. Beth! You blessed me by taking me down memory lane, with the birth of our three fine sons, now 22, 24, 26 – wouldn’t trade them for anything either! Thank you for sharing your heart and reminding us to remember “history”!
I too gave my heart away to two daughters – now 30 and 40! We were a very tight little family of three after their dad left us. Life has been challenging and rich, and now those two beautiful young women have daughters of their own. What grace has been lavished on this grateful grandmother and her sweet brood! And the sweetest thing of all? We all love Jesus and will get to hang out together forever! Thanks for your precious story that plays melodies on my heartstrings as well. Happy birthday, Melissa!
Beautiful – Children are such a marvelous gift of God to us. I am looking forward to to hearing you in Knoxville, TN!
So beautiful.
Happy Birthday Melissa!
30 years ago I was getting ready to turn 13 (my birthday is coming up in a week). I was all wrapped up in serious stuff, like Duran Duran….Michael Jackson….having the perfect bi-level (I would never call it a mullet) haircut…figuring out my Rubik’s cube…..slathering on my baby oil/iodine (ugh, what were we thinking?) concotion at the pool….loving life.
Beth, I was thinking about “Feather’s from my Nest” the other day. I was reading letters I left on my daughter’s pillow (my oldest of three) most days of her last semester in high school. (She is great with child–the 2nd, another girl.) Anyway, in one of the letters I thanked her for a book but I didn’t say what book. I told her how much I loved it. It drove me crazy because I could actually remember the receiving of the book!! I have thought about though and I think it was your “feather” book. 🙂
This post was poignant and beautiful and it reminded me of the your creative side that is part of you—-reflected in your poems particularly. I see this piece as reflecting the creativity of God—-glorious beauty in words from an image-bearer. And doesn’t he love words being that he is the Word.
Congrats on having a beautiful life with your beautiful girls! They will always be your babies!
Thanks for sharing Beth. 30 years ago I was 11 years old and super excited because my parents had bought a Flower Shop. They owned it for 20 years and I have gone on to own my own. The Lord has gifted me with the ability of Floral Design Artistry and I very much enjoy it to this day.
I had a chuckle over the name choice of Brandon if Melissa had been a boy because I was suppose to be Brandon Lee and ended up being Peggy Sue! If you want to put a face to a name I am the one directly behind you in the Calgary Siesta’s photo( yes the one with her eyes closed/ I’ve never been accused of being photogenic… LOL) It probably doesn’t help when I’m standing behind one of the most photogenic people on the planet( that is a great gift by the way). Thanks for taking the time to meet us there and give a hug!!
Happy Birthday Melissa and Beth…only you two can share this day in such a unique way, which is totally cool!
Happy Birthday to Melissa! I remember when my daughter had her 30th birthday, it was much harder to face than when I turned 30. To have a daughter 30 years old, made me really feel ancient! Thirty years ago, my daughter was 2, and I had my 1st job after getting my Master’s degree. Such a beautiful memory you wrote about, Beth. Thanks for sharing.
Wow. That must have been some moment when she read it, I can only imagine the joy. Rejoicing with you, Beth.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELISSA! We’re so glad God brought you into this world. 🙂 I’m 40 today, so we’re practically twins, too, right? Hope you had a beautiful day!
Touching narrative Beth! Just loved reading about your daughter’s birth and how you are still awed by God’s grace as you look upon your girls today. I have only sons, but I, too, remember being awed by God’s grace in sending them to me to love and bring up into His kingdom. Last night was the performance of one of my annual musical drama productions. While it was a smashing success in the eyes of the audience and for the gospel, I just can’t get over God’s amazing blessing to me that my boys, now 20 Somethings, want to be a part of it or encourage by phone if they can’t be present . . . and best of all they’re living their lives for God! I’m a happy mom!
Beautiful post! Made me cry AND laugh and travel down that good ol’ memory lane of my three daughters first days. I sat directly behind your Melissa the other day for Austin the Siesta pic. Her hair is gorgeous! Curly girls always admire straight haired locks 😉
“the Austin Siesta pic” not “Austin the Siesta pic” lol oops
Happy birthday Melissa: I don’t know you Beth but I feel like I do. You have absolutely no idea how your life and teachings have impacted my life from afar. I consider you my spiritual mother.
I too have a 5 year old daughter – don’t you just love little girls. Yesterday we rode the train in New York and my daughter befriended a perfect stranger sitting next to us. The woman told me she is sunshine and that she is indeed.
So I know how our hearts get completely stolen. Thank you for sharing.
Michele
Loved this post! Thirty years ago I was raising two toddler boys fourteen months apart two hours east of Houston: The oldest was 3 and the baby had turned 2 on July 10. Now my “baby” and precious daughter-in-law are expecting their first child–it’s a girl, and she will be our first grandchild. We can’t wait until October!
LOVE this! Such an incredible reminder of the way He blesses us and how great it is that He doesn’t always answer our prayers that we think best. Thank you Beth!
Beautiful story…beautiful picture…beautiful people.
Thirty years ago I was 31; a wife, the mother of a precious 20 month old son, a kindergarten teacher,and a student in graduate school at Auburn University an hour and a half away. Just writing this makes me tired,but what a wonderful time in my life that was!
Thanks for your memories and mine.
Love to the Moore family
and Happy 30th birthday, Melissa!
Fran
Happy Belated Birthday, Melissa!!! AND Birth-Day to you, Siesta Momma! This was a precious, precious post. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
30 years ago, hmmm…. I was 14 years old and trying to figure out who I was while Mom and Dad struggled in so many ways to provide for my 4 brothers and me. I thought I would always just be ‘one of the guys’ and, while teasing my brothers back lightheartedly, had come to believe their taunts and jabs (sung to the Crispix ad jingle of the 80’s… “now Jenny is ugly — times two!”). Do you see why it warms my heart to envision Lindsee with all those young ladies at LPM!? FEED ‘EM TRUTH, Ladies! Keep rockin!!!
So, if you had told me then how in LOVE I’d fall with Jesus only 7 years later and that I’d have a red-headed husband, same haired eldest son, a WILD CHILD second son and a precocious princess for a third, well I’d have encouraged you to seek help. That princess looks exactly like me, by the way, and she is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Ever.
Our God is beyond dazzling.
And I’m so grateful He blessed us with you, Melissa! Keep reading those scrolls and sharing what God tells you with all of us!!
Praying for your whole fam.
Thank you for sharing! So beautiful! Brought tears to my eyes God and His grace so amazing! Such a blessing to see how He can work through us no matter what! Blessings to you and your precious family
Did Miss-Ocean-Eyes read it in Hebrew? I’m breathless at the thought! Any chance we’d persuade her to do that on one of those video-thingys you all are so good at? Sigh. We could all consider that Our birthday gift…since they’re going around 🙂 Just sayin’
Would you believe my firstborn kicked me so hard in utero that she literally bruised my spleen. A medical professional confirmed it. Some how that makes me feel better. And I’d feel better still if I got to hear me some Hebrew…Happy Birthday, Melissa!
As usual, blogs about your daughters wreck me. You are a blessed woman. I have two bio daughters and am in the process of adopting a 15 year old Latvian. My oldest daughter won’t speak to me. So when I read your blogs about Amanda or Melissa, I get all messed up.
You are a blessed and highly favored woman. Thanks for your ministry.
By the way, I’m the one who tweeted you about my friend Katie who died and came back. Thanks for those prayers as well.
TJ in Myrtle Beach.