40- HoF: Now

To complete my final 40th "person" (I know I bent the rules a bit) I want to thank HoF.  You are irreplaceable.  Thank you for your support and encouragement.  You laughed and praised with our joys and wept and prayed with our sorrows.  Thank you for being a group of friends we could be vulnerable with.  We shared our parenting and marriage struggles without fear of judgement, knowing you would share in our laughter and tears.
Thank you for sweet memories of Cottonwood, camping trips, garage sales, Christmas progressive dinner, and Sunday mornings.  Thank you for packing our moving van... impossible without you!  Finally, thank you for celebrating our new adventure with us!!!!! It helps, knowing there is a group of people supporting us and praying for us.  We miss you!

39-CSULB Study Team

Rebekah: I don’t know how I would have made it through CSULB without you.  Seeing you that first time we all gathered as new grad students gave me hope that perhaps my crazy dream was possible!!  I am so thankful for your support and encouragement, for always believing and always hoping.

Thanh: thanks for listening, learning, and laughing together.  You helped balance the intensity of our study sessions with humor, a crucial contribution!

Katie: thank you for your enthusiasm and love of your students!!  Time and time again you reminded me why we were doing what we were doing!!  Thank you for your grace and support.  I am so glad we met and journeyed through our master’s program together!!

38-Patient Love

Kristen Joy: Paul writes “Love is patient, love is kind.”  You have demonstrated this love countless times, thank you my friend!   Talking with you is always comfortable and I know you will listen and not judge.  “You truly rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. “ Thank you for your prayers and for listening.   Thank for loving me, and especially my children, with a kind & patient love!

37-Sacrificial Love

Carin-thank you for great talks and encouraging prayers.  Thank you for thoughtful messages shared in HoF. You help me see scripture in a meaningful way. Your sacrificial love for family and community is an amazing example of Christ’s love for us.   Thank you friend!!

36-Careful Thinker

Liz, thank you for sharing your practical and challenging insight and understanding of God, His Word, and what that looks like today.  You carefully craft your messages, question cultural assumptions, and inspire me to think carefully about what I really believe.  You challenge me to grow by your example and words.  Thank you for sharing your home, yourself, good conversations, good books, and good food.  Thank you, my friend.

35-Hiking Partner

Lisa, I’m so glad I know you! Thank you for listening and asking great questions, for memorable hikes and conversations... conversing with you is always hopeful and real.  Thank you for always being honest and gracious, sharing your heart and joys and struggles, listening to my stuff, and offering encouraging words of hope.  

34-Faithful Friend

Noelle, you are an amazing and beautiful person.  We met to help our sons find a friend, and we became friends.  The rest is history!  Words are what we bonded over, spoken words in the stories and poems we love to read and discuss and remember.  Thank you for loving your children, family and friends deeply and sacrificially, you encourage me to do the same.  Thank you for so many memories of simply hanging out and sharing life together.  Here’s to many more!!

33-Orchard Dale Family

Thank you Orchard Dale family, for teaching and caring for my children and the children in our community.  Your commitment to working hard and never giving up despite difficult circumstances that were out of your control is inspiring!!  My children love to learn about the world around them, I have you to thank for that!!  We had such a positive experience with all your teachers and staff,  you are greatly missed!!   Words are too few to express all you have done for our family… I will try to use just a few to capture my thanks.

Tina La Carra: my neighbor, first link to Orchard Dale, confidence-booster, a friend in my many “hours-of-need”.  Thank you for your constant assurances that everything will be ok, and for listening to my woes of being a first time mom!  =)

Nora:  your voice of experience when I was new to Orchard Dale was a constant source of encouragement, thank you for caring for my children after school, you helped me out more than you know.  Thank you!!!

Sheila Maldonado: a kindergarten teacher whose calming, firm presence was just what my children needed.

Jeanie Stuart: your humor was a much needed balm to my soul, I always knew I could count on you to lighten my spirits!!

Kaycee:  you reveal Christ to me, my friend.  Though I only knew you for a short time, you spoke truth at a time when I desperately needed it.  Thank you!!!  You are right, hard work is good for you!!!

Leticia:  Thanks for watching out for Anna and Dillon while I was running late. Thank  you for your countless volunteer hours.  Orchard Dale is blessed to have you!!!

Susan Williams:  You were the perfect 5th grade teacher for my daughter.  You hold high standards with grace.  Thank you for teaching and caring for my daughter and making her 5th grade year so memorable.

Joseph Lamb: teacher extraordinaire.  You pour your heart and soul into teaching.  Your gift of seeing each child as unique and important is priceless.  You taught me so much about teaching, even though you were first my student!!  Now you are my friend.  Thank you for teaching and caring for my children.

All others, too numerous to mention, who were part of my treasured Orchard Dale years!!  Thank you!!

32-Teachers of TRUTH

Thank you Women's Bible study teachers at WHBC.  Our times spent sharing our thoughts and questions and insight into the week’s Bible passage will be remembered forever!!  Ladies, you challenged me to think deeply about the essential truth of each passage and how it applies to our lives today.  Your courageous commitment to teaching truth is an example that continues to encourage me.  Too many to list, yet I want to thank those who were with me the longest.

Davette:  you took a chance on me, thank you for your faith.  I never knew I could teach the Bible!  Thank you for always listening and asking great questions.  Your prayers for me, my marriage and my family encourage me to remember the TRUTH.

Trudi, my teaching partner: Thank for all the laughs and tears, great stories, and gentle hugs.  You always get to the heart of the issue.  Thank you for your honesty and love.

Luann: your sweet joy and honesty always encourages me, I know I can tell you anything and you will listen and not judge.  Your words bless me and relieve my anxiety.

Rosa: you always greet me with such joy.  You care deeply for others and for God.  Thank you for living life with passion, joy, and honesty.You laugh at yourself and honestly admit your imperfections.  

Dana: you care so deeply for others and are willing to give your all to create beauty around you.  Thank you for your devotion to the women and children of WHBC.  Thank you for persisting and not giving up.  Your expressions of raw honesty and yet clinging to hope have been such an encouragement to me.  

31-Joyful Vision

Annmarie, your joy for family changed how I viewed my family, especially in my idealistic early years of parenting.  You taught, (and continue to teach) me to express joy and delight in all things.  I too often look at what is wrong and requires correction, you look at what is good and lovely and true.  Thank you for your example, my friend.  Thank you for your love and graciousness.  I miss you and hope after everything settles down we can visit you soon!

30-Dillon

Dillon, my precious son!  Thank you for your loyal and faithful love for family and friends.  You see and listen more than you speak, reminding me to carefully consider my words.  Thank you for your forgiveness of my hastily spoken words.  Your humor and honest questions bring joy to my heart.  I love to see how you view the world. Thank you, Dillon.

29-Grandma Marty

Marty, “Grandma Marty”.  You were such a source of encouragement and help during my years at Biola, especially  in those early years of parenting!!  Thank you for loving me and loving my family.  I always knew that seeing you would instantly brighten my day!  You encouraged me in teaching, parenting and life.  You reminded me not to take life too seriously, that my momentary trials will soon pass, and to laugh.  =) Thank you Marty, I miss you!!

28-Creative Firstborn

Anna, my firstborn, my precious daughter!!  Thank you for your boldness in loving and living and for sharing and showing your creativity and eye for beauty.   Your refusal to “stay in the lines” is refreshing and challenges me to see life in a new way.  Thank you for forgiving my parenting mistakes.  When things are tough, you step up and help out.  I know I can count on you in difficult moments, thank you, my daughter!!

intermission

...this is proving to be even more difficult than I imagined... a great and powerful experience, but rather exhausting. 

After Dillon (30), the chronology breaks down a bit... but that is what I am learning... to be flexible in my plans... so they will bend to accommodate the unexpected... to bend but not break!!

I knew there were positive aspects to my stubbornness!!

This is my promise:  I will finish by Friday!!!

27-Special early-HoF Friends

Thank you Dennis and Krista, special WHBC and (former) HoF friends!!  Dennis, you bring such joy and passion to life, thank you!!  Krista, you bring quiet strength.  You are friends we know we can always count on to share our joys and our burdens.  We miss you!!  Thank you for your devotion to family and friends.  Your example of stepping out in faith is a testimony to how God works through his people to bless others.  Thank you for sharing your passion for God and others and for stepping out in faith to follow God’s leading.   

26-HoF: The Beginning

Thank you members of HoF who were there at the beginning of our married life.  Thank you for your companionship as we started our journey as two-become-one.  You loved us like family and supported us through the joys and struggles of those early married years. Thanks for the memories of camping trips, Bible studies, and life shared together. If I ever unpack my pictures I’ll find one of the first HoF group pictures and post it here  Those early years were a memorable, never-to-be-repeated time. Thank you friends!

25-My Friend 'til The End

Thank you Robin, for meaningful conversations, asking good questions and always listening.  Your passion for the Lord and people encourage me to live a life devoted to loving God and loving people. Thank you for inspiring me to finish what I start and  to live a life of purpose. You see me and know me and still love me.  Your friendship is a gift that has shaped me, I am a better person for having been your friend.  Thank you!!

24-Team Artesia

Thank you Artesia Math Department! You quickly accepted me as part of the team, despite my youth and inexperience. Knowing I had a team to support me and to provide helpful suggestions and a sympathetic ear eased the stress of my first-years as a teacher.   Thank you Carm for your faithful leadership, Marie for your sarcastic humor (we all knew you cared for your students), Karen for your quiet strength, Dianne, for your honest words of encouragement and Sharon for being my partner and friend.  Your commitment to teaching our students inspired me to be a better teacher, to work hard to improve my skills, and ultimately to continue my studies in Math education.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

23-Counselor---Mentor---Friend

Jackie-after all these years you still listen to my adventures and frustrations, ready to speak truth, ask the tough questions, and hold me accountable to the change I say I want to make.  My marriage is 1000 times better because of  your influence, honest perspective and listening ear.  Thank you for your humor, encouragement, constant prayers, and love.

22-Biola Mentor and Friend

Stella-thank you for living your life in front of me with honesty and integrity, challenging me to care for my soul. Through your words and example you consistently taught and reminded me that who we are, the kind of people we are and what we value, determines the actions we take and the choices we make. Your love of others’ souls gave me a glimpse of how God looks at the heart of people. Thank you for revealing God’s heart for His people in tangible and practical ways.