Ten Years.Ten Wonderful, Blessed Years

Timeline….

August 30^th, 1996-email from a stranger

October 3^rd, 1996-meet stranger face to face

October 4^th, 1996-proposed to by stranger

November 16^th, 1996-marry stranger-who is now best friend

November 18^th, 1996-move to NC

January, 1997-find I have sleep apnea

February, 1998-buy house

Summer, 1998-pet cat (thought I’d never get)

February, 1999- best friend has tumor in lung

March, 1999-find I have diabetes

Spring, 1999-2^nd pet cat (thought I’d never get)

August, 1999-best friend has tumor removed

November 1999-pet dog decides she lives with us

January, 2000-take MAPP classes to adopt/be foster parents

July 1, 2000-first foster child-13 yr. old troubled kid

November, 2000-foster child runs away

February, 2001-foster child put back in group home, foster child’s father dies

September 14^th-brother of foster child comes home to us, foster child back 2 weeks later

November 7^th, 2001-adoption final of foster child and brother (f.c. #1 son, brother #2)

January 2002-#2 son in mental hospital until March

April 2002-#1 son back on probation

May 2002-mother of boys back in picture on Mother’s Day

June 2002-#1 son goes back to Social Services (attempted to hurt Best Friend with 10" knives)

September 2002-#2 son goes back in mental hospital until December

February 2003-#2 son back on probation

February 2003-December 2005-ongoing drama with both sons

August 2004-#2 son quits school

October 2005-Granddaughter (from sis) born

December 2005-#2 son decides to be “out on own”

January 2005-back to college for master’s online

December 2005-#2 son back to mental hospital, threatening to kill police

March 2006 (? On date)-best friend’s Aunt dies in Florida

April 2006-best friend has sleep apnea

May 2006-#1 son graduates from high school

June 2006-#2 son damages house, fakes attempted suicide back in hospital 1 week, jail

June 2006-sis of sons has medical probs, trauma with neighbor

July 2006-sis moves to Atlanta, #1 son moves back in

July 2006-best friend’s dad dies of cancer

September 2006-my dad dies

November 2006-#1 son moves into own apartment

November 2006-10^th anniversary

As I look back on this, I see my best friend as my rock, my steady companion. Without Jesus, neither one of us would have gone through all this. Without Him, we would have never gotten together. I am hoping and praying that the next ten years will not be heartbreaking as the past five (since adoption)…..no matter what, as long as I have my best friend with me---and never forgetting Christ is the head of our house---everything will still be wonderful….

Reminicing.....note to Lucy Swindoll

About 11 years ago, I was 36, single, devastated because I couldn’t understand what God was doing with me, rather what He was NOT doing with me. All my life I dreamed of being a mom, being married, sharing myself, the love of God and all the wonderful things my mom shared with me with little ones. The desire to be married was never gone, and I couldn’t figure out why because I constantly prayed that the Lord would take it away if it was not in His plan. I do not remember how I found it, but I purchased the book/devotional called Celebrate Life by Lucy Swindoll. The Lord used this book to help me become satisfied with where He had me then and there—not focusing on something I may or may not have in the future. The joy of the Lord as my friend, my strength, my companion, and the ultimate love was so breathtaking it amazed me how I could not have seen it before. Knowing, REALLY knowing just how much He loved me as I am broke that hold of heartache I had for so long.

 

Several months later, I put a profile on a place called “love at AOL” as a joke for a friend.  I used the worse picture I could find (could only tell I was white and had long, dark hair). Yet I answered the questions truthfully and honestly. I made sure I used the word “Christian” in each of the questions, just in case there was someone out there, but wasn’t planning on it. I smile when I remember answering “What is your favorite sense” (meaning smell, touch, sight, etc.). I answered “humor”.  I had a few emails from strange men that didn’t really strike a cord. Then there came one from someone that merely said, “You sound interesting. Tell me more about yourself.” I smiled, tried to look up a profile on the user name, but there wasn’t any.  So I wrote back, “Why no profile, jhogan1956? Tell me more about you!” That first email came August 30^th, 1996, and began a flood of emails over the next few weeks. I met this man face to face October 2, just 9 weeks after the first email and he proposed the next day. Next week marks our 10^th anniversary.  He turned out to be everything that I every asked for, hoped for and dreamed of. Even down to serenading me and being a boy scout!  My favorite phrase?  “I always wanted to write a love story, I didn’t know I would live one.”

 

I saw Lucy at the Women of Faith Conference a few weeks ago. Seeing her reminded me that by the way she let the Lord use her in writing that book helped to change my life. The Lord is still my “main squeeze”, and this wonderful man he brought to me had to be worked on in amazing ways by the Lord to get him ready for me. I just want to thank her for being who God wanted her to be & listening to His calling on her life. When the book is finished (on my love story), I need to send her a copy!

 

Thanks again, Lucy!

 

2006 is almost over....

For those that read these, I am sorry I didn’t update this at all in October.  It was a very busy month. I received an extension on my classes, so I was blessed to have an extra two weeks. I was particularly happy about this because we started giving my older son rides to and from work.  My wonderful hubby is the one that picks him up in the morning (my son gets off at either 3:30 or 4:30am-depending on the day) because he doesn’t think I could do it. I take him to work between 4 and 4:30pm. There are days I can barely get him up in time to go (he does surf the net for an hour or two or so before he goes to sleep). The praise right now is that he has paid a security deposit on a townhouse & will be moving in this weekend. No more late nights for my sweetie!!

 

Since it is getting late for me on Thursday night, I’ll update more later….