This week, we said "goodbye with hope" to Diane Herman, one of our Mothers Like Me Associate Directors.

Leaving Friday, June 29th, for a one-year commitment working in partnership with Photas Ministries, an orphan ministry based in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Diane, her husband, Justin and her two children, Slate and Isabelle, will be sharing their love, comfort, hope and encouragement with orphaned children. (Visit their website @ www.photasministries.org)

Our "Mighty Like A Rose" ministry team agreed that we needed to celebrate this new chapter in Diane and her family's life, and so we did!

We are very happy for Diane, as she will now put heart, hands and feet to her 9 year old daughter, Hope's desire to help the homeless, at-risk, lonely and suffering people of the world. Diane's joy is uncontainable and her joy overflows and we send her off with our love, prayer covering and joy in the hope that she will "go out with joy, be led forth with peace."  

We are also excited that November 10-17, 2012 we will be taking a group of approx. 20 people (moms, dads, grandparents and other family and friends) to visit the orphanage where Diane and her family will be working.  If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, visit our Calendar of Events webpage.

At our intimate, "surprise" luncheon for Diane, we shared our love and appreciation, and we closed our time together by praying over her as a group. We would like to  share our prayer with you now, and encourage you to keep Diane and her family in your heart and prayers, and if you would like to support them financially, you can visit www.photasministries.org to make a donation that will help them help the orphans that God will bring into their arms of love.

Dear Lord,

We pray for Diane, as she and her family embark on their mission to Guatemala.

Lord, we ask that you first  fill them to overflowing with Your love and compassion that has surely prompted them to make this sacrifice.  

We ask that you give them the wisdom, the courage and the fortitude that will be necessary to carry them through this year-long journey. 

Please give them strength and perseverance and good health for the long haul, yet keep them focused on each day at hand, as they serve You through serving the orphans who so desperately need the love and caring of Diane and her family.  

May many of the lost and abandoned children be drawn to a saving relationship with You, that they might truly be found. 

May their lives be changed forever, because of the precious blood of Jesus.  Let the caring and profound message of love, hope and salvation be instilled in the "little lambs" who will be touched and changed forever, because of Your love, the Herman family and Photas Ministries. 

Most of all, Lord, let this family not only sense, but experience Your grace and mercy throughout the journey, no matter the challenges, no matter the circumstances. 

Give them passion and joy that spills out all over those they meet, care for and minister to. Give them the confidence and assurance that they are doing Your will. 

Protect, preserve and prosper them.

We ask these things in the precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!
 

As of this week, Summer is officially here!

With plans for "fun in the sun," road trips, vacations and family reunions, this time of the year can also be one of the most emotional times for moms who have suffered the loss of a child.

Summer has always been that time of year, when our family played the hardest, tanned up and celebrated life in Southern California like there was no tomorrow. With songs like "Let's Go Surfing," "Surf City" and all the other Beach Boys and Journey songs ever made, the Green "boys" (including their Dad) were year round surfers, but when the days of Summer came, we partied! 


We have countless memories (and photos) of days (sunrise to sunset) spent at the beach, in our jacuzzi, BBQ'ing, hosting backyard parties, sleepovers and pool parties at family and friend's pools, but mostly we remember those warm, lazy summer days we spent together as a family, just "hanging out" as Kevin would always say. 

Our neighbor's son (who's name is Kevin) enlisted in the Army in February of this year, and his mom recently told me that he seems especially homesick, because it's summertime and their family (of 7 brothers and sisters) is playing, traveling together and making memories without him. Hearing news about this mom's son touched a part of me that reminds me that, I, too am "homesick" . . . missing and often longing for the Summer days, when our family was young and we were all together; not only am I homesick for Summer days gone by, I am homesick for Kevin.

Though blessed beyond what I deserve and grateful for each and every blessing, if I'm honest with myself, I cannot ignore the harsh reality that I am different, Summers (all seasons) are different - everything and everyone in our immediate and extended family are different, since Kevin left this earth for eternal summers in Heaven - - eternal sunshine in the presence of Jesus who is the "light of the world" and of Heaven - - there is no need for seasons where Kevin is now - - no phone calls and emails to make plans for "hanging out," because everyone THERE is in relationship and warmed by the SON constantly, eternally.

As a wife and mom who spent hours at the beach with my 4 surfers, when I first read Revelation 21:1  "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea" I said "What? No ocean? No beach? How can that be? What's up with that, Father?" Of course, that immediately did away with my imagining Kevin surfing in Heaven, but the more I read and studied the book fo Revelation, the more I realized that the majesty and glory of heaven far surpasses anything a beach has to offer. Nevertheless, I am thankful that our family wallered and buried each other in the sand, swam with dolphins, dove for turtles and spent time together at the beach and for doing all the fun Summer days things that we did, because now is the time to enjoy the good things that the good earth God created has for us, His people. Now is the time to play with those we love. Now is the time to let the warmth and pleasure of Summer to rest in our hearts, souls, minds and to put on the sunscreen and "tan up"our lily white bodies, as Kevin would say, if he was here. 

What thoughts, feelings and memories does the Summer season bring to your mother's heart? I am hoping that you, your family and friends are making LOTS of plans for Summer fun.
"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"  Love and Hugs, Angie