Ramen Noodles & an Air Mattress

+JMJ

Dear family,

We married in 1987.

Two young kids with a dollar and a dream.

Wait, make that .50 cents.

I was what you'd call a "proper" chick...I liked proper place settings, napkins in laps, and the belief that everything should be just so.

But when we started out, absolutely nothing was "just so."

We were poor. 

I’m talking air-mattress-on-the-floor poor.

And I still remember waking up molded into a deflated vinyl taco because the mattress lost air overnight. 

I didn’t care. 

I was next to him.

That was more than enough.

We didn’t have much…but we had each other, a mustard seed of faith, and a whole lot of dreams.

Jesus let us struggle. 

Not out of cruelty, but out of love. 

That struggle was holy meat tenderizer—it softened our hearts, built our trust, and welded us together in ways comfort never could.

By God’s grace, we made it, we’ve been richly blessed.

We raised 13 beautiful souls, and now we pour into others through our Pediatric Mission. 

We know what it’s like to have nothing… and what it’s like to give everything.

And now, as I begin yet another business venture—this one to provide jobs for our children and grandchildren—I can only look up and say:

Lord, You were in it all. 

The air mattresses.

The ramen noodles. 

The tears. 

The holy work of family life.

Thank You for every hard moment that continues to make this life so beautiful.

 

 

 

-------------------------

 

 

 

 ---------------

 

 

 

We will send you a gift for your help. 

 

GOD BLESS YOU!

.

.

Here is a post, from a recipient of what we do,.

L**** and I were one of the precipitants of This mission. She is right. My parking was 9 per day for 3 months. Then on top of that food cost me approximately 15 per day. That was cheap - I got vouchers for $5.00 per meal. So somedays I did not eat or made meals last for more then one meal. Had to. Parking was $810. Food was $1,300. Then you have normal household bills and I have 3 animals I had to pay to have people come and take care of them. At first I had my dog in the Kennel for 1/2 the time. That was about 500. It is VERY expensive to have a sick child. That was Just ONE hospital stay. We have had numerous ones. Some only a few days, some a week or two. Without their help we would of gone fully under!

From providing necessary funds to actually having families stay with us...we DO what we say we do!