50 Before I'm 50 - Day 11

Something that makes your heart happy.

When we lived in Montana, we had a lot of great friends.  Travis had been going to church for a year and we were starting to build roots (we all know God had other plans...).  One such couple were Tim and Mary Ann Miller.  They have 3 daughters and in 2013/14 they were getting ready to adopt a son from Bulgaria.  We prayed about this little boy incessantly.  Then they flew to Bulgaria to pick him up.  My friend Sherry and I were at the Missoula airport to welcome them home.  

One day, Mary Ann asked if I would be Lyle's Godmother.  I didn't know what that meant to her.  I've only heard it referenced in the Catholic tradition and wasn't sure what she intended.  She said, "I want someone who will pray for Lyle and always be on his side."  I immediately said "YES".  She said, "Don't you want to think about it, pray about it?".  I said, "Nope."  Around that time we were sitting in a women's conference, day leadership thing, I can't remember, but the message was on Matthew 5:37, "let your yes be yes and your no be no".  I said, "See?"  

Then we moved to Denver.  We tried to keep in touch, but life be life-in'.

Fast forward to my trip to Missoula this year for work.  TEN YEARS LATER.

Our company has an annual picnic the first Wednesday of August and our team plans to work from the main office for tha week.  I usually go the weekend before or the weekend after so I can see my friends that I've stayed in touch with.  Pastor Glenn Van Note and Jeannie & Denis Applebury are the ones I've talked to the most.  I see Joan and Sally and Denise and others when I visit Jesus Community Church.  I inquire about Tim & Mary Ann & Lyle and the girls.  Mary Ann is in one of Jeannie's bible studies so Jeannie can keep me posted. 

This year, I came the weekend before (the weekend after was the Savannah Bananas game!).  When I was at Jeannie's she said, "Do you remember Lyle?"  Of course I remember Lyle.  I see his name in my Bible every time I'm in Matthew and I pray for him all the time.  And I have a picture of him in my house!

She told me he was getting baptized the next day.  WHAT?!  At the same place that Travis and I were baptized (Bell Crossing on the Bitterroot River).  She told me that he remembered Travis's baptism (!).  When we moved in 2015, and found Summit Church (then Grace Community Church) he decided to get baptized and we went back the summer of 2016 so Pastor Glenn could baptize him in a very special spot for us.**  

I said, "What time, I'm coming!"  She told me and the next day after church, I schlepped down to Bell Crossing and inserted myself into that boy's special moment.  Mary Ann cried when she saw me.  I told Lyle that I prayed for him all the time and his name was in my Bible.  He started to tear up and couldn't believe it.  

I'll tell you what I can't believe....that I was able to share that special time with them.  It was less than 30 minutes.   This is what makes my heart happy.  God knew 10 years ago that this event would happen.  God knew I would be blown away!  I still can't believe that happened.  What a gift.  What a blessing.  

I told Mary Ann, we may not talk often, but there will ALWAYS be someone praying for her son.

He is 14 now and just a wonderful young man.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for him! It will make my heart happy.