Oscar & Maria

I am in awe of what GOD has done in my life lately. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart imagined, what GOD has prepared for those who love Him” truly has become my life. Let me tell you about it…..

     On March 11, 2013, I watched the love of my life walk through those Gates into Paradise after a 3 ½ year fight with ALS. This truly was the most precious moment of my life and watching him WIN this fight was as perfect a moment as we will ever get here on earth. I will talk more about that in another post.

    In April, our Arise Ladies Conference was happening, and truthfully I had no intentions of going. I was tired and didn’t really want to be around people. I feared that the Lovely Ladies of our church would want to love on me instead of receiving the grace of love themselves, also I really didn’t feel like I could cope with their grief on top of mine…I know, selfish, right??? But as usual, my Life Group Leader Mary Coffelt, bullied and prodded me into going. She called me and said “I bought your ticket!” WHAT???!!! I did NOT want to go, and didn’t want to commit to going…Oh, Lord, what a whiner!

    SO, I go. What a blessing. It was awesome. I had a blast. I knew that on Saturday I would be racing all over South Louisiana to accomplish what I HAD PLANNED, however, my family and my life group conspired to keep me in Acadiana for the day. My sister in love, Kieran, decided to come spend the weekend with me, claiming she needed a break and wanted to come visit at my house. OK!! She could come with me to the Last Night of Conference which is always a great night of blessing the women of our church. Last year, a woman in our life group got a car….this was going to be awesome.

    I had already planned and coordinated giving Kevin’s Power Wheelchair and our Handicap Accessible van to a man in our church who suddenly needed it. It was a gift to us, Kevin had no need of it and I couldn’t imagine keeping them. Upon arriving at the conference, Pastor Rob Longmire told me they were going to present the van to the wife of the gentleman in need on stage. They wanted me to sit in the front so they could acknowledge my gift….whatever. I could have stayed in the back and been just as happy, but ok, I’ll take the second row…WOO HOO!!! Yeah, and by the way, your life group is going to sit with you too….EVEN BETTER!!!

     Ok, So I cried like a baby when Mitzi got her blessing. Being a part of that and knowing how blessed she was must be how GOD feels when HE blesses us with surprises. I knew Kevin was smiling and GOD was pleased at all of our efforts to help this family. I am still in awe and honored to be used by GOD to make this happen. I enjoyed her surprise and couldn’t wait to hug her after. All too quickly she was ushered off the stage and the last thing I remember anyone saying was “Now, let us introduce our next recipient”…..

     WHAT??? I look up and my daughter’s face is on the big screen, talking…I swear all I could hear was buzzing….it was like Charlie Brown’s teacher…waa waa waa…..Then Nolan was on the screen…then my Life Group….it’s all a blur. I am sure Kevin was laughing at me. It seems that some CRAZY PERSON believes that I am a WOMAN OF COURAGE…I don’t feel courageous. I just was taking care of my boyfriend, husband and love of my life, nothing courageous about that. So yeah, ok…blur continues….I was blessed with a day at the SPA. I remember looking up and seeing Ryan and Brigid on the stage with me….how did they get there???  And then, Miss Michelle gave me a box. I was afraid that they had taken Kevin’s rings and did something with them. Surely, they did not. Oh no, they didn’t. It was a key… a key to a car….Oh boy….Yep, my church family and the Arise Foundation gave me a new car…well, new to me.  A Silver Ford Edge. Big enough to drive my grandbabies around in. I am amazed…and no indeed, I could never have imagined  this is what GOD prepared for me because I love HIM. But there it is, in all its glory. Complete with a BIG RED BOW on it.

          AND I SHALL CALL HIM OSCar….he is my OSC car. I love him. He is wonderful and beautiful and perfect for me. We go all over the place. Oh, my OSCar is awesome. Not long ago, Ryan fixed the Bluetooth and I was introduced to Maria. I think she is OSCar’s wife. She lives with him. She speaks to me. She says “ Phone call from Kieran GInesi.” And “Message from 95601020”. They are my driving companions. I am never alone in the car. They keep me company. Yes, it’s silly and ridiculous….but if you know me….enough said.

 

                                         

      So, that is the story of OSCar and Maria. I am eternally thankful to GOD who thinks I am courageous and worthy of this blessing. And to the ARISE FOUNDATION, Miss Michelle Aranza and Miss Heidi Reiszner. I can never thank you enough for the blessing you have given to me. I am so in awe of what you have done for me and all the ladies of Acadiana. I love you both so much! To Don Mendoza with Don's Wholesale, you really are a blessing to our church and to me. Thank you.

 

     Now, I cannot wait for Arise 2014....