New kind of family

Over a year ago I got a phone call from a new mother of 4 month old twins. Her husband was deployed and she wanted me to help her with her girls. During that phone call we set up a time to meet and I soon found myself walking up to her front door. Imagine my surprise when I saw a Bengals flag hanging outside on their porch (in Virginia!)......I knew before I opened the door that I was going to like these people! :) After almost an hour of us chatting I left with a certainty that her job offer was an answer from God. Over the following months her husband returned from deployment and I watched as her girls grew from 4 months to 9 months to a year and beyond. We settled into a familiar routine and within no time at all they were considering me part of the family. Jessie and Dave are some of the most kind and generous people I have ever met. Far too often I find myself serving others out of obligation. Jessie and Dave are different. They serve out of love and kindness. They serve people because they truly care about that person. They have humbled me in so many ways.

As soon as I started working for them they learned about my work in Honduras. Not only have they been great about giving me time off so I can go back down there but they have also been great about donating towards the cause.

About 6 months ago I picked up my phone and saw Jessie's name on the caller ID. I answered the phone only to hear "We found a house. It is great! It is huge....do you guys want to move in with us?" Addy, Colby, and I had been searching for a new place for months and our lease was quickly coming to an end with no luck on finding a place. At first I thought she was kidding and it took another 15 minutes on the phone of her reassuring me that they had talked it over and were very serious. I quickly called the other girls and in no time at all the decision had been made....we were all moving in together.

I don't know who people thought were more crazy....us for moving in with them or them for offering. However, we've been living together for nearly 3 months now and it has been amazing. We pay half of what we would be paying if we lived anywhere else and we feel better knowing our money is going towards the mortgage of people we care for.

In the strangest of ways we have transformed into a new kind of family. We may not share the same DNA or family tree but we are family none the less.

I continue to be humbled by Jessie and Dave on a daily basis. They never hesitate in making me a cup of tea if I feel sick, running out to the store to buy medicine if we have a headache, letting me borrow their car if mine is in the shop, allowing not only us to live with them but also for our friends/family to come stay when they visit, and so much more. The list of ways they serve us and so many others is endless. I'm lucky to have them in my life. Getting the job really was a blessing from God and is one I continually thank Him for.

We had "family" pictures taken recently and these are a few from the photo shoot. The girls are now over 18 months old!