2 Full Years

Monday was our 2nd wedding anniversary! We're not really celebrating it until the weekend of May 11th since this is right at the end of Joe's semester and there are finals to be studying for, as well as a busy schedule right now with SPE. However, he still surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers on Monday afternoon. The vase is tall and slender, made of a sea blue bubble glass. He's so thoughtful. I'm so blessed to have a husband who thinks of all the little romantic things that men normally get blamed for forgetting. It's hard to believe it's been 2 years already, but they've been so full. So full of learning, love, trials, and most of all blessings. We've learned so many new things about each other, and I'm excited about the new things we'll continue to learn. I love just being together with Joseph, and I'm so excited about all the adventures left to share. It's been a great trip so far, and one I wouldn't miss for the world. I can't imagine the stories we'll have after 10 and 20 years, not to mention 50. I can't wait!

We spent Monday and Tuesday night at the church being overnight hosts for the Family Promise program. It's a ministry headed by the Lubbock Interfaith Hospitality Network. A network of local churches open their buildings to host homeless families who are in need of shelter and food. During the day, these families are counseled in finding jobs and housing. This is our first hands on experience with the program, normally we just assist in getting the rooms set up. We were very excited to be involved, and really enjoyed getting to know the families we hosted. It's a reminder of how fortunate we are to have shelter, clothing and food to eat. We were able to help a young couple (under 18) get set up in their first apartment after being part of the Family Promise program for several weeks. They have a new 3 week old baby. It was so fun to be able to help with common things that we take for granted like brooms, mops, cleaning supplies, laundry soap, toothpaste, etc. All the stuff that it takes to get started out on your own, but can rack up a bill pretty quickly. There really is an amazing joy in helping others and giving to those with need. It truly is better to give than to receive. It's given us new perspective on what we have, and the ways we've been blessed.

We were really impressed by the concept of the ministry. Using church buildings, which are generally unused for overnight purposes to provide shelter, instead of relying on government programs to build a new building for temporary housing. The Family Promise team provides portable cots that move with the families to the various host churches. Each church provides an overnight host to stay with the families at the church. Each morning the families are moved to a day center where they can do laundry, work on resumes, look for jobs, etc. with the assistance of the program directors. Frankly, I think churches should have more responsibility for the homeless, and orphans in our society the way that it used to be. Somewhere in our "progression" as a society we decided to make this a government responsibility, and then complain when assessed taxes to fund the programs. I also think it's a good way to stay in touch with the reality of the world we live in. It's too easy to stay in a fish bowl protecting yourself from the things or aspects of life that you don't want to see. Christ didn't call us to minister to just the millionaires, or just the clean, safe looking people. If we're to be light in a dark world, then I think it's important to recognize the need around us and see how we can help. Plus it helps keep a little perspective on what's important in life.

We're pretty tired after our two-night stay at the church (been a while since I've slept on an air mattress), and it's been some earlier than usual mornings. But we've come away with a renewed sense of gratitude and purpose. We'll sleep in our own bed tonight with full hearts.