Some Background

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”  Psalm 37:23

My side of the story goes farther back . . . It is so interesting to see the how the hand of the Lord directs in a person’s life.  Just think of all the fun God had in planning each of our lives, and how each one’s circumstances are so complex!

I remember growing up and hearing my older sister voice her dreams of teaching school, marrying a tall dark handsome fellow, who played guitar and did not farm.  

Now my sister and I got along quite well.   She liked cooking, cleaning and such and I preferred the outdoors.  So she helped mom with the housework and I growing up on a dairy farm without any older brothers, milked cows, fed calves etc.  We were both happy with the arrangement.

Anyway, we were opposites . . . So my thoughts of the future where quite different.  Teaching school was down at the bottom of my list.  I loved guitar but didn’t really think that would be an option. I didn’t really have a “kind” of guy picked out.  I knew life is real and whoever God picked out for me would be fine!   And I was always content thinking that I would probably someday marry a dairy farmer.  I

The years went by and my sister married a farmer.  Through the leading of the Lord I became “Miss Aimee” to several students in Michigan.

I marvel at God’s Omnipotence.  His way is best.  I’m glad He didn’t allow Japheth and I to meet before His perfect time. One of my best friends was getting married and I was in the bridal party.  Japheth was invited to that wedding but couldn’t come.

Again, in August of 1999 I was privileged to attend the first year of FOCIS in MN with the family that I lived with in Michigan. Juanita and Judi,  Japheth’s two sisters were there and we became friends.  

That fall we went down to Cherry Blossom for meetings . . . Bob Stauffer was the minister, and  I wanted to meet Juanita’s parents.

About a week after FOCIS I realized that something was wrong.  My belly was growing something hard and it was already the size of an orange.  I went to see the doctor.  A few weeks later when they operated on me it was cantaloupe size and though I was not married I looked a bit pregnant!  Cancer it was.

At the young age of twenty-two I felt like a forty year old woman.  I can’t remember the number of staples they used.   But with slicing all my stomach muscles the way they did,  I began to realize all the pride that was hidden inside of me over having a slender figure.  Now it was gone.  

God also began stripping me in other ways.  I found out too how much I valued myself in being active, energetic and able to do things.  Now I felt worthless.  I didn’t have the strength or energy to do anything!  I couldn’t sleep.  So many nights I cried in frustration of being exhausted, but sleep was elusive.

I distinctly remember one evening when my co-teacher and I went to Cherry Blossom for meetings and stayed the night with some friends so that we didn’t have to travel back down the next evening.  Those two older ladies made us feel right at home, after visiting a bit one of them got herself and me a decongestant before going to bed.  Well, it must have been the daytime ones because neither of us really slept that night. Bonita and I talked and sang the night away.  What was wrong with me anyway?  This is getting bad!

What we didn’t know was that the other lady who had taken the same kind of pill as she had given me, couldn’t sleep either.  And with us being in the basement she could hear us through the vents, singing and all!  I was a bit embarrassed!

Finally we did resume school.  The moms had been home schooling while I was recouping.  But I still wasn’t getting much sleep and was tired all the time.

School let out.  My body felt that it could relax now;  my work was done.  So I went home to Virginia, and rested.  What did life hold ?  

July 4th I tried calling a friend, not home, and another not home.  Finally I got the message, God just wanted me to talk to him, so I did.

The next morning I get a call from Juanita Stauffer (One of the friends that I’d tried the evening before.  I had left a message on their answering machine and she was returning my call.)  

My uncle Ellis had married a gal from Blackduck, MN.  They go up there every other summer for a family reunion.  In the middle of our conversation I got an idea.  Ellis’s were leaving soon, maybe I should go along to visit the girls.  I wasn’t much of a help to mom anyway and was tired of sitting around.  Juanita liked that idea and OK’d it with her folks.  Dad and Mom didn’t have a problem with me going so . . .  the decision was made.

I packed up and left with Uncle Ellis’ that very day.  On the road I began to have second thoughts . . . .”Why am I doing this?”