An incredible girl....

Almost 2 years ago, when Community of Faith moved into our permanent home on Becker Road and 290 (Hockley, TX), I met a girl named Ashley. I started helping out with the 3rd-5th grade class on Saturday nights, and Ashley was this ball of energy that helped out too. Pretty soon I started teaching the Saturday night class, and Ashley was right there beside me. She was a freshman in high school at the time, but was one of the most mature "kids" I'd ever met. I learned all about her as we prepared each Saturday for our class. She was on the dance team. She did homework until midnight most nights. She LOVED her friends.

A year ago, when Dad died, I kind of withdrew from my duties at COF. I just needed some time to back up and re-group. I know -- kind of stupid considering my church family could have helped me through that difficult time. I saw Ashley from time to time. We always hugged and it was the same old same old when I saw her. She is an amazing girl, and growing into a beautiful woman.

Last weekend, we had a tailgate party at COF. I saw Ashley and told her to come over to our team to visit. She did and she told me what had been going on in her life. To make a long story short, she has been having episodes with her heart racing for no apparent reason. All tests have shown normal. But her heart still races. It has been very scary for her and her family. This morning, she is having surgery to "test" her heart. And if they find the problem while they are in there, they are going to fix it. I'm praying (and standing on God's promise) that they WILL find what is wrong and fix it. Mainly because Ash has had to stop dancing, and it's killing her! LOL!! No seriously, I really just want this scary time to be over for her and her family. They are amazing people.

Through all of this, the adults around her have been the worriers. It's kind of making her parents crazy according to her mom's update blog that they don't know what is going on (Kim, I can only imagine your angst and I pray for you every day). I asked Ashley last weekend if I could stop and pray for her right where we were and we did. As soon as I released her, I teared up. She looked at me and said "Kristy, it's going to be okay. Really. It's going to be okay." This morning when she was texting me about it, she said it was going to be okay again. Funny that this young lady is holding US up! LOL!

If you read her entries on her mom's blog, you would be amazed. She is so insightful and on fire for God. She states that she knows that God has a purpose for this and that she is going to trust in Him completely. She also talks about not worrying about the storm but dance in the rain! Where did she come from? Oh yes.....she is that once in a lifetime special gift of a person that you know was sent straight from God.

So Ashley (and family), know that you guys are all in our prayers today. TJ and I will be praying often for you today. Even though I know that God has promised it's all going to be fine. I'm still standing on those promises!!

Until later....