Some Special People

Many people know that a month ago Nick and I had decided to take in a 17 year old girl. She is the eldest kid of the Gautlak family that we adore so much. Her family like I said back in June moved to Lincoln Nebraska to be by family but are stuck in a homeless shelter indefinitely. Nyador is a junior at Lincoln High school and is a rock star athlete. She wanted to finish out her last year and a half there where she has great team mates and coaches. Nick and I prayed about it and decided this would be a great opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. So a month ago we became house parents to a seventeen year old!! I am sure I will be blogging a ton about how fun it is to have her live with us in the future but with her living with us I have been thinking and praying for ways to serve her and get her through that scary place called high school with knowing she is loved. I just remember when I was in high school, I didn't see beyond the school walls and only could see what this world has to offer. My hope for her time living with us is that Nick and I can teach her this world has nothing to offer her and high school will end, the boys, the girls, the sports, and all the hurt that comes along with those crazy hormones!! Anyway the point of this post was I have been thinking about all of the people in my life growing up that invested so much time in my life. I had many teachers, family and friends who loved on me but these few people that come to mind went above and beyond that.

Nancy Caruso

Nancy was my horse mom, I met Nancy through a friend when I was eleven. I had been in horseback riding for a few years and could never have my own horse because they are sooo expensive. So when I had met Nancy who lives one minute away from me, I had asked if I could come ride. Nancy whose only child just moved away wanted me to come ride to give the horses exercise. So for the next six year I would walk to the barn and ride, for three year I used their horses to give lessons to tons of young kids. Throughout those six years Nancy had taught me what it looked like to be selfless. Her and her husband Pete made me feel like I was part of their family, from coming to many of my horse shows to allowing me to use their camper at my equestrian team meets to just inviting me in after a ride to eat some homemade cookies. I think what I learned most from my relationship with them is they had a constant "Joy" or zeal for life. Their joy was not shaken by outward circumstances. I have grown up with alot of "Christians" in my life that I have never seen or heard them have joy in their life. Nancy and Pete were Christians who had a Joy they found through Jesus Christ. Their speech was Joyful, always speaking highly of people and always excited about what the Lord is doing in their life. Nancy now serves with a nonprofit that gets girls out of strip clubs and human trafficking. I am sure the Lord placed them in my life for a great purpose but I am forever grateful for their selflessness and Joy they showed me throughout so many years!

Bob King

Bob was a leader in our youth group who had started when I was in ninth grade. I could tell so many stories about how Bob served all of us at Faith but I wont because it would take days to write. One thing I do know is what he has taught me, he has showed me what a father, husband, leader, and servant looks like who fears the Lord. With so many messed up broken families in our lives I have appreciated Bobs influence and model of what I want for my own life! I have now chosen to merry a man who loves the Lord, not just a "Christian" man,(that word is lightly used) but a man who fears the Lord. Bob has taught me to not be judgemental, to love, serve and open your home to anyone and everyone. I know many people "Christians" who are so knowledgeable and really know the bible but do not live it out. Bob knows the bible and he lives it out in his own life. He truly serves as if he is the hands and feet of the Lord and has inspired me to do the same. He has four kids of his own, is a foster parent, serves in Haiti every other week(maybe not that much but it feels like it) and we use to joke and say he had 10 other teenagers. Another quality that many people say of Bob is he is humble. He may be the coolest guy in Texas but he sure doesn't know it! The people in his community are truly blessed to have the King family there!!

I have been thinking about these people a lot since Nyador has been living with us because I want Nick and I to be able to display these qualities that Nancy and Bob showed me growing up to her. Something I have heard recently and I cant remember where but "Your children may not always listen but they are always watching" I know I may not have listened or made the greatest choices in my past but I was watching and now realize why these two individuals lives were different and had such a great impact on my life.