Tonight I had an opportunity to Skype with another of our “kids.” His name is also David, like my husband’s name, so it gets confusing. We use his initials D.P. for short. He’s now 32 and married to an awesome woman with a beautiful growing family (3 kids, so far). He came into our lives about 10 years ago by way of a Russian student who lived with us for year.
We met her lifeguarding at our pool one summer and when I found out she had no housing near by, we offered our guest room. Olya brought Russia to our house! She was a delight. She also met and introduced us to D.P. When she left for home a year later, we had gained a daughter for life. We also gained a big brother for our boys and he was full of fun-loving southern California ways.
Stuck in Georgia with his immediate family hours away on a military base, D.P. spent a lot of time with our young family. Our 2 boys especially adored him. It just wasn’t a weekend if he didn’t show up to skateboard in the driveway or take them on some cool river trip. Pretty much anything he did was considered the coolest. He had a way with words that made them listen. And he was never shy about his faith or walk with Jesus! As parents, we saw great potential in him for an amazing adult.
I soon found he had a weakness for homemade bread and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. D.P. would call before heading our way… always with just with enough time for me to make a batch. Over the next 4 years he grew independent and confident, put himself through college and met and married his perfect match. God even allowed us to have a little hand in their love-story, all our kids were in his wedding.
It’s a blessing to see what God will do when we’re open to His nudging. What a gift it is to be a small part of someone’s story, to watch a person grow and change, to see God’s plan unfold and know, He alone did that!
ForGlorySake! –Anna
