It was an incredible day...unbelievable actually! After the wedding in Abilene, we loaded up the van and headed on up North to Tulia (Ryan's hometown) late Saturday night. It was a nice drive in West TX and easy...nothing like driving I45 that's for sure. ;) We had decided to go to Tulia since we were already have way there and Ryan was preaching on Sunday at his home town church. He was also doing some fundraising for Cross Community. We were asking First Baptist Tulia to partner with us for prayer partners and financial giving to help start the church and for year 2! We had 3 families sign up to give monthly which is GREAT but we had a lot of BIG one time gifts. We raised close to $2000 and that didn't include the love offering and more cards that were filled out! Such a blessing to have many people..Rural, country people understand the need for church planting, love on Ryan, and give financially to start up church that is 10 hours away. So Awesome!
Another reason Sunday was a very blessed day....Ryan was given a CAR! Yes, A CAR! :D
I could not believe it, neither could Ryan~we were in complete shock. After the service on Sunday, Ryan's dad (Donnie) kept telling us that he had something to show in his car. We were like ok, then kept talking and hugging people, greeting the folks in the lobby of the church. Donnie was like so eager and so excited and kept drawing us out of the church. As we walked to his car, he looked at Ryan and crying he said, I would like to hand you the keys to your new car!!! WHAT~ pretty much shocked us beyond words..literally! ;) lol
I started to cry, Ryan cried, Ryan's best buddy from high school was out there taking pictures of us crying, Ryan hugged him. You see, Robert (the high school buddy) is a car dealer in Lubbock and he and Donnie got together 2 weeks ago and made a plan to buy us this car.
Donnie had set aside some money and told Robert he had a certain amount of money he could spend to buy and car and help bless us on this new journey. Then, Robert said, I'll match it! Match it...really~ so incredible!! You see, every year Ryan has a guys weekend up in Lake Grandbury/Stephenville area where he and 5 other best friends from high school meet up. These guys are pretty tight and have known each other a long time. Truly great friends. Well, Robert is one of these buds and he ended up calling the other 4 friends from high school and asked if they would like to help bless Ryan. All of them stacked hands and within 2 days, those guys sent in $10,000. NOT KIDDING Those friends raised all that money and then Donnie and Robert combined their financial gifts and bought the car! Wow, I'm still in shock and completely filled with gratitude. These people have blessed our family beyond Huge! :)
Ryan drives a 1997 Honda Passport that has been a good car but needless to say, 3 windows broken, the sun roof leaks way to much air and is loud...the car is old! LOL
So this new and paid for car is a huge blessing and it really isn't a car but a minivan. It is a 2008 fully loaded Uplander. It has a dvd player, rear air, electric door, and a lot of room. The girls think they are high class now~its so fun! lol ;)
So, Ryan has graciously given me the minivan and he drives old blue (our other minivan) now! What a man. :) We are excited to give away Ryan's car to a family if they want it. We will be presenting it to them and ask if they would like to have it for their boys. They have 2 high school boys and neither have a car. I would love for them to have this Passport~it would be a perfect for a high school boy.:)
So~ Here it is. We are so incredibly grateful! God is good.
Prverbs 11:25
"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
