In our last two updates we have mentioned to you a prayer need that has been on our hearts not only in the last two months, but really since June of 2009.  There has been an almost unbelievable turn of events, starting last June, and the only comfort is knowing that God is still God!  God is a God of order, not of chaos.  God is a God of love, not of cruelty.  Sometimes when our lives get turned upside down and things do not go as we planned, we tend to question God's plan or His love for us.  I think it is during these times that we should grasp even stronger the truth of God's sovereignty and love!

Most of you do not know Faye Bossman, maybe you have only heard her name in our last two updates.  Even though I know this is true, please allow me to reflect on Faye's life and character.  In doing this, you will, no doubt, be drawn to reflect on the God that Faye served.  I would also like to honor Faye's family as my heart goes out to each one of them in this difficult time.

Faye's role in my life was most of all the mother of three of my really good friends in life: Jodi, Erica and Charity.  These girls have known me since I was around 9 or 10 years old.  I remember our family was looking for a church and the first Sunday that we visited CSBC, my twin sister and I went into the Jr. Girls classroom for Sunday school.  A girl named Erica smiled at us and made us feel so welcome.  This was a big deal to us because Deb and I felt bad that we were leaving a church where we had some good friends.  I remember telling my Mom that we wanted to come back to CSBC to see Erica.  I see so much of Faye in Erica's personality!  Just like Faye, Erica is kind and compassionate--almost to a fault!  Everybody found a listening ear and sympathy in Erica, thus she quickly became a friend to everyone.  Erica has a smile that befriends even the hardest of hearts.  As I got to know more about Faye during these last few years, and especially in these last few months, I have come to understand that Erica's wonderful character traits were learned!  She undoubtedly saw her Mom relate to people in exactly this way and to Erica's credit, she displays the same love and concern toward people that Faye had as well.  Erica was my age, so I related most to her growing up.  There are so many great memories of time spent with Erica!

Faye's youngest daughter Charity was my younger sister's best friend growing up, thus Charity was like a little sister to me.  Charity carries her mom's name as her middle name, Charity Faye, although to Andy, Charity will always be known as Charity Belle.  I have gotten to know Charity really well in the past few years as we have started families together.  Charity's quiet confidence in God's character and abilities is what stands out to me.  There have been issues relating to Charity's experience with having children that could have caused her to shrink back in fear, but instead she chose to trust God and plow ahead.  Charity had this same attitude as she dealt with her Mom's illness.  This is a character trait that I also saw in Faye, especially in dealing with her cancer.  Faye did not let the cancer scare her, at least from what I could see.  From the beginning, Faye dedicated this illness and her feelings about it to God and she let us all know that she trusted God for the outcome, according to His will.  There have been others who have dealt with cancer and it's inconveniences with much less grace.  Praise God, Faye did not fall into an attitude of self-pity or fear!  God was her confidence and strength.  I'm sure her family drew from that as they reacted to the illness as well!

Faye's oldest daughter Jodi is so special to me.  Each one of them are special to me, but Jodi is now my sister-in-law.  We have shared much in our lives as far as life experiences, seeing as how we are now in the same family.  It is no trouble at all for me to see the character traits that stand out to me the most about Jodi: she is a wonderful friend and she cares about the unsaved!  She is an example to me about how to keep up-to-date with people and in touch with their life circumstances for the purpose of living life along side them.  She cares about what is going on with others and so many people count her as one of their closest friends!  Jodi is also an example to me of caring for the unsaved.  She speaks of the Lord, no matter the person.  Her outlook is eternal and she desires for all to see life as she does: with God at the forefront.  Jodi resembles her Mom in all of these ways and more!  Faye was an unbelievable friend to those who were blessed with her friendship!  Faye was an example to all in her love of people, both those who knew God and especially those who didn't.  Even in the midst of her sickness, she was still concerned about people's souls, leading a co-worker to Christ just months before her death.  Faye and Jodi share a love for music.  I didn't know this about Faye until I read a journal entry by her husband a few days ago, but Faye always had music playing in the house!  I couldn't help but smile as I thought how Jodi must have learned that from her mother!  Jodi always has music playing and every year her birthday/Christmas list is full of requests for CDs!  I love it! 

Faye has left an undeniable mark on this world!  She lived life along side her husband for almost 34 years, together they raised three beautiful and amazing girls, and their legacy continues in the lives of (currently) 5 grandchildren.

I praise God for Faye's life.  I hurt deeply because she is gone.  I hurt for my friends who will miss their mother.  I hurt for Duane, a husband who will ache for his wife.  But I am glad that I can still be confident that God is still God!

To Jodi, who told me after the death of our first son, Collin, "You are so strong.", I tell you (and the rest of the family) YOU have been so strong through all of this!  I know God is your strength.  Praise Him!