(in Chronological order)

1. I get saved.  I was super young when I got saved. I grew up in church and always heard my pastor give an altar call at the end of service. This was not a big emotional deal for me. I just knew in my heart I should do it, and I thought I should get it over with — just TCB. But now that I look back, I know that the Holy Spirit was prompting me because I would need to know He was with me for DM #2.

2. My father dies. My father was diagnosed with brain cancer when I was about five years old. He passed away when I was nine.  When he died it was my first true understanding of what “permanent” really feels like. Amazingly, I never felt depressed or lonely. I knew God was with me and I would be ok.

3. My mom remarries. I am so blessed to have the stepfather I have. At this point in my life, “stepfather” is too distant a word– Joe is my Dad. It wasn’t always that way. We had to really work at blending our family under the hand of the Holy Spirit. I learned that God restores what we have lost in His own way and time.

4. The Bible becomes alive to me. It had been about eight years since I committed my life to Jesus back in that tiny church in Baton Rouge. I had begun following God so half-heartedly, and made some decsions I regretted. I will never forget the day I was sitting in my room by myself saying to God, “I want to go back to the way it was between You and me — everything free and joyful.” I opened my Bible and “just landed” on Isaiah 1:18. I knew God was speaking to me right from the pages — I heard his voice for the first time. I was then, and remain now, totally ruined by the beauty of it. I never looked back from then on. Made some mistakes, for sure, but have never given up.

5. Went on my first mission trip. Ruined again. Addicted to seeing people changed by the power of God. Totally convinced that EVERY Christian should go at least once.

6.  I get married. (Insert hearts and “x”/”o”s here.) Still living happily ever after.

7. I become a mother. Motherhood is all it’s cracked up to be and more. And, ironically, less. More specifically, a lot  less of me and a lot more of others. 24/7 servanthood taken to an HNL plus one of the greatest joys of my life!

8. We plant Celebration Church! Honestly, there are still days that I stand in awe, and shout in my head, “We did it! I can’t believe it, God! We really did it!” And I still LOVE being planted in this house with these people.

9. We host our first SHINE conference…and I realize the incredible value of building the women in the house. When you invest in the women they pour out what has been added to their capacity and the whole church grows!

10.  BLANK.  I am leaving #10 blank because it hasn’t happened yet, but it will happen without a doubt. Number 10 will be the day we have our first service in the building at Baymeadows and 9A. Those of you who have been with us know how long we have been pressing on toward this goal. Our first ever miracle offering was at the JCDS theater. This has been one huge Goliath that has not wanted to go down easily. To be honest, there have been many times I have thought we should just sell the land and call it quits. But Stovall  and I both KNOW that God gave that land to Celebration Church! So we have pressed on. Now the day that this dream becomes a reality is clear on the horizon. So I’m saving #10, the last dance (smile), for that day. I know it will be a defining moment.