Happy Birthday, JD Paul. We are celebrating your today!
 Today, we celebrate you. We'll have 5 layer beefy burritos from Taco Bell, Little Debbie Fancy Cakes and Baja Blasts. Maybe we will even listen to some of that Sosa music and play Xbox games. We might even watch Saving Private Ryan. I can't think of a better way to celebrate your 20th birthday than to fill it with the things you loved, except maybe spending it with you. For now, we will have to settle for these things. I am grateful that we won't always have to celebrate without you. We will all be together soon, with Jesus. Until then, Happy Birthday Joshua David Paul. I love you to the moon and back!
 Chrisine I am thinking of you, David, and Hannah today. If J.D. were able I know he would want you to know what is written in this poem. Happy Birthday J.D.! Love and Hugs!
 Branton wanted to change his number this year to 14 when I asked him why 14 he said the 1 was JDs high school number and 4 is Baxters high school number After that conversation I ordered him a 14
 Timehop gives you the "then and now" option. I look at this option in life a lot differently. Then I loved God. Now, I love and pursue God. Then, I was happy with my walk with God. Now, I will not settle for just happiness. I want more of Him. Then, I let the world be a gauge of the joy I felt. Now, I do my best, even though I sometimes fail, to let the Eternal be my guide. I am extremely thankful that 'now' I know that 'then' I was not who God wanted me to be. I depended too much on the world. And even though I'm not where I want to be, just like 'then' He loves me. He promises me to work everything for my good, and I trust Him. 'Now", that is enough for me!
On this day last year vs Appling County we honoured J.D. Paul. I remember saying that it's not how long you live but what you do with your life that you will be remembered. J.D is still remembered today. He lives within our hearts and through his family and GOD still holds him in His loving arms.
 I have asked God the question, Was I really that far away from You that You took my child, several times since JD's death. It hurts me more than I can explain to think that his death may have been because of me. I have struggled with feelings of anger and unbelief. After many conversations with God and other people, I am beginning to understand. Although, I have read these verses before, I honestly did not understand them until now. 1st Peter 1: 3-9, in my Sunday School book is titled, A Living Hope. These verses are written by Peter to explain why it is important to cling to the hope that God gives us of an eternal life with Him when we are going through hardships here. And yes, sometimes these hardships are to grow our faith in Christ. This is where my heart breaks in many pieces. Although I will not know all the reasons for God's divine plan for my suffering until Christ returns, I can infer that my suffering has brought spiritual maturity to my Christian life that probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't lost my child. Does this take away my pain? No, it doesn't. In some ways the pain is more excruciating now than it was then. With that being said, so is the joy. God provided a way for me to fully understand His love for me. Even though I don't like to think of it, my faith grew through the loss of my child. But this loss is only temporary. I now know without a doubt that these two hands will join in Heaven, and our family will be whole again, with God. I am thankful that God loves me enough to show me His grace and allow me to find joy in the sufferings of this world. I am thankful for all of His blessings.
 I just had to go ahead and post this one. The influence of JD Paul starts early. I am sure this Westberry and his twin brother will learn of JD and the legacy he left for so many.
 This morning, Bowen was driving me to an appointment in Hoboken, GA. The fact that he was with me was a fluke. Not normal. An older lady ran a red light and ran into us at full speed. Bowen saw her just before she hit and swerved right which kept her from hitting the driver side door. After recovering and making sure Bowen and the lady were ok. I went back to the car. I saw a rubber bracelet on the drivers seat. I didn't stop to see what it was. But wondered and thought it was.... Later, when we were cleaning out the car, Connie noticed it too and asked if Bowen had been wearing it. He hadn't. Neither one of us knew it was even in the car. The bracelet was imprinted with the words "God's Got Me"! That bracelet is one many people wear in memory of a young man, J. D. Paul, who died in a tragic car accident last year from Jesup. That was his belief and he had tweeted those words after a previous accident. It has become a "theme" - not only to remember J.D. - but to proclaim God's mercy, His love and His blessings. God certainly had His Hand on us this morning. This could've turned out much worse. "God's Got Me"!
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June 2023
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