The Miracle of Us

There’s no simple way to explain a love, like ours, that has stood the test of decades, raised a family, weathered grief, and still finding joy in the ordinary. 

The miracle of us isn’t found in big moments or perfect days. It is found in our mornings over coffee; shared glances and holding hands; prayers over each other, our family and our ministry; deep conversations and laughter that has never been lost.

We started young, but we had old souls; we were naïve, but not ignorant. We failed many times and got right back up together.        

We were committed to each other, but especially to the Lord.  

That commitment is the glue that has held us together. 

The miracle of us.

We recently celebrated Ed's 75th birthday. I find myself thankful, not just for the years we’ve been given, but for the life we’ve lived — a life of ministry, faith, love, family and legacy.

Birthdays are invitations to pause, reflect, and give thanks. So allow me a few minutes to do just that.

For more than 50 years, Ed has served God faithfully — as a worship leader, student minister, senior pastor, shepherd, counselor, and friend.  His passion throughout those years, serving in 10 different churches, was to teach God's Word and share the Gospel in a way that those listening would find practical application that would affect change in their lives.      

He has stood beside hospital beds, baptized new believers, married young couples, counseled troubled hearts and walked with families through grief. 

He’s prayed when no one else saw, and carried burdens that were never his own.

His life has impacted more people than we’ll ever know this side of heaven.

But the greatest sermons he’s ever preached have been in how he lives: with kindness, humility, quiet strength, and an unwavering love for Jesus.

Our marriage has been more than a partnership — it’s been a ministry of its own. For all these years we have walked side by side through joy and sorrow. And through it all, we have always found God faithful.

We’ve raised five children, watched 20 grandchildren come into the world and now have sweet June, our first great-grandchild. Each one is a reminder of God’s goodness.  In a grouping of pictures of all 20 of our grandkids, a plaque hangs over the top that says...    

"All because two people fell in love."  The miracle of us!

This Psalm was given to me at the birth of our fourth child. It has been a treasure to me and it continues to remind me that each member of our family is a blessing directly from God's hands to our hearts.

Psalm 128                                                  

Blessings on all who reverence and trust the Lord—on all who obey him!  Their reward shall be prosperity and happiness.  

Your wife shall be contented in your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around the dinner table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is God’s reward to those who reverence and trust him. May the Lord continually bless you with heaven’s blessings as well as with human joys.                               

May you live to enjoy your grandchildren! And may God bless Israel!

As we reflect on a 75th birthday,  this isn’t just a celebration of age — it’s a celebration of legacy. Of a life well-lived. Of a heart fully surrendered. Of the miracle of what God can do through two people who say “yes” to Him. I see the hand of God over every chapter of our story.

The miracle of us.

As we celebrate the gift of 75 years and reflect on 50+ years of faithful ministry, we’d love to hear from you. Whether he baptized you, married you, prayed for you, preached a message that changed your life, or simply gave you a warm smile when you needed it most — your memories matter.

If Ed has touched your life in any way, I invite you to share your thoughts, stories, or birthday wishes in the comments below. Your words will be a blessing not just to Ed, but to all who have been a part of this incredible journey.

Thank you all for being a part of the miracle of us.

April 2

I can't believe it's been a year since I lost my friend.

This spiral daily devotionals that sits on my kitchen countertop has not been changed since this day last year.

It was one of those things I just couldn't make myself do.

The devotional for April 2 speaks of being weary 

and crying out to Jesus.

This quote kept me coming back to re-read this devotional...

"Jesus is the One who takes my shriveled-up self and breathes life into me.  Without Him, I am empty. Only when I lay myself down, when I give Him my worries and fears and anxieties [and grief] ... 

can I finally be full.

It has been a journey of grief, anger, and confusion, but God has been faithful. He never left my side. I always felt His love. He patiently waited for me to return to Him and allow Him to be 

my strength and my refuge. 

Psalm 92:15

"The Lord is just; He is my ROCK..."

Psalm 91 became Carroll's anchor after so much loss in her life.

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare about the Lord: 

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; 

He is my God, and I trust Him."

Carroll lived out those promises. She held onto God's Word and relied on His strength through all the battles in her world.

Today she is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Steve sing praises to our Lord and loving on her daughter and mom.

She was my friend for 32 years.  

She taught me so much.

She prayed for me.

She cheered me on when I struggled to think straight.

She encouraged me as I taught Bible studies.

She couldn't laugh without crying.  I always loved that.

She was a mighty Prayer Warrior.

She loved to have fun and I can still see her smile and her eyes shining as she stepped into her new home with all new furnishings.

She was like a little girl at Christmas.

I'm so glad she had those moments of JOY.

Oh, how I miss her!

So many others are missing her today.

She was a good friend to many.

Forever in my heart!

 

Who Will I Become in 2025?

That truly is the question I am facing on this New Years Day.

I know what I have been.

I know what I want to be.

But am I willing to surrender this year to the Lord and allow Him to make me what He has prepared for me in 2025?

I still feel weary from 2024.  Do I have the strength of spirit to yield my weary self to Jesus?

When I take a moment to look back, I can say the past 5 years have been hard.  

But none of us are guaranteed a happy or easy year in 2025.

We are guaranteed His presence, His guidance, and His strength and I am reminded that is how I am still standing.

I'm sitting in my chair this morning sipping hot tea because I have a sore throat and an achey body and realizing that, ready or not, we are back to a new beginning. 

I usually love new beginnings - but I confess that I often struggle getting past the starting block because I am consumed with all the "wrongs" in my spirit, soul and body- too many things to work on. 

I overthink and decide that I don’t have enough time in the day and I'm too far gone. 

I offer myself no GRACE and suddenly it’s March!

It has taken too many years for me to realize that this is a place the enemy sneaks in with his attacks –telling me that I don’t have what it takes to live intentionally – paralyzing me with his lies. 

Do you find yourself believing the lies just when you think you are ready to get moving into the New Year?

For many years I have turned to the spiritual practice of asking the Lord for one WORD that would be a focal point for the year - a word I could lean into - a word that the Lord could use to grow and refine you. 

For me, it made more sense than making new years resolutions.

It is about living life with purpose.

It is about asking God for a Word that will guide us into intentional living.

When He gives the Word, He will show you how to lean into that word through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the whole year.

If you don’t have a Word, seek the Lord.  

His WORD tells us that when we seek Him, we will find Him.  He will never hide from you – He wants to hear from you and He wants to answer you.

I start asking in the Fall, but there have been times that I finally hear His whisper in December or even January.  No matter, it is a practice of waiting and listening.

I love that the word is His chosen and custom designed word for me in 2025.

Sometimes the word is hard and, admittedly, I have argued with Him about the word. I have rebelled against the word.  But finally come to realize that His plan to use that hard word is to focus me on Him and help me to become more like Him.

After receiving my word, I usually have a leather cuff made with my word on it so I can wear it daily and see that word all day long.

These leather cuffs represent about 12 years of my life. 

There are a few missing from this pic and there are a couple that the Lord saw fit to continue into the next year.

If you look closely you will see the word WAIT.

I wore that cuff for 3 years.  The Lord had something to teach me about waiting and it took 3 years and counting. 

This year my word is JOY.

I’ve been low on JOY for a couple of years.

In 2025 I am praying that I will be intentional to live into the meaning of HIS JOY and what it should look like in my everyday life- giving and receiving Joy and teaching me through His Word.

WARNING: Don’t allow this practice to become legalistic or high pressure.

This is the practice I have found that works for me.  It doesn't have to be for you.

Just relax and ask the Lord to show you how to live your life with intentionality in 2025.  

To me that means never wasting a moment - good or bad - easy or hard- always pointing it all back to Jesus.

In future posts I will be sharing how God is using my word and I would love to hear your word or what other ways He is getting you ready for a year of Intentional Living for Him.