North, West and Walter.

...I know. It's been a while. But I have been in Chicago AND San Francisco in the two weeks. Needless to say, I am happy my feet are back on TN soil! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed both trips. Chicago was for my sweet friend, Tricia's, bachelorette weekend. Love that city. I had been there once before with Sonya, when I was 18, she was 20. We were so poor we had to DRIVE there, and stayed WAY outside the city. But of course we had fun. And again, Chicago was fun for me. It was so good to see all of Tricia's favorite girls gather together around her to celebrate her. Such a testament to how well SHE loves people. Then were off to San Francisco to visit Rich's family. It was, as always, wonderful and beautiful. From their back porch you can see the most beautiful golden hills all around you. I love it there. No matter where they live, their houses are always so "homey" to me. Must not be the houses. Must be the "warm" bodies in them. :) I always miss my mother-in-law... We loved the time with them...and it was so sweet to see them enjoy Shaelyn Jade. She is really growing into her little personality and I was able to just sit back and watch it myself this week. That was the best part. AND having Rich right with us for 6 days straight. That was great!

...So my last post, I mentioned that the next day, Sonya and I (and Jade and Livi)were going to "Play It Forward". We did. We spent the day getting pictures of Bane blown up, and buying frames and bright colored gift bags and delivering them to special people who have been so sweet to Sonya and Dra. Like our wonderful pediatrician, Dr. Brooks...and his fabulous nurse, Eva. And our wonderful pastors at Bethel who really have given the term "church family" a whole new meaning for us through all this. That was fun. Next, we decided we'd like to do a "random" act so we just started driving, all over the place, praying that God would lead us to someone who needed a "lift"... Listening to the praise music from Bane's Celebration. It's amazing how when you just WORSHIP GOD, the rest of the world sorta fades away. So we drove. And praised. And then we saw him. Walter. Walking alone down the sidewalk. Kinda limping. Just looked a little down on his luck. Sonya said, "That's him...let me out!" Right there in the middle of the road. She approached him. I stayed in the car with the girls.



And they started walking along together. My eyes filled up with big tears as I watched my sweet Sonya following God's path for her, right down that sidewalk. You see, since Bane died, it's as if God's "calling" for their lives has become SO CRYSTAL CLEAR. All of the planning, all of the preparing, all of the schooling...none of it could have "prepared" them for the pain of losing their son, but it was all part of God's perfect plan to use them...to glorify His Name. She stood there on that sidewalk and listened to Walter's story. He actually said it himself, he was a little "down on his luck" lately...and shared his struggles. She listened. Then she asked him where he was headed, and he said he has the key to a local church and he walks and lets the choir in each week for practice. She asked him if he was hungry to which he shamelessly said yes. She asked him if, in exchange for a good warm meal, he'd also let her share her story with him. He agreed. We headed straight to Hardee's where we got him a yummy meal that he almost enjoyed all by himself...


...minus two fries...but we promise we told him! :) He was waiting outside the church when we returned and he smiled as his new friend approached.



They went into that little church and talked more...this time her.He listened to her heart as she told him all about her baby boy that she lost. About how "down" she was feeling too.

Two complete strangers. Very different lives. Directed by God to each other. Paths crossed. Stories told. Burdens SHARED.

Walter took a Banebow card and made a promise that night to Play It Forward himself.

I believe he did.

I wonder what other person out there was, in turn, blessed by sweet Walter?

Are you Playing It Forward in your own life? Has Bane's story encouraged you to ACT? If so, please let me know. I would love to share your story with Sonya tomorrow. Oh the strength it brings her...