Wednesday, July 20, 2011

My Wonderful Cousin Crystal

Vacationing two weeks in Wisconsin, I was able to spend some time with several of my cousins.  One of them is Crystal.  Her parents divorced when she was two.  She had a turbulent childhood.  

Crystal moved in with Ryan at a young age.  I am not sure about Ryan's upbringing, but I don't think it was great.  Ten years ago, they found a small church called Calvary Chapel, a branch of the large one in Orange County.  It only has about 50 members.  That church has loved and nurtured them.  Both of them walk with Jesus now.  It is a beautiful thing to see the transforming power of the Lord in their lives.

She wrote this to me about her wedding day that was performed on that beautiful lake in Door County, Wisconsin that you see in the picture above ~

"On our wedding day there were 6 foot waves on the water when we woke up. By the time we boarded the Yankee Clipper for our wedding at 6pm, it was glass! I will never forget Grandpa Garbutt telling us (and there is a picture to prove it) to go back to our room that night and beg God's forgiveness for living in sin. I told him that we'd not only been forgiven, but that the Lord had truly blessed us. And he continues to do so. Our struggles let His light shine!"

They have two precious children.  The children are happy and secure.  They have a mommy and daddy that love each other.  Ryan's job has been hurt by the economy, so his pay is not much. He works hard and provides barely enough to cover their needs and God does the rest.  They decided long ago that Crystal would stay home and raise the children.  They make sacrifices, but they are being blessed with a solid marriage and well-adjusted children. 

They are not rich in money, but they are rich in relationships.  They both smile a lot and seem to have found the secret to true happiness...walking with Jesus and following Him.  Her mother, Lora, is walking with Jesus now.  She loves reading her Bible and talking about Him.  Oh, the transforming power of Jesus...

Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.  Proverbs 15:16,17

A Moderate Life
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