Hey friends, I can’t believe that it’s been three months since I’ve updated this Blog. Thankfully, I’ve been working hard to return to a normal schedule.
In September, Lisa and I took a nice three-day weekend trip to Sarasota. My beautiful sister Stacey watched the boys. After a full-day court hearing our foster son’s parent’s rights were legally terminated. Soon he will be available for adoption. This situation is our biggest prayer request. We want to make-certain that we are continuing to follow God’s will and not our own. In 27 days, he will have lived with us for two years and over half of his life.
In October, a great group of guys from my church and office (and Mitchell) attended a Impact for Living Men’s conference at Idelwild in Tampa hosted by Tony Dungy, Nathan and Scott Whitaker. Lisa got to getaway for a “girls weekend” with her best friend Michelle in Georgia. On October 14th, I spoke to a group of business-owners at the historic La Teresita Restaurant on behalf of Somebody Cares Tampa Bay. In late October, after a MRSA infection, I got to take my Dad to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game for his birthday, they won! Also in late October, God led Lisa and me to help a single-Mom with three young daughters. I met her one evening when her car was broken-down in front of my office. We’ve been in contact with her daily since then. This week she got a job! She and her girls have a long way to go to simply have a consistent and safe place to sleep, but God continues to provide. This opportunity is another big prayer request, for Lisa and me to lean solely on God’s direction and wisdom in how to help, not enable, but encourage and perhaps be part of the transformation of these four beautiful lives. It’s been a great experience thus far. All three of the boys have played important roles in this work. Spending time with people that have regretfully made poor decisions early in their lives has changed their perspectives in a positive way.
In November, I traveled to Chicago to meet with a client and mentor friend of mine, Bob Mack. Lisa and my staff attended the annual Family First Champions Dinner keynoted by Dave Ramsey and artist Michael W. Smith. For Chandler’s 15th birthday party, we had an all-night lock-in at Digital Lightbridge . The kids stayed-up all night playing Xbox on the big screens. My family, Lisa’s Dad and Brenda spent Thanksgiving and three days in Sarasota. The weather was awesome and we ate at the Columbia Restaurant in St. Armand’s Circle everyday. Darrell and I highly recommend their Merluza “A la Rusa”!
In December, Lisa and the Digital Lightbridge team attended the 15th Anniversary Gala for Somebody Cares Tampa Bay. The event celebrated the ministry of our dear friends Kathy and Daniel Bernard. This past Saturday morning (December 4, 2010), I had an MRI and a PET/CT at Florida Cancer Institute on Monday. We got the results on Tuesday, December 7th and I’m 100% cancer-free. That evening, I had the privilege to share my testimony of God’s grace and healing miracle in my life with the C12 Group members and leaders in the greater Tampa Bay area at their annual Christmas and Member of the Year Awards Celebration.
Lisa, the boys and I are looking forward to a quiet, simple Christmas. I am so thankful for my friends, prayer warriors, board of directors and colleagues who continue to encourage me. In many ways, this year was a faith test. Do I really believe that God’s is in control of everything, especially amidst storms of uncertainty, stage IV head and neck cancer and the car crash that destroyed part of my business. I can truly say that Jesus is worthy of our praise. He really is our provider. He is not subject to man’s ways. His economy is abundant and sufficient.
Merry Christmas and press on, Rich