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Initials of all of us at the entry to the new addition. |
My husband and
I started out the year with the completion of remodeling. My parents
and uncle moved in with us in 2012 and because we only had two
bedrooms and one living room, extra space was needed; therefore, we added an
additional bedroom and family room. Five adults in one home instead of just the two of us presented challenges and change but as a family we've been able to make the adjustments necessary so that everyone is happy and comfortable. The best part of this situation is knowing my parents and uncle wanted to live with us
in their “sunset years”. That meant the world to Mike and I. It also reminded me of how blessed I am to have a husband that
welcomed his in-laws into our home with no reservations whatsoever.
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Giving testimony with Jennifer O'Neill (l), and Georgette Forney (r). |
God led me to San Francisco to speak in front of 50,000
people at the Silent No More Awareness Campaign rally preceding the
West Coast Walk for Life. It was the first time I publicly gave
testimony of my abortion experience. I was extremely frightened, to
say the least, but when I stepped up and took the microphone, the
Holy Spirit took over and the fear subsided.
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The door of my office the day I retired. Crime scene tape and all! |
Due to my
mother's increased dementia and a broken hip, I chose to retire from my job as a background investigator to help my dad with her care. I loved my job and it was a heart-wrenching decision; however, it was most definitely the right one as my
mom was recently diagnosed with cancer throughout her body and her
time with us is short. I know it was God's will for me to retire as
I now have the opportunity to spend irreplaceable time with her and
give much needed support to my dad.
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Rosemary Benefield, Me, Leslie Brunolli Rachel's Hope |
2013 brought several opportunities to co-lead Rachel's Hope Post-Abortion Healing Retreats
which always brings joy to my heart … seeing the wonderful healing
touch of Christ in the eyes of women who walked in with nothing but
shame, pain and regret. We created a new program which will start in
2014 - one that will provide follow-up for those same women. This
retreat will be mostly contemplative (silent) to provide them quiet
time to reflect on their spiritual and emotional growth and share
that growth as well as possible challenges they have experienced.
On Christmas Day we were given one of the best gifts ever! My step-daughter informed Mike and I she was pregnant! With my son and granddaughters living in Michigan having a grandchild 15 miles away will be wonderful. Wouldn't it be a blessing if my son and his family finally acquiesced to our constant requests they move back to California? Three grandbabies within hugging distance would be a dream come true!
On Christmas Day we were given one of the best gifts ever! My step-daughter informed Mike and I she was pregnant! With my son and granddaughters living in Michigan having a grandchild 15 miles away will be wonderful. Wouldn't it be a blessing if my son and his family finally acquiesced to our constant requests they move back to California? Three grandbabies within hugging distance would be a dream come true!
They say that
when one door closes another one opens. And so it happened with my
retirement. I've always loved to write so it was time to take up the challenge of getting
published. The Holy Spirit led me to Helping Hands Press
that accepted my work. Not only was my work
published, I'm consistently given wonderful advice, assistance and
encouragement. Through my association with HHP, I have met a
multitude of wonderfully talented authors that also provide
insurmountable inspiration.
The same three C's will follow me into 2014, but just as it was in 2013, accompanying them
is the most important “C” of all ..... Christ.
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"May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long ,how high, and how deep His love really is."
- Ephesians 3:17, 18
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