21 years ago today Jeff came through our front door in a tiny apartment in the highlands and said “ honey I am done.” These words changed our life forever! Neither one of us ever took another drink or drug again.
We celebrated this day every year as our biggest holiday!! You see, when we decided to leave the partying behind and lead a sober life God’s plan for our life started to unfold.

Today I sat and just pondered that morning 21 years ago and all the years that followed. You see on that day I couldn’t see my future but God sure did. He knew what HE was preparing for us to do. HE knew how HE would use two broken people to sit with the broken of this world and be able to tell them how God delivered us from the life they are now trying to escape. A life we would surely have died from if not for HIS grace on us.

I am a firm believer that it is hard to lead people where you yourself have not been. It is not always what I would call a fun journey but God sure does have a plan for it all!! I am depending on that!!

Thank you Jesus for 21 beautiful years of seeing things clearly.

I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2

I was sitting at a stop light the other day and just burst into tears. I just all of the sudden had this thought… “Like I am so much stronger that I ever thought I could be. “Anything I face today is no match for watching the love of my life take his last breath here on earth. As I look back on that moment I just thought to myself” but at that moment of my worst nightmare Jeff got to see the face of Jesus, a face that he could not wait to see. “
I cannot believe that it has been 3 years this New Years Eve that my sweet man went to be with Jesus. I think I miss him more and more every day. Time does not heal all wounds but we learn how to take the next breath again and again.
I have a note that Jeff wrote me framed on my desk and it says “ Love you honey, cant wait to see your beautiful face again!” I am holding him to that promise. I cant wait either!!

This year for me has been full of many changes. Its funny how the changes of life just keep coming, even when we have had enough.
Jesus has taught me so many things this year, but this scripture has had great meaning for me. In 1Kings 19:7 the angel of the Lord says to Elijah “ get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
You see God knew that the journey for Elijah would be too much for him so he cared for him and told him what he needed to do to have strength to carry him forward.
God does the same for me. God knows that this journey is too much for me, so he goes before me in everything and as I seek HIS face he will make sure I have strength for the journey He has set before me.
Wow what a beautiful thing to cling to this New Year!!

I have a huge chalkboard that sits on a wall above our kitchen table. We were given it as a gift. It is my favorite thing in my house. When I first got it every few days I would take a piece of chalk and pen a new scripture on it. As the year went on though I would forget to change the verse. So sometimes it would be up there a long time!! One day I walked in the kitchen and glanced up at that chalkboard and some of the letters had been erased. It was Jeff’s way of reminding me that it was time for a new scripture. Haha

Well Jeff isn’t here anymore to erase the letters. This weekend I was telling someone about what Jeff use to do and I realized that the scripture that was written up there had been there since Noah’s graduation party in May. I am sure that Jeff has been shaking his head. Haha
I was getting ready to change that verse this morning
and learned the news that a sweet girl who had been in my home only a few times lost her life to heroin last night. My heart is just so sad. I look at her picture and I just get so angry that addiction has taken another beautiful young person from this earth. My heart has been so torn lately by the amount of suffering that goes on in this world. I have asked God to place me in the middle of that suffering with people as to try and make a difference in this world while I am still here on earth. The reality of the suffering is just unbelievable.

I am changing the chalkboard verse and remembering Gods promises to all of us in revelation 21…
HE will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said “ I am making everything new!” Then he said, WRITE THIS DOWN, FOR THESE WORDS ARE TRUST WORTHY AND TRUE.”

God’s promises are our life and breath! We have to know what He promises and then spread those promises and hope on to others!!

Do you ever wake from a dream and wonder where am I? My life is kinda like that right now.
Noah is happily checked in at college and Abby is snug as a bug at home recovering from open heart but doing absolutely fantastic. It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks!!
When I got off the plane and returned home I sat a minute and just looked around. It was a very strange feeling as there were no boys running through my house and refrigerator. The no activity was very strange for me. A house full of kids has been my life for the last 18 years. So, for just a moment I heard someone whisper in my ear “ Sherry you are totally alone now.” BUT I know the whispering of the one prowling around looking for someone to devour very clearly. I can assure you that whispering was met with this response… “ UMMMM NO I AM NOT!!”
Jesus has been with me every step of this journey without Jeff and HE will never leave me. I have too many friends to count, a family who loves and adores me, beautiful children who need me and grandbabies that I assure you will keep me busy. Not to mention that I have a full time job with In His Grip Ministry. I am also writing a little book to hopefully help others learn how to choose joy while in the midst of suffering or really just how to choose joy in our lives.
Every morning I will wake up and say “ Okay Lord, how do I make a difference in this world today?”
Here is what God’s word said to me this week as everything is changing again in my life and I am wondering where I am…

“See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. “ Isaiah 43: 19

God is making a way! Sweet dreams my friends!!

She is 20 years old and addicted to heroin. She has a beautiful family that loves Jesus, lives in a beautiful home and attended a private school. “‘How in the world did she end up using heroin and how are we going to live through this? “ her Mom asked me. Where do people turn when their lives are flipped upside down on a Monday night at 9pm?
In June of last year In His Grip Ministries was created to continue the work that Jeff and I were doing when he went to be with Jesus. Specifically in life and crisis coaching, to help families like the one I just told you about.
The ministry part of this journey has been quite easy for me as it is what I have been called to do my whole life. The fundraising part not so much.
So when I was talking to my friend about how hard the fundraising is, he said to me, “Are you sharing with people what you are doing and asking them to partner with you?” I said, “Um, not really.” And this was his reply to me, “Ok, sister, I know that He will provide, but usually how HE works is through the body of Christ and the body of Christ needs to know that you are doing HIS ministry!” As Dallas Willard says, “If you have a flat tire, it is all good and well to pray, but you had better get out of the car and begin to fix the flat! That means, I think you probably need to be asking.”
He was right I have not done the best job at letting people know what is going on in the ministry. I am going to do better. My prayer is that in a month I would be able to send out another letter saying all the funds have been raised for this year and that we are going to have a big party to celebrate what God has done!!
Would you prayerfully consider giving to In His Grip Ministries? This ministry is making a difference in the lives of people. It’s the reason I am still here on earth. I know it, and there is much work to be done.
Thank you my friends. I will keep you updated, I promise!!
You can give on-line or find out more about In His Grip Ministries by going to:
Inhisgripministry.org