Nor Cal Tres Dias #28

Donna and I will be married for 20 years on May 15th. This is the second marriage for both of us, and we soon realized that, as a couple, God could use us in ministry together. We are so thankful the Lord had blessed us with an understanding to always see the best in each other. We have 5 children between us, 12 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson (with another on the way!).

We attend Life Community Church in Roseville and have been there since the first day it opened in 2005. Donna and I have been commissioned as Stephen Ministers, so we have gone through extensive training on how to walk alongside someone going through a valley in life. We are matched with a person weekly to listen, encourage and help them process feelings. Most important, to connect them with God’s love. We each have someone we are walking with now, for however long it takes.

We have led a weekly Life Group Bible Study for over 10years. I am currently serving on the Church Board as a Member-At-Large.

Now that I am retired, we look forward to traveling and visiting many of our National Parks. Whether we use our camper trailer or fly to our destination, we are excited to see the beautiful vistas out there.

I love to garden and grow vegetables in our backyard for a great harvest in summer and fall. My biggest focus in retirement is just to be “Grandpa.”I want to build a legacy in my family that they love the Lord, make good choices in life, and surround themselves with good people.

My life changed when God gave me a “do-over: He moved me up here to Nor. Cal in 2000. Since then, I have desired to follow Christ, learn His Word, and love His people. I can look back and see how God has protected me, matured me, and used me to have influence by practicing my gift of teaching and encouragement.

What is God doing in my life now? He has helped me grow in the knowledge on how to nurture my children and grandchildren. He gives me comfort in speaking with strangers and putting them at ease. He is growing my hunger to know His Word and how to apply it.

I am loving this opportunity to share the Prayer Challenge with 34 men and respond to their needs. I am so thankful for His sweet presence in my life.

I attended NCTD #9 and it’s been an amazing journey. What is my hope for Weekend #28? Transformation. That the men who are called to experience Tres Dias, will allow the layers of fear, doubt, anxiety, pride, selfishness,and sin issues, to be peeled away. To no longer keep Christ at arm’s length, but invite the Lord to meet them behind their walls.

Before I went through Tres Dias #13, I was a shy, insecure, self-conscious wallflower. By serving, I learned to be confident in who God created me to be! I am free to be ME, a daughter of the Most High! All praises go to Him!

I live in Weimar with my husband Tony. We met in a singles group at our then-church. As formerly-marrieds, neither of us had the desire to date, but we soon found out that God had other plans.  We have now been blissfully married for 10 years. Six kids between us, and still waiting for grandchildren. We attend Gold Country Church.

I work as an Administrative Clerk in the Placer County Assessor’s office in Auburn. I love my job and the people I work with. I am so blessed!

Gardening is my hobby. I love the whole process! From amending the soil, to planting the seeds, seeing them sprout, and watching them grow into fruit-producing plants!  I often talk to the Lord out in my garden. I ask him to help those that might be struggling and laugh with him about how fast some of the vegetables grow overnight! Gardening is hard work sometimes, but it fills my heart with so much joy!

I do have one addiction—to dogs. I grew up with Border Collies. Jingles, a Lhasa Poo, was in my Christmas stocking in high school. Suddenly, my passion was ignited for the Lord’s amazing creatures. Since then I’ve rescued, fostered and done life with Neo, my “soul” dog, an Akita/German Shepherd mix. We went through Dog Training School together. He lived 15 years. 

We only have one dog at the moment, a 2 ½ year old Golden doodle, Nico. We rescued him from a neighbor breeder because he has seizures. Nico brings a lot of joy and laughter to our home. I know God must have something planned in the future for me with more dogs… why else would he give me such a strong passion for them? Their ability to listen and learn from humans is fascinating! It brings me so much joy to watch a dog learn and play, and even sleep.

What I love about Tres Dias: It’s a community of family with like-minded Christ followers. I’ve never been so blessed with so many sisters and brothers in Christ! I also love how God moves in mighty ways every weekend! He blesses my socks off every time I serve!

My hope for the candidates on Weekend #28: That they are able to see how much they are loved unconditionally by the Lord and that they realize they can have continual joy in all seasons and in all circumstances because this is the day the Lord had made and we are to rejoice and be glad in it!