I really believe God dreams a bigger dream for us than we do for ourselves.  Another case in point is my friend Jan.  We met almost 10 years ago when I interviewed her during the noon news.  She was working in hospice then and, true to form, pouring her heart and soul into the lives of those she came in contact with.  I instantly liked her personality and positive spirit.  We had lunch together, ran a 5K and went to a Christian concert and dinner in Waverly with some other women she knew.  Then Dave moved here and since Jan lives in Cedar Rapids, it was tough to get together.  But we always stayed in touch.  When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she came on the news to talk about it with me.  And when she hit the 5-year survivor mark I rejoiced over the milestone.  One thing about Jan she is a selfless individual.  Always delaying her joy to fulfill the needs of others.  That meant joining her ex-husband at his beside when he was dying despite the challenges their marriage had presented.  Becoming a pastor and telling God it would take His doing to convince her the rest of her life would be anything but one of staying happily single.  God intervened and Saturday Dave and I were thrilled to attend her wedding in Cedar Rapids.  A younger, widowed pastor came into the picture and the fairytale ending she never expected–or probably never felt she deserved–is playing out.  I was escorted into a church   stairwell just before the ceremony so Jan and I could connect as she prepared to walk down the aisle.  The love and joy emanating from her face were blinding.  She deserves to be so blessed!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 56