God has a way of minimizing the workload and easing our burdens. That is just the kind of God we serve. Many things seem to be undone each day. There is always someone to call or a letter to write or a connection I can make. I can lay my head on the pillow and regret the list I didn't get to, or meditate on the amazing ways that the Lord ordered my steps that day. Ending the day with a positive attitude actually starts at the beginning. I am reminded each morning before my feet touch the ground, that I am His child before I am a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, friend, or ministry director. He is my Dad. I am His child. He gives me the assignment. I prepare for the task. We must frequently remember WHO we are serving each day. When a nasty, entitled voice at the other end of the phone curses me for not paying their electric bill, we remember that hurt people hurt people. We remind ourselves that He is a big God. We cannot save the world but we can be effective in our little corner of the world. When others forget to come back and say, “Thank you” we remember to look back at those we need to thank. Every moment is a lesson. Every day is a gift from the Lord and every able hand He sends is gratefully received. Thank you to all of the volunteers who multiply our time and through their dedicated service increase our effectiveness in this ministry.

Linda Abell has served us for almost 20 years. She has multiplied our time on countless occasions enabling us to complete projects with her expertise in many areas. She describes herself as, "a jack of all trades and a master of none." We disagree as we have seen her excel in many areas. One of them is teaching childbirth education at the Pregnancy Care Center of Chandler. We have always done our best to network with other organizations in the valley, serving them and maintaining relationships to the best of our ability. She patiently invests in the women who come to this organization for help. Her preparations for teaching are always done with the utmost of care for her clients and her diligence is to be commended. She is also my chief proofreader among many other office responsibilities that need to be maintained here at the ministry. It helps to have another hand to ease the load and another eye for detail in this important area of our mission. She has recently taken on the task of administrator for our annual retreats. Retreat 2015 proved her expertise and skill in this area; it was the best ever with her direction and insight! She has also taken on the role of a counselor, mentor and teacher. She has been training in this area for several years and we have released her to work with some of the clients that come through our Community Outreach. She is always eager to learn and receive further equipping and has certified with the American Association of Christian Counselors in Trauma and Abuse. Besides all of her assistance in the ministry, my grandchildren and youngest daughter fondly know her as “Grandma”.

We honor those whose faithful service increases our effectiveness in the ministry. Linda is a treasure to us and in my heart she will always be "... a friend who sticks closer than a brother (sister)." (Proverbs 18:4)