A letter to my children

****These photos are not taken by me. They are taken by Katie Cooke Photography in Ocean Isle NC****

I seem to be at a loss for how to share this story publicly so I decided to write a letter to my children and share it with you. On a day they need encouragement, I hope they can read this letter.

Hello My Beloved Children,

I don’t know how old you are or where you are in life when you read this letter but I know it’s important that I share this story with you. I hope you look at these photos of your Dad and I and see love that is so great, it radiates through the images.

I was talking with our friend Keith one day; telling him of our upcoming family vacation, when he stopped for a moment and got quiet. That’s when he prophesied to me something very beautiful. He said these things, “Sis, I can see you and Dan on the beach. I can see it in my mind clear as day. You two are taking pictures together. You look so happy and in love. These pictures I can see in my head are something beautiful. You guys are laughing and smiling and there’s so much joy and love between you two.” As he uttered the words, I had a vision of them very quickly too. He described them as so colorful, beautiful and like something he couldn’t describe. Even though I saw it briefly in my mind, I wasn’t sure I could describe it either.

We left for the annual Kampans summer vacation. It was August 2018. Your Dad and I make time to go out on walks and possibly a date during the vacations. We did both that year. We took a walk and took pictures of each other. I will never forget that time with your Dad. He loves to go on adventures and look around at new places. It’s one of the things I really love about him and I know you do too. What I remember most is how beautiful he makes me feel, especially that day. We also had a nice dinner date that year and some quality time to talk and know each other even more. I won’t ever forget it.

When we returned from vacation that year, I was a little disappointed. The photos Keith told me about didn’t happen. Sure, we took photos. We do every single year but these were not what he had described and certainly not what I had envisioned as he spoke about them.

The following months presented many challenges for our family. I went through some discouraging times, but I never let go of my faith and my relationship with God. I trusted Him, in the midst of all that was happening. I also held out hope. You see, not only did Keith prophesy about these beautiful photos, he prophesied something about my photography business. Something I still keep in my heart. It hasn’t happened yet; what he said about my business, but I see it in the process. On my worst days, the enemy would get into my head and say, “Yeah, those photos your brother prophesied to you, they didn’t happen and maybe what he said about your business isn’t quite on point either. You have expectations that are too big. What Keith said may happen but on a smaller scale.”

 Kids, let me tell you now, that is the voice of the enemy! He will lie to you. He is cunning and crafty and seeks to kill and destroy. I recognized the voice of the enemy and I would just pray. I would pray that the blessings spoken over us and the business come to pass. I would pray against unbelief, no matter how quickly I had pushed it out of my head. I don’t ever want to doubt Gods plan for goodness in my life. I believe what was spoken will come to pass and I will continue to pray. Kids, keep believing, no matter what it looks like in front of you. If you take one thing from me as your mom, let it be FAITH! Faith so big no one can take it from you. People around you, even your own friends and family, may tell you you’re crazy or talk behind your back. Don’t fall into the trap of the enemy. God wants goodness for you and your life. He will bless you in many ways. In fact, I can see in my mind, that you are grown now as you read this and you already know that God keeps His promises. This is simply a testimony to you now.

Back to my story about these pictures. It was July 2019 when we went on the Kampans summer vacation. We take family photos every year. I was trying to line up a professional photographer to do them for all of us; the grandparents, cousins, everyone. I spoke to a few photographers and booked a date before I had confirmed with everyone else. Once I was able to speak to everyone, not everyone was on board for the big family portrait session. They wanted to do them on the tripod at the beach house. I was fine with that but I felt bad that I had reserved a spot with a photographer so I decided to just keep the appointment and your Dad and I would take some pictures together. We had just had our anniversary and I thought it would be special to have them.

I wanted to have a sunset in our photos. The sun rises and sets the opposite the direction of the home’s beach view that we stay in. You don’t see it on the water at all. I wondered if I should book it at a place called Sunset Beach. It was much easier to convince your Dad to take photos if all he had to do was walk out of the house onto the beach we were at. I thought in my head…well this must not be the year for those photos Keith spoke on but we will still have some great pictures.

Our photographer Katie met us at the house and we walked to the beach together. I couldn’t believe my eyes! We had the most gorgeous sunset that you couldn’t see from the house. I hadn’t seen it in the years prior and was in awe of it being along the waterline. Your Dad and I laughed and had a great time during our portrait session. I’m sure we were laughing at ourselves or he was laughing because I was making him take pictures. I don’t know, but we were happy and I knew how much he loved me and I loved him. It was an evening I won’t forget.

Katie showed me a picture on her camera screen in the middle of the session and my heart skipped a beat. They were gorgeous! When it was over, I knew these where the photos that God showed Keith. I knew these were the ones he prophesied would happen.

I had to wait four weeks to get them and let me tell you, waiting four weeks to see the fullness of God’s work over these pictures was downright torture but I survived. When they were delivered, boy did they deliver. Every single word spoken over them, reflected in them. When I see these pictures, I see how much your Dad and I love each other. I see that God keeps His promises.

I also see that Keith was right. He was right about these photos and I know he is right about my photography business. He has spoken goodness over your Dad, your mom and even each of you. I hope that on days that seem bleak, you will remember this. Just because things don’t happen when we expect them to, doesn’t mean they are not going to happen. God has a plan, a process and is pruning you for greatness. Time to Him is nothing like time is to us. Hold onto your faith. Keep praying and keep pressing into the pressure.

I love you all very much! Thank you for reading and listening in your hearts to what I have to say to you. God is good, all the time. Go out in the greatness He has destined for you. I love you infinity.

Love,

Mom