The same friends I partied with said, “Just go get a drink, have an abortion and we will still be partying when you get back.” I didn’t want to talk to my parents because I felt I had already disappointed them so much. They had never said that, but I believed it. I so desperately wanted them to love and approve of me. I didn’t want to talk to my boyfriend, Buddy, either. I felt like this was all my problem. However, I found out very quickly that Buddy didn’t see the baby as a problem — he saw our baby as a life.

Overwhelmed with fear, I was determined to have an abortion. I began calling every abortion clinic looking for the best price; whereas, Buddy began calling lawyers, police and anybody he thought might help to stop the abortion. Buddy quickly learned that since Roe vs. Wade, He had NO VOICE and He had NO CHOICE.

Obstacles
Fortunately, God had put obstacles in my way to slow me down and make me think. He also put stepping stones to direct His path for me.

Buddy was my first obstacle. He wanted to see his baby born, even if that meant parenting the child himself. The second obstacle was money. I had to move fast, as the cost of my abortion was going up weekly and was now up to $600. I was working in the hot sun laying sod for a landscaping company to get the extra money.

My final obstacle was Vicki. As I entered the abortion clinic with my large wad of cash, Vicki stopped me and kindly said, “Are you sure you want to give them your money? God does not want you to do this.” I had already been warned by my friends about Vicki…she had been protesting in front of this abortion clinic for 27 years.

Determined, I went in and gave them my money. During the ultrasound, I asked to see the picture of my baby. The nurse said, “Why would you want to see it? It is not even a baby yet,” and she turned the screen away. I was then taken to another room with about 30 other girls. We watched a video to prepare us for when we returned in 24 hours for the abortion. When Vicki saw me coming out of the clinic, she asked if I had I given them my money? I said, “Yes, but they didn’t let me see my baby.” Vicki saw I was upset and immediately called to arrange for a free ultrasound at the Women’s Resource Center two doors away.

Stepping Stones
Vicki now became my first stepping stone towards a righteous choice. My second stepping stone was the Nurse Manager at the clinic, Deanna, who lovingly talked to me about the dangers of abortion and my options such as adoption and parenting. She said they would stand with me, but the main thing she said that I really heard was that even at 11 weeks God already had a plan for my baby’s life and He had a plan for her at 1 year…5 years…and even 50+ years. She did my second ultrasound that day. But this time, I was shown my baby’s little heart beating, her hands and her feet while Deanna lovingly talked about this little miracle forming in my womb. I cried and cried as my heart was changing, and I was bonding with this tiny life within me. I took the picture home and called her ‘My Little Gummy Bear.’

My next stepping stone was the director of the clinic, Susan. I knew I would need to tell my father, but I was so afraid and ashamed. Ms. Susan had said she would go with me and encouraged me to face my circumstances. She sat beside me as I told my father. Tearfully, he reached his hands across the table, took my hands in his and told me how much he loved me.

Fears
Buddy was thrilled, and I moved forward until a great fear fell over me. What if I had a child with Down Syndrome? What if God would punish me for wanting to have an abortion? The “what ifs” consumed me.

But God knew my fears! I went to an event that featured Deidre Pujols, wife of the baseball all star, Albert Pujols, as its keynote speaker. I love baseball, so Deidre had my attention and she became Stepping Stone #4. As she shared her crisis pregnancy story about how her daughter, Isabelle, was born with Down Syndrome and how much she loved and cherished this special child, I felt my heart change again and my fears melt away. Deidra had given me strength and God’s view of life. I now looked forward to having my baby. God was in control.

Celebrations
I married Buddy and we are the proud parents of our baby girl, Marleigh Marie — born perfectly healthy — on November 29, 2006!  Since, our family has grown and we have 2 more beautiful girls Cambelle Anne who is 4 and Sydney Lacey who is 7 months.  Thank you Vicki, Deanna, Susan, Deidre and volunteers and supporters of the Women’s Resource Center. And most of all, thank you Jesus, for giving me your beauty and taking my ashes.

Joy visited Women’s Resource Center.

I really wanted a Hardee’s Frisco Burger, but the Bay Minette
restaurant is being re-built and won’t reopen for a while, so I drove
down the highway to look for something else… and that’s when I
saw it.  A man standing on the curb in front of Pizza Hut holding a
sign that read “All You Can Eat Buffet, $5.00 TODAY ONLY!”
They had my attention!

Salad, Breadsticks, and unlimited Meat Lover’s pizza was on my
table within three minutes of walking in the door.  The voice in my
stomach began to grow quieter.  When I returned to the buffet bar
to get some Italian Pasta, I noticed a table of 5 seated in the
corner.  Mom, Dad, two boys and a girl.  They all seemed to be
having a great time enjoying each other’s company and lots of
pizza.  One thing that grabbed my attention is that they were all
drinking water.  Not a single soda on the table.  That never works
for me… I must have Root Beer when I have pizza.  But,
everyone’s different.

My seat was facing their table, and I just kept thinking about their
choice of drinks.  I mean, kids don’t normally want water.  They
want something sugary!  Surely the two boys should be drinking
Mountain Dew at least!  I finally deducted that perhaps they were
just trying to save a few bucks and chose water because it’s free.

I got a couple of the cinnamon sticks from the bar, and when I
returned to my table, the server had delivered my check.  It was
just over 7 bucks for unlimited food and a drink.  I reached in my
wallet for a tip, and I spotted a “Just Because” card from my
church.  (My church has a vision to love people “just because” and
to randomly do acts of kindness for people anonymously, and just
leave them a “Just Because” card that reads “We Love You.”)

I started doing the math in my head… “I can feed that entire family
for just about 30 bucks.”  Well, I slipped up to the register, and
told the cashier that I wanted to cover the bill of the family in the
corner along with my bill.  I asked her to give them this card
instead of their bill, and just tell them that it’s been taken care of
for them.

I returned to my truck, and a friend that I’ve not seen in a few
years had just pulled up and began a conversation with me.  We
talked for a few minutes, and then I noticed the family of 5 from
the corner booth walking out as well.  The father made eye
contact with me, and I tried to just continue talking to my friend.
The father walked over and showed me the card and said “Was
this you?”

“Not really… it was Jesus.” I laughingly said with a smile.  ”I just
wanted to bless you guys.”

The man shook my hand, and I could see a tear well up in his
eye.  ”Sir, you have no idea how hard we’ve been struggling.”

He went on to tell me about how he’d lost his job last year, and
his wife’s been trying to compensate by supporting a family of five
with only one income.  They’ve taken a very nice family vacation
every year without fail, but this year they had to scrounge every
penny they could just to be able to come down to the beach in
Gulf Shores from Birmingham.  ”I couldn’t tell my kids no.  None of
this was their fault.”

My friend went on inside to have lunch, and this family continued
to talk to me.  I asked if they’re staying until the weekend,
because I wanted to invite them to my church.  They revealed that
they’re not churched, and never have been as a family.  The mom
said that they’d thought about it before, but never really got
motivated enough to do it.

On a hunch, I asked if they had ever accepted Jesus into their
hearts.  ”No, we haven’t.”  My stomach dropped…

“Would you like to accept Jesus?  I asked.  The man and wife
looked at each other, and then pulled their kids close.  ”I think we
do.” the father said.

Standing in the Pizza Hut parking lot, I led a family of five through
the sinner’s prayer.  Five people who just planned on stopping for
lunch on the way to the beach met their Savior yesterday.  An
entire family is now united in Christ through a “Just Because” card
and all you can eat pizza!  I had a study bible in my truck that I
gave them, and told them to read it together as a family.  I gave
them my number and email address, and told them to call me or
contact my church if they need assistance finding a good church
in their hometown.

As we parted ways, God began to really work on me.  For the first
time in many years, I realized that God can work through me
when I am obedient to His will.  As I drove down the street, that
family never left my thoughts.  Through my church and their vision
to see a lost and dying world know Jesus, and my obedience to
listen to Christ, there are five new names in the book of life right
now.  God didn’t just change those 5 people… He changed me
too!

All of the junk that I allow to get to me in this life is really trivial
when it comes to the grand scheme of things.  Yesterday, I
realized that I still have a purpose.  God still has plenty of work for
me to do.  As I kept driving, all of my sadness, and depression,
and fear… they didn’t exist anymore.  The only thing that mattered
was the great commission… to reach the ones who don’t know
Christ.

I am not sure that I will ever look at pizza the same ever again.  I
pray that every time I even smell pizza, I think of how Christ can
still use me when I turn myself fully over to Him.  I also pray that
when this family drives back home, and they pass the Bay
Minette Pizza Hut, that they think to themselves “That’s where we
met Jesus.

I have never had anyone do that for me before and I greatly appreciate it.

Everyone needs to be reminded even the smallest act of kindness can make someone’s day and today for me was no different. I know I cant say thank you to her, but I felt like I needed to say it to someone. I hope you all have a bless day!

Lets back up to before I found the card. My friend was in town visiting for the week and enjoying our beautiful weather. We left my house earlier that day to go the Naval museum. As we exited my front door, I said “I have to weed this garden area. But I really don’t have the time.”  When we returned later that day is when I found the card. Then I notice someone had weeded my garden while I was gone! My friend said “Man, You have some great neighbors!”.  And I thought “Wow, I was just talking about that before I left the house!”.

My neighbor, Sally, came over and pruned my garden area for me. Mrs. Sally is one of the most thoughtful individuals that I have ever met. I couldn’t have asked for a better neighbor! But for God to put that call in as soon as I began to worry about it was such a blessing. I could not believe it. In my neighborhood, I have been blessed with some very good neighbors. And to Mrs Sally, you are a godsend in more ways that you will ever know! Thank you and thank God for putting you in my life, Just Because. I will never forget this saying as long as I live. This story is just as illustration of God already knowing what we need before we know what we need.

LCpl Rachal, Tyler O. ”GOOSE”"
VMM-263 (REIN)
MAINTENANCE CONTROL
22ND MEU, USS BATAAN