Leah Christy

Yes...that is the name of our baby girl...unless we decide to change it :) Deciding what this girl's name has probably been about the hardest decision Edgar and I have made as a married couple. We just couldn't decide on the first name. The middle name, however, took little discussion (mainly because I said it HAD to be that :) )

On October 8 it will be 5 years since my friend, Christy, died. I can't believe it has been five years. Ever since she went home to be with Jesus I have known that my first daughter would share her name somehow.

Christy was one of the most amazing girls I have ever known. We met my first year at Liberty-she was two doors down from me, but we didn't actually meet until we were both in RA training together. We went through training together, and had SO much fun. We connected so quickly and knew we would be RA partners the next year together. I truly believe God brought her into my life at that moment for a reason. I had begun to just live a 'pretend' Christian life. Not that I wasn't a Christian, of course, but I had begun to do what I was 'suppose to' without a heart for God. You couldn't do that around Christy. She was so sold out for God. I had never experienced anything like it. She lived as if God was her lifeline-her EVERYTHING. She REALLY lived it, and loved God with her whole being. Because of her amazing love for God, she had the most unbelievable love for people that I had ever seen. She loved 'the unlovable'...and I think many times because of her love-and the love of Christ that she showed, the 'unlovable' became lovable. We became friends, and I became a better person. She made me want to serve God. She was the type of person that made you want to sell all of your earthly possessions and move to India and serve orphans the rest of your life. Her insight into scripture was always unique and inspiring, and her 'heroes' were people like Rich Mullins, Jim Elliott and Amy Carmichael. She changed my life.

She was also SO MUCH FUN to be around. We used to do the most amazing skits for hall meeting-all of which she came up with. Skits in which I (very literally) ate peanut butter out of her armpit, super glued 'Vulcan ears' to my ears (yeah...super glue causes chemical burns...I don't rec. it...) and spit chewed up Cheeze-It's into a napkin, pretending it was ear wax. We used to go to thrift stores to intentionally find ugly clothes to wear to class. That year I was her RA partner I was not the most attractively dressed, but I had some of the best times of my life.

We used to meet with the SLD's (Spiritual Live Directors) once a week and had such sweet times together. Those meeting helped shape my walk with Christ.

After she graduated we kept in contact. We used to head up to her house and hang out on our breaks. One break in particular, we decided to go camping...just the four girls (Me, Christy, and the 2 SLD's). Unfortunately, the place we wanted to go was still quite covered in snow. We decided we were gonna do it anyway. So we climbed through the snow with all of our gear, up a mountain...at dusk. It was dark by the time we got to the shelter at the top, and FREEZING. We had seen Wild Cat tracks on the way up which helped us speed up a bit...those things will attack anything. On the top of the mountain in the (very uninsulated) shelter we got our sleeping bags out, and huddled in them and basically shivered violently all night. The wind was blowing up over the mountain SO hard, we were sure we were going to blow right over. We read the entire book of Matthew to help calm our fears...On the way down the mountain the next morning, we were exhausted. We hadn't slept, we were FREEZING, and hungry. We went to 'Tudor's Biscuit World' for breakfast and as soon as we walked in a couple of 'mountain men' (seriously, the best way to describe them...) looked at us and asked us where we had been. We told them, and they started laughing...then told us we were lucky we weren't dead. Lovely. That ended our week-long camping trip. We stayed at Christy's parent's house the rest of the week where it was warm.

We also took a week the next summer and went camping in Colorado. What an amazing trip...We drove all over Colorado seeing beautiful places. We went hiking every day and had so much time just hanging out and talking. (This time we did take some guys with us...the 'four girl' thing didn't work so well apparently :) Her dad came too...we needed someone that knew what they were doing...)

After that I saw her about twice a year, but each time was so much fun, and always encouraging. Our last trip together was to go to our friend, Amanda's wedding. It was a VERY spur of the moment, last minute trip. I remember sitting with her the night before Amanda's wedding, listening to Amanda's friends give her marriage advice. It was a good night. The wedding was beautiful. Then we met up with her husband, and she headed for home, and I headed for home. That was the last time I saw her.

We talked a lot on the phone. She took several trips to India ministering to orphans. I loved hearing her stories. We talked a lot about things in my life-it was wonderful to have a listening ear. I remember when Edgar & I were just friends I was talking about him to her, and she said "I like him...I like him a lot. I think you guys should get together." To which I laughed, and said I didn't think that was in our future...little did I know, right?! :)

She has a beautiful daughter. She was a very special miracle. Christy had had 3 miscarriages-all of which were terribly hard for her. When Brooklyn was born one of Christy's greatest prayers had been answered. I loved hearing the joy in her voice. She loved that little girl so much. I feel so sad that Brooklyn only knew her mom for a few short years. I pray for that little girl a lot, and hope she has the same joy and spirit her mother had.

Christy's life wasn't a very easy life at times. She had Ulcerative Colitis and was very sick quite often, but in every challenge she ever faced she loved God.

Though this post has been long, I feel like it is only a small picture of how much she meant to me. I miss her. I think of her a lot. I Especially through this pregnancy. I pray that our little girl will love Jesus as much as my dear friend did.

And that is why her middle name is Christy.