Welcome Music Schedule Pictures Guestbook Newsletter Contact Us About the Fortunes     July 17, 2009 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107:21 Many of you may recall how that in the last paragraph of our latest newsletter, we stated that the next three months on our calendar looked "a little on the slow side". To go back and read that now brings a smile, because in truth, these past months have been anything but slow, and if we could have chosen for ourselves, they would have been much different. But God is sovereign, and we are still learning new depths of trust as we continue to watch His plan unfold day by day. The first weekend of April was scheduled in Ohio, where we were requested to sing our Easter Program. Bringing those resurrection songs out of the closet and remembering the victory that is ours always gives new zest to our outlook, and that weekend of singing was one of great joy and much laughter. We were at our home church for Resurrection Sunday, and had the opportunity to open up our home after services for everyone to come and share in the happiness of the day. The best part was after the children had found all their eggs, and were reading off the scriptures that had been written inside. The whole front porch was filled with little ones here and there, and the low mumble of voices spoke truth everywhere you turned your ear. Truly an uplifting experience! We sang only twice more that month, attended a wedding, and cried out to God to help us through the slow time. He came through as He has forever, and we again marveled at His providence and wisdom. Also, during these quiet days, the girls were able, for the first time, to really paint and decorate their room. After selling the cookbooks and achieving our goal of a family vacation, we realized that the generosity of others had made it possible to not only have the vacation, but to provide the girls with means to do something they’d wanted for 10 years! How excited they were as we all worked together to transform their room into something beautiful. Every one of you, somehow, had a hand in that, and we want to thank you from our hearts. The month of May started with us singing at a Homecoming Sing in Gaffney, South Carolina with three other groups for about 800 people… and it was there we were introduced to a new song, called "I Have Been Blessed", that ministered to our hearts and prompted the immediate addition of the song to our repertoire. Next we sang in Jacksonville, FL for a Sunday morning service, where at the end a young girl came forward and trusted Christ as her Savior! We were so excited to see and be a part of such a powerful service. The next time we ministered was close by home… in Dublin, GA. Here, too, a teen-aged girl walked the aisle and confessed her need for salvation. We were so very encouraged… two souls in a row, and we had the joy of watching them get saved! That night we sang in Dexter GA, and the rejoicing in our hearts spilled out in the service, causing the whole place to sing the mighty power of God. The following Thursday we drove to Columbus, GA to sing for a Baptist’s Association’s Banquet. Joseph delighted them all by quoting the whole chapter of Hebrews 11, and we enjoyed our time of visiting with them afterwards, as always. We sang for two more Sunday evening services that month, and in between running the household and learning our new song, Chrissy decorated a wedding cake for a childhood friend. The first day of June found is back in the studio recording "I Have Been Blessed". Even though we’d only preformed it live three times, we still felt the need to add it to the master of our newest CD, "Testimonies of Zion", and get it in people’s hands so they could be as encouraged as we were. The rest of the month was busy with birthday parties, church fellowships, and Lauren’s follow-up surgery. She was only down for about 6 days, thank the LORD, and is still going faithfully for therapy twice a week. Praise our Father, the orthescopic removal of scar tissue was also a gift of love, just as her first major surgery had been. The added blessing of this go-around that differed from the first was the fact that not only the surgery, but also the anesthesia was given to us! We are so grateful for the ways our LORD has supernaturally provided for our needs. We sang at another retirement home, and three churches, and then at the end of the month left for a four-day trip to sing three times in West Virginia. There the hand of the LORD guided us, watched over and protected us on the road, and taught us what to say and sing. All three services were filled with the sweetness of His Spirit, and we thank Him. Although July technically falls into the next letter, we want to share with you what took place the first week of this month. Our church was hosting an Independence Day celebration on July 3rd, because our family was scheduled to sing in Butler, GA on the 4th. As the party began, Joseph and another boy both ran for the football at the same time, and crashed head-on, knocking the boy out and sending Joseph to the ground. As we gathered around them, we could see that while the boy was fine, Joseph’s leg had suffered a compound fracture between his knee and ankle. Our church body sprang into action, and before any of us could turn around, we were sitting in the waiting room while the doctor on call performed emergency surgery on Joe’s leg. Two rods were inserted, and he was kept in the hospital for three days. Now he has a bright blue cast, and brings joy to our home as he is laid up on the couch, singing to himself or writing cards. We had to cancel a weekend booking in North Carolina, and this coming Sunday night will be the first time Joseph will be able to go out and minister. He has responded so well to this trial in his life, and we are confident the LORD will use it for His glory as Joseph sits in a wheelchair and sings with all his heart, "I Have Been Blessed". Thank you for all your prayers… your faithful support… and your kindness to our family as we seek to do His will, whatever it is, wherever it takes us, each and every day. "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" With grateful hearts The Fortune Family