Happy Thursday!

Thanks to Skype, I survived my first night without Coree and Heaven! I even got to see Heaven in her first day of college outfit. : )

This morning they were both up at 6am. I love that!

It’s raining in Washington today… and they have to walk 3/4 mile to the metro station… so here is the text conversation I had with Heaven and Coree this morning. lol

Conversation with Heaven

Heaven (7:40am): My hair looks so bad!

My reply: No way, you look beautiful!

Heaven: I got so wet on the way here and now it looks so bad.

My reply: Good news, the whole city is gonna look bad today!!

Heaven: No they don’t! Everyone looks good today!

My reply: If anybody laughs at you, remember who they are so you can MACE them on Monday!!! lol

Heaven: Lolol! I so will!

My reply: Can you imagine if you got so paranoid that you started saying to everyone, “what are you looking at, do you think it’s funny to make fun of people!!! Huh, huh???” lol

Heaven: Lol then I make fun of them on Monday.

My reply: No then you MACE them on Monday and say, “who’s laughing now pig face!” lol

Heaven: Lolol yeah that’s a good idea!

My reply: =) I miss you

(Simultaneous) Conversation with Coree

Coree (7:42am): Walk + Rain + Hot = hair failure and not a good start to college lol

My reply: What did you guys buy paper umbrellas?

Coree: No but we got the ones that looked like they would be big and when we opened them up they were like the ones you put in your drink!

My reply: Haha!! I am cracking up laughing right now! lol

Coree: Lol Heavens hair got worse then mine tho! lol

My reply: Please don’t tell her that, she’s already stressed. : )

Coree: Haha I’m just like, “nooooo, you look fine!” lolol

My reply: Lol! Mom is gonna laugh so hard at these messages!

Coree: I’ll sneak a pic for u if I can lol

My reply: Please don’t! lol jkkk

Psalm 127:3 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Thank you God for the gift of Coree and Heaven! Please bless them and watch over them today and everyday they are out of my reach. Please comfort our hearts as we are away from each other. You give grace for everything we face in this life. Thank you for that grace this morning.

You can look @ yesterdays photo’s from the Washington Zoo if you want (photo above-Emily and the gorilla): FB Album 1/ FB Album 2

Thats it for today… I’ll get back to writing more spiritual things in a few days. Thanks for taking this adventure with us! Thanks for your prayers and encouraging words. I hope these recent messages have encouraged you in some mysterious way!

I just finished praying for you, hoping you really feel the difference. Please let me know about how this blog positively affects your life today.

Leave your comments here on the blog site so that we will always have a record of your beautiful thoughts.

With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube

Happy Wednesday!

We decided to stay one more night in Washington with our kids before coming home today. It’s just so hard to leave them.

Yesterday, we installed wireless surveillance cameras all over the city, buried a few hundred cans of mace, and introduced ourselves to every neighbor! (lol) We mapped out every possible path to and from everywhere, took the metro to school and bought a few shirts and sweatshirts from the campus store, metroed to the Smithsonian and hit a few museums, metroed to the Pentagon City Mall, bought Heavens iMac computer, metroed back to Heaven and Coree’s new home, installed Skype on Coree and Heavens computers, did a few practice Skype calls, and went to bed exhausted.

Going To The Zoo?

Since orientation isn’t until tomorrow, Coree and Heaven want us to stay and go to the zoo with them today.

At first I said no way… and here I am this morning, emotionally tore apart, wondering how I can say no when I’m not going to see them very much over the next few years. They promise to come home on most weekends. Who can predict whether this will happen or not? They might make new friends up here and they might wear out from the inconvenience of commuting… and eventually, weeks might turn into months, and then maybe they will even want to stay here for their semester breaks… dear God, this is really happening.

Saying Goodbye To My Grandma?

If we go to zoo, we have to leave here by early afternoon so I can visit my grandma and give her a big kiss on her beautiful nose… and watch her smile up at me and say, “Chucky, I love you!” She’s at her home on hospice care… been given only a short time to live. I haven’t written about it much, because I’ve been trying to remain optimistic. She believes in Jesus and she is ready for eternity. She told me she’s lived a long and very good life and she wants to go. Everyone has to go someday… it’s just so hard to say goodbye, when it is a woman like my grandma. She’s become a mother to me, since my mother passed away four and a half years ago, and she lost her only son one and a half years ago. I’m not looking forward to the next few weeks back home.

Amazing Grace For The Perfect Storm

I feel like I’m sailing into the perfect storm… but I have faith that God will carry me through this, and anything else that I will face in the future! God’s grace is amazing.

The Perfect Time For An Awakening

What’s really wild to me is how God has chosen this period of time in my life to pour out His Spirit on our church! The timing seems way off to me… but, Gods timing is always perfect. At Destiny Family Center, we are in the early days of what might be a community-wide, region-wide, and nation-wide awakening! The stories keep on pouring into our office, emails, facebooks, cell phones, etc… too many for me to fully process. I’ve never seen anything like it! So many people are giving their lives the Christ right now… something like 90 people in two weeks!

Thank You Dear Friends

I want to thank everyone who has left a comment of encouragement to us. Your words and prayers have blessed us so much! Brandy, thank you for that amazing, personal poem. Wow!

Photo’s From Yesterday

Click on the thumbnail for larger image. They were taken with my iphone… decent quality.

I just finished praying for you, hoping you really feel the difference. Please let me know about how this blog positively affects your life today.

Leave your comments here on the blog site so that we will always have a record of your beautiful thoughts.

With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube

Happy Tuesday!

I’m writing form Northern VA this morning, @ Heaven Balsamo’s new college home. Coree is staying here for a few weeks while his dorm is being prepared.

After a very long day of packing, loading, driving, unloading (up and down three flights of stairs), unpacking, and grocery shopping… in torrential rainy conditions, Heaven and Coree are officially gone from home.

Whereas Emily and I are thrilled to watch them leap from our safe nest and into the boundless skies, we’re beside ourselves about having to leave them here.

I really have no idea how I am going drive away from here this evening. Dear God, if I have ever needed you, I need you now.

Coree Johnathan Balsamo

I still remember like it was yesterday, the moment Coree was born… it is the only time in my life when I cried without knowing that I was crying. Then, I cut the umbilical cord and held him in my arms for the very first time (after Emily held him first of course). He has been such a good son. Even the things I would have changed about him throughout the years… I now see those things as his greatest strengths. Coree has a compassionate heart, brilliant mind, creative spirit, and a deep love for God that will never fade away. Coree values family more than any kid his age. He is going to make a great husband and father someday. Coree is ready to fly!

By the time Coree was just a little over 1 year old, Emily had successfully claimed him as her mommas boy. I’ve never tried to fight Emily on this, knowing the way her eyes light up every time his name is mentioned. She loves Coree exactly the way my mom loved me… and it’s such a beautiful thing to watch. Coree sure does love her back… with a love that makes her SHINE!

I’ve heard it said that once children become young adults, sons gravitate toward their Dad’s and daughters gravitate toward their Mom’s, as they face gender specific adult issues. It’s ok, because I know my son loves me and I’m ok with him being a momma’s boy… but I am definitely excited about developing more of that man to man relationship with my amazing son throughout the many years to come!

And then came Heaven

It was way back in the summer of 1992, you can never imagine the joy I found on that August day when I first held my daddy’s girl! We named her Heaven to contrast the difficulties Emily endured during that pregnancy. Heaven is the child that almost didn’t make it. I’ll never forget standing outside of the surgery room at UVA while Emily went under the knife @ four months. I pleaded with God to let my baby live… to let her develop perfectly and not come into this world until the time was just right… to make her healthy and happy all the days of her very long life. God answered those prayers!

Heaven has been the greatest daddy’s girl of all time. She has always been so much more than beautiful to me. Heaven is turning into the Bibles ideal lady… a Proverbs 31 woman! Well, almost. She has not acquired a love for children yet… but I’m positive this will change WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. And she will bear us a few beautiful grandchildren. lol

Heaven is my personal cheerleader. She always makes me feel like I’m the greatest human being alive. The way she adores me… it melts my heart! The bond between us is so strong, I fear how she will survive my eventual death. If anybody in this whole world NEEDS me and gives my life purpose, Heaven does. And I need her so badly, it’s killing me to let her go.

Coree + Heaven = Joy!

Heaven and Coree laugh more than any teenagers… they smile big and laugh hard! They are dangerously adventurous! When Heaven walks into a room, the pictures fly off the walls! Her energy is way off the charts! It’s highly contagious! No matter how I am feeling when Heaven shows up, I am always feeling better in less than two minutes! Coree’s energy is more of an internal energy. Even though he has his hyper moments, Coree does not speak or act until the timing is PERFECT. Coree has the gift of influence, everybody does whatever Coree does! Coree never does the same thing twice. He is a creator!

Put Coree and heaven in the same room and something EPIC always happens! For 18 years, they have painted our lives with JOY. And when we go back home today without them, we will never have this DAILY privilege again. :,(

Most adult couples have best friends outside of the family. Even though we have many great friends, Coree and Heaven are by far, our BEST friends! We love them as much as two parents can love their kids. God, we need your help today…

This blog was written with more tears than any other.

I guess the only downside to sharing this kind of love is the pain it creates during separation.

‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. -Alfred Lord Tenyson

Dear God help me!

This morning, I pray for relationships… that God will heal fractured family and friendship, strengthen decent ones, and give you a bond of love like the one I’ve written about this morning. I pray also, for every mom and dad who is suffering as we suffer today. I pray for every child who is heading off to college, or into the military, or into marriage, etc… for every person who has every had to say a painful goodbye… for every person who is saying a painful goodbye today. God give you peace.

Psalms 31:9 O’ Lord have mercy on me in my anguish. My eyes are red from weeping; my health is broken from sorrow.

Psalms 147:3 He heals the broken heartened, binding up their wounds.

John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm-I will come to you.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and  strength, a very present help in times of trouble.

Jeremiah 31:13 I will turn their mourning into gladness. I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

2 Corinthians1:3-4 What a wonderful God we have-He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials.And why does He And why does He doe this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us.

I just finished praying for you, hoping you really feel the difference. Please let me know about how this blog positively affects your life today.

Leave your comments here on the blog site so that we will always have a record of your beautiful thoughts.

With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube

Happy Monday!

Today, I drive my kids to Washington DC for college. It is a year round college, meaning that once they begin I may not see them very often. My heart is broken.

John 14:27 Peace I [Jesus] leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I pray for this peace today… not just for me, but for all of my friends who also need it. God bless you all.

Happy Sunday!

Last night, my prissy daughter Heaven Balsamo won the blazing challenge @ Buffalo Wild Wings (12 blazing wings in under 6 minutes).

She scarfed down those unbearable wings in 4 minutes and 6 seconds!

Congratulations Heaven, that’s my girl!

Actually, I’ve never done the challenge and neither has Emily… therefore, the credit for this accomplishment belongs to Heaven’s fearless brother, Coree Balsamo!

Now, my son and my daughter both have their pictures hanging on a BWW wall of fame.

Coree won the challenge a few years ago @ the JMU BWW.

I’m such a proud parent! lol

Make sure you read yesterdays blog, “Faith In Jesus Changes Everything.”

Something big is going to happen again today @ Destiny Family Center, as the awakening that began a few weeks ago continues to build momentum!

Today, I’m talking about the difference between fate and faith. I’m continuing my series, The Forgotten Power of Expectancy (Today-Faith In Jesus Changes Everything).

There are so many great churches represented here at this blog tribe. Please let us know about what’s happening in your church these days!

I pray for your Pastors and church leaders every day… I pray for your cities, families, and friends… that God will awaken everything and everyone in your path!

Have a most triumphant Sunday!

With much love…

Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!

Chuck

The Donate Link, Facebook, Twitter, Make me a Legend, Destiny Family Center, You Tube